It's not that easy. Different parts have different weights and changing the existing with new parts will change center of gravity two. It's a lengthy process but if it's done and total weight by 10% and some RCS get reduced then requirement for engine change will be eliminated and we get the desired TWR with same Engine.
Nothing is easy in engineering but somewhere we have to begin, it adds to valuable experience & confidence. Center of gravity can be adjusted by S/w controlled trimming on control surfaces. 10% weight reduction is a big thing. That's how perhaps MiG-29 transformed into MiG-35 & so did other newer blocks of western legacy jets. Atleast we can make 1 or 2 TD jets & then see how much feasible it is further. That's how the Chinese also experimented. Experience & confidence are something unparallel. Otherwise a huge jet like MKI is a dead end & lesson teacher that among best jets of 1 gen can become among worst jets with time & tech advancement. Ukariane crisis is already giving indications, rest time will tell soon.
Best part is that these SAAW Bombs are more cheaper as compared to conventional Air to Ground Ordnances. SU-30s armed with SAAW will prove to be a nightmare especially against Pakistanis.
We should be mass produing these things
There was an article published in July of 2020 which had stated that Indian Navy and Indian Airforce had put forward a combined Requirement for 500 SAAW bombs.
Only 500 is their requirement ? Then the actual requirement must be of 1,000 . Defence forces always have a habit of understating their requirements .
This was published by IDRW. This was the only source which I found on the internet which stated a Requirement for SAAW, no other source has given any mention about it.
There was an article published in July of 2020 which had stated that Indian Navy and Indian Airforce had put forward a combined Requirement for 500 SAAW bombs.
SOURCE :
Don’t know how many times it must be told, IDRW is not an authoritative source, stop treating it as one.
I didn't say that IDRW is a trustworthy soure, I said that it is the only source which has made a comment on SAAW numbers and production.Don’t know how many times it must be told, IDRW is not an authoritative source, stop treating it as one.
IMO SU-30 MKI can carry quad racks at 8 stations, viz., 6 x pylons under wing and 2 x pylon under-engine nacelles. 4 SAAWs per stations equal to 32 total. That way, I think this fighter can carry like the following configuration.
What kind of mission would necessitate carrying a BrahMos-A with 32 SAAW?
Most likely talking about DRDO EW pods based on AESA tech? But that isn't specific to Su-30MKI alone. Then there is the recent Radio upgrade where the HAL radio has finally been replaced by the Israeli B-NET SDR built in India. But that again is not specific to the Su-30MKI alone, its fleet-wide.
So u mean to say that this ew development is for mostly all aircrafts of iaf and not a part of super sukhoi
At least the EW pods of various bands than DRDO is developing are for all jets. Not sure if that is what Alpha Defense is referring to though.
I have be told its Scorpius - SJ (ELL-8251SB). This EW pods are being procured in response to PAF and PLAAF induction of AESA Seeker based BVRAAM (PL-15).
Currently no DRDO EW pods based on AESA technology are available. I believe this project is under development.
This will be incorporated on aircraft that are expected to engage aircraft having AESA radar or BVRAAM having AESA Seeker.
Su-30 MKI can carry maximum of 20 SAAW.
