One aspect of the export of MWF is that it can be sold as a complete package just like the Gripen + Erieye combo. And this package can be very useful especially for small airforces. Here is a sample configuration for the Vietnamese Air Force:
1> 36 MWF aircraft.
2> Sensor and Comms Package:
a> Uttam AESA
b> DRDO IRST
c> DRDO MAWS
d> DRDO internal EW Suite with Russian/ Israeli/ Indian jammers
e> DRDO GPS/INS/GAGAN/NAVIC/GLONASS navigation
f> DRDO Software defined radio
g> DRDO internal satcoms
h> DRDO/ BEL Data Link
I> DRDO external high power jamming pod
j> Towed Decoy (either Indian or foreign)
h> Capability to control UAVs (nice to have)
3> Weapons package:
a> Air to Air:
1> Astra IR (10-50 km) primary short range missile (alternatively R-73)
2> Astra Mk1 (50-110 km) primary BVRAAM (alternatively R-77 family)
3> Astra Mk2 (160 km) secondary BVRAAM (alternatively R-77 family)
4> Astra Mk3 SFDR (320 km) secondary BVRAAM (alternatively R-77 family)
5> RUDRAM 1 primary AWACS killer (alternatively Novator K-100)
b> Air to Ground:
1> DRDO HSLD primary dumb bomb (alternatively OFAB dumb bombs)
2> DRDO PGHSLD primary Air to Ground PGM (alternatively KAB series of PGMs)
3> RUDRAM 3 primary Air to Ground long range subsonic cruise missile. ( alternatively Russian KH series)
4> Brahmos NG primary Air to Ground supersonic cruise missile.
5> DRDO SAAW primary anti airfield weapon.
6> DRDO Garuthmaa and Garudaa primary long range glide munitions/ smart munitions
4> AWACS and ELINT/ COMINT package:
1> DRDO Netra AEW & CS with ability to control missiles and network aircraft.
2> DRDO ELINT/ COMINT sensors on a commercial jet
5> Network package:
1> AFNET equivalent built to specifications for Vietnam
6> Satellite package:
1> 2 satellites for networking between air and ground assets, information sharing, etc. 1 primary
satellite and 1 backup or load sharing.
7> Radar package:
1> Swordfish long range tracking radar.
2> Arudhra medium power radar.
3> 3D Central Acquisition radar.
4> DRDO Aerostat mounted radar.
8> SAM package:
1> Aakash NG SAM
2> DRDO-IAI LRSAM/ MRSAM
3> DRDO XRSAM
4> Network and upgradation of VPAF old SAMs with Indian networking assets.
9> UAV package:
1> 10 Rustom-2 class UAVs for armed or surveillance operations, with SANT/ Helina missiles.
2> Loyal wingman drone (nice to have)
Not all of this has to be sold at one go. We can sell the aircraft and a primary set of munitions first. The rest can follow as add ons. One major sale can help us stitch together an anti China alliance properly, and also sell our naval and land forces products as well. Reupping an old post here for everyone's perusal:
Reposting from Mk1/Mk1A Thread:
Good opportunity for us to sign tripartite agreement for F414 engines and take firm orders for LCA Mk2 for VPAF, Thai AF, Indonesian AF, Philippines AF, Myanmar AF, and stitch together an anti China alliance.
Design and most subsystems will be Indian. IP of MWF will be Indian.
For other foreign subsystems for which clearance cannot come, there is always a Russian alternative. But I think these will be very minimal.
According to available info only engine will be major foreign component in MWF.
Its Data Links and formidable avionics will be Indian. If D-29 EW suite is anything to go by, DRDOs UEWS will be an excellent piece of kit. Probably in the same category as the Rafale. Here is where i see an opportunity:
If we can sell the LCA Mk2 to the VPAF, or any other country hostile to China (like Indonesia or Philippines), then we can also sell to them the following:
1> Astra Mk1 missile (110 km range)
2> Astra Mk2 missile (160km range)
3> Astra Mk3 SFDR missile (320 km range)
4> Astra IR close quarter combat missile (40km range)
5> SANT missile (20-30km anti tank missile)
6> SAAW anti airfield PGM (120+ km)
7> Rudram 1 anti awacs missile
8> Rudram 2 air to ground missile
9> Rudram 3 air to ground missile (SCALP class missile)
10> Brahmos NG missile (300 km max range under MTCR for exports)
11> Improved Sudarshan class of LGBs with kits for 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg, 1500kg, and 2000kg munitions. Can be configured to be in the class of the Paveway 2, Paveway 3, Spice, and Hammer munitions.
12> DRDO HSLD munition which can be used with the kits from point 11 above.
13> All upcoming Indian targeting and EW pods
14> Current OFB dumb munitions modeled on Russian dumb munitions.
15> Upcoming Indian loyal wingman type drones which whill significantly increase the capability of any aircraft it is paired with.
Once these airforces are locked in with the LCA Mk2, then it automatically creates a market for Indian munition and combat electronics sales. Most countries will prefer single source vendor for end to end solution (i.e India) in order to prevent all hotch-potch and avoid paying for integration costs of other weapons. For example, the Egyptian Rafales are ditto the French ones, whereas ours have India specific mods which are costly.
If these countries, however, want foreign weapons on their aircraft, they have the following to choose:
1> ASRAAM close combat missile from Europe.
2> Meteor missile (If permitted. I last heard they will allow meteor integration with an Indian radar)
3> Python 5 close combat missile from Israel (certified already)
4> Derby medium range missile (110 km class, already certified)
5> R-73 close combat missile from Russia (already certified)
6> R-77 medium range missile from Russia (possibly certified. not sure)
7> KAB series of Russian PGMs in the 250-1500kg class. (certified)
8> OFAB dumb russian munitions (certified)
9> Paveway 2 LGB kit (certified)
10> Griffin LGB kit (certified)
11> Kh-XX series of A2G and anti ship missiles (certified)
12> Spice kit
13> Hammer kit
All these are a TREMENDOUS list of options!! No other aircraft will give this kind of versatility as far as weapon systems are concerned!
Tejas Mk2 will be the only aircraft in the world which can easily integrate Indian, Russian, Israeli, and Western armaments. No other aircraft in the world will offer this diversity.
LCA Mk2 will also offer variety of targeting pods too
1> Upcoming Indian targeting pods
2> Israeli Litening (already integrated and most preferred)
3> French Talios
4> US Sniper pod (good possibility if sold to ME countries)
Also on offer will be missions training systems, pilot training, etc. Not to mention that any country who buys the LCA Mk2 will increase our strategic footprint there. The sale of MWF will pave the way to sell our under development AWACS aircraft too. And other electronics like radars and data links.
Good opportunity for us to make alliances and modernize some air forces at affordable prices. Just imagine a string of nations hostile to the Chinese and armed with a combination of MWFs, ORCAs, and a range of desi munitions. I think we should aggressively pursue this.
