Some years ago (when Dhruv was still in development), people in this very forum were similarly adamant that Dhruv was a failure and needed to be cancelled prontissimo. I suspect that the same story will happen again. Although late, LCA will see production and wide-spread deployment, and form the basis of a robust, successful and self-sustaining domestic fast-jet program.

To cancel LCA this late in the game would be utter foolishness, IMHO, and will simply not happen. Period.

Nice video! Why do the elevators deflect down after rotation for take-off?

I agree. But how is that different from foreign setting up and supporting regimes like Hussein’s, Mubarak’s or Musharraf’s? Pot/kettle.

Hussein, Mubarak, Musharraf etc. were rulers of their respective countries. We can argue about whether the method they came to power was acceptable or not. But there is no arguing about who they represented and the source of their political power. If the people of their countries despised them, they could throw them out, which has been now been demonstrated.

To attempt to draw a parallel between engaging these crack-pot dictators and the deliberate and active state sponsorship of “non-state” terrorists who wreak havoc in a completely different country is beyond ridiculous.

I find it alarming that you cannot see the difference.

To my feeble mind, the clearing of the M2K deal means that Tiffy will win the MMRCA. All the remaining contestants appear to have been compensated for their trouble:
– LM -> C-130J
– Boeing -> C-17
– MiG -> MiG-29K, MiG-29UPG
– Dessault: M2K UPG
The remaining one is SAAB, but they will likely get the MPA contract.

The fact that some of the required capabilities have not yet been developed for Typhoon will mean that India will have a word (and a hand!) in their development, technology that could find its way into AMCA et al.

JT442,

If I understand correctly, Kovy’s argument is about mission availability rate, not damage resistance after the mission has been launched. Taken at face value the argument is reasonable: the Tornado has many more components and hence, all else being equal, a likely lower MBTF leading to lower availability.

What is not known is the actual availability rates for a quantitative comparison.

MKI’s are tasked with air dominance and long range strike, no MKI has been tasked with naval strike, a job that is left to navy subs and surface ships in addition to one squadron of jag IM.

I can’t seem to find a reference for it, but I’m pretty sure that there is an MKI sqn tasked with maritime strike.

Ria Novosti have a photo of the Mig 29 on their website, what a beautiful plane!

Says the IAF will have the Zhuk M radar upgrade, sadly no mention of upgrading to the Mig 35 OLS system, missed opertunity me things.

It is a beautiful plane alright, but it is a Su-30MKI, not a MiG-29. clicky

@galdri, @arquebus

The glide ratio is dictated purely by lift and drag. Weight does not alter the glide ratio. It only affects the velocity on that same glide path. That’s the reason that Cessna chart doesn’t mention number of pax, fuel load, etc.