The better option was
1)mig-35
2)mig-29 upg
if everyone starts justifying these things like u then yes we are actually doomed
reasons??
1)upgradation of a 30 year old platform for 40 million
2)trying to buy a 4.5 gen jet for more than 120 million each
3)simultaneously trying to develop a 5 th generation fighter
4)simultaneously working on a 4 th gen fighter
all this when growth rate is 4.5 percent
You've still not actually addressed @
janon and my comments- at all.
The simple fact is you CANNOT get ANY new 4.5+ gen fighter that will be as capable as the IAF Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2s for less than $40 mill apiece- it simply can't be done.
Yes yes, the MIG-35 looks like a good machine but let's not forget one of the most professional and comprehensive selection programs in recent times (MMRCA) found the MIG-35 technically lacking and not up to scratch. So basically you want to subvert the entire selection process and go for the MIG-35 outright despite it failing to match up to the IAF's standards? I think Dassualt, Lockhead Martin, Boeing and co. would have something to say on this matter. Basically they'd have every right to seek back their costs for the MMRCA trails and participation in the MMRCA bid. You'd make India look a joke on the world stage and make arms companies reluctant to take part in any future deals in India pretty much damaging India's national security no end.
Then there's the fact the MIG-35 isn't even in service to date and if orders were made tomorrow don't expect any deliveries before 2018/19- whereas the M2Ks will all be upgraded by 2017.
Then there's the life cycle costs that are going to hurt and i mean HURT. How many times do I have to reiterate this? Russian products cost 4-5 times the value their intial unit costs to maintain over their life spans. Western products cost only 2-3 times their unit costs.
Then there's the fact that the -35s are twin engined so every every flight hour is going to cost significantly more.
Then there are the costs to train ground crews and pilots, set up logistics etc etc
What you're saying just isn't viable if you're looking at this from a cost POV- in any shape or form.
The M2K upgrade covers the basics, keeps a war-proven platform the IAF is very happy and comfortable with, that is easy to maintain and relatively cheap to operate around a few more years to halt declining IAF SQD levels whilst the IAF undergoes a period of change and expansion that it has not sen before in its history. The very last thing you want to do is throw in yet another new platform into the mix and an unproven platform at that.
It is a very logical thing the IAF has done, when you look at it objectively. Good call IAF brass!
Oh and your comment about India's growth rate is entirely moot as this is a very, VERY short term issue. Within the next 3-4 years India will be back to 6-8%+ growth.
