As Rafale talks progress, race for fighter jets begins again

[Srinivas]

When we can buy from United States directly F 16 even used ones then why to go for Israeli ones ?

For spares and other equipment again United states have to supply them .

I am talking about cost factor and also the fighter jets we are replacing.

We are only replacing Mig 21's, Regarding spares we can have an agreement. USA is supplying F414 engines to India for LCA mark 2.

We cannot replace entire Mig 21 and 25 fleet with Rafale or any expensive fighter jets.

We need to spend our money wisely when we are buying the fighter aircraft from foreign companies. ToT, Make in India are a different scenario since the costs will be down by considerable amount and we can produce more here in India.

 

[Hindustani78]

I am talking about cost factor and also the fighter jets we are replacing.

We are only replacing Mig 21's, Regarding spares we can have an agreement. USA is supplying F414 engines to India for LCA mark 2.

We cannot replace entire Mig 21 and 25 fleet with Rafale or any expensive fighter jets.

We need to spend our money wisely when we are buying the fighter aircraft from foreign companies. ToT, Make in India are a different scenario since the costs will be down by considerable amount and we can produce more here in India.

2013 agreement

Initially covering the supply of 99 General Electric F414-GE-INS6 turbofan engines, the contract also includes options for the procurement of 100 additional powerplants in the future under negotiated terms.

Americans believe the engine should be the “Defence Trade and Technology Initiative” (DTTI), a high-level committee of officials from both sides that moots projects for working together, and removes bureaucratic roadblocks. In January, when President Barack Obama met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, they “emphasized the ongoing importance of the (DTTI) in developing new areas of technology cooperation”, according to a joint statement issued at that time.

Indian officials are focused on another engine --- the General Electric Aviation (GE) F-414 jet engine that will power a more powerful version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Tejas Mark II. The Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) wants GE to help it up-rate the F-414 engine to power India’s futuristic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is still on the drawing board.


But India wants cutting-edge. Defence ministry sources say they want GE to partner the DRDO in upgrading the F-414 to deliver 110 KN of peak power to the AMCA, allowing its twin-engines to deliver 220 KN of peak power to the fighter.
GE is sees enormous commercial benefits in this co-development, which would capture the engine market for 200 Tejas and 200 AMCA. Since a fighter engine’s life is about 1,500 hours and the aircraft itself lasts 5,000-6,000 hours, each fighter consumes 3.5 engines during its service life. GE is looking at supplying 700 engines for the Tejas and 1,400 for the AMCA over their service lives.

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But still what be the use to buy Israeli Used F 16 ? again the same bureaucratic roadblocks . This middleman deals are problem. We get spares from Ukraine for MiG's but the problems in Ukraine delayed spares.

 

[Hindustani78]

Agreed. There is no clarity on the thinking of leadership.

Indian Leadership do have clarity as they keep all the International relations and issues while making any decision.

 

[OrionHunter]

If BAE can introduce a scheme like buy three Eurofighters and take one free, then we may consider.

 

[thesolar65]

Go for Lockheed offer if they will agree to procure everything from within the country....even the Engines (I mean make the engines here).

 

[Perpendicular]

Is F 16's still be offered ?



Marine pilots recently dropped dozens of live bombs from the F-35B joint strike fighter for the first time, bringing the aircraft a step closer to its long-anticipated rollout.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 dropped 30 bombs over five days without a hitch in late June near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. It was a first for the squadron testing the aircraft's capabilities, and Marines said they can hit targets in little- to no-visibility.
That showed that the F-35B is ready and able to conduct direct strikes in a battlefield environment, , said Maj. Christopher Trent, VMFA-121's pilot training officer and one of 14 pilots who flew several of the test sorties..

I think F35 is the wrong way the west is heading. Anyway

I am talking about cost factor and also the fighter jets we are replacing.

We are only replacing Mig 21's, Regarding spares we can have an agreement. USA is supplying F414 engines to India for LCA mark 2.

We cannot replace entire Mig 21 and 25 fleet with Rafale or any expensive fighter jets.

We need to spend our money wisely when we are buying the fighter aircraft from foreign companies. ToT, Make in India are a different scenario since the costs will be down by considerable amount and we can produce more here in India.

Few Rafales won't be effective in a full fledged engagement. Only solution to that huge replacement exercise is LCA. I feel LCA is more important than AMCA.

Or Boeing might be interested for manufacturing its F18L in India with some private firm.

 

[SpArK]

Comedy of errors.

 

[IrbiS]

Not Again

Israel and other nations are going for F35's and are retiring F16's.

F16 is a good dogfighter which is in need for IAF in case of Chinese attacks. A cheaper option but a better option.

Why buy? hum bhej dein gey

 

[Ragnar]

Buy second hand mirages from Greece, once they are upgraded to 2000-5. Greeks may allow this given their economic situation, and they already have F-16s. Could also try UAE. These will do until 2025. We can then have a hi-lo mix of FGFA/LCA MK II. Rafale for strategic missions only.

 

[Imran Khan]

this game is not gonna over i am borrrrrrrrrrrrrr