India could be working on a third stealth fighter: Report

black eagle

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Does India want yet another stealth fighter?

India may be working on a third stealth fighter project.

We know the Ministry of Defense has already pledged to co-develop the FGFA Variant of the Russian Sukhoi PAK-FA stealth fighter, and it's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already working on designing the twin-engined advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA). That means the Indian Air Force has both heavy and medium stealth fighter projects -- similar, perhaps, in concept to the high-F-22/medium-F-35 split by the US Air Force.

Now the Indian aerospace & defence press reports Indian Air Marshall PV Naik is in talks with Russia about a lightweight stealth fighter.

It's not clear if Naik is simply discussing a stealth fighter lighter than FGFA; if so, it is perhaps an invitation for Russia to join India's ongoing AMCA project.

If Naik is really discussing a light stealth fighter with the Russians, then it could mean India is considering a stealthy replacement for the long-awaited Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA). That would give India an all-stealth fleet divided into light, medium and heavy categories.

The concept of a light stealth fighter is a tough engineering challenge. To achieve radar stealth, all fuel and munitions must be carried internally. That's possible to do in a 60,000lb-class fighter, such as the Lockheed Martin F-22, or even a 40,000lb-class fighter, such as the F-35. But it's an even bigger challenge for a manned, 20,000lb-class fighter.

Via: Flightglobal
 

bhramos

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Does India want yet another stealth fighter?

India may be working on a third stealth fighter project.

We know the Ministry of Defense has already pledged to co-develop the FGFA Variant of the Russian Sukhoi PAK-FA stealth fighter, and it's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already working on designing the twin-engined advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA). That means the Indian Air Force has both heavy and medium stealth fighter projects -- similar, perhaps, in concept to the high-F-22/medium-F-35 split by the US Air Force.

Now the Indian aerospace & defence press reports Indian Air Marshall PV Naik is in talks with Russia about a lightweight stealth fighter.

It's not clear if Naik is simply discussing a stealth fighter lighter than FGFA; if so, it is perhaps an invitation for Russia to join India's ongoing AMCA project.

If Naik is really discussing a light stealth fighter with the Russians, then it could mean India is considering a stealthy replacement for the long-awaited Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA). That would give India an all-stealth fleet divided into light, medium and heavy categories.

The concept of a light stealth fighter is a tough engineering challenge. To achieve radar stealth, all fuel and munitions must be carried internally. That's possible to do in a 60,000lb-class fighter, such as the Lockheed Martin F-22, or even a 40,000lb-class fighter, such as the F-35. But it's an even bigger challenge for a manned, 20,000lb-class fighter.

Via: Flightglobal
this could only finish after 20 years as seen by pace of the HAL/DRDO's track record.........
 

shuvo@y2k10

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i don't think this is true.yes there was a talk of hal teaming up with mig for fifth gen lfi way back in 2005-06.but it was scrapped and hal went ahead with sukhoi's heavier pak-fa and ada is going ahead with amca.
 

Rahul Singh

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There is absolutely no point in joining hands with Russians for AMCA or LCA class stealth fighter jet. Better invite Russians for AURA.
 

nrj

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I can only understand this as a error in reporting. The 'lighter' 5th gen is nothing but IAF only FGFA. AV helped about the translation in some other thread. 'Lighter' does not mean lightweight in Russian, it can mean a newer version i.e custom version of PAKFA.

And yeah out for boasting we can say we have 3 fifth gen fighters - PAKFA, FGFA, AMCA.
 
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I can only understand this as a error in reporting. The 'lighter' 5th gen is nothing but IAF only FGFA. AV helped about the translation in some other thread. 'Lighter' does not mean lightweight in Russian, it can mean a newer version i.e custom version of PAKFA.

And yeah out for boasting we can say we have 3 fifth gen fighters - PAKFA, FGFA, AMCA.
If we are moving towards 5th gen planes in 5 years the MRCA looks like a waste, should have developed LCA faster or produced more sukhois.
 

gogbot

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If we are moving towards 5th gen planes in 5 years the MRCA looks like a waste, should have developed LCA faster or produced more sukhois.
You think 5th gen planes will appear in squadrons , it will be very slow process of induction and training.
MMRCA will be the bread and butter in the mid-term , just as MKI is today.
 
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You think 5th gen planes will appear in squadrons , it will be very slow process of induction and training.
MMRCA will be the bread and butter in the mid-term , just as MKI is today.
bulk of the MRCA winner will arrive 2014-2015 time frame if there are no delays.
 

plugwater

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LF, We will learn a lot from MRCA ToT which will be helpful to us for making AMCA.

FGFA is a heavy fighter, AMCA will come after 2022 only so MRCA is not a waste.
 

debasree

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taking too many project and nothing will compleate in time,drdo should concentrate what is most neaded for our defence forces.
 

neo29

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India has enough on the platter LCA production, mirage upgrades, upcoming mmrca production, upcoming FGFA and Pak Fa.

Dont think they have time for a third stealth fighter. Perhaps the article mistakens India's ambition for a stealthy UCAV apart from AURA as a third stealth fighter.
 

weg

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But it's an even bigger challenge for a manned, 20,000lb-class fighter.



Manned is the key word here, dump the man and its possible.

BAe are working on this ( a scale model of the tail-less design has already flown https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/BAE_Corax)



This is the French demonstrator



They (British and French http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/uvonline/bae-and-dassault-confirm-ouas-interest/9148/ ) have agreed to work together on developing a common stealth UAV combat aircraft, probably with several other countries.

The concept seems to be, build an ultra stealthy, low cost UAV which can work autonomously or in squadron (possible with a Eurofighter or Rafael in command). Low cost comes from the Rolls-Royce Adour engine as used in the BAe Hawk and Jaguar.

The aircraft will probably cost 1/5 the price (~$20m) of a EF or Rafael and less than half the hourly cost to operate. Being unmanned you could have two aircraft on point, with their radar shining on approaching stealth aircraft to receive reflections from the side aspect, while others could use their all aspect, ultra stealth (better than any manned aircraft). The manned fighter could loiter behind with its radar switched off (stealth aircraft cannot use their Radar..) ready to pick off whatever makes it past the drones.

Which ever aircraft is chosen for the MRCA by India, I expect this is the sort of project that India will get involved with as part of the technology sharing agreements. Going it alone in developing expensive military technologies is crazy, the UK cannot afford it and it has a 50% higher defence budget than India.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/BAE_Taranis
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Dassault_nEUROn

This is MiG's effort along the same lines, called the Scat

 
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Anshu Attri

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Rumours of the 3rd 5th Gen fighter for India !!


Rumours of the 3rd 5th Gen fighter for India !! | idrw.org



Certain section of India media have been hinting on a possible development of 3rd Fifth Generation fighter aircraft program for Indian air force , idrw.org carried out its own investigation on this matter and sources and experts have said that , Russians will be working on a Single engine based light weight Fifth generation fighter aircraft based on the Mig corporation Design ,which might be offered to India in Future for export customers.

Experts believe that Mig corporation Design of a Single engine based light weight Fifth generation fighter aircraft , will only take off when the current development and testing of sukhoi's T-50/ Pak-FA will be over and hits production line ,Russian have Frozen Mig's activity on their design of Fifth Generation fighter aircraft ,but will be activating it once sukhoi's T-50 hits production .

India and Russia are currently in a agreement with each other where India will be buying close to 250 Fifth Generation fighter aircraft based on sukhoi's T-50/ Pak-FA , which has been termed in India has FGFA , where Indian company HAL will be doing 25 % of Research work to carry out the necessary design changes to include second pilot in the aircraft which Indian air force wants .

In another Second Fifth Generation fighter aircraft program , ADA another major aerospace company in India will be developing AMCA , a home grown Fifth Generation fighter aircraft ,using local know how it developed on projects like LCA program, where Aerospace company is currently developing a 4++ gen fighter " Tejas "for Indian air force .

ADA way back in mid 2005 wanted to collaborate with Mig corporation on development of AMCA rumored to be based on Migs Research of their 5th Generation fighter program , but the deal fell apart due to lack of interest shown by Indian defense ministry and India air force , and also Russian government didn't wanted to fund a Joint venture on a another 5th Gen fighter program ,since Sukhoi's Design was already selected to work on Russians First 5th Gen aircraft .

Mig's 5th gen fighter aircraft Project might began by end of 2017 or so and it will be replacing large fleet of Mig-29 aircraft which Russian air force have , while Pak-FA will be replacing large fleet of Sukhoi-27 and Su 30 , along with Mig-31 ,which Russian air force plans to replace with them .
 

hrp0612

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taking too many project and nothing will compleate in time,drdo should concentrate what is most neaded for our defence forces.
Agree with you on this.

All the hoopla and bragging about wishlist capabilities does not mean a thing.

Prototypes are one thing and Production Models are another. Not to mention the ever changing world of logistics for these aircrafts. The Government needs to involve more private sector specialists to meet the deadlines as projected and sometimes advertised during chest thumping moments.
 
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asianobserve

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3rd stealth fighter eh? How about a simpler tracked artillery system?
 

pmaitra

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Light Stealth Aircraft?

Well, so what will be its role? Interception? A small aircraft, that too with stealth, will have to have internal payload bays, thus increasing its weight. How much munitions can it carry? Obviously it cannot be a deep penetration aircraft.

For some reason, this light stealth aircraft concept is not making sense to me.
 
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