Make in India: US offers to jointly manufacture fighter jets with India

[MMG]

Verma went on with goody goody talk of this and that.... flattering!... but which fighter? SU-30 MKI.... FGFA? PAK-FA? We don't want F-16. No thank you very much

 

[A2Z]

As long as india is looking to purchase jets everyone will be interested in selling. But the point is what does IAF wants, no doubt Rafale, EFT and F18 all are one of the best but the real question remains the same what is IAF's requirement?

I am not an expert but as far as I know the more platforms india would procure the things would become more and more difficult when we talk about maintainance. IAF already operates Mig29, mirages, sukhoi and LCA and FGFA are is inline aswell(keeping in mind that mig21 and mig27 phased out). So adding a 6th platform is not wise.

What i would recomend is india must make sure that the role they want to put f18 in should be fulfilled by mki probably they can go for a few f18 if USA agrees to offer f35 in return.

 

[Srinivas]

Three squadrons might be enough for pak fizaaeea but not for plaaf.
For quantity LCA makes perfect sense, no other fighter can give us that. It can be our own F16 in good numbers if we want. You are right we need to sort out production mess pronto.

IAF wants LCA to be 4++ , so some delay in inducting. The tenders are for stop gap !

 

[truthseeker2010]

US producing fighter aircraft in India, well if india will produce the fighter, what will muricans do, they do need as many jobs as possible, don't forget US is also focusing on manufacturing, so i don't think this is happening..... keep dreaming.....

 

[Sine Nomine]

The Americans need India to tackle China

What if Border disputes between China and India are solved,Both form an Alliance -Pakistan from any scenario just calculate US reaction without Pakistan.

 

[[Bregs]]

What if Border disputes between China and India are solved,Both form an Alliance -Pakistan from any scenario just calculate US reaction without Pakistan.

In future this is a possibility

 

[Indian Patriot]

What if Border disputes between China and India are solved,Both form an Alliance -Pakistan from any scenario just calculate US reaction without Pakistan.

Highly unlikely. It's like he old sub-continent saying about "do talwar", only one talwar will fit in.

The chinese see India as a potential threat and will always remain on guard, likewise the Americans see India as the bigest threat to china and are thus warming up.

The border dispute is just an excuse, the chinese don't want any peaceful co-existence with India. They want India bogged down and will do their best to keep India bogged down.

 

[Sine Nomine]

Highly unlikely. It's like he old sub-continent saying about "do talwar", only one talwar will fit in.

The chinese see India as a potential threat and will always remain on guard, likewise the Americans see India as the bigest threat to china and are thus warming up.

The border dispute is just an excuse, the chinese don't want any peaceful co-existence with India. They want India bogged down and will do their best to keep India bogged down.

It's supposed scenario,As a SA inhabitant i cant put trust on White man.

 

[sathya]

With F16 block 60 IN,

- single engine , medium category , better than the best our neighbour has,, cheaper to induct and operate

- but it will eat away Tejas orders, neighbour knows all about it.

With F 18 E/F

- neighbour don't have , bomb truck , aircraft carrier capable, growler if made available

- twin engine , heavy category , nothing sukhoi can't do .

Personally I prefer F35 with technical help for Tejas

 

[PARIKRAMA]

The reality is somewhat skewed atm for all ppl..
IF and i really say if USA really believes in the
1. urgent need to prop up India in order to protect the Indian Ocean region,
2. gain prominence and support in South China Seas (along with close relations to japan) and
3. Become a big supplier to India's defence market (like China's consumer market)

Then we can surely see
1. Advanced Jets with no lower tech modes in either F18 ASH or F15 or the electronic combat growler edition
2. A more determined push wud be to enable India to participate in F35 program.. (A huge win for USA if it ever succeeds or even sells a squadron off the shelf to say IAF/IN)
3. Enabling advanced technologies like the Aircraft carrier tech EMALS and E2D haweye packages
4. Enabling access to high end tech of Jet Engines (TOT) and AESA radar and EW packages
5. JV or technology partner officially for LCA

Resultant business scope - IAF/IN combined - approximation limited to few things, list may be much longer)
1. 200 Medium sized birds (twin engined)
2. 200 Light Category birds (single engined)
3. Advance systems sales and support
4. Minimum of 1800 engines supply or TOTised Manufacturing and royalty .. (400 birds = (200*2+200*1)*3 = 1800 engines with assumption of 3 full time replacements post entire engine hours usage in a life)
5. Weapon systems/Support services supply over lifetime of 25-40 years
6. Scope to develop a MLU with Israeli tie up for Indian customised edition

Political and Economical Gains
1. Tremendous opportunity to gain economic gain out of these deals
2. New job creation for a 25-40 year period
3. A more close relationship, gaining of an ally and a more dominant market for all American products for a billion plus population which is slowly ganing more per capita income..
4. Automatically works as natural checks and balances system for their rival and aspiring China (whom they are economically dependent but dont want to give equal military and geopolitical standing)

Biggest threat:
1. If USA does not step up and take the initiative then India may not view any USA talk seriously.. especially the term "partner"
2. The entire flow of funds or majority pumped to Russia enabling Russia to get out of economic issues and inturn getting the russian tech TOT.. This will lead to a complete uselessness of any sanction based regime as domestic russian market and support from China and India enables Russia to withstand any West economic embargo
3. Loss of opportunity for a billion plus population market for US consumer market and in future opportunities..


As much as i hate the waiting game.. its USA which can turn the whole thing upside down by publically opening up and saying we are offering a,b,c with hi tech tot to India and make GOI sweat over slowness or dazzled by USA's surprise move to make relationship faster..

My guess is whther french or USA delays action further makes russians more than happy as finally India would buy from Russians surely.. and its the french and US loss as they were given time to get a far more stronger and deep relations with Innia even at India's own defence preparation cost.. a big but calculated gamplan in global geopolitical arena..

 

[SwAggeR]

sir, I can't tell you that
I just quoted saurav jha's tweet

In my opinion he is one of the better defence reporter and a very pro indigenous defence program supporter.
He thinks it is to kill tejas program for good.

You can change your opinion.

https://twitter.com/x/status/632439675081256960

https://twitter.com/x/status/632439821735059456

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

Guys not in a million years we will buy F16 what ever the block it may be . We won't buy some fighters to make up number we plan our strategy and buy fighters to that equations we are cash strapped nation or technological handicapped . For light fighter we might add MK1-P for sure in 80 below .

We could go for PAKFA which makes sense as we needed BVR capabilities against Chinese present and future fighter . Remember we already surpassed Pakistan in every single way . So our future fighters are aimed at China .

This whole stupidity of F16 is just an offer . If that's the case we might have gone for Gripin as they offers everything we asked for . Yet we rejected .

We might end buying PakFa and MK1-P till 2022 and upgrade our Sukois .

 

[SwAggeR]

IAF wants LCA to be 4++ , so some delay in inducting. The tenders are for stop gap !

But US can still sanction the engines for LCA.You see , we are still not independent.

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

PakFa will enhance our pilots to train with our our first ever stealth jet .

 

[Srinivas]

But US can still sanction the engines for LCA.You see , we are still not independent.

If selected they will be manufactured in India !