The cue is the agreement, considered by now imminent, between Russia and India for the joint development and production of a fifth generation fighter "with characteristics on a par with the American counterpart, the F-35 Lightning II". That fifth generation fighter is nothing but the Russian T-50.
India would be ready to buy the new fifth-generation Russian fighter, due to the stalemate that had arisen with France in supplying Rafale fighters. In 2012, the French Dassault Aviation had won a tender for the supply of 126 Rafale fighter fighters but a few months ago, the Indian Ministry of Defense called the ten billion dollar deal too expensive. To date, the only contract signed with Paris dates back to last April for the supply of 36 Rafale.
To replace the Rafales (photo on the right), India has also evaluated the possibility of buying the reliable and less expensive Su-30s, also of Russian design.
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India is tempting to many and the reason is easy to understand. It is a country with economic availability and does business with the highest bidder (including Italy). The Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā or Indian Air Force has launched an intense program of modernization and aims, within the 2027, to have 42-44 hunting squadrons.
Officially, the IAF currently has 34 squadrons, although parliamentary reports indicate that only 25 of them are actually operational. 14 squadrons are formed by old Soviet-made fighter, MiG-21 and MiG-27, aircraft that will be disarmed within the 2025. In this context, we find all the biggest aeronautical producers, ready to offer "an aid to the Indian friend". We know that New Delhi has never denied a possible agreement with Moscow for the T-50 and for the future two-seater version derived from the Pak-Fa, with deliveries set to 2018.
The Sukhoi T-50, the Pak-Fa program, was launched for the first time in 29 January of the 2010 flight (devoid of avionics such as radar and weapon management systems). According to Russian estimates Pak-Fa will be constructed in a number between 800 and 1000 specimens, including exports (only Russians hope to put at least 450 online).
The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft program, 79L code design code, of the Indian Ministry of Defense, launched the 20 October of 2007. The preliminary design collaboration agreement was signed in December of 2010 with a commitment of $ 295 million to finalize the basic configuration of the aircraft. The effort involved Russian United Aircraft Corp (UAC) and India Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) The preliminary design phase ended in 2013 and the two countries are now discussing the structural elements of the future investment plan.
And to say that until recently, Russia and India have found themselves extremely distant from each other, due to the decision, in the 2012, to reduce the purchase of the FGFA. New Delhi, due to budget cuts, told Moscow that it would buy 127 fighter than the originally planned 214.
"Other concerns, such as the slow development of the aircraft, the reluctance on the part of the Russians to share classified information and the desire for a two-seater version compared to the single-seater offered, further exacerbated relations between Russians and Indians. Lastly, India would have to guarantee half of the total investment for the development of the project, but it would have had a fallout of only 15% on the workforce at home ".
These points have been smoothing over the last few months. In India, the 40% of labor will be concentrated, while the Russians have guaranteed deliveries three years from the contract sign (compared to the eight initially envisaged). The Russians have proven to be extremely flexible, giving maximum availability to the final development of the two-seater T-50 that implements 40 changes over the Russian project.
India, reflecting, has put a purchase of 154 FGFA on the scales, as well as the guarantee of alleviating the Russian economic effort for the PAK-FA.
The agreement is deemed to be imminent. India is Russia's largest trading partner in the Defense sector.
In 2014, India has allocated 45 billions of dollars for military spending.
Franco Iacch
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(photo: web / Armée de l'Air)
