Similarly, in two seaters like the Tornado, ne’er fly with the bloke in the back unless war beckons? 😉

I mean, gimme a break guys- for training purposes surely they can come up with an economy mode on the engines, the series 3 RD33’s for India are to have them. For non DACT runs you could use the above..

😀 😀 😀

Actually, they should remove one wing and one engine. The landing gear should be halved too. The pilots should get into the a/c buck naked. Will save on uniform costs.

Lord Puddlemoore the Third argueing for the same in Her Majesty’s House of Lords-

“Preposterous I say, these fighter boys, flying about wasting all that much quid, what what?”

Does’nt really matter which source you’ve used because at the end of the day, none relay nor confirm what you claim.

Exactly. I am still waiting for the various reports of PA’s comms etc. What I did get were non functioning links.
I think this is also headed the F7PG’s have substantial BVR ability way. That too was usually tom tommed by PAF Fan….

Pakistan’s nuclear assets are guarded by air capping done by F-16s but due to non-availability of spares Pakistan had to cut down flying hours of its F-16s.

Interesting.

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=228973

PTI PRINT EMAIL
HAL-JV
HAL, Snecma JV to make aircraft engine components in India
BANGALORE, JUN 17 (PTI)
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the public-sector defence undertaking, is in talks with Snecma Aerospace, a French aero-engine maker to set up a production unit in Bangalore for civil aircraft engine components.

“We will first start machining for engine blades in large volumes… They will bring the forgings, we will machine it,” HAL Chairman N R Mohanty told reporters here today.

The joint venture firm, for which investment plans have not been finalised, may initially hire factory space in Bangalore and later expand its operations, he said.

“We are going to finalise at the Farnborough air show (in Paris) next month,” Mohanty said, adding the investment would be shared equally between the two companies.

Besides Snecma, the European helicopter major Eurocopter and Israeli avionics firm Elbit have expressed interest in setting up joint ventures with HAL.

“All the joint ventures will have us on their board, but will have an independent management structure. HAL will not interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the JV,” Mohanty said, adding that HAL had been in talks with the three firms with a view to finalising the ventures.

Eurocopter is interested in outsourcing helicopter sub- assemblies and structural parts from India and Elbit is looking at jointly developing avionics for both the Indian and global market.

Mohanty said HAL would involve private firms in building Saras aircraft for the civilian market and was a keen participant in developing the multi-role civilian aircraft.

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=238488

HAL
“India has edge over China in military aircraft manufacture”
BANGALORE, JULY 28 (PTI)
India has technological and manufacturing edge over rival China in the area of military aircraft, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Chairman N R Mohanty said today.

“India is ahead in technology capabilities over China particularly in the area of military aircraft, in civil aviation, they are more stronger,” Mohanty said here tonight interacting with students at a meet organised by the Bangalore Science Forum.

He said the country integrates 100 per cent of an aircraft, adding, that “though Russians have given India, the thrust vector engine technology with the Sukhoi30-MKI, they have not given to China for its Su-27 aircraft.” Asserting that HAL was emerging as a global player, Mohanty said, it was finalising joint ventures with French aero engine major Snecma and European helicopter maker Eurocopter, besides Israel’s avionics firm Elbit systems.

India, he said, had been invited as a risk sharing partner with a Russian-led consortium to build a series of passenger jets, aimed at the growing civil market.

Mohanty said HAL would hand over the first locally produce Su30-MKI fighter to the Indian Air Force before the end of this fiscal.

He said HAL was awaiting the Government nod for the Light Combat Helicopter and would take about 25 months for flying a prototype from the date of getting the sanction.

Sameer

I must say that from a western point of view, several countries seems to have a very ambitious program of purchases, specially India and China.

Few countries share the threat perception India has. We have a perennially hostile neighbour to the west and another to the North east which is a declared ally of the former. Given the above- India has to do what it has to.
Even so, as a percentage of the GDP, India’s defence expenditure is still nothing remarkable. The emphasis remains on economic development.