Japan is negotiating for it's first major sale of defence system to New Zealand in a race to defeat it's European and American counterparts. The Kawasaki P-1 is in a head to head competition with the Boeing Posiedon P-8.
We are now on the third part of the series and we are here with the third competitor the Mig-35 Fulcrum F which is classified as a 4++ generation fighter aircraft. The Mig-35 is a much more modern version of it's classic cousin the Mig-29 which sent the West into a panic. The Mig-29 is a fighter which combined 4th generation technology with 3rd generation hardware. The aircraft had mechanical fly by systems due to the fact that the Soviets believed the pilot is one who should've the complete authority on the aircraft and push its limits, the aircraft at the time of service has a radar which was at least a generation behind it's western counterparts and a very low fuel storage capacity meaning it would not be able to take long range missions or missions which involved taking down of high value aerial targets. But even after these problems the Mig-29 remained a formidable dog fighter. The first time a Soviet fighter defied the laws of practicality and mass production. The Mig-29 is a beautifully sculpted fighter with the ability to carry out super maneuvers and has a high angle of attack.
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a very Happy Diwali and may evil in your life overcomes with good. I am also very grateful for the kind of response I got on the first part so without further delay let's get into it. We are going to cover the second contender of the upcoming competition which is the famed and the most talked about fighter in Indian defence pages and forums the F-16 V or the Block 70 which according to Lockheed Martin is made for India, Made by India. The Super Viper comes from a long family of F-16 Family which is one of the most widely used fourth generation combat aircraft all over the world with more than 4,200 aircraft produced not only in America but also has several foreign production lines . The F-16 V has been called the most advanced F-16 ever by Lockheed Martin and according to many experts and aviation enthusiast the most advanced 4th generation fighter aircraft right now.
As the Indian government is on the edge to buy and make a new 4+ generation aircraft designed and developed by the foreign companies. In this 5 part series we look each fighter jet and what are they offering in a small and understandable format. Point to be noted that all these aircraft were part of the previous MMRCA tender which was cancelled by the Indian government. We begin with the first wolf in the pack the SAAB Gripen E made by Swedish giant SAAB.
The Chinese military is undergoing a series of transformation program distancing itself from Soviet based system of command and constantly upgrading it's military systems these include the introduction of new helicopters.
An article in the economic times grabbed our attention. This article states that India and Russia might sign the deal for the 'Perspective Multi Role Fighter' by the end of this year.
The SR-71 Blackbird one look at this aircraft and it would remind you of spacecrafts from science fiction movies like Star Wars or Star Trek. Sleek made of titanium this aircraft looked like a flattened out snake. The Japanese called it the 'Habu' a pit viper indigenous to Okinawa. Made from Titanium sourced from America's favorite 'Friend' the USSR through the actions of CIA and third world countries. It truly gives a new meaning to "keep your friends close enemies closer".
|
|