Sukhoi/HAL FGFA: News

Pinto wrote:

George1 wrote:It seems yes

Media: India and Russia will reduce the price for the development of fifth generation fighter

Finally some positive developments on this much needed fighter by IAF specially when rafale deal has been reduced, this seems to be the effect of push given by Putin-Modi meet in moscow in december        

Hopefully some positive news also regarding medium role transport aircraft too which has been stuck also because of difference of engine selected for this plane

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi have agreed to develop an Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). Negotiators made a breakthrough last month deciding to lower investment cost to $4 billion for each country.



adult image sharing

The deal opens the prospect of producing 250 FGFAs to replace the multirole Sukhoi-30MKI fighter, according to the source in India’s Ministry of Defence as quoted by Business Standard.

The 2008 deal is projected to cost each country $6 billion, adjusted for inflation. India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics and Russia’s Sukhoi have agreed to cut costs by 40 percent to $4 billion each over seven years.

The countries will invest $1 billion in the first year and another $500 million in each of the following six years.

In the meantime, India is negotiating with France on buying 36 multirole Rafale fighters for a price yet to be negotiated. French President Francois Hollande arrives in Delhi on Monday to sort out the financial details.

However, with the agreement reached between India and Russia and Rafale’s projected astronomical cost, the spotlight could go back to the Indo-Russian fighter, according to spokesman from Indias Ministry of Defence.

https://www.ibcworldnews.com/2016/01/26/fgfa-back-on-track-moscow-and-delhi-to-invest-8-billion-in-5th-gen-fighter-jets/

However, with the agreement reached between India and Russia and Rafale’s projected astronomical cost, the spotlight could go back to the Indo-Russian fighter, according to spokesman from Indias Ministry of Defence.

It is clear now, that Rafale is a-pie-in-the-sky. Similar to Jaitapur, similar to Mistral, similar to the 2011-2015 tender for replacing INSAS. All these project will/did end up fruitless. Nothing will be purchased or at best, a very small number will be purchased.

Russian weapons have been the backbone for Indian Army and that process in irreversible.

higurashihougi wrote:

However, with the agreement reached between India and Russia and Rafale’s projected astronomical cost, the spotlight could go back to the Indo-Russian fighter, according to spokesman from Indias Ministry of Defence.

It is clear now, that Rafale is a-pie-in-the-sky. Similar to Jaitapur, similar to Mistral, similar to the 2011-2015 tender for replacing INSAS. All these project will/did end up fruitless. Nothing will be purchased or at best, a very small number will be purchased.

Russian weapons have been the backbone for Indian Army and that process in irreversible.

Yes you are right, the present indian govt is bold why it did not rule put the IAF penchant for Rafales as its costly like crazy. Rafales come or not Indo-Russia defense partnership is going to florish come what may

What I don't get is that India refuses the development costs of a new aircraft they are designing together with Russia... and the result is reduced costs...

Why are they buying more expensive Rafales... have they no back bone when it comes to France?

EXCLUSIVE

India Looking At 60 FGFAs As Russia Reduces Price, Final Talks On

By Arming India Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3, 2016: India and Russia are in final negotiations in New Delhi to settle the contributions for the development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) at a reported $3.7 billion from both sides, Arming India has learnt from diplomatic sources. An early conclusion of the agreement is expected.

Development costs are to be paid in seven years, starting with an initial payment of $1 billion. The breakthrough follows a price reduction by Russia last month.

India's contribution for development costs would entitle it to extensive transfer of technology and include delivery of three prototypes. Subsequently, the entire lot of FGFAs for the Indian Air Force (IAF) are intended to be made at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's 'Russia complex' in Nasik, Maharashtra.

The cost of each series production FGFA is initially pegged at a $225 million apiece, which is about two-and-a-half times the estimated current price of the Su-30MKI, currently India's frontline fighter.
(thats flyaway i guess without the rest of stuff)

Sources disclosed that a reluctant IAF has finally been made to come around on the FGFA. But it has reduced its requirement to just 60 fighters, or three squadrons. This is being interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm for the proposed fighter, which is yet to prove true fifth generation capability.

The initial numbers were pegged around 220, which were later brought down to 120, and now have dwindled to half of even the reduced numbers.

Indeed, the Russian Air Force itself has committed itself to just 12 of these proposed aircraft, known in Russia as PAK-FA. These 12 aircraft will comprise a trial squadron.

But Russia is hopeful of persuading India to eventually commit to far more than the initial lot of 60 FGFAs.

India will have no major contribution to design and development, and the project is being re-modeled on the Su-30MKI lines, wherein India substantially paid for the development cost, paving the way for assembly line production in India under transfer of technology.

The initial concept of India having a substantial work share in the design and development of the fifth generation fighter in order to boost indigenous capability has been abandoned.

The rapid headway on the under-development FGFA is in stark contrast to the stalemate in price negotiations on the curtailed order for 36 flyaway French Rafale fighters, which are reportedly stalled at a level of over $11 billion, according to top Indian Defense Ministry sources.

The FGFA will very significantly enable Russia's military industrial complex to extend its pre-eminence in India by ensuring a follow-on to the Su-30MKI production line.

Informed observers see this as a shot in the arm for the Russia, which they reckon could impact immediately on French and American interests. A renewal of commitment to Russian aircraft will limit the number of Rafale fighters for India, and also reduce the possibility for Americans to sell a fighter aircraft to India.

Boeing Company Chairman James McNerney in October 2015 announcing in New Delhi that his company was ready to set up a manufacturing facility for its F/A-18 fighters, which also have a naval variant, in India.

Lockheed Martin leadership too had in the second half of 2015 made a pitch for selling its F-16 fighters to India, while Swedish Saab made a counter offer to make its Gripen NG fighters.

The two American aircraft manufacturers and the Swedish firm were competitors in the 2007 Indian tender for 126 medium multi role combat aircraft, which was won by French Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighters. The only close competitor to Rafale was the then Cassidian's Eurofighter Typhoon, which is part of the Airbus Group. Only Eurofighter Typhoon campaign, led by the Germans, has openly stated that it is all over for it in India for the Air Force's need for a combat plane.

Significantly, the latest development in the FGFA talks between Russia and India also signals that the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will continue to be Russia's major partner in India, and its engagement with emerging Indian private sector in defense production will be marginal.

Just a month ago, Russia rejected the possibility of trying out an alliance with the private sector Reliance Defence on the production of 200 Ka-226T light utility helicopters for the Indian armed forces by opting for HAL to be the production agency in India.

http://www.armingindia.com/India%20Looking%20At%2060%20FGFAs%20As%20Russia%20Reduces%20P

George1 wrote:India and Russia revive FGFA talks - The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revived negotiations

http://www.janes.com/article/57877/india-and-russia-revive-fgfa-talks?from_rss=1&hootPostID=526035c7399e95daf5f6e10c3b21de47

During the Indian PM visit to Russia in December, the decision to clear the pending deals with russia has been given fresh impetus

GarryB wrote:What I don't get is that India refuses the development costs of a new aircraft they are designing together with Russia... and the result is reduced costs...

Why are they buying more expensive Rafales... have they no back bone when it comes to France?

Pie-in-the-sky for France voters, I believe. India and France first make a huge deal, then gradually reduce and postpone the deal, and then the deal is cancelled in silence.

Similar to the assault rifle contract. Various foreign companies competed for several years and then Indian Army suddenly said that they didn't need foreign rifles anymore.

And the Jaitapur power plant, I wonder how many years have been ?

NEW DELHI: The long-delayed project to develop a new fifth generation fighter aircraft with Russia is now back on track with a firm push by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reviving talks and cost negotiations that had been stalled for over a year.

A senior team from Russia is currently in the capital for joint development talks on the Prospective Multirole Fighter (PMF) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and commercial aspects of the deal are being worked out. India, which has already invested over $ 290 million in the fifth generation fighter program with Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau had earlier wavered between continuing with the joint development project or buying a few of the fighters off the shelf.

Senior officials have told ET that the joint development model is now on track with Parrikar backing the development and production of the fighter as part of the Make in India initiative. Objections that had been raised by the air force - with one senior officer even terming the fighter as a 'third generation' combat aircraft - are likely to be addressed with a collaborative development approach.

"The qualitative requirements for the fighter have been drawn up by the air force and those will be met with the joint development project. The ministry is keen to carry forward the project and not just buy some fighters off the shelf as was suggested by certain quarters," an official involved in the process told ET.

While the final commercial aspects - the investments to be made by either side as well as the work share agreement - are likely to be concluded within the next few months, the deciding factor on going ahead will be the availability of funds with the air force to take on the project.

The air force budget has been strained with a series of high value acquisitions and ongoing payments for upgrades and transport aircraft and the addition of the Rafale fighter deal - expected to cost over Rs 60,000 - could leave its spending power limited over the next 2-3 years.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50932340.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

The longstanding demand of Indian Air Force to allow its Test pilots to flight-test one of Russia’s 5th generation T-50 fighter jet will be met soon after a formal Joint development agreement for the development of FGFA based on T-50/PAk-Fa is signed between India and Russia said UAC President Yuri Slyusar.

Earlier this year India and Russia have agreed to reduce the cost of joint Sukhoi/HAL Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project by 40 percent and Both have since reached consensus on cutting the project costs to $8 billion, to be invested by India and Russia over the next seven years.

Slyusar confirmed that Two Limited series production (LSP) PAK-Fa fighters would be delivered to Russian Air force in 2017 and has also urged Indian officials to expedite formal commitment on the detailed design phase of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme.

Slyusar while responding to reports that Indian air force officials are not convinced on the technical aspect of the fighter jet, said that ” There are no stumbling blocks that cannot be resolved “.

Slyusar also hopes to usher in an era of increased industrial collaboration under PM Modi’s ” Make In India ” initiatives and also welcomed increasing participation of Private sector in Indian defence manufacturing and R&D and said that ” Now Angle of view is wider and there are more opportunities now “.

http://idrw.org/indian-air-force-pilots-will-be-allowed-to-test-pak-fa-uac-chief/

A supersonic BrahMos cruise missile may be installed on a Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) jointly developed by Russia and India, head of the Russian-Indian BrahMos Aerospace enterprise, Sudhir Mishra, said Monday.

GOA (Sputnik) — The FGFA has stealth capabilities and is based on the Russian T-50 prototype jet. The FGFA project came about following the signing of a Russian-Indian cooperation agreement on October 18, 2007.



"We are presenting BrahMos to many Indian public and private defense companies, from some of them we get a technical job. We presented it also to developers of the FGFA — they asked to adjust the size of the missile, so it can be placed on board the aircraft. Such work is ongoing," Mishra told RIA Novosti during the exhibition Defexpo India 2016.
A supersonic BrahMos cruise missile will be tested from a Su-30MKI fighter jet for the first time in September 2016.


Russian-Indian BrahMos Missile to Be Test-Fired From Su-30MKI in September

BrahMos is a short-range supersonic missile, which has been used by the Indian Navy since 2005. The missile has a range of 180 miles and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 660 pounds.

BrahMos Aerospace was formed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. It produces weapons systems using Russian and Indian technology.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160328/1037071296/pak-fa-brahmos.html#ixzz44D6X8JHa

The draft contract on the design and development efforts is now being prepared.

The works on the Russian-Indian Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) are going on schedule, and the draft contract on the design and development efforts is now being prepared, deputy director of Russia’s arms exporting company Rosoboronexport Sergei Goreslavsky told reporters on Tuesday.

"The work is going on schedule, the draft design and development contract is currently being prepared after which the roadmap on the plane’s production will be determined. The negotiations are conducted constantly and intensively, but you can't jump over your own head, because everything should be agreed upon," Goreslavsky said.

Previously, the contract for FGFA design and development works was supposed to be signed in 2015. Rosoboronexport also informed last spring that the FGFA demonstrator would be made "tentatively, in 2018".

The company said previously that the fighter’s rough technical design was finished in summer 2015.


https://in.rbth.com/economics/defence/2016/03/30/russian-indian-fgfa-development-going-on-schedule_580233

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said no agreement has been signed with any country for the procurement or purchase of fighter aircraft.

In a written reply to Jitendra Chaudhury and others in the Lok Sabha, Parrikar said, "No agreement has been signed with Russia for procurement of fighter aircraft equipped with stealth technology. However, an Inter-Governmental agreement has been signed with Russian Federation for design, development, production, etc, of a Prospective Multi Role Fighter Aircraft."

He said, "The Indian Air Force (IAF) is equipped to cater for the threat environment that exists and is ready to meet the role assigned to it. Operational preparedness of the IAF is reviewed from time to time, based on the threat perception."

Further, augmentation of capabilities of IAF including its modernisation and acquisition is a dynamic and continuous process, he added.

Transfer of technology for defence equipment

Parrikar further informed the Lok Sabha that the government has entered into contracts with a few Israeli firms for supply of defence equipment with Transfer of Technology or work-share arrangements, while the divulgence of details will not be in the interest of national security.

"In addition, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has several defence Research & Development programmes with Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), Israel. Under this, Israel shares technology information, know-how, know-why and undertakes collaborative research projects. DRDO and DDR&D meet annually under the aegis of Indo-Israel Management Council (IIMC) to pursue and discuss defence R&D activities, he said in a written reply to Rakshatai Khadse.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/no-agreement-signed-for-purchase-of-fighter-aircraft-parrikar-116042901256_1.html

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 11

Away from the much discussed issue of how French and US companies are in the race to provide fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, India and Russia have quietly set about to conclude a pending agreement to co-develop the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).

Sources confirmed to The Tribune that a deal for signing a research and development (R&D) contract for the FGFA would be inked in the coming months. The differences are being ironed out. The R&D contract signing has been pending since June 2013 when the preliminary design contract (PDC), which detailed out the fighter’’s configuration, was completed. The PDC cost $295 million (Rs 1,483 crore).

New Delhi has told Russia that it wants a new engine and the plane must have super cruise ability, a 360-degree radar ability, added stealth features among 40-odd other modifications over the existing prototype. A plane called the ‘T-50’ built by the Russians under the PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) programme as FGFA is already being tested as prototype in Russia.

The IAF said AL-41F1 engines being used on the existing T-50 were just upgraded versions of the Sukhoi-30MKI’’s AL-31FP engines and it would need a new engine. Also, the Ministry of Defence wants that the R&D contract should have an adequate share of work done in India, thus allowing Indian engineers to learn the art of designing and making a plane. The R&D contract is estimated to be for US $4 billion (around Rs 26,000 crore) and a ‘prototype fighter jet’ could be flying in India within three years. The R&D process and final development of the plane is expected to be spread across seven years.

If the India-Russia deal goes through, the Ministry of Defence-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be the Indian partner. New Delhi is looking at huge numbers in case of its transfer of technology deal. It could be in excess of 200 jets over the next two decades, said sources.

In a war scenario with China, an aircraft such as the FGFA would be ideal for missions deep into Tibet. Beijing has good border infrastructure that poses threat to India. With a dwindling fleet of fighter jets, the IAF is now operating at its lowest combat strength in more than a decade. It is down to 33 squadrons (some 16-18 planes in each) as against a mandated 42 squadrons needed for simultaneous and collusive two-front war scenario with Pakistan and China.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/india-russia-to-finalise-5th-gen-fighter-jet-deal/235620.html

India and Russia are set to embark on an ambitious mission to co-develop one of the most advanced Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). Experts say hail the decision, as western countries are reluctant to actual transfer of technology.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – One of the biggest defense deals between India and Russia is likely see the light of day very soon. Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has confirmed that the final agreement on developing the FGFA between India & Russia will be formalized in the coming days.

In an interview with The Tribune newspaper, Parrikar said, "The Design and Development contract for the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with Russia will be signed soon. It will take 8-10 years (for the project to be completed)."

With an approximate cost of $4 billion, the two countries will be working on a fifth generation aircraft prototype. During the negotiations held in December last year, India and Russia agreed to lower the cost of the project by 40% from the earlier estimate of $5.5 billion. As per the Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in October 2007, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the designated implementation organization from the Indian side.

Defense Minister Parrikar stated in August last year, "As per the draft R&D contract, the delivery of FGFA to the Indian Air Force has been envisaged to commence after 94 months from the start of the R&D contract. India has spent Rs.1483.15 crore ($295 million) on the preliminary design stage of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program. The primary stage was completed in June 2013 based on a contract signed in December 2010 with the Russian side."
Amit Cowsish, former financial advisor, Ministry of Defense, told Sputnik, "I do not think money should be a problem; certainly not at this stage as the R&D cost will be spread over several years. To my knowledge, funds are not earmarked for specific projects over a long period of time, but allocated every year to meet the committed liabilities arising from ongoing contracts and for advances, and possibly one or two installments, against new contracts. Therefore, it cannot be said that allocation for the FGFA project, or for that matter any other project, is generally at the cost of some other project."

Experts are aware that India needs a wide range of aircraft from trainers to transport aircraft and from refuelers to fighter aircraft. The FGFA fits into this assessment because it is a futuristic air superiority aircraft, and also because of the experience gained from the success of the BrahMos missile.


Bharat Karnad, former member of India's National Security Council and security analyst told Sputnik, "Informed speculation suggests that the Modi government has weighed the danger of Russia simply terminating all engagements in the military sphere, which will create a big void that cannot be filled in terms of sourcing hardware and technical assistance for advanced and sensitive projects that cannot be filled, because while Western countries will be happy to sell "cutting edge minus-quality" weapons and weapons platforms, they will be unwilling to cooperate in actual technology transfer of the substantive kind, let alone co-design and co-develop sophisticated weapons platforms of tomorrow."


The Indian Defense Minister also mentioned that three squadrons of Sukhoi will reach India very soon which will keep the Indian Air Force fully operational. Currently the Indian Air Force has 33 squadrons of fighter jets against an actual need for 42.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160527/1040361938/india-russia-fifth-generation-fighter.html#ixzz49xnvc5Dy

India could soon ink its pending deal with Russia over FGFA aircraft. Picture: Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA jet fighter lands after a demonstration flight at the MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky outside Moscow-Reuters

India could soon ink a pending contract with Russia on stealth jet fighters, as both countries have "ironed out" their differences regarding the co-development of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), the Tribune reported, citing sources.

The research and development (R&D) contract was pending since 2013 following the completion of the preliminary design contract (PDC) that cost $295 million (Rs. 1,483 crore) for both countries.

Previous reports had suggested that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had differences with the Russians over several points, the like new engine, super-cruise ability, 360-degree radar ability and added stealth features, and they wanted over 40 such modifications in the existing prototype.

Russians are already testing a prototype called the T-50 PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) that will be the basis of the FGFA

India, the report notes, has said that it would want "adequate share of the work" to be done in the country as part of the R&D contract, which would help Indian engineers learn from the experience.

The R&D contract is estimated to be around Rs. 26,000 crore, and a prototype for the IAF could be ready in three years, while together with the final development, the development process is spread over seven years, the report said.

With the contract for the 36 Rafale aircraft not yet in sight and the IAF operating at its lowest combat strength, down to 33 squadrons from the mandated 42, the current government might be looking to speed up the process without harming its development concerns, over fears of a simultaneous war situation with Pakistan and China.

Though initially India was projected to have 127 FGFAs, newer reports have said the country could be looking at 65 aircraft (three squadrons) for induction into the air force.

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/differences-ironed-out-india-russia-could-soon-ink-stealth-fighter-jet-deal-report-678500

The aircraft forms part of the IAF's future fighter matrix. Under the initial plan, it was proposed that 94 months will be taken after the signing of the agreement to complete the development programme.


The Indian pilots will finally get to fly the Russian prototype of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) once the contract between New Delhi and Moscow on the joint development of futuristic combat jet is finalised.
Access to the Russian next-generation jet was one of the key sticking points between the two countries leading to the enormous delay in the project taking-off. Cost escalation and questions on serious technical deficiencies in the offer on plate were other breaking points.

The issue was resolved after intervention at the highest political level after officials failed to break the deadlock that had threatened to derail the much anticipated project that would have addressed Indian Air Force
requirement for a futuristic fighter jet. It is an important breakthrough as New Delhi had been trying to have a closer look at the Russian prototype (T-50) of PAK-FA on which the Indian version, called the Prospective Multi-Role Fighter (PMF), is based. Despite India paying $ 295 million for the preliminary design, Russia was not keen to share technical details of the prototype. Six prototypes of PAK-FA are currently flying. The project, which started in 2007, has now been resurrected. The projected cost agreed in 2011 was $10.5 billion.

DEFECTS IN DESIGNS

India had found several problems in the preliminary design as it was worried about the maintenance, the engines, stealth features and the weapon carriage system. Sources said that once the research and development contract is finalised, for which negotiations were underway, the Indian pilots will get to fly the prototype. The aircraft forms part of the IAF's future fighter matrix. Under the initial plan, it was proposed that 94 months will be taken after the signing of the agreement to complete the development programme.

With the plan already running significantly behind schedule, the inductions will have to wait until the contract is finally sealed. As reported by Mail Today, Russia had held a demonstration flight of the aircraft for the Indian experts which ended in disaster as the plane caught fire.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-pilots-will-fly-russian-fifth-gen-fighters/1/705080.html

FGFA's design, stealth and engines are said to be far superior than in Rafale. It is a generation ahead of Rafale while costing far less with more Transfter pf technology gruanteed

sepheronx wrote:Rafael is a good jet but horribly overpriced.  Both India and Egypt paying way too much.

At least Egypt was smart enough to compensate that with 50 enhanced Mig-35s for a smooth $2Bill, plus they got a nice French frigate as part of the deal, although it doesn't have the Sylver A70 VLS, maybe the A43 or A50, that said still looks overpriced to me, but a little better then what India got.

I would say Indians are really naive if they think Russia will just give their most sensitive technology to India, which Russia develop by themselves for their own money for their own T-50 PAK-FA. India will get modified PAK-FA and Russia will decide which technologies they will be ready to share with India for FGFA. Such stupid journalism looks like India doesn't want Russian made FGFA. I don't see a problem here. India could easily develop their own 5th gen fighter with their own technology, if they don't like Russian. I don't think US will share their sensitive technology with India.

medo wrote:I would say Indians are really naive if they think Russia will just give their most sensitive technology to India, which Russia develop by themselves for their own money for their own T-50 PAK-FA. India will get modified PAK-FA and Russia will decide which technologies they will be ready to share with India for FGFA. Such stupid journalism looks like India doesn't want Russian made FGFA. I don't see a problem here. India could easily develop their own 5th gen fighter with their own technology, if they don't like Russian. I don't think US will share their sensitive technology with India.

well bro one thing must be understood that paid media prostitutes articles are not the official version of india or indian govt or defence menistry. sp take all these western media paid articles with truck loads of salt n red chilly . These are the same media houses which have left no stone unturned to pin down Tejas too

NEW DELHI: India is finally taking forward the negotiations with Russia on stalled mega projects to jointly develop a futuristic fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) as well as upgrade its existing Sukhoi- 30MKI  jets into 'Super Sukhois' with advanced avionics and weapons.


Though India and France are now close to inking the estimated 7.8 billion euro deal for 36 Rafale jets, the defence ministry acknowledges that just 36 fighters will not be enough to stem the country's hemorrhaging air combat power.

The IAF is down to just 33 fighter squadrons — including 11 obsolete MiG-21 and MiG-27 squadrons slated for retirement — when at least 42 are required to keep the "collusive China-Pakistan threat" at bay.
The "multi-pronged strategy"to progressively crank up airpower ranges from inducting the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft to exploring a second line of fighter production in the country, with the American F/A-18 and F-16 as well as Swedish Gripen-E already in contention for this proposed 'Make in India' project.

Apart from these 4th-generation fighters, the defence ministry is now finally working towards inking the final R&D design contract with Russia this year for the Indian "perspective multi-role fighter", a variant of the Russian single-seat FGFA called Sukhoi T-50 or PAK-FA.

"Apart from resolving technical and cost issues, Russia has also agreed to allow IAF test pilots to fly its prototypes now," said a source. The final R&D contract for the FGFA was on hold till now despite the two countries having first inked an inter-governmental agreement in 2007 and then following it up with a $295 million preliminary design contract in 2010, as was earlier reported by TOI.

Under the main design contract to be executed in over six years now, India and Russia will chip in around $4 billion each for prototype development, testing and infrastructure build-up. The overall cost for producing 127 of these single-seat fighters — which will combine stealth, super-cruise and multisensor integration — in India will be about $25 billion.

Amid all this, the Indian defence establishment is also trying to ensure "maximum operationally availability" of the existing fighters at any given time. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, for instance, says serviceability of Sukhois has jumped to 60% now from an alarming 46% earlier.

"The aim is to achieve 75% serviceability. This has been done with an active tripartite dialogue among Russia, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and IAF to ensure better availability of spares and maintenance for the Sukhois," a source said.

This, in turn, has led to renewal of the plan to upgrade the jets into 'Super Sukhois', with advanced AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars and long-range stand-off missiles. "The technical requirements should be finalised this year, with the contract being inked next year," said the source.
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-pushes-talks-with-Russia-for-5th-generation-fighters-and-Super-Sukhois/articleshow/53145537.cms