IAF’s requirement for a Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft

What’s being offered? Old US Technology and outdated fighters by Boeing and Lockheed Martin

By Kartikeya Semwal
Indian Air Force’s immediate requirement for a medium multi role combat aircraft is being exploited by the US who are offering India F-16 Super Viper and F/A-18 Super Hornet produced by Lockheed Martin and Boeing. But the US never told that both were out dated technology based and both were being used by the US Air Force since 1990. They never told that those were the 2 fighters that are going to be replaced by F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Raptor, both 5th generation fighters based on air superiority, better warhead carrying capacity and most superior aerodynamics. Yes, that’s the truth. The US wants to dump their old fleet of F-16 and F/A-18 fighters and what better market can they find than India? The US is offering trash to India that India does not want at a price of 10.6 billion dollars. And India’s demand to make F-35 joint strike fighter available for sale is not being entertained by the US. Why? Because they want to maintain their technological superiority over Asian countries like India and China. What people don’t know is that US themselves are suffering the blues to produce 5th generation aircrafts Raptor and F-35 which are the costliest at this time of recession. While they are ready to sell the same F-35 to their western counterparts like Hungary, Italy, Israel and UK since these countries are their NATO (Northern Alliance Treaty Organization) allies in exchange for billions of dollars. But have completely denied to give India the same fighter. India does not want almost 2 decade old fighter planes and technologies. India’s requirement regarding threat from Pakistan and China is for the latest technology and latest air superiority fighters not outdated ones which are useless in front of China’s J-10 and J-11 B which appear in top 10 best and latest aircrafts of the modern world. China’s J-11 B is fourth placed in the world with a speed of Mach 2.35 (2500 km/hr.) with a range of 3720kms. Its armament is 1x30 mm cannon and 10 stations (capable of carrying 10 air to air or 10 air to surface or a combination of both missiles and ability to carry nuclear warhead). China’s J-11 B is a direct threat for Indian Air Force. China’s J-10 is 9TH placed in the world with a Mach of 2.2 (2200 km/hr.) and a range of 3000+kms. It has an armament of 1x23 mm cannon and 11 stations (capable of carrying 11 air to air or air to surface or a combination of both and ability to carry nuclear warhead). India’s problem doubles as Pakistan have brought 26 J-10 fighters from China and have placed an order to buy 40 more such fighters by 2012.
Besides China too carries a fleet of Sukhoi30 fighters in comparison to India’s Sukhoi30 MKI fighters built with Russian collaboration. India’s problems are increasing as its fleet of fighter planes is aging and would soon be out of service. Indian Airforce has decided to phase out the Mig series fighters (comprising of Mig21, Mig23, Mig25) and the Jaguar fighters by 2012. India just has 3 and a half years to replace these fighters knowing that China is carrying out a massive militarization of its airforce by building 30 J-10 fighters and 10 J-12 B fighters every year.
What India needs is a combination of fighter aircrafts that are not available with either China’s airforce or with Pakistan’s airforce. Those fighters include Russian made Mig35, US made F-15K Slam Eagle and Eurofighter Typhoon made by European Consortium.
Mig35 has a speed of Mach 2.4 (2556km/hr.) with a range of 2000+ km and an armament of 1X30mm Cannon and 8 stations.
F-15K Slam Eagle known as the ‘fastest fighter of the world’ has a speed of Mach 2.5 (2660km/hr.) with a range of 3900km and an armament of 1X20mm Cannon and 15 stations.
Eurofighter Typhoon has a speed of Mach 2+ (2120km/hr.) with a range of 3790km and an armament of 1X27 mm Cannon and 13 stations. Stations mean number of missiles that can be carried. The above mentioned 3 fighters are the ones that will match the air superiority of China’s J-10 and J-12B fighters as China has become a bigger threat for India than Pakistan. If India buys a combination of the above mentioned 3 fighters then it would get the technology, know how and other details like avionics and materials to be used from three different countries. This would in future help India to develop its own advanced fighter planes. What’s more? India is already developing a 5th generation fighter in collaboration with Russia that would be cheaper than the F-22 Raptor but would be an equal to it in comparison to its avionics, weapon system, maximum speed, range and armament. India has already built the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) named Tejas and intends to use it for Indian Navy and would be parked at INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov presently with Russia). Both are aircraft carriers. Besides India has already acquired the AWACS system that has been installed on Russian made IL-76 transport aircraft. Presently India has just 1 AWACS) but is in the process of acquiring 6 more such planes by 2015 that would give it an edge over China which has none right now. India should also ask companies like TATA, Reliance, Wipro, Mahindra and Mahindra and Larsen and Tubro to form a group and jointly develop fighter aircrafts for Indian Air Force in collaboration with foreign companies. TATA is already in talks with Swedish firm SAAB Aerospace to jointly built Saab Gripen single seater, single engine medium multirole combat aircraft. The other companies should follow suit. It is only then possible for India to develop a 5th generation advanced fighter on its own.