India to Diversify Air Force With Local, Russian Aircraft - Air Staff Chief

[rockstar08]

Well thats a better idea for sure to go for 100+ Rafales but I don't think its economical anymore as that will cost not less than 20 Billion dollar. I wish we would have reached deal back in 2011-13 but blame the Indian politicians or 'babu' culture we lost there. Now its best to go for minimum Rafale requirement ( 36-72) and go for more MKIs( for around 1/3rd of cost of Rafale) to compensate the Original Rafale numbers. Also once MKIs are upgraded, they will be as good as Rafales.

agree that the IAF many deals were delayed as hell .. but still you guys have time to purchase Rafale in good numbers ..
Rafale is Multi role Fighter and MKI is Air superiority if i am not wrong .. both have different roles ..
IAF purchase will depend on IAF future strategy and doctrines ..

 

[Harisudan]

It could mean pak fa is still a long way .
Looking at the numbers, it seems a wish list of required numbers.
I guess for make in India .

I don't think we need Pak- Fa..we already have heavy class fighters up and running in good numbers..
We need a stealth Multi role fighter of medium weight category... we should focus on AMCA..

 

[kaykay]

agree that the IAF many deals were delayed as hell .. but still you guys have time to purchase Rafale in good numbers ..
Rafale is Multi role Fighter and MKI is Air superiority if i am not wrong .. both have different roles ..
IAF purchase will depend on IAF future strategy and doctrines ..

Yeah we seriously lack true multirole fighters in numbers. Only 50 Mirage2Ks are what we have as of now as true multirole fighters. Even though MKIs are meant to play the role of a multirole too( thanks to its range and weapon package+load) but as you said they are primarily meant for air superiority.
And bro its not about time but money. If we go for 100+ Rafale deal in one go, expect many deals to stuck in limbo like more AWACS, Refuellers, Transport aircrafts etc due to lack of funds. I think MoD is cutting Rafale size to ensure others to go smooth. Anyway at the end we'll have to do with 50 mirages+ 36/72 Rafales as multirole fighters.

 

[desimorty]

Well India cant afford the Rafale or the Tech transfer. Why bother building a swing role aircraft when India has 2 options for all its needs. The Tejas and MKI.
Whats the difference between MKI and rafale? minimal. And the advantages of MKI are good aswell, as the MKI still has potential for further growth which the Rafale will have issues with as well.

 

[rockstar08]

Yeah we seriously lack true multirole fighters in numbers. Only 50 Mirage2Ks are what we have as of now as true multirole fighters. Even though MKIs are meant to play the role of a multirole too( thanks to its range and weapon package+load) but as you said they are primarily meant for air superiority.
And bro its not about time but money. If we go for 100+ Rafale deal in one go, expect many deals to stuck in limbo like more AWACS, Refuellers, Transport aircrafts etc due to lack of funds. I think MoD is cutting Rafale size to ensure others to go smooth. Anyway at the end we'll have to do with 50 mirages+ 36/72 Rafales as multirole fighters.

agreed ... janab i would never say that IAF should go for 100+/- Order for Rafale in one go , you can buy it over the time .. but its a shame that this deal has taken too much time ,and lets say you start getting Rafale ( 36 ) after 2018 , than again more 2 years of procurement right ? your Pilots needs flying hours to be mature on this new platform, Of course your Pilots have experience on M2K's but it wont be similar right ?
lets agree on 50 M2k's and 36-72 Rafale , still along with 250+ MKI wont be easy to Tackle IAF in their own territory .. the only Chance PAF will have ,if we buy more F-16's block 52's , lets say 36... and with that , buy Chinese Variant of S-300 which HQ-9 , in large numbers ... and some AWAC's , only than PAF can fight as a defensive force within their air space ..
but as we see Rafale deal is getting delay, so we have time to make up our minds or convince US for more F-16's MLU's or new block 52's ..

 

[migflug]

We should go for su35 instead of 30. Su35 is far better and share commonality with it. However rafale would be the first choice for next decade . And if we are going for su30 then what happened to Reliance dassault plant

 

[kaykay]

We should go for su35 instead of 30. Su35 is far better and share commonality with it. However rafale would be the first choice for next decade . And if we are going for su30 then what happened to Reliance dassault plant

Su-35s are more or less but as costly as Rafales. Best is to go for MKIs and later upgrade it with AESA and other goodies like RCS reduction with Russians( as planned). After upgrades, its as good as Su-35.

 

[sudhir007]

So what are the cost of MKI and is it possible to buy super MKI rather then buy and later upgrade them.
From the current production rate HAL will only start new order between 2019-20 at that time possibility is much more to go 4 PAK-FA

 

[INDIAISM]

So what are the cost of MKI and is it possible to buy super MKI rather then buy and later upgrade them.
From the current production rate HAL will only start new order between 2019-20 at that time possibility is much more to go 4 PAK-FA

Depends wether you are importing them or they are manufactured by HAL..Their was an article few years back that Su 30mki Imported fron Russia are around 10 million $ cheaper then Su 30 manufactured by HAL.....

 

[Abingdonboy]

Now its best to go for minimum Rafale requirement ( 36-72) and go for more MKIs( for around 1/3rd of cost of Rafale)

Do you think a Rafale costs >$300mn USD per unit then? The latest prodcution spec MKIs will not be vastly cheaper than the Rafale. I won't comment on what unit cost the IAF's Rafales will be right now but the latest MKIs are costing the IAF close to (if not a tad more) $100mn USD each- a Super MKI with Brahmos ALCM launching capabilty will be much more.

Also once MKIs are upgraded, they will be as good as Rafales.

Absolute nonsense my friend. Some new avionics and weapons won't change the fact that the MKI was NEVER meant to be a low level deep strike fighter like the Rafale is. The MKI is an outright air dominace fighter (by the IAF's own lexicon) and is simply not ceritfied to fly low level strike missions nor is it suited to do so. The MKI, no matter what standard, is not a substitute for the Rafale and this is why the Rafale WILL be ordered in large numbers by the IAF.

Su-35s are more or less but as costly as Rafales. Best is to go for MKIs and later upgrade it with AESA and other goodies like RCS reduction with Russians( as planned). After upgrades, its as good as Su-35.

Why are you under the impression that the MKI, with something like 89-90% comminality with the Su-35S, is significantly cheaper than the "expensive" -35S?

 

[sudhir007]

Depends wether you are importing them or they are manufactured by HAL..Their was an article few years back that Su 30mki Imported fron Russia are around 10 million $ cheaper then Su 30 manufactured by HAL.....

So what are the benefit if we manufacture this at home. if labor cost is low
Hi @sathya
It look like the current scenario of our GoI is Make in India not Developed in India.

 

[sathya]

So what are the benefit if we manufacture this at home. if labor cost is low
Hi @sathya
It look like the current scenario of our GoI is Make in India not Developed in India.

After looking at the complexities, my bet is on Parrikar.

 

[Jai Bharat]

So what are the benefit if we manufacture this at home. if labor cost is low

Two reasons.

1. To keep the manufacturing base and experience, which are invaluable for building a Military Industrial Complex. Those skills and technology can be applied to other aircraft.

2. Also, all military spending on indigenous equipment ends up going straight back into the country and helps the economy and high tech private firms, which are sorely lacking in India.

 

[TopCat]

India could give JF-17 export version a try..

 

[gslv mk3]

India could give JF-17 export version a try..

You can try this