Russia's MiG-35: Will Russia tempt India with this aircraft? If so, will Russia improve on their previous record of transfering technologies, which has sometimes left Indian industries short?
Source: India Wires
Date: 18 February 2009
Summing up and announcing the winner of a tender to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be one of the high points in military-technical cooperation between India and foreign countries in the coming one or two years.
Rosoboronexport, the Russian State Agency intermediary in import-export operations of products for defense, said it, strong of already close collaboration in the field in India. The tender involves six contenders: Russian MiG-35 fighter (RSK MiG), American F-16 and F/A-18 (from Lockheed Martin and Boeing respectively), French Rafale (Dassault Aviation), Swedish JAS-39 Gripen (SAAB), and European Eurofighter Typhoon (EADS).
The technical evaluation of the bids has been completed, and field trials are to start in India in April-May. The Russian fighter, according to Rosoboronexport, offers distinct advantages over the competing planes. Unlike all the other aircraft, which are production models, the MiG-35 is the latest-generation fighter developed with due regard to the peculiarities of operation in India. “It not only meets all the requirements of the tender put forward by the IAF, but also has drawn from the best operating experience with previous MiG aircraft in the country”, the Agency added.
“None of MiG-35’s rivals can boast such capability, which gives it an undeniable edge in real air combat; furthermore, heavy use of composites in the frame has made the aircraft less observable to enemy radars. The fighter’s double weapons load and 1.5-fold higher fuel capacity compared to its predecessor are also its irresistible benefits”, it specifies.
“The Zhuk-AE active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is a unique component of the MiG-35, which was proposed for the tender by Rosoboronexport and MiG Russian Aircraft Corporation. The radar can track up to 30 targets and attack simultaneously six most dangerous of them. Its target detection range of 140-160 km also wins admiration and can be further extended to 250-280 km when more receive/transmit modules are used”.
The recent major projects being implemented between Moscow and Delhi include delivery of Mi-17V-5 transport helicopters to India, license production of Su-30MKI aircraft and T-90S tanks. A qualitatively new phase of fruitful bilateral cooperation is marked by the key joint aircraft projects. These are primarily the multi-purpose transport plane and a fifth-generation fighter development programs.
Comment: The MMRCA deal has got to be between the Russians and the Gripen – the US hopefuls will not be able to supply technologies due to domestic laws. However, Russia’s MiG also needs to look at their technology bid and ensure that they give India enough technology to carry out detailed maintenance and support. Previous India MiG programmes – and indeed other Russian Indian programmes (such as the T-90 tank deal) – have left India short when it comes to technologies.
Filed under: India | 5 Comments
Tags: Boeing, Gripen, India, Lockheed Martin, MiG, MMRCA, Modernisation, Procurement, Russia, Saab
looks like futuristic aircraft.in design it has some similarities with sukhoi 30mki. especially russian jets have very high cruising speeds . i hope this will be the best choice of winning mmrca competition
I think Mig-35 is the only MMRCA which is available with thrust vectoring feature among the six contendors. But still I think Rafeal would have been best choice as our pilots love to fly small delta wing aircraft and they perform with exceptional confidence. They shown this is Kargil war. Please please please dont knock out Rafeal. Let the dassault also get the invitation of field trials. Please please please do this for our excellent pilots.
ya really india needs the fighter rather than mig series as we hav enough mig29, sukhoi 30mki in hand, and it should be rafale or typhoon to prefer……
The India Air Force has the worst crash record in the world
chk this: http://siyasipakistan.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/the-india-air-force-has-the-worst-crash-record-in-the-world/
I THINK F-22 RAPTOR OR RAFALE OR SUPER HONETS WILL INCREASE INDIA CAPABILITY AND STRENTH.