Which is why I am shocked that India decided to pull out of the FGFA program and then purchase the S-400, killing any chances of purchasing the F-35s. What was India trying to accomplish here? Does India not want 5th generation aircraft in a realistic timeframe? Whoever is running IAF procurement really needs to get booted.
It is 36 now.
The curious thing is that the original Rafale purchase was supposed to be 110 or 120 but got scaled down to 36.
Maybe because India, as US navy, don't think the so called 5th gen is key.
Not really. such a figure was MMRCA1 (114 units).
Either way the biggest loser in all of this is Russia. They must be seething that India pulled out of the FGFA program and have not bought any more of their newer aircraft. The Russian aviation industry desperately needed India to fill the export void left by China and now this seems out of question.
No. India baught some months ago some more SU30 and Mig29.
Just imagine - if India bought 272 Rafale or 272 Mirage-2000....I hope India buys many more Rafales and possible F-35.
Maybe, some amount of over-confidence on our (India) part that we can develop LCA in time........I guess nothing is lost (as there were no wars) as long as India manages to get lot of manufacturing of Rafale into India, absorbs technology and Indian private industry catches up.....
India pulled out, as India is not getting much (design; know how etc) in return for the investment....
The last rumors (nothing official if I remember well) here in France, was that Dassault was ready to give assembly in India with a next order of 36.
Not to mention, FGFA was not even on track and was compromising on a lot of 5th gen choices.
i would be cautious of tejas.... gnat was under-estimated as well.
YES----Even the Migs.
