But all those “allies” will never pose a threat to the US, while India has the potential to become a superpower.

Euro fighters did a bit worse against F-22 from what I have read though. So after finally catching the Americans after some two or three decades with the Eurofighter you were once again eclipsed by them with thier F-22. I wonder in two or three decades will the UK produce a fighter to match the F-22?

Different priorities in design. EF was meant to smack down enemy fighters that enter friendly airspace, F-22 was meant to fly into enemy airspace and smack down enemy fighters in their own airspace.

No need to show PAK-FA too early. The countries who are partners know, the others do not need to know. PAK-FA will have such a major impact on industrie that it is wise to pick the first public display carefully.

Funny, the vast majority of the world trust the US. Should I provide a list like the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Norway, Japan, Australia, etc. etc. etc.etc.etc.etc.

Also, while the US supports Pakistan to a degree it is hardly a blank check and at the moment relations are far from good. As a matter of fact pre-9/11 the relationship was even poorer. So, I doubt most wouldn’t agree the relationship between the US and Pakistan Goverment is mainly based on need from both parties.

Another point that contines to get overlooked. Is the US point of view…….As we see the need to engage Pakistan to get at the terrorist cells that want to attack us. Yet, India had and has a close relationship with Russia (ex-Soviet). Which, has been our main adversary………

Now before all the Indian supporters jump down my neck to explain there relationship with Russia. My point is………..

“Just that there is two sides to every story and I don’t see the American view being given equal time……………..Let’s also not forget that this is not a purely US issue either. As much of the free world held very similar views.

So, while I personally understand why India didn’t like the US relationship with Pakistan. Nor the US imposed sanctions at one point……..The US in turn didn’t like the Indian relationship with Russia.

That said, I believe both the US and Indian Goverments are starting to see each others argument and is moving past it………

And all in all India would be very daring if they bet on the future US policy for their pressing defence needs.
For me there asre only 2 viable contenders in the MRCS competition, the Rafale and the MiG. All others have too much risk involved, as the British did join the embargo against India in the past.

The US is only a strong ally as long as you behave like they wish, if you do not do as they xommand they will drop you like a hot potato. India should be wiser then to fall into that trap.

An intresting read, but full of useless claims. Not a single glimpse about which Blocks of F-16, F-15 or variant of Mirage 2000 were used?
Nothing about the rules imposed. To find out that the Rafale have a low corner-speed is no surprise either is the behavior of a M88 versus a M53 engine. The deeper sense of that claim is to convince the home audiance that the tax-payers money is well spent at least.
The Rafale is a new generation compared to the F-16, F-15 and Mirage 2000. 😀

On the other hand Typhoons got their ass whipped by F-16s, F-15s and F-18 regularly. :diablo:

MiG-35 is on par with all planes the western manufactures can offer, might possibly be even a luttle ahead of them, when it comes to flying and handling and air to air combat.

It would be the perfect cousin the the mighty SU-30MKI. (and Russia is a much more reliabkle partner then the US or the Europeans)

Those are only the problems that get a lot of public attention, but there are more areas which are getting increasingly problematic. One of the most pressing are simple support helicopters. Just look how hard pressed NATO is to find enough capable helicopters for Afghanistan, which means that a few countries are pulling far more then their weight (Nehterlands for example), as they have a modern helicopter force. And even with the current programs running, the bumbers are set to shrink in the future.