Austin nailed it. Tejas, Gripen and F/A-50 are all light fighters of equivalent capability. Since Tejas is built domestically, I would hope its assembly line would be enhanced to increase output to meet IAF needs.
A couple “Ifs”…
If cost is really the driving requirement for IAF’s new fighter acquisitions, then single engine airplanes historically enjoy a 20% O&S cost advantage over twin-engine airplanes.If a mature non-domestic single engine fighter is desired by IAF, only the F-16 fits the bill. (Since everyone else builds twins, F-16 is pretty much the only single-engine, non-Tejas class fighter still in production). With LM’s offer to transfer all the manufacturing tooling and assembly worker training materials to Tata, the Indian F-16 assembly line could be up and operating in a few years.
Gripen C is still in production…
Google translated from: http://zpravy.idnes.cz/gripeny-miri-na-island-066-/zpr_nato.aspx?c=A160929_094630_zpr_nato_inc
Swedens coming Gripen E can be made with all new components or using some parts from Gripen A or Gripen C.
All new is 7bSEK more expensive than canabalizing Gripen C, while saving the C’s to canabalize Old Gripen A would be 3,5 bSEK pricier. 1usd=8,6 SEK (historic range 6-10 SEK/USD)
Decision expected this year so potential customers for Gripen C is in a bit of hurry! (Thailand, Slovakia, Botswana & M’sia)
http://www.svd.se/regeringens-dilemma-skrota-gripen-eller-ta-miljardnota
Maybe it is a better idea to sell the Gripen C to India instead of cannibalizing them.
While rejected for MMRCA, they should certainly be a nice upgrade of the MiG-21s falling apart.
Perspective is needed.
That jets are still being built using old technology does not make them new technology jets.
F-35, baselined in the late 1990s, is 15-20 year old technology.
F-22, baselined in 1986, is 30 year old technology.
Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen, baselined in the early 1980s, are 35 year old technology.What stops anyone from using a 2016 technology baseline to develop an new fast jet?
You are not using 35 year old technology, since the subsystems are updated all the time.
The Gripen E is using sensors which is just becoming available.
On board computers are continously replaced as better electronics become available.
The F-414 engine first ran in 1993, but it is beeing updated, so it is really not 23 years old technology.
I realize well that it would take a significant effort to set up these mini bases. So what? Any military operation needs preparation. If the F-35Bs are able to mount in the order of 10 sorties, that should be enough to kill most enemy bombers. The strips of road would obviously have to be long enough for the F-35B to take off with the necessary load.
If they are attacking bases in the north no you can’t intercept the bombers, if they are attacking targets in the south yes you can if your fighters have been able to survive the first wave of missiles against airfields in the north.
Gripen needs 600 meters of Runway, and everything you need to handle the aircraft on the ground fits into two trucks.
Gripen can be serviced by a ground crew of 6, including one expert and 5 conscripts.
Using dispersed bases is routine for the Swedish Air Force.
The F-35 was not designed for this type of operation, and I suspect the requirements of an F-35 base
is much more complex.
American and Chinese UCAV’s are eliminating targets in Africa & Middle East but in Europe there is no active UCAV production nor purpose build weapons made for such weapons. It’s kinda shameful that large continent has to rely on outside help.
Is there any particular reason why Europe has stagnated?
SAAB is working on a pilotless Gripen Fighter.
I thought the use of all of the three primary fuselage hardpoints (not counting the one for recce/targeting pods) for AAMs was interesting. I think the JAS-39 is an excellent airplane, and I hope to see it continue to do well on the export market. I look forward to the day I get to see one in person for the first time.
I saw the one crashing in the middle of Stockholm.
Went down a few 100 meters from my appartment.
* NTISR: non-traditional intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (sea surveillance, anti-drug or piracy, rescue mission etc).
* SCAR: strike coordination and reconnaissance (such as the mission of searching and hunting ISIS target in a densely populated city).
* CAS: close air support (Thunderbolt-styled jobs).
* DCA: defensive counter air (Fighting with Su-30SM, Su-35, T-50 etc).
* AI: air interdiction (Bombing Russia).
* SEAD/DEAD (The Hunt for Red S300/400/500).Scoring of survivability for the different missions (5.0 as the highest grade):
* F-35A: NTISR 5.0,SCAR 5.0,CAS 5.0,DCA 5.0,AI 4.0,SEAD/DEAD 4.0; Average: 4.7
* EF-2K: NTISR 5.0,SCAR 4.5,CAS 3.5,DCA 3.0,AI 1.0,SEAD/DEAD 2.0; Average: 3.2
* F-18F: NTISR 5.0,SCAR 4.5,CAS 4.5,DCA 3.0,AI 1.0,SEAD/DEAD 1.0; Average: 3.2
* F-16C: NTISR 5.0,SCAR 5.0,CAS 2.0,DCA 1.0,AI 1.0,SEAD/DEAD 1.0; Average: 2.5Scoring of effectiveness for the different missions (5.0 as the highest grade):
* F-35A: NTISR 4.3,SCAR 3.3,CAS 3.6,DCA 3.6,AI 5.0,SEAD/DEAD 5.0; Average: 4.2
* EF-2K: NTISR 2.7,SCAR 2.3,CAS 2.7,DCA 3.0,AI 2.0,SEAD/DEAD 2.0; Average: 2.4
* F-18F: NTISR 3.3,SCAR 3.0,CAS 3.3,DCA 2.0,AI 2.0,SEAD/DEAD 2.0; Average: 2.6
* F-16C: NTISR 2.3,SCAR 2.7,CAS 2.3,DCA 1.0,AI 1.0,SEAD/DEAD 1.0; Average: 1.7
So the F-35 has max survivability in DCA.
It is as good or better than the F-22.
Who believes that?
In what way it can have max survivability in CAS?
By staying at 5,000 meters altitude?
Looks like BS data to confirm a decision made for political reasons.
strange fight to pick considering the Danes are saying its cheaper and better. But Ok!! you guys may need to grow up and realise that the opinion of people in the know outweighs your own.
so here is an honest question, again we see the F-35 picked. Denmark releasing their report and their findings, that directly contradict what many here have been claiming, and rather than reexamine their position, these people would rather persist and (with no evidence of their own to back their claims with) won’t even bother to read the report, and yet will blithely call others trolls when they ask for proof that contradicts the official report.
So the question is, is there at any point any amount of evidence that will ever change certain peoples minds? or is this like the “faked” moon landings and other conspiracies contradicted by evidence at this point?
I wil break it down barney style. The Danes put out a report. An official report. There could well be errors, and miscalculations maybe outright myths (even typos!) but the burden of proof is on the accuser. please find and present your counter argument (preferably with links, evidence etc) rather than posting about the USMC IOC from 9 months ago.
The Norwegian calculation of cost showed that the F-35 lifetime cost would be cheaper than Gripen E
even if SAAB had given them all aircrafts for free.
When You want to make a choice for reasons that are politically incorrect,
then You have to invent reasons, and if all parties agree on a lie, then that is what will be
published, and outside sources will be ignored.
SAAB expected such political meddling and dropped out without a bid.
Ha! Well that’s strange because its the other way round. Some countries just want to stay away from US, and, most of all, not to depend on them for anything. An example is India. U.S. government and private arms salesmen have worked for years to make India a big client for American weapons. India has chosen instead to smile at Americans but to continue to buy its arms from others. Not saying they don’t buy from US but unlike nato they aren’t dependent on usa.
Finland economy is going in gutter lets see whether they will even buy F-35s or not.
Based on plans for substantial cooperation on defense with Sweden, Gripen is a strong contender.
Considering proliferation of F-16 history in ASEAN…once Singapore fielded F-16, then just matter of time before some other ASEAN country field it. Singapore is already in F-35 program. Based on current economic condition..outside Singapore only Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia have economic capabilities to field F-35 after 2020. However Malaysia seems set with either Rafale, Typhoon or Shornet. Indonesia seems set with Su-35 or their JV with ROK on KFX/IFX.
Thus leave Thailand. They already field Grippen, but they do need to replace their F-16 blk 15+ after 2020.
Thailand plans to order more Gripen.