Mercurius,

thanks!

According to several sources the JSM will have a significant longer range than the NSM — do you know if this is simply due to the fact that the JSM will have a certain speed (and altitude) during launch or is it also due to a larger fuel load compared to NSM (since space and weight that was saved from eliminating the booster can in part be used to increase the fuel load)?

[QUOTE=Boom;1682132]
btw, how exactly is the gripen at the same level as rafale when it comes to LO or avionics ?[/QUOTE.
I was talking about NG not C/D when comparing to Rafale.

what doesn’t really matter is what we say on this board. :p

Mk2 will reach overall NG level performance whether some like/admit it or not.

Not in terms of kinetic performance, range, or payload. If that was the case why induce a foreign MMRCA?

mk1 did not reach the performance specified by IAF; one of the main aims of mk2 aims at fixing those deficiencies, probably giving it a range, payload and kinetic performance more similar to Gripen C/D (but with a more modern avionics than C/D).

You will need another iteration and further mods to get to the NG level (7200 kg payload, 1500 km unrefueled combat radius, etc. etc.)

The Gripen C/D “rise faster” than the F-16 MLU, which has an uprated thrust of 27,000 pounds. NG will have a significantly better acceleration, putting it in the Rafale/Typhoon class.

Will mk2 even manage to match C/D in kinetic performance? That remains to be seen…

Maybe but the gap would be much smaller…

As for the final choice..you should follow Indian politics,the govt is on the ropes with the press viciously attacking it for various scams. No way will they give the press another bone to attack them on.
They will pick the most expensive safe option.

The current Gripen C/D is comfortably outperforming the F-16 (according to Norwegian F-16 pilots).

The NG is a very significant update from the C/D.

Why do you think the gap would be smaller with Eurofighter and Rafale? I agree that in particular the Rafale has some advantages in a2g but in a2a? I think not.

that the gripen level is something India can reach on its own, given a few more years. so it makes sense to go for something beyond gripen level when you are spending all that money.

How do you define “Gripen level”?

What more than anything else defines a fighter today are LO characteristics (or lack thereof) and avionics.

The Gripen NG will be on the same level as Rafale, Typhoon and possibly even the SH when it comes to these important characteristics.

In addition it will be much cheaper than both Rafale and Typhoon.

Not that it matters; a US bird will win the MMRCA for political reasons…’

Edit: oh, and I think it will take quite some time for India to reach the Gripen NG level (or mk3 as I called it). First you should develop mk2… that will take quite some time. And then onto mk3? I think not, by that time you will either have started AMCA development, or ordered F-35… (or perhaps a bit of both…)

Even if we take what you say as correct, that itself counts against the Gripen NG, that it has an aircraft, which in one design cycle can come to the Gripen NG level, so why buy an aircraft at that level. It makes more sense for India to actually buy something fundamentally different and in a different category like the Rafale, F-18 or the Eurofighter

:confused: What are you talking about??

All MMRCAs are multi role fighters, but that doesn’t meant they are equally good for all roles. Gripen E/F might load 10% less, but has 33% less thrust too. The main aim for Gripen (no matter which version) is interception, just like LCA and that’s why it overlaps with it way more than any other MMRCA. Also you have to compare the right versions, Gripen C/D with LCA MK1, Gripen E/F with LCA MK2 and by all available infos, the MK2 will be much closer to Gripen.

1. Gripen NG will have a much better kinematic performance than F-16; due to much lower weight but also less drag (in a non-clean config).

2. If you insist on comparing the LCAs to the “right version” of Gripen then you need to compare the LCA mk1 to Gripen A/B, and LCA mk2 to Gripen C/D… and LCA mk3 (if it ever gets built) to Gripen NG…. 😉