sancho
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Guys, let's post the air-group we'd personally like to see on the Vshal
The important point remains what take off system will be used for the aircrafts, that decides everything! If catapults will be denied, F35C, F18SH and E-2D's are out of question, but if they will approve anykind of catapult, N-FGFA, Mig 29K, Sea Typhoon and most likely the Sea Gripen will be out of questions too.
Another important question is, what is more important, more advanced AEW plattforms, or more advanced (and operationally not limited) fighters?
Lets say IAC 2 will have a CATOBAR design, which leaves F35C as the only of the shelf 5th gen fighter solution, but also the E-2D as the most capable AEW plattform. But if it would be a STOBAR design, it offers the possibility for and N-FGFA / V22 AEW too. N-FGFA will be far superior as 5th gen fighter, as well as a carrier fighter, with it's long range and endurance. Operationally and industrially it offers anything we need and while the V22 AEW might not be as capable as an E-2D, it's still a leap forward compared to normal helicopter AEW plattforms.
So compromising a bit on AEW capability, while getting more advantages of the carrier fighters, is a highly interesting possibility too!
Anyway, my choice would be a naval AMCA, developed as a catapult capable carrier fighter from the start (similar to Rafale or F18), a CATOBAR carrier and E-2Ds, with some F18 Silent Hornets as compensations for the catapults and possibly Boeing as a partner in the development of the AMCA. The problem is only, if the F18SH will still be available by the time the carrier arrives, after the C17 in 2015, the F18SH production seems to end in 2016 too.
Btw, S70 is a no go for IAC 2 around 2025 or so. NFH90 offers better performance and more future potential, not to mention that most manufacturers already started developments for NG helicopters, which might arrive at that time too. Today for Viki and Vikrant it might be an option, especially on cost and fast availability reasons, but not for IAC 2.
Operational by 2025 to fight the Asteroid!!
I think this will be the last of the IAC to be built for another 25-30 years (Actually I do not know the life span of a well built and maintained AC). If yes then can it be nuclear propelled as we have experienced in INS Arihant or do we have to built a 3rd AC with nuclear propulsion? Or Nuclear propulsion system is out of bound for us?
Having developed a nuclear propulsion, doesn't mean you need to integrate it into carriers. Besides that it's far more expensive to operate a nuclear carrier, you also need to have the requirement to send a carrier to very long distance or long endurance missions, which IN actually don't have and currently can't support with our fleet anyway. Our aim will remain the Indian Ocean area and conventional propulsions are enough for our requirements and the size of carriers we plan with.
However, I still hope for 2 x IAC 2 carriers and not just one! That carrier is aimed to be sent to greater distances and to really project power, but IN can't afford to not have that capability (and neither Viki nor IAC 1 can offer the same), when the carrier needs repairs or refurbishment, so there must be 1 in reserve, when the other is not in service.
Ideally we would have 2 x 65000K + 2 x 40 to 45000k carriers, to cover the future requirements in the Indian Ocean areas and beyond.
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