With Rafale procurement slipping further and further back and Jaguars and MiG-27s needing replacing in medium future, I was wondering whether India acquiring F-35 would actually make sense.
The idea is for India to:
1. Cancel MRCA as well as Tejas.
2. Additional Su-30MKI order to replace MiG-21 in 2015-2020 range.
3. Induct F-35 in 2020-2030 period when prices will probably come down. This would allow replacement of Jaguar and MiG-27.
4. F-35C’s could also be acquired for Indian Navy as INS Vishal would be CATOBAR. Or if Indian Navy wants to acquire smaller LHD size carriers, F-35B.
5. Still acquire Pak Fa to replace M2000 and MiG-29.
Some advantages:
1. Access to top of the line stealth technology (USA is world leader in this area).
2. Access to top of line US avionics tech (they already have access to top of line French and Russian).
3. Access to global opportunities in terms of maintenance and spares export markets.
4. Navy gains a stealth jet.
5. Access to US carrier ops and tech – again US is world leader in carrier operations.
6. Aircraft source diversification still in place with acquisition of Pak Fa, development of AMCA and continued operation of large numbers of Su-30MKI and MiG-29/-29K and M2000.
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August 21, 2013 at 12:47 am