HariPrasad-1
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In an exercise Saab Gripen comprehensively beaten J 11 in BVR combat and J 11 could not score a single kill in 32 encounters. What is true for J11 is by and large true for MKI for BVR combat. In the time of US Vietnam war, BVRs were not very effective and hence the planes were designed to optimize for close combat. However, with the improvement in BVR and its increase in no escape zone, it has become increasingly important to optimize the plane for BVR as well and hence the parameters like RCM are getting more and more important. Flanker family is designed to dominate close combat and little attention is given on RCS etc. Any good 4+ generation plane will take the flankers out with before flankers can see those planes with its PESA radar. However, we have a huge fleet of Flanker which are vulnerable to good 4+ generation fighter. Fortunately, our enemies do not have any such plane. J 20 is a piece of junk and I do not consider it seriously. Fighting Falcons are a serious bird to be considered in our neighborhood but they are outdated and our diplomacy has worked very well to not let them get upgraded.
What is the solution?
No matter how hard you work, you can not hide flankers even if you apply best RAM paint and hide the engines with newer intake design, it is not possible to hide flanker from good AESA radar from a great distance. Something like Rafale will see it much before Flanker can see it and fire BVR on flanker . Because of very good TVCs, Flankers have much better BVR dodging capabilities with huge quantity of Chef and Flairs in its belly and super maneuverability but that will only be a defensive move.
We are currently, relatively tension free because of the Junk inventories of poor quality planes in our neighborhood but if something like EFT, Grippen or Rafale enters into fray, we shall be in serious trouble. We have many of our eggs in a single basket because of huge inventory of MKIs. The solution to issue is top class AESA which can detect 4+ generation plane from a greater distance, top class EW and most modern BVR. This will make MKIs relevant for BVR combat though it does not have any potential to match something like Rafale in BVR combat but definitely it will improve its performance.
So far as close combat and WVR is concern, flankers can defeat anything because of its superior maneuverability. WVR is not an issue at all but to reach to a distance upto WVR is the main issue which needs to be sorted out.
Tejas MK1 A has many limitations but undoubtedly, it will emerge as a dark horse for BVR combat with AESA and Astra Mk1 and MK2. Nothing in Chinese or Pakistani Inventory is good enough to deal with Tejas MK1 A to win BVR combat. Read bellow article which narrates the exercise between Gripen C which used AIMS against J 11 which got roasted in BVR Combat by poor score of Zero Kill out of 32 sorties in BVR against small Gripen C. Gripen E is far more capable and Rafale is far batter than Gripen. We need more Rafale or MWF in big quantity. MWF with 70/120 Kn class will be a real killer and our enemies will try to maintain safe distance.
Saab Gripen ‘Rips Apart’ Chinese J-11 Fighters In War Games; Experts Call Them ‘Sitting Ducks’ For Rafales
A “dogfight” between Saab Gripen and the Chinese J-11 fighter jets game provides lessons to militaries around the world on how to get the better of Chinese warplanes. Message To The US? China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Jet Makes Debut In Joint Military Drills With Russia Details of the Exercise...
www.eurasiantimes.com
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roll out in 2027 , very hard to believe .
