January 23, 2014

India less happy with Russian PAK FA, Buying Fewer

Unfortunately for Russia's neo-Tsar and throwback to Communist Authoritarianism, Vladi (the Poisoner) Putin, compared to the US and even China, Russia has been unable to maintain financial or technical momentum on 5 Gen Jets.

India has been rightly wary of financing Russia's high risk PAK-FA:

PAK FA (T-50) estimated specifications made in 2009 - very similar to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAK_FA#Specifications now that PAK FA has had semi-public test flights.

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Robert Farley for The Diplomat, January 23, 2014 reports http://thediplomat.com/2014/01/the-hard-politics-of-fighter-aircraft-india-russia-and-the-pak-fa/ :

"The Hard Politics Of Fighter Aircraft: India, Russia, and the PAK FA"

The Indian Air Force looks away from Russia for its fifth-generation fighter needs. The announcement in the Business Standard that the Indian Air Force was less than interested in continuing its relationship with Russia over the PAK FA came as a major surprise. Notwithstanding Indian interest in generation 4.5 fighters such as the Rafale, collaboration with the Russians on the PAK FA [aka T-50 or FGFA] was intended to deliver India a fifth generation stealth fighter, as well as a variety of technology transfers. The Indian Air Force had a multitude of complaints, ranging from poor technology to bad engines to sloppy construction.

see the Business Standard article http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/russia-can-t-deliver-on-fifth-generation-fighter-aircraft-iaf-114012100059_1.html which reports:

"Top MoD sources suspect the IAF is undermining the FGFA to free up finances for buying 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for an estimated $18 billion, an acquisition that has run into financial headwinds because of budgetary constraints. In October 2012, then IAF boss, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, announced the IAF would buy only 144 FGFAs instead of the 214 that were originally planned. Having cut the numbers, the IAF is now questioning the very benefit of co-developing the FGFA with Russia."

Also connect with this gentleseas article on the PAK FA's first test flight, back in January 2010 http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2010/01/russian-indian-pak-fa-t-50-first-test.html .

Pete