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Originally Posted by Tin Man
ZRAVER, as I understood it, MRCA specified a twin engined bird but I could be in error. If so, this would rule out the Gripen. The S/Hornet looks to be a fantastic weapons system.
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For pure performance out side of air show maneuvers the Grippen beats them all. It can super cruise with a useful military load, and has AESA. Something no twin engined bird in the contest can do.
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On the other hand, the EF Typhoon WILL, by all accounts, be an excellent A2G asset, the one thing that counts against it, is its immaturity as a striker. The offer of partnership in the EURO-Consortium could give India leverage for a CAPTOR-E in IAF versions, even though DRDO is developing its own phased arrays. To say nothing of what else a full partnership could give India. Could Boeing match that deal?
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Look how the Eurofighter is being built. India will probably get stuck with some bogus production that doesn't really do anythign for India long term. Boeing is offering domestic production. That is a bit of a shield against sanctions as airframe parts can be made on site even if things like RAM is cut off. Such as the US using what ever leverage it can to stop an Indo-Pakistani war. Indoa also has some of the worlds best computer geeks and scientist so unlike say iran or Pakistan the break down of a US supplied fleet would not happen very quick.
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Right now, the Boeing bird looks best, but India has to play ball with Uncle Sam for quite a long time to ensure continued support. Can India risk this?
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Can India risk China-pakistan alone for the next 30 years until she catches up?
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It would mean best behaviour with Pakistan who is a firm US ally.
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Pakistan is a client, never an ally not anymore. India is a trillion dollar economy and unless she does something stupid like gunning down a thousand or so democracy protester like China did in 89 sanctions won't be an issue.
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I don`t think for one minute that that India would bite her lip and do nothing if provoked, but it could harm IAF tactically if it relied on Boeing when the kits stopped being shipped in, along with spares..
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Domestic production is the key here. A lot of stuff will be made on site, or can be made on site in a pinch.
With Russia cozy to China using a Russian built fleet for all the most critical airframes is dangerous. I don't think India is going to see a single PAK-FA any more than she will see her carrier. Arming India with either forces a Chinese respocne and that means China can also use against Russia.