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WHICH FIGHTER JET SHOULD INDIA BUY? Finally, the cat is out of the bag, so to speak! The Indian bigwigs have given the nod to the Air Force to float the tender (RFP) for 126 fighter aircraft. In the fray for the Indian order are the American F-16 and the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Russian MiG-35, the French Rafale, the European Eurofighter and the Swedish Gripen. We have also included the specifications of the French Rafale below. The IAF is likely to float the RPF by the end of July 2207. So now the sparring will start in right earnest. However, the acquisition process is likely to be long and stringent and a timeframe of 5 years before the first aircraft enters India is being projected. The MOD press release had this to say: "The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has cleared the process for the procurement of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force. During its meeting here today, the DAC debated various issues related to the initial purchase, transfer of technology, licensed production and life time maintenance support for the 126 MMRCA and gave the final go-ahead for the project. In pursuant to the recent assurance given by the Defence Minister for an early issue of the much awaited Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 126 fighter jets, the Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force officers have been working overtime to scrutinize all aspects of the RFP. In view of the size and operational importance of the likely purchase, the criteria for selecting the final MMRCA contender from amongst some of the best combat aircraft offered by American, Russian and European companies, has been fine tuned. The RFP would contain a selection model that would involve an exhaustive evaluation process as detailed in the Defence Procurement Procedures — 2006. The proposals from the likely contenders would first be technically evaluated by a professional team to check for compliance with IAF’s operational requirements and other RFP conditions. Extensive field trials would be carried out to evaluate the performance. Finally, the commercial proposal of the vendors, short-listed after technical and field evaluations, would be examined and compared. The aircraft are likely to be in service for over 40 years. The vendors are required to provide a life time support and performance based warranty for the aircraft. MoD officials have confirmed that great care has been taken to ensure that only determinable factors, which do not lend themselves to any subjectivity, are included in the commercial selection model. The selection would be transparent and fair. The DAC has approved that a majority of the MMRCA would be produced in India under transfer of technology. The vendor finally selected would also b e required to undertake offset obligations in India. It is expected that the ToT and offset contracts would provide a great technological and economic boost to the indigenous defence industries, which would include DPSUs, RURs and other eligible private sector industries. Foreign vendors would be provided great flexibility in effecting tie-up with Indian partners, for this purpose. There are three guiding principles for this procurement scheme. First, the operational requirements of IAF should be fully met. Second, the selection process should be competitive, fair and transparent, so that best value for money is realized. Lastly, Indian defence industries should get an opportunity to grow to global scales." Please send your comments to us at idc1@ispone.net; idc1@indiadefence.com, editor@indiadefence.com Comments. Click here to read the comments
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Jimmy John (jjperakatt@gmail.com) Perception 1: Neighbours Have It. Pakistan has experience in the US technologies while China has know how on the Russian stuff. Also Pakistan a close ally of Saudi Arabia is sure to get a good taste of the Eurofighter which S.A. is purchasing now. So the only option to go ahead clean will be Rafale. There can be a scenario where the French may provide Pakistan with Rafale since the French serve both India and Pakistan with weapons. This is more likely if France doesn't get any other orders. If such a threat perception is also considered then we are screwed. Only alternative is to ask French not to provide the weapon to China or Pakistan. They may accept if our order is for the expected 200-300 planes. Perception 2: Inventory Management. IAF clearly stated that reducing the different kind of fighter planes that it is currently handling is an important point it is looking into. From this point of view the America, Sweden and Eurofighter can be easily thrown out. Only the Russians and French will remain in the fight since we have Russian Mig 29 and French Mirage 2000 in our inventory already. The French may come up since IAF may decide that it wants to reduce the risk of depending on Russians (lazy fellows in providing maintenance parts). Perception 3: Fighting Capabilities. Eurofighter, Rafale and Mig 35 are Gen 4++ while F-16, F-18 are Gen 4. Gripen is in the same class as LCA so it may not have any chance to be the dark horse. F-16 will soon be seeing retirement throughout the world while F-18 will be there for another 20 yrs (Australia recently got 24 new version F-18) before its mass retirement will begin. Even though F-18 may see some additions in technology, F-16 program will not continue. But MMRCA needs to serve India for a good 40 yrs with good fighting skills for 30 yrs at least. American advantage is an operational AESA radar. But it may not be worth even for that since Russians and Europe will have a good AESA radar in 5 yrs. Also MMRCA contract says AESA is a must. The lure by Americans that opting for F-16/F-18 will be the first step for India to get a F-35 is absurd since India is going for PAK-FA and MCA as its 5th Gen aircrafts. Rafale has not yet even one foreign contact. What needs to be checked is whether is it a pure business failure (cost for technology) or a technological failure of the product. So in this case we may see a tight competition between Mig 35 and Eurofighter Typhoon while Rafale is the dark horse. One question mark: LCA will take the role of Mig 21 : Light weight category MMRCA, Mig29, Mirage 2000 multirole: Medium weight category Sukhoi 30 MKI Air superiority : Heavy weight category PAK-FA 5th Gen..Air Superiority : Heavy weight category So what about MCA? Is it going to be 5th Gen medium class aircraft that is to replace Mig 29 and Mirage 2000? Considering the 40 yrs life span of MMRCA, this will really be interesting if the MMRCA units to be purchased is to be near 300 units. Clayton Schneider, PO Box : 181, SAFAT 13002 Kuwait (apache1966@yahoo.com) Below are my personal views. Eurofighter: A good platform but has more against than for...as it is still evolving. Will not be available for quick induction due to the current order book. Comes with a very high cost. Will be a new platform and thus a problem for logistics and may not be available with full TOT. F-18: An excellent and matured platform but will be put out to pasture as soon as the F-35s start coming online so further development is in question. Its also a new platform and will add to the logistics burden, as well as its too expensive and will not come with full TOT as India desires. Carries the risk of sanctions. Its also used by a number of countries so strengths and tactics are well known. Rafale: A good fighter but AESA radar not yet developed and still does not have sufficient orders so will depend solely on the French investments for future development. The cost is another factor that goes against the rafale. Another point to consider is it could be sold to Pakistan in the future. Logistics burden being a new platoform. MIG-35: A very promising fighter considering Russia will support will full TOT. Shares certain tech and parts from MIG-29 so logistics will be less of a problem. Is possible to fuse with western armament and avaionics. No risk of sanctions but quality and timely delivery should be closely looked into. SAAB Gripen: An excellent buy for the price but too close to the LCA in its role and has a very limited range. Logistics and spares support will increase the cost of owners ship and may not cover all the requirements of the MRCA contract. F-16: Another matured platform but Pakistan already flies the same. Rumours abound that China has based their latest fighter on the F-16. No scope of future development as its phased out of the US airforce. Has completed its home run and faces retirement. So, all in all the Indian airforce has some tough decisions to make both as weaponising itself for its future needs is concerned as well as considering the political implications that will go with this purchase. To sum it up I would say the best is to split the purchase between the MIG-35 & the F-18. Invest in only 2 squadrons of F-18 (40-50 aircraft). This will not tie India down if there are sanctions at the same time will give an opportunity to sound the US out as a supplier and keep the communication lines open for future technology. India will have recourse to both the Russian and US AESA technology which can be used for its MCA platform under development. Politically it will satisfy both Russia and US who are vying to get India firmly on their side. Mr. Gurudatt S (guyfrom2006@gmail.com) My opinion is that we should not purchase any IMPORTED fighter (or buy only a limited number) and wait for some more time as technology is changing fast. Five years down the line Fighter aircrafts may be obsolete and unmanned drones may be more useful in delivering bombs and missiles which is what fighter aircrafts do. To intercept enemy fighters we can upgrade our missile and radar defences (Awacs is a good choice) with precision guided and anti-ballistic missile defences. To counter Pakistani and Chinese fighters (the most like adversaries we are going to face) we should go for mass production of LCAs. This will be cheaper than going for imported fighters. The ALH or advanced light helicopter has clearly demonstrated that we are more or less self reliant in this field. Same can be done by further developing the LCA into a world class interceptor. Anugreh Samuel (anugreh@gmail.com) India got to keep a few things in mind when she decides on the fighters: 1. India doesn't have money to buy very expensive aircrafts or waste money maintaining luxurious aircrafts. 2. India already has trained staff and machines tailor-made to maintain and support Russia-made aircrafts, and therefore, it would be easier and cheaper to buy a Russian aircraft. 3. India may not buy any more MMRCA aircrafts in the near future and she probably would have to manage with them for the next 30-35 years till there is a replacement; so she needs a fifth-generation or an equivalent fighter. 4. India needs an aircraft as quickly as possible given the time it takes for a deal to go through. Now India need not buy Grippen as it is equatable to the LCA. So it would be a waste of time, energy and money, if we still work on LCA after purchasing Grippens. Mig-35 is almost a 5th generation fighter. But it has the advantages for IAF that has already been mentioned in point No. 2. I am not against American aircrafts or Americans, but F-16s are turning obselete and they are, as Mayank mentioned, saction-ridden or come dragging strings attached to some other diplomatic requirements (vote against Iran or sign the 123 agreement). Would it be wiser that she delays the nuclear deal till the military deal has been decided on, if she buys American aircraft? Gunasena J S, Malaysia (gunasena_js@hotmail.com) India should go for the SAAB Grippen and a certain number of MiG - 35. Makes sense. Mary Anderson (andersoncr1@hotmail.com)
In consideration of the IAF
decision NOT to split the purchase, I would like to change my "vote" to
the French Rafale. Harsh Vallabh is on target with his assessment
regarding the Eurofighter, F-16, and F-18. Rafale is the only fighter Viva la France! Harsh Vallabh, Koyla Vihar, Burdwan Compoud, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Telephone=9835376191 (harsh963@gmail.com) This is a very damned sitiuation, which aircraft should india go for? My views are mentioned below: 1. Eurofighter - Very advanced 5th generation fighter with a-to-a and air to ground roles. It is very impressive. Against - If India goes for it the first aircraft would reach at least in 2015, because many countries (about 5) have till now ordered for about 550 pieces and the production rate is slow and delayed. Eurofighter is too expensive at about Rs 450 crore/aircraft. 2. MiG-35 - IAF has experience with MiG-29 as well. MiG-35 has got AESA radar. It is much comparable to Eurofighter. 3. Rafale - Its a perfect choice. Its the best of all in the race. Its service ceiling is 80,000 ft. It has good engines and its radar has look down-shoot down capability. Its my thinking that India should go for 126+70 more Rafales. If India purchases about 200 Rafales the balance in regional airpower should experience a tilt. 4. F-18 - It has only one good thing i.e. AESA radar. 5. F-16 and Gripen are poor material, completely outdated. Mary Anderson (andersoncr1@hotmail.com) IAF should opt for a mix of Saag Grippen and Mig 35, to optimize purchasing power. This would also provide another strategic advantage, as noted below. Mig 35 is an equal or better to any aircraft IAF will face now or in the future, especially if equipped with Israeli electronics. Payload and range provide ability to strike deep into enemy territory with modern weapons. However, this aircraft is dependent on fixed airbases, which would become prime targets in war. Enter the Saab Grippen, which could be stationed at numerous mobile sites around the country, changing places on a regular basis to confound enemy intelligence. Grippen can operate from normal paved roadways, and only requires a small ground crew for full maintenance and re-arming even in combat. I envision Grippen as "home protector", assuring the Mig 35's are not destroyed on the ground so they can deal a devastating blow to the enemy. Grippens will take on attackers, and remain "survivable" in any conflict. F-18's are old technolgy that US wants to dump before end of production run. Eurofighter is too expensive, and faces production delays and cost over-runs. Kuldip S Chager, 21882 E.Lake Ave, Tel: 03-947-5386, Fax=720-862-2515, (kchr@comcast.net) While we are around western nations, why don't we use 32F (SU30) engine and Redesign Mig27, Mirage, even LCA? Even LCA will be Mach 2.5 PLUS. Even Russia will colaborate. Single engine SU30. We have to try our resources. Mayank Kumar Singh (mayanksingh@fastmail.fm) Considering all other options the MiG-35 looks like the aircraft India should go for. It is both efficient and affordable and also configured for future upgrades. To top it all they are also offering Active Phased Array Radar on it now. A force of 126 MiG 35 would form a potent core of future IAF power. Americans are sanction prone and European machines are very costly if you consider the Gripen its almost like the LCA. In all the MiG is the clear winner. IAF shouldnt buy American jets just to appease them. Shashank Sinha (shanksinha@rediffmail.com)
It would be really very
unfortunate if the IAF goes in for the Eurofighter, they might as well
have selected the F-22 Raptor! This is a stopgap order and the only
sensible thing to do is stick with the types already in service. IAF
already operates more than half a dozen different combat types so what is
point of adding yet another new type to the logistical nightmare. A
fighter like any other weapon system requires a logistical and maintenance
The best bet unquestioningly remains the MiG-35. It is a four and half gen fighter with excellent capabilities and he maintenance grid already exists and so does pilot and crew familiarity. Even if you talk pure performance none of the contenders can hold off a modern fulcrum! Manish (monishmanwani@yahoo.com) 126 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT DEAL: Buying 126 aircraft which include the EUROFIGHTER, F-18, GRIPEN or MiG 35 is BULL CRAP. If you see the USA IS WORKING ON PUTTING THEIR F-35 AND F22 FIGHTER TO REPLACE THE F18 AND F16 . India should instead buy 86 aircraft and then focus rest of the money for developing a 5TH GENERATION aircraft possibly with Russia or individually, because Australia and Singapore will have their F35'S SOON and China is working on their 5th generation aircraft. |
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