http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2831

Sources close to Defence Ministry reveal that India is likely to announce MiG 35’s as the winner of the massive Indian Air Force MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft) contract during President Putin’s visit to New Delhi on the 25th-26th of this month (January 2007).

I really don’t think they would announce MIG-35 as winner before they even know the price.

First issue a RFP (Likely March ’07) then a RFQ (likely end of ’07) then a announcement in the following year. Alternatively they will merge the RFP with a RFQ and speed up the process.

Agreed, but why only two Viggens and so late in thier career. (This was late 1970’s, very early 1980’s.) I would imagine that would have been incorporated from day one.

The Swedish nuclear program more or less ended 1972 but not the Indian one who detonated their first in 1974. In 1978 Saab got a RFP to supply the Indian Air Force with Viggen jets for deep strike missions. (US blocked the possible sale.)

I don’t have any information if this would matter to your discovery but it does match the time-line pretty ok.

That said, the work should have ended 78/79 when it was clear Sweden would not export Viggens.

Is there someone who knows what airplanes will be shown on Aero-India?
I’m asking because one of my colleagues will be near airshow and maybe he’ll be able to make some photos.

Looks like it will be a good show this year.

American F-16 and F/A-18’s and Swedish JAS 39C/D Gripen for the first time.

Perhaps the question should be whether the L-159As that are now becoming surplus would be sufficient? They could be modified to be BVR capable without too much difficulty – pick up a dozen or so, and buy ~50 each of the Python 4/5 and Derby, and that would probably suffice for air defence.

I believe Croatia is looking at a NATO membership in the near future and having the ability to then fulfill NATO Quick Reaction Alerts would probably weigh in on the selection of jets. QRA is more than just worry about your own airspace and subsonic jets wouldn’t cut it. Czech is using their Gripens for QRA’s and so will Hungary starting 2008 if I’m not mistaken. F-16 is of course also perfect for this role.

I hadn’t heard that the Gripen can supercruise. Do you have a source?

Just politics……………..leaving would end the CVF Carriers and would cripple the UK Defense Industry! Further, such a great loss could negate the United Kingdom to a small player in world affairs…………..:(

Defence Ministry wants assurances on jet
Fri Dec 8, 2006 1:12 AM GMT
LONDON (Reuters) – The Ministry of Defence said on Friday it would not commit to the next stage of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme unless it received U.S. assurances that it would be able to operate the aircraft independently.

Britain wants the planes to operate from two new aircraft carriers it plans to buy.

“We will not commit to the next stage of the JSF programme before receiving assurances from the U.S. that we will have the operational sovereignty we require to fight (use) the aircraft,” a ministry spokesman said.

“We are working closely with the U.S. to achieve this and are making real progress,” he said.

The government was responding to a parliamentary committee which urged it not to sign a production agreement with the United States for the fighter unless Washington promised to share technical information.

Lockheed Martin is building three models of the supersonic radar-evading F-35 for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy to replace the Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.

British legislators say it is still uncertain whether Washington will agree to transfer the technology Britain says is needed to allow it to operate the aircraft independently.

“If the UK does not obtain the assurances it needs from the United States, then it should not sign the memorandum of understanding covering production, sustainment and follow-on development,” the House of Commons Defence Committee said in a report

“Such an impasse on a procurement programme of such strategic importance to the UK would be a serious blow to UK-U.S. defence equipment cooperation,” it said.

If Washington did not give the assurances by the end of the year, the parliamentary committee recommended Britain switch most of its effort and funding into developing a Plan B.

This would ensure an alternative aircraft was available in case Britain had to withdraw from the JSF programme, it said.

The defence procurement minister Lord Drayson is due to visit Washington next week to try to wrap up a technology-sharing deal before signing the pact that would commit Britain to the programme’s production and support phase.

Lockheed Martin said this week it remained confident of reaching a positive resolution to the issue.
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Those who see any value in TVC have obviously missed the last 30 years of missile development and knowledge of the prime operational need in any airforce.

Statements such as the missiles wont be able to ‘lock on’ is just ridiculous.

TVC will only make the jet more vulnerable unless fighting a significantly less capable opponent.

TVC on jets is really nothing more than pointless added weight and components. More hot metal to guide my missile to. But then again, you might not be up against a modern airforce and then it could be helpful. Because God knows the Mig-29 concept got disadvantages by design, notably in its radar signature.