The issue is simply, G lobby is trying to influence Parrikar through Fadnavis with make G in Nagpur slogan.
This is the first time in the operational history of IAF that a defence minister suddenly "discovers" a need for fighter that is between rafale and tejas!!!!
It is stupid to invent new categories using the figleaf of depleting squadron strength of IAF. First retired IAF higher ups were used by MMRCA lobby to spread the "truth" that with sudden urge to bomb deep into tibet, single engined light fighters are obsolete. Now our DM is loose phrasing a need for another mid tier in IAF between rafale and tejas, where no other fighter other than gripen E has a presence.
So if this need fructifies it is going to be another Goody-Goody government to government deal with a single minded intent to buy gripen E, whose weight has gone above 8 tons!!!
All the while most of the DDM , jour"analists' and IAf retired chair marshaks were bemoaning the under powered tejas!!! How can they now plump for gripen E which will definitely more underpowered than tejas mk2. gripen C is underpowered compared to tejas mk1, In the same way gripen E is underpowered compared to tejas mk2, whose redesign is minimal 0.5 meter fuselage plug, opposed to very detailed redesign of griepen E which has included drag induced fairings to carry extra fuel to compete with rafale and typhoon.
There is no single airforce in the world that operates two types of extremely expensive 4.5th gen fighters such as gripen E and rafale in large number at break your back pricing in high 200 plus numbers(because if gripen is to make in maharastra it will need atleast 150 plus orders, that means parrikar -fadnavis duo is either closing down tejas mk2 program or creating their own make in india all 4.5 the gen IAF , that will be so obsolete 15 years down the line with no single 5th gen fighter ever!!!)
DM has cut down on mountain corps numbers, and rafale numbers citing lack of funds!!!
Gripen too costs more than 100 million dollar per piece. So if 150 grripen E too was bought simultaneously along with 100 odd tejas and 60 plus rafale(another squadron or two follow up order is foregone)
Then where will funds come for AMCA or FGFA?
Gripen E is more souped up with aero parts from all over the world , with even its FBW done in US.
In dog fight what matters is the lift force from low wing loading wing with higher Thrust to weight ratio "in hot 40 plus degree indian hot climate", Gripen C or E has no certified advantage over the corresponding tejas variant that was clearly demonstrated to indian public in any air show.
What is even more pathetic is Gripen E is supposed to get its IOC only in 2019. SO only then we can now its real strength.
And Tejas was given a bigger radome dia than gripen E and rafale as per the wishes of IAF, But till now IAF hasn't even shown the least inclination to float a proposal to buy a bigger off the shelf ASEA radar version for tejas , that can be more powerful than both gripen E and rafale and mate it with future meteor !!!
Why?
If the BVR and radar are the issue then IAF is free to float the idea like that. or
whether our IIT educated DM doesn't know that tejas has the physical dimension to port a ASEA radar and highest possible range BVR ?
Why he didn't he unveil his famous make in india initiative to foreign radar makers citing 200 plus orders from tejas fleet and asked them to adopt a ASEA radar that is bigger and powerful than rafale and gripen E?
if BVR is obsolete then F-35, F-22, J-20, J-31, PAKFA are all obsolete, Because their main USP is BVR . Stealth is of little use without BVR.
Even if a rafale from enemy fleet enters indian airspace for strike role, it is sure going to be discovered by indian AWACS. And if any other fighter from IAf is asked to scramble and fires a BVR on rafale the first prerequisite for enemy rafale is to drop its strike loads of bombs and head home, because such costly advance fighters how omni role they can be , can not pull their evasive Gs with strike loads.
So effectively their mission is oover with millions of dollars strike package dropped away from intended target.
Then they can not engage in a fight in enemy teritory with three times more in number tejas fleet , trying to beat them in BVR and dog fight.
That is out of the question, because Indian airspace is defended by AWACS, SAMs and 4.5 the gen low clean config RCS fighter like tejas in high hundreds.
When it come to gripen E it is even more laughable. Gripen E may have marginally superiority over tejas(nothing demonstrated in indian conditions, all only in impractical brochure BS). But it is close to thrice the cost of tejas.
So if IAF is given the same budget , it can field thrice the tejas number compared to one third gripen E number.
Because for the "famous screw diriver TOT" under the even more famous "Fake In India " Gripen E line , cost will only be 100 plus million dollar for each gripen E opposed to 26 million dollar for tejas!!
All assembled by any one of those dalals in indian stock market , in an even more famous "fake In India " private sector production line, with zero knowledge.!!!!
First let this private sector guys design a decent assault rifle and pistol for IA with as much technical help from abroad and prove its worth, then lets think about making true blue 4.5 the gen fighter , and getting their "fake TOT"
A sick joke is being played on IAF by G lobby who have the ear of fadnavis.
i dont know how far this is gong to go?
