SABRE said:
You forgot the IAF 'Jaguars' China white. Dont know how many Jaguars are in IAF service.
I didn't forget them i purposely left them out because they were mainly used as ground strike planes. While the Mig-27 is being used as one it is also being used as a interceptor and has some capabilities. But pretty much left out the bombers
And about the MRCA deal, its all about polictics. If you think about it most arms deal are not about the best capability but what side of the fence you want to sit on. If the american wins polictical favour then its the superhornet*. And if the indians really want a good cheap very capable fighter then its the Mig-35. But if they are willing to spend more on the already 8billion deal thens its the choice between the EF and rafale. But the EF would almost surely lose since it does not yet have a good multi-role capability and the indians will have to wait until the tranche 3 comes out.
But if i had the choice to choose a fighter i would have to say the superhornet. It has the range capabbility and technology the indians are looking for at a resonable price, While the Mig-35 might have the bells and whistals but in reality not spectaular in any one area. Might have TVC "custom" avonincs but its technology will soon be old when the complete deal is finished.
But to look at the indian airforce its mainly a russian and french force while india does not have any american equipment and buying might cause logistic problems and other troubles of different training. But one very large case againest america is sanctions. Remember 1998 where india tested its atomic bombs and a lot of indian projects were built on american aid. Like the LCA which the indians blame the slow progress on because of sanctions(while i dont think so). I have never seen russia or france put sanctions on india and this is their advantage because they have proven to be normally reliable
What is really being talked about is a policital concession between two of the fighters where their is one bigger share and one smaller share. Before the entry of the EF and Rafale the rumour was it was 126 MIg-35s and the rest of them SUperhornets. But know with the entry of these two fighters which are a lot more capable this might change it dramtically. I know the french are lobbying very hard and britian is practically interested. The russians also have slashed their prices and increased capabilitiy and the americans are just making promises
End Note
"Arms trades are not dictated by market practices or capitalism" -- Chinawhite
