Well if they say they will invite bidders excluded from the present “final”, if for some reason they won’t actually order more Rafales, imo a logical choice would be MiG-35 (oh shut up you :p)
If Rafale was chosen among other reasons (apart from cost and performance) for also having a degree of commonality regarding some important avionics , maintenanace architecture and weaponry with the Mirage , then if they will go by the same logic here …MiG-35. ( very close in airframe and /or avionics with MiG-29K and UPG, decades long of maintenace and experience on it, weaponry etc etc)
Wasn’t insuficient power one of the reason the MiG was disqualified ? Well the MKM engine offer an extra 500kgf, that must be very helpful. Plus , there’s more time for the avionics and systems to be matured now. ( and maybe new stuff added on too)
The Gripen seems to be dismissed because it bassically duplicates Tejas Mk1/2. One small chance would be for SH , but i guess the only “common” feature will be the F-414 engine. Besides it remain to be seen if IAF want to have an aircraft that they can’t dismantle and repair this or that, spares and suport depending on Washington’s mood ( LCA anyone ?) , or even the infamous “bugs” ( bugs on a Bug lol) that will basically reduce the aircraft to an airfield decoy, if India need to use it’s AF for a national objective that is not on Khan’s liking.
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