Argentina’s current government is looking everyday like a cabal. I hope the Argentine people are paying attention.

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/02/15/call-for-end-to-foreign-aid-to-argentina-as-it-buys-fighter-jets-from-china/

How long until Bollywood creates a masterpiece with Tejas, MKI, and other jets in a Top Gun type movie?

Don’t underestimate Japan. They are right at the tops with regards to exotic materials, electronics, and metallurgy. Japan will design their own F-22A design.

AIM-54 was the USN’s primary missile for F-14 in the 80’s. AIM-7 was procured in roughly equal numbers or slightly larger numbers. But it was the missile that other fighters relied on, not the F-14. So you cannot say the F-14 with AIM-54 as an excuse for anything in DACT between F-15 and F-14.

I think India should seriously look at NK-32/321 for licensing. It’s not like FGFA is an air superiority fighter. Even the original NK-32 operates with one engine in the power band they desire. Just think what they can do with the newer version. They are already working on updating it to fully digital controls and monitoring. It would cut down the program size considerably. They could refocus on more important aspects of the program.

Nice … but besides politics I still don’t get it why India and South Korea simply do not cooperate ?

Deino

The South Koreans certainly have good reasons to develop strategic partnerships with others, but India has too many hands in the cookie jar. I could see the ROK government working with the likes of the UK, Italy, Germany, and Spain. But I just don’t see other players out there trying similar programs (India, Japan, and Turkey) getting invites. The UK and France will probably slug it out trying to sell equipment to all four. In all honesty I think Japan does their ATX-D program solely to raise the morale of its people. Neither Japan or Turkey needs to develop similar fighters since F-35A basically is approved for them. SK is building their program for insurance just in case D.C. wavers in supporting them (again). India is more or less on an island with their program. At least they got PAK-FA, right? Right?

Upkeep on a fighter is directly related to its generation and it’s empty weight. Larger fighters take a larger crew to service the heavier parts. The engines have to be removed from the MiG-29 at closer intervals and the lubricants require both more changing and allow the engine parts to wear faster. The MiG-29’s maintenance is closer to the F-15 than the F-16, it just allows servicing in the field. Not exactly a big plus when it’s sortie rate is lower during a conflict.

And its not as if any target is just going to willingly fly into the MiG-29’s HMCS scope to leave the sky via a HOBS missile. No, the U.S. was keenly aware of R-73 and it’s cueing system. The AIM-9L was a better head on attack missile, proven in combat in the early 80’s. The cueing system didn’t guarantee hits, nor was target acquisition for it instant. And quite frankly the R-73 was criticized for its slow target acquisition in less than ideal skies. The F-16 was the fastest at launching heatseekers and the more sensitive seeker of the Sidewinder certainly offered a higher confidence that it would get the job done.