What the Indian Air Force ought to do if Narendra Modi had a Spine

[Ali_Baba]

What a waste of electricity this thread is!!!!

 

[Beijingwalker]

Aircrafts of multiple origins, disaster for system integration-deciding factor for future air battles.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Abt 250 million dollar per Rafale. More expensive then F 22. We can definitely not pay 35 billion dollar for 114 Rafale.

Why a light fighter jet with limited radar range and weapon carrying capacity costs this much?

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Why a light fighter jet with limited radar range and weapon carrying capacity costs this much?

The package price includes weapons, training, support, equipment and other elements, and it's 250 million dollars per Rafale for the navy, I believe.

but for the air force, if buy 110 aircraft are bought, overall cost would be around 140-150 millions including everything.

.

 

[Waz]

THe table on which i seat, these figures are discussed in dollars. 80 mil $ per F35 A, say 100 mil with onflation. 100 of them will cost 10 billion. 200 will cost 20 billion. Far less than the 35 billion for 114 Rafale.

F-35B: with weapons and support included is $150–180 million per aircraft.....
For our UK order it was $109 million per aircraft, for 48 and we are the most senior partner aside the USA.
You need to read more.
Also the US has gone cold on selling any such thing with Russian systems you have.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

If Modi indeed had a spine, he would have opted for peace and better relations with both Pakistan

Like every first time Indian prime minister they all start with this bhaichara with Pakistan be it A B Vajpayee, Man Mohan Singh or Modi. We all thought their was going to be a long standing peace. It was interesting when Modi decided to invite Mian Sharif also visit Pakistan impromptu but the Army was having their own issues with it created new border issues and also toppled Sharif govt then planted Imran Khan who was day night talking about "RSS saar".

Next Prime Minister should get a note from Modi saying "don't even try". There can be no peace, and peace can be forced with economic might be it inside the border or externally.

 

[Archer Archer]

Why a light fighter jet with limited radar range and weapon carrying capacity costs this much?

There are multiple factors that cause the price to be inflated. This is not the price of a single plane. It includes weapons, training, spare support etc. But thats not the only factor. What France offers is an aircraft free from any US systems. There is a premium for that. Plus the kickback angle. Indian defence contracts are known to be highly corrupt. The kickbacks to the BJP is what ir used to finance ellections.

 

[Shui]

80 mil $ per F35 A, say 100 mil with onflation. 100 of them will cost 10 billion. 200 will cost 20 billion.

LOL, are you for real, thats US fly away cost without maintenance, ammunitions etc, if for India, expect five times the cost.

 

[ThoroughPro]

I am not sure who it was who said Pakistan will eat grass but we will have our bomb. India today is not that poor. Indian economy is 6th largest at current prices and probably 3rd in Purchasing Power Parity Basis. Now China is moving towards 500 to 1000 stealth aircrafts . India should be moving towards 400 to 800 stealth aircraft by 2035. AMCA is just cream topping and begin induction by 2035 if long laid down timelines hold up.

Now, we cannot go around buying like the way we bought 36 Rafales. That deal was outrageously priced when u do the per aircraft maths. Abt 250 million dollar per Rafale. More expensive then F 22. We can definitely not pay 35 billion dollar for 114 Rafale. Better use 35 billion to buy out all of Dassults Stock. Hostile takeover.

No, what we ought to do is go for both the F 35 and Su 57. 200 to 400 of each, produced in India by 2035. At 80 million dollar a piece for the F 35 A and cheaper for the Sukhoi. We should not repeat the mistake of the 1980s. The US gave Pakistan F 16. We responded with both the Mirage 2000 and MiG 29. The mistake we made was that we did not manufacture them.

The highest level collaborator in the F 35 program is UK and even they dont have an assembly line for the F 35. But we will be targetting 400 aircraft. Trump will cut a deal. Speacially if we threaten them that our alternative is the Sukhoi 57 and say **** Sanctions. And then go ahead and make a deal with Putin. 200 to 400 Sukhoi 57s manufactured in India along with the Okhotnik Su 70 drone.

My lower numbers are on the verge of possiblity. Rajnath can do it if he had a spine. The higher numbers are possible if Modi had the hardware. But between the whole cabinet, they dont have a pair.

Dil Behlanay Ko Ghalib Khial acha Hai

 

[Starlord]

India has develop a far advance and superior technology to defeat Pakistan, the rule of 3... if Pakistan say we kill 1 enemy soldier just mutiply it with 3 and that's the damage they inflict, if PAF shot down 1 Indian Air force fighter, simple... multiply that number with 3 and that's your answer.

 

[Michael]

India purchased US MQ-9 UAVs at a unit price exceeding $100 million.

On what grounds would anyone assume the US would sell F-35 fighter jets to India at a unit price of $80 million?

To reiterate: the Su-57E is the Indian Air Force's only option for a fifth-generation fighter program. Anything else—including the AMCA—is pure fantasy.

 

[retaxis]

Saudi paid over $500mil per f35. India will probably pay 600mil per aircraft.

Thread 'US State Dept approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia'

Sep 17, 2026

Al Arabiya English
Published: 17 September ,2026: 09:45 PM GST
Updated: 17 September ,2026: 09:45 PM GST

The US State Department has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, according to a congressional notification issued on Thursday.

The proposed sale includes 48 F-35 aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, along with associated equipment, training and logistical support.

The State Department said the sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter current and future threats, bolster its...

• Asfandyar Bhittani
• Replies: 57
• Forum: Middle East & Africa

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And then usa full control of india will be complete since they own all the indian data already thru Gmail, Google, YouTube, Twitter, instagram etc. Usa then will also control whether super overpriced weapons will be used when and where.

But funniest thing is that the americans already told Indians to their face that they will never allow india to grow into a major power. Modi was literally in the room lol. India rupee depreciation, high inflation and huge government interest payments is already cause India to fall from 4th to 6th largest economy. America won't be satisfied until india becomes 10th largest economy at this rate.

 

[Yasser76]

F-35s are not, and never have been, on the table for India. That is why Lockheed had to go through the whole F-21 tasmasha to convince the Indians to take an F-16.

The very fact that India is talking to Russia on SU-57 shows you why US will never allow F-35 anyehere near India. To the point when one had to make an emergency landing in Indian (Royal Navy F-35), the Brits rushed guards to the plane and it was forbidden to be taken inside a hanger and could be observed by Sats at all times.

 

[Trailer23]

I am not sure who it was who said Pakistan will eat grass but we will have our bomb. India today is not that poor. Indian economy is 6th largest at current prices and probably 3rd in Purchasing Power Parity Basis. Now China is moving towards 500 to 1000 stealth aircrafts . India should be moving towards 400 to 800 stealth aircraft by 2035. AMCA is just cream topping and begin induction by 2035 if long laid down timelines hold up.

Now, we cannot go around buying like the way we bought 36 Rafales. That deal was outrageously priced when u do the per aircraft maths. Abt 250 million dollar per Rafale. More expensive then F 22. We can definitely not pay 35 billion dollar for 114 Rafale. Better use 35 billion to buy out all of Dassults Stock. Hostile takeover.

No, what we ought to do is go for both the F 35 and Su 57. 200 to 400 of each, produced in India by 2035. At 80 million dollar a piece for the F 35 A and cheaper for the Sukhoi. We should not repeat the mistake of the 1980s. The US gave Pakistan F 16. We responded with both the Mirage 2000 and MiG 29. The mistake we made was that we did not manufacture them.

The highest level collaborator in the F 35 program is UK and even they dont have an assembly line for the F 35. But we will be targetting 400 aircraft. Trump will cut a deal. Speacially if we threaten them that our alternative is the Sukhoi 57 and say **** Sanctions. And then go ahead and make a deal with Putin. 200 to 400 Sukhoi 57s manufactured in India along with the Okhotnik Su 70 drone.

My lower numbers are on the verge of possiblity. Rajnath can do it if he had a spine. The higher numbers are possible if Modi had the hardware. But between the whole cabinet, they dont have a pair.

What planet do you live on, hommie?

I'm NOT certain how many episodes have those two idiots on Ctrl+Alt Defence have covered, but I believe that whole F-35 topic has been laid to rest.

Infact, they've literally made fun of Su-57 to the point NOT calling it a 5th Gen.

#GoodLuck