Rafale Deal: France's Move Raises India's Concerns, AMCA Wait Better?

• India plans to acquire 114 Rafale jets from France to address fighter jet shortages, despite previous purchases.
• France is reportedly refusing to share critical source codes for Rafale's radar, MDPU, and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite.
• Without source code access, India cannot integrate indigenous weapons like BrahMos or upgrade the jets independently.
• This refusal raises questions about the deal's value, especially given India's efforts to develop its own 5th-gen AMCA fighter.
• India faces challenges with its Tejas program due to US engine supply issues and delays in the AMCA project.