The fierce battle for a contract to supply the Indian Air Force with multi-role fighters flares up with renewed vigor. And in this battle, Russia may be out of the game.
Currently, the Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition is under the scrutiny of many international experts, which is obliged to choose an aircraft that will replace the MiG-21 of the Indian Air Force. According to some reports, the car can be identified in the middle of this year. The Indian Ministry of Defense is allocating over $ 9 billion for the purchase of 126 aircraft.
Six applicants are planning to replace the Soviet MiGs: the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Viper, the Boeing Corporation F / A-18E / F Super Hornet, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, the French Dassault Rafale, the SAAB JAS-39NG Gripen, the Russian MiG -35.
What are the positions of the applicants?
So, let's begin. Information leaks in 2009 indicate that the French Dassault Rafale has actually dropped out of the competition. Although the Indian side is stubbornly silent on this issue. The French are not helped even by a solid proposal to equip aircraft with RBE-2AA radars with active HEADLIGHTS and radar program codes. This radar is not yet supplied to the French Air Force.
The JAS-39NG Gripen is also a curiosity for the Indian market. This plane is quite cheap, and for the competition in India it is equipped with a good package of onboard equipment, including an active PAR. The NG version of this aircraft is powered by the J. Electric”, as well as Boeing's F / A-18E / F Super Hornet. At present, the Indian side is considering equipping its Tejas aircraft with this engine. But along with this, the proposal of "SAAB" is fraught with some problems. Among them: the equipment, which is planned to be installed on the aircraft, has just begun to be developed; low political weight of Stockholm; ignorance of the Indians of the Swedish aircraft. In addition, some analysts point to the insufficient combat resource of the JAS-39NG Gripen.
The European long-term construction Eurofighter Typhoon looks quite competitive. The Typhoon is a pretty good aircraft, with good avionics. Car manufacturers have already sent 87 aircraft to Saudi Arabia and Austria. Greece, Japan and the countries of the Persian Gulf are showing interest in these aircraft.
In addition, the Typhoon is the most expensive aircraft in the competition. In addition, there are some problems with the availability of the aircraft's avionics. Also among the downsides is the dubious benefits of working with disparate firms, many of which have an unclear transatlantic orientation. But at the present time, it seems that the Eurofighter Typhoon is the leader of the competition.
The United States offered two of its fighters to the competition at once.
The F-16IN Viper is the next modification of the F-16E block 60 Desert Falcon, which is supplied to the UAE. The F-16 has been well known almost all over the world for a very long time. In the case of India, the most advanced modification is offered, which is specially equipped for striking a ground target. But at the same time, for "Lockheed" its long-standing ties with Pakistan, where the F-16 is widely used, play a negative role.
The F / A-18E / F Super Hornet has a much better chance than the F-16. This aircraft is equipped with a serial AN / APG-79 active phased array radar, which aroused great interest of the Indian military. In addition, the fighter has no problems with deck placement. The Indian side also plays in favor of "Boig" to use F414 engines on their Tejas aircraft.
What is the situation with our MiG-35? A good plus for our fighter is its delivery from the Zhuk-AE airborne radar, which has an AFAR. In addition, India has already purchased the MiG-29K, and the production of the RD-33 engines is functioning here, which is easy to re-profile for the production of the RD-33MK, which is installed on the MiG-35. The maneuvering qualities of the aircraft, as well as its price (this is actually one of the cheapest aircraft), are well estimated. Among the minuses of our aircraft is the continuation of its pluses. India is well known for Russian aircraft, there are quite a few of them in the country's air force, but at present Delhi has taken a position of equidistance. In addition, the biggest drawback was the absence of the aircraft at Aero India 2011. This actually gave rise to many rumors about the withdrawal of the MiG-35 from the competition. Industry experts have little faith in Mig's prospects for winning the competition.
This situation focuses on the issue of the production of Mikoyan aircraft. Most likely, RSK MiG in the foreseeable future will not receive an order that would be comparable in volume to the Indian one.
The time of the fourth generation fighters is inexorably ending. Most likely, the Indian tender and others like it are the "swan song" of the aircraft that are built on this platform. Fifth generation export systems are on the horizon. The American F-22 and F-35 have considerable prospects in this market. We do not yet have a lightweight fifth-generation fighter.
The experience gained by RAC "MiG" in the design of light front-line fighters gives all the indications for the development of the fifth generation of a light fighter and its export platform. Potential defeat in an Indian competition could be a positive incentive. The MiG has nowhere to retreat.
