sancho
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2009
- Messages
- 13,011
- Reaction score
- 27
- Country
- Location
Agreed, the original IAF requirement is for a single engine multi-role fighter. Recall how the Mirage had to be urgently retrofitted for operations in Kargil. The IAF has since learnt its lesson and upgraded existing hardware to deliver precision munitions but it is abundantly clear to win a war you need to systematically destroy the adversary's ability to make or sustain war. This means destroying enemy infrastructure and logistics on the ground, A2A capability is secondary to A2G role for the MRCA acquisition.
Crazy to buy the super expensive EF or Rafale. The IAF does not need air dominance fighters.The MKI is more than enough for any need.What they need is Air to ground attack crafts. The Mig 27 and Jags are pretty useless now. I mean after Kargil where these aircraft could not even work properly and the Mirages saved the day,it would be criminal not to get a dedicated Air to Ground aircraft.
Kind of interesting that you both point out the same points (that I agree on too), but don't come to the obvious conclusion!
- IAF does not need another A2A fighter
- mainly A2G performance is important, A2A only secondary
- Mirage experience from Kargil is the key that shows, where IAF lacks behind
So if these points are the most important and the Mirage was the best choice then, wouldn't the Rafale as its successor, be the obvious and logical choice?
Rafale is not an air superiority fighter, it lacks mainly in radar range in this field compared to MKI, F15, or EF for example, but it still offer good VWR and BVR capabilities. In A2G it belongs to the best in the competition and it offers similarites to the Mirage and will use exactly the same weapons that the upgraded Mirages will use too.
So just by logic and with those things you guys pointed out, it would be not surprising if Rafale would be IAF choice, although the US fighters are not bad at all.
Btw, the initial competition was not about single engine fighters (Mig 29SMT was in the competition too), but about light to medium weight multi role fighters and the Mirage was prefered from IAF.
Last edited: