Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

article said Emi Ge -35 fighters in the near future can not be mass production

trainee newspaper reporter/Weidong Xu

cost and performance are critical, historical and political factors have to consider

$ 10 billion Indian Air Force aircraft procurement tender is currently in full swing, the U.S. and Russian companies have launched the “quality products”, hoping to win a piece of “attractive cake” . Two Boeing F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” fighter has taken the lead, “appearance” and its main rival Russian-made MiG-35 fighter jets, has recently burst out, “the short term can not be mass production” in rumors . AFP respect, US-made fighters have been demonstrated in a number of competitors in the leader’s attitude. But there are also the media that, due to considering the technical, political and traditional and other factors, the final “winner” is still difficult to ascertain.

F/A-18 first U.S. appearance

said in Kolkata, India News, Indian Air Force fighter test of bidding has begun. Test is divided into three phases: pilot familiar with the situation, ground testing and weapons system testing. Indian defense officials said the assessment of each model will continue for one year, from all the candidate models will make a choice.

fighters in all participants in the bidding, F/A-18 “Super Hornet” is the first appearance in Bangalore. “Super Hornet” is the all-weather carrier-based fighter, the U.S. Navy’s main line. The aircraft air-to-ground attack capability and strong ability to Boeing keen to win India, by virtue of its 126 fighter jets of large orders, so not only sent two aircraft involved in testing, also sent a tanker aircraft for protection.

Aviation Authority, a senior Indian official said, F/A-18 “Super Hornet” August 17, a flight test, flight time per aircraft about 45 minutes, respectively, at 10 am and noon. But he declined to details of the flight. For the assessment, the Indian Air Force, said the test has just begun, not too early to comment and published data.

in the F/A-18 “Super Hornet”, the Lockheed Martin F-16 “Falcon” fighters will fly to Bangalore to take the test. AFP noted that in all the candidate who, F-16 and F/A-18 have shown a trend leader.

E Mige -35 “faltering”

six global aerospace giant will be “India’s largest defense orders.” Rivalry. In addition to the F/A-18 and F-16, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, “Typhoon” fighter, the Swedish JAS-39 “Gripen” fighter, the French “Rafale” fighter jets, arrived in India will participate in the evaluation. Russia plans to launch MiG-35 fighters. Compared with U.S. fighter extravaganza, MiG-35 fighters seem woeful. U.S. Defense News website claims that the MiG-35 in 2013 or 2014 can not start production.

before Russia said it would deliver the first two MiG-35 fighters to India’s assessment. In late 2009, will be testing ground for Russia’s MiG-35 series of flight tests, when the Indian delegation will travel to observe. MiG-35 MiG company delayed the production plan, is likely to provide opportunities for the U.S. aircraft manufacturing company.

However, to beat the MiG-35 is also not easy. The aircraft equipment type RD-33 OVT thrust vectoring turbofan engine, thrust vector technology to enhance the aircraft’s maneuverability, making it an advantage in fighting in the air. If the MiG company won the bid, Russia will provide all the key technology to the Hindustan Aeronautics Industry Corporation, and to assist in domestic production MiG-35 fighters, which is eager to improve their level of aviation industry in India is very attractive.

India will make “tough choices”

India’s defense industry are currently only three percent to the national army with weapons and equipment, leaving a huge gap to rely on foreign military purchases filled. Over the past 50 years, India has been the procurement of Russian (Soviet) weapons-based, and with Soviet-made weapons in 1965, 1971 and 1999 to maintain the three conflict for Pakistan’s military superiority.

However, India does not want Russia to monopolize the Indian market, but also frequent problems of Russian-made weapons intolerable. For example, Russia supplied a number of R-77 missiles and artillery shells defects; T-90 tanks also broke the shortcomings of the climate is not suitable for South Asia; “Gorshkov” aircraft carrier conversion plan has been delayed again and again, and continue to prices.

Therefore, the U.S. Boeing company to use India’s dissatisfaction “swoop”, successfully won the eight P-8-range maritime anti-submarine aircraft of the contract. The United States is more hope with the F/A-18 “Super Hornet” took first place.

However, Tang’s international news agency that the United States, India, in addition to considering procurement of fighter aircraft cost and performance, but also consider political risk. After all, buying US-made weapons too restrictive, and the “old partnership” Russian technology transfer and use of competencies is much more generous. Some analysts have pointed out that the Indian military procurement is more like a “benchmark” its results will directly reflect the future strategic direction of India, India’s choice would be “difficult.”