Bharat Rakshak

vardhank

Maybe the F-16XL's cranked delta wing? I believe it worked extremely well for a strike fighter, and offered good space for fuel and hard-points. But maybe with horizontal stabs as well, if the aero gurus think they're needed.

vardhank

Also I agree with the point that lets go back to the basics and not try to make a multi role fighter. Lets make two versions one for air superiority and other for dunking bombs and missile. This is what I think needs to be done. The fighter version should not be constrained by the need to be an att...

vardhank

Perhaps, before we go into engines, we need to define what SORT of plane we want, yes? And not just a candy-shop wish-list of attributes: what sort of plane will we need, say in a 2025-2050 time period? I'm putting down what I think - gurus, anyone else with an opinion, feel perfectly free to disagr...

vardhank

Singha, If the QE2 isn't CATOBAR, the point is moot: if the QE2 was meant for STOL or STOVL aircraft only, then surely our Harriers at least can use it. My argument, really, is to have more than the minimum required: if the IN plans to have one carrier in the Arabian Sea, one in the BoB and one unde...

vardhank

Are we looking at specific COIN/observation aircraft, also for EXTREMELY judicious use in naxal areas? maybe the super tucano? would work well against these asymmetrical threats, no?

vardhank

anyway, it's idle, wishful thinking. if we don't NEED it, then we don't. IMHO, i don't see the harm in buying off the shelf to augment/fill in gaps while simultaneously developing our own capabilities. but that's me, i like to hedge bets - and supposing the IAC or IAC-2's story turns into an LCA/Arj...

vardhank

unlike selecting the JF17 for our MRCA, this would not be a plug n play solution. what? and i don't think this is a helicopter-only carrier, is it? if it's a CATOBAR carrier, can we not use Harriers or the MiG-29Ks on it? (I have to admit some ignorance here - I don't know how extensive the modific...

vardhank

GeorgeWelch wrote:I would reexamine if maybe the sales force for one of the cars was making false and/or misleading statements about the competition.

Er? (well, actually true, considering the most entertaining flame wars between the rafale and gripen fanboys, but how does it apply here?)

vardhank

Noob question, but can we lease the QE2 instead of buying it? Great for experience, even if it never sees combat - and in any case we'd have our three carriers till the IAC-2 comes in.

vardhank

I still believe the best fit for the MMRCA is the Rafale. It isn't the most advanced or best value of the jets out there Well, that's one way of putting it :) It is hands down the most expensive to buy and one of the most expensive to own. That sort of flies in the face of the entire rationale of t...

vardhank

At the risk of inviting a fair amount of wrath, I think the armed forces must take the brunt of the blame for the incompleteness of projects like the LCA and Arjun - there seems to be very little pragmatism in their thinking and a good deal of brochure-itis. The consideration never seems to be, &quo...

vardhank

GW, Philip, Agree mostly with your posts, but I still do not believe the F-16 or F-18 will win, even if they make the shortlist (and I very much doubt the F-16 will do even that). Both are good planes, yes, and by far the most proven of the lot - actually, the only ones proven in combat - but the fa...

vardhank

ramana wrote:X-post...
Rajdeep wrote:The baki nostradamus on crack is at it again ,

Hypothetical Scenario-2014

BRILLIANT! I love the hop-skip-and-go into orbit logic. And the comments below are even sweeter. "Hindo Endians."

vardhank

(Also, GW, I think you're mistaken about the F-35 being the USAF's premier air dominance fighter. I said 'primary' not 'premier'. Yes the F-22 will undoubtedly be the 'premier' one, but there's less than 200 of them and there will be thousands of F-35s. The F-35 will be expected to achieve and main...

vardhank

And I definitely disagree with Shukla - the F-35 makes zero sense in this context. Obsolescence of the MMRCA isn't a huge deal: by the time they start getting obsolete, we should have the PAK-FA/FGFA to punch a hole, allowing the MMRCA, and at the moment, I think the MMRCA should be able to take car...

vardhank

I don't entirely disagree about the MMRCA competition being oddly structured. Far as I can see, our primary objective should be to fill gaps as quickly as possible. Given that, the immense emphasis on ToT, offsets etc makes very little sense. I understand that the MoD wants to leverage the size of t...

vardhank

^^ would be perfect if it works out... this is exactly the plane the IAF wants... and better to get it cheap and quick, instead of wasting time and money getting new fighters that are just a stop-gap until the LCA Mark II and extra Su-30s anyway. And saves a heck of a lot of headaches on logistics. ...

vardhank

^^I could be completely wrong (hey, look at the 'trainee' tag :D) but I believe the main point of the LCH is that it can fight at very high altitudes, which I don't think any of the other major attack choppers can. It appears the parameter-setters were all right with giving away a little in terms of...

vardhank

Should develop our own... perhaps a development of DRDO's light tank, but with the Arjun's gun and the Nag ATGM if it can handle that. I think commonality with the Arjun is a better bet than with the T-90. And really cheeses me off, if the Army keeps doing this "Make this, no, make it better, n...

vardhank

And vivek_ahuja... wherefore art thou? Love the scenario - but one thing... can you touch upon the strategic/political aspects of this, even if your main thrust remains at ground level? Wouldn't there be an uproar in the UNGA/UNSC about China's cruise missile attack on India? Where went the USA, Rus...

vardhank

Shameek... lovely buildup... Viper 1 claiming systems malfunction reminded me a lot of Forsythe's 'The Fist of God', but this is a double-feint... nice! I wouldn't be surprised though if he was going rogue, if his target was something inside Pakistan itself... Gurus, what do you think? Could such a ...

vardhank

Gagan, just one change I think you might make to your last illo... the upward/rearward curve from the sonar dome to the hump (whatever there is of it) ends at the front part of the sail, not behind the sail... i think the 'hump' flattens out (the line goes horizontal) from there already, so the sail...

vardhank

@ Gagan

uncanny rendering

if the aug 2009 date given in the details is correct:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arihant_1.jpg

vardhank

@ Rahul - Thanks! Doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule, then. There are two kinds of two-seat versions. One, which requires a WSO and doesn't require flight controls in the rear (as someone said above). The second kind of two seater is the training version, which, obviously, has all flight contro...

vardhank

Oh, and another: in a fighter, is the WSO normally a qualified pilot as well?

vardhank

Question: how different (in terms of flight characteristics) would a one-seat version and a two-seat version of the same fighter be? Case in point the F-18E and F-18F? I believe there's a difference in control surfaces (and of course weight), so would they fly very differently? In a similar vein, ho...

vardhank

Lovely, illuminating discussion! Reading this, I was wondering why the LCA didn't have canards, if they're so useful. I found this: The unique cranked-delta design, and the overall aircraft structure with significant wing-fuselage blending, etc. allows for incredible manoverability without the need ...

vardhank

NICE analysis. What about low-intensity warfare as well? I, at least, believe India will get involved (hopefully in a gentler way) in the sort of global policing the US used to do, most probably in Africa. I'm talking about littoral combat, bush warfare, etc, the kind of conflicts we might have TOO ...

vardhank

22 haan? Which ones are in the race? AH-64D Apache Longbow Eurocopter Tiger Agusta A129 Mangusta Mi-28 Havoc http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-race-begins-for-IAFs-22-copter-deal/articleshow/5154013.cms Thanks mate. Is the deal tied to the heavy-lift chopper one? or are they separate? Al...

vardhank

Newbie question... what are the differences between a fighter's jet engine and say a transport aircraft's? (Both turbofans). Is it a difference in terms of materials and shapes/sizes (as in the difference between say a Maruti 800's engine and an F1 car's)? Or are they structurally very different as ...

vardhank

But fine, we're being glass-half-full-ers

Hurray for whatever we've got?

vardhank

Looks like nothing satisfies some people! The army and MoD have reacted positively to the successful results of trials. But still, some people take it as a reason to bash the Army/MoD. I dont understand the logic. The army's Damned if it does, and the Army's damned if it doesnt! Did you want them t...

vardhank

22 haan?
Which ones are in the race?

vardhank

All this Apache talk reminds me... what news on the 24 attack helo thing?
Also, considering we'll have Mi-35s, LCHs and (speculation, but seems the most likely option) Apaches, how do the gurus think they'll be deployed? Together, performing different tasks, or in separate areas entirely?

vardhank

The 60% figure was pulled out of my musharraf.

fair enough!

vardhank

^^ wouldn't the kaveri in its current form work, then, if this LCA UCAV is 60% of the size?

vardhank

The point is "Is this the right thing done for the right reasons in the right way?" and not "well can we make the most of a given decision" How do you come back to the same thing again and again and again? And then say I'm wrong and am putting words in your mouth? Oh, and your c...

vardhank

It's still a very versatile jet, na? I honestly think we need a new Harrier.

vardhank

@ Sanku No, I'd think... Hey! This elephant's capable of running at 25kph - nice! Why hasn't it done so before? Maybe it's been lazy or tying itself in knots and therefore not exploring its potential so far. If it can run at 25, I'd say, let it run, good for everyone concerned. I wouldn't think, &qu...

vardhank

Actually, you're right. Maybe I shouldn't try to understand what you're saying. What you say would have to make sense for me to get it. Shall we go on with the discussion? You had an opinion. I countered it. Do you wish to reinforce your point, point out a flaw in what I've said or raise a new point...

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