The acquisition of the S-400, differing points of view on the war in Ukraine, eye-watering costs, a domestic 5th gen fighter program and never having operated any U.S. fighter aircraft are some of the reasons why India can’t and shouldn’t consider the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
In the first edition of a new weekly video series, StratPost editor Saurabh Joshi examines whether India could acquire its first-ever U.S.-built fighter aircraft, with the navy considering the F/A-18 Super Hornet for its next carrier fighter.
Angad Singh explains why the Indian Navy faces difficulties as it begins its search for new carrier fighters.
The Indian Navy has issued a Request For Information (RFI) for 57 Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) with the ability to operate from both STOBAR and CATOBAR aircraft carriers.
“Unfortunately the LCA has not been able to meet the carrier capability required. So that is why we need an alternate aircraft now,” said navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba.
The Indian Navy is set to take a decision on the future of the naval LCA and will be considering alternatives for fighters to operate from what will be a CATOBAR Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2).
The company is pitching a little-known naval variant of its Gripen NG fighter, called the Sea Gripen, which is intended to be capable of both CATOBAR as well as STOBAR carrier operations.
