MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

[bkswarti]

Moderator Note: Please do not post just links without a title and a date. Your post has been edited.

India Recalibrates 114 Jets MRFA Tender, Eyeing to Reduce Rafale F4 Jet Purchase to 60 for Interim 5th-Gen Stealth Jets
https://defence.in/threads/india-recali ... ets.14997/
22 July 2025

[drnayar]

If we are indeed going down the expected route, the least that can be done is to get the French to invest some money into a silent eagle type treatment for the Rafale. Even a small reduction in the rcs would help decrease the detection range vis a vis the Chinese stealthish fighters.

Reminds me that Tejas Mk2's frontal RCS is a fraction of the Tejas Mk1! Equivalent to Rafale.

[Manish_P]

X abuzz with rumors of deal reached with the Russians.... looks like psyops started by baba Banaras

42 Su-57s and 50 Su-35s

Su 35s ???... might as well have added Su 34s and Tu 160s

[Rakesh]

India Recalibrates 114 Jets MRFA Tender, Eyeing to Reduce Rafale F4 Jet Purchase to 60 for Interim 5th-Gen Stealth Jets
https://defence.in/threads/india-recali ... ets.14997/
22 July 2025

Kindly refrain from posting links from Defence.In and IDRW.org

Both are propaganda news peddlers and plagiarizers. Nothing they publish is worth reading.

OEMs - like Dassault - do not sign agreements with companies in India, without a large order in the works. That is not how this works. Like India, UAE is another international Rafale customer and has an order book (80 airframes) larger than the IAF (36). How many agreements has Dassault signed with an aviation company in the UAE? Same with Egypt that has 54 airframes or Indonesia that has ordered 42 airframes?

These are fighter aircraft we are talking about....not roasted channa that you buy from a roadside vendor. Such acquisitions take years to discuss, finalize and then finally sign on the dotted line. Putin's offer of the Su-57 is similar to Trump's offer of the F-35. The aircraft has to be studied by Air HQ, examine what is coming in the offer, see how the aircraft fits into the IAF's ORBAT, how the aircraft can be tactically employed in conflict, a MRO facility for the aircraft + turbofan, etc, etc, etc.

You don't just wake up one morning and arbitrarily change a number that has existed for more than quarter of a century i.e. the start of the MMRCA contest. Squadron strength and ORBATs do not change, just because some world leader "offers" an aircraft.

[Rakesh]

X abuzz with rumors of deal reached with the Russians.... looks like psyops started by baba Banaras

42 Su-57s and 50 Su-35s

Su 35s ???... might as well have added Su 34s and Tu 160s

Baba Banaras is doing psyops indeed

Su-35 is fake news, especially with the Super Sukhoi upgrade in the works. There is nothing on the Su-35, than the Super Sukhoi upgrade cannot do or even exceed. The Su-57 will take some time to arrive, if it ever does. Please see post above.

[Manish_P]

X abuzz with rumors of deal reached with the Russians.... looks like psyops started by baba Banaras

42 Su-57s and 50 Su-35s

Su 35s ???... might as well have added Su 34s and Tu 160s

Baba Banaras is doing psyops indeed

Su-35 is fake news, especially with the Super Sukhoi upgrade in the works. There is nothing on the Su-35, than the Super Sukhoi upgrade cannot do or even exceed. The Su-57 will take some time to arrive, if it ever does. Please see post above.

babaji actually typed S-35

Guess he wanted to type F-35

Others picked up on his post and put it as Su 35

[Rakesh]

babaji actually typed S-35

Guess he wanted to type F-35

Others picked up on his post and put it as Su 35

In all seriousness though, Baba-ji meant to say Su-35 onlee. See the tweet below. No mention of any deal being finalized between India and USA.

https://x.com/RealBababanaras/status/19 ... 7471664525 ---> As per source, the deal has been finalized between India and Russia to procure 42 SU-57 and 50 S-35 under Make in India initiative with complete transfer of technology.

[bkswarti]

I am inclined to agree with Rakesh. It makes no sense to pivot from Rafale to the Su-35. Dassault has built partnership within India over multiple years. The navy jets are purchased, they are setting up domestic manufacturing and safran will build the engines for AMCA. I do not see how the babus will be silly enough to even entertain anything else. 114 Rafales is only a matter of time. It’s possible the number may be +/- 20.

I also think it’s possible India get a couple squadrons of the Su-57 as a stop gap as the Pakistanis are going to be getting a 5th gen soon. I am skeptical to even call Su-57 a fifth generation aircraft but it may be enough of a deterrence to keep Pakistan / China at bay until the AMCA comes.

I have heard rumblings that Dassault is looking to ditch the other euro partners for the 6th gen aircraft. I am wondering if we are looking to team up with someone for the 6th gen aircraft; maybe Dassault is the answer. I have more faith in the Dassault program than the Tempest.

[rajsunder]

X abuzz with rumors of deal reached with the Russians.... looks like psyops started by baba Banaras

42 Su-57s and 50 Su-35s

Su 35s ???... might as well have added Su 34s and Tu 160s

Read that Russia is making SU-25 ground attack jets. I think we should get some instead of SU-35, they will be cheaper than buying Apache helicopters.

[Manish_P]

....
the Pakistanis are going to be getting a 5th gen soon. I am skeptical to even call Su-57 a fifth generation aircraft ....

No doubts about the chinese aircraft being a 5th Gen then?

[SRajesh]

Moderator Note: Please do not post just links without a title and a date. Your post has been edited.

Here we go... the scare mongering has started! All things great and simple from Unkilnadu, wonder how much and how many are paid and put into service. Regardless of this, I don't think F-35 or Uber Taiyyara are coming unless of course they have Techniki problems!

Fighter jets: Flying towards scary parity with Pakistan
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 879702.cms
24 July 2025

[Rakesh]

Twitter is already abuzz with Su-57 in IAF colours. How quickly the wildfire (aka propaganda) spreads...

https://x.com/elitepredatorss/status/19 ... 5321063468 ---> Looks the best in Tipnis grey and tricolor, isn't it?

[SRajesh]

^^Bas Saabji
Now the wait for the Phoren Maal starts!!

[bkswarti]

Moderator Note: Please do not post just links without a title and a date. Your post has been edited.

Lagta hai yeh log iss forum padkar news chhap dete hain.

IAF looking to acquire 2-3 squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign sources
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/ge ... 724200508/
24 July 2025

[Rakesh]

The importance of having your own MIC (in military aviation) is clearly illustrated. When will we ever learn?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has operated four of the aircraft below. By the way, where is France's VLO fighter below? The aircraft at the very bottom right (Rafale) is France's only viable fighter till the FCAS arrives in the late 2040s. When will we *EVER* learn?

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/19 ... 8571504886 ---> The Dassault Family



https://x.com/AviationMarlene/status/18 ... 3418924270 ---> "La Famille Dassault"

[Rakesh]

The importance of having your own MIC (in military aviation) is clearly illustrated. When will we ever learn?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has operated four of the aircraft below. By the way, where is France's VLO fighter below? The aircraft at the very bottom right (Rafale) is France's only viable fighter till the FCAS arrives in the late 2040s. When will we *EVER* learn?

So 114 MRFA plus 50 (± 10) stealth fighters = no money for local programs.

https://x.com/Varun55484761/status/1948409836812599615 ---> The IAF recently made a detailed presentation to the govt outlining its future requirements for maintaining an edge over adversaries. IAF is looking to acquire around 2-3 squadrons (40-60 aircraft). India is also looking at a programme to build 114 modern 4.5 plus generation fighters.

[bkswarti]

^ I agree. AMCA must be fast tracked. Not sure what’s worse: kill switch amriki F35 or barely 5th gen Russi SU-57 or a decade with Pakistanis having chini 5th gen.

Perhaps we need a different thread to keep this about the 114 Rafales

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Ray70409890/status/1948404882794299463 ---> What if I told you that MoD and IAF has already selected the fifth gen jet and it is….Which one is it? The one built at Fort Worth, Texas? OR The one built by Knaaz at Komsomolsk on Amur…?

[Rakesh]

Lagta hai yeh log iss forum padkar news chhap dete hain.

IAF looking to acquire 2-3 squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign sources
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/ge ... 724200508/
24 July 2025

https://x.com/wartrophy_414/status/1948406798060228955 ---> Mujhe samjh nhi aata inka 2-3 sqn ka acquisition se hota kya hai? That's like buying something, so you can write on wikipedia that we have them, look at Rafale 2 squadrons, 1 towards Pak & other towards China & that's 18 jets on each side of an air force that talks in 42-60 fighter squadrons.

https://x.com/wartrophy_414/status/1948413230474478018 ---> IAF, veterans, GoI & exfarts after every 2 squadron acquisitions, telling everyone how everything they buy is a game changer.

[Rakesh]

Lagta hai yeh log iss forum padkar news chhap dete hain.

IAF looking to acquire 2-3 squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign sources
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/ge ... 724200508/
24 July 2025

https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/1948421938730139666 ---> Why don't you just sabotage AMCA completely and import everything? Skilled, intelligent leadership too if there's an option.

https://x.com/Tej_Intel/status/1948620345059278887 ---> Thanks to Pakistan and their forward-thinking strategy. Our galleries are buzzing with the names of AMCA, Su-57, and F-35. Strangely, Chinese developments don't spark similar fire in the IAF/MoD.

https://x.com/cvkrishnan/status/1948628108409798688 ---> If the F-35 does come, IAF should re-organise itself into:

• Russian Fighter Command
• Indigenous Fighter Command
• French Fighter Command
• American Fighter Command

Air Defence Systems too will go into respective commands.

[LakshmanPST]

What if--->
- Withdraw 114 MRCA proposal.
- Say that the order should be split between 3 squadrons of Rafale and 3 squadrons of 5th Gen fighter
- Order 3 squadrons of Rafale
- Drag the 5th Gen proposal with Chai Biskoot sessions for years
- Finally cancel it and order AMCA

[Cain Marko]

The way I see it, India is going to need close to 20 sqds in the next 10 years with expected retirement of 12sqds including jags, fulcrums and mirages. Approx 250 birds. Note that this will deplete the current strength of 31 to a measly 19 sqds.

Replacements will be

200 LCA mk1A...10 sqds
120 mk2...6 sqds
114 mrfa...5sqds

My guess is that the mrfa will be divided into 54 rafale and 60 pakfa or f35 (remote possibility). Iaf will want an out right 5 gen bird as the tip of the spear.

Pakfa mki with izd 30 engines (also for su 30 mki upgrade) will be the likely choice.Unless the US really pulls out all stops.

The amca will start to creep in at around that time and bring the strength to 42-45 sqds by 2045.

Reposting what I had written earlier .

[Manish_P]

If we are to be a top tier power, befitting our economic hefft, we need to have numbers for UCAVs in all our future projections - by the Jingos, by the subject matter analysts and above all by the IAF thenselves.

The UCAVs are and will not be not cheap. They will have a significant impact on the CAPEX and OPEX of the forces.

Vision 2040 or Vision 2047 from the IAF must include lines like 'n squadrons of MALE UCAV, y squadrons of HALE UCAVs'

[williams]

What if--->
- Withdraw 114 MRCA proposal.
- Say that the order should be split between 3 squadrons of Rafale and 3 squadrons of 5th Gen fighter
- Order 3 squadrons of Rafale
- Drag the 5th Gen proposal with Chai Biskoot sessions for years
- Finally cancel it and order AMCA

OR simply order 3 squadrons of Rafale. ...And have Chai Biskoot until local fighters get ready

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/mountain_rats/status/1950554271621226520 ---> Time to order 3 squadrons of Su-57 and batteries of S-500. Make America Regret Again!

https://x.com/VinodDX9/status/1950572106187677699 ---> Answer these questions too:

1) Will it be a credible FGFA or just a multi-role platform?
2) Can Russia sustain supply?
3) Will India be allowed to integrate accordingly?
4) LCC (Life Cycle Cost) Sustainability?
5) Order of what size will provide minimum availability for two fronts?
6) Is the ROI feasible?

[Rakesh]

For What Its Worth (FWIW)...the Bloomberg article is behind a paywall.

https://x.com/Currentreport1/status/1950938565304860745 ---> JUST IN: India has informed the United States that it is not interested in purchasing F-35 fighter jets – Bloomberg.

========================

Below article is from Op India, which uses Bloomberg at its source.

India tells US it is not keen to buy the F-35 fighter jet, may increase import of some items but no new defence equipment will be bought from the US: Report
https://www.opindia.com/news-updates/in ... ghter-jet/
31 July 2025

[Rakesh]

^^^ Shiv Aroor has posted a screenshot from the Bloomberg article. If this reporting is true, a G2G deal for Su-57 will be coming.

https://x.com/ShivAroor/status/1950979397290434579 ---> BREAKING! India has informed the US it is not keen to buy F-35 stealth fighters, Bloomberg reports.

[bkswarti]

It appears to me that a G2G deal regarding the Su-57 is imminent. Likely when Putin comes to India later this year. Most likely the tariffs are trumps way of pushing for Lockheed Martin’s lobby.

[KrishnaK]

X-Post from the Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022 thread...

Contracts signed with foreign OEMs are honoured, as the long as the leader sitting in that foreign country wishes to honour them. This has been especially true of the United States of America. Any safe guards written in the contract, can only be valid if both parties wish to honour them. Trump is unstable and unreliable. With India not backing down from his threats (via importing Russian oil), expect Trump to pull any trick out of his hat. He will throw everything (and the kitchen sink) at the wall and hope that something will stick.

The US-India strategic partnership is not a partnership at all, but rather one of servitude. Even today, US policy makers are visibly angry that India is not purchasing greater quantities of US hardware (especially fighter aircraft). This interoperability excuse - that is always thrown out by the US Govt and the US military - is just a veil for greater control of India's military. That America cannot be trusted, is a time tested and proven theory. America will never allow another country to rise and India is no different.

Now the chickens have come home to roost. Not a single player in India - multiple Govts (from the 80s!), Babus, Air HQ, GTRE, etc - had the vision to religiously fund our own engine program. Same with choosing an American OEM for our home grown Tejas program. The lack of insight - in both - is sad and criminal. The entire Tejas program now rests on the mercy of an Orange Orangutan that sits in the Oval Office and has an attention span lesser than that of a cockroach. This engine issue is also why the MRFA program refuses to die. This engine issue is why India will continue to import phoren fighter(s). We will pay the price for foolishness and stupidity.

Good to see that you're still singing same old, same old. Even including Trump 1.0, the US has supported the rise of much of east asia, including China for over 65 years. It did so because it was perceived as in US interests. This included defense guarantees that most of them continue to rely on *today*.

Be it China or the USA, many BRF armchair analysts sadly have been more realistic about imminent dangers in the policies of our Services, especially the IAF.

During the Single Engine saga (2016 to 2018), BRFites like NRao, sudeepj, YI Patel, Cosmo_R, ldev, KrishnaK and others were all in favour of F-16 production (via Tata). It is a credit to the Govt of India that this asinine idea never took off and India did not induct the F-16 into her Air Force. The yarn that was being doled on BRF from these Tier 1 industry experts - in the SE thread - was a sight to see. At that time, countering that US propaganda and asking questions on the F-16 deal - on BRF - was akin to us not being able to see the BIG picture and being narrow minded.

Now crow soup is in order for the above crowd

Trump tariffs on India explained: Timeline, structure, impact, exemptions, and more— here are 8 key things to know
https://www.livemint.com/economy/donald ... 55632.html
07 Aug 2025

Are any sectors or industries exempted from Trump's tariff barrage?
As per trade industry think tank GTRI, the 50 per cent tariffs will not be applicable on the exempted categories such as:

Finished pharmaceutical drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and other key drug inputs;
Energy products such as crude oil, refined fuels, natural gas, coal, and electricity;
Critical minerals; and
A wide range of electronics and semiconductors, including computers, tablets, smartphones, solid-state drives, flat panel displays, and integrated circuits.

Outputs that directly affect the US economy are being exempted for very obvious reasons. The offer made for the F16 deal was to *move* the *onlu* assembly from Texas to India and have the Indian assembly build the other orders as well. Lockheed_Martin_has_131_Orders_for_F_16_Block_70_72_Fighter_Aircraft That's ~150 aircraft India's private sector would've built that they aren't today. This would've included F16 exports to third party countries that affect Lockheed's bottomline. Even excluding the profoundly wise decision not to buy and build US aircraft, the Indian economy will increasingly rely on moving manufacturing for American companies from China to India to power its industrialization. That will be in the order of hundreds of billions. The US will continue to have a lot of leverage with India and India will have to learn to deal with it by creating leverage for itself. The only thing asinine here is your understanding and comment.

[Karan M]

...

Good to see that you're still singing same old, same old. Even including Trump 1.0, the US has supported the rise of much of east asia, including China for over 65 years. It did so because it was perceived as in US interests. This included defense guarantees that most of them continue to rely on *today*.

...

Trump tariffs on India explained: Timeline, structure, impact, exemptions, and more— here are 8 key things to know
https://www.livemint.com/economy/donald ... 55632.html
07 Aug 2025

Outputs that directly affect the US economy are being exempted for very obvious reasons. The offer made for the F16 deal was to *move* the *onlu* assembly from Texas to India and have the Indian assembly build the other orders as well. Lockheed_Martin_has_131_Orders_for_F_16_Block_70_72_Fighter_Aircraft That's ~150 aircraft India's private sector would've built that they aren't today. This would've included F16 exports to third party countries that affect Lockheed's bottomline. Even excluding the profoundly wise decision not to buy and build US aircraft, the Indian economy will increasingly rely on moving manufacturing for American companies from China to India to power its industrialization. That will be in the order of hundreds of billions. The US will continue to have a lot of leverage with India and India will have to learn to deal with it by creating leverage for itself. The only thing asinine here is your understanding and comment.

Reference your last line, keep a civil tongue and mind yourself. Rakesh called the idea asinine. You converted it into an ad homimem by referring to his understanding and comment, both to defend your chosen side. Play the ball and attack the idea not the person. First & last warning.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Neetivaan/status/1951296419626643651 --->

> MRCA: Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
> MMRCA: Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
> MMRCA 2.0: Same as MMRCA, second attempt
> MRFA: Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft

Few renames I propose:

> NAMRCA: Not Acquired, Maybe Reviewed, Cancelled Anyway
> SLEEPFA: Still Looking, Evaluating Every Plane Forever Again
> HOPE: Hold On, Procurement Eternally
> TENDER: Talks Endlessly, No Decision Ever Reached

Feel free to add.

https://x.com/OverHorizon404/status/1951310882606088685 ---> NIBB: Not Impressed By the Brochure.

https://x.com/c0dename008/status/1951337176475771304 ---> NINDA : Non-Intended Nonsense Defence Acquisitions.

https://x.com/gautamgandhi44/status/1951316899511341411 ---> F.UCKFA: Future Unmanned Combat Kommercheskiy Fighter Aircraft.

https://x.com/m00zie_f00ker/status/1951474183331840374 ---> LAUDA - Looking for Aircraft from Universe Decision Awaiting.

https://x.com/Shubham40785484/status/19 ... 2982490392 ---> ORCA - Once Ready, Cancel Again.

https://x.com/foxtrot_rahul/status/1951297195380002838 ---> TEDBF: The EnD of Bharat's Fighters.

https://x.com/____Schr0dinger/status/19 ... 5730220317 ---> AMCA: Acquisition Managed by Careless Administration.

https://x.com/Vishwamitr36384/status/19 ... 9767481571 --->

> DRAG – Delays Repeatedly, Again & Again, Guaranteed
> RAFALE – Repeated Assessment For Another Lifetime Evaluation
> FLYBY – Filed, Listed, Yawned, Buried Yesterday
> JETLAG – Just Evaluate Tender, Leave Again Gradually
> FIGHTER – Forever In Government's Head, Tendering Endless Rounds

[Rakesh]

Good to see that you're still singing same old, same old. Even including Trump 1.0, the US has supported the rise of much of east asia, including China for over 65 years. It did so because it was perceived as in US interests. This included defense guarantees that most of them continue to rely on *today*.

Singing same old, same old is true, because it is relevant. With Trump that is obviously being proven daily. Equally disingenuous is the US hosting the architect of the recent massacre at Pahalgam, not once...but now twice by the Trump Administration. It is nice to know where America's interests really lie. But knowing America's past duplicitous behaviour, this is not surprising.

https://x.com/johnstanly/status/1951123712692146337 ---> Trump wants a detente with China, while scaling up cooperation with Pakistan, partly to wean it off from Beijing. The U.S. does not like India questioning its ties with Pak, but it questions India on its ties with Russia & Iran: writes @vargheseKgeorge

Structural cracks emerge in the India-U.S. strategic partnership
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 878931.ece
01 Aug 2025

As a superpower, the U.S. is proud of its capacity to have parallel partnerships with rival pairs — Qatar and Saudi Arabia-UAE, South Korea and Japan, India and Pakistan, for instance. It would argue that each relationship stands on its own individual context and merits. The U.S. would not appreciate the same logic thrown back at it by its partners, however, and India’s relations with Iran and Russia have been of particular concern for it. While the U.S. does not like India questioning its ties with Pakistan, it questions India on its ties with Russia and Iran.

With regards to US defense guarantees, that has now begun to unravel and it is especially true in Europe. Spain has exited from its F-35 purchase (thanks to Trump's tariffs) and reportedly Switzerland is also considering that option. With Trump demanding that Europe pay a greater share in NATO security, nations in Europe are boosting their defence expenditure and investing in their own military hardware. And if Trump continues his tariff war stupidity, Asia will soon wake up to the same realization that has dawned on Europe. And US' F-35 offer to India has been turned down (and rightfully so) by the Govt of India.

Outputs that directly affect the US economy are being exempted for very obvious reasons.

Tariff exemptions that the US has placed are both farcical and hypocritical. In that vein, it describes the very essence that is the United States. This is akin to Europe whining about India importing oil from Russia, while doing the exact same with Russia.

VIDEO: https://x.com/TimesAlgebraIND/status/19 ... 6926777628 --->

JOURNALIST: India says U.S. purchases Russian uranium and fertilizers, yet criticizes India for buying Russian energy. So, Your response?

TRUMP: I don’t know anything about that.

VIDEO: https://x.com/BesuraTaansane/status/1953463156241572231 ---> Peter Navarro is unable to answer a simple question from @kaitlancollins: China buys more oil from Russia than India does but no penalty has been levied on China...why is China being treated leniently & India being targeted?

The offer made for the F16 deal was to *move* the *onlu* assembly from Texas to India and have the Indian assembly build the other orders as well. Lockheed_Martin_has_131_Orders_for_F_16_Block_70_72_Fighter_Aircraft That's ~150 aircraft India's private sector would've built that they aren't today. This would've included F16 exports to third party countries that affect Lockheed's bottomline. Even excluding the profoundly wise decision not to buy and build US aircraft, the Indian economy will increasingly rely on moving manufacturing for American companies from China to India to power its industrialization. That will be in the order of hundreds of billions. The US will continue to have a lot of leverage with India and India will have to learn to deal with it by creating leverage for itself. The only thing asinine here is your understanding and comment.

The above reality distortion field is what occurs when you live in the insular world that is the United States. Have the heard the above fairly tale story before, so this is nothing new. This is the exact stale story that you harped on in the Single Engine thread. Same Old, Same Old. If you truly believe that the US has leverage of significance over India, then lets witness US enforcing "said' leverage.

This "ambiguous" leverage that you refer to has not worked out in any meaningful manner for the US. Threatened sanctions on S-400 purchase and nothing occurred. Went out with a whimper, despite all the threats. Whined, Cajoled & Complained about India purchasing Russian oil (since the start of the Ukraine war) and only now resorted to the strategy of imposing tariffs which will only harm the US in the long term. The strategy of weaning India away from Russian military purchases has also yielded zero results, as India is still actively pursing weaponry from Russia i.e. follow on Akula lease, a nearly 250 order of AL-31FP turbofans for its existing Su-30MKI fleet, additional S-400 purchases, new Krivak Class frigates, etc. Still waiting for the threat of sanctions to be imposed via CAATSA.

Waiting for the State Department to pull their levers of leverage on the three below...

1. EAM Dr S Jaishankar, NSA Doval plan trips to Russia this month
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 065906.cms
02 Aug 2025

India is keeping its ties with Russia steady with high level visits planned to Moscow this month amid US President Donald Trump's demand asking to reduce oil imports from Russia and threatening penalties if New Delhi failed to do so.

There are reports that India is looking to purchase additional S-400 defence systems which had contributed to India's success during Operation Sindoor. India also plans to have MRO facilities for S-400 here. There are also unconfirmed reports that India is exploring purchase of Su-57 fighter jets from Russia.

On Friday while defending ties with Russia MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership." "Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country."

2. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1953804374158840158 ---> Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.

3. In the recently concluded MRCBF contest between the F-18SH and Rafale M, Boeing lost so horribly bad that they resorted to whining about the arrestor gear - aboard INS Vikrant - not being up to par. Prior to losing the contest, this was the same Boeing that was going around town that the F-18SH would trounce the Rafale M in the contest. Unfortunately reality did not work out that way for Boeing.

So lets have the US enforce their leverage to cancel the Rafale M purchase. Or enforce their leverage to stop India from purchasing any more Russian military hardware. Or at the least, enforce their leverage to coerce India from preventing Putin to visit India. So do something, other than mere talk. The more the US pushes harder against India's strategic independence...the opposite reaction will occur. It is best that the US stops threatening other countries and learns to live and accept the reality of multi polarity. Threats worked with banana republics like Cuba. But tariff threats did not work with China, it will not work with India and the US-led military alliance is yet to defeat Russia in Ukraine.

Before you reply to my post, I would suggest you read the article below. Let reality sink in. It will you do some good. Step away from the old theory that US-leads-the-world-to-freedom-prosperity-and-democracy and understand that Dhobi Ghat is not alone the central seat of power. The world has moved on, but Washington is still stuck in that same old cycle. And your post is clearly indicative of that.

Donald Trump Risks Tanking Twenty-Five Years of U.S.-India Relations
https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/ ... ns?lang=en
04 Aug 2025

By Evan A. Feigenbaum ---> https://carnegieendowment.org/people/ev ... um?lang=en

[Rakesh]

You have to drag & drop this picture into a new browser window if you want to read it.

https://x.com/BahadurManmohan/status/19 ... 9090561326 ---> Anyone recommending that we buy the F-35? I have a formula - if a Westerner praises you, first cut 50% and then evaluate how much of the praise was true. So, the reality of all the "dear friend," "good friend," "best friend" rhetoric.

[bkswarti]

Ab aur kitne mahine wait karna hoga

After Operation Sindoor, IAF seeks more Rafales to stem depletion of fighter squadrons
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 223125.cms
11 August 2025

[Rakesh]

Ab aur kitne mahine wait karna hoga

^^^ From the article. It depends on when the DAC is set to meet and *IF* the MRFA is on the meeting agenda to discuss. Between chai and biskoot sessions, hopefully the Lordships in the DAC will bring it up and make some decision.

"Government will take the final decision when the MRFA case comes to DAC.

[drnayar]

Ab aur kitne mahine wait karna hoga

After Operation Sindoor, IAF seeks more Rafales to stem depletion of fighter squadrons
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 223125.cms
11 August 2025

Weird

Tejas Mk2 = Rafale. Can Rafale delivery timelines match Tejas?
Also IAF pulled back from a massive air raid and instead opted for SSM strikes.

What is the case for such numbers of Rafales ?

[Rakesh]

What is the case for such numbers of Rafales ?

A fighter that is powered by a non-US turbofan.

Using that line of thought, Rafale makes ample sense to Air HQ.

[Manish_P]

What is the case for such numbers of Rafales ?

A fighter that is powered by a non-US turbofan.

Using that line of thought, Rafale makes ample sense to Air HQ.

So AMCA is still going to be GE right...

[uddu]

AMCA MK1 until the Joint venture engine is ready. MK2 and probably MK1 eventually will have this new engine.

[pravula]

A fighter that is powered by a non-US turbofan.

Using that line of thought, Rafale makes ample sense to Air HQ.

So AMCA is still going to be GE right...

No. 414 was always supposed to be just a temp engine.