IIRC the mirage upgrade didn’t involve new engines in the first place.

From F 35 for India link posted in MRCA thread

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-20/lockheed-may-pitch-f-35-to-rejoin-11-billion-india-jet-contest.html

New Indo America AJT ?

T-38 Partnership

The lawmakers also asked the Pentagon to study the possibility of a U.S.-India partnership for development of a replacement for the U.S. Air Force’s T-38 trainer jet. The planes, built by Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC)’s predecessor, have been in use since the 1960s.

What about the weapons ? Python and Derby ? or could we go for the Astra will that be ready in time ?

Is anyone of you aware of any Indian wvr aam program with an IR seeker ? Why are we only going for BVR AAMs ?

Is it not a big problem? I think MIG 27 has taken over from the 21 offlate as the ‘widowmaker’ of the IAF fleet.

http://www.indian-military.org/news-archives/indian-air-force-news/820-special-report-the-story-of-india-s-mig-27-upgrade.html

The MiG-27 continues, however, to be a highly controversial aircraft in Indian service, recently seeing a long spell of grounding. Former IAF flight safety chief Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia has long argued that the MiG-27 engine has fundamental flaws that make it a dangerous machine to fly, and should be phased out forthwith. More on this last bit soon.

the only fighter IAF has to retire in this decade is the mig-21FL and possibly the bis. given the continued production of mki, with tejas and MRCA to follow and FGFA/PAKFA coming next, IAF can afford to not upgrade or buy any more of other types. just holding the legacy airframes for 3-4 more years till 2020 will see them through.

If Pilots lives are not important then I guess what you say could be done. Rang De Basanti ?

The MIG 27s are old and even the upgraded ones are not projected to last the decade.

Same with all versions of the MiG 21s including the Bisons which are stated for retirement after 2015.

I guess the 29s will now last into the 20s with their MLU.

Part of Mirage 2000 deal was life extension, they will have to do a limtied life-time extension upgrade to the M2K to keep them flying into 2020s.

MRCA have to replace other fighters not Mirages initially, So we will end up with a net deficit of fighters anyway. It could be some Typhoons as well excess typhoons on loan and not necessarily Gripens. Or just buy the UAE/Qatar fleet and use the Indian ones for spares.

Would the Czechs be interested in the F 35 ? or something similar to the Gripen like new or Refurbished F 16s ?