India and the F-35?

Technically though the Pakistanis will be able to separately upgrade their F-16s to more or less block 70 standard (unless blocked by the US govt) so where would the differentiation be ? The only possible differentiation I see is if India also use the 32 klb engine that's in the UAE F-16E.

Addressing the few posts made.

The Zhuk-AE Aesa version radar for Su-30mki isn't exactly new. Carlo Kopp already discussed this in relatively detail since 2008.
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Zhuk-AE-Analysis.html

The main issue is the 1st gen AESA has relatively low TR modules at 652. This is expected to be scaled up but few details at this stage. I have no doubt the Russian will get there. However, the main point I'm making is that nations that develop their own tech tends to improve and implement the improvements fairly quickly. New Chinese iterations appear in every block of fighters that they make. Same applies to their missiles. How different is the Su-30mki leaving the HAL assembly today compared to those first made in 1996?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://www.india.com/news/india/governm ... e-2909468/

Looks like MMRCA 2 is back on track. No idea why since having the same tenderers with the same criteria will just lead to the same result. Changing the criteria will just lead to even more challenges which was the main thing to avoid. Welcome to the wacky world of Indian procurement.

Technically though the Pakistanis will be able to separately upgrade their F-16s to more or less block 70 standard (unless blocked by the US govt) so where would the differentiation be ? The only possible differentiation I see is if India also use the 32 klb engine that's in the UAE F-16E.

It would be unwise to upgrade Pakistan's F-16s to block 70, especially with their close ties to China.

The IAF denies requesting a briefing on the F-35.



https://www.google.com.ph/amp/zeenews.i ... 85496.html


NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has categorically rejected reports that it has approached global US defence contractor Lockheed Martin for a classified briefing on F-35 Lightning II muti-role fighter jets.


Reacting to reports, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa said that no such request for procuring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft has been made to the US.

The IAF denies requesting a briefing on the F-35.



https://www.google.com.ph/amp/zeenews.i ... 85496.html


NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has categorically rejected reports that it has approached global US defence contractor Lockheed Martin for a classified briefing on F-35 Lightning II muti-role fighter jets.


Reacting to reports, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa said that no such request for procuring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft has been made to the US.

Honestly, don't believe it as India has few options. Plus, requesting information is hardly committing to buy the F-35. In addition are we to believe India has no issue with the PAK-FA/FGFA Program too....

IAF chief just categorically denied and refuted the report that IAF has asked for a f-35 briefing. The original report was "fake news".

Oped listing the main reasons why the F-35 is currently not a good fit for India:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/ ... YRjAL.html

That's the reason why IAF should go ahead with legacy US aircraft (F-16 or F-18) first before going onto F-35. It helps to built up operability first. One might argue that the Harrier would have offered some base to work into an F-35B or F-35C variant operation but there is now a capability gap with the Harrier retirement which in any case was only a very small squadron.

The Rafale makes sense because the IAF is moving from a M2000 baseline to a more highly advanced aircraft. Note all of the F-35 users are all US legacy fighter users which makes the transition easier. It can be done but there's a lot more risk going straight into operating an F-35.

Whilst the IAF has some hang-ups over operating F-16s, buying F-18E/Fs now for the CVs, can provide a transition. Having said that, its still going to be a challenge to do so.

Oped listing the main reasons why the F-35 is currently not a good fit for India:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/ ... YRjAL.html

From the article

India’s notoriously lax data hygiene and operational security.

F-35 integration and sovereignty issues pale in comparison.

Groundhog day. Looks like FGFA is truly dead as the intent was for it's tech to fold into AMCA.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19 ... evelopment

U.S. Pacific Command Boss Mentions Potential Sale Of F-35 To India

Just as India's once again hits the reset button on its premier fighter aircraft procurement program and becomes ever more disillusioned with Russia's 5th generation fighter offering, the head of U.S. Pacific Command has supposedly stated that he supports the sale of F-35s to India. This would be the first official admission that such a possibility is even on the table, although The War Zone has long suspected this would be the case.

First reported on by Stratpost.com, during a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing USPACOM boss Admiral Harry Harris Jr. is quotes as stating the following:

“At the moment, India is considering a number of U.S. systems for purchase, all of which USPACOM fully supports: the F-16 for India’s large single-engine, multi-role fighter acquisition program; the F/A-18E for India’s multi-engine, carrier-based fighter purchase; a reorder of 12-15 P-8Is; a potential purchase of SeaGuardian UAS; MH-60R multi-role sea-based helicopter; and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/us ... ar-BBKe5vt

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... JAxOI.html

India procurement speed is measured in decades. It took 20 years to decide to contract for the Hawk trainer, its taken 2+ decades to buy an MRCA...sort of. It will be several decades before India inducts a 5G fighter even if the button to procure is pressed today.

The reality is that today India does not have the funds to buy anything other than the Tejas. Not even certain the 36 Rafale contract funds have been allocated. That probably explains the FGFA saga more than any specific IAF grouse against the program.

Who's afraid of the FGFA?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MFYomQylE6E