Posted on 09/23/2008 8:09:41 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
India to Order 29 MiG-29Ks in Russia
India intends to order additional consignment of 29 MiG-29Ks in Russia, Lenta.ru reported with reference to defense sources of Indian Express. The cost of the order is estimated at around $2 billion, but the negotiations with Moscow haven’t been launched yet.
In 2004, India ordered 12 one-seat MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUB under the complex contract for supply of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier cruiser. The deal budget amounted to $1.6 billion.
The purchase of the second consignment will enable India to create additional squadrons. India plans to extend the 50 MiG-29K fleet to 50 jets.
MiG-29K/KUB beck-based multifunctional fighters are capable of ensuring air defense of the vessels, wining air dominance and hitting surface and ground targets by using the guided weapons.
That junk is pretty much the only thing on the market for the Indian navy. The F-16 is not carrier capable, the Super Hornet is too heavy and the Rafale is too expensive. Moreover, the Russians would have jacked up the price of the carrier, if not cancelled the deal altogether if the IN didn’t buy Russian jets.
Buying the Gripen would mean the end of the LCA programme. For all its delays, I don’t see any Indian government pulling the plug on the LCA. OTOH, the Super Hornet and Eurofighter have an advantage in the competition in that their engines are being considered for an upgraded LCA , which would not only ease the logistics situation for a bloated airforce, but also bring LCA close to the Gripen in capability.
The Gripen also has considerable foreign content- a radar developed with French help and an American engine. Those governments can deny export licenses during critical negotiations. Countries have done that before.
That would leave only the French and the Russians, because the french would not impose sanctions, just jack up the price. For the stated aim of replacing the Mig 21, its great, but as you say, other considerations would put it at the bottom of the heap, along with the F-18.
How do the costs compare, the Gripen v/s the Eurofighter and the Russians?
The Gripen has a great advantage on initial and life-cycle costs. The Eurofighter is probably the most expensive jet in the competition and the fact that it’s producers will most probably cut orders is not going to help it. The Mig looks like a no-show given the current chill in Indo-US ties as well as the unpalatable scenario of having three Russian systems (SU-30/fifth-gen. fighter and Mig-35) at the same time.
My own preference would have been the Gripen, but I assume that the Super-Hornet is a front runner for political and commercial reasons.Can’t rule out the Rafale too.
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