No delay in acquiring Russian nuke sub: Indian Navy

New Delhi (IANS): The Indian Navy said on Friday there was “no delay” in its acquisition of a Russian nuclear-powered submarine though technical glitches could push the delivery back.

“There is no delay as far as we are concerned (in acquiring an Akula-class submarine). I don’t know where these reports have appeared,” Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told reporters on the sidelines of a defence function here.

“The only delay is that it has to go for tests after the incident (in which a number of Russian sailors were killed when poisonous gas was accidentally released during the submarine’s sea trials last November),” Mehta added.

Answering a question on the construction of six Scorpene submarines in India, he replied: “The project is well on time.”

The first of the French-designed submarines is currently being built at Mumbai’s state-owned Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL).

No Austin, don’t ruin Scooter’s playground 😀

The problem is that, the Rafale is too expensive and does not offer that much cost – performance advnatages over the F 16.

Also one have to wonder. how good its percieved capabilities are in reality. It has lost so many competitons, you really cannot blame it all on bias.

IIRC the Singaporeans liked the plane very much but as per French reports it was political decision to go for the Eagle.
I don’t wanna go into that now, but it’s really hard to assume anything when most of the data from the tests remain classified.
Rafale as an unit is not that expensive (in a range of 50-60 million euros). But the entire package (that often includes ships, helicopters and other equipment) that the Frenchies are trying to push seems always expensive.

For the Greeks it shouldn’t be a big problem to integrate the Rafale as they have a plenty of experience with the Dassault but as you said its a question what capability it would bring compared to the F-16 (as well as comparing their prices).

I didn’t see a similar title……….:rolleyes:

Then buy the glasses…….:rolleyes:

On a more serious note there was a title on the matter (in the general navies news thread and which was posted much before you opened a new thread) but not like your Russophobic one.

Err. I don’t think two NATO states would go to war against each other, than some border skirmishes.

Well, you obviously don’t follow those two closely. I would say there is a greater chance for an all out war than a border skirmish (if something goes bad between the two).

@greg

what about “the new alliance” between Greece and France (mentioned in that Sarkozy’s speech couple of months ago)?
There was a talk of a possible Rafale deal in the press IIRC.
Did anything new happen since then?

@J-7

it would be nice idea to get a two fighter force but knowing their geopolitical position I think they will still be buying toys from different suppliers.
As for Mirages, they’ve just received new 2000-5 and HAF pilots seem to be very much satisfied with existing 2000 models they already operate.
As for the so called genuine Macedonians (talking of the people who live in a state that was part of former Yugoslavia), well they are Slavs with a very deep identity crisis 😀

well if you ask me it is a very relevent program for the same reason you said 😉

The people from the land of Gaul was highly unlikely to operate a foreign type as their main fighter, especially after making the Mirage III, Mirage F1, and Mirage 2000 and had the balls to make the bigger Mirage 4000! The French were going to make French regardless if it was the Le Rafael, le Leonardo, le, Michaelangelo, or le Donatello.

Now the other Euros.. they are not as prideful as the French (but still pretty prideful).
The Germans, British, Spaniards, and the amalgamation of weakly related peoples called the Italians were happily operating their F-4s, Mirage F1s, and F-18s. they could’ve and probably should’ve saved time and money and gone for F-16s or F-18s.. and in the case of the British, definitely F-18s and F-14s.

the Rafale is relevent because the French made it relevent.

Those guys you named up there were all Italians.
Anyway, Rafale is still “the sexiest” name that one fighter jet could have.
That plane is replacing several platforms withing MN and AdlA, is made completely in France and fulfills requirements of its primary customers, thus the plane made itself relevant (and not the PR talk).

Schurem, Flex.

Nonsense.

US aircraft are no less ‘designed by committee’ – with different user and interest groups inputting at every stage. They are certainly no less of a compromise.

You are comparing a country to a continent. I know what you meant but IMO those 2 are not comparable as the US aircraft don’t have to suffer from requirements of the other (partner) country’s air force.

Guys, any news on the Ka-60?