Drawing by Amartya Mitra
The Indian Air Force desires to become a dominant aerial power of South Asia, a title that PLAAF has already achieved because of quantum leaps in Chinese aerospace industry. The local aircraft manufacturing industry had always played a distinctive role to increase the capabilities of their air force. No nation has ever become a true aerial superpower without the efforts of indigenous aerospace industries, and no such industry has ever matured without the assistance of government and armed forces. The modern day aerial powers like US, Russia and China had a common approach for extensive development of their defence aeronautical industry. It is because of such approach that today these airpowers enjoy numerical and technological superiority by extremely large margins. The Indian aerospace industry needs reform to withstand the massive requirement of combat aircraft for IAF and IN in near future, further there’s a need to take inspirations from the model that was initially adopted by modern day airpowers to develop their combat aerospace industries.
PLAAF J-20 (Photo: Wikicommons)
A look at Chinese aircraft industry
The rapidly increasing production rates of Chinese aircraft are always under debate, not because it happened all of sudden, but because it was a well drafted plan with excessive funds and that led to a unique development. The PRC is diverting humungous resources to boost the capabilities of PLAAF. The Chinese air force is already the third largest air force that is evolving as a complete 4th and 5th generation air force because of quantum leaps in industrial sector. The PLAAF is constituted of aircraft like J-10 series, J-11 series, J-16, J-20, H-6, JH-7, Su-30MKK, Su-35 and Su-27. It is remarkable that most of the aircraft like JH-7, J-10, J-11, J-16 and J-20 are the result of multiple aircraft design bureaus in China.
It is interesting to note that Indian and Chinese aircraft industry had similar conditions till 1970s, in fact Indian aircraft industry was expected to leap ahead of its adversaries as quoted by the examples of HF- 24 Marut, but today there is no comparison. The obvious factors like lack of funding and poor management did drastically show down the indigenous aircraft industry, but were these the only reasons for paralysing Indian aviation for decades?
Indian combat aviation industry
The successful development of LCA Tejas despite its longer duration has boosted the morale of Indian aviation. The inspiration from successful completion of LCA programme has energised Indian Aerospace to develop modern aircraft like Tejas MK-2 and AMCA for Indian air force and TEDBF for Indian Navy. Despite active updates on such programmes, it is expected that these aircraft would be operational only after 2030 as traced by the past experiences.
The proposed LCA AF Mk.2/MWF (Photo: Vayu)
The delays have become an integral part of Indian aircraft manufacturing industry because of some inherited drawbacks that are not rectified even after multiple alarming threats. The Indian aircraft manufacturing industry can be remarkably bolstered through methods like competitive prototyping and coupling of design bureaus with manufacturing unit as done by rest of aerial powers. It is interesting to note that while India’s aircraft manufacturing was exclusive to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for decades; multiple nations including China focused on creating a competitive environment in aircraft industry and promoted several design bureaus with integral manufacturing unit to increase the competition. The United States have several active fighter aircraft manufacturers (4-5 to be exact), similarly Russian aerospace also have atleast two major combat aircraft manufactures and Chinese industry has three of them.
USAF F-22 Raptor (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
How competitiveness in combat aviation industry helped nations to establish aerial supremacy American aerospace industry
The first next generation aircraft- The American F-22 Raptor is often referred as the “worlds most advanced aircraft” ever built, however it is observed that the F-22 Raptor was possible because of direct competition between several American aircraft manufacturers. The United States Air Force in 1980s issued the requirement of an Advanced Tactical Fighter aircraft that incorporated emerging technologies like stealth, composite material and powerful propulsion methods to counter super-maneuverable Soviet threats primarily in air-air combat. Several American combat aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics responded to the requirement and proposed their designs. The American manufacturers were even ready to collaborate in development if only one design was selected. The shortlisted designs were of Lockheed Martin YF- 22 and Northrop Grumman YF-23, the prototypes of both the aircraft were evaluated until YF-22 won and eventually became F-22 Raptor. The focus of attention should be on the fact that how USAF benefited from availability of several designs that were presented by numerous aircraft manufacturers and the competitive environment in United States aerospace industry aligned with the interest of then planned massive orders by USAF for F-22 Raptor led to development of “Worlds first next generation aircraft”. The industrial marvel- The General Dynamic F-16 is often referred as ‘industrial marvel’ as it is one of the most produced aircraft in the history of aviation. Even the F-16 was the result of competition between designs of General Dynamics YF-16 and Northrop Grumman YF-17 during light weight fighter aircraft programme for USAF in 1970s. The YF-16 eventually won because of its lower operating cost, better agility and evolved as F-16 Falcons. The YF-17 on the other hand was accepted by US Navy for Naval Air combat fighter programme and cooperation between Northrop and McDonnell introduced YF-17 as F/A-18 Hornets in modern time. The competitive environment in American aerospace industry led to development of some of the most potent aircraft ever built. The F-16 is recognised as an extremely profitable aircraft for the US by General Dynamics, while the Northrop Grumman benefited with its YF-17 design in Naval Air Combat Fighter programme even after being declined by USAF.
Development during crisis– Russian aerospace industries
Quantum leap for Russia-The Russian Su- 57 felon has always been in limelight, but it’s extremely interesting to find that even Su-57 is a result of indirect competition between Sukhoi aviation and Mikoyan Corporation. The Soviet Union understood the importance of a next generation aircraft and assigned the design bureaus to develop an advanced aircraft in 1990s. The Mikoyan presented Mig-1.44 design while Sukhoi was initially hesitating to involve in competition because of its confidence in Su-27, however as Sukhoi gradually perceived Mig-1.44 a potent threat to business, they came into competition with Su-47 and PAK-FA designs. The Russian air force favoured the Mikoyan design, but as the design houses in Russia were funded by sales of successful designs, Sukhoi was a beneficial organisation and the Russian government forced the PAK-FA to Russian air force under a new programme. It is believed that the Russian next generation aircraft programme was adversely affected as a result of poor management with Mikoyan Mig-1.44 prototype. However, it is noteworthy that today Russian aerospace is unexpectedly booming and Mikoyan is trying to retain its position after being defeated by Sukhoi in competition. The Mikoyan has already churned out modern aircraft like Mig-35 and is further planning to revive concepts of Mig 1.44, while Sukhoi’s is no less with advanced aircraft like Su-57 and concept of Su-75. The Russian aerospace and defence has already being significantly benefited from the development of a 5th generation fighter aircraft despite economic crisis of 1990s and is further expected to grow because of heated competition between major aerospace manufacturers.
Sukhoi Su-57 (Photo: MAKS PR Team)
Drawing by Amartya Mitra
Lesson from adversary- Chinese aerospace industry
The Mighty Dragon- The Chengdu J-20 is the pride of PLAAF, it made China as the first nation (even before Russia) to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft in Asia. Although the true potential of J-20 is still controversial, it is discovered that there was an intensive competition between two major design houses for development of J-20. The Chinese next generation programme started in 1990s under a tag of J-XX programme that made Chengdu and Shenyang aerospace to intensively compete between the designs of J-20 and FC-31. The J-20 won, but the reasons are not clearly defined. The Chinese Navy on the other hand has remarkably benefited from development of FC-31 and wants to utilise the aircraft as carrier based stealth aircraft. Chinese industries are also developing stealth bombers with help of other production houses like Xi’an Corporation that are significantly boosting the capabilities of PLAAF. Developing a modern aircraft- The Chinese J-10 is the first step by China towards development of a modern aircraft, however as Chinese philosophy in manufacturing is based on taking extreme inspirations from foreign designs, the J-10 is also believed to be a result of competition between ‘copied’ foreign designs. The J-10 is often called as a result of competition between three design houses that had coupled manufacturing units- Chengdu, Shenyang and Hongdu -where Chengdu’s design that was surprisingly similar to Israeli prototype aircraft Lavi was accepted. Whatever it is, the Chinese aviation industry has benefited by availability of multiple design houses like Xi’an, Chengdu, Hongdu and Shenyang. The competition between these aircraft manufacturers are leading to development that can be currently observed in the Chinese Air force and Navy. Every design house is coupled with manufacturing unit to make the process of aircraft production and designing exceptionally quick.
Reforms required in Indian combat aviation
Majority of modern day aerial powers have multiple design bureaus with integrated manufacturing units to raise the competition in combat aviation industry. The competitive environment is seen to bring rapidness, accountability and effectiveness in aircraft manufacturing. The coordination in aeronautical development may also be increased by availability of several aerospace companies as observed in case of American industry. However at the same time, the management of multiple aircraft industries is also a quite expensive process, it is because of the same reason why Russia is trying to consolidate its aerospace industry under state owned United Aircraft Corporation. The Indian aviation industry should also try to incorporate the concept of “Competitive prototyping” to significantly bolster the condition of aeronautical development in nation. The competition in combat aviation industry between aircraft manufacturers can be remarkably enhanced with presence of even a pair of active design bureaus with integrated manufacturing houses, if economic conditions don’t allow for numerous fighter aircraft industries. India needs to work towards structural reforms as the requirement of combat aircraft for both Indian Air Force and Indian Navy is to surge in future. The Aeronautical Development Agency should be made more autonomous in aircraft production with an integrated manufacturing unit and HAL should focus on rapid expansion of one of its major design and development facility of ARDC (Aeronautical Research and Design Center), so that the competition between an autonomous ADA and a HAL with better design bureau benefit the forces and government. The private companies with government support should also collaborate with DPSUs to attain essential skills for complete development of aircraft and organisations with capability to manufacture in future should themselves approach to incorporate private manufacturers in co-development of aircraft, it shouldn’t be enforced by government. It should be noted that such models are majorly accepted by world and isn’t the sole way for development of aerospace industries as illustrated by example of French aviation. The French combat aviation industry is majorly constituted of single privately owned Dassault Aviation that is globally recognised for its quality products, work ethics and next generation technologies. The aircraft that are rolled out by Dassault are not really a result of intensive heated competition between a series of manufactures desperately looking for orders. The French government had a huge role to play for the success of Dassault Aviation, it understood that the collaborations for development of a fighter aircraft between different European nations would not be really beneficial for French aerospace and showcased their trust and support to Dassault for its excellence in aircraft manufacturing. The role of government in aeronautical development is supreme, the structural reforms will just promise a healthy system, but nothing can be achieved until government isn’t interested in tracing development and providing adequate funds.
All the modern day aerial powers may not have concept of competitive prototyping as common, but it was found that in all such nations, initially the government was playing a major role in providing funds, tracing development and sorting out any kind of disagreement between development agencies and forces. The Indian government along with Indian armed forces needs to have constant policy for promotion of public and private aircraft manufacturing in nation. The IAF on their side should assure development agencies for a minimum number of orders and should issue formal letter of intents for critical indigenous projects like AMCA and Tejas MK-2. The procurement body also needs to be completely replaced with military professionals rather than bureaucrats and better negotiation should be done with foreign vendors so that even importing essential assets helps to attain better technologies. The pressure of import lobbies is also immense and need to be handled properly. The Indian diplomacy should also aggressively push for exports of aircraft to sustain the aerospace industry in future.
Proposed AMCA for the Indian Air Force (Photo: Vayu)
Article by Pratisht Chaudhry