Because of 2 Pilot configuration work load can be shared and pilots utilize their skills more efficiently.
There are single seaters (F15C) and two seaters (F15E) variants. Two seater variants are geared towards multi-role tasks while single seaters are air superiority fighters. Obviously, the workload theory is correct. Multi-role missions demand more loads on the pilots as they have to watch for both air and land targets. The MKI is a very large aircraft so another pilot and added equipments for the second pilot isn't going to be much of a demand to the aircraft. Besides, since the two-seater variant is just as potent as the single seater in air-to-air mode then the IAF might as well stick with a single aircraft type to streamline logistics and maximize aircraft numbers for all kind of missions.
MKI production is still faster than the Rafale's production rate which is between 12 to 14 aircraft a year. This shitty and slow rate will probably cost them the MRCA. How the heck can rafale production be any fasterm the French are like the laziest ass***** in EU reguarly striking for 32 hrs working weeks.
Rafale's production is at the slowest rate possible that can achieve efficiency levels... why? Because it is being kept open for export orders. The line has proven a capacity for 24 and can be ramped to 32 on short notice. MKI line is at max capacity so whoot whoot.
28 MKIs were inducted last year and 26 MKIs a year before that. The MKI production is at the same rate as Rafale at 14/year, however with 2 production lines for MKI with one in India and one in Russia both doing 28/year. 105 MKIs were inducted as of 2009 as told in the Parliament. As of Feb/March the number stands at over 145. That's effectively 40 aircraft over the last 1.5 years. So, do the math. The recent contract for 42 MKI has not revealed where they will be produced, India or Russia. If HAL is chosen then production will end only in 2018. If Russia is chosen they can start by the end of the year because the last order of 40 MKIs given to Russia is nearing completion, so it is possible they will get the contract. Effectively 2 MKIs are being made for 1 Rafale every year or 3.5 EFs(50/year) are being made for 1 Rafale produced every year. The Chinese are probably doing even better and so are the Americans. This means Rafale is at the bottom of the heap. So, I don't know what you are complaining about.
Because India wants to upgrade them herself. It takes them that much longer to absorb the technology.
It's not just that. It is something else, something that cannot be avoided in the modification, be it India or France. It is silly to think it would take that long when in 2008 Thales said one Mirage-2000 can be upgraded at the rate of one every month. The entire aircraft is set to be stripped down to nothing and rewired from scratch. That's a massive upgrade. This has very little to do with technology and more to do with the scale of work being undertaken. The timeline has doubled since Thales's first proposal in 2008. Instead of 1 aircraft/month, it will be 2 aircraft/month.
India has what... 140 MKI? That is hardly 28 produced per year since its induction in 2002. It is more like 14. When you have squadron shortfalls in the double digits, you better start acquiring faster. France doesn't need to order Rafale faster, we have enough M2000s to fill the fleet, we actually have too many aircraft in service as we are downsizing from 500 hi-lo fighters to 300 top end fighters. The production rate of Rafale is well thought out politically and industrially. India's production is not as it does not fill its gap.
The MKI production is perfect for us. The production was never ~28 since 2002, but since 2008-09. Production was as low as 10 in 2002. It was scaled up further when we upgraded to 14 and Russians opened their own production line to cater to our demands.
That is the magic word. Downsizing. We aren't. We are doing exactly the opposite and will take time. The Americans even with their capability have squadron shortfalls even while downsizing. This is something all air forces face and not just India.
There is no PAKFA. There is no Vympel either. NeURON is fiction as well. Have heard only talk, no walk. Same with hypersonic cruise missile for Rafale. All talk.
Last report from chief said year end. This was the fastest full fledged comparative trials the world has ever witnessed. So, I am not unhappy.
Another example of great Indian journalism. I just wonder when will these guys catch up on their reading...
Russians are delivering MKI to you now?? Irkut deliveries should be over and turned over to HAL which are presently 14 per year.
USAF has unequipped squadrons? Did you hear that from PRESSTV? Only India has a shortfall of over 200 aircraft and grows every year. Even Russia knows when they can't meet production to DOWNSIZE... not to GROW required levels.
So 1 MKI replaces 20 MiG-21? BS unless you are talking about Vietnam MiG-21s.
Novator is about as far along as Rafale hypersonic cruise missile... paper.
MMRCA started in 2001, it is now 2011. It is the slowest major aircraft tender in the history of the world.
Does this guy have a clue what he is talking about?
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