You are right-but this is just the technical evaluation part. The government’s decision is likely to be affected by other facts as well-purchase and operating costs, technology transfer and offset programmes and of course political factors.
The US offerings can make the cut on most of the factors barring technology transfers. My wild guess is that the Indian government is unlikely to risk a possible domestic backlash from politicians, strategists and the air force by choosing an American platform when ties with Washington are still at a nascent stage.
Dear Sukhoi,
Actually, in this case, I do not think there will be any backlash on a US purchase
India is one of the few countries where the US is very popular and GWB is especially popular.
There will be no blowback there.
The thing that WILL swing the deal is technology transfer. Indians are smarting from Russia’s refusal to transfer key technologies despite India being a long time Russian/Soviet arms customer
India has finally realized (4 decades after China) that building up an industrial/military complex is the only way to be a regional superpower
They have seen how little Saudi Arabia has achieved despite having pumped in 100s of billions of dollars in arms purchases.
So, slowly (and VERY slowly.. this being India) they are now indegenising their arms industry. They are finally putting together capital class ships and submarines.
They are also building trainer jets and have a decent space program. They have a MBT (tank) that is somewhat decent.
Their Missile program is going well. They have Surface to Air, Air To Air, Ballistic missiles etc
They have also used homebuilt ground transports like trucks (Tata) etc.
So, slowly, they are building up for the inevitable war against China/Pakistan. Yes, it is inevitable. China has already begun overreaching and is poised to make a critical mistake against the US or Korea or Japan or India. Either way, China is headed for war within a decade