<!--QuoteBegin-Ravish+Feb 10 2007, 05:46 PM-->QUOTE(Ravish @ Feb 10 2007, 05:46 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->[Nareshji,
Without deliberating, India can go in for 4 dozen each of Mirage-2000N and upgraded MIG-29 or 35 whatever you may call. We have the entire necessary infrastructure. This would fill up the immediate requirement. The rest of the numbers can be filled up with F-18, not so much for its strategic value but as a symbolic gesture towards USA, which of late has shown some interest to be in the same boat with us. It will also give a sense of perpetual insecurity to Pakistan. (Who thinks USA cannot survive without it)
Jai Hind
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<b>Ravish Ji :</b>
Things may have changed by now but during my time in the NCC Air Wing I remember tht each Fighter-Bomber Squadron comprises of about Twenty Air Crafts â possibly the figure has changed by now.
The I A F needs to add about Ten Squadron, 200 Fighter Bombers, to be able to attain a Strength of 44 Squadrons â Active Duty - by 2012.
As such I hope it opts for no more than Two Types as you will see from the following list that the IAF already has Four Types of Fighter Bombers â The Canberra is, I believe, a dedicated Bomber :
Mirage 2000
MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27ML, MiG-29
Jaguar
Su-30MKI
Canberra
Of the MIGs only MIG 23 & MIG 27 have similar Engines i.e. the IAF is already servicing Seven to Eight Engines. Adding another two or three would even increase the logistics-maintenance problems.
As such the only thing one can say is to let the 126 Fighter Bombers come from the USA Stables i.e. F-18.
The F-16, I believe is out too old and the successor to the F-18 i.e. <b>the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would cost about USD 60 Million Each</b>
For your information the F-2â Raptorâ would cost at least <b>the F-22 Raptorâ would cost at least USD 340 Million Each</b>
As such let us see what the Air Marshals will want but more important what the Defence Ministry Mandarins will let the IAF have. After all at the end of the day it does not matter what the Admirals, Air Marshals and Generals want. It all depends on the mood of the "Secretary" and his Team!
Regarding Pakistan worrying about IAF acquiring the F-18s : I think Pakistan will be very happy as Lockheed-Boeing will make Fat Profits on their sales to India so that the same can be âsubsidizedâ for supply to the US Government which will in turn supply them free to Pakistan!
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->