Why is transfer of technology important? IOW why tie ToT to MMRCA purchase which will only drive up the costs?Raf Khan wrote:Concerning Gripen, its price is lower, but the gripenNG is only paper aircraft, half technology is US made (so no transfer to be awaited), they do not have AESA yet, and SAAB industry may not last many years (they won't produce cars in few months).
Is it not possible to only procure the minimum of fabrication/assembly and consumables production know how to be impervious to sanctions? Stockpile enough of the other stuff we can't produce ourselves (critical engine components etc). Build local overhaul and maintenance facilities and be done with it. This will still be half the overall upfront and overall program cost of the Tiffy or the Rafale.
For MLU two decades hence upgrade the Gripen with the LCA MLU upgrade elements. Is this scheme even remotely possible or sensible? Or will US torpedo even this lower level of tech transfer to India?
Or buy Gripen with the existing non-AESA radar and upgrade it with elements from the PAK-FA radar in another 15 years. Surely all the Russo-Indo bhai bhai funding deals and "co-development" will allow us to do that wont it? Or will it?
If MMRCA ends up with say 70 Rafales what does it really do for our original problem that MMRCA was supposed to address - falling squadron numbers? This is the real and acute problem that MMRCA program is meant to solve, ToT, HiTech etc all got tacked on later.if fund is the issue; reduce the #'s... why to cancel the whole deal..?