Indian Navy and its 5th Gen Fighter jet dilemma
Published July 24, 2015 | By
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SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK (INN)
India is finally showing some urgency in developing Second indigenous aircraft carrier-II (IAC-II) due to rising Chinese threat in the Indian Ocean. Carrier which will be named “INS Vishal” will have proposed displacement of 65,000 ton, Once ready INS Vishal will be largest aircraft carrier operated by Indian Navy and Biggest warship ever constructed in Indian Shipyards.
While Navy is busy studying and finalizing specifics like the exact tonnage, the type of propulsion as well as other parameters for the new aircraft carrier, there also is Silent debates happening among Senior ranked Naval Aviators about possible aircrafts which will serve on-board new aircraft carrier when it’s ready.
Bigger size will allow Navy to accommodate AEW (airborne early-warning) aircrafts and Mid-Air Refueling Tankers which it could not accommodate on its other Two aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, but looking at the revealed specification of INS Vishal, it is also not possible to operate any newer heavier and bigger fighter jet then Mig-29K currently operated by Indian Navy.
idrw.org in its previous reports had revealed how Navy wants to build a Mini-Air force with a fleet of 150+ fighter jets which can be served from all three aircraft carriers and also from its Land-based Naval Airbase.
Indian Navy already operates 33 Mig-29K and has placed orders for 45 Mig-29K delivery of which will be completed by 2016. Navy also has placed orders for 8 N-LCA MK-1 aircrafts and intends to purchase at least 46 N-LCA Mk.2.
Which still leaves room for few more aircrafts which might be needed. According to Sources close to idrw.org, HAL has asked Indian Navy to double its order for N-LCA Mk.2 when aircraft is ready to hit production but Indian Navy for long also has been interested in acquiring Naval 5th Generation fighter jet and in past have been briefed by Lockheed martin on F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant and F-35C carrier variant (CV) on possible sale to Indian Navy.
When contacted Serving Naval Aviator of Indian Navy confirmed that Indian Navy still eyes 5th Generation aircrafts for its Aircraft carrier and will take an appropriate call in near future since INS Vishal is still decade away from becoming a reality .
While Americans are not the only contenders, Russians too are working on Naval variant of Pak-fa and it was rather indirectly confirmed when Russian showcased Small Scale model of Future aircraft carrier with Naval variants of Pak-fa in its flight deck . While India is still negotiating with Russians on development of FGFA aircraft based on Pak-fa Stealth aircraft for Indian Air force, Russians have told Indian Naval counterparts that Pak-fa which is slightly bigger then Mig-29K, in its Naval avatar will take up same space in an enclosed hangar of an aircraft carrier that of a Mig-29K.
A third option for Indian Navy will be to join India’s efforts to indigenously develop first 5th generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter jet. Navy is still not expressed its mind on whether it will be officially joining the Program to develop Naval-AMCA, but AMCA which is a Medium category aircraft is very similar to Mig-29K in Size and Expertise gained in development of N-LCA Mk2 will come handy in developing Naval variant which will be able to serve on board INS Vishal but Navy will have to decide at earliest to avoid any delays in the program.
But hope we both Pakistan and India never use these weapons against each other...
