Except its not Dassault but Rafale International : Dassault +Thales+Safran = total turnover around 30 billions euros, not so far from EADS (42)
For everything else i agree.

Gripen on the other hand have Investor, Selex, General dynamics, Baker (there into the program with its own money) etc.
and countries like US and UK second to other offers.

I wonder how short the short list is ? 4 or 3 ? Ideally should be 3 as there are originally six bidders.

My guess on ones who bit the dust.

Rafale, F 16 and MIG 35

Earlier you were certain that Mig 35 made it at Leh. What makes you think it didnt?

So who´s

EF seems to be a dark horse that i never really thought as a winner here, mostly due to its price and lack of upgrades/development in its home countries..

1. Wrong the AC are comparable strategic gains are more important but i doubt how much strategic leverage one can buy with 11 billion dollars.

2. India have an NSG waiver but deals with U.S is dictated by complex regulations. So in effect although they helped us get the waiver, the actual deals with Russia, France etc offer us more than what we are getting from Americans. They may want to use MRCA deal to change that…

To buy rafale or eurofighter and than then get strategic gains as well within 11 bn USD seems hard. Mig and F-16 and maybe SH seems easier, and ofcourse Gripen.

Therefor my shortlist goes to F-16, MIG and Gripen.

After shortlist anything could happen, but i doubt US regulations will be altered..but as you say, this can happen.
Do you really think the Uran enrichment must be a only US deal? or just a wishlist directed to all contenders?

Dont forget UK supports gripen as well (second to EF). Maybe this can change the bleaker situation for Gripen. wouldnt you say?
Earlier LCC was a keyfactor, and this will probably make the MIG-35 stand out. Althou the Mig-29 ops present in IAF today will probably help.

When you add the word Strategic Gain, it immediately starts to look bleak for Sweden and SAAB which is a pity as the Gripen clearly could be L1.

Looking at this David Cameron is coming talking such nice terms as he wants to take Britain’s relationship with ‘one of the new super powers (yawn)’ to a whole new level. He is expected to sign the Hawk deal and lobby heavily for the Typhoon among other things. Britain being the only country in the consortium who is in the P5 makes it important. The Tories are more India friendly anyway as they do not depend as much on the UK Pakistani population votes as Labour does.

But talking abt dual use of nuclear fuel and enrichment technology (if the quote is true) it is plainly obvious which country is going to win the deal.

There is already talk about appeasing the Russians by ordering 50-60 MIG 35s outside the deal as well.

L1 should be L1, stratigic gain comes second to price right?
So it should be getting most out of the L1 bidder. Nuclear enrichment tech have all the bidding countries, but it sounds like breaking the Non Proliferation Treaty?

why apeas the russians?

no i meant some aircraft represent better a generation, definitively the F-22 is a fifth generation, the Su-35BM represents better the fourth generation ++, the F-16 is the quintessential fourth generation, as the Viggen the third generation.
The MiG-21 also is the typical second generation like the F-86 the first.

f-16 is definitly born in the 1970:s and is in the most AF a analog part digital fighter, and therefore 3 gen. The best 3 gen fighter, i think.

later blocks consieved after about 1990 is sometimes refered to 4 gen.. but i wouldnt put it that way due to inherent problems like big RCS and structure etc. maybe gen 3++ is proper in this case?

but really you cares about generations? its oversimplistic.

the F-35 only has full aspect stealth beyond that is a bomber, but you are right the F-35 is more of a fourth generation +++ with BVR combat capability and AIM-9Xs

thats kind of narrow band…
so you mean theres only going to be air superior fighters in the future 😀

i would make it easier for you…

3:gen analog or part digital avionics/FADEC fighters

4:gen alldigital avionics/Fadec

5:gen LO and VLO fighters

But you knows, a future 4 gen with a cloaking device will probably a 6 gen. 😀

your definitions of generations is wrong.

First generation were aircraft with no supersonic capability and only gun armament example Me-262. MiG-15, F-86.

Second generation were supersonic aircraft with guided missiles and radar in example Mirage III, MiG-21.

Third Generation were aircraft with STOL or V/STOL capability, BVR missiles and basic look dow shoot down capability like the F-4 MiG-25, Viggen, MiG-23 and Mirage F1

Fourth generation were aircraft with HUDs, TWR higher than 1, 9G capability, multi engagement capability, fire and forget missiles and glass cockpit in example MiG-29, F-18, Su-27, F-15 and F-16, Mirage 2000, F-14, MiG-31, .

Fourth ++ generation have supercruise or super maneuovrability due to TVC but lack full aspect stealth in example Eurofighter, Su-30MKI, MiG-29OVT, Su-35BM

Fifth generation have the three SSS, supercruise, stealth and supermaneouvrability example F-22 and T-50

fourth gen often refered to all digital and programmable avionics, starting with gripen, rafale, eurofighter and f-16 block? (first operational about 1990?)

and in your book f-35 is not 5:th gen 😀

but as you all been saying its fuzzy logic..