No, India has signed all agreements to get a close ally level of technology access (The term is "Major Defence Partner"). Five eyes have nothing to do with the military hardware sale.
S400 problem only affects F-35 purchase, nothing else.
MMRCA 2.0 - Updates and Discussions
- Thread starter Picdelamirand-oil
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S400 problem only affects F-35 purchase, nothing else.
The STA-1 status is different. The US is unlikely to give us the level of ToT that we are expecting from the MRFA tender and that's not really covered under STA-1 status. The US did not even allow the license assembly of the radar that was supposed to go on the LCA Mk1A.
As for the F-35 and S-400, I don't think it's going to be a big problem. They simply used that as an excuse to prevent Turkey from procuring the F-35.
Even French is not going to give you any respectable level of ToT. The talk was about assembly for a rather small number of airframes which is officially offered. (Unlike SMX
)Really? 5 year old example ? Times have changed dramatically.
Not going happen this decade. Senate will came done hard on even any such discussion.
Even French is not going to give you any respectable level of ToT. The talk was about assembly for a rather small number of airframes which is officially offered. (Unlike SMX
The French qualified for the level of ToT required, which is why only ELTA and Thales competed for the tender in the end.
What's 5 years old? If you are referring to LCA Mk1A's radar, then the tender happened with the knowledge that India would get the STA-1 status. The tender began after the MDP law came into effect. The Americans offered the SABR and backed out due to the ToT requirements.
The point is the US has no interest in developing the Indian industry. Their only interest is in selling weapons to us directly. They don't even like the concept of license production for MRFA. All their talk of transferring technology in MRFA is only for the antique airframes they are offering.
There's no one to test it out though. India is not interested in the F-35, and is the only one around with the ability to buy both. All others either buy American or buy Russian. Even if we eventually become interested, I don't think it's going to be for the current version, but the next one with a new engine. Maybe the Saudis or Qataris can break that chain, time will tell, but it appears they are only using the Russians to get access to the F-35.
Anyway, this S-400 thing is overblown. As more time goes, it becomes clearer that the Americans merely used the S-400 as an excuse to prevent Turkey from getting their hands on the F-35.
No other country is going to buy the F/A 18's other than the US Navy. That said, we should focus on Tejas Mk1A, Mk2 and AMCA for the next 2 decades. Tejas Sport aka Lift is also in the mix. So a direct purchase thru the FMS route should do with some 30% cost coming back to India as is the case with Rafale should do good. HAL will be stretched thin for resources and we can't afford manufacturing delays with the Tejas projects.
Let's see....
Except in NATO country and Australia, where a US fghter has been produce localy ?
How many french fighter jets has been produced outside France? Yet you have offered Rafale to india through MMRCA.
I dont think US will oppose any such things, the US government itself is pushing for f18 or f16 through MMRCA. If they just want to sell aircraft, they could have ask for a g2g deal instead of MMRCA.
Last, but not least France denied engine tech to us too.
No you didn't want to pay for it. We just denied to give it to you for free.
The US are trying to have the butter and the creamer...
Engine tech : India was in talk with Safran, RR, GE.... and always it failed. You know why? you are underestimating the real cost of this tech. During this fruitless bargaining time, you stalled.
IAF at various instances confirmed the need for 324 (201 Mk2, 83 Mk1A & 40 Mk1) Tejas family of fighter aircrafts. That is 11 Squadrons of MWF (Mk2), 4 Squadrons of Mk1A & 2 Squadrons of Mk1. It is my opinion that, If ADA & HAL were to deliver MWF on time and if AMCA Mk1 were to be successful, I think they might go for a stealth MK3 (single engine) beyond 2035. HAL has to look for private partners to hive off 2 of the 3 projects, Mk1A, Mk2, TEDBF & AMCA and not just for AMCA. IAF will benefit a lot and by 2030 it can have close to 37 squadrons.
There's not going to be a future for the LCA family beyond LCA Mk2/MWF. If an Mk3 is ever made, it will be focused towards export. Anyway, you can't make the LCA stealth, it will have to be a whole new design.
But yeah, 324 LCA family sounds about right.
Optimists , optimists , here there & everywhere. Like the farmers from Punjab expect a repeal of farm laws, Ameit Kashyap expects an increase in MRFA nos. Even after the CNS has pronounced on it, we still have speculations. Guess there's no cure for a disease named optimism. Like depression, it just persists. Never quite going away.