Most of what you have speculated is for lack of better word Bulls**t. The IL-76 is no hangar queen and is a very capable air lifter. NATO and 38 countries wouldn’t be using it if it was not cost efficient. C-17 is only in use with 4 nations and I am yet to see figures for its total cost over life time. C-17 a sign of aeronautical superiority? If you say so.:D

the C-17 has a pretty sick defensive systems suite useful in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

I hope you meant slick 😀 . I have always wondered how much a IL-76 MF with self defense suite, Jammers would cost in comparison?

Its a pointless debate between Russia and US. Topol, minuteman, Kh-101/102, tomahawk will seal the deal. From perspective of other nations F-35 does have advantage of stealth even assuming all other things equal.

Who said nothing is available in between? Il-76 MD has 50 tonne payload and is anyway used/ leased by european countries. But canceling A-400M at this stage is downright stupid.

If it happens like that why IAF doesn’t buy F35.I think they both will produce all of this aircraft’s parts.It’s my opinion but if IAF doesn’t want Russian avionics they can’t buy better than them.Becouse any country doesn’t give their most advanced avionics or another parts.But Russians are doing the best avionics after USA and they say this aircraft will be the best of the best.And I trust this now becouse they got the money for funding pak-fa from both Indian participation and the oil money.They did against the best aircrafts after USA even when there was no funds.But now they have enough experience and money for building the best planes.

Because JSF is a dud. It would bring no benefit at all to Indian aviation industry. It would be overpriced (2-3 times PAK-FA’s),Heavily degraded and overall a very mediocre aircraft. It would come with only american weapons which are useless to IAF. IAF did not reject the offer for JSF on an impulse. They thought about it and took a rational decision. JSF is a multi national project and will need to fulfill their needs beore IAF’s needs are met. Regarding russian avionics, what makes you think Russia will offer the best stuff to India? They would offer better stuff compared to chinese, but if something doesn’t meet IAF specs and needs to be changed it will be replaced. MKIzing also means heavy ToT’s (not an option for JSF) and ability to integrate weapons IAF likes. Then last but not the least russia is still trusted more than americans .

Vikas I agree interactions might increase but I don’t see Russia being displaced in any manner. Relations can be increased by sale of stuff that russia cannot/ does not offer like the Jalashwa and hopefully Nashville.

Your article is from feb and what I posted from oct so go figure.

Having said this Russian/US relations are deteriorating by the day and i cant really see them improving for sometime. PAK-FA would undoubtedly be Russia’s next major weapon against west/Nato etc. Considering India’s ever growing military relationship with west/US, how different do yous think that Russian/Indian version of this aircraft would be? Would there be any conditions on deployment of this machine. If the two versions are different, how would this affect the costs???

What growing relationship with west? India just signed a deal for $ 5bil for Pak-Fa and another for $ 600 mil for MRTA with Russia. The red flag is just another exercise and does not mean Su-30 MKI will be compromised. The PAK-FA will be MKIzed so russian AF is never likely to suffer.