F-18 for India ?

[Vishwamitra]

Based on what I have learned, F-18 seems to me best suited fighter for Indian airforce. Why Indian gov is keep rejecting it ?

Also, Why everyone here hates Mig-35 ?

 

[Rahul Singh]

Based on what I have learned, F-18 seems to me best suited fighter for Indian airforce. Why Indian gov is keep rejecting it ?

Also, Why everyone here hates Mig-35 ?

For starters, F-18 failed Leh trails; cold weather.

 

[Vishwamitra]

For starters, F-18 failed Leh trails; cold weather.

Ironic considering half of US is Snow hole and mountainous

 

[mayfair]

Based on what I have learned, F-18 seems to me best suited fighter for Indian airforce. Why Indian gov is keep rejecting it ?

In what ways is it suitable?

Also it failed to pass the MRCA trials.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Ironic considering half of US is Snow hole and mountainous

To be precise, F-18 was unable to start its engine using JFT after the cold soak.. Even F-16 had also failed the same test.

A fact that is on record.

BTW nothing ironic. LEH airfield is known for extreme cold temperatures in winter and thin and dry air during summer. Add to it the extremities posed by high altitude.

 

[Immanuel]

To be precise, F-18 was unable to start its engine using JFT after the cold soak.. Even F-16 had also failed the same test.

A fact that is on record.

BTW nothing ironic. LEH airfield is known for extreme cold temperatures in winter and thin and dry air during summer. Add to it the extremities posed by high altitude.

It wasn't straight forward, even the Rafale as per ISE needs specific mods to be able to perform effectively from LEH. Besides I doubt IAF wants the SH with Rafale already having basic sunk costs. SH Block 3 is a better for the Indian Navy which will probably buy it. SH Block 3 has folding wings, comes with good current gen avionics, new cockpit with LPDs, updated AESA, MAWS, 360 situational awareness and off course the F414 engine (possibly the uprated variant)

 

[mayfair]

SH block 3 may not fit in with Vikramaditya and Vikrant carrier deck lifts, neither would Rafale for that matter.

 

[tarunraju]

As others pointed out, it failed trials in the Himalayan theater, and India wants an unconditional sale, with no US approval needed to use the plane wherever needed.

 

[Aaj ka hero]

Based on what I have learned, F-18 seems to me best suited fighter for Indian airforce. Why Indian gov is keep rejecting it ?

Also, Why everyone here hates Mig-35 ?

I don't hate mig-35 and family.
They are the real killer of f-16.

 

[ashdoc]

Mig 35 has fuel guzzling RD 33 engines that shorten range .

 

[Bleh]

I don't hate mig-35 and family.
They are the real killer of f-16.

Based on what I have learned, F-18 seems to me best suited fighter for Indian airforce. Why Indian gov is keep rejecting it ?

Also, Why everyone here hates Mig-35 ?

RD-33 is bit unreliable & comperatively dismal thrust (50.0 kN - 81.3 kN), while being a real inefficient fuel guzzler.
Thus Mig-35, like the Mig-29 has low payload capacity, almost same as Tejas. The avionics were also deemed sub-par & radar didn't perform at stated range.

Ironic considering half of US is Snow hole and mountainous

To be precise, F-18 was unable to start its engine using JFT after the cold soak..

As others pointed out, it failed trials in the Himalayan theater, and India wants an unconditional sale, with no US approval needed to use the plane wherever needed.

F-18(Super Hornet) on the other hand is actually operated in sub-zero cold & high altitude by Switzerland, Finland, USA. Don't know how it failed!
Got somewhat better on avionics, AESA & does run on F-414, but Rafale & Typhoon simply outclassed it. It's cheaper though & has impressive slow-speed maneuverability...
Buuuuut, Rafale does better.

 

[Meghavan]

We can't buy 126 rafales as mr.manohar said. Better get 54 rafales and 110 F-18

 

[Bleh]

We can't buy 126 rafales as mr.manohar said. Better get 54 rafales and 110 F-18

Rafale might actually be priced too costly to buy in larger numbers.. especially with huge amount of new place to be inducted in the next 2 decades to replace the vintages.

Wouldn't be very surprised if F-18 is chosen. But Mig-35 would need drastic changes to stand a chance, otherwise we are to use 62(remaining)+21 Mig-29UPG + 45? Mig-29K already, both having a not-so-good record.

 

[Meghavan]

Rafale might actually be priced too costly to buy in larger numbers.. especially with huge amount of new place to be inducted in the next 2 decades to replace the vintages.

Wouldn't be very surprised if F-18 is chosen. But Mig-35 would need drastic changes to stand a chance, otherwise we are to use 62(remaining)+21 Mig-29UPG + 45? Mig-29K already, both having a not-so-good record.

I think Trump's acting tough game against us in venezuelan oil, medicine and his rising tarrif cosed america this deal.

Better optionis to get some Jet like gripane/F-16 and completely RV it and makeour own fighter like China.

 

[Kay]

Navy should ask for a twin engine version of Naval Tejas with frontal RCS reduced. Until then, Might 29s have to do. For IAF - LCA, MCA, AMCA should be enough with Sukhois and a few Rafales. The Rafales can have dedicated nuclear strike role.

 

[Gessler]

As of F-18 failing Leh trials....thing is, pretty much all foreign products fail those trials. Their engines are not meant to operate at those altitudes. It's not about the cold, its about the altitude - the thinness of air.

F-16 failed the same trials. Even Su-30s and MiG-29s, back when we first bought them, had problems operating from Leh. Only modifications to the engines and change in the composition of fuel used could fix the problems.

Even LCA suffered in Leh when the GE engines shut off. It was modified later ofcourse.

It's a perennial issue because of the environment, nothing wrong with the aircraft per se.

Coming to the choice of plane, it literally makes ZERO sense to buy any other plane except additional Rafales. If we don't have money, then buy fewer. Buy more later when funds are secured. Compromising on quality or capacity due to short-term monetary problems will prove to be a grave error.

There isn't any outright merit-based reason why either of the two US fighters need be selected. If we want the best capability-wise, Rafale or Typhoon should be your pick. If you want something that's cheap to buy, MiG-35 is your bird. If you want something that's cheap in maintain in long run, Gripen comes out on top.

Only reason to buy F-16/F-18 is if we want access to F-35 in future. The US knows this very well too. That's why all the constant "India's Road to F-35" marketing campaign from the likes of Lockheed.

 

[Bleh]

If we don't have money, then buy fewer. Buy more later when funds are secured. Compromising on quality or capacity due to short-term monetary problems will prove to be a grave error.

There isn't any outright merit-based reason why either of the two US fighters need be selected...
...Only reason to buy F-16/F-18 is if we want access to F-35 in future. The US knows this very well too.

F-18 might be the perfect balance between cost & quality, but buying Rafales in several smaller batches makes most sense.

That at we'll get Rafales F4, F5, F6 etc.
Look at our Su-30s, even the ones being made now are of same 2001 standard!!!

 

[patriots]

I believe either by rafale........
Or mi35(low cost)

 

[Bleh]

Or mi35(low cost)

No way is Mig-35!
Just Google up the glaring issues both IAF & IN has had with Mig-29, Mig-29K, Mig-35 (during MMRCA trials). Not to mention being underpowered, unreliable, low availablity (30%!!!), low quality tech & high operating cost.

If they are going cost effective than it could be F-18 SH, which has much lower buying cost than Rafales & much lower operating/maintanence cost than Mig-35.

But most probably there'd be Rafale in multiple small batches...

 

[Kay]

IAF seriously needs to think about inventory management. The situation is already messed up - adding another type is not going to help. Standardization of missiles and weapons should be a priority.

Buying American planes provide another bargaining chip to US in our inevitable trade disputes. Doing so weakens our geopolitical positions, trade negotiations and sovereignty.

The only palatable option is more Rafales - that too if Kaveri engine becomes airworthy and Meteor gets integrated with Tejas.

There are no permanent friends and enemies in geopolitics - serious nations like China and Russia understands that and strives for defence indigenization. We as a nation get easily seduced by shiny toys.