INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

SKC

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It indeed was, bad choice of buying it, even Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov is giving them headaches plus we forget that Vicky is very old, it’s a 2nd hand AC which we purchased from Russia.
As the then Navy Chief said, Its the Best deal we could have at the time.
Which country could give us a New carrier and that too in that budget!
 

MonaLazy

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As the then Navy Chief said, Its the Best deal we could have at the time.
Which country could give us a New carrier and that too in that budget!
If Vikramaditya is really turning out to be such a pain (harbour queen) then maybe we could have forgone that deal altogether? A few years wait and we have the Vikrant almost ready. I think it was INs unfounded fear of being left with no ACC that forced it to make the wrong calls back then. Ditto with Chakra 2 that had to be returned before expiry of the 10 year lease- the option to buy it at the end of that was not even considered.

IN would have been richer by about $6-7B today minus those two, extrapolated to $10B by 2030. So a 100K ton nuke EMAL'd CATOBAR would have been practically free.
 

SKC

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If Vikramaditya is really turning out to be such a pain (harbour queen) then maybe we could have forgone that deal altogether? A few years wait and we have the Vikrant almost ready. I think it was INs unfounded fear of being left with no ACC that forced it to make the wrong calls back then. Ditto with Chakra 2 that had to be returned before expiry of the 10 year lease- the option to buy it at the end of that was not even considered.

IN would have been richer by about $6-7B today minus those two, extrapolated to $10B by 2030. So a 100K ton nuke EMAL'd CATOBAR would have been practically free.
There will always be expenses with AC. They are not cheap to run and maintain whether Russian or US or French or British.
Routine maintenance takes over half a year to upwards of 2 yrs.
Wait karte karte to 2 decade nikal jate for Vikrant to come.
 

MonaLazy

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New jets are only for Vikrant as of now.

He seems to suggest F/A-18 E/F or Rafale M/B are destined for both Vikramaditya & Vikrant

The demonstration is a mandatory requirement for the Indian Navy’s multirole carrier based fighter (MRCBF) contest that envisages the acquisition of up to 57 fighters that will operate off the in-service INS Vikramaditya and soon to be commissioned indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC1) Vikrant. The latter ship is on a third phase of sea trials this week and is to enter Indian naval service in August this year.
 

FactsPlease

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Vikramaditya will serve till 2054. It has service life of 40 years after extensive refit.
It's almost a new carrier with all new cables and piping ( almost 3000km in length).
That's why it's cost inflated because most of things were changes for new.

Mig29k too will serve full service life. HAL is proposing upgrade for them including uttam aesa and astra mk1/mk2.
So IN need a plan to sail Vicky out of harbor. Just wonder exactly what caused its low availability. Anyone?

Back to topic - Vikrant: no matter what IN do/try, right now it's Rafale-M, my only wish is they do it fast - from technical feasibility, to on-board trial, to provision.

We all know the dilemma facing IN AC squads - almost NO perfect solution for operation commonality nor number build-up (hard to imagine that once TEDBF commenced, with possible GE engine, IN is facing three different country supply systems). So I can accept Rafale-M to be our best bet. Nevertheless, since NOT a long-term solution, plus all factors such as time (TEDBF is stepping on its tail, technically and budgetarily, Vikrant trial seems smooth) and bargain power (think: had ordered before UAE... ), we definitely need to induct it ASAP - unless GoI has a dramatic new geopolitical strategy (switching to US).
 

kamaal

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Those who are questioning compatibility of Hornets, must remember that navy operates P8is and are very pleased with it. When it comes to operation and maintenance, Boeing aircrafts are the best. F414 will be used in LCA mk2 and it will be easy for HAL or TASL to handle the support job. Rafale M will be expensive deal for IN, France won't interfere in our geopolitical matters whereas US will always try to armtwist us in matters against its interests.

F18 looks best bet, it's proven and cheaper.
 

FactsPlease

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Those who are questioning compatibility of Hornets, must remember that navy operates P8is and are very pleased with it. When it comes to operation and maintenance, Boeing aircrafts are the best. F414 will be used in LCA mk2 and it will be easy for HAL or TASL to handle the support job. Rafale M will be expensive deal for IN, France won't interfere in our geopolitical matters whereas US will always try to armtwist us in matters against its interests.

F18 looks best bet, it's proven and cheaper.
You could be right for SH, while I stick to my point: since there is NO (repeat: NO NO NO) perfect solution to IN AC airwing dilemma, no matter what we choose, just do it quick.
-- and god knows how much I would love to see IN also build up surplus shore-based units, for not only an independent force (power projection) but also a real strategic deterrence role.
 

Rajaraja Chola

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Already the navy hangars are completely occupied with Mig29Ks that spent its entire time in hangars. Now they want a fighter that can land in an Aircraft Carrier and then take-off after that in one piece. Since Vikky availability is abysmally low, they could manage till now. Not with Vikrant 2. Mig 29Ks will be fitted with UTTAM, ASTRA and UPG upgrades and will be released for IAF.
On what basis did Many come to conclusion Vikky availability is low? Based on a tweet from one ramdom unknown guy?
 

Rajaraja Chola

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42 Mig 29Ks with ASTRA-UTTAM combo will be a great addition for IAF in terms of squadron numbers till Tejas MK2 numbers build up.
Whatever be the problems with Mig29k it's definitely not an problems with radar or missiles. It's the FCS software and mission computer.
FCS has to be completely rewritten. The airframe of 29k is an excellent one.
 

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