Blademaster

I think the IAF will go for planes that will have avionics and engines compatibility with LCA's avionics and engines. Otherwise, it will be the death knell of the LCA program. If that happens, I hope the DRDO embarks on a new aircraft program using the lessons and technologies acquired in the LCA program.

kuku

I doubt that DRDO will not put the MMR that might come out of the JV with Israel into the LCA at least in most of the initial ones, they are looking for a new engine i guess, and none of the planes with have the GE engine that the LCA currently uses, hence LCA might have to have compatibility with the MMRCA instead of it being the other way around.
The radar for LCA that MMR, we have spent money on it and then some more for a JV with the Israelis, so does not make sense to just dump it and go for whatever comes with MMRCA with out putting the MMR in some of the Tejas LCA, as they say if you have it might as well use it.

Some Air Force officers have expressed their desire to have a indigenous combat aircraft, and they will see this through, if you delay LCA the need and the budget for another project might not come for some time(Remember the Marut) Money might be in good supply, however its not raining money. I think they have the vision to carry the LCA through.

As far as the next project goes, well the ADA/HAL/DRDO might work on the LCA for some time cooperate with the Russians on the FGFA/PAK-FA project and then go into the next project, the Russian project will not be a cake walk and the government is spending 5 billion dollar on it they will not be so generous in near future.

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highsea

Negative. The RM-12 is assembled with GEAE provided kits. Volvo does manufacture several parts, fan and compressor discs, compressor spool, some case and afterburner parts, but not the complete engine.

It is most certainly subject to US restrictions, as are all weapons that use US built parts.

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Tin Man

Cheers Blade`, then why all the fuss? Just buy them! I know, it sounds easy, too easy.

Thanks KUKU for outlining the requirement. I hope they don`t change. In your quote, the MRCA is expected to perform medium ranged tactical ops`, not deep strike. Makes some sense looking at the contenders. Looking at the aircraft listed in your quote as contenders, the Mirage or Mig 29 look favourite to me. I don`t see anything specifying single engine, I wonder why I have seen that stated in so many editorials?

The French won`t cut off your supply, India already has Mirage infrastructure, India does plenty of business with Russia. If I had the choice, it would be F-16 or F-18, in a perfect world, but doesn`t seem popular over there and the infrastructure doesn`t exist.

When did the Typhoon and Rafale come into it? For a stopgap, these are very expensive. I am assuming Dassault and EURO` consortium came in with teasing offers.

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kuku

If IAF had that much independence to just buy something they might have had done so in 2000. Seems like the Bureaucrats and ministers make a major part of the decision.

That article is from 2005,
Right now the French have got tired of waiting for India to make up her mind and they are offering the Rafale, no more Mirage-2000, guess indian government should have let IAF go for the 126 mirage-2000 back in 2000-2002, now its too late, line is closed.
The Gripen is now a new Super Gripen.
The Russians are trying with a MiG-29 called the MiG-35.
USA still has the F-16 and F-18 to sell.
A new contender, the Eurofighter Typhoon is in the race.

And the situation has changed, the MMRCA will come online around the same time as the LCA, India has a dedicated vision for the next generation of fighter aircraft. I think the InAF will have different requirements now.

You are right does not make much sense to go with Typhoon or Rafale both are very expensive, F-16 and F-18 are from USA rather new to the IAF and the indian political and military establishment seems to be very sensitive about the type of contracts one has to sign to get US equipment, a customised MIG-35 will just make it almost a russian AF, Gripen will have the same disadvantage as the F-16 & F-18.
Its anyones guess right now.
Let us wait till the next central elections, they will play a very important role.

What chances of the whole compitition being scrapped off? I think the InAF will not let that happen.

Boy the InAF must be kicking itself, they could have had a deal for 126 Mirage-2000s between 2000-2005 if the government had supported them.

Blademaster

I think the IAF realized that once they commit to those planes, they are stuck with those planes for 30 years. Buying a 30 year old plane to last for 30 more years when it is obsolete compared to F-35, J-39, F-18 did not sound appealing to the IAF when the French made it clear that the requested upgrades to the avionic suites (which would allow at least some semi 4.5 generation compability) could not come with Mirages but only with Rafales.

Hence they decided to start looking at other options and see if they could get a better deal but then the gov't was changed and the whole process had to be started over.

Tin Man

KUKU, thanks for reminding me, the M-2000 line did close. Only Rafale available now from Dassault.

malaymishra123

To be simple enough...

It should be either the Typhoon or the Rafale.

sohamsri

i would like to remind everyone about the repercussions of the avoiding of mig-35 :

in a russian air show, pakistani officials had shown huge interest in it and were highly appreciative about it.

pakistan is inducting some russian stuff in their forces. example - mi-171sh, the combat transport helicopter.

In the one of the russian arms journals which i got from the defence expo, they clearly specified that if India does'nt want them, they will sell it to whoever wants them.

now thats something to give a thought about.... although the pakistanis will never dare to take in more russian stuff for the fear of losing the american support.

sohamsri

reasons ?

FullTank

malay the Rafale is expensive as it is..the typhoon is just toooo expensive..above the stretching limit for the IAF.

Thus it will only be the Rafale.

Agree its not as good as the Typhoon in some respects, but it meets all the the requirments of the mrca and is a very good fighter. Especially if you consider carrier based requirements the Rafale becomes even more attractive than the Typhoon.

Check out all the reasons for France to leave the consoritum and go their own way.

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kuku

If Pakistan is interested in inducting the MiG-35, we should encourage them to get it.

If Russia gets an opportunity to sell their planes to other nations, we should help them in whatever way we can, pretty soon both the nations might be marketing a plane together.

I do not think the Pakistanis worry so much about the Amerikans, in my opinion they both need each other.

kuku

It seems as if the IAF was interested in the Mirage-2000 right up to 2005.

Blademaster

Only used Mirage 2000s at a discounted price.

sohamsri

if they get the mig-35, we are dead.

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