U didn't got my point. Its not about Srinagar or Pathankot. I m unable to get how Srinagar is safer base than Pathankot. Srinagar is first to respond in case of LOC interception. Pathankot is at IB. And logistics is not an issue between Pathankot and Srinagar.
My assumption is that Pathankot sees more probing by the Paris hence higher sortie rates and for reasons outlined by others (Pathankot protecting the skies down to the West) although I can't speak to that, this is the first time I've heard this view.
Srinagar and Pathankot are still frontline bases so I don't see this as anything worth concern, sending the LCA to a frontline operational role this soon after induction speaks to confidence in the machine.
It's just a change in MFDs, the content is still the same. MWF too was originally supplied to have this one...
...but later discarded in favour of using the present one they call Advanced Cockpit System. Coincidentally that's also used in LIFT, prototype scheduled in 2023 only.
It'll require a new set of validation trails and supply chain management. It probably wouldn't be a huge delay but a delay would be incurred- could be a few months or longer. But the point is any delay now would be far more counter productive, HAL must deliver MK1A from early 2024 (I reckon they'll be ready to from late 2023) no ifs or buts. Like I said leave the ACS for Uttam equipped MK1As or a later batch (if it ever comes).
We have to understand that time for specialised jets for each role is mostly over.
So having a dedicated point defence jet making less sense day by day. Also with ever evolving radar and BVRs it's less about jets and more about what they carry.
And we have admit that at this moment LCA is not matured enough to act on its own in a shooting war.
No one said LCA was a specialised jet, it's actually amongst the most multi-role fighters in the IAF's inventory
and the last line isn't conducive with the IAF's movement of the jet to the frontlines.
See the Rafale deliveries and the COVID.
Fair point but also apples and oranges
-Dassualt has FAR deeper pockets than HAL and France has a FAR more resilient aerospace industry than India
- Rafale has been in production for decades so its ecosystem is more mature and established than LCA's as of now
- Rafale has had firm orders for a long time in large numbers, LCA until early 2021 could not claim the same hence activities wwereas not exactly series production
I also believe India had a far stricter lockdown than most of us in Western Europe- almost all economic activity ceased for at least a few months and the cascading effect of this was hugely disruptive and likely is still being felt. I imagine the French took a much more pragmatic approach and hence strategic activities like aerospace production were not affected too much.
