I won't be surprised if the MMRCA ends up being cancelled in favour of a domestic twin engine jet for the IAF. If you recall, any MMRCA tender now will deliver a jet only between 2028 and 2030. That's more than enough time to develop our own Tejas derived TE jet.
The IAF doesn't really need more than 80 Rafales if a cheaper, less capable twin engine jet is available for most other missions. Bonus points for matching Rafale or surpassing it.
And that's okra, bro, not orca. But this new jet could turn into a vegetable.
@vstol Jockey @Picdelamirand-oil @halloweene @Bon Plan @A Person Post 466.
The HTFE-25 is a long ways away from becoming suitable for fighter jet operations. This engine has been designed for business jets and UAVs with a requirement for low acceleration and high fuel efficiency. Post HTFE-25, HAL should have the expertise to develop a derivative or a new clean-sheet design for fighter jets, but you can imagine how long away that will be.
If O in ORCA refers to omnirole, then we could be talking about a Rafale competitor.