IAF mulls F-35 order

[Zarvan]

AX-5, the first Japanese-assembled F-35A was unveiled in Nagoya Japan on June 05, 2017. The aircraft was built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) F-35 Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility operated with technical assistance from Lockheed Martin and oversight from the U.S. Government | Photo: Lockheed Martin/Thinh Nguyen

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering the possibility of an order for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, according to sources in the Ministry of Defence.

With deliberations at an early stage, it is understood the IAF will be writing to ask for more information on the fifth generation fighter.

India has been involved with the development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) – a version of the Russian PAK-FA/Sukhoi-57 fighter, but the IAF has lately been concerned about the uncertain prospects of the program.

The IAF has also been contemplating a new contest for a single engine fighter between the Saab Gripen and the Lockheed Martin F-16 under the provisions for strategic partnerships incorporated in Chapter 07 of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). However, no Request For Information (RFI) has been forthcoming so far. StratPost also understands there is new thinking on this, with the possibility that the Government of India might forego a tender process in favour of a direct, government-to-government order for an aircraft.

Although the F-16 and the Gripen have been the favourites for the IAF, not least because of their Make in India proposal to set up assembly lines for the aircraft in India, it remains undecided if this new move is intended to replace or supplement plans for either a Make in India fighter aircraft assembly line in India or the FGFA program.

At any rate, there will be several issues to resolve before a conversation can take place on an Indian F-35 order.

Read the first part of our analysis that examines whether the time is right for the two countries to finally have a discussion on a potential Indian order of the F-35 fifth generation fighter aircraft: Will the U.S. & India finally talk about the F-35?

Read a breakdown of the issues that need to be resolved for the two countries to have discussions on a potential Indian fleet of F-35 aircraft, in the concluding part of our analysis:Enabling Indo-U.S. dialogue on the F-35

https://www.stratpost.com/iaf-mulls...tter&utm_campaign=Feed:+stratpost+(StratPost)

 

[Water Car Engineer]

If FGFA falls through, F35 would be a great alternative.

 

[GodToons]

Interesting to note that 2013 news gets plugin again in 2018. What is reason?

 

[bananarepublic]

A great choice for IAF a mature platform plus it could also mean as a way to become more cozy with the western bloc

 

[Imran Khan]

Look japan did it so can we lolllz

 

[Kinetic]

Look japan did it so can we lolllz

We need Amriki JSF and Russi S-400 to deal with JF-17.

Yeah we can. India is now exporter of cars just like Japan.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/loc...uilt-fighter-jets-to-be-made-in-india-1802538


Lockheed offered F-35 earlier as well.

 

[K0pa_Shamsu]

how many F-16 are they buying?AFAIK it would be on card if they buy F-16,i dnt think murikka will be interested otherwise ,and wat about TOT?

 

[faithfulguy]

how many F-16 are they buying?AFAIK it would be on card if they buy F-16,i dnt think murikka will be interested otherwise ,and wat about TOT?

Forget about TOT with F-35. The answer will be “Hell no” and India know it. Even the PDF Indian.

US would charge a premium as India would ruin the reputation of F-35 with shoddy maintenance.

 

[anant_s]

how many F-16 are they buying?

None!

AFAIK it would be on card if they buy F-16,i dnt think murikka will be intereste

Lockheed Martin wants to get rid of its production line of F-16 with no orders expected in name of most advanced F-16 to India. Honestly speaking this Single Engine Fighter program is now looking more and more a figment of imagination and its safe to assume that Government has given a choice of either [LCA + Rafale] or [LCA+SEF]. there simply can't be two foreign bidders supplying two platform in simultaneously.
Now this

offer of F-35 after F-16 by LM won't go much distance given India isn't desperate for a Gen V fighter (especially in half baked condition). India can wait for both FGFA and F 35, given one platform is atleast 5 years away from IOC (FGFA will take even longer) and one having waiting list of minimum 6-7 years. So best to direct focus of available technologies at hand viz Rafale (irrespective of what ill informed people and agents of other arm companies say, it is a massively capable fighter) and introduce LCA.
at the end of five years if AMCA has progressed further, take a call again.
Under the situation, India would do very well to form its strategies around Rafale and Su 30 MKI. France is inducting Rafale as single platform for variety of roles and i don't think of a reason (budgets permitting), why India shouldn't do the same.
@Abingdonboy @Taygibay

 

[K0pa_Shamsu]

None!

Lockheed Martin wants to get rod of its production line of F-16 with no orders expected in name of most advanced F-16 to India. Honestly speaking this Single Engine Fighter program is now looking more and more a figment of imagination and its safe to assume that Government has given a choice of either [LCA + Rafale] or [LCA+SEF]. there simply can't be two foreign bidders supplying two platform in simultaneously.
Now this View attachment 449672 offer of F-35 after F-16 by LM won't go much distance given India isn't desperate for a Gen V fighter (especially in half baked condition). India can wait for both FGFA and F 35, given one platform is atleast 5 years away from IOC (FGFA will take even longer) and one having waiting list of minimum 6-7 years. So best to direct focus of available technologies at hand viz Rafale (irrespective of what ill informed people and agents of other arm companies say, it is a massively capable fighter) and introduce LCA.
at the end of five years if AMCA has progressed further, take a call again.
Under the situation, India would do very well to form its strategies around Rafale and Su 30 MKI. France is inducting Rafale as single platform for variety of roles and i don't think of a reason (budgets permitting), why India shouldn't do the same.
@Abingdonboy @Taygibay

Well in that case "make in india" will take a hit,because it is very unlikely any country is gonna share fighter jet tech.
What about that?is it going to be all based on buying?

Forget about TOT with F-35. The answer will be “Hell no” and India know it. Even the PDF Indian.

US would charge a premium as India would ruin the reputation of F-35 with shoddy maintenance.

that is considering there will be something left to maintain if they don't blow it up while taking off
on a serious note,i do not believe murikka is gonna share any F-X tech with any country except some screw tightening class

 

[RowdyRathore]

We need Amriki JSF and Russi S-400 to deal with JF-17.

LOL, too much

 

[anant_s]

Well in that case "make in india" will take a hit,because it is very unlikely any country is gonna share fighter jet tech.

I couldn't get your question correctly, but assume you are talking of Rafale.
Dassault has formed a Joint Venture with Reliance Aerospace for possible production of Rafale in India, beyond 36 (+18 Reserve) contracted. Eventual order of Rafale could grow upto 150 (or more if IN too selects them) and hence Dassault can produce them in India.
As far as SEF or Fifth Generation fighter is concerned, the fact remains that India will not order more than 5-6 Squadrons (roughly 90-110) in any case. This value could be even lower if FGFA doesn't go forward and India has to buy F-35, in which case 60-70 fighters and in this case while there will be NO ToT (Directly), the best we can hope for is setting up of regional maintenance facilities. But truly all this is very hazy at the moment.

is it going to be all based on buying?

Probably!

 

[Taygibay]

If FGFA falls through, F35 would be a great alternative.

Yeah, that's the way to look at it!
As Anant_S pointed out above, the IAF has a main mount
in the SU-30 all of which are not in yet and a new fave
in small numbers coming and a project that needs TLC.

But as the FGFA option soured due to development delays
also incurred by the F-35, the timelines are now convergent.

I wouldn't say alternative then but rather competitor. India
should pit them at each other despite the differences. SU-57
offers more transfer of lesser technology vs less transfer of
better technology for the F-35. Then again the ToT route exists
for the former & is yet to create ( LSA-CISMOA-BECA ) with the latter.

Let's be honest, if the LCA had been on time,
this news would have fallen flat on its face.

Great day all, Tay.

 

[Last Samuri]

Just agree deal with France for more rsfales.

Mass induct tejss

Upgraded mki programme to super mki

I would see

250+ super mki
125 tejss mark one and one a
120 rafales

As the optimum air force

 

[randomradio]

There is no truth to this article.

If the IAF evinced interest in the F-35, then we will all know through multiple media outlets, not one opinion piece.