Stealth vs. Stealth: China and Russia Set to Compete for Stealth Fighter Sales

 India is reportedly mulling Russia’s newly unveiled Checkmate fighter, drawing concern from Chinese experts.

It’s no secret that Russian defense giant Rostec’s new, lightweight fifth-generation Checkmate fighter is primarily an export product, aggressively priced to compete with western offerings like the Dassault Rafale and JAS-39 Gripen.

It is just as well established that Russia’s defense industry is targeting India as one of the plane’s first, and largest, potential customers. Rostec’s early July Checkmate teaser trailer prominently featured India, with Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov reiterating on the day of the plane’s reveal that “firstly, the aircraft will be oriented toward African countries, India, and Vietnam.”

A recent South China Morning Post article voiced the concerns of some Chinese defense observers over India’s potential Checkmate procurement. “The sales of stealth fighters are very political and still largely based on the political divide,” said Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and commentator, adding that India is among the most likely buyers of Rostec’s new fighter.

The context to which Zhongping is referring is the ongoing border standoff between Chinese and Indian forces in the Himalayas. Chinese experts have argued that India’s fourth-generation fighter fleet, headlined by a recent Rafale procurement, cannot match the capabilities of Beijing’s J-20 fifth-generation fighter. Against the looming backdrop of possible future clashes with China, the Indian Air Force has set forth a mission requirement for a next-generation fighter jet capable of going toe to toe with the rapidly modernizing Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

There were reports earlier this year suggesting that India indicated its interest in purchasing Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, but those prospective talks do not appear to have taken off. In the 2010s, India became a partner in the FGFA program to jointly develop an export variant of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter.

                               Source : https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/

Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornets ‘Super Confident’ Of Beating French Rafale Jets To Grab Indian Navy’s Fighter Jet Deal

Rafale-M

F-18 Super Hornets

US aerospace giant Boeing seems confident about F-18 Super Hornets winning the Indian Navy’s carrier-borne fighter jet contract, outpacing the French Dassault Rafale fighter jets, according to the latest reports.

In January 2017, the Indian Navy issued an RFI (Request for Interest) to acquire 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighters, after long delays and technical glitches in building the indigenous HAL-Tejas for the Navy.

Among the four contenders in the race, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale navy-variant are head-to-head in winning the ₹24,000 crore deal, given the Indian Navy’s twin-engine preference. The other two are Sweden’s SAAB and Rosoboronexport of Russia.

Both Dassault and Boeing are marketing their fighters as suitable for the Indian Navy, claiming their respective aircraft can be easily integrated with India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1), named Vikrant, set to be commissioned in 2022-23.

                                               Source : https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/
 

Indian Army To Conduct 13 Day Long Military Exercise With Russian Counterpart From August 1

 

Indian Army on Tuesday confirmed that India and Russia will jointly conduct a 13-day mega military exercise 'Indra 21' emphasizing on counter-terror operations  in the Russian city of Volgograd from August 1.

They also mentioned that successful completion of the 12th edition of the exercise will be nothing short of touching another "milestone" in intensifying the bilateral security cooperation and will also serve to reinforce the longstanding bond of friendship between India and Russia.

The Army said 250 personnel from each side will participate in the 12th edition of the joint military exercise.

"The 12th edition of Indo-Russia joint military exercise Indra-21 will be held at Volgograd, Russia from August 1 to 13," the Army said.

It said the exercise will entail the conduct of counter-terror operations mandated under the UN's framework of joint forces against international terror groups.

"Exercise Indra-21 will further strengthen mutual confidence and interoperability between the Indian and Russian armies and enable sharing of best practices between the contingents of both the countries," the Army said in a statement.

"The exercise will be yet another milestone in strengthening security cooperation and will serve to reinforce the longstanding bond of friendship between India and Russia," it added.

It said the Indian Army contingent participating in the exercise will comprise a mechanised infantry battalion.

Volgograd is a major Russian city situated on the western bank of the Volga river. 

                                  Source : https://www.outlookindia.com/