They will go for JF-17 as it is available for export.

Tejas will be available only after 2025 for export + Dependency on US for engines. Unless SL puts some spell on India and GoI divert the deliveries.

er, no

in fact, it will be exactly the best way to imply a corruption at the highest level:

1/ a competition is set up
2/ a winner comes on top
3/ negotiations are ruined by asking an impossible warranty for anyone to give
4/ arbitrary buy of one of the loosing contenders without any comparable conditions

in any country that would be a scandal with clear indication of corruption

if they buy a new aircraft (any) it will have to be with the same warranty conditions, or they just stay stuck with what they have now

Says who??? Like DM said, su-30 will do the job. So no need to run the full circle.

Just noticed: it is not a new aircraft 😉

Now let me re-qoute my and your statements …

Without getting deep into this discussion, PAF did not join 1999 misadventure of the army because they knew their limits. PAF has F-16 Block 50, which are considered worthy fighters. IAF simply don’t know the full capabilities of other program (i.e. JF-17 was avoiding to name it), but are given their due respect. Still, those are not rated as serious threat.

If any nation does not consider a Block 50 F-16 to be a serious threat, then that is certainly their perogative, hopefully officers of the Indian Air Force may be more sober then you in their assesments. (You personally attack a poster who is not giving exactly same but similar statement.)

In terms of the Block 50/52 + version. I would go so far as to say that is the most advanced fighter jet in South Asia right now.

Back to the matter in hand, India feels it needs to plan for a two front war, which, with the squadrons it has right now and the future fall in strength seems like they have very little chance of implementing such a strategy….

Then lets keep this two front war out of this discussion, as it is not only one service which fight a war.

When being able to fight and win a two front war is he IAF’s number one (or very close to number one) objective, how can you have a thread on the IAF and NOT talk about it?

Like many other posters mentioned earlier, capability wise India is much better then before. Rightly IAF is not getting most share of the budget like it was getting in past as there are other more important and pressing issues are at hand.

Then lets keep this two front war out of this discussion, as it is not only one service which fight a war.

Ball is in France’s court: India on Rafale deal

It seems story is closing so or so … interesting 6-9 months ahead

NEW DELHI: The multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet contract with France has run into rough weather over a guarantee clause and steep rise in price with India making it clear that the ball is in France’s court as it looks at the option of buying more Russian Sukhoi-30 MKI warplanes as a back-up plan.

India is insisting that Dassault Aviation, which manufactures Rafale, cannot renege on the Request for Proposal (RFP) clauses, which it had initially agreed to.

The situation has come to such a level that France has been forced to send an empowered delegation later this month to “solve all remaining issues” to salvage the contract.

A top Defence Ministry official here had this week admitted that there were problems and said India could consider buying more Russian-made Sukhoi-30 planes if the proposed deal with France collapsed.

Recalling the last month’s meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart, sources said French “were told categorically to stick to the RFP”.

“The ball is in France’s court,” the sources said adding that if the “RFP is adhered to, the deal can be wrapped up soon”.

They claimed that while the deal was initially for about Rs 42,000 crore, French are seeking a higher price now. This, the sources said, has put the price at a “little more than double the cost”.

Dassault did not comment on queries sent by PTI to it.

The French Rafale and European Eurofighter Typhoon were the only one left standing after years of tests on technical and other aspects.

“Rafale was selected in 2012 since it was the lowest bidder. The difference in cost with the second bidder was razor thin. With cost now more than double, how can it be the lowest bidder,” the sources said, explaining why the negotiation for a final contract has been taking so much time.

Another point of contention is the guarantee clause under which Rafale has to stand guarantee for the planes that would be manufactured by state-owned HAL.

As per the RFP issued in 2007, the first 18 jets are to be imported and the rest 108 manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

When it comes to the epic mismanagement displayed to date re: India’s indigenous engine development efforts and their integration with Tejas and AMCA, and the likelihood, based on currently available information, that such mismanagement going to continue into the future, what sort of adjectives do you think are appropriate?

Still does that justify to name calling and at times to a nation plus its population?
Do people know under which financial stress a country was before 2000?
How about the other technical challenging projects e.g. PAK-FA or F-22 or Typhoon or F-35?

Every country has different aim based on it capabilities and resources, why it is so difficult to understand? I don’t see any issues if a country talk and think loud. And we not not only thinking but also taking baby steps. Especially 2014 showed the results of hard work and sweat of last 3 decades with across service progress. I expect accelerated progress in 2015 and following few years.

Many nations Have faced similar problems with the behaviour of indian government, which is without reason or logic(the behaviour).

Why should a company be “fully responsible” for an aircraft produced by the great HAL?
Fully responsible, lifetime,e guarantee, the Government of India lives these terms, they are however not for free.

Dassault should have known better, that’s why no international company wants to bid low on a government of India contract there is no way to remain profitable, if they underbid and now are trying to make it profitable what a waste of time and money, the GoI can not ignore tender conditions.

On the other hand Indian Government with its stupid attitude and lowest bidder wins bull**** deserves France, I hope France tells them to pay or go to hell, what a perfect couple 😀

All the planes which were originally to compete will be out of production by the time this plane enters service (if it does). What a waste of time for everyone.

What a waste of bandwidth ….

Neither everyone is innocent nor guilty, the truth lies somewhat in between. It depends with whom you talk and their own personal interests. And it is no hidden fact, when large sums are involved there is corruption. Unfortunately, it is more in case of India. But we still have hope :eagerness: