anathema
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Irbis was an option for MKI upgrade from long ago thats why I mentioned it. But why do you think that the Al-31FP of the MKI cannot be upgraded? Or MKI cannot be modified to accommodate 117S?
As far as I know Bars is a PESA radar, so how one can just simply 'upgrade' a PESA into an AESA??!!!! It has be a new radar.
AL-31FP cannot be upgraded because there are no upgrade programmes going on for AL 31 FP ! If Russians are to upgrade AL 31FP then it needs to provide the same performance characteristics compared to 117S --since this is what is being used to power IBRIS.
Why MKI cannot be modified to upgrade to 117S ?
Sure they can -- they might even consider it. But in my humble opinion it is unlikely --
We all know how much testing an aircraft undergoes when air intake is changed ? Now if we are to fit a new engine (117S) on MKI --
this would mean structural modification - strengthening of airframe (since 117S is heavy) ,
air intake modification,
I can only guess that there is change in length of the 117S engines possibly changing dimensions of Su 30 MKI .......
Then there is engine maintenance issue --
124 su 30 MKI's produced with AL 31F engines -- We already have too many types of aircraft and on types of engines for essentially the same aircraft ....Engineers will try to become pilots in IAF ... ...
So the answer to your question -- Yes it is possible but the cost , time effort and complexities involved makes it not so attractive.
With regards AESA --- Sancho had said once that AESA option is being developed --this is totally different from ibris -- I was suggesting that option...
Mikhail pogosyan ruled out Ibris due to engine issue in a recent interview --the interview was posted in this very forum..i will try to search the link and paste it here..
oooopss-- sorry...i didnt know you had replied --thought the thread was dead...i am very poor in tracking replies to my posts....