India will not select Super hornet or F-16: (My strong opinion)
Currently India has not signed CISMoA agreement with US and until India signs it US will not give any of the sensitive avionics like it did with the C-130J (
Livefist - Indian Defence & Aerospace: EXCLUSIVE: No CISMOA? Here's What They're Pulling From The Indian C-130J). There are some rules the US will NOT give up for India as it will have to do the same with other countries it does defense business (e.g. Pakistan). At the same time, India CANNOT sacrifice its sovereignty and safety to please the US and accept compromised aircrafts (F16 or FA/18-Superhornet).
In addition, India recently signed big defense deal (~10 billions) which promises over 50,000 new jobs in US, this should satisfy and please US very well. Lets remember these are 126 multi-role fighter aircrafts (option of getting 74 more if needed) are being procured to defend and protect the country. India will not like to compromise on any tech here.
India wants 18 aircrafts from the manufacturer (ready and not promises of future roadmap for upgrades) and the remaining will be built under license with a transfer of technology (ToT) by HAL. If India buys either F16 or Superhornet, without signing CISMoA, can it get a complete deal without any restrictions? Can the US provide the desired ToT? Desired missiles? NO!!!!! Can the US allow modifications and repair work done in India (by HAL) or will India have to pay to fly engineers from Boeing or Lockheed for repairs? Don't know?
In addition, India or for that case any country does not want any multiplicity of having many different aircrafts in the fleet. Even IAF chief has said this (
Livefist - Indian Defence & Aerospace: Multiplicity Of Fighter Inventory A Nightmare: IAF Chief).
So, to summarize: India will not risk its SAFETY and SOVEREIGNTY with F-16 or Super hornet and Since India has already signed a big defense deal with US (and pleased it), considering it will not sign CISMoA by March 2011 (when the MMRCA will be finalized), INDIA will NOT go for either F16 or Superhornets. Even though Gripen is a good aircraft, has many US parts making it a risk, so unlikely to be selected further.
So that leaves Mig-35, Rafale and Eurofighter. I remember when India got Sukhoi (Su-30) many were unhappy, but look at it now! After many changes and upgrades it has become a formidable (Su-30 MKI).
Every aircraft which is equipped with several electronic gadgets develops some snags or errors and is prone to crashes and it is not limited to Eurofighter, Rafale or F16. If you point out Rafale/Eurofighter recently crashed then here's recent news that says Israel's F16 also crashed (
Israeli fighter jet crashes during training, crew missing).
Even the so called and revered F-22 Raptor was brought down: On Nov. 18, a Chinese submarine shot down a Canadian F18 and a U.S. F22 Raptor (
Brazil Times: Blog: Twice is Coincidence)
So lets not point out at any crash if its not any repeated known technical failures.
I welcome any peaceful and logical critiques or arguments.