Dudes I thought this thread would be about the weapons not in service or planned that is new. Not just increased number of existing systems.
Not sure if this is what you wanted, but...
Fighters and helicopters:
SU 34 with EW equipment and in nuclear role:
As you can see the Russians already developed such a version which makes it comparable to F18 Growler and even offered the jammers to India on MKI:
http://www.defence.pk/forums/india-defence/37431-su-30-mki-growler.html
However I would prefer Israeli techs in this field, maybe Rafaels Sky Shield:
http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/8/958.pdf
Imo IAF lacks dedicated EW capabilities, which are important for SEAD, preemptive, or nuclear strike missions. So a squad of Su 34 mixed with EW and nuclear capabilities would be a great addition.
One might ask why Su 34 and not just MKIs added with these jammers? Imo, for this role as well as the nuclear strike role, a side by side seating in more useful, besides that the Su 34 was specially developed for low level terrain following flights, has a lower RCS and more armor, which makes it more survivable.
The only other aircraft available (because I don't think the F18 Growler will be) for such roles would be the Rafale with SPECTRA EWS and even dedicated nuclear versions. SPECTRA has AESA antennas that can be cued on ground radars to jam them, which is one reason why it proved itself, to be very effective and survivable in strike roles. Further developments to use the AESA radar for offensive jamming and even a dedicated EW version are going on.
I also said before, that imo IN should get the Su 34 in the MP/ASW roles. Again one could ask why Su 34 and not MKIs and the answer would also be the same, because it is more specialised for these roles!
The maritime patrol role needs much range and long endurance, especially here the side by side seating and the big cockpit of the Su 34 offers clear advantages to the pilots. Moreover the Russian developed special techs and avionics for the anti submarine role, like a centerline pod with sonar buoys and a magnetic anomaly detector in the tail sting (
Magnetic anomaly detector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) to detect subs and attack them even with torpedos:
So again, in these specialised roles the Su 34 makes sense for IN too, especially as an alternative in the MP/ASW role below the P8Is and armed with Brahmos against naval vessels. Not to mention that they offer a lot of commonality to MKIs anyway.
HAL is developing an own medium class helicopter to replace older IAF and IN helicopters, but with a normal design only:
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/33411-7/p2130081.jpg
Russia (Mi X1, Ka 92), the US (Sikorsky X2) as well Europeans (EC X3) instead are focusing on helicopter with futuristic pusher rotor designs, that makes them way faster.
While the Mi X1 should be exactly in the same class as HALs helicopter, the Ka 92 should be a good design to be used in the heavy class (maybe comparable to the CH 47 Chinnok), especially if it would get a ramp and 2 pushers at each sides:
So after the missile, fighter, transport aircaft, co-development, why not an helicopter co-development too?
Armored vehicles, self propelled artillery, air defense:
IA needs big modernisations at armored vehicles, artillery and air defense and with the technologies available, it is possible to combine these all at once. The key here is modular payload configs!
As I pointed out here (
http://www.defence.pk/forums/1224479-post7.html ), there seems to be a big difference of what Indian and western forces / companies sees as futuristic, but the BAE SEP, or Rheinmetall Boxer shows that modular design is the future!
One basic platform that can carry different kind of modules, to make it multi role capable. So instead of procuering for example 1 x Stryker IFV, 1 x Stryker MEDIVACs, 1 x Stryker tank destroyer, 1 x Stryker comand vehicle..., each for a single role only, you need only one platform that can change the modules, whenever it has to do a different mission.
Both are available in several forms, with several modules, even with the Skyranger / Skyshield anti aircraft gun that you mentioned before and the SEP is even planed to have the same modules for 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 wheeled, as well as tracked platforms:
Such a modular capability would give IA the advantage, to replace most of the old vehicles (be it wheeled, or tracked) with the maximum commonality and for reduced maintenance costs, instead of an 1 on 1 replacement of types.
And talking of modules, the Germans developed not only these Skyranger / Skyshield gun modules as you showed in your videos, but also the AGM (Artillery Gun Module):
It is based on the PZH 2000 gun, but placed in a smaller and lighter
turret. Placed on a tracked IFV it will be the DONAR self propelled howitzer, it can also be placed on a wheeled truck and even be placed alone as an unmanned artillery gun that can be remote controlled from distance:
http://www.kmweg.de/c.php?linktype=mediaimage&gruppe=10845&class=mc_id&typ=10459
So in summery, consider a modular vehicle platform to replace most of IA vehicles, that can also carry several different modules including Skyshield, or AGM, that can unload them at forwarded, or higher bases, that needs only a small crew to relaod and operate several different systems, instead of one crew for each system. Highly mobile and variable, networkcentric, with latest computer and comunication systems...
...that is how I would like to see a futuristic IA!
So all in all, buy specialised types, but team up with foreign partners for futuristic and big number replacements, to make Indian forces more capable, more independent, developments less delayed and the whole force structure more mobile, variable and cost-effective!
![[Bregs]](/data/avatars/s/148/148509.jpg?1491816884){kind=avatar}
