Posted at: Sep 25, 2016, 12:57 AM; last updated: Sep 25, 2016, 2:48 PM (IST)
Rafale to widen arch of operations
MoD working on multiple options, next 5-6 yrs crucial for Air Force to induct technology
The first of the Rafales will start coming in by September 2019 and the full fleet shall be operational by April 2022. File photo
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 24
Equipped with the latest missiles which widen the arch of offensive operations, the Rafale fighter will be a potential game-changer for India’s airborne capability on several fronts.
India has signed a contract with France to buy 36 such jets at a cost of Rs 58,828 crore, a huge sum but modern technology does not come cheap.
Chiefly the Rafale will provide: dependability of having the very latest technology-backed air-strike platform; ability to hit enemy targets which are further away due to its flight radius of some 1,000 km; be available for five sorties per day instead of three of the Sukhoi 30 MKI; a new set of onboard radars to help pilots navigate and also strike; a new set of missiles that hit targets further away; and infusion of new technology in the Indian Air Force that is presently operating at its lowest level of fighter jets in the past decade.
The Rafale will bridge the shortfall of the fast-dwindling fighter squadrons. India needs 45 fighter squadrons to counter a combined threat from Pakistan and China.
Currently, it has only 33, where each squadron has 18-20 jets. Of these, the vintage MiG-21 and MiG-27 form 11 squadrons. The Sukhoi 30-MKI populates 10 squadrons, the 1970s design British Jaguar six, followed by French Mirage 2000 and Soviet Union’s MiG-29 in two and three squadrons, respectively. The last three are being upgraded with better missiles and avionics.
Rafale will be in some ways be superior to what the Chinese presently have in their arsenal, but Beijing is producing its own platforms and weapons and with the next generation J-20 fighter jet getting established,
India will need to carry forward its plans rapidly and catch up with Beijing over the next five-six years by widening its ‘make in India’ footprint.
The first of the Rafales will start coming in by September 2019 and the full fleet shall be operational by April 2022. In the intervening period, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) led by Manohar Parrikar, needs to focus on a multi-pronged approach to meet future needs. The Rafale deal was negotiated for 18 months – ‘lightning fast’ going by MoD’s record.
As the good news filters in, the MoD is already working on multiple options –
at least four of which are known – to bridge the technology gap of the IAF and add newer planes.
- The first is to quickly induct the 106 Tejas “Mark-1A”. The MoD has set a 2018 deadline for the first aircraft to be ready with a target to complete its production by 2022-23.
- The second is to have an additional assembly line of Indian-made fighter jets. This could be a joint venture with a US or European company setting up a plant in collaboration with an Indian partner.
- The third is completion of the production schedule of 272 of the Sukhoi 30-MKI, expected by 2020.
- The fourth is to ink an agreement with Russia to co-develop and produce a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with stealth features and the works.
The Sukhois were ordered in phases since 1997, the IAF wants 272 of these in its fleet by 2020. The agreement for the FGFA is expected to be inked when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet next month.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/rafale-to-widen-arch-of-operations/300365.html
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Comments
I have said this before
https://defence.pk/threads/dassault...ussions-thread-2.230070/page-351#post-8704512
If the
article above is correct, then point 2
The second is to have an additional assembly line of Indian-made fighter jets. This could be a joint venture with a US or European company setting up a plant in collaboration with an Indian partner
Seems to suggest a straight shootout situation as
- F18SH vs Rafale ( USA vs European)
- F16 vs Rafale vs Gripen (USA vs European)
Interesting to note, first option of F18 is not accepted by IAF as of now
Second option is basically a LWF Single engine vs twin Engine MWF/DPSA
In both sense logic, rationality and the MII investments couple with Eric Trappier words indicate the choice is Rafale.
Yet i would love to see rationale of using either other american options (F16/F18) or Gripen instead of Rafale. This brings us to the important second part of the equation.
In my observation for Rafale M and interaction with vstol, we discussed the following
IF what you read above is basically the scope of IN order and its basically much sooner in the horizon owing to inadequate fleet for the carriers.
This opens up the scope of debate further, bcz these orders may be again from Merignac only unless the first MII order is Rafale M (highly unlikely). We know surely the F16/F18/Gripen E are not qualified for STOBAR config ACC.
On top, if supposing say 3 squadrons of 16 aircraft and 6 twin seater are ordered thats 54 odd Rafale Ms. Bascially 90 aircrafts from Merignac Line. Unless of course we order 45 Mig29Ks between now and 2017.
This makes me wonder, why is mainstream media still believing that a US jet or may be another European jet actually is running for a MII line, the likes of LM, Boeing and Saab....
Again all as per the report which does not mention a second LWF which i believe is a possibility if LCA Mk2 is shelved or delayed or the foreign aircraft /LSA is rechristened as LCA Mk2 with some basic changes.
@Abingdonboy @anant_s @Picdelamirand-oil @Vergennes @Taygibay @R!CK @Armani @GuardianRED @surya kiran @Ankit Kumar 002 @Nilgiri @hellfire @Spectre @randomradio @litefire @dadeechi @[Bregs] @BON PLAN @CNL-PN-AA @Skull and Bones @MilSpec @SpArK
By any chance Am I missing something here?
![[Bregs]](/data/avatars/m/148/148509.jpg?1491816884){kind=avatar}
. just saying f 35 is superior to f 22 in most cases except stealth even that is questionable(At optimal frequencies, the F-35 compares favorably to the F-22 in stealth, according to General Mike hostage, Commander of the Air combat command) .
