Whose choice was it then? Was it drdo's choice to use ge-404. There must have been some concurrence with the air force before going for the ge-404.
Rafale DH/EH of Indian Air Force : News and Discussions
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PLAAF? Equipment alone doesn't make one a top power. Their mettle is yet to be tested...
Yes, the ADE reportedly considered multiple engine options including the RD-33 but ultimately settled on the F404. They preferred a Western engine because of better specs.
Remember, the target empty weight of the LCA was just 5.5t, a goal that was too optimistic. It seems unlikely the IAF had any say in the decision.
The IAF wasn't quite happy until GE developed the uprated IN20 version with increased thrust.
J-35 supposed GaN AESA, TRM counts & “2nd gen 5th gen” lohra lehsun stealth are still largely brochure claims. GaN AESA on the J-35 means nothing in isolation.... TRM count, power density, cooling, waveform agility, sidelobe control & LPI performance matter far more & none of that is independently verified in case of J-35........ while Rafale AESA radar, sensor fusion & EW are fielded, exercised, and iteratively upgraded in real ops......... J-10CE/PL-15 narrative is being overhyped without transparent kill chain proof & SPECTRA works through threat geolocation, DRFM jamming, deception, and was never sold as invisibility..... SU-57 provide no advantage or next generation technology to us & doesn't have any future in IAF...... More Rafale are coming & than AMCA period.
Many of their commentators on social media are calling the IAF dumb for buying more Rafale over the F-35.
They think they can easily handle the Rafale with third-party midcourse guidance and space based isr from friendly countries. (Frankly, the IAF was taken by surprise recently but later adjusted its game plan)
Logistics wise, the PAF is also not much better off than us. They now have 2 Chinese single engine (JF-17 and J-10C), and 1 US (Viper) combat ac in service with a 3rd Chinese jet on the way (J-35).
Not to mention, they haven't operated a twin-engine jet in a long time, let alone a 5G. So they are in for a rude shock when it comes to opex and sustainment costs.
It is for this reason that I think the PAF will only buy token numbers of J-35. They are also eyeing US hardware and wouldn't want to piss off Trump.
India has 8 times the GDP of Pakistan, They aren't going to outspend India in defence, It's a matter of India getting its act together, I think that's where the problem is
Chinese are way ahead in electronics than what we credit them of. J-35 with -20dBsm RCS(frontal) and GaN AESA with more TRMs, more cooling, more processing power than RBE2 AESA, is a serious threat to all our IAF fighters. Our only hope of countering this is Su-57MKI. Nothing more, nothing less.
USAF found in Cope India 2004 why IAF is the best airforce on this entire planet. It's about talent and training of our airmen. Soon, with us getting richer, our IAF shall have all the fancy equipments like mighty USAF as well.
It was HAL's decision AFAIK.
Of course it is, Who in their right mind would question this?
You brought SU to the last 2024 Exercise Pitch Black held in the Northern Territory, featuring over 140 aircraft and 20 nations to enhance regional stability and interoperability
It's on again this year 2026, I'm sure India will be there again, I hope like the French, you also bring Rafales with the SU, to show how inferior the F-35 is, the story so far isn't compelling
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Cope, such an apt name for the exercise.
No need to take my opinion personally, mate! I already said that IAF is best in terms of training and talent. Feel free to disagree. No problem whatsoever.
I don't believe F-35 is an inferior jet. In fact, I always wanted MRFA to end with F-35 Block 4 vs Rafale F5. But the way Uncle Sam turned hostile towards us post the recent skirmish, we made the right call and are going to procure over 100 Rafales. Along with that, to take upon PLAAF 5th & 6th gen jets along with PAF J-35As, we've decided to procure 40-60 Su-57Is(with AL-41F1) as stop gap with negotiations going on regarding procuring upto 140 2-seat Su-57MKI version locally built with complete Indian avionics at HAL Nashik plant.
None of the above has anything to do with F-35 being superior or inferior, rather its procurement not aligning with our defence policy. Peace.
I am not critical of your training or talent and I should have been clearer, I found it funny that you used COPE 2004 to support the statement
I think some know that the US selfreported their failure with the F-15, They don't normally report on exercises as do the UK and AU also don't, It was only done to support the purchase of the F-22, We can debate if they wanted the outcome they got with COPE
IAF CAPEX as per the Union Budget has increased from INR 48,000 cr to INR 63,000 cr. That's an increase of INR 15,000 cr. Not even 2 billion USD .
Looking at the list of items IAF desires wonder how exactly is an increase of INR 15000 cr going to suffice .In terms even Hydrocele would understand that means no Rafales next financial year unless of course special budgetary provisions are made which I highly doubt given the paper work itself should take a couple of years before the IGA is inked.
Hell I'm not even sure the IGA for the 120 KN TF will go through . Guess both these IGA's will be signed simultaneously for obvious reasons . Nor is there any news on the agreement for the local mfg / assembly of the F-414 . Real rock n roll times ahead .
Incidentally infrastructure CAPEX has gone up to INR 12.2 lakh cr from ~ INR 11.2 lakh cr for the next financial year.
It's not just based upon Cope India 2004 results but with numerous other exercises with top airforces of the world like FAF, IAF(Israel), RAF, RAAF, USAF etc. along with IAF's real world performance and valour even against all odds. As I said, you are free to agree or disagree. I could care less 'cause I know what I'm talking about.
AFAIK, AMCA jet engine deal is with PMO so its scope is out of this budget. Rafale deal will most likely be concluded this year with a token amount rather than making full payment at once. Let's see.......
I have nothing against Indian pilots, Your bravado of saying 'worlds best' is unsupportable
We have several in the RAAF, Vraj flying the F-35
Key RAAF personnel of Indian descent include:
- Pilot Officer Brahmjyot Singh (2025): Created history as the first Amritdhari (baptized) Sikh to graduate as a pilot officer in the RAAF.
- Vraj Patel (2020): An Indian-Australian pilot promoted to fighter pilot, with his parents having migrated from Gujarat.
- Flying Officer Kamalpreet Singh (2025): An engineer and pilot who continued a family legacy of military service.
- Flight Lieutenant Inderbir Singh: Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, he serves as an RAAF officer.
- Flight Lieutenant Darpan Dhawan: Born in Delhi, he serves as an RAAF officer.
- Simran Kaur Wadhawan (2019): Joined the RAAF as a Cadet Officer and attended the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
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Yo pops ! He's just taking a leaf out of your book when he describes the IAF the way you describe Australian armed forces as a must have in your corner if one has to take on the Chinese. Opinions are always subjective.
Hell , what the hell , since we go back a long time , I'd share something of an open secret out here with you.
The IAF has been maddeningly inconsistent . In the 1965 war the IAF shot down PAF NAA F-86 Sabres with Folland Gnats , something akin to a modern day David Goliath story thus earning the humble Gnats the sobriquet of Sabre Killers out here .
The first pilots to do so where the Keelor bros , both Anglo Indians .
OTOH in the same war which saw such splendid exploits , the IAF was caught napping at the beginning of hostilities & repeatedly lost fighter aircrafts parked in bases lying out in the open for PAF to take them out just like that , without a fight.
No doubt, IAF fighter pilots have earned their creds as among the best in the world. When the Brits needed flying instructors for RAF FTS recently, guess who they came to?
Not their Anglo Saxon cousins Down Under, for sure.
Source: Times of India In reversal of colonial times, IAF instructors to train UK’s RAF fighter pilots - The Times of India
Not their Anglo Saxon cousins Down Under, for sure.
Source: Times of India In reversal of colonial times, IAF instructors to train UK’s RAF fighter pilots - The Times of India
That was a COPE created by the Americans to hide the fact that they were honestly surprised by the IAF tactics they could do with the mig 21. Same tactics were used to take out one of the alleged Pakistani f-16's by one of our mig21's.
The f-22 was already on it's way to be inducted way before cope 2004 happened. The exercise loss was just used as an excuse to show even 4th gen fighters could be taken out by 2nd and 3rd gen fighters and the f-22 was infact the right direction for the USAF. The Cope 2004 exercise was used against the fighter mafia about how dogfights really weren't the future because even mig 21's could take out f-15's in a dogfight scenario when armed with off bore wvr missiles. The only big blunder by the Amreekis was Congress limiting it's production to 200 fighters. When in fact a total of 400+ f-22's are required for the USAF.
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We are not a serious nation. A Gujju only focuses on saving money. Should have elected some Rajasthani or West UP wala as PM atleast he would spend lavishly instead of being a miserly business minded Gujjew.