The Sovietsky platform is aa tub, fraught with the necessity of having Sovietsky service teams constantly shuttled to Delhi for their nights out on a Brollywood town, amid burps of borscht.
The grippen is actually a STOL MAch 2 machine, cabable of flying off of pastures covered with cow dung or snow, from remote widely dispersed bases.Canada is eyeing these also but the indians hardly need a cold weather 60 below zero functioning aircraft. But whats wrong with a little over design? OTOH, the F-18 gives the 2 engine option for multiple role work over the rather vast oceanic territory which comprise the Indian shore, with very tantalizing avionic packages which have been proven reliable in combat.
Thats the kicker. Of all of the competitors, only the US machines have demonstrated combat reliability. That makes for a likely US winner. The Gripen is probably the best all round air frame for the flexibility needed by India on the ground, and in the air.
I think it will come down to these two, and the F-18 will likley win out because it has dual engines.
The Russian entry is a cranky tub, with great flight and fight characteristics, but the ratio of service time to flight time is extremely high, and they are tubs unfit for India's role as a balancing power between China and Pakistan.
The Russians have proven to be the most reliable arms suppliers to India,followed by the French.So the chances of India needing Russians to come service the Migs are lower than the chance of having Americans come & service the Hornets.
The Super Hornet’s range is pretty weak for an aircraft it’s size when compared to the F-15 or SU-30,which India operates.It’s avionics would be the only price,provided that the US releases those for export.The Super Hornet & the Gripen cannot be compared because the latter is roughly half the size of the former!!
US planes may have shown combat reliability,but the US cannot match the Europeans or the Russians in offering offsets.If flexibility alone was what counted,the Rafale & Gripen would probably be favourites.
To add-the Gripen(New Generation) will also use the GE F-414 engines used on the Super Hornet.
The F-16 is a contender because of the advanced electronics it offers, but it is 30 years old and all the others beat it on one metric or another.
In sheer airframe specs, the MiG is superior hands down. But its electronics and support are subpar. Better than the competition India would face, but not in US or EU range. They try to patch that by subcontracting some of the ECM to Italy, but is a patch.
I expect them to buy the MiGs. Diplo-strategically they should buy the Eurofighter, but they have said that isn't their main concern.