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The primary aim that u are referring is correct.India wants western planes with superior technology(not wrt to russia but western standards) not only in 4th generation craft but also as a stepping stone for its MCA programme as a counterbalance to its reliance on russia for pak-fa, fgfa programme
what types!!! any guesses???
my guess its not the F-16IN
PAF F-16's routinely fly / land from Gilget / Skardu air-strips.
"western" or European weapons are incredibly over-rated, their radars are more or less weak sause, now they do make some incredibly good systems; however, people get cought in the"western" mindset. Look at the MKI, its avionics are mostly Russian and Israeli and by Israeli i mean Jammers and targetting pod, so why didn't India choose European systems? Afterall if they're so good they would replace Russian systems with European systems wouldn't they? Of course but they didn't, the same with Mig-21's, they use Israeli avionics, at the end of the day Russian avionics are un-fairly labeled as "inferior" one great example of this was when the "west" go a chance to study the German mig-29's, they always considered the R-77 to be "inferior" but it terned out they were wrong. IMO the Mig-35 would be a great choce, AESA, ols-35, hms, tvc and much more, of couse the Typhoon would also be a great choice minus the price.
Tejas (LCA) Fighter Jet High-Altitude Trials at Leh Successful: DRDO
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has achieved a major milestone when its prototype landed at Leh air base in the high-altitude Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. "Tejas (LCA) programme reached a major milestone when the prototype vehicle PV-3 landed at Leh on December 13 this year at 1326 hours," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said here on Tuesday.
The event is seen as significant on many counts as Leh airfield is situated at an altitude of 10,600 feet and is one of the highest airfields in the world with a temperature variation ranging from plus 5 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees Celsius. The objective of the current phase of flight trials at Leh was to expose the on-board systems to the extreme low temperatures while making an assessment of the aircraft performance in the rarefied atmospheric conditions, DRDO officials said.
Two Tejas prototypes PV-3 and LSP-2 were involved in this important environmental test. The LSP-2 prototype powered by the latest IN20 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) is in the Standard of Preparation (SOP) that would be cleared for induction into the IAF service soon. As per reports received from the trial location, the current phase of flight trial was progressing well with aircraft and systems performing well, as expected, officials said.
The aircraft were soaked overnight in cold weather, with temperature around minus 20 degrees Celsius and powered up next day for operation, officials said.
"western" or European weapons are incredibly over-rated, their radars are more or less weak sause, now they do make some incredibly good systems; however, people get cought in the"western" mindset. Look at the MKI, its avionics are mostly Russian and Israeli and by Israeli i mean Jammers and targetting pod, so why didn't India choose European systems? Afterall if they're so good they would replace Russian systems with European systems wouldn't they? Of course but they didn't, the same with Mig-21's, they use Israeli avionics, at the end of the day Russian avionics are un-fairly labeled as "inferior" one great example of this was when the "west" got a chance to study the German mig-29's, they always considered the R-77 to be "inferior" but it terned out they were wrong. IMO the Mig-35 would be a great choce, AESA, ols-35, hms, tvc and much more, of couse the Typhoon would also be a great choice minus the price.
New Recruit
You just read my mind
Rafale with AESA is hell of a platform. However, I am not sure about its ground offensive capabilities.
Remember, Sweden chose Gripen over F-16, F-18.
Most importantly, both RAFALE and Gripen have a huge potential to have a carrier-based variant.
"western" or European weapons are incredibly over-rated, their radars are more or less weak sause, now they do make some incredibly good systems; however, people get cought in the"western" mindset. Look at the MKI, its avionics are mostly Russian and Israeli and by Israeli i mean Jammers and targetting pod, so why didn't India choose European systems? Afterall if they're so good they would replace Russian systems with European systems wouldn't they? Of course but they didn't, the same with Mig-21's, they use Israeli avionics, at the end of the day Russian avionics are un-fairly labeled as "inferior" one great example of this was when the "west" got a chance to study the German mig-29's, they always considered the R-77 to be "inferior" but it terned out they were wrong. IMO the Mig-35 would be a great choce, AESA, ols-35, hms, tvc and much more, of couse the Typhoon would also be a great choice minus the price.
I am not sure carrier based platforms have any bearing on the MMRCA anymore. The reason I say this is because India just ordered a squadron of Mig 29K from Russia and then on Vladmir Putin's visit another order was placed with the Russians for more Mig 29Ks. Further, the navy has already infused 900 crores in the Naval LCA and chances are that the bird will fly by the end of this year. So since we already have made investments in the Naval platforms I don't think the planes with naval variants will have an edge or any bearing on the competition.
Now at max we can/should not support more than 3 different platforms >>>> if we do>>>>extra costs of training and building the infrastructure. As of now, the implications of the deal with Russians for Mig 29K can have 2 implications:
1. We might just go for Mig-35 since we will have the infrastructure ready and training might not be a problem.
2. The deal is just to placate the Russians to justify that we will not be going in for the Mig-35 (This is what my gut feeling says)
If the 2nd scenario is true and in the light of above information if it makes sense (sure does to me cos 4 platforms might be stretching it a bit too much), Mig 35 is out.
Gripen offers no real geopolitical benefits so Gripen is out too.
That leaves us with:
1. Typhoon
2. Raphale
3. F-18 SH
4. F-16 IN
I would also take out the F-16s cos of the obvious reasons. On the other hand in the wake of the recent remarks by the Indians on F-16s being supplied to the US, it seems that the USofA has ruffled the feathers of some big wigs in the MoD and the AF, obviously exposing their double standards. So I would also take out the F-18s here.
That leaves us with two alternatives the Typhoon and Raphale. Now we do have a french platform already running with us - which gives us more confidence in their latest platform. The Typhoon is an amazing bird and I personally want it to win.
The point by the end of it is:
It may just be Rphale or Typhoon - but right now there is not enough info to make inferences:
Typhoon - It might go the typhoon way if we buy the EJ 200 for the Tejas
Raphale - It might go the Raphale way since we already have a french platform running.
We actually have 4 platforms right now with the British/French Jags and BAE Harriers but then again if we chose the Raphale then we cut the platforms to 3.
Indian - Tejas, MCA
Russian - SU 30 MKI, Mig 29 Ks, Mig 21 Bis, PAKFA/FGFA
French - Mirage and Raphale
On the other hand if we chose the Typhoon then we can just take off the Raphale from top and add another platform with Typhoon i.e. 4 platforms in all, which is what we have right now and has worked well so far.
SO in my opinion it could be a call between the Raphale and the Typhoon with odds favoring the Typhoon.
Members please feel free to correct me or add more to this!
Where does the EJ 200 fit into this since its a huge order on its own.If we get full TOT and 100% indigenization of SU30I along with SC blade technology used in AL#! engines what is the harm in acquiring another bird from russia.
BTW Typhoon is out since it uses too much american sanction prone technology.