they save cost cuz they combine mrca and stealth fighter program into one. f35 can do both. so they save money and time in the long run.
f35 already being delivered to england slowly. you should know.
I think you do not understand that India wants to build its own advanced aircraft in the long run. Some of the reasons are:
Sovereignty – if India builds its own aircraft with Indian components, no other country can interfere with how that aircraft is used.
Cost – if India acquires the technology to build its own aircraft, designing, developing and manufacturing should cost less than doing those things in Europe or the USA so the aircraft should cost less.
Employment – if India can design, develop, test and manufacture advanced aircraft, many highly skilled jobs can be created in India.
Foreign exchange – buying aircraft made in India from Indian components requires no foreign exchange
Trade balance – buying aircraft made in India avoids imports.
Corruption – it appears that deals with foreign suppliers of aircraft are more prone to corruption.
The IAF has a requrement for 125-200 MRCA in the near future. The Indian aviation sector is not capable of producing such aircraft yet. Making an order for these aircraft dependent on TOT to enable India to make its own sophisticated aircraft in the future is an opportunity that cannot be missed. India could have its own fast jet industry in 10-20 years if it can acquire the necessary technology through the MMRCA purchase. The alternative you suggest (buying F-35) would neither advance India’s political strategy (to gain independence in use of defence assets) nor its industrial strategy (to become capable of producing sophisticated state of the art military aircraft).
By the way, I think that the UK has ordered 2 F-35 aircraft so far for the purpose of evaluating the aircraft.
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