9 months to build a jet, by this capacity when will we replace all the junk fighters from service?
We need atleast 20-25 each year to project power.
Chinese are mass producing the J-10 just like cars.
Mass production requires diversion of resources. When we are not likely to face war till 2030, why divert resources for ww2 type war production? Instead focus on developing infrastructure to enhance growth and earn foreign exchange to acquire ToT. Once all technology is obtained for 100% indigenisation, then mass manufacture by diverting resources mass manufacturing of tejas now needs Kaveri engine. If we import F414 engine at 8 million dollar a piece, 50% of aeroplane cost will go for that. Instead, first lets get Kaveri and then we can see
Money is for weapons imports or for indigenous R&D?
Make your choices Deshbhakton.
Muhammad Khagesh, please control yourself. Forex will only be used for ToT, not for import of finished product.
1) After 2018-19 the economy is going to pick up, right now it is growing at only 7%, another 1-2% will be added after 2018-19 easily.
2) Rafale is not 200m each, that is the cost inclusive of all training, infrastructure and customisations- the unit price the IAF is offered for the Rafale is arround $110m (around €85m- same as the French AF price).The marginal cost will fall substantially for the IAF for any fighter beyond the intial 36 ordered.
3) You fail to take into account the payback periods of large ticket deals- it is not a 100% upfront payment. In the Rafale's case it was 15% upfront and then installments over the course of 5-6 years. This will reduce the burden on the annual IAF CAPEX budget.
A nice analysis though bro but I'll stick to the fact that the SQN strength is going to be grow beyond 42 post 2027. But I really hope the GoI starts to address the dwindling allocation to the defence forces, since 2013-14 the spending (as a proportion of GDP) has gone from 2% to a historic low of 1.56% today.
It's absurd to ask the military to modernise with these restrictions plus given the increase in domestic defence production more defence spending would help stimulate the economy create jobs and further "make in India"
LCA's production can be ramped up by 50% (24/year) without adding ANY physical infrastructure by HAL.
IF IAF placed more orders for LCA than 123 units HAL would respond accordinly but they have set the 16/year target for 123 units so the line is open long enough for the MK.2 to be readied.
The only thing holding HAL back from churning out more LCAs is pitiful orders from IAF.
LCA must not be mass manufactured till we have engine. We are close to get an engine. So, why hurry unnecessarily? By 2019, if we can get 90kN engine, then we can make large number of LCA Mk1A till 2023-4 when we may get K10 100kN engine. After that, Mk2 may be mass manufactured.
If we look at USA or Russia, there is actually no limit on mass manufacturing scale if technology is indigenous. We can make 1 million jets too (if rhenium is available in that quantity) by simply hiring crores of people into assembly job.
