biraderr azeez thing is there is hell lot of diffrence between Blk60/62 and Blk70/72 the former had 1st gen AESA radar and other avionicks while former has 3rd gen AESAbased radar and minutrised and combined electronick warfare suite which are better than what are on rafale that is coming to india now as for weapons also amreican air to air and air to ground weapons are not only cheaper but more leathel than there french counterparts
now you are right that neither american nor french or russians will give us there cutting edge tech i too had been saying all along this so called TOT is just a fance name for paint and screw driver job
but here is the catch like when french were moving from M2K to rafale they offerred us complete actual tranfer of tech which we refused now since americans are moving from F16 to F35 they are offering us the same
no dought in next 5 years it will be 5th gen all the way but even as it is the latest Blk70/72 will remain cutting edge for at least a decade if not more and only americans have the capability to supply fully mode or kits of 50+ fighters in a single callender year and our basic requirement is cutting edge leathel tech and time bound diliverry at reasonable rates plus the tech & manufacturing skills we get from LM no other aircraft manufacturer would give us certainlly not the french so i guess Blk70/72 is a good deal as it comes with all the bells and whistels as that on rafale and more plus its much cheaper to buy and oparate than rafale
Listen Birader Azim Come to the reality.
1. No one in India is seeking F-16 Block xx/yy in India, niether IAF nor INAF.
2. Rafale F3R have been choosen, and if we stick to the plan, then the total requirement for IAF is 189.
3. The only new fighter plane which is coming to IAF is LMCA LCA Tejas.
4. To keep up with the retiring number of IAF planes, the interim solutions are Mig 29, Mirrage 2000 H upgradation and all 126 and not 60 jaguar upgradation should be done to Darin -3 upgrade with engine F-125.
5. BAE/HAL BAE Combat Hawk is an excellent project, and should be explored, whether they could be used for CAS during wartime, and trainer at peace time. Infact LCA Trainer is the better alternative if it could be ready in time.
6. There is no need for MK-2 for IAF, since originally its the Naval variant for carrier operations.
Coming to your points
1. When their is no Block 70/72 F-16, talking about its radar and features are funny.
2. Declaring U.S weapons as more lethal than French is also funny, because U.S is not goona give us the real Amraam AIM 120C-7 rather its export variants, and those export variants are inferior to what the USAAF uses in the Serbian Wars and during Gulf wars. And you are stuck with the Block -- Tell me do you really think that the USAF F-16 A/B are inferior to the Block 40 or Block 52 in the hands of USAF. In reality IAF loves MICA IR/RF and have the reputation of highly lethal even in the high EW environment and have the commonality with the Mirage 2000 H/UPG and other french weapons.
3. Do you want a plane (F-16/F-18) in the IAF, which could be inspected even at 2 A.M any time, any day 365 days a years for the OEM inspection and the system, which might have a bug in its so called 3rd Gen AESA radar giving out its locations and the flight logs and data to the U.S Satellite -- Well this is a small thing for a country who don't shy away to tap all the phones calls of our P.M and other political leaders.
4, If you like U.S AESA so much, do you think LM could give its tech to India, which even it don't have because its a product of Rayethon, and have you thought of buying APG AESA rather than the plane itself.
5. If hardware is the only thing that makes the history, then the outcome of the Sabre vs the Sabre Slayer would have been different. or the outcome of the kargil would be different, because our soldier was with the flawed riffle INSAS. Actually its the will, and the implementation of the assets that makes the difference.
6. After rejecting the teen F-16 during MMRCA, it would be difficult for the IAF to justify its requirement.
7. For F-18, it is only possible, if IAF goes for the Rafale replacement, and since it is not going on, so let this speculation and dream to be given Deep Sleep for a While and Yes even for the Fannism of the Gripen and the Drumstick LSA groups too.