Future Combat Air System (FCAS) - France/Germany

randomradio said:
All jets are upgraded, even the ones with other agencies. Other agencies have been assigned multiple MKIs already. DRDO has 2.
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That's not the point. You are asking about one missing MKI from MoD's RFP and assuming that it was shot down last year which is completely wrong. No MKI was shot down last year and was our ONLY frontline jet that dodged all PL-15s & HQ-9s.

Regarding one missing MKI, you can search about SB-025 that is permanently stationed at ASTE in Bengaluru. It is not counted as part of active combat fleet as it's a permanent fixture there as part of our avionics test-bed.
 
Rajput Lion said:
That's not the point. You are asking about one missing MKI from MoD's RFP and assuming that it was shot down last year which is completely wrong. No MKI was shot down last year and was our ONLY frontline jet that dodged all PL-15s & HQ-9s.

Regarding one missing MKI, you can search about SB-025 that is permanently stationed at ASTE in Bengaluru. It is not counted as part of active combat fleet as it's a permanent fixture there as part of our avionics test-bed.
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That's one of the first jets to be upgraded. Once upgrades clear ASTE evaluations do all other MKIs get the same upgrade.
 
randomradio said:
That's one of the first jets to be upgraded. Once upgrades clear ASTE evaluations do all other MKIs get the same upgrade.
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Of course, 'cause it's "solely used for flight certification". That's the point. But it's not part of 258 active-combat fleet(as it is permamently stationed in ASTE ever since it was modified to carry air-launched BrahMos certification). Hence not mentioned in the RFP. The demand is of 300 Navigational anti-jam systems, remember and not just 258. The extra systems are ordered because you need them for flight-certification and attrition.
 
Rajput Lion said:
Of course, 'cause it's "solely used for flight certification". That's the point. But it's not part of 258 active-combat fleet(as it is permamently stationed in ASTE ever since it was modified to carry air-launched BrahMos certification). Hence not mentioned in the RFP. The demand is of 300 Navigational anti-jam systems, remember and not just 258. The extra systems are ordered because you need them for flight-certification and attrition.
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All jets are part of the fleet, even the ones requisitioned by others for R&D.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SU-30MKI: India floats RFP to upgrade 258 Su-30MKI fighters with anti-jamming navigation system | - The Times of India

Defence News: NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at strengthening the electronic warfare capabilities of the IAF's workhorse fighter jets, the defence ministry has issued a.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The IAF currently operates about 258 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft...

The upgrade is aimed at enhancing the capability and reach of the existing Su-30MKI...

This is basically a reveal of the actual numbers. There is no special jet placed outside the ownership of the IAF.
 
randomradio said:
All jets are part of the fleet, even the ones requisitioned by others for R&D.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SU-30MKI: India floats RFP to upgrade 258 Su-30MKI fighters with anti-jamming navigation system | - The Times of India

Defence News: NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at strengthening the electronic warfare capabilities of the IAF's workhorse fighter jets, the defence ministry has issued a.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The IAF currently operates about 258 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft...

The upgrade is aimed at enhancing the capability and reach of the existing Su-30MKI...

This is basically a reveal of the actual numbers. There is no special jet placed outside the ownership of the IAF.
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Yes, SB-025 is permanently assigned to ASTE since quite some time and is NOT part of active IAF combat fleet of 258 jets. So 258 IAF MKIs + 1 ASTE MKI = 259. Case closed.
 
randomradio said:
Lol. Why don't you try and find out what ASTE actually does first.
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You may believe that one MKI was shot down last year but since there was no pictorial evidence unlike Rafale, M-2000, Mig-29UPG. & Heron wreckage, it is clear that no MKI was shot down.

ASTE does testing of all new software, avionics, weapons etc. and they indeed have access to one MKI(as dedicated testbed for new software/avionics/weapons etc.) which is not part of active MKI fleet but just used for testing. You don't believe it, so be it👍
 
Rajput Lion said:
You may believe that one MKI was shot down last year but since there was no pictorial evidence unlike Rafale, M-2000, Mig-29UPG. & Heron wreckage, it is clear that no MKI was shot down.

ASTE does testing of all new software, avionics, weapons etc. and they indeed have access to one MKI(as dedicated testbed for new software/avionics/weapons etc.) which is not part of active MKI fleet but just used for testing. You don't believe it, so be it👍
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So ASTE jet is not part of the fleet, but MKIs assigned to DRDO are?
 
randomradio said:
So ASTE jet is not part of the fleet, but MKIs assigned to DRDO are?
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That's not the point. Multiple MKIs that are part of active-fleet are tasked for FTB duties. But the one I'm talking about is not used by IAF anymore as a combat jet and is a dedicated test-aircraft for various software, weapons, RWR etc., upgrades/tests.

Anyways, as per analysis by OSINT, there were 4 crash sites during May 8-10 inside India and pictorial wreckage evidence proves that they were of Rafale, M-2000, Mig-29UPG. and Heron MK2. There was no other crash-site apart from these whatsoever(even high-altitude shotdown would result in huge debris field which can't escape views inside India). So even if 1 MKI is missing, it doesn't mean it was shot down by PAF last year.
 
Rajput Lion said:
That's not the point. Multiple MKIs that are part of active-fleet are tasked for FTB duties. But the one I'm talking about is not used by IAF anymore as a combat jet and is a dedicated test-aircraft for various software, weapons, RWR etc., upgrades/tests.

Anyways, as per analysis by OSINT, there were 4 crash sites during May 8-10 inside India and pictorial wreckage evidence proves that they were of Rafale, M-2000, Mig-29UPG. and Heron MK2. There was no other crash-site apart from these whatsoever(even high-altitude shotdown would result in huge debris field which can't escape views inside India). So even if 1 MKI is missing, it doesn't mean it was shot down by PAF last year.
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One's missing in the total tally. Since we do not know if there's another crash site, we will have to wait for news to come through.

Sure, we can say it wasn't shot down, but we cannot dismiss it outtright. And it's definitely not a peacetime loss due to our own reporting rules. And sure, it may not be a combat loss, it could be a technical crash or pilot error. Whatever the case, 1 is missing.

Btw, ASTE has 2 jets. These jets are operationally part of the IAF, but jets are separately allocated to other departments for testing and upgrades. And all upgrades are first done to ASTE-operated jets before they are added to squadron units. So the 258 include these 2 jets. Overall multiple MKIs have been assigned at different levels. And it's not permanent.
 
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randomradio said:
One's missing in the total tally. Since we do not know if there's another crash site, we will have to wait for news to come through.

Sure, we can say it wasn't shot down, but we cannot dismiss it outtright. And it's definitely not a peacetime loss due to our own reporting rules. And sure, it may not be a combat loss, it could be a technical crash or pilot error. Whatever the case, 1 is missing.

Btw, ASTE has 2 jets. These jets are operationally part of the IAF, but jets are separately allocated to other departments for testing and upgrades. And all upgrades are first done to ASTE-operated jets before they are added to squadron units. So the 258 include these 2 jets. Overall multiple MKIs have been assigned at different levels. And it's not permanent.
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Crash or no crash, no MKI was shot down last year. It's a well established fact based upon pictorial analysis of all 4 crash sites and even the Indian/Pakistani/Worldwide OSINT could not find a 5th crash site within India. Most saw wreckage of Heron drone with large twin rudders at Akhnoor and confused it with MKI.

Even if one is missing, it could be because of some other reason, one of which I already have given and there could be more too.

PS: It was MKI's superlative air-to-air and strike capabilities during last skirmish which sealed the deal and paved the way for Su-57 in IAF.
 
randomradio said:
Sindoor.


We now know we lost 3 aircraft. 2 were definitely shot down. 1 either crashed or was shot down.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2069140353605595554
Rajput Lion said:
Crash or no crash, no MKI was shot down last year. It's a well established fact based upon pictorial analysis of all 4 crash sites and even the Indian/Pakistani/Worldwide OSINT could not find a 5th crash site within India. Most saw wreckage of Heron drone with large twin rudders at Akhnoor and confused it with MKI.

Even if one is missing, it could be because of some other reason, one of which I already have given and there could be more too.

PS: It was MKI's superlative air-to-air and strike capabilities during last skirmish which sealed the deal and paved the way for Su-57 in IAF.
Click to expand...
 
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