6th Generation Fighter Program: News & Discussion

[Jay]

I don't know if the government deserves all the blame. At least it appears to be taking steps to strengthen the nation's defense.

The real problem lies with organizations such as HAL

It does, and it should. Without the government's direction, not a single thing will move an inch in our system. The government knew all of HAL's shortcomings, and if it now claims to have been hoodwinked by HAL, then that amounts to plausible deniability through willful blindness. Either that, or the head honchos in the government are simply incompetent.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/VishnuNDTV/status/2065027 ... 43459?s=20 --->

On FCAS - the next generation French stealth fighter, senior French diplomatic sources say 'everything is open' when it comes to a possible partnership with India but point out that this depends entirely on India formally approaching France. It's too premature to go beyond this at the moment.
They indicate that they are assessing all options after the recent breakdown in talks between France and Germany on the contours of the FCAS project.
They also explain that Franco-German defence cooperation is essential for the EU.
Without delving into the specifics of how/whether Indian weapons will be integrated onto future Rafales in IAF service, the senior diplomatic source explained that the new deal process is different from the earlier one and that intense negotiations were underway.

[Rakesh]

It does, and it should. Without the government's direction, not a single thing will move an inch in our system. The government knew all of HAL's shortcomings, and if it now claims to have been hoodwinked by HAL, then that amounts to plausible deniability through willful blindness. Either that, or the head honchos in the government are simply incompetent.

Bingo! Well Said!

[Manish_Sharma]

Let france develop FCAS.

IAF anyway likes whatever France develops...Mystère IV, Ouragan, Jaguar, M2k, Rafale, so they will like FCAS too...

but don't become a cow to be milked by miserly-constipated (in ToT) Dassault & lock up precious defence budget funds in this project. Once the project is completed IAF, can ask its usual ISEs & French will oblige with few extra billions...

But until then pour money into RSPA Ghata- TejasMk1a+Mk2, AMCA, SFDR, Super Sukho upgrade & Rocket Force (ordering 1 lakh surface to surface missiles Agni Shaurya Prithvi Prahar Pranash Pragati, anti ship Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), Brahmos, Hypersonics & produce SCRAMjet engines in big quantity.

French know how to empty our pockets & when it'll come to actually deliver ToT, they'll repeat the trick of U-209+Bofors type scandal (where we paid money for ToT but then western publication alleged bribe to GoI & we couldn't use the ToT to develop our own). Same way after sucking us dry Le-Monde will run fake news that bribe was paid favours were done to Anil Ambani (all fake) but leaving us in mess, so FCAS will become untouchable a 'fckp'

Stay away, let them spend their own money, let them develop, then see circa 2040 if its still needed or some new tech some new war tactics have made FCAS just obsolete? At that time hopefully we'll be tremendously rich with many options, we can make GCAP - F47 - FCAS do mujra in mmrca-x competition.

[Rakesh]

FCAS collapse opens door for India-France sixth-gen fighter jet program
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 667183.cms
12 June 2026

[Rakesh]

FCAS collapse opens door for India-France sixth-gen fighter jet program
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 667183.cms
12 June 2026

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/2065 ... 21616?s=20 ---> I just want to point out the absurdity of wanting to join hands with the guys responsible for the collapse of the original partnership. By definition India will get less than whatever it was Germany walked away from.

[Rakesh]

Is France's FCAS The IAF's Future?

A fiercely debated episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som tackle one of India's biggest defence dilemmas — should India join France's futuristic FCAS fighter programme, or double down on an indigenous solution?

Should India join the French-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme?
AMCA vs FCAS: Can India afford two parallel fighter projects?
Lessons from the FGFA/Su-57 partnership with Russia
China's sixth-generation aircraft and the growing airpower gap
Can India realistically develop next-generation fighter technology alone?
Engines, stealth, sensors and the technology India still lacks
Is FCAS a strategic partnership or simply a very expensive necessity?

This episode is a deep dive in the hard choices facing Indian defence planners in an increasingly contested world.

[bala]

No one is going to give their latest and greatest. I don't understand why Indians keep dreaming of unobtanium type tie-ups. This is also amplied by the Jocks in IAF who lust after the greatest and best without putting any effort to create them on your own. India already has ghatak which has many features of 6th gen stuff, you need to plough a path independent of everyone. Why would France co-opt India, does India have anything to contribute. And the Indian media is even more clueless about such topics but brag about nonsense all the time. Currently only US and perhaps Russia have the wherewithal to come up with 6 th gen aircrafts. Cheens of course will photocopy shapes etc.

[S_Madhukar]

Bhai we don’t have engine and frankly we are not getting one. US will put enough pressure on France to ensure we get kicked out. Hence we are forever bent forward looking to get any crumbs wherever we can

[S_Madhukar]

https://x.com/VishnuNDTV/status/2065027 ... 43459?s=20 --->

On FCAS - the next generation French stealth fighter, senior French diplomatic sources say 'everything is open' when it comes to a possible partnership with India but point out that this depends entirely on India formally approaching France. It's too premature to go beyond this at the moment.
They indicate that they are assessing all options after the recent breakdown in talks between France and Germany on the contours of the FCAS project.
They also explain that Franco-German defence cooperation is essential for the EU.
Without delving into the specifics of how/whether Indian weapons will be integrated onto future Rafales in IAF service, the senior diplomatic source explained that the new deal process is different from the earlier one and that intense negotiations were underway.

If EU countries can’t work together, they will work with India ?? We have too much Russian memories where were treated them as sugar daddies and our system is still looking for another Daddy

[Sumeet]

It does, and it should. Without the government's direction, not a single thing will move an inch in our system. The government knew all of HAL's shortcomings, and if it now claims to have been hoodwinked by HAL, then that amounts to plausible deniability through willful blindness. Either that, or the head honchos in the government are simply incompetent.

Bingo! Well Said!

I personally think when it comes to formulating doctrines, understanding them in depth and breadth with implications to regional and larger international security this govt falls short of what would be considered standard. Hence they keep missing what essential ingredients that would be needed in timely manner to make doctrines functional and effective. In absence of strong local voice and vision from MoD and Defense ministry, IAF keeps their penchant for full filling this through foreign procurement.

If they (MoD & Def minister) had any acumen as described above, Super Sukhoi program along with Astra Mk2 would be run on war footing right from 2019. They should have identified key players in private and public sectors, given them support to build ingredients for next gen MLU of MKI. But they were clueless even for a platform they have in numbers, already built and functional in their Air Force so what to talk about building one from scratch.

I so wish Manohar Parikar was alive, things would definitely be different. I still wish if someone can drill down into their heads without super Sukhoi and lca mk2 there will not be any amca or even a proper ghatak.

[Sumeet]

Lastly dependency on France for Rafale, engine for AMCA and then 6th Gen FCAS is too dangerous for a geopolitical standpoint.

If Rafale and FCAS goes to France, AMCA, MKI and Tejas Mk2 need to be independent of France in every way.

Also, weapons should be ours, datalinks and satcom should be ours on both sides Rafale and FCAS. I am all for putting a condition that if France does not gives us GaN AESA, then we will integrate Viupaksha or the one from Data pattern into our Rafale.

[Manish_Sharma]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2066 ... 81945?s=20

Define one capability that the proposed 6th-generation fighters bring to the table that legacy 5th-generation platforms like the J-20, Su-57, KAAN, KF-21 or even the JSF/F-35 cannot have, or do not already offer?

https://x.com/manojzxc/status/2066841550638993460?s=20

In FCAS vs j36 showdown....j36 wil b able to look at FCAS first and fire first.
In french mind,FCAS is being built to face off Russian fighters.not J36 or j50..... V should b careful how v design our own 6th Gen fighter.

[ashthor]

We should double down on the Amca, the engines and the manned and unmanned teaming. Many of the
6th gen systems will be tested on Amca and the Tejas Mk2.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/manojzxc/status/2066841550638993460?s=20

In FCAS vs j36 showdown....j36 wil b able to look at FCAS first and fire first.
In french mind,FCAS is being built to face off Russian fighters.not J36 or j50..... V should b careful how v design our own 6th Gen fighter.

What a complete load of horseshit this is. Absolute garbage.

Amazing how these twitter handles pass off judgement on platforms with zero knowledge. Forget theoretical, the above is not even grounded in any reality. There is not one single shred of verifiable data on the J-36. And FCAS exists only as a model!

My goodness, the sheer level of stupidity that comes out of people is amazing. During conception, the male sperm compete with their fellow sperm to first reach the egg. To think that this sperm is the one that made it, boggles the mind.

[Manish_P]

...
What a complete load of horseshit this is. Absolute garbage.

Amazing how these twitter handles pass off judgement on platforms with zero knowledge. Forget theoretical, the above is not even grounded in any reality. There is not one single shred of verifiable data on the J-36. And FCAS exists only as a model!

My goodness, the sheer level of stupidity that comes out of people is amazing. During conception, the male sperm compete with their fellow sperm to first reach the egg. To think that this sperm is the one that made it, boggles the mind.

Admiral sir, this is the age of AI ... and i don't mean artificial insemination. Just wait for a few days and we will have AI videos of the two as yet mythical birds dueling in the skies

[Rakesh]

Fighter jets | Seeking sixth-gen company
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defe ... 2026-06-19
19 June 2026

The future of aerial combat lies in sixth generation fighter aircraft acting as command nodes in an interconnected battlespace. India could get ahead of the game by partnering such an avant-garde jet programme.