4. US MIC, LM is happy as they can keep selling, upgrading and making F16s, 5 Psychological bcz PAF operates a blk 52 and India will operate a much modern block and building it in India.
Pakistan Defence
PARIKRAMA
If quality and long term prospects is thought then its Gripen E, bcz it enables the MIC to evolve and incorporate the technologies (if it can share) for our domestic program and gives a very hi end single engine fighter. I actually club both rafale and Gripen E as 4.75 Gen or just below 5th gen bcz of what they bring to the battlefield in terms of capabilities
PARIKRAMA
But Gripen E is costly and their actual scheduled FOC is closer to 2022/23 and MII line will be later as well. So they cant immediately address squadron numbers. But Gripen E and Rafale together can boost our MIC in a big manner + HAL based FGFA and make AMCA not a dream but reality . Challenge is price and willpower to do this
Skull and Bones
Don't you think Gripen will kill Tejas?
PARIKRAMA
Indeed it will surely. The technological levels between the two, the scope in future and already the experience of previous Gripen model will win IAF accolades hands down. Thats why i foreign in the first part. If suppose we wish domestic then its better we use a much better evolved version of LCA Mk2 and incorporate certain big breakthrough changes
PARIKRAMA
One of that could be redesigning the plane all together . Another could be heavily borrowing from LSA (vstol) concept. The third option would be using Kaveri and expeerience of Dassault folks and redesign a new version of LCA say LCA NG incorporating present spectra , RBE2 Aesa and
Bcz
1. Price wishe F16 will be much cheaper than Gripen E, 2. Quicker availability if we go for some quick jets off the shelf and some more under MII, 3.Geo strategic leverage of USA being happy that we bought their jets and are now compelled to back us up against China and Pakistan,