Indranil wrote:Viv,
Gone are the days when we would just integrate Israeli systems into MKIs. Today, there are replacing those Israeli systems with Indian ones.
I'm taking the Rafale deal as a benchmark for the IAF's customization requirements. Most of what the IAF requested on the Rafale is doable for the F-35 (datalink, IFF etc.) and some of it would be redundant (Israeli weapons, HMDS).
Same goes armaments. There is an entire gamut of PG-munitions that they are testing on Su-30MKI and Jaguar currently, from 125 kgs to 1000 kgs, winged and non-winged. In most cases, the hit scores are at par with Israeli munition in stock with the IAF. What will it take to integrate a Brahmos-M with F-35? Nirbhay? NGARM? Astra? LFRJ-LRCM?
Like I said, the Garuthma & SAAW shouldn't be a problem. We could either contract LM to do it or better still modify the weapons for UAI-compatibility which would make the integration simpler and open up significant export opportunities over the long-term. With regard to the others - the Nirbhay isn't doable (too large) while the Astra & NGARM should be quite feasible (not unlike the Derby & Meteor).
The cost of integration might be concern depending on the size of the order. For just two squadrons, for example, it may be cheaper to order Meteors & AARGM-ERs (the latter being capable of internal carriage). No point carrying long-range weaponry externally when its much more useful flying clean and serving as the eyes & ears of the fleet inside the enemy's battle-space. There are other aircraft like the Su-30 that are better suited to serve as simple missile platforms.
How much autonomy have we to give up to join the juggernaut? Last time, we had to sign two agreements to get a radio!
Maybe local maintenance, a joint MDF programming centre, ALIS databanks but for the most part the aircraft will remain a black box. The Americans would be able to access the elint/sigint collected by IAF units, though in turn IAF units would also be upgraded with sigint/elint collected by the US assets.
It wouldn't provide nearly as much autonomy as the Su-57, that's for sure.
On the other hand, unlike the Su-57, it'll arrive battleworthy on Day 1. We wouldn't have to wait 10 years to achieve acceptable reliability or serviceability stats. And, we'd receive a full spec aircraft and not an export variant (à la Su-57MK), which BTW is one of the main reasons why its being shipped as a black box. As as added plus it'll also improve interoperability with the US, Japan, Australia, Singapore (& Israel).
If we were in Brazil's shoes, without any immediate military challenges, perhaps the Su-57 might have been preferable (assuming our somewhat fraying relations with Russia don't devolve further). But if you have to go to war, the F-35 is the obvious solution.