Gee, is the US getting anything from the Raptor program apart from the plane itself…gee like technology development, perhaps?

If pure cost is all that one goes by…your words…then the Raptor is a “fiasco” as well, the fact that the US is prepared to pay for such capability is besides the point.. :rolleyes:

The MKI includes a deep license for the entire aircraft and most importantly the AL-31FP turbofans. The timeline has been compressed to its present one. Obviously the cost calculations will change, calling it a fiasco purely based on cost grounds, when it is still value for money is as pointless as calling many other programs worldwide, which have also faced substantial time and cost overruns fiascos purely on those grounds…which includes many American programs giving the US capability which they were prepared to pay for and wait for.

The CAG report has been qouted by numerous news agencys, it was presented to the Indian parliament yet still you cant except it- you realy are pathetic.

You are quite amusing. Where have these recent requests come from but your vivid imagination? If anything, LM is peddling the F-16 as the basis for which a JSF could be ordered. India has made no official requests for the JSF, bar a cursory statement from the Navy that the JSF is a better candidate for their needs than the F/A-18.

As regards the Russians, funny that even today, the MiG-35 is being offered with a more comprehensive technology package than even the MKI was. And that the F-16 I offer seems exactly built to push the F-16 without running into USG hurdles of TOT, even though it does seem doomed (the F-16 was never a frontrunner).

Actually you are the one who is amusing, I see you still havnt managed to find an official denial for the widely reported CAG report :rolleyes: . The F-16I offer is an unconfirmed report from an Israeli news paper, most other sources suggest that the F-16E/F will be offered, this makes more sense seeing as India has all but demanded an AESA radar. Of course the Mig-35 is being offered with a comprehensive ToT package, Russian companys, Mig in particular are desperate for sales, it looks as if Mig wont be going much longer without the MRCA deal, its just the same as the MKI deal. :rolleyes:

The NH-90 doesn’t fit comforably into the helicopter market. In reality, the AB-139 is far closer in capabilty to the NH-90 than most would believe. It is also cheaper by a factor of five!

Like so many European collaborative programs, the NH-90 has suffered from long time scales – so much so, that off the self solutions are far cheaper and more satisfactory.

In any event, the UK has done well to purchase more Lynx helicopters. Of course, for other users the AB-139 (or S-70) might make even more sense…..

How exactly has the UK done well when these choppers wont be in service for another ten years and yet they were needed at least 3 years a go if not more (as was pointed out by a parliamentary select committee). At the same time they could have just ordered more merlins (it has proved to be a popular bird with the army in particular) on a faster delivery scale.

Pershing II had about three times the range and was FAR more accurate than Pershing IA. The only thing they had in common was the name and the launcher. Keep in mind not only was the RV terminally guided but it could execute preprogrammed manuevers to make any attempt at interception quesitonable. Time of flight was well inside their decision making process. Pershing II could take out Moscow from Germany. Pershing IA couldn’t reach it. In a first strike against the USSR Pershing IIs would have been leading the way for a decapitation strike against Moscow.

It should also be remembered that by this time the Soviet Union was in economic melt-down and the Gorbachev regime was trying to reduce defence spending as far as possible wothout loosing face, in many ways the strategic and military requirements were less important.

Cool. That means the Chicoms will have a knockoff of the JSF soon after that.

What a realy usefull educated comment. :rolleyes:

This is pathetic, these choppers were needed in service years ago. The very fact that this is happening now when any number of helicopters could have been ordered of the shelf (the already in service Merlin for instance) years ago and delivered by now. Instead due to the unparelleled stupidity and waste which is endemic within the UK government results in this, another programme which is years later than required and a comprimise with what was initially intended. This is not something to celebrate rather another damning indictment of the incompetance of the UK MoD.

Inevitably the US will want to know what THEY get out of the deal. Somehow I don’t think they’ll feel “you tell us how to make everything so we don’t have to buy anymore planes from you and oh we’ll use that info to compete AGAINST you” is going to be very tempting :rolleyes:

Very true. Russia handed over the MKI tech becouse they were desperate for money and orders, the US on the other hand can afford to tell India where to get off and based on the way recent requests for tech transfer have gone (read JSF) i think it is quite likely. 😉

but indian mki have it

No they dont.