Well, we all have conviction…………So, I guess mine is just as good as yours.:p

Except mine is rooted in reality while yours is closer to wishful thinking :rolleyes: .

Your view that a nation that has a close relationship to the US is their poodle?, what about Israel, India buy advanced military technology from them, doesn’t make no difference.

Yes Japan,soko and India share very little in stratergic goals and aims. Israel and India have a long history of military contact and supplies (yes much before 1992..I think way back till 1971 or so.) and have a common enemy in Islamic terrorism. This is also the only common stratergic aim with US. Us might want to play India against china but like Iran and iraq it will try to keep pakistan (a readymade rental state thanks to its generals) as a check on India. So the best way for India is to let US deal with china on its own and not get involved. Fact remains during all of Indias wars from 71 to kargil, Israel has supplied ammunitions while the conflict was raging. Something neither US, France, japan or So-ko will ever be capable of doing. Other than Israel, Russia is the only country that has done the above mentioned. So you see why I do not include Israel in the poodle list.

Simple, South Korea can offer advance stealth designed ships, and India can strengthen its ‘look east policy’, geo-politics being the end game.

Dude you seriously need to check what India means by look-east. It does not extend upto so-ko and japan. It means our immediate neighbourhood, mainly south east asia or asean. India has good relations with singapore, vietnam, malaysia, indonesia, thailand and now myammar. Japan is big enough economically that india deals with them seperately and not under the look east policy. All you need to ask is would south korea which is in close proximity to china and well within the striking range of both PLAAF and PLAN risk an alliance with India?? So-Ko is only worried about No-Ko, They don’t have the resources or might to take on china directly without help from Japan and US.

Oh and sealord, I have no hatered of US, but am merely wary of there intentions. If you look at my profile you would see that I am in US. 😀 Why would I hate them? But geo-politic and real-politik dictate that india be cautious. Rafale, Horizon (P-17a) and Mistral from france and Tu-22m3, akula-2 , amur , MKI and Mig-29K from russia are logical choices.

The F-18 is a crappy fighter and no one in right mind for even bother with a plane like that. Strike is its forte and IAF finds it too heavy and cumbersome.

But then people here seem to know more about what IN, IAF or even brazilian Navy needs more than the services themselves:rolleyes: .

Korea a defence partner for India….:rolleyes: :rolleyes: . Sure if wishes were horses beggars would ride. Next indo-nipponese alliance against china I suppose? :diablo:

So, you believe your friends have great influence in India’s decision on the selection of the MRCA? Also, if the type was mainly to be used in the Air Superiority Role the Flanker may very well a better choice. Yet, its may understanding that the MCRA will be used in the Strike Fighter Role and with all due respect the F-16 and especially the F/A-18E/F are clearly superior in that role to the Flanker and the Rafale! Regardless, the IAF already has SU-30MKI’s and plans on purchasing more……So, one has little to do with the other. Personally, I think it is very likley India will keep its options open and select both Russian and a Western Type. (i.e. European and/or American) India has always purchased from multiple sources………….nothing has changed in my opinion. That is my view……………;)

Oh and you have influence on what IAF or IN buys???:D 😀
Trust me no F-18 or F-16 will fly for IAF. Yes the pilots and officers of IAF have an inkling of what they want and what they will get.

Where did you get the idea that MMRCA was strike a/c?? Another one of your scholarly predictions? What do you think the second M in MMRCA stands for?:diablo:

Oh by the way sealord sending RFI to korea doesn’t mean squat. Even you would be aware that the deal will go to a mainland european country if not russia. No one has denied they can build ships, but what is the level of military co-operation between India and SK? Far lower than even india and US.

I would also like to know as everytime I post anything related to India purchasing US and/or Western Equipment. He shoots it down as not even a possibility? Clearly, India has opened several large Military Contracts (both Naval & Air Force) to Western Countries. So, are we to think that India is just playing those countries just get a better deal with Russia? Personally, I don’t get his argument…………………:rolleyes:

Oh my how lies are spun out :rolleyes: . Read my mails regarding Indo-french or european deals. I am still hopeful of rafale for IAF and horizon based P-17a and mistrals for IN.
Indo-US deals have a long way to go. I am a realist and don’t see anything happening in the near future. I am not a serving officer or in the defence ministry but I have friends and classmates in the forces. I have interacted with some IAF officers and none of them have a liking for F-18 or F-16’s. Reason is simple, what IAF needed was a plane in 20 ton class, F-18 fails miserably in this as it is meant to be in Su-30 class. Why buy F-18 when you have a superior plane in the MKI? In the 20 ton class Rafale is the best option followed my Mig-35 which is the most economical.

Anyway Mr Putin is comming to India towards the end of this month. I just hope he has some pleasant surprises for us. Hmmm hoping for akula-2, tu-22M3 and 40 more MKI :diablo: .

LOL I am saying they will never. The israelis will make it Mk-41 capable because they use the american launchers but IN will decline to use the same. Oh and same goes for whorenets and lawndarts.

Maybe, but that makes no difference to IN.