I was asking if this potential purchase would affect the LCA program.
No

Do you think they’ll buy the Gripen and then turn around and replace it with the LCA?
Best case gripen will not come.. Worst case if they come.. they would be supplemented by the LCA whenever it comes.. please wait a few more days to hear more on the LCA front..

On a related note, what aircraft are the Mirage 200-5s supposed to be replacing/supplementing in the IAF?
They would be replacing the aircrafts like Mig-21/23/27

Remember that IAF has approx 300 Mig-21 (all variants) .. which would have to be replaced …….and IAF ALSO has to increase it’s strength from 39.5 to 45 sqds.. whereas in the current scenario it’s finding it difficult to maintain even these 39.5 in numbers leave alone expansion..

The delay in LCA project IS a contributor to this requirement but provided that LCA was ready I don’t think it would have made a BIG difference to this decision..

On the Gripen front.. The IAF has formulated the requirements in such a manner that only Mirage-2000 would fit the bill.. All these RFP’s to different manufacturers has been sent only to satisfy the suggestion from the Gov panel.. that other options be looked at AFTER the Keyser deal with Dassault came in picture..

Pics please ??

http://www.irkut.com/en/services/research/irta/

Expect it to be like Mig-AT..

Dandpatta.. atleast I have not seen ANY seaking or harrier pilot in Blue regularly.. minus exceptions..

All have Orange.. you can ask Kapil or Maz at BR about that..

can any one living in mumbai capture the video of su-30MKI and the sarang team and post it

Expect it on Moday 🙂

Answering to SRBIN.. for his first post of this thread…

Light Weight or Heavy Weight..

I think that it depends more on the kind of dominance/reach the airforces are looking at considering the long range and weapon options.. USAF would generate more effective sorties at longer ranges using the F-15’s then the F-16’s as these would be needed to be tanked up on there way in/out to the war theatre..

As far as avionics are concerned .. the NEW developments in the field of the aviation has kind of reduced/removed significantly the gap btw the Light and the Heavy weight fighters.. so that advantage goes off..

Taking the Indian Context .. IAF, i guess would prefer other aircrafts as 29’s and Mirages on CAP and interceptor missions but would prefer MKI on the long range self escorted precision strike missions…(quite logical).. coz these fighters are easy to maintain and would generate more number of sorties relatively.. so you would be seeing a lot of light fighters in the air at any given point of time.. but would’nt see MKI’s so often..

Now thinking of Malaysia.. They being a country sorrounded with some nasty pirates 😉 coming from the see would want long range and higher loiter time.. They would also prefer the anti-shipping mode more then the other modes on there MKM’s.. rest are complementary..

Thanks a lot GD.. 🙂