Defpro.com reports that the Indian Air Force launched flight trials yesterday of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, beginning a nearly one-year evaluation of the six contenders vying for a $12 billion order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft MMRCA). The F/A-18E/F is first up, but the competition is wide open. Boeing's rivals are the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16IN, RAC MiG-35 and Saab Gripen IN. Please vote for your favorite.
Given the US defense industry's amazing success on the subcontinent since 2005, so far I see India tilting in Boeing's direction. But I would not discount the Russians and the French -- India's longtime weapons suppliers -- just yet. Although US officials made a huge deal about signing the end-use monitoring agreement last month, it was interesting to read that the Indian Air Force wasn't so impressed. The very reliable StratPost blog even quoted one IAF commenter suggesting the end-use agreement would expose a Super Hornet or Viper fleet to US spying.
Given the US defense industry's amazing success on the subcontinent since 2005, so far I see India tilting in Boeing's direction. But I would not discount the Russians and the French -- India's longtime weapons suppliers -- just yet. Although US officials made a huge deal about signing the end-use monitoring agreement last month, it was interesting to read that the Indian Air Force wasn't so impressed. The very reliable StratPost blog even quoted one IAF commenter suggesting the end-use agreement would expose a Super Hornet or Viper fleet to US spying.
on August 18, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply
I believe that the IAF will continue it's association with Russian Aviation in the MiG-35, it will be cheaper, it is versatile in role and it will not suffer from export equipment controls as so often happens with American exported fighters.
Typhoon will probably be too expensive even though co-operation in fighter engines is being mooted, Gripen perhaps does not have enough overall muscle and Rafale, well who knows, maybe a dark horse but I doubt it.
on August 18, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply
Nobody will win, they will all loose money trying to capture that market and loose even more money dealing with Indian bureaucracy...
on August 18, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply
I cant see a define lead for a US plane.
I would guess France would offer an all inclusive deal with their help for SSBN, new ships and rafale.
Look at Brazil.
therefore my frontrunner is Dassault.
on August 18, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply
It all political!
India has one very close friend in the bunch and that's mother Russia. As for the other contenders, Sweden would be second due to its lite pro-Nato stance and cost and quality of the Gripen. US F18/16 are old news. And the Rafale is well... French. India has enough Typhoon as it is... not talk about aircraft.
MiG-35 FTW with the sensible Swede coming in 2nd!
on August 18, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply
LM has basically no chance in this comp. With Pakistan flying F-16's you can pretty much rule them out. The Gripen which is a good airplane is the modern day F-20....good but not great and doesn't live up to the aspirations of developing powers. The MIG-35 has no chance with Indian experience with Russian aircraft...Typhoon is interesting and I have no clue on its chances and the Rafale is probably the wildcard. The French will sell their souls to get a customer for the airplane and will give some pretty interesting tech transfers. I personally like the F-18 but unless the Indians want closer ties then I would think that they'll go with the Rafale.
on August 18, 2009 10:29 PM | Reply
The prudent choice would be the Typhoon, especially since its the best AtA jet in the competetion.
The Gripens isn't a modern day F-20 either, its datalink is pretty much the best thing operational - thats not LPI. It will come with future Meteor potential which will likely give it a significant edge over F-16/18 and 120D in the future BVR. Its more agile then both 16/18 in subsonic and supersonic agility and probably is more difficult to detect with its reduced RCS and Jamming than the F-16/18.
on August 18, 2009 10:34 PM | Reply
Doesn't matter much what x y z jet has. What does matter is sovereignty. If some time in the future India does something that offends the U.S. ..... any U.S. jets will be cut off from support.
on August 18, 2009 11:17 PM | Reply
Typhoon is too expensive and the British cutting orders doesn't inspire confidence.
Grippen may have a chance considering that this deal could be make or break for Saab.
The Rafael and the Mig-35 have the best chance out of all these aircraft in my opinion. Like someone said before, the French have cut extremeliy good deals with other countries to sell aircraft. The Indian's also have plenty of experience running Russian aircraft and buying more aircraft may also help smooth over hard feelings over the carrier refurbishment...maybe.
on August 19, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply
IF the GripenIN was to be powered by an uprated EJ200, then I think it would be clearly a front runner. Using and F404-? is holding it to hostage and I'm still amazed that the Swedes 'chose' this (Bae?).
An uprated EJ200 would serve well also for the LCA considering the Kaveri(sp?) engine is just not up to the job and it would also have commonality with the EF-2000 if that is what they decided to do in future, though this has not insignificant US content and there is some question as to Bae being now an american company rather than a british one (so the US will have more pull).
An F-404 F-18 and thus, economically and logically speaking, also powering the LCA, not to mention it is a warmed up standard F-18 which despite the sparkling electronics is not up there with the current generation of dogfighters.
Which leaves the French and the Russians. AESA radar, source codes, full engine tech, ridiculous manoeuvrability and desperate for the cash! The Indians would be more able to name their terms than with the other competitors. OTOH, they are supposedly involved with PAK-FA which should be beyond this generation of aircraft... The Frogs it is then!
No doubt the Indians will mix and match the electronics again incl. domestic and probably israeli equipment.
on August 19, 2009 11:31 PM | Reply
Actually, the F-16 has an edge none of the others can claim, namely it's ubiquitous on the world market. Therefore, it will have the largest selection of spares, upgrades, after market kit, etc. readily available on the world market. That should bring its total price of ownership down significantly.
on August 20, 2009 3:27 AM | Reply
British cutting orders doesn't inspire confidence.
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You read that wrong.
The Deal fot the Typhoon is very strict, original because Germany was always the one to cut number so insteady of buying all T3 aircraft at once the buy for the T3 Typhoons will be split also know as being bushed back, but make no mistake, only if all 4 partnernation want to cut number, everybody will get what they ordered.
on August 31, 2009 8:30 AM | Reply
I strongly believe that the americans cannot be trusted, especially when they are trying to sell older aircraft. Hence Gripen and Rafael have a good change but Mig should be IAF's choice since Indians are already comfortable with russian tech and have a massive infra for it but need to very careful on future support.
on September 3, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply
i think we can buy f18 and gripen both.i like most gripen.because the swiden have better record for any agriment of other countries.they always stands of its commitment.
on September 16, 2009 6:54 AM | Reply
Since China is posing security threats to India and its military hardware is from Russian origion ,India must shift to US technology for its armed forces specially airforce and army.