India wants a ride on the T-50

[$@rJen]

India wants a ride on the T-50
PublishedSeptember 17, 2015 | Byadmin

SOURCE: Vzglyad.

“Prior to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s December visit to Moscow, we would like Russia to allow Indian Air Force test pilots the opportunity to test the fifth generation PAK FA in flight. We are now examining all options for collaborating in this project – from joint production to direct purchase of 60-65 airplanes from Russia. To make a final decision we would like to know its flying and technical characteristics in practice,” a source from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) told the Economic Times, reports TASS.

The source also commented that “India, without a doubt, needs a fifth generation fighter that combines all modern technologies and improvements such as stealth, high maneuverability, speed, and also reserve characteristics “for the future”.

According to the MOD representative, an alternative to the Russian T-50 could be the American F-35, which is also undergoing final tests. “However, India has often ignored hints from the USA regarding the possible delivery of this aircraft”, the representative said.

In 2007 Russia and India concluded an inter-governmental agreement for joint production of the T-50. In December 2010, India earmarked $295 million for the project.

“However, three years ago, India slowed down the project, reducing its original order for 166 single-seater and 48 two-seater fighters to 127 single-seater PAK FAs,” said the military official. However, the total cost of the PAK FA for India is about $25 billion for supply of all 127 aircraft”.

“The agreement on the technical details, costs and supply schedule for the fighters might further delay the signing of a final contract for the joint production of the PAK FA, by which both parties must provide $5.5 billion” he said. “For this reason, India is examining the possibility of purchasing ready-made fighters from Russia in order to receive them more quickly”.

The Indian MOD commented that it had high hopes that the PM’s visit to Moscow would stimulate talks on the PAK FA in the interests of both countries. “Russia will receive a serious financial windfall, and India expects that should a direct purchase be made of fifth generation fighters, then it would be possible to reduce the initial time of 94 months to 36 months, which is critically important for the country’s air force, which is starved of technical aviation”, commented the military expert.

India said on August 12, it might purchase three squadrons of ready Russian fifth generation T-50 fighters, instead of constructing 127 similar aircraft with Russia. India does intend to build its own fifth generation fighter.

 

[Khanivore]

Forgive me but one cannot help notice the sheer desperateness of the Indian Ministry of Defence, to the point that the MOD is using the media channels to convey the utter urgency to the world for their need to purchase a 5th gen fighter. I cannot begin to imagine how the British MOD would look if it resorted to pleading with Washington via the media to "please let us have a ride in your F-35!". It would look pathetic considering the level of funding and technological input Britain put into the F-35 project. So this whole drama by the Indian Ministry of Defence to beg with and to humiliate Russia publicly, on a project that India so proudly touts about, begins to put everything into perspective about the Indo-Russian collaboration on T-50 project. It seems that India chucked cash at Russia and a list of wishes. Where's the "collaboration"? Seems to me the Indian Ministry of Defence has a lot to learn because it's got beef with the French and now the Russians. In fact, it seems that both parties are becoming weary of India's constant change of mind and demands, plus the haggling over costs. I'm more certain now than ever that India is worried. Worried enough that it has to turn to Uncle Sam.