He needs to elaborate more, what exactly GoI/MoD intends.
He didn't say that VCE will be imported straight.
When GTRE can't make afterburning 4gen engine then either it needs unrestricted R&D money to make 5gen & 6gen engine,
OR domestic private consortium should do it, like our own GE, P&W, RR, Safran,
OR domestic PPP,
OR international PPP.
which may take 10+ years for-
- 5gen afterburning engine for AMCA Mk2, 5+gen TEDBF.
- 6gen afterburning VCE for 6gen AHCA/HFA for IN+IAF.
But with AI/ML, robotics, other automations, the R&D time might reduce a lot.
Either ways both have to begin this year.
For 5gen AMCA, F414 80% ToT is being arranged,
but for 6gen TD jet , we can't wait for ToT, but should negotiate any powerful 5gen or even 4gen engine w/o ToT, w/o arm twisting, to fly the TD airframe & test basic equipments.
Actually in worse case, IMO even if we don't get VCE to switch b/w power & increased fuel economy modes of BPR, still a 5gen engine would suffice for thrust, stealth, electricity.