I am still a bit puzzled that the USN is planning to have the IOC so much later than the other two — AFAIK also the USN is getting a bit concerned, having an increasing number of rather worn-out Hornets that urgently needs replacing. If the F-35 is coming along nicely now, why don’t they go for an IOC a bit sooner?

Dogfight! F-16V Viper versus J-39E Gripen: Who Wins?

The F-16V is the clear winner here, because it exists and flies today. It is the most combat proven design in the history of fourth generation multi-role fighter airpower, and it is actual flying and being tested now. I vote for IT as the obvious winner of the F-16V versus J-39E mock-fight.

However, (as a former F-16 operator, this part pains me to say) that if the J-39E becomes a reality, and all the discussed items become real too, IT will be the clear winner. The lower RCS design, the IRSTS, and the higher thrust-to-weight ratio give the J-39E the edge for the top spot on the fourth generation multi-role fighter podium. It will be one highly capable and extremely difficult unicorn to defeat by any capable adversary!

Full story: https://fightersweep.com/6024/dogfight-f-16v-viper-versus-j-39e-gripen/

LOL!

If MOD is looking for a single engine aircraft to be built in numbers , Would F-16 or Gripen would be a better choice in terms of capability it offers ?

I would think they are roughly in the same ballpark capability-wise — F-16 is larger and can carry more than the Gripen E. One important thing for such (non-stealthy) a/c is the quality of the EWS — and we simply don’t know which one is “better”, that’s highly classified. Saab’s EWS was praised and scored quite well on the Swiss eval; since then they have switched to GaN AESA and much faster computers, allowing for significant improvements.

The US EW stuff is of course cutting-edge however a question remains whether the Americans really will export the best they’ve got to India. Some people will doubt that. However even the second-best from the US is of course still very good.

Sensor-wise; Saab is offering GaN AESA which seems very attractive on such a small fighter. Skyward-G is considered pretty good, as is the RWR system. No doubt the F-16 block 70 will also be offered with good sensors, probably with similar performance (probably not GaN AESA, but perhaps an AESA with more elements that could compensate).

I guess politics will decide, and F-16 then seems the obvious winner in India.

The only reason Rafale Deal is getting delayed is because MOD wants to save every penny in the negotiations that they can save and none other than Parikkar has said no that http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-i-am-a-tough-negotiator-let-me-save-money-for-nation-manohar-parrikar-on-rafale-deal-2185763 , he mentioned something like saving even 1 % will save many crores.

Since MOD is in Zeal to save every penny and pound and Dassault wanting to make sure it makes as much more it can from this deal , the negotiation has been dragging for months and years now.

In the end Parrikar would also make a political statement with saving every money he can by blaming the congress and stating how he got the best deal , Indeed BJP in May went on and stated how they saved 21 thousand crore in re-negotiation hitting the congress http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rafale-deal-manohar-parrikar-contradicts-celebratory-tweet-from-bjp-says-pact-not-finalised-yet-2204555

If price was the only issue why did they wait until now to sign the IGA?

nice write-up of the status of the F-35:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-declares-f-35a-ready-for-limited-combat-428138/

The current variant Super Hornet technology is considerably more advanced than the 1980s vintage Hornet. In many respects the Super Hornet’s technology is closer to the F-35 than the F-18A; it is really more of an F-35 Lite than a ‘super’ Hornet.

As more becomes known about the software, it seems that the F-35 might not be fully operationally ready until Block 4 is implemented. This Block may also see some key hardware changes, such as bringing the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) up to a suitable standard. Block 4 should be ready early next decade. Buying F-35s before then might mean expensive upgrades before they even enter delivery flight-test. Unfortunately for the F-35, buying later is always cheaper and always brings a better standard aircraft.

Enter stage left the shadow of the future. Air superiority is becoming contested again in both East Asia and Europe. As the RAND Corporation warns, “continuous improvements to Chinese air capabilities make it increasingly difficult for the United States to achieve air superiority within a politically and operationally effective time frame.” The Center for Strategic and International Studies, considering China’s full range of defence capabilities – including its rapidly advancing fighter fleet – observes: ” at the current rate of U.S. capability development, the balance of military power in the region is shifting against the United States.”

In this vein, the USAF in Europe commander recently noted: “The advantage that we had from the air, I can honestly say, is shrinking.… This is not just a Pacific problem. It’s as significant in Europe as it is anywhere else on the planet … I don’t think it’s controversial to say they’ve closed the gap in capability.

Most worryingly, USAF’s head office has determined that the “projected force structure in 2030 is not capable of fighting and winning against …potential adversary capabilities.” The growing fleets of F-35s in service with America and its allies seems inadequate to ensure air superiority beyond 2030. Future control of the air is in doubt.”

Another alternative is to buy say 30 Super Hornets now, retain 30 CF-18 Hornets, and wait until mid-next decade to decide what to do. By then America’s intentions concerning new air superiority systems will be clearer and perhaps – a big ‘perhaps’ – Canada could buy into a long-term robust solution. This offers at least a chance Canada may remain an ally important for more than just geographical proximity. If however this air superiority path does not eventuate, is unaffordable, or not releasable to close allies, by the mid-2020s better and cheaper F-35 versions will be available to round out Canada’s fighter force in terms of numbers. Importantly, also by then, the F-35s operating costs will finally be known, allowing a more accurate assessment of whether a mixed fleet really is more expensive than a single type one. It may not be.

Read more: http://navalinstitute.com.au/a-mixed-fighter-fleet-for-canada/

This echoes what I have myself been thinking — short-term the F-35 is definitely meeting the requirements (however so will the SH) however longer-term the F-35 may struggle (as will the SH).

Is the F-35 out of synch with the rest of the world?

An overkill today (had it been fully operational) and inadequate 15-20 years from now, shortly after being fully introduced?

If it’s BVR I would expect no less than 8-0 score against the F-15, unless the F-35 has been given a substantial disadvantage in the training (see also F-22 scores in similar trainings).

• General Electric F414-GE-39E engine.
• Selex Skyward-G IRST.
• Selex ES-05 Raven AESA radar.
• Two new fuselage pylon stations, left and right of centerline.
• Mil Std 1760E class II interface to all pylons.
• Gen4 Litening laser designator pod (LDP) plus RecceLite.
• Crypto, jam-resistant ‘fighter link’.
• Reduced radar cross-section (RCS) — included as a contractual obligation.
• New electronic warfare (EW) systems.
• Missile approach warning system (MAWS) sensors linked to automatic chaff/flare launchers.
• New mission software standards: MS21 and MS22

So it seems they have reduced RCS further on the E/F. Also interesting to note that Gen4 Litening will be integrated, a pretty advanced piece of equipment (and probably one of the reasons why the Danish F-16 performed to “well” in the Danish F-35 eval compared to the SH and Typhoon)

Read more: http://www.combataircraft.net/2016/06/27/gripen-e-what-is-the-smart-fighter/