NRao wrote:ramana wrote:
54 F4 and 27 RafaleM.
If I am not mistaken both the Rafale and Rafale M are/will be F4 (standard).
Probably an indianized version of F4.1 or F4.2
For one, better to wait for official news. For another, the F4 standard comes in two increments - F4.1 rolled out last year and being tested, and the full F4 standard that is expected to be certified in 2024/2025 and deployed on planes delivered 2027 onwards . For another, many of the improvements would conflict/overlap with India's expensively paid enhancements and others might be for features not available to or not purchased for India. India's enhancements are roughly equal to F3R, but actually may differ in specific situations. This means India gets to decide on case to case basis whether to continue with the Indian standard (and standardize), adopt the F4.1 standard, buy 4.2 standard and wait or backfit them, or pay more to integrate ISE to the new standards.
https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/01/r ... -standard/
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... t-aircraft
eg India paid for engine enhancements for ladakh/cold and high environment. Some F4 version will include a new engine ECU. Does it conflict, does the ISE get carried forward with the new ECU, does it require work to be done, who the heck knows.
eg. Helmet mounted sights. India opted to integrate a different helmet mounted sight. Is it worth it to switch to the
Scorpion HMS in F4 standard and if so when. Similarly israeli displays, improved IRST etc. which differ from the F3R/F4 equipment
Some things like better radar, improved maintenance diagnostics, AIML, displays, etc will be a no brainer when it comes. Others might be adopted along with the standard whether or not India actually uses them at the time - eg Mica NG missile will be available only post 2030. Or the 1000 kg version of the HAMMER missile.