The Nimitz recently visited a few of the Indian ports, so that claim is not true. The Kittyhawk may not be offered and may not be accepted I was just saying it would have made sense to have a larger ship than 3 smaller ones which the IN plans to have by 2020, their combined man power will exceed that of the KH.

Well, I am not so sure about the Kitty Hawk? While, she is very capable she would be very expensive to man and operate. Yet, that would be up to India. Clearly, she has the money and resources.

Here’s a wild or maybe not so wild suggestion. Let’s say India selects the Super Hornet for the MMRCA. (which I believe is likely) Why not lease the ex-Kitty Hawk and equip it with a couple dozen Super Hornets. (Hey, the US may lease the Kitty Hawk “free” with the purchase of the Super Hornets.) Especially, in todays economic climate! Then after a couple IAC’s enter service the Super Hornets could be transfered back to the Indian Air Force and then the IAC’s could be equipped with F-35B’s……This is very doable and could happen quickly. India would thereby trump both Russia’s and China’s Carrier Programs………..

Lets pray something like this happens. 😎 There is no deterrent like a super carrier 😀

India have plans for a 3rd carrier to be in service before 2020, probably the same as the first Indigenous ship

The PAK-FA is many years off let alone a naval variant………….Even then its likely to be inferior to the F-35B/C. Of course maybe India will get the Lightning at some point? Personally, if India selects an American in the MMRCA. The odds go up greatly………..IMO

There was a false news about India buying the Kitty Hawk. It would have made perfect sense to me to buy Kitty Hawk as it would be better than the two carriers we are going to get in the next decade combined. Still a Vikramaditya is better than nothing I guess…especially because the Chinese and Pakistanis do not have any carriers at the moment. The Vikrant class is a STOBAR carrier, so I am not expecting much from it either other than better launch and recovery speed, but like you said if we acquire JSF that would make perfect sense with these small carriers. :diablo:

May be more as a deterrent to fill in the gap left by Viraat till the Vikrant class carrier comes up ? 🙂

I disagree, with the way Indian establishment is once they get PAK FA they will ditch MCA even if its superior. Like Arjun and T 90

Rafale and Super Hornet cannot operate from carriers like Vikramaditya and the Vikrant Class. May be the next carrier will have CATOBAR.

India is not going to get SU 35. With new engines and Irbis-E the MKI is nearly as good. PAK FA or MCA is more likely.

Pak government may not be sympathetic with the Taliban, but large sections of the population are. Many feel that they are fighting and unnecessary war and should instead concentrate their resources on India.

Pakistan is also increasing their ties with China and are buying J 10s. America surely do not want another Iran where they sold them state of the art Tomcats.

I also believe that Indian and American interests with regards to China and Terrorism are almost the same. The new found partnership between the countries will not be undermined even if the opposition takes power in India.

Co developing the PAK-FA offers more problems than buying JSF and developing its own MCA. For one the Russians in need of money may sell it to China. And in terms of a conflict between Pakistan and India, rest assured the Chinese will brief the Pakistanis on the weaknesses of the PAK FA. Secondly the PAK FA is at an advanced stage of its design with the first flight scheduled next year. India may gain next to nothing by co-developing it, how ever it may supply advanced avionics/ sw etc. And the stealthiness of the PAK FA may or may not be comparable to that of JSF. It is too much of a gamble to take.

The best option for India right now is to scrap the PAK FA. Buy 126 Block 60 F 16s with a MOU for upgradation to JSF in the future.