There was actually an article not that long ago stating that the IN has issued a request for information to a number of western aerospace company including LM for the F-35B & C.

http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence_news/2010/07/indian-navy-issues-rfi-for-new-aircrafts.html

c-seven,
integration of additional AG weapons including stand-off missiles is a requirement for the RAF and Luftwaffe and possibly EdA as well. I’m certain they will pay for their integration, the question here is when. The AESA remains yet to be seen, to date industry is funding the AESA radar, though the UK MoD has awarded Selex with a separate contract to design a Captor AESA demonstrator which is scheduled to fly in 2013. The two separate programs might be merged to some extend. The Bundeswehr had in fact allocated money for an AESA radar for the Eurofighter as early as 2009 and the BWB has previously sponsored the CAESAR trials campaign on DA5. Right now FSD of the quadri-national Captor-E is industry funded and the funded has been extended to the 2nd phase. A naval variant would have to be funded by the Indians in the first place, but MMRCA is not about a navalized aircraft anyway.

will that also feature a roadmap for other capabilities? e.g. OSF, spectra, +++…

GaN are planned for the radar and Spectra and it is looked into a DIRCM system as well. The new OSF-NG is supposed to introduce a new IR sensor which is actually missing in the OSF-IT. I suppose upgrades to the communication equipment are likely as well, whether these will come in form of a laser system as stated by c-seven or just in form of new high speed radio systems remains yet to be seen.

EADS isn’t involved in the Rafale programme at all. EADS France just supplies minor components to the Rafale, albeit the company is a stake holder of Dassault IIRC. Just for the record it’s 43% involvement in the Eurofighter programme if we count in the German and Spanish stakes in the Eurofighter consortium. 😉

Well, if this is the case that is not good for RAFALE I mean having the same electronics with Mirage which is a 3 gen fighter means RAFALE’s electronics is not as advance as the other 4 gen fighters. Correct me if I am wrong..

The MDPU was ported back from the Rafale to the Mirage 2000, as the F-16 and other US teens benefitted from the technology development of the F-22 for example (sensor fusion, fibre optic networks, AESA radar…).

It is a fact. It has been stated in the past that Rafale was the No.1 on the list after technical evaluation. Now, considering the price is also lower, the only think EF has going for itself are the industrial offsets.

You said “quality (Rafale) vs bribes (Typhoon)”… As if any manufacturer could claim to be free of bribes. The Rafale fared better in a number of competitions, but nonetheless failed to convince… And do you know the exact price bids of the manufacturers? I doubt so.

And the jet has won halv of all it´s endevored tenders.

:confused: To date the NG hasn’t won any tender, it got downselected in Brazils now cancelled F-X2 competition and was invited to for others, but thus far Gripen NG failed.

Semi-Lobster,
I nonetheless don’t think that the Indian decision will have an impact on the Brazilian competition.

@Loke,
it has been re-launched a week or so ago. Have no handy link at hand, but you may find something in the military aviation news thread.

And how reliable is this website? I’m inclined to believe nothing until it gets officially confirmed, albeit the rumours about the two larger European fighters leading the race are quite persistent since some time.