RIP

Who said IAF?? I said IA and AI (Air India and Indian airlines, now merged). Yes it would be the same trying to integrate Brahmos on B737 or A-320 but EADS will be more receptive that americans (I am guessing) and if IN has to choose between harpoon and exocet, exocet is in service (scorpene, sub launched but still closer than harpoon).

The VIP squadron B737 are basically civilian jets. India also operates A320, that doesn’t mean EADS design will win. The P-8A might have more backing due to confirmed orders but a lot of politics would go into it. IN doesn’t want Harpoon or Exocet but Brahmos integrated on the MPA’s also what AAM’s does the IN want? (R-77, Meteor, Derby, Astra, Python most likely)

I don’t think they care currently either. Japan has a very good fleet and allowing USN to base a CVN points in that direction.

I just don’t see India taking the Kitty Hawk. She is just to large, expensive, and darn right old! Further, she would require a well trained crew of 5500-6000 men to operate her! Really, not a short term solution and India will get the Vikramaditya at some point. So, to me the only short-term solution is to lease the HMS Invinible possibly with a few secondhand Harriers to boot!:D Who know’s maybe India plans on choosing the Typhoon to sweeten the deal? Personally, I don’t consider that as likely…………..Yet, I think most would agree. That is at least plausible…………:D

Yes the size of the crew is another factor. It would need 3-4k people just to operate it. Invincible is out of the question. Navy doesn’t want it, would rather upgrade the viraat and wait for ADS. You have it wrong its not India but the euro consortium that will be on all fours offering sweeteners if they want the typhoon to be selected. Russians and americans are not making it any easy for them.

The CNS had made it very very clear than kitty is not even being considered.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071205/asp/nation/story_8631289.asp

Such an option only exists in the minds of arm chair admirals who have lost touch with reality. I agree if IN could build 2 ADS instead of 1 at cochin it would have been better than buying gorky but kitty is simply ludicrous. I doubt Karwar, bombay or vizag could take that big a ship. IN is happy with Trenton but kitty is a whole other issue. I would wager Nashville would be the next big item purchase from US by IN.

I may agree with all of the above, I’m not disputing that the PS-90 is such a bad engine, but you’re still not addressing the main starter question of this thread and the point that I made above… would the Il-76TD be any more cost effective than the C-130J or C-17 over the long term?

Perhaps for poorer countries, for whom the initial purchase price of the C-17 is too much, they should think about buying second hand MD-11Fs instead?

Is there any proof that Il-76 is costlier in long term? Other than western fanboys for that over priced junk I see no solid data? The western aircrafts having higher reliability is another joke that keeps coming up. The F-16 can give Mig-21’s a good competition on who will crash the most.:D