Here are Ten Reason Why India Should go for New F-21 Fighter Jet
We offer considerable freedom within the forum to express one’s opinion. So just a couple of days back an admin did a story about why India should not go for F-16. Today we shall try to understand why India should go for F-21?
1. The aircraft that India wants to replace are all light single-engine Migs. In the middleweight category, India will already be having Rafales, Jaguars Darin III, and very promising Tejas MK 2. Then Su-30 MKI is there in the heavy category. F-16 new version F-21 is presently the best single-engine light aircraft.
2. F-21 offers the highest thrust-to-weight ratio among all the aircraft in the competition. The General Electric F110-132A generates 32000 pounds of thrust and only answer to many generations of woes that India has had off Russian Engines.
3. The core of the F-21 is its SABR AESA APG-83 radar which draws its capabilities from APG-77 onboard F-22 and APG-81 onboard F-35. Raytheon is a pioneer in AESA radars and this must be Raytheon’s 4th generation AESA radar as compared to first-generation AESAs of other countries. JSDF calls it Zero Viper with a clean RCS of 1m square to 15m square for Su-30MKI. This radar changes its frequency so fast that it becomes difficult to detect F-16. (See a separate piece on APG-83 on this forum). PESA holding China’s Su-35s and Pakistan’s Su-35s ( In case it acquires) will be no match to F-16s armed with APG-83 and AMRAAM-120D.
In addition to APG-83 F-21 has a COTS-based avionics subsystem.
4. The low radar signature of planform RAM coated F-21 reduces detection by enemy radars. Its single-engine design has smaller infrared and visual signature.
5. Raytheon is a pioneer in internal decoy systems and Electronic Warfare systems.
New F 21 Fighter Jet Unveiled by Lockheed Martin at Aero India 2019 Airshow
6. Operational capabilities of F-21 are enhanced through Link-16 Theatre data link ( first aircraft to do so), Sniper Advanced targetting pod, Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, Central Pedestal Display compatible with the Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS), and advanced weapons.
7. F-21 is the most maintainable aircraft. For decades problems of our Russian-origin aircraft have been maintenance, poor serviceability, and availability at any given point in time. And then we keep incurring mind-boggling costs to sustain them. F-21 has no such problem. Plus it is the most suitable and economically viable aircraft for mid-life upgrades. Greece is now upgrading its 123 older F-16s for an estimated $ 2.4 billion. Imagine what would be the cost of mid-life upgrades of Rafales and Typhoons.
Related Article: Difference between new F-21 and New F-16 Block 70 Fighter jet
8. The economics comes in the purchase also. Bahrain is purchasing 16 numbers of F-16 v for 2.3 billion dollars. India has purchased 36 Rafales for 8.7 billion dollars. And costs would increase with the passing of years. What would be the total value of the order for 110 Rafales by the time we come to that stage. Typhoons will be even costlier.
India has planned modernization of armed forces at 290 billion dollars by 2025. Is it viable to park 30 billion dollars in one item? And we shall still be without a fifth-generation fighter jet? And what if after purchase we find we have been beset with a white elephant? After all, unlike F-21 others are untested over the long term.
9. F-21 opens the doors for F-35 for India. Around 2023-25 once we have received F-16s we can immediately start a program for F-35s the cost for which will have to be born post-2025. Pakistan has good SAMs. China has even S-400. The only aircraft that can destroy air defenses is F-35. Rest will be able to operate only post that. So what difference does it make? If we can protect the country with Migs for 3 decades, 110 F-21 can set the neighborhood on fire.
10. India will be the only country where the aircraft will be manufactured. Bahrain, Indonesia, Slovakia, Japan will be inducting it. America is upgrading 72 aircraft. Many more would follow suit. More than 4500 aircrafts operating around the world would mean upgrades work will be always on. That India will be the only supplier of F-21, it boasts of a great business prospect for the country.
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Why don’t let them buy their dream junks from Russia? Didn’t they walk out of SU57 already?Indian armed force is poor man’s army, very poorly maintained anyway to handle any cutting edge tech. They need to stop trying to act smart & choose a side instead of trying to play both of us & Russia.
” If we can protect the country with Migs for 3 decades, 110 F-21 can set the neighbourhood on fire.”
Geez , I hope writer ain’t Indian. Good luck with protecting the country with Migs for 3 decades. Mikhoyan probably won’t be around for long with severe shortage of their funding.
APG83 draws capabilities from APG81 is a limited understood statement. That’s like saying F35 draws capabilities from F22. What’s those “capabilities”? F22 is air superiority fighter non exportable while F35 is multi role jsf . Yes there are certain techs which are incorporated.
83 is basically a derivative because MC asked for AESA radar for it’s F18. It is designed for MC F/A18 used in F16 too. All 83,81,77 was built by Northrop Grumman.
“Then Su-30 MKI are there in the heavy category”
So India is planning on having Su30 while it wants to shoot down Su35 with F21 while Su35 is actually a superior fighter compared to Su30 in basically every category? ?