CENTRE FOR AIR POWER STUDIES - New Delhi - Need for Flight Refueller Aircraft (FRA) and

While the DCA model envisaged the cost of the green (raw) aircraft minus the costs of maintenance and operations, the TCA model comprehensively takes into account also the cost of the green aircraft, cost of the maintenance spares for the prescribed lifetime of the aircraft besides the operating cost in terms of fuel consumption. [...] Besides this, the aerial refuelling acts as a force multiplier by virtue of enhancing the endurance and mission capabilities of the combat aircraft, allowing the fighter jets to remain airborne for longer durations providing persistent presence with capability to conduct multiple sorties and tactical inter-theatre diversions without having to return to the base. [...] The failure to ink the acquisition contract for FRA by MoD has led to not only prolonged non availability of the reliable FRA and shortages against the requirement, but also cost escalations with every postponement of the acquisition action. [...] Summing Up The need for FRA in the IAF is driven by the strategic imperative to extend operational reach, enhance mission endurance and support the strategic need for power projection. [...] It would therefore be worthwhile to expedite the process of acquisition of the FRA circumventing the bureaucratic red tape and undertaking the complete exercise in the mission mode through G-to-G route.