Posted on 09/21/2016 1:42:52 PM PDT by axiomatical
NEW DELHI: India will finally ink the deal for direct acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France on Friday, in what will be an urgently-needed booster dose for the country's dwindling air combat power. IAF, after all, is down to just 33 fighter squadrons when at least 42 are required for dissuasive deterrence against China and Pakistan.
The first omni-role Rafale, also capable of delivering nuclear weapons, will touch down in India within three years.
India can buy two to three Russian heavy-weight Sukhoi-30MKIs or five to six indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft for every Rafale. But it's also true that while a Tejas has a limited range of 400 km and weapon load-carrying capability of 2.5 tonnes, a Rafale can go up to 1,650 km with a 9.3-tonne load.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...
Mix and match airforces never turn out well.
It would be best to go with one supplier. If the Indians are using Sukhois they should stick with a Sov, er, Russian supplier. Sukhoi has an excellent strike aircraft.
U R right. Doesn’t matter. The worlds largest Democracy sized with the Soviets during the Cold War. Either way they will need the weapons against Pakistan.
The rail mobile Agni III IRBM, tested by under operational conditions by India's Strategic Forces Command 3 and 4 years ago, does.
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