Indian Military News

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

bd popeye said:

This is big news Jeff. Espically for the IN. If this occurs will the IN place Super Hornets on board their future CV's? I see no reason why not.

I wonder if India would get the full version or some watered down version of the Super Bug?

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Well, I think they would have to add cats to the new carriers. Right now, I think they are lokking at STOBAR for those carriers...I believe for a Super Hornet to be effective, it would have to have a cat launch with a full load. I do not think they could get one fully loaded off a ski-jump.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

I just took a brief look: A MiG-29K with normal TOW (82%max) has T:W ratio of 1:1 while a SH has 0.85 (with 78%max TOW). To really offer s.th. over a -29K in terms of payload, I too think the SH needs a cat.
But since the next gen. CV will be STOBAT too, this is still a while off.
But if the SH comes with the APG-79 RDR, ATFLIR that alone is a big leap, probably worth it.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

Obviously the fact that the US is allowing the F/A-18 to be license produced is huge news. Jeff and Popeye have already adressed the political implications of this deal. But how would India use these F-18s? The Vikramaditya/Admiral Gorshkov does not have catapults. The Virrat is being decomissioned. And the Air Defense Ship is not going to be in service for quite a while. So what would they be flown off of?

They could be land based. Switzerland, Canada, Australia and other countries fly Hornets out of land bases.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

Finn McCool said:

They could be land based. Switzerland, Canada, Australia and other countries fly Hornets out of land bases.

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That's my thinking. They will be an entirely land-based part of the Indian Air Force or Navy. They would be a very powerful addition to anyone's air force.

Perhaps one day they will get a cat capable carrier and use them for Indian Navail Air at sea as well.

Of course, this is all presumming that the Inidans order the Super Hornet. It's up against some pretty stiff competition, and some pretty sweet deals offered by other nations I will bet. The Indians are in an excellent negotiating position on this one.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

I'm certain that in the future of the IN they invision a CV with catapults. It not that far fetched of an idea.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

It'll be interesting to see what happens at Aero India 2007 where MiG-35 and F-18 are going to be featured prominently. The Russians have offered MiG-35 against the other fighters and I think that and F-18 are probably going to be the two big competitors now that we're offering joint production.

However, I question whether we'll be able to really push it on them with the MiG-35 having so much more going for it. India and Russia are tight partners in the military and they've already got some good experience with Mig-29s.

re: aero india 2007, a link to a Janes gallary page, six nice pics ...


I know I shall not make two posts in a row, but since this thread was only on page two and not again highlighted I thought I wouldn't be reconized. So maybe a mod simply can/want to merge the posts.


The race for India's MRCA contest has begun with the Aero India '07. The 126 planes contract could be worth $9B and be the biggest contract over the next 15 years.
Fance may offer 40Rafalé outside of that contest.
Something that interested me for some time, can someone provide a little inside in such a contest?
I mean the Indian AF won't decide for a plane by how nice it's display looks. But to what extent do competing firms give inside in key specs of their products to the buyer?

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

Scratch said:

I know I shall not make two posts in a row, but since this thread was only on page two and not again highlighted I thought I wouldn't be reconized. So maybe a mod simply can/want to merge the posts.

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The race for India's MRCA contest has begun with the Aero India '07. The 126 planes contract could be worth $9B and be the biggest contract over the next 15 years.
Fance may offer 40Rafalé outside of that contest.
Something that interested me for some time, can someone provide a little inside in such a contest?
I mean the Indian AF won't decide for a plane by how nice it's display looks. But to what extent do competing firms give inside in key specs of their products to the buyer?

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Those are really nice pictures. India should buy from the Americans for political and diplomatic reasons, as the US did agree to provide them with nuclear technology. Also, US can be reassured of India as a key future ally by India buying from American military industries. Besides, the fighter jets don't differ that much from each other.

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

As the history with Venezuela's and Pakistan's F-16s shows, the US can stop the flow of spare parts/support at any time. Why should India rely on F-18s when she can get more Su-30s/MiG-35s for less$? Also, how Pakistan will react to such a deal, since they are supposed to be getting only F-16s now, as far as fighters are concerned?

Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread

BLUEJACKET said:

As the history with Venezuela's and Pakistan's F-16s shows, the US can stop the flow of spare parts/support at any time. Why should India rely on F-18s when she can get more Su-30s/MiG-35s for less$? Also, how Pakistan will react to such a deal, since they are supposed to be getting only F-16s now, as far as fighters are concerned?

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The money is not important to India when it wants to ensure US trust. By buying from American industries, the US can trust them to be for the best of American interests. If they deviate, the US can ban spare parts/support any time. The US doesn't care how Pakistan reacts, it just wants India to buy its fighters.