Would actually be a great addition to the army aviation corps for a cheap CAS asset.
No it won't.Would actually be a great addition to the army aviation corps for a cheap CAS asset.
I wish we could develop a fifth gen jaguar instead.No it won't.
Any modern CAS platform for India will need to operate in a situation where IR and Laser guided MANPADs are abundant. Pakistanis have large numbers of both. They further have GDF005 anti Aircraft artillery with radars.
To counter these things the CAS platform will need to have a full fledged Self Protection suite (LWR , RWR and IR sensors) , a jammer and a electronic warfare system.
Things like an armed HTT40 or this system will not be able to provide.
The solution for India lies in 2 things.
1. Attack helicopters.
2. Loitering munitions.
You can do it. It will cost like a 100 million USD. But flying CAS mission it will still be in a huge danger.I wish we could develop a fifth gen jaguar instead.
CAS being a secondary mission but the primary mission being DPS missions, bvr capability similar to the f-4, low procurement cost and low maintenance cost but the 30 mm defa cannon stays and we use htfe 40 to power it. It won't cost more than 60 million $ per unit. If done correctly. And will be a huge export success.You can do it. It will cost like a 100 million USD. But flying CAS mission it will still be in a huge danger.
We need to move forward and accept that CAS in a conflict will bring losses. And the best way forward is considering cheaper attack helicopters, swarm drones, loitering munitions and glide weapons.
And a lot of them.