Kersi D wrote:
Where is Typhhon ? Except the 72 sold to Saudi and a hand full sold to Austria who else uses Typhoon ?
K
Kersi what about the different host nations who use it UK , Germany ,Italy ,Spain
There is no question that Typhoon is a good aircraft , but its designed for Air Superiority , considering we do have MKI in that role , do we need another Air Superiority aircraft , or more of a strike aircraft with good air defence role ?
If ADA chooses EJ200 for Tejas then Typhoon has a edge because there is good amount of saving in logistics and numbers if you end up having a common engine for two types in service.
But my personal opinion is , since MMRCA is more to make up for depleting squadron strength , it is good to go for an aircraft which is good enough for the role of Strike and Airdefence , than go for absolute best in one of these role.
Something which does both and is cost effective and we dont have to spend a couple of billions to build its infra and logistic facility ( which is a hidden cost something MMRCA deal will not reflect )
The Mig-35 fits the bill quite well , it perhaps is the most costeffective and Mig will be more than happy to let us the complete TOT and Integrate Indian/Foreign systems with no strings attached.
Infact with its fortune declining you can demand what ever you want from them and they will be more than happy and ready to oblige , and why not MMRCA will give the company another lease of life.
The platform itself is quite capable and with good avionics and weapon system suite it is a good match both in strike and air defence against all the MMRCA contenders atleast it can hold its own against all of them, besides its 3D TVC gives it an edge in WVR fights.
The rest of the money is better spend in building other part of matrix like netcentricity , modernising ADGES , funding modernisation of other aircraft in our inventory , funding more of Tejas Mk2 and more housing and other facility for IAF personal and family.
If the IAF demanded for Mirages post kargil to fill up squadron strength and the same demand is now converted to MMRCA for multivendor competition , I see no reason why a Mig-35 will not be capable of doing the same task in a cost effective way .