if mmrca has to go to a twin engine then why not just buy more MKIs ?
evenif weightwise MKI belongs to a different catagory but then even amonge the 6 MMRCA contenders likes of Gripen and F-18 belongs to two different catagories...then why not just MKI , it will reduce the dogestic , traning and infrastructure expenses..
actually it not clear what IAF looking for which the MKI don't offer...???
to my understanding IAF was initially looking for a low operating cost aircraft , nost probably a single engine gripen or mirage but with the dely in mmrca and the induction of LCA this argument has faded away....so , presently what's the need of a new platform other then MKI and LCA..?
I think that explains why MKI is out of question, especially when we go for another 250 heavy class FGFA anyway.
In regard to IAF needs, they initially wanted a cost-effective multi role fighter that would be easy to induct, but with the change to
M - MRCA, some requirements had to be added. Medium weight class, AESA radar, specifically A2G weaponary (PGMs and stand off weapons), which was the reason for dedicated trials and according to the Tellis report, was directly mentioned in the RFP. Not to mention what the Air Chief said about the importance of life cycle costs, over 40 years of service.
Another point of the Tellis analysis was, that IAF tends to fighter with good aerodynamic performance and according to the chhindits.blogspot, the RFP has specific requirements on TWR and G loads.
For MoD and IN, it could be important to have a capable carrier version, for commonality reasons and to reduce the costs by increase the numbers.
So we know pretty much what IAF is looking for, but that isn't the important point anymore, because
M - MRCA has been increased to a competition with more in mind than just a fighter replacement!
Transfer of technology and offsets are an important point to improve the indigenous industry, strategic and political advantages are also more than important for a emerging country like India. Which means besides IAF operational / technical requirements, there are big side requirements in this competition as well.
One only has to think about all the JV, co-developments, or new subsidiaries of foreign companies, that was buil up in India now, only for the reason to fulfill the offset requirements of MMRCA, in case they win it. That would never happend in such a quantity, without such a big competition and makes clear what immense effect MMRCA has.
