'Make in India' Single engined fighter

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nirav
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

Rakesh Saar,

I believe you are now arguing just for the sake of arguing.

If you say that BLK 70 is an unproven fighter and we shouldn't buy it cause no one is operating it, well where does the LCA then stand ?

I see you are doing a convenient switch between paki and Chinese air forces to buttress one specific post of yours.
You initially say Solah not needed,LCA enough for pakis.
Then you say Solah not needed, F35 needed for Chinese.

On one hand you say don't buy Solah,moar LCA , used M2K, save billions..
On the other hand you propose 100 F35.

I'm sorry but your points and arguments are lacking tatva.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cybaru »

brar_w wrote:Block 70 is hardly an unproven bird given that a lot of systems are highly low risk or are modifications of known systems. Engine is proven, airframe changes are absent, Radar is an iterative upgrade of AN/APG-80 using open architecture and components from the AN/APG-81 both operational. Even the full up radar is flying at the moment and is in production. It is also being scaled up for the B-1 bomber. The mission computers have flown and are modifications of an operational such mission system flying elsewhere. The sensors are proven, operational and taken from other programs (SNIPER XR, and IRST-21 both operational). The EW suite proposed here is the digital version of an in service system while 2 other EA/EW solutions are available and in service. The new cockpit display is a relatively ' low/no' risk and is currently flying. Really hard to see which aspect of the current block 70 proposal is unproven. It isn't a highly upgraded aircraft, just a collection of pragmatic bits and pieces from proven systems that enhance the block 50/52.
Thanks for the list Brar! To another poster, the Mk1A has less number of items on the to do list (internal reorg + new proven radar) than on the list for F-16 block 70 to happen. How long will it take for block 70 to appear, finish testing and make it into serial production? Mk-1A has people working on it to bring it to bear as soon as possible. Given the todo list is smaller, I would think that it points to a less risky proposal. Another 100 of Mk1A wouldn't hurt the indian economy and help consolidate the aerospace industry in India while keeping the price less than half of what we would pay for a similarly f-16V plane, without burdening logistics, training and infrastructure required to support yet another type. The problem happens when the new type f-35 being introduced costs around 10-20% more, while brining game changing benefits.
Last edited by Cybaru on 12 Feb 2017 22:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by brar_w »

IF the F-Solah, Block 70 is so bloody amazing as you (and others) are claiming it is, then why does'nt the USAF buy them first? Why make the switch to the F-35 which is more expensive than the F-16?
They are buying them in the form of upgrades in the radar, mission computers and maybe if the upgrade program receives enough funding an EW suite bump. All the Block 70 does is take the USAF funded CAPES set of upgrades and applies them to new build F-16's. USAF had an ambitious CAPES program but were forced to pick and choose between modernizing the F-15 and F-16 fleet. The Former had much higher airframe life left and therefore received priority. They will still be upgrading the vipers just fewer and only some of the CAPES proposed upgrades that the industry responded too by developing products for them.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

Nirav: On the contrary, you do not have answers to simple questions I am asking you. Because even you know you are parroting a lie that you now cannot back down from.
If you say that BLK 70 is an unproven fighter and we shouldn't buy it cause no one is operating it, well where does the LCA then stand?
Is the Tejas not in IAF service? What plane exactly is No 45 Flying Daggers Squadron operating? Answer that please. Yes there are only three to date, but what plane is that exactly? How many Block 70s are operating in the IAF? How many Block 70s operating anywhere?
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

brar_w wrote:They are buying them in the form of upgrades in the radar, mission computers and maybe if the upgrade program receives enough funding an EW suite bump. All the Block 70 does is take the USAF funded CAPES set of upgrades and applies them to new build F-16's. USAF had an ambitious CAPES program but were forced to pick and choose between modernizing the F-15 and F-16 fleet. The Former had much higher airframe life left and therefore received priority. They will still be upgrading the vipers just fewer and only some of the CAPES proposed upgrades that the industry responded too by developing products for them.
One simple question Saar. Which has a better road map for the future? F-16V or the F-35A? Which platform is more viable in 2050? You can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still be a pig. Would it not make better sense to spend billions on a fifth generation platform versus a fourth generation platform. Because the only thing that is guaranteed is the IAF is adamant on spending billions on 100 shiny phoren toys.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Karan M »

Rakesh wrote:Nirav: On the contrary, you do not have answers to simple questions I am asking you. Because even you know you are parroting a lie that you now cannot back down from.
If you say that BLK 70 is an unproven fighter and we shouldn't buy it cause no one is operating it, well where does the LCA then stand?
Is the Tejas not in IAF service? What plane exactly is No 45 Flying Daggers Squadron operating? Answer that please. Yes there are only three to date, but what plane is that exactly? How many Block 70s are operating in the IAF? How many Block 70s operating anywhere?
If the Block-70 was that great, the USAF would have relied on it vs the F-35. It makes far more sense to upgrade the Tejas, the Su-30, increase force multipliers and munitions and buy the F-35 instead of some MMRCA cooked up to get the Mirage 2000 into service far earlier than the emergence of the J-20 etc and PLAAFs bulk buys of S-4xx SAMs
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

Karan Saar: That is logic which some do not have. You are now making too much sense. We are all budhoos.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by brar_w »

Rakesh wrote:
brar_w wrote:They are buying them in the form of upgrades in the radar, mission computers and maybe if the upgrade program receives enough funding an EW suite bump. All the Block 70 does is take the USAF funded CAPES set of upgrades and applies them to new build F-16's. USAF had an ambitious CAPES program but were forced to pick and choose between modernizing the F-15 and F-16 fleet. The Former had much higher airframe life left and therefore received priority. They will still be upgrading the vipers just fewer and only some of the CAPES proposed upgrades that the industry responded too by developing products for them.
One simple question Saar. Which has a better road map for the future? F-16V or the F-35A? Which platform is more viable in 2050? You can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still be a pig. Would it not make better sense to spend billions on a fifth generation platform versus a fourth generation platform. Because the only thing that is guaranteed is the IAF is adamant on spending billions on 100 shiny phoren toys.
Of course the F-35 but then we are in this situation because 126 Rafale's weren't affordable, probably not even if one did away with the MMRCA requirements for domestic offsets, production and TOT. Don't underestimate the cost argument here. Again as I said earlier, if the cost difference between the F-16 and F-35 is insignificant LMA will simply offer it instead as per the terms of the tender floated to them and SAAB. They can deliver both aircraft within the required timeframes. Cost however is likely to play a role here.
Would it not make better sense to spend billions on a fifth generation platform versus a fourth generation platform.
I'll say it again the F-16/Gripen tender looks quite absurd from that angle. I'm only trying to get to why they may have framed it in such a way and why they are looking at possibly the two lowest cost MMRCA bids.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

brar: Ok. I don't know of anyone who is more educated on costs for both platforms other than you. So I ask, based on the info you have provided...

Cost of F-16V: upgrades in the radar, mission computers, bumped up EW suites, etc. How much is this going to cost approximately?

Cost of F-35A: How much is this going to cost approximately?

The above are rhetorical questions - because both platforms are eons apart from a generational perspective. But please explain.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by brar_w »

Rakesh wrote:Ok. I don't know of anyone who is more educated on costs for both platforms other than you. So I ask, based on the info you have provided,

Cost of F-16V: upgrades in the radar, mission computers, bumped up EW suites, etc. How much is this going to cost approximately?

Cost of F-35A: How much is this going to cost approximately?

The above are rhetorical questions - because both platforms are eons apart from a generational perspective. But please explain.
Cost is a function of the industrial terms offered by LMA. Only they will know the exact terms. You aren't just selling a full up aircraft, you are supplying a FACO, plus working with your industrial participants to move component level production over to your or their indian partners that you would have identified as part of your bid. As far as the cost of components, those aren't going to beskgnifiacnt. The AN/APG-83 actually becomes cheaper than the AN/APG-80 of the block 60s since they now tap into the JSF supplier base. The development cost has been paid for by the USAF RMP. The rest of the systems are not going to be incredibly different from older generation systems already on the block 50/52. I'd say that a full up F-16V would come at a 10-15% cost of production increase. But when I refer to cost, I refer to the cost of the deal with all that it entails on the industrial side. This isn't a comparison of the cost of an F-16V comping out of FW vs an F-35A comping out from next door. This is the overall cost of the terms LMA bids with.

Given what happened with the MMRCA, the IAF attempt to get another MRCA shouldn't be held up on account of very high cost unless there is a commitment made to absorb that cost to begin with (for strategic reasons). You can't begin negotiating on a deal which offers 100's of F-35's with industrial participation without first realizing and selling to your politicians and public the cost for such an effort. While the current round 2 MRCA looks quite short cited the only way I can rationalize team Modi's decision is if I look at the economic and strategic angles.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Marten »

Nirav, where is IAF doctrine outlined? How many air forces around the world mandate a three tier structure? It's cockamamie to quote MMRCA, which was the M2K order extension. One COAS asking for specific capability means precisely that. The answer again is more Raffys and LCAs. And if we really want to incorporate NG abilities, seek out US help in both AESA and a BVR that outdoes the C9.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

Marten Saar, there is not one outlined. He (and other posters) have done the outlining for us. We just have to obey and nod our heads in agreement. They are the thinkers who do risk assessment for a living :)

More Raffys are coming. The IAF has very rarely stopped at just one purchase. A second block of aircraft are definetly coming. Of all the fighters (presently in service), repeat orders have occurred. MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, Mirage 2000s, Su-30MKIs...all have had follow on orders. Katrina will be no different.

The MiG-25 was the only exception. But then again, the MiG-25 did only one job :), which no other IAF fighter could do.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cain Marko »

My guess is that the solah will be offered at very low prices compared to 126 jsf or rafale. Throwaway....afterall what does LM have to lose even if it makes a smallish profit?
Something is better than nothing...the solah line and associated hardware is basically lying idle and probably has depreciation plus maintenance costs associated. A loss making proposition. Instead, if they transfer everything to India and make even a minor profit, that will look a lot better on the books.

Otoh, a new jsf line would mean duplication of an existing line with associated costs of brand new tooling, jigs etc..and my guess is that this machinery would be far more sophisticated and correspondingly more expensive compared to solah. Then there might be the problem of finding and training an Indian partner that can handle such advanced production.

I'm fully expecting a jsf line to cost 2X of f16, if not more. If you want jsf production, be prepared to let go of pakfa and possibly amca.

Worse, while iaf could get a few sqds of solah in a hurry from FW, i think they will have to wait in line for much longer for jsf.

If India wants jsf, just buy a few off the shelf when they are available and even that will cost a pretty penny ala rafale. Or wait until production cools down a bit and maybe a line can be transferred at cheaper in, 20 years. Or take LM up on that offer to buy back solah in return for jsf
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cain Marko »

Again, the best solution seems to be to order more lca, scrounge up some older m2ks and use the saved dollars to buy 2 sqds jsf off the shelf by 2025 as silver bullets.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Viv S »

nirav wrote:Further, what really is the objective of re equipment of the IAF ?
Ensure 500 LCAs to fight a two front war.
Ensure IAF has a well balanced mix to fight a two front war.

Btw the Raffle is at 2 squadrons only for now not 4.
Its very likely to be 4 squadrons (the follow-on 3rd one is a certainty). Hence the two bases.

Contrary to some previous indications, India is considering an additional 36 Dassault Rafales, a senior Ministry of Defence official said. The contract is likely to be signed in 2019 with deliveries to start by 2022, when the existing $8.8 billion order for 36 Rafales is completed, AIN has learned from sources close to the long-running procurement process.
http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ ... ill-likely

@ the F35, maybe IAF and Sh.Partikar are in the know wrt progress on FGFA or PAKFA and have chosen to not go in for the F35 at this stage ?
Why is this possibility being discounted ?
The FGFA acquisition is stalled with the MoD doing a deep rethink on the scope of the program. Bottom-line - we're not getting any before 2025. First squadron will probably FOC close to 2030.

Govt to set up panel for assessing viability of building stealth fighter with Russia
A multi-billion dollar Indian programme to co-develop a stealth fighter with Russia faces an uncertain fate with the government deciding to set up a committee to examine what the country gains from the project.

A top government source said the panel, to be headed by a three-star officer, would look into different aspects of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project and the technology it brings into the country to meet the air force’s future requirements.

Squadron strength can't be treated like just a number.

7 MMRCA squadrons combat capability is way higher than 7 squadrons of LCA.

2 Rafale sqdn + 5 solah sqdn also offer significantly higher combat capability than 7 LCA sqdns.
Spot on. The solution is to find a balance between numbers and capability. Neither can be taken in isolation.

To develop on that -

The F-16 is no doubt a more capable aircraft than the Tejas. Better radar, better EW gear, better payload & better range. All the same, the difference is still incremental despite there being a significant cost difference between the two. The Tejas Mk1A will have a decent AESA (hopefully the RBE-2AA), decent EW gear which coupling with off-board support from Su-30s & AWACS will allow it to more than hold its own in BVR, even against the PAF Blk 52s. At WVR, with high snap turn capability and the DASH-Python 5 combo it can go toe-to-toe with the best.

The difference between the F-16 and F-35 isn't incremental, its generational. They are not in the same league. F-15s & F-16s from USAF aggressor squadrons are getting stomped on against the F-35 in training exercises. The difference is just as stark in air-to-ground missions.

F-35 Dominates At Red Flag With 15:1 Kill Rate

The real kicker is that the difference in cost b/w the two types isn't that great - maybe $15-20 mil flyaway ($65M v. $85M). At best. Maybe less. Probably less.

So what you really ought to be comparing is -

5 F-16 units versus 4 F-35 units (maybe with enough change left over for 1 Tejas Mk1A unit)
Last edited by Viv S on 13 Feb 2017 01:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Viv S »

brar_w wrote:Again as I said earlier, if the cost difference between the F-16 and F-35 is insignificant LMA will simply offer it instead as per the terms of the tender floated to them and SAAB.
You're mixing up two different things - the better deal for Lockheed Martin (probably the F-16) and the better deal for India (definitely the F-35).

SAAB isn't in the running. Besides the political aspects, a good chunk of the Gripen E's avionics are supplied by Selex - a subsidiary of Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica) - currently under a MoD blacklist. Saab will get a polite hearing from the mandarins & the brass and then politely be shown the door when they're done.

That gives LM clear track to keep the nearly stalled F-16 train running while still making a bundle off its soon-to-be-defunct production infrastructure.

In the F-35's case, in contrast, the volumes are higher and the margins lower. Especially with the JPO squeezing the bottom-line every year.

I doubt an Indian F-35 order would be as profitable as a F-16 one for LM, assuming comparable volumes.

Ironically, LM's best shot at the naval contract is through the F-35 (which would be harder to justify without IAF commonality) - so it may yet modify its pitch to the MoD/IAF. I wouldn't count the F-35 out for the MII contract (esp. given the complications with the FGFA).
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Viv S »

Cain Marko wrote:I'm fully expecting a jsf line to cost 2X of f16, if not more. If you want jsf production, be prepared to let go of pakfa and possibly amca.
Well Italy's FACO line costed it about $1 bn. Could you get a F-16 assembly line for $500 mil? Possibly... but for $500 mil extra the former is still a better bet.
Worse, while iaf could get a few sqds of solah in a hurry from FW, i think they will have to wait in line for much longer for jsf.
I don't think they'd have a lot of problems with finding capacity. The production line is geared for 200 units/yr and its only spooled up to about 100 units /yr so far. In addition, aside from the USMC (& maybe.. RAF/RN) none of the customers have any real urgent need for the aircraft. Point being, the IAF isn't going to have to wait in line. Much like the Navy with its P-8s, they'll be able to get them within 3 years of contract signing.
If India wants jsf, just buy a few off the shelf when they are available and even that will cost a pretty penny ala rafale. Or wait until production cools down a bit and maybe a line can be transferred at cheaper in, 20 years. Or take LM up on that offer to buy back solah in return for jsf
Buy back? I don't think they ever made that offer. They'd be hard pressed to find customers for second hand F-16s in 2040.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Khalsa »

Did you know that Japan (Mitsubishi Heavy) will be manufacturing 38 X F-35 for the JSADF order out of a total of 45.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

See what you started Khalsa? See the tamasha that is going on in here. Allah Hu Akbar! :)
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

F-35 Fighter Jet Price Drops Make F-16, Gripen Unattractive For India
http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18439/ ... _For_India
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

Israeli firms earned over $1b from F-35 program
http://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-mi ... 5-program/
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

F-35 Finally Has A Good Day, Dominates Training Exercise
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/08/f-35- ... -exercise/
“Before where we would have one advanced threat and we would put everything we had—F-16s, F-15s, F-18s, missiles, we would shoot everything we had at that one threat just to take it out—now we are seeing three or four of those threats at a time,” said Watkins. “Just between [the F-35] and the [F-22] Raptor we are able to geo-locate them, precision-target them, and then we are able to bring the fourth-generation assets in behind us after those threats are neutralized. It’s a whole different world out there for us now.”
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by brar_w »

The $ 1 Billion for the Italian/Japanese FACO is for just that i.e. FACO. It does not include what it costs to obtain component level production for either your own jets, or broader industrial partnership on the programs. Those deals are negotiated between industry partners (Lockheed supplier (or by LMA on behalf of the team) and the domestic OEM or government) and are either subsidized by the industry (initial funding covered by profit based on the market demand contracted for) or by the domestic government. Just stating that Italy/Japan paid $1 Billion for FACO is sort of incomplete because they have paid a lot more. In the case of Japan what they got was not just final assembly and check out (coatings, RCS testing etc) but also 40% of the component production for their aircraft including airframe components, and electronics.

Compared to the F-16, any such deal on the F-35 is going to be much more expensive given the existing contracts and how the OEM's have spread out production plans based on partner and FMS customer agreements. The slice gets smaller every time you carve out a piece and therefore its going to get more expensive to allocate work-share. On the Viper, this is going to be less of a concern as most have factored in a production sunset in the short term and LMA has long term contracting with their industrial suppliers, many of which are also their partners on the JSF. Needless to say, negotiating 200 F-35's instead of 200 F-16's (hypothetical) under the terms of what I expect the current MII effort to be will come with a significant added cost.
Last edited by brar_w on 13 Feb 2017 04:25, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Neshant »

we are able to geo-locate them, precision-target them, and then we are able to bring the fourth-generation assets in behind us after those threats are neutralized
That they could already do with F-15 and F-16s.

The above is actually an admission of the inability of the F-35 to enter close range combat and survive.

The plane literally needs to be protected by F-16 and 15 escorts. This plane is a step backwards not forwards and a very expensive one at that.

Meanwhile Lockheed is rushing these planes out the door and sending in the bill as fast as possible before people clue in.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by brar_w »

Neshant wrote:
we are able to geo-locate them, precision-target them, and then we are able to bring the fourth-generation assets in behind us after those threats are neutralized
That they could already do with F-15 and F-16s.

The above is actually an admission of the inability of the F-35 to enter close range combat and survive.

The plane literally needs to be protected by F-16 and 15 escorts. This plane is a step backwards not forwards and a very expensive one at that.

Meanwhile Lockheed is rushing these planes out the door and sending in the bill as fast as possible before people clue in.

It's called SEAD/DEAD i.e isolating emitters, geolocating threats and neutralizing enemy air defenses to sanitize the SAM threat to allow less survivable assets to come into play. And no, minus perhaps a few specialized F-16's and the EA-18G, none of the legacy strike fighters in the USAF can do that and even those F-16's would struggle to get close enough to tag team and do so. Physics tells us that ESM, EW or EA is SWaP dependent and anytime you have a harder to find target, it can get closer thereby increasing the capability of EW/EA given the same SWaP. F-22's and F-35''s have an organic ESM , EA and EW suite. Some F-15E's and C's will get that in the 2020's but the geolocation ability will come later and of course if what you are trying to use for suppression has a much higher RCS you need to compensate in other ways which ='s resources.

The entire point of SEAD/DEAD is to send in your most capable, or most survivable assets to first neutralize the threat from the IADS and enable larger force to operate beyond the FEBA. What you quoted refers to this i.e. the SAM threat, not BVR or WVR.
Last edited by brar_w on 13 Feb 2017 04:34, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

One of the rationale for MMRCA was that the Sukhois while cheaper to own are expensive to operate.

I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and F35..

The F35 in some links has twice the cost of the Solahs flying hour cost..
And that its initial acquisition itself would be significantly higher than the Solah..

The impact F35 would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of Solah vs F35.

The procurement process along with the LCA have both been ****** up.

Guys opposing MoD/IAF move @ Solah/Gripen need to take a holistic view of ground realities before engaging in flights of fancy.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Viv S »

brar_w wrote:The $ 1 Billion for the Italian/Japanese FACO is for just that i.e. FACO. It does not include what it costs to obtain component level production for either your own jets, or broader industrial partnership on the programs. Those deals are negotiated between industry partners (Lockheed supplier (or by LMA on behalf of the team) and the domestic OEM or government) and are either subsidized by the industry (initial funding covered by profit based on the market demand contracted for) or by the domestic government. Just stating that Italy/Japan paid $1 Billion for FACO is sort of deceptive because they have paid a lot more.
$1 bn is what the assembly-cum-MRO facility costs. Any other infrastructure will need to be funded through separate investments. Nothing deceptive about it.
Compared to the F-16, any such deal on the F-35 is going to be much more expensive given the existing contracts and how the OEM's have spread out production plans based on partner and FMS customer agreements. The slice gets smaller every time you carve out a piece and therefore its going to get more expensive to allocate work-share. On the Viper, this is going to be less of a concern as most have factored in a production sunset in the short term and LMA has long term contracting with their industrial suppliers, many of which are also their partners on the JSF.
Its a smaller slice but of a far larger pie. The aircraft itself will remain in production to 2037 and in service to 2070. In contrast, since the F-16 will have no customer remaining LM's Indian partner will hit its own production sunset as soon as deliveries to the IAF conclude. Writing off the infrastructure might be relatively painless - the human & RE investments not so much.

Not that it makes a difference since the local workshare will primarily consist of kit assembly anyway. Maybe along with some wing construction or something. Nothing particularly attractive from an industrial standpoint.
Needless to say, negotiating 200 F-35's instead of 200 F-16's (hypothetical) under the terms of what I expect the current MII effort to be will come with a significant added cost.
The F-16 is a dead-end platform that the IAF will have to operate, upgrade & sustain long after its been retired by most other operators. That's a significant cost as well. And while the F-35 with its naval variants may actually reach 200 units down the line (with progressively expanding local participation) delivered from a local FACO, the F-16 will tap at out 5 squadrons.

Its like choosing between the F-5 & F-16 in 1980. The F-5 would have been cheaper.. somewhat. You could theoretically build a larger proportion of it through offsets. Its was a widely operated type that would still be in service decades later. Still passed over by every air force (incl. the PAF). Investing in a platform at the end of its production cycle offering inferior value vis a vis its successor is quite simply a bad idea.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Khalsa »

Rakesh wrote:See what you started Khalsa? See the tamasha that is going on in here. Allah Hu Akbar! :)
Totally agree admiral.
every day I log into to BR forums.... part of me .... see that thread ... you ... why ... what WTF and WTH
:D :D :D
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

Karan M wrote:
Rakesh wrote:Nirav: On the contrary, you do not have answers to simple questions I am asking you. Because even you know you are parroting a lie that you now cannot back down from.


Is the Tejas not in IAF service? What plane exactly is No 45 Flying Daggers Squadron operating? Answer that please. Yes there are only three to date, but what plane is that exactly? How many Block 70s are operating in the IAF? How many Block 70s operating anywhere?
If the Block-70 was that great, the USAF would have relied on it vs the F-35. It makes far more sense to upgrade the Tejas, the Su-30, increase force multipliers and munitions and buy the F-35 instead of some MMRCA cooked up to get the Mirage 2000 into service far earlier than the emergence of the J-20 etc and PLAAFs bulk buys of S-4xx SAMs
Karan Saar,
You are way more knowledgeable than I am.
You are right when you say that the LCA can be upgraded.

But to what extent?

You'd be aware of the automotive saying - there's no replacement for displacement.

In this case wrt blk70, the extra range it offers+superior radar+longer ranged missiles offer it a unique capability that upgrades in LCA won't be able to achieve.. my main focus is on range.

The LCA,I'm certain,will do its job admirably within its envelope..
Expecting it to do the job of a higher ranged fighter is a bit much.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cybaru »

nirav wrote: Karan Saar,
You are way more knowledgeable than I am.
You are right! That does seem to be the case!
nirav wrote: my main focus is on range.

The LCA,I'm certain,will do its job admirably within its envelope..
Expecting it to do the job of a higher ranged fighter is a bit much.
The requirements for Tejas came from IAF right?
Whats the difference in range if they both carry an LDP 2 500 lbs griffin missile and two AA missile?
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

Range doesn't necessarily mean from point a to point b.
Crucial metric would be time on station.

@BVR or even WVR, with the jet on either full military thrust or on burners, which jet has more petrol,thereby a higher time on station gives it an ability to engage/disengage and re engage.. the lower ranged jet would have to RTB as bingo fuel approaches rapidly..
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cybaru »

nirav wrote:Range doesn't necessarily mean from point a to point b.
Crucial metric would be time on station.

@BVR or even WVR, with the jet on either full military thrust or on burners, which jet has more petrol,thereby a higher time on station gives it an ability to engage/disengage and re engage.. the lower ranged jet would have to RTB as bingo fuel approaches rapidly..
Please do answer the question. You seem shifty like the IAF requirements! :lol:

Given the same payload, what is the difference between ranges of F-16 and LCA? Mind you the difference in fuel is only 200 kgs and thats offset by higher weight of the platform.

or

Please enlighten us about the other "Crucial metric would be time on station"

and how come range doesn't mean from point a to point b especially if they are similarly loaded? You have a new way of comparing things? Please do share.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

nirav wrote:I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and F35..

The F35 in some links has twice the cost of the Solahs flying hour cost..
And that its initial acquisition itself would be significantly higher than the Solah.
Oh goodie. You want to play that game now? It's on!

I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and Lockheed P-38 Lightning. And guess what?

The F-Solah in every link has 10 times the cost of the P-38's flying hour cost. Oh my!

Before you start these comparison games, you should be careful.

STUDY your platforms, know what they are capable of DOING and what they are not. Then and ONLY then start doing comparisons.
nirav wrote:The impact F35 would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of Solah vs F35.
The impact F-Solah would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

True no?
nirav wrote:Guys opposing MoD/IAF move @ Solah/Gripen need to take a holistic view of ground realities before engaging in flights of fancy.
Oh wait. Now you like Gripen too? I thought your lovefest only was for F-Solah? And flights of fancy? The less said the better!

Please answer this...from Dr V K Saraswat. Actually don't even bother. I know you won't have one.

Saraswat fires ‘interceptor missiles’ targeting anti-NLCA targets
http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/ind ... -1.1725907
He said he was surprised when Gripen was projected as an alternative for NLCA. “What’s the difference between NLCA Mk-II and Gripen as both are powered by GE-F414 engine. So where is the question of low thrust?” he asked.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

Cybaru ji,
I'm going to disengage from this discussion with you.
You are quite strong on ad hominem arguments.im not interested in going down that road..


I'd exhort you to get a grasp on air combat @ BVR/WVR... You are obviously clueless about time on station, there's no point engaging you further untill you read up on relevant stuff.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cybaru »

nirav wrote:Cybaru ji,
I'm going to disengage from this discussion with you.
You are quite strong on ad hominem arguments.im not interested in going down that road..


I'd exhort you to get a grasp on air combat @ BVR/WVR... You are obviously clueless about time on station, there's no point engaging you further untill you read up on relevant stuff.
I think I am personally tired of you making claims and not backing them up. So yes, I don't mind you dis engaging, esp if you won't share the math/details behind the numbers or theories you put out as facts.

And as for your claim of me being strong on ad hominem agruments, for once, I was simply agreeing with you!
Last edited by Cybaru on 13 Feb 2017 05:55, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

He does not have one Cybaru. Like the rest, no facts. Just claims and hyperbole.

F-Solah: Cure of all ills in India. The plane is so powerful...that from the aircraft shelter itself, one mijjle will be fired and destroy all of the PAF.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by nirav »

Rakesh wrote:
nirav wrote:I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and F35..

The F35 in some links has twice the cost of the Solahs flying hour cost..
And that its initial acquisition itself would be significantly higher than the Solah.
Oh goodie. You want to play that game now? It's on!

I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and Lockheed P-38 Lightning. And guess what?

The F-Solah in every link has 10 times the cost of the P-38's flying hour cost. Oh my!

Before you start these comparison games, you should be careful.

STUDY your platforms, what they are capable of DOING and what they are not. Then and ONLY then start doing comparisons.
nirav wrote:The impact F35 would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of Solah vs F35.
The impact F-Solah would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

True no?
nirav wrote:Guys opposing MoD/IAF move @ Solah/Gripen need to take a holistic view of ground realities before engaging in flights of fancy.
Oh wait. Now you like Gripen too? I thought your lovefest only was for F-Solah? And flights of fancy? The less said the better!

Please answer this...from Dr V K Saraswat. Actually don't even bother. I know you won't have one.

Saraswat fires ‘interceptor missiles’ targeting anti-NLCA targets
http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/ind ... -1.1725907
He said he was surprised when Gripen was projected as an alternative for NLCA. “What’s the difference between NLCA Mk-II and Gripen as both are powered by GE-F414 engine. So where is the question of low thrust?” he asked.
Rakesh Saar,

I do respect you and I won't respond in kind.
You however are plain trolling by comparing opex and Capex of Solah with p38..

Opex and Capex comparison between Solah and F35 was brought up by me as a discussion point to guys saying why not 100 F35 ?
It *is* a very valid point.

@ the Saraswat mijjiles, err, pls quote me where I've pitched Gripen for navy.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Viv S »

nirav wrote:One of the rationale for MMRCA was that the Sukhois while cheaper to own are expensive to operate.

I googled for cost per flying hour between Solah and F35..

The F35 in some links has twice the cost of the Solahs flying hour cost..
Those links are describing the existing F-35s i.e. aircraft that are still working up to operational status (you'll find they haven't hit their serviceability targets yet either). In addition, much of the infrastructure being set up will be employed by the entire future F-35 fleet (only a fraction of which has been delivered yet), while the F-16's fixed costs have already been ameliorated.

The actual cost comparison looks something like this -

Image

From the 2016 F-35 Selected Acquisition Report

(You can exclude the manpower costs for a more accurate comparison of the direct costs for an export customer.)
And that its initial acquisition itself would be significantly higher than the Solah..
Debatable. The F-35's cost is dropping every year - will hit $85 mil flyaway by 2019. Possibly lower, if the three year block buy goes through.
The impact F35 would have on opex would be HUGE compared to marginal Capex expense of Solah vs F35.
Not really. Even if there was a real $15K difference b/w their CPFH (which there isn't), for five squadrons -

$15K x 180hrs x 90 units = $243 mil.

That's 5% of the IAF's revenue budget ($4.4 bn) for this year. 15% of the ($1.5 bn) non-salary revenue budget.

That's significant but well short of 'huge'. Especially considering the actual capability delivered by 90 F-35s.
Last edited by Viv S on 13 Feb 2017 06:09, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Cain Marko »

Gurus, Not to derail the point here but the f16 and lca internal fuel weight difference is not merely 200kg. It is a whopping 700kg, 2450 vs 3200 kg. Don't know what difference this makes to range, time on station etc. though considering how fat the viper has become.

Do consider the f-16 A/B blk 1 - 10 though - simply stunning performance. Ferry range on this beast was 2100 nautical miles :eek:
http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/F-16A_ ... h_1984.pdf

I think Vivek Ahuja's analysis on range comparison between the two is quite telling - and he is being generous to the LCA by considering the empty weight of the F-16A @ 8500kg (it was about 1000kg less). For the F-16C too, the range will still be in favor of the solah quite distinctly.

Range of LCA @ 3000kg payload - 600km
Range of F-16 @ 3000kg payload - 1200-1500km.

http://thebetacoefficient.blogspot.com/ ... art-i.html

So, it is unlikely that the Tejas Mk1 can come close to the Solah in this context. The Mk1A, IF they can reduce the weight by 800kg as claimed (a tall order) and increase internal fuel by another 400-500kg might be a different story though.
Last edited by Cain Marko on 13 Feb 2017 06:30, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 'Make in India' Single engined fighter

Post by Rakesh »

nirav wrote:You however are plain trolling by comparing opex and Capex of Solah with p38.
Which generation of plane do you know of that turned out to be cheaper than the generation it succeeded?

With increased capability comes increased cost. You cannot state that the F-35 costs more to fly than a F-Solah and thus the F-Solah is cheaper to operate. That is Saab's argument for the Gripen vis-a-vis the F-Solah and it is a nonsensical argument.

Because the F-Solah is way more capable than Paper NG.
nirav wrote:@ the Saraswat mijjiles, err, pls quote me where I've pitched Gripen for navy.
You do realize that the IAF Mk2 variant is also powered by the same GE414 engine right? V K Saraswat is stating exactly what we are stating on this forum. You DO NOT need the Gripen (and I will add F-Solah) to meet this requirement for 100 fighters.
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