Vikrant will enter service in 2018-19
And will retire between yr 2068 and 2073
I don't see the Mig29Ks inducted in year 2013 serving till year 2068 ie for 55 years
No matter how much MLU they go through
Their is nothing wrong with Building another improved Vikrant class weighing around 50000 Ton
But their are 2 issues :
it cant launch Hawkeye 2D AEWC aircrafts which India plans to induct.
Vikrant class can only launch STOBAR and STOVL aircrafts which leave only 2 options ie Mig29K and F35B...
I was intrigued until I read this
BTW the official short form for Israeli Aiforce is IsAF
Indonesian air force uses InAF
Italian Air force uses AIA which loosely translates as Italian Air Army
Only the Indian Air force uses IAF
Think of it this way.
Saudis will finally get to use all those shiney new F15SA in a real combat scenario
But question is will they shoot down a Russian Jet if it comes down to it
Bhai
We are already inducting 270 Su30MKI
And HAL will start upgrading the MKI @ 30 a year, Once the production ends
The upgraded MKI will match the Su35 in performance , avionics and Radar, but not in RCS
We will also induct 60-127 FGFAs
In my opinion, that's enough Heavy Twin engined...
Rafale is now a far too expensive to justify
Since the main role for Rafale is to take over the ground attack duties from the Mig27 and Jaguars
So we should just get the F/A18
It can do everything which the Rafale can except it has a higher RCS and lower ferry Range than Rafale and USA won't...
Delivery of the rest depends on the delivery schedule of Apaches to India
If Boeing delivers all 22 by 2018
Then India will hand over the remaining Mi35 by then