Americans want F-16 to have last hurrah.
IAF actually fell into a stupid concept of Single engine or twin engine, weight etc, These are components of a plane,
I think I would rather go for the capability and the role of the plane than being single or twin engine. Single engine are cheap to operate but the difference is it half of that of Twin engine? It is say 20-30% more than single engine which is on boundary of significant/insignificant, but one of the advantages of twin engine is relaibility, in case of failure of one engine, the Single engine plane will crash, where as twin engine plane has chances to survive and RTB thus saving a plane, and hence the capital cost.
If you look at the overall loss of jet planes say since 70s between single engine and twin engine, the ratio will be very much favouring the twin engine. If aircraft loses both its engine then its a big issue the probablity of that happening is very very very less.
With Super Sukhoi upgrade, first change we need is engine,, maybe something like AL-41, or maybe Item 30 if possible as that might be more future proof (if its reliable) so choice between Item 30 and AL-41. A Good AESA Radar, MAWS, a better IRST system hopefully QWIP based.
And more composites.
Super sukhoi upgrade should start within a year or two to ensure that the Sukhoi fleet is top of the line as compared to our North eastern neighbours at least
I do not think adding Su-30 MKI nos would be good, I might suggest to go for few squadrons (36 units) of Su-57 which should have the elite pilots of IAF something like the Germans had during WW1 thus ensuring a powerful and experienced pilots actually taking down the enemy by their throat.
Its beyond them now. The AESA Radar proposed by Russia had issues. Certain important MKI data has been suspected to be well within adversaries response plan of fighting MKIs and thus the Super Upgrade plan went for drastic changes .
In a way the whole profile of Super MKI will be a very different bird all together.
The good part is technology will come via Pvt sector company to partner with HAL for the upgrade project which is again a good sign.
About F-16 deal, the file was put on freeze upto June 2018 but USA pressure has warranted a meeting for discussion. IF the meeting does not conclude in F16 favour then we are safe to assume that a certain deal like Helo NMRH might go to LM Tata JV and perhaps Tata may be offered a role as the pvt sector company in MKI upgrade.
About India Russia distance, its now business relations where a buyer demands a certain expectations from the product performances and after sales service support with everything built in purchased contract. This is of course not liked by the Russian style of working and our efforts not to get duped ever again by any contractual loopholes (case in hand we still are signing Ka226 deal for last 2 years and even this year we will sign)
Unless again PM Modi does a U Turn and embraces Russia despite of all this, the chances are more or less limited for the Russia participation into future aircraft platforms.. We might see them with AD deals , Tank deals and Navy deals more
