India's MRCA Update

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walter

Junior Member
India delays fighter request

New Delhi has decided to put on hold the eagerly-awaited global tender for its $6 billion procurement of 126 multirole combat aircraft until a bilateral nuclear co-operation deal has been cleared by US Congress, writes Shyam Ravindran.

Sources within India’s defence ministry say the government favours the foreign military sales purchase of US-sourced aircraft, such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or Lockheed Martin F-16, to replace its Mikoyan MiG-21s.

Such a selection would form part of a wider strategic partnership between India and the USA, although the defence ministry source says this will not disturb the country’s existing strong military ties with France. India last month requested that Dassault provide technical help in upgrading its air force’s existing fleet of 53 Mirage 2000H fighters to the enhanced 2000-5 standard.
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I do believe this is the first article I have read concerning this procurement that states US aircraft are favored by the government, so I thought it would be interesting to post. However, I haven't read this elsewhere, and while it states that "sources" within India's defense ministry favor a US aircraft, that still is far from concrete and I am sure there are others in high power positions in India who favor either French or esp. Russian offerings.

Nonetheless, I am sure it is a hotly debated topic among the decision makers in India, and if the US Congress does come through on the deal signed by Bush and Singh I believe there is a very good chance either Lockheed or Boeing (probably Boeing) will get the order.
 
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walter

Junior Member
sorry, if that is the case then a mod can delete this thread.

Why were Indian related topics banned? This isn't a China-India comparison thread, just an update on Indian military procurement.
 
K

KYli

Brigadier
Because there are a lot of flame war, whenever people talked about Indians related topics they become childish;) . We already have quick a few members got warn, certainly until everyone cool down a bit. We should avoid it temporary.
 
DPRKUnderground

DPRKUnderground

Junior Member
Why would they go after American aircraft? They won't go for the F-16 obviously b/c Pakistan will be operating them. And I think Australia and Canada will the them how bad the F-18s will do w/out an aircraft carrier.
 
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walter

Junior Member
Well, the implication from this article is that the MRCA deal could go to the US pending the US Congress decision on the nuclear deal between Bush and Singh. It would mostly be a political decision if India decides for a US aircraft.

As for F-16 vs. F-18, I agree India would probably prefer the F-18s over the F-16s for the reason you mentioned. Also, this would be the FA-18E/F model probably with AESA radar--so there is no comparison with the older C/D modles operated by Canada or Australia.

Still, this MRCA story has been all over the place for a couple of years now so I would not put too much emphasis on this one recent story. We will just have to wait until the formal RFP is issued by India and wait for the results of the ensueing competition.
 
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vincelee

Junior Member
Anyone else thinks that Indian would split the MRCA order between a US vendor and a French one?

Tech transfer of the F-18 with AESA is quite an attractive option, but the IAF heavily favors the M2k-5
 
A

ahho

Junior Member
i dunno, since AESA is really that good (as people had said), i think they should go for it and try to intergrate it into its indigineous plane
 
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PakTopGun

New Member
The IAF operates a vast array of aircrafts, ranging from 60's Mig21 which it locally produces alongside the Mig27.. and newer Su 27(which have had problems) and operates Mig 29 and Mirage 2005 with a sprinkly of Jaguars and Harriers here and there.. Could it realistically incorporate another aircraft (US) into its air force inventory without creating a problem having soo many aircrafts of different types, and all the infrastructure required to maintain and operate such fleets... Also, Indian pilots are notoriously bad in the flying capabilities and would require extensive training to fly such aircraft...what would the logic be in procuring yet another aircraft like the F-18:coffee:
 
crazyinsane105

crazyinsane105

Junior Member
VIP Professional
In my opinion it would be a logisitical nightmare for the IAF. Here is what the IAF already operates:

Mig-21
Mig-23
Mig-27
Mig-29
Mirage 2000H
Su-30
Su-30MKI

Throw in a 100 odd American aircraft and you'll get the picture. Not only would it take years to procure the Super Hornet, but a ToT can make things even worse: the Indian engineers are having enough trouble as it is with the MKI line. Whether or not India will have enough technicians to conduct ToT's for both the MKI and SuperHornet (and above that, the Superhornet being an American aircraft, can compound these problems) is quite doubtful. IMHO, the IAF shouild go for the Mig-35 and have it fitted with the AESA later on.
 
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