1. ACM RKS Bhadauria while speaking at #IDAS2019 again re-iterated that LCA Tejas MK2 will be a reality and IAF is looking for 10 Squadrons of LCA MK2.
2. Along with HAL, the ACM also challenged the Indian Pvt industry to rise to the occasion when IAF is looking at 200 LCA MK2 + 114 MRFA + 70 HTT40. He said if this is not an opportunity that A&D sector feels good enough for investing in it, nothing may ever surpass it.
3. Interestingly, the ACM mentioned that, for LCA MK2, he has not seen any interest from any big private players to partner with ADA/HAL. They are all only interested in forming JV with foreign companies for the MMRCA 2.0 contract.
4. Why I find this remark interesting is because, in 2014-15 GOI/IAF offered to spend $12B and purchase over 200 LCA Mk2 if some big Pvt company is willing to take it up. I remember, all big industrial powerhouses were briefed in a high level meeting in late 2014 or early 2015.
5. Of course, the proposal was silently buried. I suspected for long that it was because no private player was willing to take it up. I think this comment by the ACM corroborates that particular theory. The outcome of the meeting never came out in public.
6. Whether one likes it or not, there is no option other than HAL for a true renaissance in the Indian Aircraft manufacturing industry beyond the screwdrivergiri. For one reason or the other big pvt players have no appetite for the risk of investment for being an OEM and the
7. SMEs who might have the willingness and aspirations, do not have financial wherewithal or experience to manage such a large program. Even thru the screwdrivergiri from MRFA program it will be minimum a decade if not more that we would have an entity which could handle complete
8. Fighter program, which is too late for IAF who is banking on LCA and AMCA now. For now, HAL as a lead integrator and Private Tier-1/2/3 suppliers with maximum outsourcing is the only way viable for us.
