I dont think we even need BRIMSTONE..HELINA is the way to go..
As days are passing I am having doubts with EF..No need to get fancy aircrafts with not fully developed envelope..
Get F-16/F-18 and stop this Drama..
As I said, I would prefer Helina as well, but the point is which weapons will be integrated and available in the fighters. I said it from the start, that as long as the Tranche 3 is not officially fixed by the partner countries, IAF can only take those weapons and capabilities to account that are available now and they are more than limited!
Rafale remains to be the best fighter for Indian forces, but they don't decide about it, so we have to wait and see.
I'm with you, initially I would've loved to see the EFT with IAF roundals on their wings, soaring through the Indian skies but now it seems the EFT is a bit of a mess. Although EADS asserts that the A2G capability on the Tranche 3 offered to IAF is fully matured, and the EFT must have met IAF criteria in weapons trials. I'm just not sure. It seems the EFT has a lot of work still to be done and I don't know if it will be done as the Europeans cut back on defence. It seems though my previous second favourite- the Rafele is a real winner- Libya has just proved it. Also some other pluses- advanced stage of AESA development (2013 serial production) and Rafele-M could be great for N-MMRCA.
EADS is just a company of the EF consortium, but the A2G capabilities, just like the T3 upgrade depends on the fundings of the EF partner countries! As long as they don't decide about these things, AESA, CFTs, TVC, Sea Typhoon, anti tank, anti ship, standoff and cruise missiles are not cleared and requires our money as a new partner to make the fighter capable.
Imo that's too expensive, too delayed and don't fit to the operational requirements of our forces, while Rafale offers the complete opposite (less expensive through commonality and funded techs, or weapons. Operational, proven and can be inducted faster than any other fighter. Offers excellent capabilities for IAF, IN and SFC)!