If that would be true, IAF had the chance with the first MRCA competitions. They could have easily gone with foreign fighters and scrap LCA, but that is not the case right? More money was invested in LCA and indigenous techs and MMRCA will still only replace one parts of the Mig 21.
Also if IAF would be against indigenous developments like you say, how come the go for numbers of Dhruv, LCH, LOH, Saras, indigenous trainer and UAVs, SAMs and other weapns?
You theory clearly has no base, because IAF is clearly doing the exact opposite and is pushing our defense industry, but of course they are not stupid enough to rely only on them. Just like they don't want to rely so much on Russia anymore and diversify the fleet with western counterparts too.
Are you kidding? LOL.
IAF did everything to badmouth and kill LCA project from time to time. MRCA tender came out only because IAF succeeded in delaying LCA fundings from time to time.
And, by the way, since when IAF funded LCA?
The whole LCA project from 1989 to 2008 was funded by taxpayers money and not IAF. IAF had no stakes in LCA project.
It was Indian Navy(IN) who showed some brains and saved the LCA project when IAF was about to close the LCA completely by pushing aggressively for full import of MRCA.
IN's interest in LCA gave some breathing space to crucial R&D phase of LCA project leaders and public outcry also forced IAF to order a small number of 20 LCA's to save their face in public.
IAF is known as "Imported Air Force" and there is a good reason for that. IAF was "forced" to invest in LCA project only in 2009 year-end when PM stepped in and slapped the IAF for their prejudiced against DRDO and domestic R&D.
IAF's love for imports is well known. It was IAF who forced HAL to close Aircraft R&D division during 1970's and India never recovered from that blunder.
Thanks to Indian Navy who has some brains and understand the importance of domestic R&D. They did a great thing by salvaging LCA from import-hungry morons in IAF.
Also, it was IAF who was badmouthing DRDO scientists in public all the time rather than assisting them solve the GSQR issues rather than delaying the project by deliberately changing GSQR from time to time.
Have you ever seen US Airforce acting in such childish, amateur manner and badmouthing american scientists in Lackheed Martin, in public? They don't act in such way even when their aircrafts crash and R&D is delayed by 4-5 years.
But, you can't expect same maturity from IAF which is full of elite minded fools who think DRDO is some slave who should deliver 4th Generation aircrafts on half the price they pay for imported planes.
What a shame!! I have just one thing to say for them. "Aek Thoo" on IAF.