India-US Relations
- Thread starter Butter Chicken
- Start date
The military transport aircraft currently in production and their transport capacity include Airbus A400M (37 tons), Lockheed C-130J (19 tons), Kawasaki C-2 (37 tons), Alenia C-27J (11 tons), Airbus C-295 (9 tons), Embraer C-390 (29 tons), Il-76 (42 to 60 tons, depending on model), and just for completeness' sake, the Xi'an Y-20 (55 tons). So there's nothing close to the category of the C-17 and its 77 tons of airlift; closest is the Il-76MD-90A with 60 tons.
It's an old design that was built with components that are no longer produced. It'd have to be redesigned to use new components according to what India can produce now instead of what the USA could produce 30 years ago. You'd basically end up with a new aircraft. Not necessarily a bad idea, but it's gonna be expensive and take a while.
As for AWACS role, that airframe would be seriously overkill. I'd advise sticking with the initial plan of building them from A330, to get something much cheaper and simpler to service due to communality with a huge civil airliner fleet and, hopefully, with an A330 MRTT fleet in the IAF.
Very interesting. More weapons other than the drones ? So the talk of the F-15s et al wasn't just hot gas !
What other weapons could be part of the package ? P-8Is ?
After signing a deal with Israel it would be odd if India goes for a 'larger and more comprehensive' package of armed drones, IMO it is just a lollypop given to US or we want some drones free with MRFA.
One more possibility is that India after US elections is going to sign all the long pending deals in one go like additional P81s, Apaches, Chinook, Armed drones etc etc and Indian Babu's are applying the Indian logic that thok me lenge to sasta padega.
IMO 3rd option is best.
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Hope not. But who knows? Just throwing names in.
I'm hoping for more Apaches and Chinooks instead. Along with C-130Js. I'd prefer we buy unique and exotic systems from the US rather than what anybody can provide.
There's nothing specific I can think of, something that can be considered big ticket. No armoured vehicles for one, 'cause we have our own plans there. The same with ships. We have a minesweeper requirement, but that's not big ticket, and I think the IN is interested in Korean tech there. Most SAMs like Patriot and THAAD seem to be out, one doesn't meet requirements, the other is too expensive and we have our own now.
So most of it has to do with air. If it's R&D, then there's FVL, and even the US is interested in having India as a partner. The old ISTAR requirement is still pending, and will most likely go ahead soon. The IAF is interested in 5 EW aircraft, based on business jets, which is to be imported, and this could also go to America. Of course, the rumours of 36 F-15s or SHs are going around now.
At least we can be sure of the drones and ISTAR. Everything else is speculation, including NASAMS.
Let's make a Wishlist
C130
F15
F-35B
F/A 18
Growler
E-2D hawkeye
ISTAR's/JSTAR's
Small arms and personal equipment for SF units
Most probably 6.8x51 mm introduction in the next decade.
JLTV probably.
NASAMs
Apache
P-8I's
Predator
RQ-4 Global hawk
Sikorsky MH 60R
CV-22 osprey
Before buying anything , let us DEMAND Latest Satellite photos of Pakistani installations , ie for which we
Have signed BECA
It's a double edged sword. They want our partnership to confront China not Paxtan. I thought this should have been apparent.
The news reports after signing of BECA talked of Both Pakistan and China , ie This will help us in both Northern and Western Fromtiers --- This is how it was reported
Now the proof of the pudding lies in its eating
So let us use images from BECA , and then put HAMMERS on RAFALE , and
Make BAJWA shiver Again
How about E2C/D Hawkeye,
Given the state of Nirbhay, maybe even the tomahawk?
Rail gun?
SM6?
Iveco SuperAV AAV?
Maybe an America class or a used Wasp Class AAS?
Hawkeye is for a CATOBAR carrier, current carriers can't handle it. The current plans may have been shelved. It's not needed for many years anyway.
The railgun is not even close to production. For now the focus is on hyper velocity projectiles that can be used from regular guns.
Wasp class and America class are too big, we want smaller 200-meter ships. The America class costs over $3B while a Mistral costs about $1B.
Levco SuperAV has to come in through a competitive tender since these need extensive testing. Anyway Iveco is Italian not American.
SM-6, we don't need it. Can't integrate it on our existing ships. And a new class of ship is really far away. We have our own plans here.
Tomahawk is possible. Some capability is required here until ITCM and LRLACM become available in 2 or 3 years.
Some types of PGMs can come in though, like the Hellfire, Excalibur etc. But I didn't cover weapons in the mix, just kept it to big ticket equipment, since we need a lot of different types of weapons. I'd like to see more M777s though.
Isn't the door for m777 closed since now it's all atmanirbhar now. Or will they order it through mahendra...
AFAIK, the IN tested the E-2C and decided not to go for it the last decade.
The Tale of the Indian Navy and the E-2 Hawkeye 2000 - Livefist
Just over two years ago, HAL signed an agreement with Northrop Grumman Corp. to “work together on projects of mutual benefit”. This, their press release at the time said, would result in getting HAL on board the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)...
www.livefistdefence.com
M777 is part of the atmanirbhar story. The main goal is local production, not merely Indian IPR, so even foreign companies can be part of it.
The first step is to close the window for full imports. And this includes allowing foreign companies to make in India.
Indian IPR is a very long term goal.