First apologies for starting a new thread about this and hope you guys would not mind.
- But really the only things I read here is full of “country specific" objections honestly vs. What’s best for India- that I had to start a thread based on Pro's vs. cons' ( wish the guys like Sancho can comment about it)
My bone of contention is really Russian quality. That’s what it boils down to. Yes, I know the F35 B aircraft not A, is having some issues. I get that...
My issue is with PAK -FA that makes me favor F35: You know that the weapons package and EW suite is far superior from the west. so unless you get or create a JSF like program that allows you to get those packages integrated into PAK-FA - is the aircraft really top notch?
You know - lord knows, that there are supply chain issues with Russian products, over lifetime; it costs more and just shoddy products from them. Look at your, India’s, purchase of smirch rockets... only what 5 years ago and it has serious issues with Russian quality. and then look at delays from anything from russia.
For me F35 is a no-brainer, allow me to preface it by saying knowing American and European technology will win in the end and given track history, is a superb 5th gen aircraft on hand by 2015 instead of 2020 ( come on have Russians ever delivered anything on time?).
Or perhaps I should ask, what if, hypothetical example… Say your enemy was offered this aircraft. would you be A-Okay and rest your laurel on the PAK-FA?
Now, what I like about US offering – is to be part of the JSF program. IF and that’s a good “ If” india can take advantage of the crisis in Europe and zeal of Americans to be on your good side and extrapolate some additional “ extras” like a TOT on most of it, allow India to produce it in India …. I don’t get why not drop Pak_FA.
Your first assumption is
Russian avionics is inferior to west.
Let me remind you that N011M Bars in MKI is still highly classified and pretty much out ranges many "western AESA" radars. flanker and fulcrum IRST and LRF modules are envied by most of the western designers. Russians were also pioneers in incorporating HMD systems and high off boresight missile systems.
Why PAKFA,
In your opinion you want to pump tax payers money into a F35 project, which is pretty much sluggish maneuvering, low capacity, aircraft with serviceability issues. On the other hand PAKFA is designed to compete with
F22.
Russians have offered you to co-develop a project which would be their lead in fighter, whereas American kicked out our engineers from boeing/ LM labs during the nuke explosions. What makes you think they wont do the same if some thing similar occurs again?
Next about lifecycle costs?
You get what you pay for, compare the total costs of Eurofighter typhoon with Su 30MKI, tell me which one is more expensive.
About the spares and rotables , please do not discount the fact that MoD has procured defective spares from ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 90's which attributes to bad rap on Migs.
Most of the defence analysts, defence enthusiasts and ajai shukla are quick to jump the gun to criticize Russian products, maybe its time that before you make up your mind about the quality of russian equipment , have a conversation with the pilots who use them .
In all the conversation I have had with flanker pilots, no dis respect to other fighters in the region but the conclusions have been MKI can dominate the airspace(BVR/WVR) it is in with ease, Price to performance ratio on Russian platforms like MKI and m29upg is unparalleled.
Russian institution are willing to incorporate french israeli and german gear in thier a/c to IAF's custom needs.
IAF/HAL is has extensive experience of co-developing successful customised platforms to fit IAF's needs, eg. Mig21 BISON upgrade, MKI, UPG programs.
KH 59 ME, KH 59MK, KH31, KS172, R27ET/ER, RVV-MD/ RVV-AE, have unparalleled performance.
FGFA will grow on the experiences gained by both HAL and Sukhoi OKB now RAC from these projects and will be able to deliver a product that you haven't still conceived.
Forget source codes and Cismoa, will the american even let you integrate your own platforms like astra on their f35... trust me the answer is a big No