I think they want AMCA for the strinke role and the replacement of Mig-27 and Jaguar in the coming decades , probably after 2020.
Yes that was the first intention, but special capabilities could it offer for strike that FGFA and a UCAV (Aura) couldn't?
See the difference in F22 and F35 is, twin engine geared for air superiority (SC, TVC, manouverability, speed) vs. single engine fighters, which has strike in mind and therefor an internal weapon bay, that can carry several A2G weapons. FGFA and AMCA instead, will both be twin engine fighters with TVC and I doubt that AMCA could carry more weapons than the FGFA will in its 2 weapon bays.
Also FGFA will come from 2018 onwards and 250 are expected to be replaced. Upgraded, to remain in service till 2025 will be 36x Mig 27, 69x Mig 29, 51x Mirage and up to 100 Jaguars, so in numbers FGFA will replace these fighters anyway right?
The moment you make LCA stealth and try to make it like F-35,there is no other option other than using two engines..we will need atleast 150KN thrust for such a plane..where will we get an engine like this..and spending money again to develop such engine will result in waste of time and money.
Isn't it better to use two Kaveri in place of one imported engines..
No jha, my intention was never to make it similar to F35, exactly because F35 is a medium class fighter. My point was, with FGFA and Aura for the heavier strike roles, wouldn't it make more sense to have a light and cost-effective redesign of LCA for the light strike roles, instead another medium class twin engine fighter for nearly the same roles as FGFA and the UCAV?
Like this:
Heavy strikes with Brahmos, or 1500 Kg KAB bombs for example - FGFA
Heavy deep penetration strikes - UCAV
SEAD - UCAV
Medium to heavy strikes MMRCA and MKI
CAS an light strikes - stealthy LCA M3 and LCA MK2
As you can see, AMCA would be in class, or strike capabilities exactly just like aircrafts we already have, or will get anyway, so why bother with high development and operational costs?
Also if some of the early reports of Pak Fa / FGFA are true, we asked the Russians for a smaller single engine redesign of Pak Fa, which they denied. So wouldn't that also speak more for a stealthy LCA, instead of AMCA?
It's just a general question, to get some other views (brainstorming) about what would be the better choice for IAF beyond 2020, especially in terms of operational benefit of such a fighter, so maybe we could discuss this, before talking about details, what do you think?