Is It Wise to have 272 Su30mki

[Storm Force]

With over 130 Su30mki already in service and another 142 on order

The indians will be fielding a massive number of this very large and expensive Russian origin fighters by 2016

I feel although a great war plane the Indians have left themslves with a huge operational cost nitemare secenario.

The cost to fuel,, WEAPONS equip, 2 pilots, 2 engines and massive weapons load,, means on average 2 to 3 times LIFE TIME operational cost of a Mirage2000 or F16 FIGHTER.

If then throw in 126+ future MMRCA twin engined fighters between 2014 -2021. This means 400+ twin engined fighters

Worse stil 2020-2030 this number grows to 600 once the FGFA start to arrive..

The other big worry with the su30mki is the massive RCS issue.

Could should the indians have split the 272 numbers into 50% EACH FOR mirage2000-5 & su30mki

Giving india prehaps 150 su30mki & 150 mirage2000-5 instead AND no need for the mad MMRCA circus we are seeing today.

 

[Storm Force]

The Israelis one of the best equipped FORWARD thinking air powers have always maintane 3-1 ratio of twin engined versis one engined fighters ie
300 F16 & 100 F15S

The PAF with obvious budget constraints but also mindful of operational cost and war turn round time and wishing to maintain near 100% serviability will go all single engined

with 100 F16
150 Thunders
100 FC20 BY 2020 AS WELL

Even PLAAF will make their FC20 single engined fighter their back bone work horse.

i expect to see 400 J10 FC20 & 400 flankers =A 50/50 split at top end of the chinease air power by 2020.

India has a biggish budget i know at $35 billion today rising rapidly to $50 billion by 2015 for defense BUT at this rate they will need this type of budget.

 

[somebozo]

Quantity is no measure of airforce quality.

 

[kashith]

Quantity is no measure of airforce quality.

thing is these planes are high quality so demand more maintenance,so it is quantity of one of the best quality planes which raises concerns for the cost of operation

 

[Abhishek_]

Quantity is no measure of airforce quality.

Off-topic: Quantity inherently is a quality...the soviets/russian forces as well as PLAAF have followed this policy for quite a while.

On-topic: I cannot say for certain, but I believe the LCA will be the back bone for IAF in the coming decades. The armed forces want a credible deterrence vis-a-vis china which is massive in numbers as well.

To address the issue you have raised, they can slowdown the production for the twin engine fighters and boost LCA's production numbers.

 

[Jigs]

They are great aircraft so why not have more of them.

 

[PAKFA]

It is worth spending every money if it is required to defend ourself from adversaries. I think right now Su30 mki is best option to bet on. In future we may have more options .

 

[fast and furious]

Off-topic: Quantity inherently is a quality...the soviets/russian forces as well as PLAAF have followed this policy for quite a while.

On-topic: I cannot say for certain, but I believe the LCA will be the back bone for IAF in the coming decades. The armed forces want a credible deterrence vis-a-vis china which is massive in numbers as well.

To address the issue you have raised, they can slowdown the production for the twin engine fighters and boost LCA's production numbers.

I think this whole discussion is useless sir.Any thing we put up twin engined,single engine,stealth combat planes.Our adversaries as suggested by somebozo's one liner, can take care of everything with missiles,nukes and better pilots flying canvas planes.(Pun Intended)

 

[mjnaushad]

Another Vs thread ......

Why don't people put this in their thick skull that every Airforce have its own need and doctrine. But hey if they understand this how will they start flame baits.

 

[jha]

Could should the indians have split the 272 numbers into 50% EACH FOR mirage2000-5 & su30mki

Giving india prehaps 150 su30mki & 150 mirage2000-5 instead AND no need for the mad MMRCA circus we are seeing today.

I dont think we will have 150 M2Ks ..but 100 is very much possible..Watch out for some time...

 

[Dash]

Quantity is no measure of airforce quality.

so tell us what is then?

 

[foxbat]

Off-topic: Quantity inherently is a quality...the soviets/russian forces as well as PLAAF have followed this policy for quite a while.

On-topic: I cannot say for certain, but I believe the LCA will be the back bone for IAF in the coming decades. The armed forces want a credible deterrence vis-a-vis china which is massive in numbers as well.

To address the issue you have raised, they can slowdown the production for the twin engine fighters and boost LCA's production numbers.

JF 17 in PAF is actually on the same doctrine of Quantity is also a quality.

 

[foxbat]

I dont think we will have 150 M2Ks ..but 100 is very much possible..Watch out for some time...

Do you still have hopes for the Mid East Mirage 2000-9s offer?

 

[Storm Force]

Thanks stick to topic Folkes.

I think the 272 su30mki is not a good use of $13 billion which is the sum total IAF will invest in these planes.

THE RCS is too big at 7sqm compare that to 1sqm for F16 and FC20 is probably lower...

MMRCA all have RCS of under 0.5 sqm

SU30MKI is very costly to maintain equip etc.

IAF should have spent half that $13 billion on mirage2000-5

oR GONE FOR MMRCA earlier just imagine

150 su30mki (130 inducted already)
150 mirage2000 already
100 jaguar
120 mig27
125 mig21 bison (lca ioc only months away)

IAF could then have spent this decade until 2019 concentrating soley on LCA MK2 AND MK3

And then inducted the PAF FA in 2019

 

[CONNAN]

we dont have 150 m2000 dude