As for my American side showing. Yes I am a bit biased as well towards the American jets. I hope this deal paves way to greater co-operation between the two nations militarily and strategically.

I’m not biased towards the American jets. I do not hope this deal paves way to greater co-operation between the US and India militarily and strategically.

Nor between France and India militarily and strategically, nor Britain and India militarily and strategically, nor Sweden and India militarily and strategically.

I hope this deal makes India more independent militarily and strategically. Of Britain, France, Sweden and the USA, the supplier least likely to want this is the USA.

Agreed……………..Yet, it sounds like you are making a case for the F-16!:D

You could argue that I’m making a case against the F-16, too, since it would be the most likely to supplant an indigenous design if that design could not be sorted out in an acceptable amount of time. I don’t foresee 100/200/? extra Typhoons, Rafales or SK’s being ordered instead of waiting for the LCA to finally come good.

Sorry, how is the Gripen NG dropping out of the MMRCA good for the LCA? As if the Gripen is not good enough on technical grounds. How would the less capable LCA be……………..totally lost me on that one????

If Gripen had been selected there would be the possibility of follow on orders in the stead of LCA’s.

Japan wants a A2A optimised multirole, a airsupiority fighter. Eurofigher is next after F-22. So if the US not selling F-22, will make EADS a winner. The next after that would be a upgraded F-15, then f-35.

As I understand it the consensus of opinion is that Typhoon is second only to F-22 as an air superiority fighter.

Given a free hand unswayed by politics (apart from US refusal to supply the F-22) and industrial offsets, I think that Japan would prefer the Typhoon to any other fighter for the reason cited in my first paragraph.

Is the F35 a waste of time?

No

Waste of money?

Yes

How much does it have to cost to be a waste of money? The problem is that nobody knows what it will cost.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2479977.0.Spiralling_costs_threaten_British_Armys_US_fighter_jet_order.php

Extract from above:

Late-maturing technologies and weight increases in the aircraft have slowed production and forced redesigns, while difficulties in wing and final assembly phases meant that the first test aircraft required 35% more labour hours than expected.

In addition, electrical malfunctions and parts failures in prototype aircraft have delayed flight tests. “A fully integrated, capable production aircraft is not expected to enter flight testing until fiscal year 2012,” the US General Accounting Office said.

Lockheed Martin, the corporation designing and building the JSF, denies that there are major development problems with the F35 and has now launched a hard-sell, comparing the stealth jet to a “racehorse” capable of many missions.

The British MoD refuses to be drawn on definite numbers to be acquired. A spokesman said a final decision would be taken “once the final unit price is known and our defence requirements assessed”.

the Swiss have confirmed price is not as important as what the plane can do. And since they are looking at predominately an interceptor/multirole the typhoon fits the bill

But I think their budget would barely cover aircraft + spares + support for 1 small squadron of new Typhoons (14/15/16 aircraft in total). Would that number of aircraft be acceptable?

On the other hand, there have been a lot of sales going on in the UK recently with stock going at fabulous discounts. Woolworths. MFI. RAF next?

Its very clear that the IAF wants 3 types of Fighters in future

Class 2. Medium multirole fighers with primary role being Air Superiority and secondary being ground attack
Operating radius <= 1200 Kms

MRCA specifications fit in this space.

…

In case, the multirole are inadequate for bombing/ground attack/CAS, then expect new dedicated aircraft.

Rafale and Super Hornet are both very adequate, aren’t they?