The SCANTER 4100 has gained international recognition due to its ability to detect and track small targets in all weather condition. Small 2 m2 targets can be detected out to 40nm and up to at least 10k ft. Two different antennea for Scanter 4000, one 15ft slow rotation for air search or a 21ft fast rotation for surface/sea skimmer detection

http://books.google.nl/books?id=4S3h8j_NEmkC&pg=PA225&lpg=PA225&dq=%22Terma+Scanter+4100+I-band+surveillance+radar%22&source=bl&ots=hIXqKU-3a-&sig=stoQ9aeuh4nSWo9_kZIj7Ozd0gc&hl=nl&sa=X&ei=wwYUUe-AMdG7hAejoYHIAg&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Terma%20Scanter%204100%20I-band%20surveillance%20radar%22&f=false

I hardly see such a marriage as a good option for India. Especially, considering that partnership has just got started. Let’s also not forget India’s experience with the Gorshokov / Vikramaditya.

India has worked and is working with Russia on a number of ship classes besides Gorshkov/Vikramaditya. Let’s not forget about those arguably more succesfull cooperations.

Meanwhile …
http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2013_army_military_defense_industry_news/united_states_gives_200_m113_tracked_armoured_vehicles_personnel_carrier_to_lebanon_0801133.html

SO, don´t be surprise to see Lebanon heat up.

How many F-35Bs are operationaly deployed right now? And the combat range of the “B” will maybe be 470 nm not 1035. And I do remember seeing that the Navy will be getting the “C” model which will have pretty good range itself…..maybe……
Realisticaly, CVF will deploy 8-12 “B”s and a sqdrn of Merlins. That coupled with their sppeed of 25knts and excellent supply capabilities and troop accomadation makes them very much a more useful asset with the amphibs.

AV8B combat radius is about 560km / 300 nmi
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/harrier/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_Harrier_II

As compared to 540 nmi (620 mi, 1,000 km) for SHAR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_Sea_Harrier

(wonder what – if any – carriage differences are…)

F-35A/b/c
Range: 1,200 nmi (2,220 km) / 900 nmi (1,670 km) /1,400 nmi (2,520 km)
Combat radius on
internal fuel: 584 nmi (1,082 km) / 469 nmi (869 km) / 615 nmi (1,141 km)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35B#F-35B

Reports surface that India has issued an international RFP for up to 4 amphibious operations vessels with strong helicopter carrier capabilities…
4 LHD type aviation & amphibious ships, with designs to come from foreign firms. The expected candidates come from France, Italy, Spain, and even South Korea…Reports at this point center on LPDs, which would add options like the Dutch/Spanish Rotterdam/Galicia Class, and Britain’s derivative Bay Class

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/India-Looking-for-Amphibious-Ships-07213/

Mistral LHD (DCNS). : no F/35B
Multifunctional Ship LHD (Fincantieri) : no F-35B (A Cavour derivative could though),
BPE LHD or Galicia LPD (Navantia): BPE is F-35B capable w ski-jump, Galicia/Schelde Enforcer isn´t (but the Enforcer series does include full-deck variants)
Dokdo LHD (Hanjin HI): large enough to support F-35B but at present no ski-jump.

That tells you that the focus is on troop+cargo movement with landing craft and helicopters. Only Spain´s BPE can without modification also serve F-35B or SHAR. Likewise Cavour, but this is far more limited in terms of troop and cargo carrying capability and landing craft. I don´t think any of the other types is suitable, with the possible exception of an Enforcer series LHD ship (but I have doubts even about that)

Really?

CVF Can be configured for CATOBAR, STOBAR and STOVL

Yes, really. Particularly if Brazil partakes in India´s domestic carrier project, rather than the UKs. But also in the latter case.

Considering the delays in the first IAC. Should India seriously consider purchasing a third CVF directly from the UK. Which, could be followed by one or two more built in India.

Also, why not include Brazil as another partner??? As it also has a similar requirement. Such a partnership could help drive down the cost for all.

No, it shouldn´t, considering its investment and development aims. Yes, including Brazil would be nice, although its interest would critically depend on what future aircraft Brazil could/would intend to deploy of any future carrier.

I would imagine landing ships should be able to operate in the cold weather but who knows with mistral class. Have the French done any training in cold weather like the landing missions in Norway the Royal Navy does or used to do? I would imagine they would have done cold weather trials or the Russians would have asked before buying does it work in the cold. If its a dock problem they still have the large flight deck. I can’t think what could stop a ship working after -7 degrees?

Without ruling out the possibility, exactly WHY/HOW wouldn´t Mistral class ships ´work´ at -7?

Cold Response is a Norwegian led winter exercise. The main purpose of this year’s winter exercise is to rehearse high intensity operations in winter conditions within NATO with a UN mandate….Over 16 000 soldiers from 15 nations will participate in the exercise. The forces come from all defense branches, including some Special Forces. The largest participation come from Canada, France, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Sweden and the United States. Several of the forces have trained in Norway earlier in 2012 to prepare for participation in the winter exercise….Cold Response will be executed in the area between Harstad, Narvik and Tromsø. Naval forces will operate along the coast of Harstad to Tromsø during the whole period.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/Operations/Current-Operations/Operational-deployments/Exercise-Cold-Response

Imminent is NATO’s Exercise Cold Response in northern Norway, while later in the year the UK Response Force Task Group – the Navy’s principal sword, forged from assault ships, escorts, helicopters and the elite ‘punch’ of the Royal Marines – has the chance to warm up working alongside the French in the Med.

Longer term, the amphibious forces of five European nations – France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and UK – are looking to work more closely together.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/January/11/120111-Cold-Weather-Response

The French mountain brigade (27°BIM) comes regularly to the Joint Winter exercises in Norway.

The French SF also train in Sweden with the K4 LRRP unit.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?33282-Extreme-cold-weather-training-2005&p=649867&viewfull=1#post649867

http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2010/04/le-charlesdegaulle-au-del%C3%A0-du-cercle-polaire.html

http://jdb.marine.defense.gouv.fr/index.php/tag/Porte-avions%20Charles%20de%20Gaulle