I waited for replies & it looks some say 4gen TEDBF is dead due to Rafale, some say it'll fly in few years.
If it's still alive then many reasons -
- Bcoz many people are confused & entangled with thought of converting AF jet to naval jet Vs cleansheet, but no CAD work in last 15 years, otherwise PPP would be ready for both AF & navy jets.
If i had 3D CAD PC then i would've shown AMCA/TEDBF/F-35/J-35 comparison in 3D rather than 2D in MS Paint, that in same span a 5gen TEDBF could've been made, even for STOBAR, as F-35-C Vs 4gen TEDBF comparison shows in my previous post diagramatically & numerically.
While it's true that if AF jet was designed not to be modified for navy then converting it POST PRODUCTION needs mechanical cutting, welding, etc, creating more space for stronger landing gears, strengthening some bulkheads, spars, longerons, etc.
But AMCA still on paper/CAD where it can be modified. AMCA itself went through at least 9 models iteration from 3B-1 to 3B-09, this iteration on CAD has to continue but we need to think that it's a PRE-PRODUCTION cleansheet design. So this still can be like F-35-A & C models or J-31 & 35 models.
Those who fear rework can relax or take re-assignment & let other willing people do it.
Observing all 5gen jets, especially F-35 -C & J-35 Vs AMCA, all have common planform shaping, identical angles of nose, fuselage, wings, rudders, etc.
F-22, F-35, Su-57, Kaan, AMCA, J-35, future 5gen KF-21, all're tandem bi-plane with canted rudders, slant side walls of cheek, fuselage. etc.
Su-57 is technically tri-plane but appears like bi-plane.
Some jets have caret intakes, some have DSI.
- Bcoz of sluggish bureaucratic system, no encouragement but active & reflexive discouragement.
- Bcoz multiple options by PPP & private firms (like Anduril, Shield AI, etc) were not there to compete with PSU monopoly. Still PPP is only for production, not airframe design yet.
- Bcoz more employment expansion in DoD not there even if 5 fingers different, in most populous nation with millions of techies, 8000+ AICTE approved Engg. colleges. Now AI/ML will cause further global impact.
- Bcoz of a linear bumper-bumper system rather concurrent & parallel product approaches.
- Bcoz long term loss is ignored by short term gain even if the product is long term 40-60 years & not upgradable to 5gen in era of 6gen.
- Bcoz of 4gen hangover, over-optimistic with peace, diplomacy talks, Himalayas, the seas & ocean, etc.
- Bcoz most of our industries, govt & private sector, love already developed, ToT based, process/production oriented system rather than self R&D & product oriented. Ambani, Tata tried their best to get F-16-IN & F-18 SH tenders.
People born in 1970s/80s grew up in 1990s watching documentaries on F-117, B-2 F-22, F-35, we had IT boom,cable TV, internet, etc in 1990s, very exciting decade. Then China started J-20, FC-31, then secretly J-36 & J-50 & today we see both side positions.
In 2000s we thought China'll attack us in 2010s with their J-7/8/10/11, MKK/Mk2 Flankers.
In 2010s we thought it'll attack us in 2020s with J-10/11/16, MKK/Mk2 Flankers + J-20.
Now in 2020s we think it'll attack us in 2030s with J-10/11/16, MKK/Mk2 Flankers if not retired + J-20 + J-35, probably J-36, J-50.
If not in 2030s then definitely it'll attack us in 2040s with everything.
We're hoping that Taiwan war'll weaken it, but it may have separate resource pools.Anyways, the day war happens, it could be a stalemate, but all 4gen jets on both sides will be best targets & shot down like mosquitos by IADS & 5/6gen jets, that's evolution of physics, chemistry, maths of nature done by engineers on both sides.
