Is that price in US Dollors? I believe the USN was just offered Super Hornet for about $50 Million per copy!

I have heard that too. However that price does not really mean much unless the type has already been inducted and associated support structures created.

eg

USN cost of 100 more Superhornets = $5 billion
Australian cost of 24 Superhornets + support = $5 billion

Additionally the F135 promises to have a lower SFC than the EJ200 and a much lower SFC compared to the F414.

You couldn’t give an idea of how EJ200 and GE-F414 SFC’s compare, could you please?

Do you really believe the Rafale will win India’s MMRCA Contest??? While, I personally like the French Aircraft. Seems like the Americans or Russians would have far better odds……….

Russia

carrier problems – bad news
too much dependence on one supplier – bad news

US

expects customers to toe the line on US foreign policy or renages on supplying – bad news

France

not Russia, not America – comparatively good news

It doesn’t need a track record, it has over 2 and half decades of experience in the LCA development. You have to admit thats a lot of experience, far more than Saab has on the Gripen or on any particular combat aircraft!

I am certain that with a few more billion dollars and a decade more in development, everything will turn out all right. India just has to have patience and hold on, when there is nothing left in you, except for the will which says, “hold on!”

I’m not quite sure that you are joking but I assume you are!

But what engine to break the chains of their U.S. export-master? Until they break the stranglehold tied to using U.S. tech they will never break the virtual blockade of their exports.

Are you aware that the US does not have a monopoly on jet engine technology?

How can an aircraft be contender in a competition, that wouldn’t exist in the first place, if this very aircraft would be available and up to expectations ?:diablo:

Good question. I note that some 8(?) years after first flight and after about 1000 hours of testing, the LCA has still not been fully tested and has not yet entered service.

ask Saab about that..they’ve pitched a Gripen NG that is not even in prototype form as yet, and simply has a Gripen Demo that should look like the final product..the version they’re offering isn’t flying, its AESA is still in prototype form.

and they’ve been rejected by Norway already, and they’re now pitching a notional 5th gen fighter to S.Korea and in the process are trying to get them interested in the NG as well

The NG is based on an aircraft that has probably accumulated hundreds of thousands of hours of operational service. It’s extremely low risk compared to the LCA.

As for Norway, they massaged, manipulated and distorted their “competition” for the F-16 follow on to such an extent that nothing bar the F-35 could possibly have been the “winner”. Why do you think Eurofighter walked away from the “competition”?

Swiss competition: Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen
Indian MRCA: Rafale, Typhoon, F-16I, F-18E, MiG-35, Gripen
Brazil FX: Rafale, Gripen, F-18
Libya (they didn’t sign anything final with Russia yet): Flanker, Rafale
Nederlands: F-35, Gripen

Swiss competition: Gripen
Indian MRCA: Rafale (or perhaps F-18E if LCA goes GE-414)
Brazil FX: Rafale (or perhaps Gripen with local assembly)
Libya: no idea
Nederlands: F-35 unless politicians go bananas over massaged Gripen/F-35 costs

The current government is very committed to the LCA. The defense minister has recently announced that no matter what at least 140 ac will be bought, of this only 40 will be MK1. I do not think they will allow the IAF to shift its goal posts again regarding the MK2. But the elections are due next year we are hoping the opposition shows the same commitment towards the LCA if it comes to power.

ADA had better make sure the Kaveri engined version is finished by the end of 2009. If a new government in 2010 is less supportive than the current one, failure to meet the Kaveri goal will give it yet more ammunition with which to shoot the program down.