India currently does not posess such a capability. The russians A2G missiles have far lesser range and are not stealhty. The Brahmos will be equipped to a squadron or 2 of Su 30s but even the Su 30 can only carry one.

The Indian cruise missile program would take many years to materialise and Storm Shadow or Taurus would be a welcome addition to the inventory.

FWIW, there were recent reports that the IN Bears can carry 6 X Brahmos after their upgrades.

USS.

Interesting article … that SHipley chap sure has a lot of experience; couple of things that caught my eye –

The Hornet, however, is a more maneuverable aircraft, with a fly-by-wire control system and more advanced avionics and cockpit displays.

Hornet more maneuverable than a fulcrum? WHat do advanced avionics have to do with maneuverability? Is this true? Also, don’t the RMAF 29s have the HMD/Archer combo?

USS

Benhongh,

Apart from what internal structures that might exist (as pointed out by Erko and Dionis), the Pakfa engines are higher than the inlet openings – IOWs, vertically, they are not on the same plane, which in itself relates to a degree of curvature. A side on comparison between the Pakfa and a flanker clearly shows this.

Secondly, on a horizontal plane, even if as you suggest the inlet ducts are largely parallel to each other, the compressor faces themselves do not appear to be so. The engines clearly show a toe-in, which would somewhat give a ‘Y’ shape to the inlets from engine end to inlet face. IOWs, you cannot see a full frontal of the engine face from the inlet opening.

So at the very least, based on positioning alone, there is a vertical as well as horizontal curvature to this bird. Is that an S-curve? I cannot say. Apart from this we do know that the MLG cavity sinks into the intake as well, further obstructing view of the comp face. Apart from this, who knows what other measures they have further into the tunnel.

USS.

Btw, all this has been discussed ad nauseam in the past thanks to a poster that I will not mention by name simply out of fear that he may reappear! I believe an illustration by Otaku and another by planeman showed it best.
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=98043&page=18

Quadbike,

Source that says MiG-35 cleared the trials? Makes sense, but a source would clear things up.

Re. FBW on the LCA.

He said, unstable aircrafts need digi FBWs. ADA’s choice came after that i.e. in choosing which FBW solution :- hybrid vs. full quadruplex.

Stop the rubbish – nowhere does it say that an unstable design required a DFBW. Analog ones will do just fine. IIRC, even the vaunted “electric jet”, the F-16, which was unstable, had analog FBW in the early models – till the blk-40s iirc.

So no, D(igital)FBW is not mandatory for relaxed stability design. IIRC, the Mirage 2000 also has a relaxed stabiity design and uses FBW; the very same that was offered for the LCA, which the ADA did not want!

IOWs, the IAF was content to get something hybrid, which makes sense since many of the current top notch a/c s started out with a hybrid.

This was a decision where the tech guys overruled the IAF; a stoopid decision that has contributed greatly to the LCA becoming almost a tech demonstrator instead of a quicker operational MiG-21 replacement.

USS.

Hey Benyboy, nice work! Never seen those before; newer pics of the Shars are not easily forthcoming. Here is one (and the only one I know of) with the Derby, multiple ejector racks + 3 pylons:

USS.

OK I think there are still only 2 pylons – the outboard ones have a funky arrangement and almost look as though there are under each wing.

😮 Good grief! That is one helluva mean looking machine. Sukhoi has outdone itself! Stunning.

USS.

So the bottomline continues to remain that someone from active Adla service has said what he has said, and not yet retracted his words. To me, the credibility of Mr. Grandclaudon’s statements increases since nobody worth their name has come out publicly to deny what the gent said.

USS.

Unfortunately,this didnt came yet in media.I just talked to a old friend(who somehow related to the above).He was not interested in spitting other details which he knows due to some obligations. Up to the readers to believe it or not.Me just a messenger 😛

Anytime soon that this news will make it in the media? $ 30-40 billion sounds ridiculously high – the GOI will have to do some major explaining to the tax payer. Although the possibility of the budget increasing to around $ 15-20 billion for 126 aircraft is quite distinct since prices would have gone up since 2007 when the RFP came out.

USS