Israeli Defence Analyst urges Jerusalem to invest in India’s AMCA over American F-35

[knight11]

Can the GE414 provide AMCA, with Super Cruise , Super Maneuverability and TV?

Apart from a sensor fusion, stealth these capabilities truly define 5th gen.

GE F414 INS EPE can, but need indian investment for its development. There are 2 option for TVC one is the US AVIN TVC proposed by GE, and one with the European 3 D TVC nozzle (under development, till now its 2D) for the EF200 for Eurofighter Tranche 4.

AMCA is now fully a 2 way competition for cooperation at strategic level

One side is USA Ge 414 engine and USA expertise offered by Ashton Carter..
The other side is the recent hush hush offering by France to make AMCA based on Rafale airframe and assimilate all requirements of India in a JV.. It will also incorporate certain tech from Neuron, proven tech upgrades for NG Rafale systems, radars and a much heavier 120Kn engine development through M88 family via Safran with India..
That was offered and for that Doval has been to Paris... France also agreed to accommodate certain tech from Israel in that program..

So there are basically 2 point of contact for AMCA tie up
DM MP - USA courting+GE+EMALs+ DTII+ 3 agreements (LSA, BECA, CISMOA)+ all other US weapon platforms
NSA AD - France for AMCA, Rafales, UCAV Technologies and SSNs tech sharing + Civilian Reactors......

So what will be the outcome will be anybody's guess... But i will put my money in anything other than USA for AMCA program.. We are dependent on GE for LCA engines, thats more than enough.. EMALs + E2D hawkeye .. again more than enough.. Cherry pick some of the assets not everything like we did with P8I+apaches+chinooks+C17+C130s,,,,

Getting USA in main programs on board will need us to adhere to some of their geo political needs.. That can be counter productive for India..

For AMCA it would be better if the cooperation is further expanded with Japan too in this project, since it has the composites , optronics, industrial capability and Turbofan know how and budget and needed 5th gen fighter plane. Problem is that its defence tie ups with LM, and US collaboration. Both India and Japan would need Naval AMCA.

 

[knight11]

Why is India going for US engine in AMCA, it would be prone to sanctions any time in future

@ PARIKARAMA

It is because :-

1. Commonality with the LCA MK-2
2. ADA have doubts for EJ-200 metallurgy against sea conditions.
3. But who told you that Kaveri MK-2 could not be developed in 15 years and GTRE Kaveri have been delinked from the LCA but R&D continues and last I read the news was that GTRE have made some breakthru in the Crystal Blade tech.
4. And can anybody explain how EJ-200 is not sanction proof.
5. Rule of the thumb is that the unreliable airframe is always powered with the reliable powerplant first and unreliable engine with the reliable airframe e.g if Kaveri would be tested in the fighter plane, than it would be fitted and tested in Mig-29 airframe with one engine replaced with Kaveri.
6. Last but not the least, where did ADA finalized F-414 as its powerplant, rather it will be used to power the AMCA prototype period because only 99 F-414 engine have been ordered so far and that too for the LCA MK-2.