Is India going for F-35 instead of F-16 or F/A-18?

[Truth Finder]

Indian Air Force's Tejas landing after a fly past during the 84th Air Force Day parade at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad on Saturday | photo: Sanjay K Sharma

Ajai Shukla | New Delhi October 8, 2016, Business Standard‎

A global contest has restarted for supplying India a medium, multi-role fighter, with the IAF inviting top international fighter jet manufacturers to set up a production facility in India.

Business Standard has learned that Indian embassies in Washington, Moscow and Stockholm wrote on Friday to fighter jet manufacturers in these countries to confirm whether they would partner an Indian company in building a medium, single-engine fighter, with significant transfer of technology to the Indian entity.

The confidential document sent by the embassies is not technically a “Request for Information” (RFI), which is a precursor to a “Request for Proposals” (also known as a tender). However, it serves the same purpose, which is to determine which vendors are interested and what they are willing to offer.

By specifying that the IAF requires a single-engine fighter, the latest letter differs from an earlier tender, issued in 2007, for 126 medium, multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). The MMRCA tender, which had no such stipulation, saw six vendors fielding four twin-engine and two single-engine fighters. The twin-engine offerings included Dassault’s Rafale, Eurofighter GmbH’s Typhoon, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and RAC MiG’s MiG-35. The single-engine fighters offered were Lockheed Martin’s F-16IN Super Viper and Saab’s Gripen D.

The much-hyped MMRCA tender eventually collapsed, with the IAF last month buying a token 36 Rafale fighters. Now, the IAF has kicked off a more focused contest that will feature only single-engine fighters.

Numerous airpower experts have pointed out that the IAF needs single-engine fighters to replace the single-engine MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighters that must be retired in the near future. The Rafale, a medium-heavy, twin-engine fighter, is too expensive for operational tasks that a single-engine fighter can easily manage.

While Boeing, Eurofighter, RAC MiG, Sukhoi and Dassault would technically be able to respond to the latest RFI, none of them can offer a state-of-the-art, medium, single-engine fighter. Therefore, it seems likely that New Delhi would have to choose between Saab’s Gripen E and Lockheed Martin’s latest F-16 Block 70.

As Business Standard reported earlier, both Saab and Lockheed Martin have kicked off high-stakes, high-voltage campaigns to meet the IAF’s needs. Both have already submitted what theIAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha described on Thursday as “unsolicited bids” for building their fighters in India.

Saab has linked its offer with assistance to the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) development programme, which is being spearheaded by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Saab has offered to help ADA in quickly developing the Tejas Mark IA, which the IAF chief said required four improvements — a better combat radar, more lethal weapons, dedicated electronic warfare capability and better maintainability. He said the upgraded Tejas should fly within three-four years.

Saab has also offered to help ADA develop the planned next-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is pushing an offer, made through the Indo-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), to shift its F-16 production line from Fort Worth, Texas to India.

A new, more advanced version of the F-16, designated the Block 70, has been offered to entice India.

Air Headquarters insiders say there is little chance of India buying the F-16, a significantly advanced version of the Block 50/52 that the Pakistan Air Force operates. Since Washington is aware of this important bias, it remains to be seen whether the US seizes this opportunity to offer India the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighter.

The IAF is keeping an open mind. On Thursday, Raha stated: “I’m sure whoever gives the best deal [will win]. All the aircraft are very capable, so it will depend upon who provides the best transfer of technology; and, of course, the price tag. It’s on the table; nothing is decided as yet.”

IAF kicks off contest to make single-engine fighters

Other similar news reports of past:
Top Pentagon official to visit India for tech talks - The Financial Express

However, after getting clearances from the Obama administration on what information can be provided to India by the two aerospace companies, Lockheed Martin is expected to offer F-35 for the Indian Air Force and Boeing might offer making more parts that could be fitted on board the F-18s.

India not keen on F-16, Lockheed Martin expected to now offer F-35
US Air Force: Tech Transfer Issues Key to F-16 Production Line Move

 

[Cyberian]

No, India is going for the Rafales, haven't you heard?

 

[Truth Finder]

No, India is going for the Rafales, haven't you heard?

Rafales are too costly. 36 are enough for strategic purposes. We can get F-35 under $100 million each and IAF needs some 100 single engine fighters.

 

[[Bregs]]

Media has gone bonkers in full frenzy, now F-35 without ant remotest chance of it

 

[Cyberian]

Rafales are too costly. 36 are enough for strategic purposes. We can get F-35 under $100 million each and IAF needs some 100 single engine fighters.

Too late I'm afraid, Rafale's a done deal. India has already reviewed all that the Americans could offer in the MMRCA competition.

 

[ito]

No, India is going for the Rafales, haven't you heard?

Each Rafale cost around $250 million. India is looking at something with in $100 million, a single engine fighter.

 

[Pandora]

Rafales are too costly. 36 are enough for strategic purposes. We can get F-35 under $100 million each and IAF needs some 100 single engine fighters.

So your logic is that a stealth fighter is cheaper than a rafale ?

 

[Cyberian]

Each Rafale cost around $250 million. India is looking at something with in $100 million, a single engine fighter.

But the Rafale deal has been signed. No going back now.

 

[Truth Finder]

Too late I'm afraid, Rafale's a done deal. India has already reviewed all that the Americans could offer in the MMRCA competition

The original deal was of 126 fighters. So, from where will the extra 90 jets come? BTW, RFI is for "single-engine fighter" and Rafale has two engines.

But the Rafale deal has been signed. No going back now.

We have signed for 36 only. That 36 will come. But, we need additional 90 jets and here comes this F-35 equation. It's a new deal.

 

[AndrewJin]

How about LCA?
Any news?

 

[Cyberian]

The original deal was of 126 fighters. So, from where will the extra 90 jets come? BTW, RFI is for "single-engine fighter" and Rafale has two engines.

India had allocated $8.2 billion for 126 aircrafts, however, it's spent that amount on 36 off-the-shelf aircrafts instead.

 

[Neutron-Zone]

The purchase of the F-35 from America is only possible in the way that India rejects PAk T-50.
Russia won't be much pleased with that..!

 

[ito]

But the Rafale deal has been signed. No going back now.

This is a different deal under 'Make in India' program. Rafale deal is done. India will get around 36 Rafale fighter with an option to get 18 more.

 

[Neutron-Zone]

How about LCA?
Any news?

The indigenous fighter is still in testing phase.

 

[Cyberian]

.We have signed for 36 only. That 36 will come. But, we need additional 90 jets and here comes this F-35 equation. It's a new deal.

No, it was either the French or the American aircraft and India has chosen the French.