Sweden trying to sell India next generation Gripen – Lockheed Martin offers F-16s

[Skull and Bones]

And turn iaf into circus

Mig-35 aill augment our existing fleet of Mig-29 SMTs, and we are looking for a new platform anyway, keeping the number of platforms same.

 

[Shabi1]

Either Mig-35 because Inida laready uses Mig-29s or go for Gripen because engine commonality with future Tejas variant. The US will never give full TOT they will only give assembly manufacture sub contracts. EUs have had a difficult time dealing on F-16 and JSF.

 

[Bheemsen]

Mig-35 aill augment our existing fleet of Mig-29 SMTs, and we are looking for a new platform anyway, keeping the number of platforms same.

300 odd planes are needed to replace mig 27/21 , 150 would be tejas rest can easily done with f18 sh only worthy cost effective contender.

 

[airmarshal]

If Sweden can offer a 40% discount, India might consider. India's deal with France stuck as India is asking for a 30% discount on Rafale price.

 

[Ind4Ever]

no matter what they say its super hornets and growlers if things dont work on rafale and since manohar pariker has already said "rafales price is not right" its final i guess

but why not mig35s as its long legged , no need for aditional training and mantaioinence infra and has AESA & couple of internal IRST/OLS too

Brother even if we can get 36 Rafale with huge cost and delays we won't have enough fleet to take on Chinese and Pakistan fleet combined. Even though our mki capacity and capabilities can out perform our foes in the battle field it's always better to have good advanced low cost fighters in large numbers which can be used as swarms and confuse the enemy's formations and their tasks.

Think about it if you think Tejas alone can full fill our requirements! Tejas armed with BVR, war, AESA , American engine, Amazing flight characteristics and indigenously built is our best bet against J10 and PAF but how many we can produce is the problem we will face. Am hoping for second production line aiming at least 24 plus per year keeping export in mind and our old migs. But as of now we know maximum we are aiming at is just 16 . Multiply by 8 years. 128. Our 120 some old flying coffin 21s will retire by this year or next and another whole batch of 27s planned of retirement on or after 2018 . That leave whole lot of gaps to fill.

Till 2025 we can induct another 100 MKI, 36 Rafale plus 18 follow on, 120 plus Tejas MK1P. And that's it. That's our plan.

If we induct F16s block 60s we would full fill our requirements for 42 plus Squadrons in no time. That's what MoD thinking about. Focus has shifted towards Eastern sector. I don't know why it's not digestible for few? They say Pakistan already knows everything about f16s well no one want to talk about the same with China which literally ripoff even the nuts and bolts of Su30 fighters and mass produce it has J11. Now they will get thrust vector technology with brand new fighter technology called Su35. The best of sukois family . And we still orders more MKI dint we?

 

[Bheemsen]

Brother even if we can get 36 Rafale with huge cost and delays we won't have enough fleet to take on Chinese and Pakistan fleet combined. Even though our mki capacity and capabilities can out perform our foes in the battle field it's always better to have good advanced low cost fighters in large numbers which can be used as swarms and confuse the enemy's formations and their tasks.

Think about it if you think Tejas alone can full fill our requirements! Tejas armed with BVR, war, AESA , American engine, Amazing flight characteristics and indigenously built is our best bet against J10 and PAF but how many we can produce is the problem we will face. Am hoping for second production line aiming at least 24 plus per year keeping export in mind and our old migs. But as of now we know maximum we are aiming at is just 16 . Multiply by 8 years. 128. Our 120 some old flying coffin 21s will retire by this year or next and another whole batch of 27s planned of retirement on or after 2018 . That leave whole lot of gaps to fill.

Till 2025 we can induct another 100 MKI, 36 Rafale plus 18 follow on, 120 plus Tejas MK1P. And that's it. That's our plan.

If we induct F16s block 60s we would full fill our requirements for 42 plus Squadrons in no time. That's what MoD thinking about. Focus has shifted towards Eastern sector. I don't know why it's not digestible for few? They say Pakistan already knows everything about f16s well no one want to talk about the same with China which literally ripoff even the nuts and bolts of Su30 fighters and mass produce it has J11. Now they will get thrust vector technology with brand new fighter technology called Su35. The best of sukois family . And we still orders more MKI dint we?

Tejas has very low range , limited hardpoints and low payload , other multirole fighters in class of F18 sh is needed at least 150 of them , 150 tejas mk1a with reduced weight and AESA radar for interception only.

 

[Ind4Ever]

If Sweden can offer a 40% discount, India might consider. India's deal with France stuck as India is asking for a 30% discount on Rafale price.

Sweden won't give any discount. There are some limits one can decrease the price on 4 plus gen jets.Technology comes at a cost. But Gripin won't add much needed capabilities for our IAF. But F16s and Su35 or even Mig 35 modified can be a game changer... We already have mirage Tejas as our light fighters for economic reasons in longer run but Big capabilities comes with big machines and high technology

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

BJP has made an complete mess of Rafale deal. Now every dog, cat and wolf are back at lobbying and bargaining tables.

Either proceed or cancel Rafale deal. Personally so frustrating. Cancel Rafale if its so costly. Do not let these SAAB and LM dictate terms to India through media.

 

[Ind4Ever]

Tejas has very low range , limited hardpoints and low payload , other multirole fighters in class of F18 sh is needed at least 150 of them , 150 tejas mk1a with reduced weight and AESA radar for interception only.

Tejas are light fighter class supposed to have limited playrole. Usually produced in large numbers than heavy fighters. Apples and oranges. F18s are are fighter Bombers for that we got mkis. What we need is good proven fighter with advanced technology. Which we terribly lacks. Block 60s would add much needed capabilities.

BJP has made an complete mess of Rafale deal. Now every dog, cat and wolf are back at lobbying and bargaining tables.

Either proceed or cancel Rafale deal. Personally so frustrating. Cancel Rafale if its so costly. Do not let these SAAB and LM dictate terms to India through media.

We must look into Mig35s or Su35s. Right deal right price would solve our problems

Mig-35 aill augment our existing fleet of Mig-29 SMTs, and we are looking for a new platform anyway, keeping the number of platforms same.

Good choice indeed. We could opt Mig35s for Navy as well. Russian airforce to receive Mig35s very soon too

 

[Bheemsen]

Tejas are light fighter class supposed to have limited playrole. Usually produced in large numbers than heavy fighters. Apples and oranges. F18s are are fighter Bombers for that we got mkis. What we need is good proven fighter with advanced technology. Which we terribly lacks. Block 60s would add much needed capabilities.


We must look into Mig35s or Su35s. Right deal right price would solve our problems

F 18 sh is dual engine multirole and Boeing has modernized this considerably having conformal tanks and in closed weapons bay , more stealthy only this is comparable to rafale , su30 mki isn't suitable for terrain hugging and deep strike operations due to its heavy airframe and huge rcs. How in earth Mig35 is better than F18 and su35 again is air superiority like su30mki? Also not to forget IAF wants not many Russian fighters due to its poor maintainability.

 

[Ind4Ever]

F 18 sh is dual engine multirole and Boeing has modernized this considerably having conformal tanks and in closed weapons bay , more stealthy only this is comparable to rafale , su30 mki isn't suitable for terrain hugging and deep strike operations due to its heavy airframe and huge rcs. How in earth Mig35 is better than F18 and su35 again is air superiority like su30mki? Also not to forget IAF wants not many Russian fighters due to its poor maintainability.

What is the cost of latest F18s? Without Navy on-board F18s don't make sense. F16s are single engine fighter with lots of goodies in them. And I don't think us could share F18s stealth technology with us. More over how many F18s Flys with USAF colours...

2011 report :
The U.S. Navy is encountering more problems with wear and tear among more than a thousand F-18 aircraft it, and the marines, operate. It was three years ago that the navy found that both their older F-18C Hornet fighters, and their newer F-18E "Super Hornet" were wearing out faster than expected. Years of heavy use in support of the war on terror are bringing forward the time when worn out F-18s will have to be retired. At that point, the aircraft will have too many worn out components for even a heavy refurbishment to cope with.

And India will be the sole operators of F18s as in few years time they will be replaced with F35s. It would be a mess of our life time. US always wanted to sell there f18s to India. But we don't show any interest at all. For a very good reason. Which is serviceability of an aircraft. Leave alone it's capabilities.

 

[Bheemsen]

What is the cost of latest F18s? Without Navy on-board F18s don't make sense. F16s are single engine fighter with lots of goodies in them. And I don't think us could share F18s stealth technology with us. More over how many F18s Flys with USAF colours...

2011 report :
The U.S. Navy is encountering more problems with wear and tear among more than a thousand F-18 aircraft it, and the marines, operate. It was three years ago that the navy found that both their older F-18C Hornet fighters, and their newer F-18E "Super Hornet" were wearing out faster than expected. Years of heavy use in support of the war on terror are bringing forward the time when worn out F-18s will have to be retired. At that point, the aircraft will have too many worn out components for even a heavy refurbishment to cope with.

And India will be the sole operators of F18s as in few years time they will be replaced with F35s. It would be a mess of our life time. US always wanted to sell there f18s to India. But we don't show any interest at all. For a very good reason. Which is serviceability of an aircraft. Leave alone it's capabilities.

Reality check Australian and Canadian airforce use them as they mainstay fighter and boeing is ready to offer latest f18 sh with new added stealth features.

 

[sathya]

US fighters is it sanction proof ?

How many f18 can we make in India with the initial Rafale deal amount 7-9 billion $

Boeing has generously offered to build entirely by itself in India , Can't understand whether that favours India in any way..
Most likely to build their air crafts in any future deal..

Why the heck Dassault not agreeing to budge , when they can get a deal for > 200
Or numbers similar to French Air Force itself ..

 

[knight11]

Why not asked our Ambani, Tata, Birla to buy all the Dassault stakes, case solved.

 

[thesolar65]

Decide something quickly or Congress will come in 2019 and deal some deal with a huge kickback!!