And i can't help but think that this is because of the MoD looking at a very unique opportunity. Engine control is major issue for them. That alone is enough really.
Hi gogbot
True, the same engine for LCA MK2 and MMRCA would be a nice advantage for IAF in terms of maintenance and control like you said, but wouldn't we get the same if we choose GE 414 and F18SH? So we can't say that this is a reason for the EF to win MMRCA right? Imo IAF is not really taken the engine issue as a real important point for MMRCA, otherwise they would have invited the Kaveri - Snecma engine and the RD33 MK into the LCA engine competition too.
Moreover do you think that this advantage is enough to equalise the downsides of the EF for our forces?
- AESA radar not ready in time for at least the first squadron
- the weakest A2G capabilities of all MMRCAs
- the highest costs of all MMRCAs
- and no naval version available for IN
- all EF partners are reducing their orders and some even plan to cancell the T3B completelly, which makes the future development of the EF and further upgrades difficult
For LCA MK2 the EJ 200 engine would be a great addition, but just licence producing more foreign engines for MMRCAs does not really help our own industry, like Dash said, it's just a way for the EF partners to reduce costs by outsourcing parts of the production to India. If the EF partners instead would offer such a deal like the French did, to co-develop the Kaveri engine and integrate it in their fighters too it would be way more interesting deal.
For example 99 x EJ 200 for LCA MK2 and 36 x for the first EF squad, but all licence produced EF squads will get a co-developed Kaveri-EJ engine with 3D TVC and SC features.
That is one reason I prefer the Rafale deal, because it offers not only licence production of foreign parts, but the possibility to integrate indigenous parts too and that should be the aim of these deals. Not to remain a simple buyer, or producer of foreign parts only, but to get as much involvement as possible, be it in terms of partnerships, or through co-developments / JVs.