Effectively is it not end game for LCA MK2?
Yes, Gripen is the final nail in the LCA's life size coffin. IAF will effectively close it down. Remember IAF is buying LAC against its will and Gripen is just the damn excuse they were looking for.
There is no way anyone can deny that buying any number of Gripens will kill the LCA outright. Just 1 SQN of Gripens will do that.
But, this is the reason I don't see it happening. Everyone is making out that the IAF wants the LCA dead, whilst I only partially agree with this I would say it is not for any malcious reasons but that they want the very best and they don't think that is the LCA- right now. But, give it a few years, let the LC enter SQN service, let the sketicism be addressed by first hand expereince and those views in the IAF will change and they will be the most prolific LCA supporters there are- don't forget these are likely to be some of the biggest patriots around, the "Indian tag" will fly (excuse the pun) very well with them. And as the notion goes, pilots eventually end up loving their planes- no matter what it is and will excuse its flaws. So to build up an LCA support base in the IAF it needs to be in service and in large numbers ASAP. One can forgive the IAF for being rather cynical as of now but this will change quite quickly once it is "theirs".
The turning point will be the LCA gaining operational status in the IAF and then the IAF won't be able to praise it highly enough- guaranteed.
Secondly, do not forget that what the IAF wants/says/thinks has very little weighting on the decsion makers ie the politicans- DM and PM. As polticans, who sees them being willing to kill the LCA in favour of a foriegn product? I mean this is poltical suicide, the oppostion would, rightly, have their heads for such a move. It just can't happen, there is far too much poltical capital invested in the LCA and now "Make in India" intiative- the LCA is the poster child for that scheme as far as defence goes. Has this GoI shown any intent to shun the LCA or kill it off? No. In fact it has been the EXACT OPPOSITE. This GoI has intiated a more effective review process of the LCA and has taken unprecendted steps like sending it to Bahrain (for BIAS 2016) where the Minister for External Affairs no less was present to sing the praises of the LCA. And then there is the news that the DM had got the IAF to accept 100+ LCA MK.1A (as a comprrimise to 20-40 MK.1 and then waiting on the MK.2).
Actions speak louder than words. No way the Gripen is coming to India, it makes no sense on any level.
The turning point will be the LCA gaining operational status in the IAF and then the IAF won't be able to praise it highly enough.
+ friends let's not forget the MMRCA competitor known for spending BY FAR the most in advertisiment in India that continues to this day is not Boeing, Dassualt (they basically don't do any by the way) or the EFT consortium but SAAB. Put the links together.
If Gripen E/F, then why not Mig35?
There is little interest from anyone (GoI/IAF/MoD) for another twin engined Russian bird that will not address the crippling availability issues across the fighter fleet. Do you think the MiG-35 can promise 90% availability? 1-2 hour turn around times for an engine change? On the spot maintainence (as opposed to being sent to a BRD)? No, no and no again.