Actually, the colorful Indian film with dancing seems to have come to its natural ending. India withdrew from the joint project with Russia FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) and in dance moved a little further to France. For the Rafals.
No problem, though not for the F-35.
What are all these dances talking about?
For some, it will be pleasant to think that the excellent Indian engineers and pilots found so many flaws in the Su-57 that India decided to abandon this coffin.
I do not want to throw anything in the direction of Indian specialists, but: as it was said in one of the statements, "The Indian side believes that Russian-developed avionics, radars and sensors do not meet the standards of a fifth-generation aircraft."
I wonder what this conclusion was based on? No, seriously, what was it compared to? As far as I know, India has not had similar joint projects with those who can actually burn down a 5th generation fighter. There are, as it were, only three such countries: the USA, Russia, China.
Perhaps, of course, the Indians, as world leaders in the development and production of radars, avionics and other assortments, did it themselves. This would be understandable if radars, for example, for Boeing were produced in Bombay. And so - amazing.
But the most surprising thing here is that the PAK FA somehow managed to become the Su-57 at the very least, but the miracle, which was called the FGFA, was not fashioned from the PAK FA.
And why?
But because back in 2011, the Indians decided that the PAK FA is not the 5th generation at all. Maximum - 4+. Therefore, the Russian side was required to change some parameters so that the FGFA became a 5th generation aircraft.
Quantitatively - 43. Many will now understand why the Su-57 flies, but the FGFA does not.
Honestly, all these claims did not look very convincing. How to understand correctly: “weak weapon capabilities”, “inappropriate stealth characteristics” and “lack of a modernization component for using the engine”?
Chinese engines had to be installed, they have a modernization potential - you will download! "Weak armament capabilities" … As I understand it, this one aircraft was supposed to kick the entire wing of a Chinese aircraft carrier?
In fact, everything is simple and transparent. The money has run out.
This is actually normal. The crisis and all that.
And instead of a thousand "Armats" we decided to arm one division. Later. In perspective. And it's the same with the Su-57. 50 instead of 250. No, what is it? A crisis. Oil prices are falling. Yacht officials also need real estate.
Considering that there are 10 times more people living in India, then there are 10 times more people who have the opportunity to steal there. Everything is logical.
Why only cling to the plane? The plane has nothing to do with it. But you need to keep your face …
No, there was something on the topic. For example, claims for the first engine, or, as it is now called, "First stage engine". And the situation with missiles was also very vague and uncertain at one time.
And the Indians, in principle, have a reason for distrust. But this concerned, again, bringing to mind the submarine and cruiser according to their requirements.
But finalizing is one thing, and developing is another.
"We" seem to have gathered together to produce. The Indians have it. They allegedly "jointly" produce all the equipment. So it is proudly spoken about everywhere.
Yeah … Believe it?
But there is no need. It is easy to check, but India trivially assembles all of its supposedly "jointly produced" equipment from ready-made kits. This also applies to aircraft, and tanks, and other equipment.
On the one hand, it's simple, on the other, people are in business and sort of mastering technologies. And everyone is happy with everything.
Assembling a tank from a vehicle kit is, of course, both easier and cheaper than an airplane. The plane itself is several times more expensive, and its assembly will cost more. Plus cadres that decide everything. Or spoil everything.
And, of course, the eternal Indian desire to save on everything.
Not surprisingly, funding for the unfortunate FGFA has been effectively stopped since 2012. Complaints plus Indian dissatisfaction with the delay in technology transfer by the Russian side.
Ours is quite understandable. Why rush with the transfer of the most interesting if there is no money?
In 2016, it seems, we agreed. It seems that they decided that financing will be carried out in equal shares, then ours agreed to take on most of the R&D costs. Well, the amounts were adjusted up to 3, 7-4 billion dollars from each side.
However, no documents were signed. Again, exclusively at the initiative of the Indian side.
From numerous comments it can be understood that financial (first of all) and technical (second) problems have finally extinguished the fervor of the Indians. And, instead of really joint development and production of a fifth-generation combat vehicle, the Indians slowly came to the conclusion that it was easier to buy.
So the new fifth-generation Indian-made aircraft was transformed into an export version of the T-50.
Created entirely for Russian money and equipped with all our equipment.
This is called "arrived."
We look at the claim to avionics and sensors at the beginning of the article.
Summary: The Indian Air Force will not have a fifth generation fighter. If the Indians "did not pull" at the price of the Su-57, then the F-35 can not be dreamed of. It is more expensive. Plus, the Americans, who feel great in the Indian arms market, are unlikely to go to collect the 35th in India.
By the way, pragmatic guys from Israel do not release their drones either "jointly". Money for the barrel - and own it.
Therefore, the dreams ended with the return to purchase of hundreds more "Rafales". The plane, of course, is not bad, but not the fifth generation.
But if there is no money and the desire to wait, it is quite an option.
Of course, the most pleasant thing for the Indians would be to completely leave all the costs of developing a fifth generation fighter to the Russian side, and in fact come to everything ready and just buy.
But - a vicious circle - this again requires money, which is not there. Such an aircraft will cost considerably more. And the planes are needed tomorrow, as it turned out. Therefore, the idea of the FGFA, under the unhappy coop of the parties, is absolutely not solemnly buried, the fifth generation is forgotten and the Hindus are content with the fourth.
True, this does not mean anything yet. Knowing the character of our Indian partners and the desire (and ability) to dance on a given topic, I will not be very surprised if, having once again bargained hoarsely with the French, they will return to the idea of FGFA.
Or (as an option) they will start dancing around the Su-35. Which is already ready and there is no need to wait.
Here any option will suit us, as it were. Simply because the Su-57 is already flying and this fifth generation is being tested on it.
Lost profits? Uff … Generally speaking about benefits, referring to the Indians, is difficult. And in general, if we talk about the withdrawal of Rosoboronexport, let it take its own on the S-300 and S-400.
Then there won't be any problems with the Rafals …
