ramana wrote:Rakesh How much does this upgrade cost? And what components does HAL add to existing components?
Reason am asking is about 3-4 M2Ks can be salvaged from that new lot.
So can they be upgraded with these new components provided the airframe has enough life?
43 million is a very steep price for upgrade (unless we have already paid for 51, 2 planes have crashed so 2 can be accommodated that way)
In my opinion these are the options in in no particular order -
1. Leave the plane as it is (upgrade only 2 as per above reason). This is under assumption that not much life is left. They are French standard and should be decent enough. Fly them till they cannot no longer fly
2. Very limited upgrade to Fire Mica, new EW gear and newer A/G weapon. I have a feeling if the options are all French, it will not be very far from the option of $43 million- If can be wrapped in under $10m/plane, it maybe worth it
3.Install Indian avionics + EW gear (Israeli or Desi) + Uttam (essentially LCAMK1A gear) on it. There will be expense, but all to domestic companies, drawback being it cannot fire French munitions, but can fire many desi ones.
4. If the life can be expanded similar to IAF M2K, then perhaps go for $43 M/plane. They will server for another 20 years. Btw this is also the cost of new LCAMK1A. But the French option is more matured, tested and proven. Ours will also get there eventually, but is not there now.
I would say any option that gives total cost under $10m/plane is good (assuming not long life of plane) will be good, except desi option, even if costly if 70% of the proceed remains in house, not bad.