I was reading a piece recently which was taking a candid view of one of the JSF's harshest critics,Pierre Sprey,"both brilliance and bullsh*t",or words to that effect,as he is well known for his yen for light fighters.One of the points convincingly made out was the relevance of the F-15.It may be large,heavy,but has a huge radar-with far greater capability than smaller radars,range,endurance,payload,etc. The same arguments could be used for the MKI.Not too long ago,there was a pic of the Rafale along with an MKI during the recent Indo-French exercises.It was simply dwarfed by the MKI.With BMos,a 200+KM LR AAM ,extra range and the ability to carry a host of weaponry and EW pods,the strike capability of the Super Sukhoi will be superior to the Rafale apart from its air combat capability. The Rafale with a full load of weaponry and ordnance isn't going to be a stealthy bird either.Most importantly,as the programme is a lengthy one,the costs are simply going to escalate,not reduce as is being touted for the JSF as series production for the US services and allies firms up.India is going to be the ONLY customer for the Rafale unlike the Typhoon! So all escalating costs of the tech,etc. will be to India's account.
The concerns about the LCA's progress are genuine.But it isn't an alternative for the MMRCA role,tasked to replace the 250+ MIG-21s still in service.So the media argument is irrelevant.latest reports indicate that the Bisons may serve upto 2025! So there's plenty of time to get the Mk-2 into series production at least by 2020. By then the LCA might show up more touted fighters just as the Bison showed up the F-15 when the first Indo-US exercises were held. The IAF is demanding "a bird in the hand" rather than "anything in the bush".However,given the huge price tag,it would be prudent for the GOI to examine alternatives also evaluated from the cost-effective angle,if only to bring down the exorbitant price of the Rafale.The moment the French see that other birds are beign reviewed,just watch the "sale price" of the Rafale dive !
Kopp on the same,too lengthy to post ,check the link.
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-2008-04.html
A few quotes.
Perhaps the most foolish of the popular misconceptions of Russian basic technology is that which assumes that the US and EU maintain the technological lead of 1-2 decades held at the end of the Cold War. Alas, nearly two decades later, in a globalised, digitised and networked world, the US retains a decisive lead only in top end stealth technologies, and some aspects of networking and highly integrated systems software. The Russians have closed the gap in most other areas, but importantly, have mastered the difficult embedded software technology so critical for radar and electronic warfare systems, as well as sensor fusion, networking and engine and flight controls. The Russians are working very hard at closing the remaing gap, with the planned PAK-FA fighter to be properly shaped for low observable and very low observable stealth capability.
The latest Russian MiG-35 Fulcrum F and Su-35-1 Flanker E+ both illustrate this in a very convincing manner.
The Su-35-1 Flanker E+ is currently intended to carry a 20 kW hybrid ESA Irbis E radar, which is comparable to the technology in the Rafale, but boasts the largest antenna in any agile fighter, and peak power and range performance claimed to be competitive against the F-22A's APG-77.Given the larger size of Russian radars compared to their US peers, in terms of raw range performance the Russians equal or better all except the F-22A's APG-77.
DID:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ind ... kis-05852/
Earlier-model SU-30MK aircraft and crews performed very well at an American Red Flag exercise in 2008, and the RAF’s evident respect for the SU-30 MKIs in the 2007 Indra Dhanush exercise is equally instructive. The Russians were intrigued enough to turn a version with different electronics into their new export standard (SU-30MKA/MKM), and even the Russian VVS has begin buying “SU-30SM” fighters.
An improved set of 42 HAL-built SU-30MKI “Super 30s”. A preliminary order was reportedly signed in 2011, but the final deal waited until December 2012.
The Super 30 represents the next evolution for the SU-30MKI. Upgrades are reported to include a new radar (probably AESA, and likely Phazotron’s Zhuk-AE), improved onboard computers, upgraded electronic warfare systems, and the ability to fire the air-launched version of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
June 16/14: Display fix. HAL chairman R K Tyagi discusses the issue of SU-30MKI display blanking and mission computer failure (q.v. March 15/14):
“The issue has been addressed by upgrading the software by the Russian side and replacing the mission computer and HUD wherever it was found unservicable during service checks [in India].” He further said that following the software upgrade and other service action taken, no problems concerning the Su-30 fighters has been reported from any IAF base.”
Sources: Defense World, “Software Upgrade Solves IAF Su-30MKI’s Display Problem”.
May 5/14: Astra AAM. An SU-30MKI successfully test-fires an Indian Astra BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile), marking the next stage beyond the avionics integration and seeker tests that went on from November 2013 – February 2014. The firing marks a significant milestone for India.
The SU-30MKI will be the 1st fighter integrated with India’s new missile, giving its pilots an indigenous option alongside Russia’s R77 / AA-12 missiles. It will also be integrated with India’s LCA Tejas light fighter, alongside RAFAEL’s Derby. Sources: The Hindu, “Astra successfully test-fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI”.
The IAF was scheduled to raise its 8th SU-30 squadron by December 2012 at Sirsa, close to the Pakistani border, but public sources don’t show that yet. This is part of a larger balancing of India’s force structure. Initial SU-30 MKI squadron deployments had been focused near the Chinese border, but the new deployment will even things out.
A squadron will also reportedly be based at the new airfield in Thanjavur, across from Sri Lanka. The airfield required extensive refurbishment, and was formally opened in May 2013. Its SU-30MKIs will offer India comfortable strike coverage of Sri Lanka, including the major southern port of Hambantota that’s being built with a great deal of Chinese help.
Some notes on the Red Flag exercises where Vishnu Som gave us the truth.:
Dissecting a dogfight: Sukhoi vs USAF at Red Flag 2008
http://in.rbth.com/blogs/2014/03/10/dis ... 33623.html
Among the observers who had front row seats to the dogfights was senior Indian journalist Vishnu Som. According to him, contrary to the picture painted by Fornof, the IAF and its Sukhois more than made a mark during their stint in the United States. “For starters not a single Su-30MKI fighter was shot down in close air combat missions at Mountain Home AFB. In fact, none of the Sukhois were even close to being shot down in the 10-odd one on one sorties which were planned for the first two days of the exercises at Mountain Home. These one on one engagements featured USAF jets such as the F-15 and F-16 in close air engagements against the Su-30MKI. The majority of the kills claimed in these engagements were granted to the IAF with the remainder of these being no-results.”
Som adds by the time the exercises at Mountain Home had matured the IAF had graduated to large formation exercises which featured dozens of jets in the sky. In one of these exercises, the blue forces, of which the IAF was a part, shot down more than 21 of the enemy jets. Most of these `kills’ have been credited to the IAF.
The colonel wrongly assessed the Sukhoi’s rate of turn at 22-23 degrees but he also made the startling revelation that the Raptor’s was 28 degrees. Did he unwittingly reveal classified information? At any rate, the Sukhoi’s rate of turn – with thrust vectoring – is considerably superior at 35 degrees.
It is acknowledged in aviation circles the Flanker is a class above the F-15. In Fornof’s own view a well-flown F-15 can trouble an F-22; so a properly flown Flanker can potentially kill a Raptor in a knife fight.
As Col Fornof himself said about the IAF, “They were extremely professional – they never flew out of the airspace which we were very concerned about. They had zero training rule violations. And that in itself was incredible. We were very impressed and thanked them so much because they were very very professional.”