ante_climax, I agree Tejas is “not in the running” for MRCA, but that is exactly my view, that it MUST be in the running.
As an example, some illiberal people say people say “backward” class people in India and “upper” class people have their own place. But many others rightly want all people to have same opportunities.
Hence, we must “oppose” the IAF’s myopic viewpoint that Tejas is merely a “light MiG-21 replacement”. The Tejas Mk.2 has all the capabilities to be the MRCA contender. The IAF must accept Tejas as the MRCA, because it is indigenous.
Its rather a poor and touchy example you have given talking about social classes here. Anyway let me assure you that I am of the belief that people should be judged on their merits and not their birth and that i support reservation for the backward classes.
Here I am not saying that the Tejas is not going to be a good plane, may be it will be as good as some of the MRCA contenders for some missions. The problem is that Tejas is not ready yet and we cannot afford to wait. The MK1 Tejas still have some problems to which the help of EADS is thought. And for the MK2 rather than just going for an engine and avionics upgrade, they are going to have bigger wings etc. Which may be good but will take time, and looking at HAL-ADA track record I am not optimistic about a pre-2014-15 induction date. The Airforce has its problems now with its aging fleet and sheer lack of numbers and that’s something they cannot count on a delayed project getting further delayed or not. The ToT from the MRCA will help the LCA and the MCA. 🙂
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