India takes a big leap, to build stealth fighter jet

New Delhi: India is aiming to join the big league of avionic super powers in just about seven years, by developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, which will match the top powers in the world........

According to sources, officials from the Defence Ministry, Indian Air Force and the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) have already prepared a blueprint for the stealth fighter jet, which will have a lethal mix of beyond-visual range combat capabilities, reduced radar tracking signature, super-maneuverability and supersonic cruising ability among others. The jet will be far advanced in comparison to fourth-generation fighters like MiG-29s, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F\A-18 Hornets, Mirage-2000s and the like. The intermediate stage between them and the fifth-generation fighters is represented by Sukhoi-30MKIs, F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, F-16F Desert Falcons, Eurofighter Typhoons and Rafales.

The most potent fighters in India's combat fleet at present are the Sukhoi-30MKI 'air dominance' fighters, being manufactured indigenously by HAL now under transfer of technology from Russia, which can be placed a little over fourth-generation fighters. The fifth-generation fighter, sources say, will be 50% to 100% superior to Sukhoi-30MKI in terms of "avionics, radius of turn, accuracy of weapon delivery and other combat capabilities".

India will collaborate with Russia in this multi-billion-dollar programme since it is yet to master the technology behind the manufacture of advanced fighter jets despite the ongoing indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft project. The decks were cleared for this project on Wednesday with New Delhi making the "final choice" on the matter and Moscow saying the work on signing contracts on the deal could begin soon.

Observing that Russia had started developing the warplane about three years ago, visiting Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Sergei B Ivanov said: "Some time back, India showed interest in joining this project. It took them (India) some time to scrutinise the various options. Now, India has informed us that a final choice has been made. We can (now) open up contractual work for Indian accession to the project," Ivanov told reporters at a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart A K Antony after signing four documents. Although interaction has begun now on the joint development and production of fifth generation fighter jet, the actual signing of agreements could take some more time.....

Russia had been hard-selling its fifth-generation fighter project to India for some years now since it desperately needs some infusion of funds in its programme touted to be a rival to the American F-35 Lighting-II Joint Strike Fighter project. The two main Russian aviation majors, MIG Corporation and Sukhoi Design Bureau, submitted their plans for joint development of the fifth-generation fighter with HAL in end-November.

"Both presented their concept papers and blueprints about the aircraft configuration, workshare in co-development and cost of development. India might make the choice of its partner public during Putin's visit," sources said.......

80% of sewage in India is dumped untreated into their river system killing hundreds of thousands of people a year, I thought cleaning up their rivers would of been a bigger priority than a stealth fighter!! With a population of almost 1.2 billion, thats alot of "dumb bombs"!!!

Ah right, I guess you don't have poor people in Oz?

Oh, what you *don't* have, is a neighbour who you've fought three and a half wars with (and is a hotbed for Al Qaeda AND gets gifts from Uncle Sam for its "contributions to the GOAT") while having another neighbuor with the world's largest army and more combat aircraft than you can shake a stick at.

Never mind the fact that you've elected not to link any sources that claim "thousands of people" die every year from untreated sewage.

This, is a military issues forum. Lets keep it that way, shall we?

Bombay - excellent response until the last sentence. First, this is a military aviation forum. Second, military issues do not sit in an ivory tower - they are affected by political, social and economic issues, such as those described (but uncorroborated) by wessex19.

Also, I bet the Russians are glad that they don't have gobby tarts and Big Brother on their Television.

One more feather in the cap for long term funding for the F22.
They have a boogeyman now, or should I say the boogeyman will have a kickass jet.

Is this the same company that make the Jaguar ?. If it is then this could be good news and could provide valuable work for british workers. Lets hope we can secure some much needed work and contracts for the UK.

PTT - point, my apologies.

vecvec - Yes, HAL still builds Jags for the IAF (two seaters in upgraded DARIN-2 version) but why would the new fighter programme have any impact on British workers? HAL outsources very little, and production will probably be shared by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.) and Sukhoi/Irkut.

80% of sewage in India is dumped untreated into their river system killing hundreds of thousands of people a year, I thought cleaning up their rivers would of been a bigger priority than a stealth fighter!! With a population of almost 1.2 billion, thats alot of "dumb bombs"!!!


Thats why the UK Government give India £1bn per year in Foreign Aid :ugh:

I reckon Wessex 19 is jealous downunder :cool:

r supwoods, got any proof of that, or was that just hot air? :}:=:zzz:

r supwoods is nearly right - he's mistaken the five-yearly figure for the annual one; both were publicised fairly recently, and the £1 billion figure naturally recieved most media attention.

See the DFID webpage for India (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/asia/india.asp) One trusts that DFID have a reasonable idea of how much aid they're giving (even allowing for the fact that this is DFID we're talking about...)

BombayDuck


I don't know if it is factually correct, or the original source of the data, but 2 minutes on google brought up the following.....


http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,493033,00.html


For what it is worth, I am not being judgemental!

I Agree Biggus it will take more than two mins to be Judgemental about a country the size of India, Unless you are Wessex 19 :yuk:
The link you provided was intresting though, :ok: