Indian Newspaper Flies With MMRCA Ditch Story, Journalist Disowns

[majesticpankaj]

Gripen has way to many sub systems from different countries if down the line there is disagreement between India and the said country then we will be in big trouble. Plus gripen can't really match Rafale in either A2G or A2A.

we have replaced russia with US.. our interest are merging... even pakistan has weapons from US

It would have to be superior to the Gripen to be worth considering. It failed the technical evaluations done by the IAF. The IAF is looking at CAPABILITIES, not price.

if we are looking for capabilities we should go for F -35

 

[Ridd]

don't you think we should look into saab's offer... griepen is also a formidable platform and it is 1/4 of price ?

Too identical to the LCA.Accepting gripen will mean the death of LCA.Will be good for the retirement plans of IAF brass but not the country,that's for damn sure.Not to forget that the gripen has much of its tech from US including the engines,making TOT suspicious and prone to sanctions.Add to all that the eternal question that will the OEM be providing us required upgrades in near and medium term for the time the MMRCA stays in service in IAF.

 

[Abingdonboy]

we have replaced russia with US.. our interest are merging... even pakistan has weapons from US

Replaced Russia with the US? In no way. Simply India is diversifying and opening up its defence market to the world which INCLUDES the US. There is a level playing field and the Russians aren't able to compete in many ways so they lose out. It's not an active policy to disadvantage the Russians.

 

[majesticpankaj]

Too identical to the LCA.Accepting gripen will mean the death of LCA.Will be good for the retirement plans of IAF brass but not the country,that's for damn sure.Not to forget that the gripen has much of its tech from US including the engines,making TOT suspicious and prone to sanctions.Add to all that the eternal question that will the OEM be providing us required upgrades in near and medium term for the time the MMRCA stays in service in IAF.

we already purchasing so many weapons from US... why do we need to be that worry ? it is better to have to have common platform then so for so many platforms.. will reduce the cost of maintenance further.

 

[Abingdonboy]

@fulcrum 15
close this thread....as its useless on a defense forum...

It's perfectly relevant. It rubbishes the previous report relating to the MMRCA stating the Gripen and EFT were back in the fray.

 

[sancho]

The new GoI has already taken steps to cut the funding of NGOs paid by foreign entities as they harbour anti-Indian interests. I'd argue this case was no different in fact it was as dangerous if not MORE dangerous as a strong independent media is essential in a vibrant democracy, if they are being paid by certain (foreign) interest groups you have a potentially dangerous situation.

There is nothing "dangerous" in this report, since it won't have any value for the decisions in the MMRCA. Lobbying with PR or directly to decisionmakers is not even unusual in India, so this "news" is not surprising nor a big issue for the government.
However, for Vishal Thapar as an individual that would be a more problematic issue, depending on if he was misquoted or what exactly the issue was. If so, he should go against it legally, but that's it. The article itself is actually quiet interesting and by far better written and scourced (at least it seems so) than many of the usual media reports on MMRCA.

 

[Abingdonboy]

if we are looking for capabilities we should go for F -35

F-35 is plagued by its own issues and the IAF is looking at other 5th gen options. The IAF has categorically ruled out the F-35.

 

[Dem!god]

It's perfectly relevant. It rubbishes the previous report relating to the MMRCA stating the Gripen and EFT were back in the fray.

lol..sry.. wrong thread...
my mistake...

 

[sancho]

Don't know about that. As the IAF has said- their decision to go for the Rafale is "irreversible".

But it's not up to them to decide that! They did their part by setting up the technical and operational requirements, fielding the trials and shortlisting the fighters. Anything else is dependent on MoD's requirements and decisions.

 

[Abingdonboy]

There is nothing "dangerous" in this report, since it won't have any value for the decisions in the MMRCA. Lobbying with PR or directly to decisionmakers is not even unusual in India, so this "news" is not surprising nor a big issue for the government.
However, for Vishal Thapar as an individual that would be a more problematic issue, depending on if he was misquoted or what exactly the issue was. If so, he should go against it legally, but that's it. The article itself is actually quiet interesting and by far better written and scourced (at least it seems so) than many of the usual media reports on MMRCA.

Sir, I'm talking more broadly beyond the MMRCA- having an unbiased media is important to having a healthy democracy. Having a media on the payroll of foreign entities is dangerous for Indian society.

 

[majesticpankaj]

from where we get the money to fund both Rafale and FGFA...

IAF should bite the bullet and go for Gripen which is also a excellent platform and economical..

see pakistan is also buying outdated F-16

 

[Abingdonboy]

But it's not up to them to decide that! They did their part by setting up the technical and operational requirements, fielding the trials and shortlisting the fighters. Anything else is dependent on MoD's requirements and decisions.

True, but the MoD and GoI are hardly going to want to go against the wishes of the military in such a manner. They have held a consistent line of giving the military what they want/need and they have stated they want to improve military-civlian relations- the IAF had made a compelling case for the Rafale and nothing else and the Def/Fin Minister (Jaitley) was said to be pleased with the finical side of the deal so I don't see any reason the MoD/GoI would go against these recommendations.

 

[Ridd]

we already purchasing so many weapons from US... why do we need to be that worry ? it is better to have to have common platform then so for so many platforms.. will reduce the cost of maintenance further.

I sincerely hope you read my post attentively and have followed the MMRCA saga.One of the prime benefits of the deal is TOT to provide a boost and an upgrade for our own military industrial complex.The Gripen will not meet that criteria as it is dependent on american technology and the americans will certainly not allow their tech to us when their own companies haven't won.This is considering that the US will even allow its technology to other countries.US has been historically very stingy with its tech.Not to even forget the elephant in the room,the sanction happy nature of US.Killing the LCA for the gripen will be the most oxymoronic move,considering we are trying to acquire tech to improve our own aero-space industry
I also hope you know that the equipment we buy from the US is not front-line level or spear head type,rather we mostly acquire logistical or maintenance equipment from them,which is exactly what the chinooks and c-130s are.The Apache deal is the exception rather than the norm.
lastly,I feel I do not need to point it out but I will do it anyway,going for gripen does not give us uniformity in our fleet that we cannot achieve with any of the other options,particularly the french bird.

 

[SamBahadur]

from where we get the money to fund both Rafale and FGFA...

IAF should bite the bullet and go for Gripen which is also a excellent platform and economical..

see pakistan is also buying outdated F-16

Gripen didn't meet the expected requirements of IAF and if you see the leaked swiss report Gripen is way behind Rafale in all departments

 

[Abingdonboy]

from where we get the money to fund both Rafale and FGFA...

The money is there:

IAF to procure equipment worth $150 billion | India's first NewsPortal on Projects


By 2020 India will be spending more than $100BN a year on defence and the cost Rafale and FGFA deals will be spread out over decades.