As repeatedly discussed earlier, the twin-engined contenders F-18, Rafale, and Typhoon can all carry 5 tons of weapons + 8 tons of fuel (internal + external). This is the same config. which Su-30 MKI typically undertakes i.e. 5tons of weapons + 8 tons internal fuel.

Hence, all the 4 twin-engined contenders are needless, as Su-30 MKI already executes their functionality. As regards the Gripen and F-16, their functionality is already met by future Tejas Mk.2.

Thus, MRCA is an exercise in “futility”, because between themselves, the Tejas and Su-30 MKI meet MRCA requirements.

It is Naive to believe that the number of engines and weapon carrying capacity are the only aspects an aircraft can be judged. In that case the MRCA can be picked out of the proposals, no need for trials or testing.

The Tejas is incapable of doing the strike role or a2a a role as the MRCA. Tejas is the low option in a high med low mix.

The above is inaccurate. The IAF formulated the RFPs, and former chief Mr. Tyagi said after retirement that he was “disappointed” that the RFP was not passed in his tenure. Every press conference used to center around the timeframe when the RFPs would be sent. Under Mr. Major, finally the IAF managed to “cobble together” an RFP and sent it to “all and sundry”.

As regards Kaveri, as per T Mohan Rao of GTRE, it will be integrated and flight-tested on Tejas this year. The “de-coupling” as spoken about at Aero-India 2009 does not imply that the project is being suspended till further notice, bu that an interim Eurojet or GE-F414 will be chosen till the time the Snecma-Kaveri JV fructifies.

Mr. Tyagi is rather outspoken about a lot of things after his retirement. He could have helped speed up the MRCA RFP and as such, If I am not mistaken the RFP was delayed as a result of the new procurement policy being implemented. I have also noticed many users here and in BR posting about what Tyagi said this and that, some of his views are contradicting the views of the current ACM. The current ACM is committed to the MRCA and LCA and thats all that matters.

I told you Tejas is going to be used as the Kaveri test platform but the next seven squadrons of Tejas are going to have foriegn engines.

the very reason of US is offering these weapons with TOT is due to closer relationship. closer relationship doesn’t mean less risk of sanctions IMO. if US doesn’t like a conflict being fought and if it is hurting her interests, she will use all its influence to prevent the war including punishing countries with santions. its not that other countries like France & Russia would not nothing, but their track record was excellent regardless of whatever was the political situation in world or in Subcontinent, they simply don’t have interest in looking into our political relations, conflicts etc. ofcoz US may not do it everytime, but it always a risk considering the role US plays in subcontinent.

I beg to differ, we are not Pakistan. We are a responsible state with great commitment to democracy, we have shown incredible resolve to prevent war even when many in the nation were war mongering, this was true in 2003 under the NDA government and in 2008/09 under the UPA government. The American safeguards are them being responsible with their weapon sales to countries. If you are a responsible state you have nothing to fear. The Nuclear deal alone puts the chance of India exploding a nuclear device in the next 30-40 years very less. I don’t think America will sanction us because of our missile programme because there was no outrage when Agni 3 was tested, Agni 5 and ICBMs will follow :). You have to bear in mind that the MRCA is likely to be the last major Indian fighter procurement, the future will be of indigenous fighter and joint programmes, so any implications are only valid till the lifetime of the MRCA 30-40 years which roughly coincides with the Nuke deal.

I was not aware of these exact details of agreement. before that it was mainly the threat of sanctions or foreign policy issues. but now these agreements making things worse.

There will not be further sanctions. There will be a closer alliance with the United States. Why do you think the Armed Forces which were weary about the American equipment are embracing it now..

And finally, the US makes its statutory requirements known to every prospective buyer in explicit and unambiguous terms. It is for the buyer nation to consider all facets and take decision as per its perceived national interests. The same applies to India as well.

If we screw up with it we will only have ourselves to blame. Buy European if you are not ok with it, Buy American if we are ok with it. It is as simple as that.

EADS is not helping ADA/HAL with any glitches..it is helping them with the flight test envelope expansion and technology that is not available..there’s a difference between that and glitches, which seem to indicate something wrong with the Tejas.

They are helping them with glitches and there are many things that are wrong with Tejas, small things but still glitches regardless, according to Ajai Shukla in his blog Broadsword..

But even amidst success, the Tejas LCA is struggling to overcome major development hurdles. Its maker, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken the crucial decision to bring in a design consultant, a global aerospace major that would assist HAL to overcome persistent design glitches that dog the LCA, including fuel distribution, uneven braking, flight controls, environment controls and testing. And while US-based Boeing has declined to supply such know-how, German-Spanish consortium, EADS, one of the makers of the Eurofighter, has aggressively pursued the consultancy as a way of flying into the Indian market.

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2009/02/eads-plans-to-ride-lca-into-indian.html

See, as repeatedly discussed earlier the 4 twin-engined contenders are equated by Su-30 MKI, and the 2 single-engined contenders are equated by Tejas Mk.2.

Hence, when the Tejas Mk.2 and Su-30 MKI already meet requirements, no need for a foreign MRCA.

Engines have hardly anything to do witht he capability of the aircraft. I can see the Su 30MKI roughly equating the Eurofighter in the A2A role and the Tejas MK2 equating the Gripen. But thats about it the Super Hornet F 16 and Rafale are excellent strike platforms better in that regard than the MKI even. By the time the MK2 roles out i would assume the EF will have decent strike capabilities itself.

Note that the Tejas Mk.2 will not repeat all the tests done in Mk.1 from Jan 2001. The Mk.2 will be treated as an upgrade only, and not a new aircraft. So it will receive it’s FoC by 2013 itself.

Again, 1 year makes hardly any difference to IAF because it is anyway a known “procrastinator”, when it delayed sending the RFP for MRCA for many years. 1 year is a very small price to pay for indigenising the IAF to 50% in a “swoop”.

The MoD is the ‘procrastinator’ not the IAF. The IAF and all of our forces do not get stuff in the timeframe they ask for it.

The above is inaccurate. As per a recent interview by T Mohana Rao, Kaveri will be integrated on Tejas by end of this year, though the Mk.2 will have foreign engine. This was also confirmed by rakall et. al from Bharat Rakshak when they visited Aero-India 2009.

Not Inaccurate there is a post in this very thread that says Kaveri is decoupled from LCA for now to meet the LCA timeframe. The Kaveri will have LCA as its development platform but that is it, the first 40 fighters will have the F 404 and the MK2 (the first 6-7 batches) will have Ej 200 or F 414

Here this was first posted by victor.

“For the next six to seven years, the Kaveri programme will be decoupled from the LCA programme. This is to allow the LCA to reach its own targets and without being held back by the problems with the Kaveri,” says P S Subramanyam, programme director [combat aircraft] at India’s Aeronautical Development Agency, which is responsible for the Tejas’s design and development.

“While we remain committed to the Kaveri programme over the long run, we think that it will take some time to be ready for our aircraft. Therefore, we have decided that the first seven squadrons of the Tejas will use a foreign engine.”

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/20/322812/india-to-choose-foreign-power-for-first-tejas-light-combat.html

Wasn’t there a plan for a naval Typhoon. May be 60-70 would make sense if it a mixed group like the Americans are going to have (with their F 35 & SH). But then that would require cataputls.