Proposed Block 70 F-16 for India to have F-35 technology

[Hassan Guy]

It would be a good aircraft for PAF.

 

[Avyator]

BS. 120 Tejas( 100 of them with AESA radar) are already on orders with or without F-16s or GripenE.

So why buy 100 each of 2 types of fighters, instead of just perfecting and mass producing 200 of one fighter type? Most air forces (at least good ones) in the world are trying to whittle down their force diversity and trying to maintain as much commonality in plane types as possible to make maintenance etc easier; why would we add yet another plane type to the mix.

 

[SR-91]

f35 Helmet is made by Elbit systems from Israel

It's a joint venture, Elbit systems with Rockwell Collins.

 

[Hindustani78]

Helmet-Mounted Display System[edit]

Helmet-Mounted Display System for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter
Vision Systems International (VSI; the Elbit Systems/Rockwell Collins joint venture) along with Helmet Integrated Systems, Ltd. developed the Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. In addition to standard HMD capabilities offered by other systems, HMDS fully utilizes the advanced avionics architecture of the F-35 and provides the pilot video with imagery in day or night conditions. Consequently, the F-35 is the first tactical fighter jet in 50 years to fly without a HUD.[16][17] A BAE Systems helmet was considered when HMDS development was experiencing significant problems, but these issues were eventually worked out.[18][19] The Helmet-Mounted Display System was fully operational and ready for delivery in July 2014.[20]

https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Dat...35_Gen_III_Helmet_Mounted_Display_System.aspx

Rockwell Collins and its products have been recognized for distinctive quality and state-of-the-art technology. Collins Radio Company, founded by Arthur Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, initially designed and produced short wave radio equipment.

It's a joint venture, Elbit systems with Rockwell Collins.

its U.S.subsidiary Elbit Systems of America.

American Technology , State of Israel itself is a very dependable country.

We will be idiots if we think US is siding with India by selling or tranferring line for F-16. It knows how to be in business. It will sell to Pakistan something that can counter the F-16's. Like Radars or Jamming tech or missiles, then force India to get something to counter that.

No serious weapons platform business with US.

No, I dont think so .

Because United States Military is aware with whom they are fighting and who is allied with whom now.

 

[wiseone2]

If India were to acquire the US-designed F-16 fighter it would effectively mean that the Pakistan Air Force will not be able to acquire the latest variant of the jet that it has operated for 33 years.

That's because Lockheed Martin has proposed to the Indian government that it is willing to transfer its entire F-16 manufacturing line from Fort Worth in the US to India as part of the government's Make in India policy. In doing so, Lockheed would also aim to transfer the production of structural components of the F-16 from production facilities in multiple countries in a phased approach. If new-build F-16s are eventually constructed in India, there would be no question of them being exported to Pakistan. It is also unlikely that a production facility would be set up for the supply of just a handful of new-build F-16s to Pakistan.


Earlier this week, Lockheed Martin officially responded to an Indian government letter asking whether they would be able to provide the Indian Air Force with a high performance, single engine, multi-role fighter. Lockheed, which had also submitted an unsolicited bid earlier this year, has always stated that its F-16 should be the fighter of choice for the IAF despite it being the main fighter operated by its adversary, the Pakistan Air Force.

Senior executives of Lockheed Martin have indicated to NDTV that the transfer of the F-16 production line to India would mean that India and the US will have an altogether new strategic relationship since India would become the world's largest supply base for the 3,200 F-16s being operated by 24 countries around the world. Pakistan would be unwilling to acquire a made-in-India F-16 Block 70, the latest variant of the jet being proposed for India. India would, obviously, not be willing to supply its primary adversary with a fighter jet.


That said, Pakistan could, hypothetically, acquire components of its existing F-16 fighters from India if the production line were transferred here though Lockheed Martin executives point out that these spares would be stocked at company facilities outside India which would meet the requirement of any country.

Inputs from the F-16 radars and other sensors would be processed and presented through multi-function displays in the cockpit and a helmet-mounted sight worn by the pilot.

Importantly, the variant of the jet that Lockheed is offering India is far more advanced than that operated by Pakistan since it would include technology used in the latest US Air Force fighters, the F-22 and the F-35. According to Randall L. Howard, who looks after F-16 Business Development for Lockheed Martin, "leveraging the technology that we've designed and integrated on F-22 and F-35, we are reintegrating those technologies back into the F-16. We're putting state of the art mission computers, data management systems, a one Gigabyte ethernet data system and a new centre pedestal display" onto the F-16 Block 70. In simple terms this means that the F-16, if acquired by the Indian Air Force, would have unparalleled data-fusion whereby inputs from its radars and other sensors would be processed and presented to the pilot in a cogent, easy-to-understand format on multi-function displays in the cockpit and a helmet-mounted sight worn by the pilot. The pilot would be able to simultaneously detect dozens of targets and threats in the air, on the ground and out at sea depending on the terrain.

But Lockheed Martin knows that winning a multi-billion dollar contract in India will not be easy. Swedish firm Gripen International is also responding to the Defence Ministry's letter by offering its state-of-the-art Gripen-E fighter which has recently been acquired by Brazil. Gripen’s parent company SAAB has offered to work with Hindustan Aeronautics to develop a new variant of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and also transfer technology for India to develop its next indigenous fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which has a stealth design. The Gripen is also, fundamentally, a newer design than the F-16, having entered service for the first time in the late nineties as opposed to the F-16, which was developed in the seventies.

Ironically, both the F-16 and the Gripen had been rejected by the Air Force when it shortlisted the more capable French Dassault Rafale fighter as part of its Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft tender. That tender, however, fell through, and India ultimately had to acquire just 36 Rafale fighters in an off-the-shelf purchase from France in a deal worth approximately 58,000 crores though its initial requirement was for at least 126 jets. The F-16 and the Gripen are now back in contention because the government has decided to operate different categories of fighter aircraft - the Sukhoi-30 (a heavy fighter), the Rafale (a medium weight fighter), the F-16 or Gripen (a light to medium weight fighter) and the indigenous Tejas (a light weight fighter).

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/exclusive-why-pakistan-may-stop-getting-f-16-fighters-from-us-1477353

it is a little too late

 

[dadeechi]

https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Dat...35_Gen_III_Helmet_Mounted_Display_System.aspx

Rockwell Collins and its products have been recognized for distinctive quality and state-of-the-art technology. Collins Radio Company, founded by Arthur Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, initially designed and produced short wave radio equipment.

its U.S.subsidiary Elbit Systems of America.

American Technology , State of Israel itself is a very dependable country.



No, I dont think so .

Because United States Military is aware with whom they are fighting and who is allied with whom now.

Well, the F-35 HMDS is provided by Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems, LLC, a joint venture between Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems Ltd. of Israel, through its U.S. subsidiary Elbit Systems of America, of Fort Worth, Texas. Rockwell Collins is responsible for the overall HMDS performance and the helmet mounted display components and Elbit is responsible for the Night Vision Cameras, helmet tracking and display processing components.
The F-35 is the first combat aircraft without a head-up display and with a HMDS only option and Elbit System's Targo HMDS is the baseline standard training device for the pilots of the F-35.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

If we really Buy F 16 Block 70 ; it would be a fantastic development for our Air force

 

[dadeechi]

If we really Buy F 16 Block 70 ; it would be a fantastic development for our Air force

India is getting F-16s and that too in big numbers (200+).

 

[Stephen Cohen]

India is getting F-16s and that too in big numbers (200+).

That is really very heartening to know

Let us hope there are no obstacles like CISMOA ; BECA and we can work around all such issues

 

[dadeechi]

That is really very heartening to know

Let us hope there are no obstacles like CISMOA ; BECA and we can work around all such issues

The text of these agreements have been reviewed and India has agreed upon in principle to sign them GoI just needs to manage the public reactions. It is not a question of If but when.

 

[Silicon0000]

the way i see it, it more about forcing pakistan to spend more on a different platform and make its frontline fighter useless. and with her current economic senario, its more about making pakistan spend more rupess than giving india additional capabilities.

Spot on.


If India went for F16 than things not gonna stop there. We will surely see F-35 in India also in future and RIP LCA & AMCA.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

The text of these agreements have been reviewed and India has agreed upon in principle to sign them GoI just needs to manage the public reactions. It is not a question of If but when.

I wont go that far. At the moment, we're pretty clueless about what's going to be picked, just that another fighter outside the Rafale is being talked about.

 

[Jobless Jack]

Spot on.


If India went for F16 than things not gonna stop there. We will surely see F-35 in India also in future and RIP LCA & AMCA.

ya but question is what is our response going to be to this situation ?

 

[Hindustani78]

If we really Buy F 16 Block 70 ; it would be a fantastic development for our Air force

We will go for F 35, if situation arises.

F 35 is upgraded version of F 16.

 

[illusion8]

I wont go that far. At the moment, we're pretty clueless about what's going to be picked, just that another fighter outside the Rafale is being talked about.

It most likely has to be f16, LM plant is part of the DTTI agreement. For LM, it will be the only plant to service over 3000 f16's for parts.

The promises are big, but let's see where it ends up.