The high end component will have to be Indian. By the time AI hits the scene, we will need full electronics and software control for immediate modifications. AI evolution with self-learning capabilities will happen in mere hours, which needs simulations and patching as the battles flow. Meaning the fighter AI will need to be put through thousands of years of training within a short span of a few hours. And any changes will need to be coordinated with the common network AI which then flows down to the main AIs of the army and navy. Not just tactics, even weapons and loadouts will have to see constant evolution. It will become impossible to fight wars without actually controlling the tech.
It's among the reasons why I keep saying warfare will soon become the domain of the rich. We have a short period of time right now, about 15 years, when imported tech will still work, whether it's the Rafale or FGFA. From 2040 onwards, our main capabilities across the board are gonna have to be indigenous.
Where imports may work is a stopgap purchase of 2-3 squadrons, considering we ourselves failed to match it with indigenous tech, which will give us an advantage for a day or two before the Chinese learn how to beat it. The French/British/Americans are not gonna deliver us the tech we need for evolution unless we surrender sovereignty. Instead, we will have to hand over a major chunk of our secrets to keep the FCAS viable, or, of course indigenise FCAS avionics, which will make its import pointless in the first place.
MRFA MLU should see significant Indian input or even indigenisation. Or else it will become the only aircraft sitting outside our AI network after 2045. FGFA was more workable because it was supposed to use indigenous software and computers right off the bat, with very likely full indigenisation of avionics during MLU to complete the build.