Naval MRCA contest. Lockheed offers F-35 to IN

[AJSINGH]

the minimum difference between the Mig-29K and Mig-35K is just Avionics and Big Back bone which carries extra internal fuel And 3D TVC.
their is noting new about Mig-35K as new gen fighter.
but getting more Mig-29K is simple and better offer,
anyway PAKFA will have Naval version by 2015.

Mig 35 is totally redisgned aircraft ,latest version of Mig 29smt,if engine avioinics ,radar is different ,then what else is left in any new aircraft
also Mig 35 is 10%larger than SMT

 

[A.V.]

Naval MRCA contest !

The Swedish company SAAB provide India with information on carrier-based fighter Sea Gripen to participate in the competition for the acquisition of the country's three aircraft to equip future aircraft carriers.
According to Jane's Information Group, the contest sent their requests to the company Boeing, Dassault, Eurofighter, Lockheed Martin, «Sukhoi and SAAB. Although India is developing a lightweight version of the deck forward fighter Tejas, it is expected that this program will be developed with delays.
Develop deck fighter Gripen variants studied in 1980. Project Sea Gripen former Swedish Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Nielsen (Peter Nilsson) stated that "the Swedish carrier-based fighter will be addressed to countries that do not will buy Rafale and Super Hornet, in the future F-35, but who wish to obtain an independent naval power . According to him, with the inception of Gripen had all the necessary design features that allow it to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Fighter can just sit down and forcefully take off from short runways, even on the motorway (only need a straight stretch of highway length of 800 m and a width of 17 m, which makes fighter aircraft landing without a parachute brake and brake hook).
But for carrier-based fighter will be made a few improvements. The aircraft will be equipped with more powerful nose strut with wide tires, a new system of depreciation that can withstand a landing when the vertical velocity 6,3 m / s, arrester hook, the glider will be made of materials with high ability to resist corrosion, and landing system, integrated with hardware carrier.
This will create a plane with an empty weight of 8000 kg and the mass of fuel and weapons be 8500 kg. Combat radius in the conduct of air battle will be about 1250 km, during attacks on ships and land targets - 1400 km. The glider is designed for 8,000 flight hours.
"We already have the engine F414, capable of working from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Fighter is able to sit on the short strip, and all we need is a more powerful chassis and some changes in the structure of the airframe. Gripen NG has a better distribution of load on the wing than the base model, but today the aircraft has equipment for protection from salt water. You do not need to conduct larger studies, because the machine can operate in temperatures from -50 to +50, from the Arctic to the equator, in the dry and humid climates. We do not develop aircraft that can operate only with gentle sunlight, "says Nielsen.


http://translate.googleusercontent....gle.ru&usg=ALkJrhixD6So2zFOAgfoefNAjjLcPEAVWg

 

[arya]

good

guys we need more power in sea so its good

 

[neo29]

dont really know how the sea gripen performs. but in naval version fighters i think mig 29k and sh 18 are the best in the world. besides we are developing lca naval version arent we ?

 

[RAM]

Naval MRCA contest !

Navy plans to acquire multi-role fighter aircraft

Looking for an enhanced presence, the Navy is planning to buy a state-of-the-art, multi-role, new generation carrier-based fighter aircraft. And in pursuance of this, the Navy has sent out a request for information (RFI) to some of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers.The aircraft firms included: the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) for their Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing Integrated Defence System (for the F/A-18 Super Hornet), Sweden’s SAAB (who are offering the Gripen JAS 39) and France’s Dassault (for the Rafale).


The new naval aircraft are meant for deployment on the Navy’s third aircraft carrier, which is expected to be commissioned around 2018.While the Rafale and the F/A-18 are natural choices for naval operations as they were built specifically for carrier-based multi-role operations, the manufacturers of the Typhoon and the Gripen have indicated that their aircraft could be suitably modified for naval carrier-based flying.All four aircraft (along with the Russian MiG-35 and the American F-16) are already in contention for another mega Indian defence forces’ deal — the $10 billion -$12 billion Indian Air Force’s plans to acquire 126 medium, multi-role combat aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence sources told The Hindu that the Navy has the go-ahead from the government for the purchase. The RFI has not specified the exact number of aircraft that the Navy is keen on acquiring, nor the modalities that will be specified for their manufacture or offset requirements.

Once the manufacturers provided their information, the Navy will send out a request for proposal detailing the Naval Staff Qualitative Requirements that the fighter should possess. After the receipt of the proposals, the Navy will short list, setting in motion the process of flight evaluation trials, selection, commercial negotiations and finally the acquisition.

The new aircraft, which will be in the 25-30 tonne class, will be in addition to the 16 Russian-manufactured MiG-29Ks that India is acquiring, and the naval version of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (12-14 tonnes class) which is presently being designed. The Navy on December 4 received in knocked-down condition, the first of its MiG-29Ks.

While the MiG-29Ks will be on the deck of the 44,570-tonne Kiev class Admiral Gorshkov (to be rechristened INS Vikramaditya), the naval Tejas is earmarked for the 40,000-tonne, indigenous aircraft carrier that is being built at the Cochin Shipyard.

The Navy’s only fighter aircraft now is the British-made Sea Harrier jump jets which are deployed on the Navy’s sole aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. Official sources said that the Sea Harriers, which were decommissioned by the (British) Royal Navy in March 2006, will be in the inventory as long as the INS Viraat is deployed (could be till 2019).

The Navy’s decision to acquire fighters comes on the heels of the recent placement of orders for 40 warships and submarines.

The Hindu : States / Karnataka : Navy plans to acquire multi-role fighter aircraft

 

[A.V.]

Sea Gripen landing on carrier (image : Scenium)
Saab Touts Sea Gripen for India and Brazil
Saab is responding to an Indian Navy (IN) request for information (RfI) regarding future carrier-capable fighters with a new development of the Gripen NG, dubbed the Sea Gripen.
India's RfI, selectively released to bidders over recent weeks, seeks detailed information on a common aircraft design for conventional aircraft carrier operations and short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) operations.
Beyond the (much delayed) entry into service of the INS Vikramaditya (the rebuilt former Russian Navy vessel Admiral Gorshkov ), India has ambitious plans to build three indigenous aircraft carriers (IACs). Near-term procurement of the MiG-29K should equip Vikramaditya and IAC 1. The IN's RfI is looking for a follow-on type to operate from IAC 2 and 3.
Jane's understands the RfI has been issued to Boeing, Dassault, Eurofighter, Lockheed Martin, Sukhoi and Saab. While India is notionally developing a naval version of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, the RfI is a recognition that this troubled programme might not be able to deliver an operational combat aircraft in the necessary timescale. India hopes to commission IAC 2 and 3 in the second half of the next decade.
Prior to receiving the RfI Saab had completed detailed design pre-studies for the Sea Gripen in response to earlier interest from Brazil and others. In fact, designs for a navalised Gripen date back to the 1980s in Sweden. For Saab the Indian requirement is particularly important because of its potential links with Brazil's F-X2 fighter competition. The Sea Gripen would be part of the long-term industrial development package for India and Brazil, should either country select the Gripen NG. The Indian RfI also makes a specific request that India's chosen aircraft should be exportable.
Saab's Sea Gripen project leader is former Swedish Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Peter Nilsson, now vice-president of operational capabilities for the Gripen. "You have the Rafale, Super Hornet, even - some day - the JSF [Joint Strike Fighter], but no affordable option for nations that want independent seapower. Gripen has a built-in carrier capability that was part of the original design consideration. It is made for precision landings on a short strip. The aerodynamics, handling and landing qualities are all there. You don't have to mess with it," he told Jane's .
The Sea Gripen is made possible by the inherent performance characteristics of the Gripen and the structural changes introduced with the Gripen NG. It has been designed to operate from 'full-spec' carriers at a maximum take-off weight of 16,500 kg and a landing weight (with weapons and fuel) of 3,500 kg. The same basic design parameters make it well suited to STOBAR operations. Any Gripen can already operate from a standard Swedish 'roadbase' strip of 800 m x 17 m, without arrestor hooks or brake chutes. Existing flight control qualities and low approach speed make the Gripen further suited to the carrier environment.
Some of the changes demanded for the Sea Gripen include a stronger, longer nose gear, with larger tyres and a new shock absorber; a new main undercarriage capable of absorbing a 6.3 m/sec sink rate; a strengthened arrestor hook, repositioned from the current design; removal of corrosion risks from the airframe using new manufacturing techniques/materials; and integration with an approach/landing system.
The result will be an aircraft with an empty weight of under 8,000 kg with a total fuel and weapon load of around 8,500 kg. Combat radius is estimated at around 1,250 km in a maritime strike profile or 1,400 km in an offensive counter-air profile. For carrier operations the aircraft will have a service life of 8,000 flight hours with an even distribution between shipborne and land-based operations. Nilsson says the design work done so far has been a serious adjunct to the Gripen NG and has a very real footing. Asked about the inherent difficulties in taking any land-based fighter and putting it on a carrier, Nilsson replied: "If you were starting with an ordinary fighter you would have a much bigger problem."
"We have an engine [General Electric's F414] cleared for naval ops by the US Navy. We have thoroughly studied the load paths through the airframe. The Gripen is already built for high sink-rate landings in road base operations. So we need a new nose gear and undercarriage and we'll have to change some of the internal structure, but it's been analysed and it's possible. We built an arrestor hook into the Gripen NG proposal for Norway. That will have to be strengthened for carrier ops, with a new attachment point, but the work is there. Today's Gripen NG has a better wing attachment design with a more distributed load path than the current Gripen. "The Gripen already has a salt water protection requirement. It does need more study but we already have an aircraft designed to operate in -50°C and +50°C, from the Arctic to hot-and-high with severe humidity. We don't build fighters for nice sunny days." Saab expects to make initial presentations to the IN in January 2010 and submit an RfI response the following month.




Saab touts Sea Gripen for India and Brazil
Jane's Defence Weekly | 17-Dec-2009


Saab touts Sea Gripen for India and Brazil

 

[Armand2REP]

will be in the inventory as long as the INS Viraat is deployed (could be till 2019).

That would be a sad day to see a ship laid down 85 years to the day of its retirement.

 

[plugwater]

How many aircraft navy is planning to buy ?

 

[JHA]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Deck not ready yet, navy scouts for aircraft

New Delhi, Dec. 28: The Indian Navy has invited five global makers of combat planes, including the US-led F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, to participate in a competition for deck-based aircraft that it wants to buy.

Deck-based aircraft for navies have special requirements — like foldable wings because of limited space in carriers and ability for short/vertical take-off and landing.

India’s biggest military hardware supplier, Russia, which was asked for information on the Sukhoi-33, has opted out of the race saying it is phasing out the plane, a navy source told The Telegraph.

But Russia is negotiating with China to sell 50 Sukhoi-33 aircraft for the Chinese PLA Navy’s aircraft-carrier programme.

The first four of 12 Russian-made MiG 29K fighter aircraft contracted for the Indian Navy, however, reached India earlier this month. The aircraft are yet to be assembled because they were delivered in a knocked-down condition.
A MiG 29K deck-based aircraft at an airshow

The MiG 29K are to be based on the INS Vikramaditya, as the Indian Navy has rechristened the Gorshkov carrier for which a re-negotiated price is yet to be contracted.

Essentially, the Indian Navy is now beginning to get the aircraft without the carrier to base them in. So it has fashioned an airstrip that is mimicking the Gorshkov’s flying deck in the INS Hansa, the naval base in Goa, to induct the MiG 29K.

Among the five aircraft for which the Indian Navy has sent Requests for Information (RFI) are the F-18 Superhornet (made by Boeing for the US Navy), Eurofighter Typhoon (EADS supported by a European consortium) and France’s Dassault Aviation for the Rafale.

The Indian Navy had originally not sent an RFI to Sweden’s SAAB but the company expressed interest and was sent a request for the naval variant of the Gripen JAS 39.

The Superhornet, Eurofighter, Rafale and the Gripen are among six aircraft (the other two being the F-16 Super Viper and the MiG 35) contending for the biggest fighter aircraft competition going in the world today — the Indian Air Force’s order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft that could be worth more than $12 billion.

The Indian Navy’s overt interest in the F-35C Lightning II is a bit of a surprise. The F-35C is the US Navy variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme being implemented by Lockheed Martin and is known in the aviation industry as the only fifth-generation aircraft.

The naval variant was rolled out of Lockheed’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, only in July this year. It is yet to be flight-tested.

Apart from the US, nine other countries are participating in developing the JSF — the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore and Turkey. India has separate agreements with Russia to co-develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) but that is nowhere near the stage of development that the JSF has reached.

The navy officer said the plan was to raise a squadron (between 16 and 20 aircraft) for the aircraft carrier that India is building on its own in Kochi (called IAC for Indigenous Aircraft Carrier). The IAC will be at least eight years in the making (2018).

The deck-based aircraft competition is being thrown open to global makers as a contingency measure because India’s own Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is inordinately delayed.

The Indian Navy’s only aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat, that sails with British vintage Sea Harrier aircraft onboard was refitted after being in the dry dock for nearly two years till November.

Its fleet of aircraft is also depleting fast with not enough back-ups. The navy now has less than a squadron-strength of the aircraft.

 

[ppgj]

Saab offers naval Gripen to India

Monday, December 28, 2009
By Saurabh Joshi

Saab AB, the Swedish defense major, has received a Request For Information (RFI) from the Indian Navy for the supply of carrier-borne fighter aircraft. The company, which received the RFI earlier this month, is pitching a little-known naval variant of its Gripen NG fighter, called the Sea Gripen. Saab is already bidding for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender of the Indian Air Force (IAF), for which it has offered an advanced version of the Gripen NG, called the Gripen IN.

Saab has been studying the idea of designing a carrier-borne variant since the mid-’90s but the company only decided to launch the Sea Gripen program in the wake of its existing campaigns for the air forces of India and Brazil and the moves by the two countries to build a serious carrier capability, even though at that time there was no formal request from either country. Saab is planning to pitch the aircraft to countries with smaller-sized carriers and says they expect more nations to show interest in the Sea Gripen, because existing naval fighters are either of an older generation or large-sized, forcing them to buy or build large ships as well.

According to Peter Nilsson, Gripen’s Vice President of Operational Capabilities, the Sea Gripen is intended for both CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery) as well as STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery) operations. “There will obviously be differences in the MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight). In a CATOBAR concept, the Sea Gripen will have a MTOW of 16,500 kilograms and a maximum landing weight of 11,500 kilograms. In a STOBAR concept it depends on the physics of the carrier. Roughly, the payload of fuel and weapons in STOBAR operations will be one-third less than the payload in CATOBAR operations. There will be no differences in ‘bring-back’ capability,” he says.

Nilsson says Saab hasn’t had to make any dramatic changes in the basic Gripen NG to design the Sea Gripen, because of its existing abilities, saying, “What helps is the Gripen´s ability to operate from road base strips.”

“The basic Swedish Air Force requirements in the original design for enabling short strips’ operations are very like enabling carrier-based operations. Qualities like low landing speed, high pitch & roll authority, high-precision glide slope control, high-precision landing capability, high sink rate clearance, strengthened airframe etc., are built-in from the beginning. This is in addition to the Gripen´s aptitude for active service in the field with easy maintenance, like engine changes in less than an hour in the field and no need for external power etc, enabling a shorter ‘mind jump’ required for the Sea Gripen in comparison to the ability of other land-based fighters to transform into ‘deck-based’ fighters,” he says.

“We do not have to start from scratch. We do not have to redesign the aerodynamics – we do not have to redesign the flight control system or the avionics. We already have a rugged, rough and strong airframe built for ‘carrier-like’ landings,” explains Nilsson.

While all the sensors, avionics and weapons and the GE 414 of the Gripen NG will be offered in the naval variant, the Sea Gripen will be notably different with a new undercarriage and nose gear to cope with the higher sink rate forces and catapult launches, as well as an arrestor hook, which has been redesigned and ‘beefed-up’ from the existing arrestor hook in the Gripen NG.

“There is strengthening of the airframe in a few minor areas due to an even higher sink-rate clearance of over 20 feet per second and the forces and stress in catapult launches, and ‘marinizing’ of the aircraft,” says Nilsson, while stressing that the inherent Gripen NG design minimizes the need for strengthening the airframe and making the aircraft sea-worthy, as the Gripen NG already has salt-water protection and the ability to operate in hot and humid conditions.

The Sea Gripen will be around 400 kilograms heavier than the Gripen NG, with the augmented airframe giving ‘an empty weight between 7500-8000 kg’. “The Sea Gripen will be a very, very interesting alternative for nations with smaller-size carriers. Its well-balanced weight and size in comparison to heavy, twin-engine alternatives allows nations to move from ‘air defence’ carriers to a concept with strategic capabilities, without having to replace their existing carriers,” says Nilsson, also adding, “Due to its balanced size there is no need for structural changes like folding wings etc.”

While the Swedish Armed Forces are not currently looking for a carrier ability, with the Sea Gripen, Saab is looking for partnerships with nations looking for self-reliance in their naval aviation programs. “Saab AB will establish the Sea Gripen as a new-generation carrier-based fighter option in the future, offering its design and engineering skills for partnership with a country with a developed aircraft industry and a carrier-equipped navy,” says Nilsson, also adding that the Sea Gripen program’s human resource skill-sets include engineering and flying experience of carrier-based operations in both, combat as well as peace-time roles.

And while he recognizes that presence of established naval fighters, he is confident of the Gripen’s abilities. “The Sea Gripen will challenge existing carrier-based fighter manufacturers,” he says, emphasizing, “I challenge any existing deck-based fighter to perform a night landing in severe conditions with snow or rain and strong crosswinds on a Swedish standard road-base strip of 17 x 800 meters, rearming and refueling in less than 10 minutes and then taking-off. And not just once for the purpose of showing-off. The system’s performance & physics, maintenance concepts and stress tolerances should be designed for 30 years of daily operations in these conditions,” while at the same time, attesting the Gripen’s requirement for the dimensions of a landing strip to be 9 x 600 meters.

Saab offers naval Gripen to India | StratPost

 

[enlightened1]

Hmm they've sent an RFI for the F-35C too, now that's news.

 

[neo29]

f-35c invited .. that gr8 .... but will US consider to give us ... they may try to push sh-18.

 

[Dark Sorrow]

f-35c invited .. that gr8 .... but will US consider to give us ... they may try to push sh-18.

F-35 will prove to be a expensive choise. If the JSF is selected then we would have to pay royality to all the participating nation.

 

[StealthSniper]

I don't understand the Navy. Usually the Navy was/is the best at developing and inducting indigenous systems compared to the Army and Airforce and are successful if you look at the ships and other marine equipment we are inducting. I don't get why we are trying to have 3 different types of air platforms? We have the Mig-29k coming which will be very capable and we also will have the Navy LCA so why cause more headache with a 3rd air system.

The Mig 29 should be and is just as capable as a SH or Gripen and by the time we get the 3rd carrier we should have the Navy LCA ready and if it's not we can just induct more Mig-29k. I think in my opinion we are on the right track inducting the Mig-29k and the Tejas and I think that we should focus more on getting our Tejas ready and hopefully at the end of the day have one good indigenous multirole strike aircraft on ALL 3 CARRIERS just like the Americans do with their F-18 SH.

 

[Ritwik]

I don't understand the Navy. Usually the Navy was/is the best at developing and inducting indigenous systems compared to the Army and Airforce and are successful if you look at the ships and other marine equipment we are inducting. I don't get why we are trying to have 3 different types of air platforms? We have the Mig-29k coming which will be very capable and we also will have the Navy LCA so why cause more headache with a 3rd air system.

The Mig 29 should be and is just as capable as a SH or Gripen and by the time we get the 3rd carrier we should have the Navy LCA ready and if it's not we can just induct more Mig-29k. I think in my opinion we are on the right track inducting the Mig-29k and the Tejas and I think that we should focus more on getting our Tejas ready and hopefully at the end of the day have one good indigenous multirole strike aircraft on ALL 3 CARRIERS just like the Americans do with their F-18 SH.

The Naval LCA hasn't even flown yet. Indian engineers have never designed a carrier based fighter so there may be significant delays in the project. Furthermore, nobody expects the N-LCA to match the quality of the MiG 29 or the SH. In any case so far the Navy has ordered just 6. The idea seems to be that even if the N-LCA is not inducted in large numbers, ADA will gain from the experience of designing an aircraft optimized for carrier deck operations. This expertise can then be used for the naval version of the MCA programme.

I think the Navy is the best amongst our forces in meeting future needs in a timely manner. Their strategy of operating the MiG 29K along with a more modern navalized fighter-bomber seems to be spot on. Remember that the MiG 29 is better suited for the air-to-air role. The SH or the F-35C will greatly augment the INs ability to carry out strike roles. If India get the F-35C then it will be a major leap forward as no 4++ generation fighter can match that aircraft. Furthermore due to it's very low radar signature it can be used for tactical strike or SEAD deep inside enemy territory.

 

[Sridhar]

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: The Sea Gripen Pitch To The Indian Navy





As was reported recently, the Indian Navy has sent out an RFI on a new multirole deck-based fighter. One of the potential contenders is Saab with its little known Sea Gripen. Here's an official brief along with official photographs of the Sea Gripen by Peter Nilsson, VP Op Capabilities at Gripen:

The Sea Gripen Programme Saab AB has since the beginning of the Gripen programme analysed and discussed a carrier based version from time to time. The first studies go back to the mid-90s. The studies have been initiated due to interest shown by difference countries which see the land based Gripen as their future land based fighter alternative and who also have, or are aiming to, develop carriers within their fleets. One of the main reasons is Gripen’s one of a kind capability to operate from rugged short road strips, which leads to the obvious corollary of “How much re-construction is needed to re-design the Gripen into a carrier based version?”

The basic Swedish Air Force requirements in the original design for securing the capability of short strips operations is very like “carrier based ops”. Qualities like; low landing speed, high pitch and roll authority, high precision glide slope control, high precision landing capability, high sink rate clearance, strengthened airframe etc. are built-in from the beginning.

Add Gripen´s character for active service in field with easy maintenance (engine changes < 1 hour in field, no need for external power etc) makes the “jump” much shorter with Gripen compared to other land-based fighters’ opportunity to transform into a “deck-based” fighter.

The decision to launch the programme within Saab AB was taken in the context of Gripen market opportunities in two nations which are both at the beginning of developing a carrier based capability for their Armed Forces, namely Brazil and India. The Sea Gripen Programme is aimed for naval-/carrier based operations.

A few highlights: The Sea Gripen is a development programme with its origin from the Gripen NG programme. Sea Gripen is aimed for both CATOBAR and STOBAR operations. The main technical re-designs are:

• New undercarriage and nose gear to cope with higher sink rate forces and catapult launches.
• Strengthened air frame in some areas.
• Redesigned arrestor hook
• “Marinazing” of the aircraft (increased requirements on salt water protections, operations in hot and humidity conditions etc.)

All together the re-design will add weight on the airframe which will give an empty weight between 7500-8000 kg. (~400 kg extra weight compare to Gripen NG) Due to its balanced size there are no needs for structural changes like folding wings Sea Gripen will be a very appealing alternative for nations with smaller size carriers. Its well balanced weight/size compare to heavy twin-engine alternatives will allow nations to move from “air defence”- carriers to a concept with strategic capabilities, without a replacement of their carriers. All sensors, avionics and weapons within the Gripen NG programme will be offered in the Sea Gripen.


LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: EXCLUSIVE: The Sea Gripen Pitch To The Indian Navy

 

[StealthSniper]

The Naval LCA hasn't even flown yet. Indian engineers have never designed a carrier based fighter so there may be significant delays in the project. Furthermore, nobody expects the N-LCA to match the quality of the MiG 29 or the SH. In any case so far the Navy has ordered just 6. The idea seems to be that even if the N-LCA is not inducted in large numbers, ADA will gain from the experience of designing an aircraft optimized for carrier deck operations. This expertise can then be used for the naval version of the MCA programme.

I think the Navy is the best amongst our forces in meeting future needs in a timely manner. Their strategy of operating the MiG 29K along with a more modern navalized fighter-bomber seems to be spot on. Remember that the MiG 29 is better suited for the air-to-air role. The SH or the F-35C will greatly augment the INs ability to carry out strike roles. If India get the F-35C then it will be a major leap forward as no 4++ generation fighter can match that aircraft. Furthermore due to it's very low radar signature it can be used for tactical strike or SEAD deep inside enemy territory.

Even if their are significant delays in the Naval LCA programme why don't we just induct more Mig-29k if we can't have the LCA. I understand that the F-18 and F-35 are better strike systems but I also will say that the American systems will have more politics involved and maybe agreements that undermine national security. The Mig-29k is still a very good modern platform and the Navy and Airforce are very familiar with the plane. I understand that the Navy is looking at CATOBAR launch systems but I just think that they should maybe see if they can launch Mig-29k or modify the LCA to be used in CATOBAR operation.


Alot of people just want to see a F-35 in Indian service but don't look at all the fine print that might handcuff India for us to get that fighter in the first place. I always look at the point of view of India's national security and self sufficency, and Russia will not screw us like America or France will. Also even if the LCA is "not as good" as a F-18 or F-35 it still will be good enough to defend our shores and use against our neighbors.

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

I think this is a stupid move. Navy should concentrate on Mig-29K and upgrade it to possible Mig-35 naval version if needed for future planes. Catapult fighters jets are no easy planes to fly. All Navy pilots must be trained on similar platforms and maintenance crew concentrated on same plane so that there is some aspect of cost saving atleast in terms of infrastructure on an already expensive A/C.

For just 2-3 squadrons of fighters, Navy should not experiment too much with new fighters.Moreover where are they planning to accommodate 40 fighters?

Viraat is in life support. Yet to see Vikramaditya, which will be full accommodating 16 Mig 29's.

Navy must be really confident about Indigenous A/C, which is exaggerating capacity to carry 30 aircrafts. I wont believe it until its handed over to Navy. When they want the A/C indigenous, I think the planes in it too should be home manufactured i.e. Naval LCA. Good or bad for once let it be 100% Indian.

 

[himanshugoswami]

F-35 may be an overkill

The Naval LCA hasn't even flown yet. Indian engineers have never designed a carrier based fighter so there may be significant delays in the project. Furthermore, nobody expects the N-LCA to match the quality of the MiG 29 or the SH. In any case so far the Navy has ordered just 6. The idea seems to be that even if the N-LCA is not inducted in large numbers, ADA will gain from the experience of designing an aircraft optimized for carrier deck operations. This expertise can then be used for the naval version of the MCA programme.

I think the Navy is the best amongst our forces in meeting future needs in a timely manner. Their strategy of operating the MiG 29K along with a more modern navalized fighter-bomber seems to be spot on. Remember that the MiG 29 is better suited for the air-to-air role. The SH or the F-35C will greatly augment the INs ability to carry out strike roles. If India get the F-35C then it will be a major leap forward as no 4++ generation fighter can match that aircraft. Furthermore due to it's very low radar signature it can be used for tactical strike or SEAD deep inside enemy territory.

While I agree with your overall views you are assuming that the IN has the same Operation doctrine as the US Navy. AFAIK, the IN does not have a force projection doctrine. their theater of OPs is limited to the Indian ocean, Arabian sea, bay of Bengal and if things get really extreme, then maybe the South China sea.

In their tactical role, the IN's ACs would primarily need fighters that can be used in anti ship warfare and striking at coastal targets. deep penetration strikes will be the purview of the IAF (hence the MKis, MMRCa and FGFA/PakFA), given that our most obvious adversaries are in our immediate neighbourhood.

so, IMHO, the F-35, JSF and even the SH may be an overkill for the IN. they will be better served with the Mig 29 K and the N-LCA and should use their funds to help develop teh N-LCA with CATOBAR capabilities.

just my $.02:icon_salut:

 

[SATISH]

Well I heard the Russians were making the PAK-FA naval variant. Are we going for it? If we go for that then I dont see where the whole MMRCA-Navy fits into. And I would rather see a Naval MCA.