MRCA News and Discussion

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Cain Marko
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

nachiket wrote:That point is moot, since none of the MRCA contenders would be able to do what you are saying (least of all the Mig-35). You need something in the class of an F-22/35 to do that.
It is relevant. There is a distinct possibility that the IAF will have such unenviable tasks at hand. Frankly, i'd rather see a rafale/Ef-2000 with Scalp/Taurus type. I think it'd stand a far better chance.

CM.
Cain Marko
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

GeorgeWelch wrote:What part of 'nearby land bases are unavailable' do you not understand?
What part of Osan, Kadena, Andersen being close enough to Taiwan do you not understand? Furthermore, weren't there were B52s taking off from louisiana to iraq? Similarly, B2s flew from missouri to kosovo and i think iraq. IIRC, there are B2s at Guam as well. Still further, who is to say, the USAF won't get more basing rights in Japan and Soko if they really need 'em? YOu think the two countries will say no?
Yes
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/de ... 6d649146cd
The big mystery of the strike is how did the non-stealthy F-15s and F-16s get through the Syrian air defense radars without being detected? Some U.S. officials say they have the answer.

U.S. aerospace industry and retired military officials indicated today that a technology like the U.S.-developed “Suter” airborne network attack system developed by BAE Systems and integrated into U.S. unmanned aircraft by L-3 Communications was used by the Israelis.
As I said, if you want the best SAMs, buy Russian.
If you want to beat the best SAMs, buy American.
heh heh, you do know that they took that route to especially avoid the S300s right? Might not have that option against china which has a far more robust AD network.
Sounds like you need the SH to me. Robust, reliable, and extremely capable in all missions. It just plain works now and has the most clear upgrade path for the future.
ROFLMAO! You ought to do SH commercials! Have a headache? here take a superhornet; have cancer? the shornet will do the trick, car not working? try the shornet; why have vi*gra when you can have shornet! - The super hornet - a solution for all occasions. :mrgreen:

CM.
Last edited by Cain Marko on 18 Aug 2009 07:57, edited 4 times in total.
nachiket
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Cain Marko wrote:
nachiket wrote:That point is moot, since none of the MRCA contenders would be able to do what you are saying (least of all the Mig-35). You need something in the class of an F-22/35 to do that.
It is relevant. There is a distinct possibility that the IAF will have such unenviable tasks at hand. Frankly, i'd rather see a rafale/Ef-2000 with Scalp/Taurus type. I think it'd stand a far better chance.

CM.
Oh yes, the rafale and typhoon would be better at A-to-A than the SH(assuming that the CAESAR and RBE-2 AESA are not too far behind the APG-79). IMHO the rafale might still be in trouble due to shorter range of MICA compared to AIM-120C5/7.

The typhoon is out of question as far as the MRCA order is concerned because of its cost. The rafale IMHO might also be unaffordable.

The Mig-35 is inferior even acc to your chart. So what does that leave?
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

nachiket wrote:Oh yes, the rafale and typhoon would be better at A-to-A than the SH(assuming that the CAESAR and RBE-2 AESA are not too far behind the APG-79). IMHO the rafale might still be in trouble due to shorter range of MICA compared to AIM-120C5/7.
There is the very distinct possibility that the Meteor as well as the AStra will be ready when the MRCAs start arriving. Another thing, A2A (even BVR) is not purely about radar/electronics or marginal differences in RCS either. When AWACS are involved as they will be, there is strong possibility of turning fights (even BVR). Why else would the IAF engage in dogfights in expensive intl exercises,? Think about it - even the Bison proved to be a handful despite E3s. There is a lot to tactics. But for that you need speed, agility, acceleration etc. I remember during Cope II (or was it I?) one of the USAF pilots in v.capable eagles/vipers mentioned how particularly difficult the Bison was thanks to its small size and v.high speed.
The typhoon is out of question as far as the MRCA order is concerned because of its cost. The rafale IMHO might also be unaffordable.
You never know. The recent tiffy t3 contract was not too bad iirc.
The Mig-35 is inferior even acc to your chart. So what does that leave?
The key for the mig-35 is its cost. If it really undercuts the eurocanards and teens, then it'll be a v.hard choice to give up for the bean counters. While there is a clear difference in the chart between the mig and the others, it'll not be so pronounced (more marginal) in real life i think esp. A2A.

CM.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by GeorgeWelch »

Cain Marko wrote:
GeorgeWelch wrote:What part of 'nearby land bases are unavailable' do you not understand?
What part of Osan, Kadena, Andersen being close enough to Taiwan do you not understand? Furthermore, weren't there were B52s taking off from louisiana to iraq? Similarly, B2s flew from missouri to kosovo and i think iraq. IIRC, there are B2s at Guam as well.
I suggest you read the Rand reports which explain quite clearly why they are not close enough. And that assumes China 'plays nice' and doesn't obliterate those too. If they do launch a massive ballistic missile barrage against those bases, then what? Launch F-22s from Hawaii :rotfl:

Yes B-2s can fly from Diego Garcia or somewhere, but B-2s by themselves don't give air superiority.
heh heh, you do know that they took that route to especially avoid the S300s right?
Why do you make stuff up?

Syria did not have S-300s then.
Cain Marko wrote:
Sounds like you need the SH to me. Robust, reliable, and extremely capable in all missions. It just plain works now and has the most clear upgrade path for the future.
The super hornet - a solution for all occasions. :mrgreen:
You make it a joke, but the SH truly is the most versatile plane in existence.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by GeorgeWelch »

Cain Marko wrote:
India also has AWACS
Precisely the reason why a marginally better radar like the APG 79 won't cut it. Also the reason why aircraft kinematics will come into play.
Huh? You were saying that Indian planes will have to act alone without all the support that American planes receive. I point out that SHs perform in the same way, being supported only by a few hawkeyes and that India has a similar (if not better) capability. In other words India can support SHs just as well as the USN can. It does not rely on an armada of specialist planes to perform all the other missions for it.
Cain Marko wrote:
If there are avionics that can be retrofitted on non-stealth planes, (ie the kind you are worried about for advanced flankers and J10s), they will go on the SH first.
They are already on the SH. What do you suppose they'll have next Klingon cloaking devices?
Who knows? But what I do know is that there will be significant advances over the next 10-15 years and that America will be at the forefront of it.
Cain Marko wrote:So you are telling me that a CBG is going to use super hornets at H-Hour when the nation sits on a pile of F-22s, F-15s and what not?
If those planes are available for use, of course not.

But those planes are dependent on nearby bases. If those aren't available, the US just gives up.

Oh wait! No, they send a carrier.

Again the purpose of the CBG is to go where the USAF cannot.

If the USAF is available to do the job, fine let them do it. But finding friendly host countries is never a guaranteed thing.

Kadena AFB, home of the 18th fighter wing is about 200 miles from Taiwan as the crow flies.
Kadena is about 450nm from the centerline of the Taiwan straight where the fiercest fighting would be expected as China tries to send an invasion fleet. But more importantly it is only one base and alone cannot generate enough sorties to stem the Chinese tide.

And again this all assumes China plays nice and doesn't wipe out the entire fleet at Kadena.

Frankly, I would make no such assumption.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by GeorgeWelch »

Cain Marko wrote:When AWACS are involved as they will be, there is strong possibility of turning fights (even BVR).
Um, what? AWACS helps to reduce turning fights and ESPECIALLY WVR.
Cain Marko wrote:Why else would the IAF engage in dogfights in expensive intl exercises,?
You think Red Flag is about dogfights? You are sadly mistaken.
Cain Marko wrote:Think about it - even the Bison proved to be a handful despite E3s. There is a lot to tactics. But for that you need speed, agility, acceleration etc.
No, tactics adapt to whatever you have. They do not require anything except a brain.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

GeorgeWelch wrote:I suggest you read the Rand reports which explain quite clearly why they are not close enough. And that assumes China 'plays nice' and doesn't obliterate those too. If they do launch a massive ballistic missile barrage against those bases, then what? Launch F-22s from Hawaii :rotfl:
I read that rand report, and even that said Kadena, misawa and osan are definitely workable. And why is your starting point the Rand report anyway? So that you can conveniently take away all USAF assets in the region? or are other scenarios not possible at all ?
Yes B-2s can fly from Diego Garcia or somewhere, but B-2s by themselves don't give air superiority.
B2s and B52s can both cause havoc by getting rid of Command centers and AD sites thereby not allowing PLAAF air assets to work too well. That leads to airsuperiority so stop this non sense about TLAMs, B2s, B52s not leading to air superiority.

And what makes you think the Americans won't attack first? You simply went ahead and assumed that all the close by airbases, whether in japan, soko or even taiwan itself were all flattened eh? how convenient.
Why do you make stuff up?
Not really making things up. Just wanted to point out that the israeli route went north over the mediterannean (no SAM coverage there), then via turkey into the eastern part of syria where their target was (the supposed nuke site @ Ar Zawr). The eastern part of syria has little to no SAM coverage as seen from this:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_0HCJq6B1wZA/RzC ... RVIEWN.jpg
here is their supposed route:
http://vigilanteagle.files.wordpress.co ... tk-map.gif
Syria did not have S-300s then.
Too true! That was a mistake on my part, which, however only reinforces the point that if at all israeli F-16s/15s overflew syrian sam sites, they were dealing with obsolete syrian/russian sams such as the SA6 - not exactly the same as shornets tangling with China's S300s and derivatives.

Sort of defeats your purpose of pointing out the israeli ingress as an indication of the shornet's ability to take on the S300, doesn't it?
You make it a joke, but the SH truly is the most versatile plane in existence.
Nice one!

CM.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Cain Marko wrote: The key for the mig-35 is its cost. If it really undercuts the eurocanards and teens, then it'll be a v.hard choice to give up for the bean counters. While there is a clear difference in the chart between the mig and the others, it'll not be so pronounced (more marginal) in real life i think esp. A2A.

CM.
While I still think that the difference might be more than marginal, the IAF has clearly specified that any extra performance beyond what the RFP requires will not receive extra points. In light of this I agree that the Mig-35 is the front runner due to the low cost. I guess it always was the moment the Mirage-2k was withdrawn. Its only us jingos salivating over rafales, typhoons and superbugs. :P
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Austin »

Yes the M2K no show was the biggest mistake , the IAF would have been more than happy to divide the deal ( even any one would have been fine ) into M2K-5 and Mig-35 in the numbers ( ~ 200 AC ) that they need to boot up squadron strength in shortest possible timeline with minimal overhead with possibly TOT , considering these type already enjoy the logistics advantage in the IAF and operational advantage of more one and half decade for its earlier variant
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by rakall »

Super bug landing now (1105hrs)
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Bala Vignesh »

The Super Hornet Flight Testing has started i guess.. An aircraft, different from the usual MiG's and Jaguars that usually fly over my house made 5-7 sorties in the time from 0930 to 1230 hrs... Each one was subsonic but the altitude seemed to be gradually increasing...

anyone living in the flight path from HAL airport towards wilson garden, cab you verify whether the aircraft is indeed the F/A 18 Super Hornet??? p
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First test runs with Boeing’s F/A-18 in Indian MMRCA race

Post by Charline St. Charles »

Source: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/380/

Search for India’s new fighter getting down to business

07:20 GMT, August 18, 2009 defpro.com | The true starting signal was given yesterday in the race for one of the decade’s largest fighter aircraft contracts as India began test runs of competing aircraft. However, this race will not be over as fast as Usain Bolt’s latest 9,58-seconds world record, but for the future of the Indian Air Force (IAF) it will be just as significant and ground-breaking. So far, it has been a matter of bidding and talking; now, however, it’s the hardware that will make the difference as tests have begun with the display of Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet in Bangalore, India.

India’s quest to procure126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), which is now making serious progress in India’s centre for aeronautical and space industry, is expected to yield a contract worth some $12 billion for one of the six contending aerospace giants. Besides Boeing’s state-of-the-art fighter, another US company will be presenting its jet as Lockheed Martin is the next on the test schedule with its F-16IN Super Viper. Furthermore, the French Dassault's Rafale, Swiss SAAB's Super Gripen IN, European consortium EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon and Russia’s RAC MiG MiG-35 are part of the starting line-up.

In a first step, the IAF plans to acquire 18 aircraft in fly-away condition. The aircraft will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) under a technology transfer deal. The MMRCA programme is set up to replace the Air Force’s aging MiG-21 fleet of Russian-built fighter aircraft first introduced in the 1960s. India had floated the tenders for the MMRCA in August 2007 and the exhaustive technical evaluation of the six global manufacturer' bids were completed early this year.


Boeing’s F/A-18 leads the way

On 17 August, 2009 Bangalore saw the initiation of the test runs with two F/A-18s making two sorties of 45 minutes each. The exercise was supervised by military aviation experts from the IAF's aircraft systems and training establishment (ASTE) complex. According to AFP, unnamed industry sources have declared Lockheed Martin and Boeing as frontrunners in this race. However, the race will have more than one lap, which the fighters will have to cope with.

The testing is due to continue for almost a year before New Delhi makes its choice from the six companies, defence ministry officials in New Delhi said. After the Bangalore test runs, all contending aircraft will move to Leh for high altitude trials and, subsequently, to Jaisalmer for summer trials. “We are optimistic that the trials on Indian soil and the conditions of all six aircraft competing for the deal will be completed before the end of April next year,” the Indian IAF officers said in late July.

As defpro.com recently reported, the IAF has set up a three-phased trial schedule which will be carried out by a team of two test pilots for each flight trial. “As per the trial schedule, the first phase involved training of Indian pilots on these competing aircraft in the country of origin. The second phase is the flight trials on Indian soil and airspace. The third phase would be the test of specialist weapons that the manufacturers would provide on the aircraft in the country of their choice,” the IAF officers explained, adding: "The idea is to complete the trials as soon as possible and, hence, we’ve got four pilots trained on these competing aircraft."

----
Source: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/380/
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Philip »

I predict that due to political compulsions,three years down the line,the deal will be split,or increased,in that both the MIG-35 (to augment upgraded MIG-29s) and most probably the Rafale (to augment and eventually replace Mirage-2000s) will be ordered,both for the MMRCA role as well as augmenting numbers.There is still a big Q mark over the speedy induction of the LCA and extra MIG-35s could help fill the gap.The Rafale will bring with it a contemporary western technology with complementary capability in operations with the SU-30MKI.The Swedes have no political clout whatsoever and with the Thais and other smaller states buying it,the IAF will not want to be on the same "plane" (pun intended) as these lesser nations.

The Yanquis will win the wooden spoon with some titbits like extra Hercules C-130s,P-8s,etc. thrown in their way as by then,Indo-Pak relations will have deteriorated considerably,as they are unravelling right now,and US arms sales to Pak will be a contentious issue.Moreover,by then,no one will be buying either the F-16 and F-18 and the IAF will not want to buy an ancient bird that comes with the danger of sanctions too.There is a strong anti-US lobby in the MOD and it will get support from both the EU countries as well as Russia.Insidious US diplomacy thanks to Holbrooke and the other "Rafael",better known as "Jaws",will keep Indo-US diplomacy at loggerheads.The Congress party also has elemnts who are pissed of with the pandring to the US over pak and its terrorism and MMS recived a not to gentle warning from his aprty-wallahs after his surrender at S-al-S.

Russia will leverage its 5th-gen project with us to make us buy the MIG-35,as a "lighter" and cheaper single-engined alternative to extra SU-30s.The Europeans (EADS) will be given the EJ-200 deal along with RR engines for the LCA and upgraded Jaguar along with ASW helos.The Israelis will provide AESA radars for the LCA and perhaps for the MIG-35 too and everyone will be given a share of the cake.
As we've just seen ,there are many hidden angles and connections to some of our deals (ATV-Gorshkov-Akula) which for legitimate reasons cannot be made public.The reason for buying US weaponry was the (secret) price that MMS made to get his N-deal through the Bush admin.How far the O-team will oblige India in keeping to the spirit of that deal remains a big Q mark.Watch this space as a rough ride is expected.

MAKS is on right now.Russia will announce the buying of MIG-35s and extra SU-30/34/35s for its air force,whcih will make its aircraft more appealing to the export market in the developing world.With HAL having decades of assmbling and building hundreds of Russian MIGs and now Sukhois,plus in the future 5th-gen fighters,don't dismiss the MIG-35s chances at all.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Dev A »

GeorgeWelch wrote:
Cain Marko wrote:To offer a bird that as philip points out is virtually 70s tech and flies like a brick is a rip off!
The SH is hardly a brick, it is very maneuverable. Besides, I've never seen a Mach 1.8 brick. Coincidentally, that is the same speed as a Rafale, is it a brick too?
Cain Marko should have been with me on Friday when the first shornet made it's final 90 deg turn over Logica CMG and landed on runway 27 of HAL. I could not even take a picture - the turn was so low and so steep. Brick indeed. :roll:
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by NRao »

I am more curious to see what the PAK-FA shows up with. 4 more months.

Technically all the MRCAs seem to be on par with the RFP. So, I for one, would expect it to boil down to what the US is willing to part with in the near future.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Dev A »

shiv wrote:Hi Devesh this is shiv from CiX. I was on your BBS too before the www killed all. I saw your photo in the paper.
Hi Shiv. Which paper and on which date ?

Regards

Devesh
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by RavinM »

can the BRF gurus help me with this question,

With the EULA restriction, as per what i gather prevents use of American hardware/software against american allies, Should a situation like cargil/ porkill develop, will we be forced to dump the super bug & super snake in our backyard as showpeices, bcas porkis are american non NATO allies :eek: if thats the case why even look at unkil's toys?
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by NRao »

With the EULA restriction, as per what i gather prevents use of American hardware/software against american allies
Who said?

That seems to be a totally wrong assumption.

For what it is worth "Non NATO" all lies status was offered to India too. India declined it.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by NRao »

Besides:

july 23, 2009 :: India has not signed end user agreement with US, says Menon
India and the United States have "not signed" the End User Monitoring Agreement, said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon [ Images ] on Tuesday evening while delivering a lecture organised by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training in New Delhi [ Images ].

Speaking on 'India's foreign policy: challenges and opportunities', Menon said, "We didn't sign it," which pacified some of the agitated parliamentarians he was addressing. MPs took the lecture seriously and quizzed Menon on Pakistan, the US, China, Sri Lanka [ Images ] and Myanmar. Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Acharya presided over the function.

Menon pointed out that India and US have "agreed" to have an end user monitoring arrangement but no agreement has been signed yet.

According to the Indo-US joint statement, both countries 'agreed on the end user monitoring arrangement that will henceforth be referred to in letters of acceptance for Indian procurement of US defence technology and equipment. This systematises ad-hoc arrangements for individual defence procurements from the USA entered into by previous governments.'
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by JimmyJ »

Guess what, I believe I just saw the F-18 :D

Hope I am not wrong, time is 5:54 pm

Edited: No I am not wrong........its for sure..
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Singha »

can confirm. passed near my cave. was the 2 seater I believe.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by GeorgeWelch »

Cain Marko wrote:And what makes you think the Americans won't attack first?
Even we're not that dumb.
Cain Marko wrote:You simply went ahead and assumed that all the close by airbases, whether in japan, soko or even taiwan itself were all flattened eh? how convenient.
If China wants to win, that's what they'd do.
Cain Marko wrote:
Syria did not have S-300s then.
Too true! That was a mistake on my part, which, however only reinforces the point that if at all israeli F-16s/15s overflew syrian sam sites, they were dealing with obsolete syrian/russian sams such as the SA6 - not exactly the same as shornets tangling with China's S300s and derivatives.
Not quite
The system in question is thought to be the new Tor-M1 launchers which carries eight missiles as well as two of the Pechora-2A system
Admittedly that doesn't prove anything with regards to the S300, but no one else in the world could have done that.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by NRao »

I think the SH is the only current plane that is designed to do it all for the USN. F/A/refueling/SEAD/Forward Air Controller (Airborne)/etc.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

Cain Marko wrote:
To offer a bird that as philip points out is virtually 70s tech and flies like a brick is a rip off!
Cain Marko should have been with me on Friday when the first shornet made it's final 90 deg turn over Logica CMG and landed on runway 27 of HAL. I could not even take a picture - the turn was so low and so steep. Brick indeed. :roll:
Gee I must have touched a raw nerve there. This is like the 4th poster to get after me for that particular statement. Super Hornet boys are out for justice I think, better watch out. :D

Btw, Devesh, I presume the shornet was clean? HOw well does it perform with weapons that are canted outwards? More importantly, below 200-250 kts, the shornet is supposed to be great like its predecessor, not as good as a fulcrum or flanker but still, its after that envelope that it lands into trouble. JMT

CM.
Last edited by Cain Marko on 18 Aug 2009 22:23, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

GeorgeWelch wrote:Um, what? AWACS helps to reduce turning fights and ESPECIALLY WVR.
Um read up on indradhanush and you may hear about turning during on BVR.
You think Red Flag is about dogfights? You are sadly mistaken.
YOu think red flag is the only exercise the IAF participated in? sadly mistaken, hint: look @ what they did @ moutain home AFB idaho or at indradhanush.

CM.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by SaiK »

but can it handle the paki f16s? :twisted: .

right now its paki:us::1:10, choosing SH only perhaps make it 1:20. :wink: .

singha, thanks for that update of the twin seater SH. and these are all the first rounds anyway where there ain't gonna be any live firings, that should be happening in respective countries.

Q. Would it be IAF test pilots doing the wapons firing tests? quite a lot work needed in terms of flying in another country and especially getting permissions to live fire at targets. I can't imagine the kind of hullabulla USA might make for this kind of flying..

anyways.. nice info.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Surya »

Ok CM

We understand what you say - but the IAF is looking at whatever aircraft as part of a system they have envisaged. And barring the Gripen the SHornet is part of a whole system.

And you cannot discount the fact that it is still going to be the main aricraft for the USN for a long time to come and the USN has better foresight and more muscle to support enhancements etc then the drip, drip approach the Europeans will bring in- (depending on whose individual need wins out )


And that no amount of theoretical supremacy on the others will overcome.

If the SHornet is chosen - a large part will be for the characteristics GEorge is making. Assuming we learn to tie up the agreements etc. in our favor -

Personally I like the Gripen for its system approach from day 1
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by SaiK »

test plan:-
order: SH, F16, M35, EF, R, G.

Technical paperwork review.

The performance of each of the aircraft will be quantified for take-offs, sustained turns and tight turns.

Sample missions will be assigned to the aircraft for ground strike, maritime strike, air-defence/air-superiority, acceleration and climb performance.

“We might assign, for example, an aircraft to accelerate from 0.8 mach to 1.42 mach within a specified time (seconds),”

The evaluation will also assess systems navigation, radar abilities, self-defence suits, electronic warfare systems and the ability of the aircraft to carry extra load (weapons, bombs).

One of the requirements to evaluate the “multi-role” ability of the aircraft is whether they are capable of carrying and dropping big 2000-pounder bombs at designated ground targets.

“The tests have to be tabulated and the results brought out statistically,”

“lifecycle costing” or “cost of ownership” to conclude the expenses to be incurred on each aircraft. (the costs will also be offset against performance because twin-engine aircraft will be more powerful and are expected to be more versatile, if heavier.)

finally political package.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=11155
Cain Marko
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

GeorgeWelch wrote:Huh? You were saying that Indian planes will have to act alone without all the support that American planes receive. I point out that SHs perform in the same way, being supported only by a few hawkeyes and that India has a similar (if not better) capability. In other words India can support SHs just as well as the USN can. It does not rely on an armada of specialist planes to perform all the other missions for it.
Hello! AWACS are just one part of that armada, btw, india just has one as of now. And the AWACS is hardly an offensive platform used for SEAD/DEAD. The armada to degrade enemy AD starts with lets see - TLAMS, Stealth bombers/fighters, B2s, B52s, B1s, EW assets. Now that sir is the bulk of the armada that goes in well before the shornet and does much of the damage.
They are already on the SH. What do you suppose they'll have next Klingon cloaking devices?
Who knows? But what I do know is that there will be significant advances over the next 10-15 years and that America will be at the forefront of it.
Aah so they will have klingon cloaking devices, clever buggers! Come on man, the picture for the next 15 odd years can be estimated.
Cain Marko wrote:So you are telling me that a CBG is going to use super hornets at H-Hour when the nation sits on a pile of F-22s, F-15s and what not?
If those planes are available for use, of course not.
So at long last you agree to something, I'd almost given up on you. That wasn't that hard was it?
But those planes are dependent on nearby bases. If those aren't available, the US just gives up. Oh wait! No, they send a carrier. Again the purpose of the CBG is to go where the USAF cannot. If the USAF is available to do the job, fine let them do it. But finding friendly host countries is never a guaranteed thing.
They aren't by any chance planning to attack McMurdo, Antartica are they? I already gave you 3 AFBs that can be used for ops near Taiwan. Btw, what was the last major war the U.S. went in and the USAF twiddled their thumbs?
Kadena is about 450nm from the centerline of the Taiwan straight where the fiercest fighting would be expected as China tries to send an invasion fleet. But more importantly it is only one base and alone cannot generate enough sorties to stem the Chinese tide.
Look up google, its nowhere near 450nm. Perhaps KM. Admittedly, carriers will play a role here just as the do anywhere else.
Frankly, I would make no such assumption.
So lets make assumptions that totally favor your super hornet scenario right.

CM.
Cain Marko
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Cain Marko »

Surya wrote:Ok CM

We understand what you say - but the IAF is looking at whatever aircraft as part of a system they have envisaged. And barring the Gripen the SHornet is part of a whole system.

And you cannot discount the fact that it is still going to be the main aricraft for the USN for a long time to come and the USN has better foresight and more muscle to support enhancements etc then the drip, drip approach the Europeans will bring in- (depending on whose individual need wins out )


And that no amount of theoretical supremacy on the others will overcome.

If the SHornet is chosen - a large part will be for the characteristics GEorge is making. Assuming we learn to tie up the agreements etc. in our favor -

Personally I like the Gripen for its system approach from day 1
Surya saar,
I don't deny the obvious benefits the super hornet brings in, its just that trying to make it a flawless a/c is ridiculous. Yes the americans put in the most $$$$s towards improving their assets. But one seriously thinks of the analogy of eating food in a round about way when considering this. Works OK when you are the US, will it work for the IAF? Just one among some of its potential flaws is the uncertain nature of US arms sales.

Still, if the IAF thinks that is what it wants then who am I to deny? Frankly any of these a/c will do so long as they come quickly and without strings.

CM.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Cain Marko wrote: Hello! AWACS are just one part of that armada, btw, india just has one as of now. And the AWACS is hardly an offensive platform used for SEAD/DEAD. The armada to degrade enemy AD starts with lets see - TLAMS, Stealth bombers/fighters, B2s, B52s, B1s, EW assets. Now that sir is the bulk of the armada that goes in well before the shornet and does much of the damage.
I can understand B-2s, but sending in B-52s and even B-1s into chinese controlled airspace without escorts is suicide. You can carry out SEAD missons using bombers but who's going to take care of the legions of flankers the PLAAF can throw at you. In the absence of F-22s and F-15s that job falls on the SH. And the USN would not be buying 460 of them if it wasn't up to the task.
Aah so they will have klingon cloaking devices, clever buggers! Come on man, the picture for the next 15 odd years can be estimated.
The US is more likely to fund upgrades for their aircraft than the europeans who don't really seem to like the idea of spending any more money on the Typhoon and Rafale. Dassault had to struggle with the french govt. to get funding for the RBE-2 AESA IIRC. We might end up financing even the development of the upgrades ourselves.

I'm not saying that the SH is the best aircraft in the competition and IAF should buy it. But it does have a lot of things going for it. We can't just dismiss it as a support player which is useful only after complete air-superiority has been gained. That would be reducing it to the level of a flogger.

The only reason that the purchase of the SH is unlikely is because of the unreliability of the US as a supplier.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Surya »

Agreed its not flawless.

None are

Personally - Pure bang for buck would be the Gripen but it is darn close to our LCA and Sweden is a nobody in the political clout arena. :(
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Kartik »

Philip wrote:The Swedes have no political clout whatsoever and with the Thais and other smaller states buying it,the IAF will not want to be on the same "plane" (pun intended) as these lesser nations.
I don't know if prestige is a real issue for the IAF, yet, wouldn't buying second hand MiG-29s (as you have been advocating), which only Yemen (does it qualify for your "lesser nations" theory?) now seem interested in, put the IAF on the same "plane" as what is a second-rate Air Force ?

the Thais are happy with the Gripen/Erieye system because it offers them a very capable solution, and is not a US product and is hence sanction-proof. they are obviously compatible as far as datalinks go, and a complete training/maintenance system with Swedish help can be put in place much faster than getting myriad systems from different suppliers and trying to integrate them all to work together.

the aircraft offered to the IAF, the Gripen IN, is akin to a Super Gripen. its got a whole set of capabilities being developed for it that the Gripen C/D that Thailand is buying doesn't have, but can be retrofitted to have later. and just because a smaller nation buys 6 of the Gripen C/Ds with an option for 6 more, doesn't make the fighter any less effective. on the contrary, from what I've read of the Czech experience with their Gripens (small numbers as well), they are very happy with it, and they replaced MiG-29s with the Gripen.
Russia will leverage its 5th-gen project with us to make us buy the MIG-35,as a "lighter" and cheaper single-engined alternative to extra SU-30s.
the MiG-35 is not single engined. and its a pity that they can hardly convince their own AF to be really interested in the lighter, multi-role MiG-35 when they have such large numbers of Su-25s and Su-24s to replace.
The Europeans (EADS) will be given the EJ-200 deal along with RR engines for the LCA and upgraded Jaguar along with ASW helos.The Israelis will provide AESA radars for the LCA and perhaps for the MIG-35 too and everyone will be given a share of the cake.
As we've just seen ,there are many hidden angles and connections to some of our deals (ATV-Gorshkov-Akula) which for legitimate reasons cannot be made public.The reason for buying US weaponry was the (secret) price that MMS made to get his N-deal through the Bush admin.How far the O-team will oblige India in keeping to the spirit of that deal remains a big Q mark.Watch this space as a rough ride is expected.
your theory basically discounts the IAF evaluation totally and makes it out to be a complete political buy. I'd be very disappointed if that turns out to be true.
MAKS is on right now.Russia will announce the buying of MIG-35s and extra SU-30/34/35s for its air force,whcih will make its aircraft more appealing to the export market in the developing world.With HAL having decades of assmbling and building hundreds of Russian MIGs and now Sukhois,plus in the future 5th-gen fighters,don't dismiss the MIG-35s chances at all.
only extra Su-35s and Su-27SMs or whatever they're called. the MiG-35 purchase has been spoken of, but as yet, nothing concrete has emerged. and, HAL has decades of experience building and overhauling hundreds of western sourced fighters as well- Jags, Hunters, Gnats, Mirages, etc. so the MiG experience will hardly count, and anyway, I don't think that this will influence the IAF's choice, since there is going to be deep ToT for whichever fighter is chosen and HAL is building the British Hawk as well as the Russian Su-30MKI.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Surya wrote:Agreed its not flawless.

None are

Personally - Pure bang for buck would be the Gripen but it is darn close to our LCA and Sweden is a nobody in the political clout arena. :(
AFAIK the gripen has the smallest payload of all MRCA contenders. So bang for the buck might not be a good way to describe it considering the fact that the Mig-35 would probably be cheaper(initial cost ofcourse) and carry more weapons.
126 gripens would probably be the cheapest to operate aircraft in the IAF (besides LCA) but wouldn't pack as much punch as the rafale/SH or even the Mig-35. IMHO ofcourse.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Surya »

nachiket

As part of the networked system - Yes it is

This was a aircraft from day one the Swedes thought of it as a system(network, logistics etc). No slapping in stuff much later. From what I understand from my IAF friends there are lot of subtleties which make this neat.






The mig 35 - once you factor reliability, etc - plus even if we have half the Mig 29 headaches - it will be a pain.

For large payloads we have other options. And anyway more of these systems are getting geared with less payload but being able to precisely slot them in the basket.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by nachiket »

Kartik wrote: the Thais are happy with the Gripen/Erieye system because it offers them a very capable solution, and is not a US product and is hence sanction-proof.
It flies on American engines.
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Kartik »

Gee I must have touched a raw nerve there. This is like the 4th poster to get after me for that particular statement. Super Hornet boys are out for justice I think, better watch out. :D

Btw, Devesh, I presume the shornet was clean? HOw well does it perform with weapons that are canted outwards? More importantly, below 200-250 kts, the shornet is supposed to be great like its predecessor, not as good as a fulcrum or flanker but still, its after that envelope that it lands into trouble. JMT

CM.
well enough to land with a decent bring-back payload, on aircraft carriers pitching about at sea and yet to have a great service safety record. BTW, within a couple of years, the USN plans on testing out an automated approach and landing for its Super Hornets.

link
Kartik
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by Kartik »

nachiket wrote:
Kartik wrote: the Thais are happy with the Gripen/Erieye system because it offers them a very capable solution, and is not a US product and is hence sanction-proof.
It flies on American engines.
so do Iranian F-14 Tomcats that have been under an arms embargo for well over 2 decades.

anyway, today if you want a brand new light single-engined fighter, the only options are:

1) F-16 C/D/E/F
2) Gripen C/D

the Mirage-2000 is no longer offered, and the FC-1 and J-10 aren't yet out in the export market, although considering the paucity of single engined light fighters, African and Latin American countries will definitely consider them as a viable and cheap options. the LCA isn't close to being operational and that means its not an option.

what fighter would you choose if you didn't want to be under complete American or Chinese influence ?
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Re: MRCA News and Discussion

Post by SaiK »

The political brownie points by siding with Eu gang of countries would be:-

1. Keep NATO codes, but off with super powers sanction or chew our b@lls regime.
2. Keep paki centric attitude at bay and physcially de-hyphenate India with pakistan from a geo-political spectrum. If yankee things pakis are from heaven, make it so!, attitude is banished.
3. Get engaged in source code a solid partner equalling one among the contributing nations for R&D. Helps in PAKFA as well.
4. DRDO and its programs gets a big flip!
5. Modifications and Intellectual properites can be owned at easy cost without hydes and jackals.
6. Super duper support for future GaN aesa, and Kaveri engines EJ200ized, perhaps ported to the MRCA craft. big bang for the local industries here.
7. Pay in Euros.
8. Relationship improves not one, but at least 4 countries.. hence more power in terms of technology and politics.
9. Latest technologies are not eons apart.
10. Life cycle costs are low.

PS:
and the best part is you don't have to spend blood and money to pay lawyers to fight for you and lobby for you with super duper jurisdictions.
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