Indian Mig-21 Bison
Posted on 08/28/2007 8:33:55 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
India launches contest for 126 new fighters with RFP release
By Craig Hoyle
India has at last issued its eagerly awaited request for proposals for a new fleet of 126 lightweight fighters, launching a battle between the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16, RSK MiG-35 and Saab Gripen.
Weighing in at 211 pages, the long-delayed document was issued to potential bidders in New Delhi on 28 August, and outlines requirements in areas including technology transfer, licenced manufacturing and through-life support arrangements. Further details of the project, such as its delivery schedule, have not been publicly released by the Indian defence ministry.
India’s defence acquisition council in late June approved the medium multi-role combat aircraft RFP for release, but the latest development has nonetheless caught manufacturers by surprise. New Delhi’s expected $10.2 billion contest has been in the planning phase for the last few years, and several previous RFP release targets have passed without event. Bidders are to submit technical responses by 3 March 2008, and New Delhi will issue a shortlist after conducting extensive technical and field evaluations of the candidate aircraft.
Required to replace the Indian air force’s MiG-21 interceptors, the new multirole aircraft will operate beneath the service’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters. Full details of the new requirement are expected to emerge within the next few days, but these are known to include an initial batch of 18 aircraft to be built abroad, with the remainder to be manufactured in partnership with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics as part of a 50% offset deal to be linked to the purchase.
Described by manufacturers as the key fighter contest for the next few years, the Indian requirement could yet take on even greater importance, with recent unconfirmed reports having suggested that lengthy delays to the MiG-21 replacement effort could lead New Delhi to eventually expand the size of its fleet to around 200 aircraft.
Indian Mig-21 Bison
Maybe instead of perpetuating their status as a third world hell hole with all the latest whiz-bang military toys, they should perhaps build a few sewer systems or water treatment plants for a change.
& you assume that all the money saved from military spending will go into welfare???
Who said anything about welfare? I suggested normal infrastructure.
Whatever-do you think it will necessarily go into that???
It’s a trade-off. One would be a complete idiot to concentrate all resources on a sewer system while leaving an already-tense and contested border with countries that are rapidly upgrading their stike capabilities(lookup China and its borders), vulnerable.
Asia ain’t North America.
Not to mention that if 1 dollar is allocated for infrastructure & welfare in places like India,20 cents actually find their way to the project.Defense expenditure is far more closely monitored.
INDIA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% of total GDP (2006)
Source: CIA, The World Factbook.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
2.5% isn’t really that bad a price to pay, for minimal security, in a region still in conflict.
Here's a nightmare scenario for you. If for some reason the islamic radicals inside Pakistan are able to take control of that country's government, they will have access to nukes and a nuclear capable taliban or al queda is not what the world needs. India no doubt would be one of the first targets; we soon after.
126 may not be enough after all.This figure was first put it in 1999 & was slated as massive buy of French Mirage-2000 5 jets as replacement for the Mig-21 & Mig-23s.Given the delays in the Indian LCA project as well as the slow pace of this purchase,the number will probably be jacked upto about 180-200 aircraft to cover for the retirement of Mig-27 & early Jaguar fighters.It also makes political sense too as more numbers means that a 2 aircraft buy seem possible.
You could then say that the US should build better bridges and levies instead of buying more F/A-22 raptors. The argument doesnt hold. You need both ..to defend yourself and to improve infrastructure. Not either/Or.
All the sewer systems and water treatment plants will not make China and Pakistan hold hands with India and sing kumbaya.
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