US trying to sell the F-35 to India

[air marshal]

US trying to sell the F-35 to India
November 21, 2011

by Jason Hodgkiss

As reported in both mainstream and aviation focused media, that the US government has been pushing the 5th Gen Fighter the F-35 to the Indian Air Force. This is after recent success with the C-17 and the 737 based P-8I been sold to India.

With India rejecting older generation U.S. aircraft -- the Lockheed's "Block 70" F-16 and the Boeing F-18 Hornet (including the Super Hornet) with New Delhi shortlisting European defence firms Dassault and Eurofighter for the contract for 126 jet fighters.

Despite, India having embarked on the path to co-develop its own 5th-Gen fighter, based on the Russian Sukhoi T-50 prototype, with New Delhi and Moscow inking a $295-million preliminary design contract (PDC) last December.

In a nine-page Pentagon report said the US Defense Department was continually looking for ways to expand defence cooperation with India, including joint development of arms as the military-to-military relationship matures.

http://f-16.net/news_article4470.html

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

India should buy a few just to reverse engineer them.

 

[Always Neutral]

India should buy a few just to reverse engineer them.

I think the Indian Navy has real use for these planes, provided the US inducts the VSTOL version.

 

[patna_ke_presley]

India should buy a few just to reverse engineer them.

We already have T-50 from Joint collaboration with Russia and AMCA project going on. First T-50 will arrive in IAF in coming 4-5 years. We don't need American F-35.

 

[hunter_hunted]

I dont c any reason for India to buy these 5th gen fighters when it already has a joint venture in PAK FA with Russia



But at the end money has to be spent somewhere, and America needs money no one will disagree on this, and better option than India to sell such beasts.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

I think the Indian Navy has real use for these planes, provided the US inducts the VSTOL version.

Indeed, India should defo get these planes, although usa will downgrade these compared to the ones they operate themseves, its still a good fighter.

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:00 PM ----------

I dont c any reason for India to buy these 5th gen fighters when it already has a joint venture in PAK FA with Russia



But at the end money has to be spent somewhere, and America needs money no one will disagree on this, and better option than India to sell such beasts.

India should ask for the f-22

 

[Always Neutral]

We already have T-50 from Joint collaboration with Russia and AMCA project going on. First T-50 will arrive in IAF in coming 4-5 years. We don't need American F-35.

Well glad you feel that way but the Indian Navy does not. There is no VSTOL ac in the market other than F-35.

 

[Jason bourne]

they are offering us again and again or its just old news repeted ?

 

[illusion8]

Indeed, India should defo get these planes, although usa will downgrade these compared to the ones they operate themseves, its still a good fighter.

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:00 PM ----------



India should ask for the f-22

Doesn't look like the US is offering any downgraded equipment to India.

 

[punisher]

Indeed, India should defo get these planes, although usa will downgrade these compared to the ones they operate themseves, its still a good fighter.

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:00 PM ----------



India should ask for the f-22

We can't maintain that white elephant. nor US will sell us.

 

[CorporateAffairs]

How about B-2 bombers

 

[patna_ke_presley]

Well glad you feel that way but the Indian Navy does not. There is no VSTOL ac in the market other than F-35.

That sounds like logic, government may buy naval version of F-35 like that bought P8-Poseidon but should not buy the non-naval version.

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:51 PM ----------

How about B-2 bombers

They won't even allow us to touch B-2 Bombers, selling it sounds funny.

 

[CorporateAffairs]

They won't even allow us to touch B-2 Bombers, selling it sounds funny.

any reasons buddy

 

[patna_ke_presley]

any reasons buddy

The B-2 bomber lacks many properties of excellent aircraft but its stealth capacity is best in the world and best kept secret of US and it is 100% unlikely they will sell this aircraft to anyone. I have seen a whole documentary about it.

 

[OrionHunter]

India should buy a few just to reverse engineer them.

Why do we need to do that? We've got the PAK FA T-50 haven't we?

And then the F-35 is a disaster. Engineers already found problems with the engine, avionics and HMD during the initial testing phase, so it can be logically assumed that by the time the rest of the testing is finished, a magnitude of problems will arise that will only shoot the cost up to astronomical levels.

In February 2011, the Pentagon put a price of $207.6 million for each of the 32 aircraft to be acquired in FY2012, rising to $304.15 million if its share of RDT&E spending is included

With a payload of only two 2,000 pound munitions in its bomb bays, the F-35 is hardly a first-class bomber either. With more bombs carried under its wings, it becomes ‘non-stealthy,’ and its enhanced payload is nothing to write home about. As a ‘close air support’ attack aircraft to replace the A-10 in active and reserve units and to help US troops engaged in combat, the F-35 is a nonstarter. It is too fast to independently find and identify tactical targets; too fragile to withstand ground fire; and it lacks the payload and especially the endurance to loiter usefully over US forces in ground combat for the sustained periods they need.

Needless to say, the F-35 advocates will protest, what of its two most prized features: ‘stealth’ and advanced avionics? What the Pentagon will not tell you is that ‘stealthy’ aircraft are quite detectable by radar; it is simply a question of the type of radar and its angle relative to the aircraft. Ask the pilots of the two ‘stealthy’ F-117s that the Serbs successfully attacked with radar defenses in the 1999 Kosovo air war! So much for stealth.

With many countries truncating their demands and some even cancelling them, the US of A is desperate to find a buyer to unload the F-35. India shouldn't fall into the trap.

Bottom line: The F-35 is a bad idea that shows every sign of turning into a disaster as big as the F-111 fiasco of the 1960s.