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With geopolitical winds shifting in Asia,
could New Delhi's turn away from Moscow for its high end fighter project lead
to an Indian F-35 fleet?
BY TYLER ROGOWAY OCTOBER
20, 2017
A new report by Defense News states that India is extremely unhappy
with Russia's supposed 5th generation fighter—better known as the T-50, or by
its new production name the Su-57—that will act as the base for the sputtering
FGFA cooperative fighter program between the two countries. The news comes
after years of squabbling over the program, usually characterized by credible
reports of the Indian Air Force's dismay with the qualities of the Russian
aircraft. Now it seems as if the Indians want out of the program—which aimed
for at least a 108 airframe production run—once and for all. Such a move could
also be a result of New Delhi's changing geopolitical and military
affiliations, in particular its deepening strategic relationship with the
United States.
The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project
between Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a decade old. It
originally aimed to create a variant of Russia's new stealth fighter with a
number of alterations specified by India. These include potential enhancements
to reach certain low observable (stealth) requirements, as well as particular
avionics, communications systems, and weapons integration. A two seat version
was also envisioned. The whole idea behind the concept being that the FGFA
would leverage a fairly mature Russian next generation fighter design, and
build upon it. The problem is that the design in question, the Su-57, doesn't
appear to have the "bones" needed to modify it to meet India's
expectations…..Read rest of article: HERE
The
Trump Administration could look to consummate its new, closer strategic
relationship with India by offering up the Joint Strike Fighter for purchase.
Having India join the JSF community could also offer certain synergies for
other F-35 operators located in the eastern hemisphere, both on a strategic and
a sustainment level.
Indian
F-35s would also work to counter-balance China's military might arrayed along
the increasingly tense Indian-Chinese border. It could also
mean that the F-35 could also become a competitor for the Indian Navy's next
fighter initiative, with the B model likely being offered for the ski jump
carriers and the C model being an option for the future catapult equipped
ships.
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