Recently, there has been a wave of curious and misleading claims floating around that the USA is seriously considering purchasing Tejas fighter jets made in India. This narrative is largely disputed by experts, especially those well-versed in the intricacies of military procurement and defense relations. In this article, we will delve into the facts surrounding this claim and explore why such a scenario is highly unlikely.
Debunking Misconceptions: What the Unrealistic Claim Ignores
The claim that the United States considers purchasing Tejas fighter jets is based on a misrepresentation of the current state of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy’s relationship with the LCA Tejas. A recent misleading post on Quora, allegedly written by a top NIT Surat writer, perpetuates this myth. It is crucial to point out that such posts are often generated by individuals with dubious credentials, aiming to generate clicks and profit from topics they lack genuine knowledge about.
The post suggests that the IAF and IN in their current state would not deploy the Tejas due to its technical issues. However, this claim is far from the truth. The Tejas is a well-developed and operational aircraft that has been in service with the IAF since 2003. It has shown significant progress in recent years and has undergone numerous upgrades and enhancements. While there have been reported issues, the IAF continues to rely on the Tejas for various training and operational needs.
The US Military's History with Foreign Aircraft
The United States has a long history of not procuring foreign aircraft on a large scale for its military forces. In fact, the US military has bought very few foreign designed and manufactured aircraft in its entire history. The Tejas, while a commendable achievement for India's aeronautical industry, does not possess any unique, innovative, or special features that would make the US consider purchasing it on a large scale.
Moreover, the US maintains a strong focus on indigenous and interoperable systems that align with their defense strategy and requirements. Buying foreign aircraft would require substantial investments in training, maintenance, and support, which the US military prefers to avoid when possible. The Tejas, despite being a significant step forward for Indian aviation, does not offer the strategic advantages that would make it a viable candidate for US purchase.
Current Military Procurements and Training Evaluator
It is worth noting that while the US has not shown significant interest in purchasing Tejas fighter jets, it has made recent procurements and considered other options. Recently, the US Air Force (USAF) has been evaluating various options for a LIFT (Lead In Fighter Trainer) for training their novice cadets. Several countries, including India, have been bidding for this opportunity.
HAL, the Indian aeronautical company, has submitted its proposal for the LIFT bid. The main advantage of the HAL proposal is the use of engines from GE (General Electric), which is an American company. This would significantly reduce the cost of carrying extra inventory of engines and spares. However, the final decision is still pending as the USAF is yet to complete their evaluation.
Conclusion
While the USA might consider purchasing Tejas fighter jets in the future for specific purposes such as target practice, the current narrative that suggests the US is seriously considering a large procurement of Tejas fighter jets is overly speculative and baseless. The US military has stringent criteria for its procurements, and the Tejas, despite its progress, does not meet all the necessary requirements.
It is important to critically evaluate such claims and seek well-substantiated information from credible sources. The USA-India defense relationship is indeed robust and multifaceted, but the procurement of foreign fighter jets is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of strategic, logistical, and technological factors.