Indranil wrote:
Dassault asked for $50 million to upgrade each Mirage 2000. You can imagine what they would charge for demonstrations like INS Hansa. None of the planes would be STOBAR capable as is. They have to be studied, possibly modified and definitely certified for STOBAR operations. And it is not cheap.
That was for a contract for which the IAF had no other option but to go to the OEM. Not the case with the MRCBF. If the IN made it a per-requisite to participation in the tender, Dassault would have no choice but to bring in a Rafale to test, validate and prove their hypothesis that the Rafale is capable of STOBAR ops. So would Boeing. And the IN can do so at no charge to themselves. Akin to how the MRCA contestants had to bring their jets for testing in Indian conditions with no IAF obligation to pay for the costs.
Indranil wrote:
There are numerous instances of this. Brahmos-A integration, T-90 guns, etc. etc. And it is not just Russians. Our western ware fare better in availability, but try asking for modifications. They will either not do it, or ask for something exorbitant.
Yes, that is understandable when the product works as initially advertised but requires modifications that weren't originally envisaged as part of the contract. But when the product has deficiencies as the MiG-29K clearly does, it is the OEM's responsibility to fix it.
What irks me about this whole issue is why did the IN go in for the 29 options for the MiG-29Ks without having MiG fix the defects in the structures? Didn't they see these issues with the first 16 MiG-29Ks? Was it because they were all land-based back then and the issues surfaced only after actual deck ops began?
Indranil wrote:
Too early to say whether ADA/DRDO will be formally tasked to solve the problems. If they are CEMILAC will certify. Continuing to operate the Mig-29ks in their current form is unsustainable.
Shocking to say the least. And rather depressing.
Indranil wrote:
Mig-29k is out of the picture anyhow. It doesn't have CATOBAR capability.
Did the MRCBF RFI specifically ask for CATOBAR capability? I must have missed that.