The link you quote talks about the service life of the engine. 4K hours service life of the RD-33MK is when the F-16 engine is up for the 2nd overhaul (done at 2K intervals) with a total life on the GE F110 engines of around 8000 hours. As such there is a big difference in the longevity of the Western engines with that of Russian ones.
I also think that Russian engines are not as good as western in maintenance, but I think the new versions aren't that far away. Btw 8000h for GE F110, or do you mean the total service life for F16? The newer GE 414 engine that the LCA MK2 could get is sometimes reported with 7 - 8000h, so I have some doubts that older engines could serve the same time. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but PAFs F16 doesn't have GE engines right? Block 15 and 52 normally use P&W engines.
HAL will be assembling engines. There is a difference between production and assembly...you need to get spares and kits for the latter. Its a costly affair with dependence on supplier for timely delivery of components.
No not only assembling, HAL is manufacturing Russian designed engines for some years and also makes the overhauling of the engines.
Exactly because IAF don't want to be too dependant on Russian components we produce more and more parts in India. Reports say Su 30 MKI will be produced completely (airframe, engines, avionics...) in India by next year.
Possible, however all news reports seems to be pointing to fact that if a new Mig-29/35 deal goes through, the existing aircraft and their upgrades would be different from the MMRCA Mig-35s. But you could be right on the commonality.
First of all Mig 35 for IAF is hypothetical, why not think about already ordered fighters. The upg Mig 29 of IAF and the new Mig 29K of IN (16 - 45) will have the same Zhuk ME radar, same upgrades on OLS and weapons and most likely same avionics too. Also upg MKI and FGFA are planed with commonality to reduce costs, most likely with same Klimov S117 engines, similar avionics and weapons. So IAF and IN clearly are looking for less difference and lower maintenance costs.
The Erieye would negate the advantage of the MKI radar given the profile that we would most commonly see the PAF fly. Air defence missions are usually always flown under positive radar coverage. For strike etc., you do require aircraft with their own AI capability however if the past is a precedence to go by, at least PAF aircraft will be conducting most sorties to support air defence missions over own airspace. Not discounting the need for AI radars, but I think there will be considerable redundancy in the near future.
That's what I said, when PAF will have all planed AWACS aircrafts inducted the advantage of IAF will be equalised, but this will take some time. Till that the MKI/Phalcon AWACS combination gives clearly superiority in this field and BVR combats.
That's why I don't see the induction of new F16 as a big problem for IAF, because they won't make a big difference, but the situational awareness advantage with AWACS will be a much greater benefit for PAF and I guess that's why Antony is pushing Russia for faster development of Pak Fa/FGFA and that's also why I expect a fighter with very low RCS to win MMRCA.
However, I think we've gone to far. Back to topic!
