MMRCA 2.0 - Updates and Discussions
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No point in a c-17 unless 50 firm orders and potential for more. Meanwhile USA is just starting FVL so a lot of people are just gonna wait for that.
Slovakia to Replace Russia's MiG-29 with US F-16s
The US State Department has given the nod to the sale of 2.91 billion dollars’ worth of F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets to Slovakia as a replacement for the country’s fleet of Russian MiG-29s.
Sputnik asked Vladimir Popov, a former Air Force pilot and now editor-in-chief of the Aviapanorama journal to say a few words about the two planes’ strong and weak points, their modernization potential and ability to change the existing balance of forces in Europe.
MiG-29 – a Real Survivor
Vladimir Popov said that both the MiG-29 and the F-16 belong to the same class of light fighter jets with fairly similar tactical and technical characteristics.
Popov pointed to the MiG’s dual-engine configuration as an asset improving its combat survivability and enabling it to survive direct missile hits. “Even if one of its engines is hit, can keep flying on the other and return to base,” Popov said.
Performance Comparison
The expert said that the Mig-29’s climb rate is 330 meters a second compared to the F-16’s 220-290. Moreover, the MiG can skim the ground at just 340 kilometers an hour (211 miles an hour), while its US counterpart may stall when flying under 390-420 kilometers an hour (242-260 miles an hour).
The MiG’s maximum high altitude speed is up to 2.3 Mach while that of the F-16 does not exceed 2 Mach.
F-16’s Fortes: Fuel, Ammo
The F-16 offers good cockpit visibility, is fuel efficient and can use a wide array of weapons, advanced onboard electronics and radar equipment.
Popov concluded by saying that both jets are highly serviceable, have a great potential for modernization and may eventually have their service life extended to 25 years and beyond.
$2.9 billion: Is It Very Much?
Popov believes that even though $2.9 billion for a squadron of 14 jets is a whole lot of money, this could also include the cost of retraining the first three or four pilots and their technical crews, and that switching to F-16s from flying Russian MiG-29s would hardly be a problem.
Economic or Political Gain?
According to Vladimir Popov, the Slovak government made its choice based on political considerations, rather than the planes’ technical characteristics.
“The general anti-Russian hysteria has certainly been a factor here,” Popov said, adding that “modernizing an existing fleet of modern aircraft is always easier, cheaper and, ultimately, more economically efficient for any country.”
“With the MiG-29 already at their disposal, the Slovaks could have found it easier to modernize them, rather than spend additional money on retraining pilots and technicians, overhauling command centers and airfields and buying additional aircraft-servicing vehicles,” Popov explained.
What Now?
Vladimir Popov believes that the purchase of the F-16s by Slovakia will hardly change the existing balance of forces in Europe.
“The addition of 14 F-16s will have no practical consequence for NATO’s air power on the European theater,” Popov concluded.
The US State Department has given the nod to the sale of 2.91 billion dollars’ worth of F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets to Slovakia as a replacement for the country’s fleet of Russian MiG-29s.
Sputnik asked Vladimir Popov, a former Air Force pilot and now editor-in-chief of the Aviapanorama journal to say a few words about the two planes’ strong and weak points, their modernization potential and ability to change the existing balance of forces in Europe.
MiG-29 – a Real Survivor
Vladimir Popov said that both the MiG-29 and the F-16 belong to the same class of light fighter jets with fairly similar tactical and technical characteristics.
Popov pointed to the MiG’s dual-engine configuration as an asset improving its combat survivability and enabling it to survive direct missile hits. “Even if one of its engines is hit, can keep flying on the other and return to base,” Popov said.
Performance Comparison
The expert said that the Mig-29’s climb rate is 330 meters a second compared to the F-16’s 220-290. Moreover, the MiG can skim the ground at just 340 kilometers an hour (211 miles an hour), while its US counterpart may stall when flying under 390-420 kilometers an hour (242-260 miles an hour).
The MiG’s maximum high altitude speed is up to 2.3 Mach while that of the F-16 does not exceed 2 Mach.
F-16’s Fortes: Fuel, Ammo
The F-16 offers good cockpit visibility, is fuel efficient and can use a wide array of weapons, advanced onboard electronics and radar equipment.
Popov concluded by saying that both jets are highly serviceable, have a great potential for modernization and may eventually have their service life extended to 25 years and beyond.
$2.9 billion: Is It Very Much?
Popov believes that even though $2.9 billion for a squadron of 14 jets is a whole lot of money, this could also include the cost of retraining the first three or four pilots and their technical crews, and that switching to F-16s from flying Russian MiG-29s would hardly be a problem.
Economic or Political Gain?
According to Vladimir Popov, the Slovak government made its choice based on political considerations, rather than the planes’ technical characteristics.
“The general anti-Russian hysteria has certainly been a factor here,” Popov said, adding that “modernizing an existing fleet of modern aircraft is always easier, cheaper and, ultimately, more economically efficient for any country.”
“With the MiG-29 already at their disposal, the Slovaks could have found it easier to modernize them, rather than spend additional money on retraining pilots and technicians, overhauling command centers and airfields and buying additional aircraft-servicing vehicles,” Popov explained.
What Now?
Vladimir Popov believes that the purchase of the F-16s by Slovakia will hardly change the existing balance of forces in Europe.
“The addition of 14 F-16s will have no practical consequence for NATO’s air power on the European theater,” Popov concluded.
There are a lot of countries with leftover MiG 29's that'll be phased out. I think India should snap them up and then figure out the upgrades and spares part with help from Israel - they're pretty good at that type of stuff.
Would be a good short term fix to the squadron problem.
Can't really say.
They may remove some Mig-29As from storage and hand it over to us. We will have to pay for upgrades to SMT standards though.
The US may be freezed by S400 purchase (same case with Turkey)
US closely watching India’s plan to buy S-400 air defence system from Russia
US closely watching India’s plan to buy S-400 air defence system from Russia
Well they are ok with Russians working in the same facility where works relating to Arihant class is going on, but will go bonkers on a SAM sale? Thats not justified according to me.
As usual always the BS from BP
Turkey is a NATO country, and lately turkey has not really been "democratic"
It has in recent past supported and supplied IS, also its trying to attack and kill YPG which is figting IS.
Recently there have been a lot of anti "european" demonstrations in Turkey, the Germans and the Dutch have withdrawn their Patriot batteries from Turkey. So you can guess where turkey is (almost all by itself)
Erdo is not popular, also he tried to raise political dissent by turks in Germany and Austria and also netherlands,. Dutch have almost cut off diplomatic ties with Turks.
Turkey is still a NATO member, but the moment it gets out of NATO, it will not be supported by NATO COUNTRIES, but rather more problems will start with Turkey
.
Turkey is a NATO country, and lately turkey has not really been "democratic"
It has in recent past supported and supplied IS, also its trying to attack and kill YPG which is figting IS.
Recently there have been a lot of anti "european" demonstrations in Turkey, the Germans and the Dutch have withdrawn their Patriot batteries from Turkey. So you can guess where turkey is (almost all by itself)
Erdo is not popular, also he tried to raise political dissent by turks in Germany and Austria and also netherlands,. Dutch have almost cut off diplomatic ties with Turks.
Turkey is still a NATO member, but the moment it gets out of NATO, it will not be supported by NATO COUNTRIES, but rather more problems will start with Turkey
.
Marine Nationale do the same. A "nounou" (refueler) in the air every time raids are taking off/ returning.
a bit ambivalent about the Mig29's it brings some stopgap capability but with significant maintenance headaches. BRD's have made a mess of the 29's overtime and Navy is following suit. Hopefully HAL supports maintenance this time along both for IAF and IN.
A squadron that can last 15 years is good enough. The airframe should have 1500 hours at the very least.
RFI also asking for:
Specific requirements for carrier Aircraft
(i)Establishing top level requirements – approach speed, flight controls, structural loads, man- machine interface etc.
(ii) Wing fold technology
(iii) Control law design for handling qualities, performance and auto-launch and recovery
(iv) Direct Lift Control, auto-throttle & ship data link for landing
SAAB and EF should be ruled out just for this.
Specific requirements for carrier Aircraft
(i)Establishing top level requirements – approach speed, flight controls, structural loads, man- machine interface etc.
(ii) Wing fold technology
(iii) Control law design for handling qualities, performance and auto-launch and recovery
(iv) Direct Lift Control, auto-throttle & ship data link for landing
SAAB and EF should be ruled out just for this.
This is where it would all fall down, can you imagine US giving okay to integrating Brahmos-M on F-18/F-16?
Affordable and quickly delvierable? Plane doesn't even exist, if it's so cheap why hasn't anyone (including USN) given the funds for the upgrade? IAF would have to pay through the nose for it.
Wherever US gets a foothold domestic aerospace industries die...just a coincidence...
Is there enough demand for this?
Divide 'good to have' (questions in the RFI) and minimum requirements when looking at the tender.
This is absolutely good to have and no one is going to be rules of because of this.
There is nothing to watch
India is signatory to MTCR
There is no reason for US to be freezed. India also has bought c130 from US.
Wing fold technology .... and this keeps rafale in the frame?
I guess that rules out Eurocanards by this requirements
When last C-17 was available before Boeing was going to close the line, India virtually begged to extend the deadline so that they can order the plane and which we did.
C-17 has turned out to be incredible, It can land at tactically important air bases like in North east and leh and supply them if and when required.
The other choice for India would be IL-76 and IAF categorically are not interested in this platform and want to go the American way
I guess that rules out Eurocanards by this requirements
A lot, IAF themselves would take more than 72 in nos, It is a strategic lifter that can take off and land on short air strips.
When last C-17 was available before Boeing was going to close the line, India virtually begged to extend the deadline so that they can order the plane and which we did.
C-17 has turned out to be incredible, It can land at tactically important air bases like in North east and leh and supply them if and when required.
The other choice for India would be IL-76 and IAF categorically are not interested in this platform and want to go the American way
