Gessler
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Mig29Ks and Rafales are designed for strike roles . If we can have Rafale-M we can expect anti ship version of Scalp . Brahmos III is not mini Brahmos as it will be 2500kg .
No by the time of Rafale induction , we would just have prototypes of LRCM . Considering Indian speed in induction LRCM wouldnt be seen operational before 2025 . Air Version of Nirbhay would be long range equivalent of Scalp where as LRCM would be long range equivalent of Brahmos . The former has stealth , the latter has speed . I seriously believe Naval Tejas is point defense fighter fighter and wont carry Brahmos Mini .
BrahMos-3 and Mini are one and the same. Although I believe the "mini" is the official name so far.
BrahMos-M.
I wouldn't expect LRCM to take that much time as you have said. 2025? The air-launched Mach >3 PJ10
will be launched in months from now. We can easily emulate that tech into LRCM with 600km range.
LRCM is the better option that the ASMPA which could be range-restricted.
As of the SCALP, I think I should wait until the armament package of Rafale (air force maritime strike
squadrons) is finalised. There will be no purchase of Rafale-M. - Vikramaditya and Vikrant are both STOBAR
carriers who'se air-wings are already finalised to be MiG-29K and NLCA Sea-Tejas. By the time IAC-2
Vishaal CATOBAR carrier comes, naval FGFA will be ready. No need/requirement of Rafale-M that I see.
N-Tejas will carry 2 x Kh-35E Switchblade ASCM, having an ASCM is essential for a carrier-borne fighter.
Plus I believe BrahMos-M is the planned replacement for 130-km Mach 0.8 KH-35E in Indian service.
NLCA will carry PJ10-M once its ready and certified for use on this bird, the Kh-35E is also likley to be
obsolete by that time, the new BrahMos will be great for NLCA.