@PARIKRAMA Bro is this an accurate news??? or we are just wasting the time?
See the timeline of PAKFA and PMI (FGFA) was recently leaked by an insider in a russian forum which i did post in FGFA sticky.. His explanations in that forum about each prototype seems reasonable to me as i am looking from a outside perspective and we dont have any means to verify. But according to that schedule Russia had revised the PAKFA development plan as well as 12-20 serial production birds will enter service before 2019. and also they will handover 4 protos for PMI (FGFA) during the same period. Thats the crux of the matter and requires signing from India for R&D and firm order commitment for costing purposes.
Now issue is two fold
1. PAKFA at present is getting developed for Russian doctrine where they want a long range powerful machine which has both stealth, speed, maneuverability and on top strong long range weapons.. The answer is pretty clear for whom such a bird is getting designed.. I mean F35/F22 combination is the only thing in mind.
For us, its the other way, we are clear we wont face actual F22/F35 combo but rather a swarm of 4th and 4.5th gen bird and a sizeable amount of 5th gen mix of lower specs of F22/F35 type combinations. Thus, from the perspective of IAF, the weightage of few points may be more then RuAF which now is not getting addressed. At present PAKFA is a complete RuAF doctrine developed bird...
2. The access to information about this program even at highest levels is somewhat limited. The reason being of course secrecy but also because priority is RuAF version whereas the original plan was a mother prototype branching to PAKFA and FGFA from T50 platform. Of course GOI (whichever gov party) is also to be blamed as we did sit and not ran after Russian governments to see that workshare and other things are implemented. We did sleep when from T50 platform PAKFA protos started coming out and here we were not knowing at all what to do. In simple words, we kind of back ended the FGFA program and front ended the PAKFA for RuAF.. its our fault of course..
Some may argue the 5th Gen tech is not completely matured and engine is also under development.. True but if I30 engines come online in 36 months, will our protos be there which can start getting fitted with that engine? was it not more logical to check our protos with AL41 or any other engine (4th gen or 4.5th gen) to validate the specs in other aspects and do a more profound parallel development. We bungled up there.. There had been talks stating some Russian engineers clearly stating Indian aircraft manufactring hub cannot develop PAKFA like program and hence been kept out. We cant blame anyone for that as since we did not act in time, anyone can give any logic to support their individual actions.. But i do add honestly, our MIC still is at least 5-10 years away from actual handling of 5th gen tech and that i cannot deny especially if HAL continues as what it does atm and dont go through any transformation..
I think RM MP now going to Russia can provide some more insight whats really the insight status of true FGFA..
One thing is clear Russians want three things clearly
1. R&D contract signature and release of funds
2. Showcasing orders export to IAF and minimum 120-150 orders for a mix of seats
3. Signing shows in Modi Putin meet to show India Russia relationship and showcase to West especially USA that Russia will get a big pie of military contratc for some good amount in future come what may ( and say sanctions dont work on us)
The issue in RM MP hands specifically for RM MP and FM Jaitley pertaining to just IAF (basic) are
1. Rafale finance tranches planning
2 FGFA R&D and development plan
3. Super Sukhoi program (MLU) cost estimated to be $50-55 Mn dolls per bird with a contract value of 13.6-15 Bn$ out of which first batch 80 means a straight forward payment of $4+ Bn. Again that may be staggered as per the birds going in for MLU...
4. MTA program talks and again some investment to get some results as AN32 replacement plan B is not though of as of now.
They need to sit down and see how best they can plan the release of funds in a comprehensive foolproof 5-10 years plan.. and still leave scope for much more procurements..
This article is a rehash of information nothing else actually..as i stated Defensenews June 2015 article where 154 frames word was quoted by Raghuvanshy...