INDIAPOSITIVE
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2014
- Messages
- 9,318
- Reaction score
- -28
- Country
- Location
With Major American and Russian Aeronautical companies out of Light Fighter class category for some time now, Countries with Minimal threat perception also with the lower budget are constantly looking out for cheaper but modern Combat Jets to replace older Migs or F-4/5s from their fleet.
New Combat jets from Major American and Russian Aeronautical companies in Light Fighter class category have disappeared largely due to revolving Air Force doctrine around the world which now is more and more looking out for Multi-role functions from Medium class aircraft due to various reasons.
LCA-Tejas MK1A, JF-17 and Gripen-E are Three Top combat jets which are eyeing export sales in a fast shrinking Light Fighter class category market. But how do they stack up against each other in terms of unit cost? , Well let’s find out starting from the cheapest jet first
JF-17: According to Pakistani Defence Analytics per unit cost of JF-17 Block-2 is roughly around $28 million per unit, the earlier Block-1 variant was even much cheaper at around $ 20-22 million per unit. But adding inflation and cost of newer avionics Block-2 has seen a considerable price rise. Block-3 which will come with AESA Radar and upgraded avionics will be priced at around $32 million per unit, easily making JF-17s cheapest combat jet currently in production.
Advantage: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) last year was able to produce nearly 30 JF-17 per year, which sure can handle any possible export orders, each JF-17 costing $28-32 million per unit depending on the variant is a very attractive price tag for a 4th Generation combat jet and added advantage is that with Chinese Financial backing in terms of a soft loan or favourable repayment terms, JF-17 has successfully bagged few export orders from countries, where Chinese Light fighters were operated.
Disadvantage: JF-17 due to low procurement cost is also least modern aircraft in terms of avionics, Radar and built Quality which is still largely of Chinese origin. Weapons too are also of Chinese origin, modernisation of the JF-17 in terms of technological up gradation over the years has been quite slow since Pakistan is largely depended on China for technology and the whole program is underfunded since PLAAF does not operate them and Pakistan cannot fully fund this project on its own, so for each upgrade in JF-17 Project, export orders are key factor , more customers China and Pakistan find for JF-17 more they can use additional funds to develop newer Blocks .
LCA-Tejas MK1A: HAL has finally revealed that each LCA-Tejas MK1A will cost $ 40 million per unit. IAF already has placed orders for 83 MK1A which will be equipped with AESA Radar and latest avionics for the aircraft to keep it technologically relevant. MK1A due to imported Engine and Major Chuck of Composite usage and improved avionics is 25 % more expensive than JF-17 Block-3.
Advantage: with confirmed orders for 83 LCA-Tejas MK1A and further development of MK2 variant in future, LCA-Tejas will always remain technologically relevant largely due to India’s ability to fund the project and also due to its India’s reach to procure newer technologies for the combat jet. MK1A equipped with Western Engine and famed weapons and armament from Israel and Russia could interest many potential influential clients.
Disadvantage: Production constraint could be deal breaker for LCA-Tejas MK1A since HAL is yet to hit 16 aircraft per year target and also MK1A will go into production only by 2020, which means interested customers will have to wait for few years, while HAL has assured that it is working on increasing production line further and may even hit 25 unit per year if it manages to secure export orders for MK1A but it is also a fact that IAF is more interested in MK2 and AMCA for its future requirements and HAL will not be able to sustain Production line for MK1A if it fails to get export orders by 2025.
Gripen-E: Saab developed Gripen-E is technologically superior aircraft in terms of engine and avionics when compared to JF-17 Block III or Tejas MK1A, which also makes it one of the costliest combat jets in light class fighter category. Per unit cost of Gripen-E is close to $ 70 million, which makes it 118.75% more expensive than JF-17 Block III and 70 % more expensive than LCA-Tejas MK1A in terms of unit procurement cost.
Advantage: Adequate funding and a streamlined production line with in-hand export orders for Gripen-E make it preferred aircraft to procure for countries who can have better budgets. Gripen-E also will remain technology relevant due to its domestic and for the export market.
Disadvantage: Price could only be the only disadvantage for Gripen-E if a prospective customer is also considering other cheaper options like LCA-Tejas MK1A or JF-17.
http://idrw.org/how-lca-tejas-mk1a-stakes-up-against-jf-17-and-gripen-e-in-terms-of-affordability/
"WILL"
