"Rafal", buddy, how are you?
Speaking in the previous material about the fate of the MiG-29K, it was impossible to resist looking over the fence to the neighbor. And make sure that the decision to replace the MiG-29K with the Rafal-M was deliberate and justified. And our plane is really “not a cake.”
Legalized madness in the style of a Bollywood series is the only way one could characterize the Indian MMRCA tender. As a result of the tender, India had to buy 126 profitable middle-class fighters. But everything turned out according to the canons of Indian TV series, that is, with secrets, conspiracies, scandals, revelations and even fights. It looks like there was no dancing, but I'm not sure.
As you remember, the nominal winner was Dassault Aviation with its Rafale.
Nominal - because the tender was eventually completed, but it seems that it was not final. That is, it was played, but as it turned out later, the French interpreted the conditions and tasks in a somewhat unique way, and they fulfilled them - just a sight for sore eyes.
Over the course of 10 years, the French delivered eight machines. Simply amazing performance, if you take into account that aircraft of a more complex formation, the Su-30MKI, were delivered two years after the conclusion of the contract.
But the products of the Sukhoi Company did not participate in the tender, the Indians did not like the MiG-35 due to its incompleteness, and a whole campaign of persecution was launched against the MiG-29. There were not many contenders left, and the Indians settled on what seemed to be a fully developed French aircraft.
In general, to be fair, it is worth saying that French aircraft in India also have quite a decent reputation. Back in 1985, 50 Mirage 2000 fighters were purchased for the Indian Air Force, which showed themselves quite worthy in the Kargil War, working together with the MiG-29. Therefore, the purchase of Rafales did not seem so illogical.
There were beautiful presentations, there were promises that the Indian Air Force would become the strongest in the region (and we must remember that India has two rivals/adversaries - Pakistan and China), there was also a terrible scandal.
And it’s okay that a very unpleasant fact has surfaced that the French, having beaten Indian specialists in the contractual field, showed them greatness in terms of technology and localization of aircraft in India. France is not Russia, it was the Russians who sent aircraft kits for assembly to India. The French refused, taking advantage of miscalculations in the treaties. So, unfortunately, I had to give up on “Made in India”. The Indians were offended, especially since the tender specified assembly in India. But alas.
And when the real prices for the Rafali surfaced, which, by the way, is 218 euros ($600) for one aircraft. Approaching his 000th birthday as a model. So, by the way, an “empty” F-239 costs about $500. The Su-000S can be purchased for $35. That is, for the amount of money that India spent on the purchase of 94 Rafales, one could buy 000 Su-000S aircraft or, in theory (because most likely they would not have sold) 35 F-108A aircraft.
It’s okay, someone sawed it off for themselves, right? Hollande himself put out the scandal... But now a criminal case has been opened again, they are looking for the culprits, and the Indian pilots did not greet the “new product” very warmly. Statements from Indian pilots began to appear that the Rafales were a bit old, slow and not maneuverable enough. But the Indians had to endure not only this, because the penalty for refusing the contract was truly astronomical.
What finished off the Indian military was that the Rafales in the Indian Air Force were faced with the problem of refueling in the air. And in order to solve these problems, it is necessary to purchase “only” six A-330MRTT air tankers. That is, plus some one and a half billion dollars to the already existing eight and a half. And the planes also need French weapons, which are also not the cheapest in the world.
Great business, isn't it? The Indian Rafale is simply a magnificent machine, it is equipped with almost everything that an ideal aircraft requires and therefore is exactly twice as expensive as the same Rafale for Egypt or Qatar. Which are the same, but not ideal. They don't dance.
And if we add modifications, repair kits and everything else here - in general, the Indians hit the mark in full. This is even cooler than all the calls “from the Central Bank security service.” Three billion euros, which is exactly the figure of “kickbacks” that the Indian opposition calls, are being sought by the security forces of the two countries, but something tells us that the money has already been... spent.
But let's get back to the planes.
Maybe, while gloating so much, I am wrong in my conclusions, and the Rafale is not such a bad plane? Considering that the MiG-29K cannot be called the newest?
But we must also take into account the outright persecution of everything Russian weapons, which over the past decade has been organized in the Indian media by certain forces that are clearly opposed to Rosoboronexport. And there was bullying. MiG-29, Su-30MKI, T-90M - literally everything suddenly stopped being liked by the Indian military. Refusal of joint work on a fifth-generation fighter, which also disappointed the Indians, refusal to develop missile weapons...
And this is the ending. But let's look at airplanes, maybe we are all really wrong about something? Maybe the first Rafale squadron was in vain called “platinum” due to the cost of the aircraft?
On deck...
Development
It is difficult to clearly determine the “date of birth” of the MiG-29K, because work began in 1984, the first flight of the MiG-29K took place in 1988, but the first flight of the MiG-29KUB was only in 2007. Considering that in 2004 India, without which the birth of the MiG-29K would not have occurred, signed a contract for the development and supply of 16 carrier-based fighters (4 MiG-29KUB, 12 MiG-29K), then it is quite possible to consider 2007 as the year of birth, when The MiG-29KUB flew and production of the MiG-29K began.
The Rafale first took to the air in 1986 (land version A), and the Rafale M itself took off in 1991.
Both aircraft are modifications of land aircraft to meet the requirements of the carrier-based aircraft. aviation by strengthening the structure, upgrading the landing gear and adding a landing hook. The MiG-29K has folding wings, the Rafale does not have this.
Avionics
The MiG-29K is equipped with three multifunctional color liquid crystal displays (there are seven displays on the two-seat MiG-29KUB), a four-channel digital fly-by-wire flight control system, an anti-radar missile homing system, a helmet-mounted weapons guidance system and electronic countermeasures. In addition, the on-board oxygen generation system eliminates the need for oxygen tanks.
"Rafal" has an equally effective control system under the guidance of a central computer, the EDSU is also four-channel (three main and one backup), three displays, a direct voice input (DVI) system, and a holographic projection system (HUD).
Radars and sensors
The MiG-29K was developed with the Zhuk-ME radar; the Indian order includes the Zhuk-ME FGM129, with a slot antenna array. The radar “can” operate in target tracking and terrain mapping mode. Can track up to 10 targets while simultaneously firing at 4 of them. Operating range up to 300 km against a destroyer-type target, scanning area +/- 85 degrees in azimuth and +56/-40 in elevation. The MiG-29K can be equipped with an IRST system integrated with both optical and laser systems, which can provide target designation against ground and air targets at a distance of up to 15 km with a 360-degree all-round visibility. IRST can also provide missile flight correction at close combat ranges.
The Rafale is equipped with a Thales RBE2 multi-mode electronically scanned radar (ESAR). The modification of the F3 family aircraft should receive radar and AFAR, which will have a positive effect on the combat capabilities of the aircraft. The radar is capable of generating real-time XNUMXD maps for terrain following and real-time high-resolution ground maps for navigation and targeting. An additional container with PDLCT-TV navigation television equipment and FLIR thermal imaging equipment can be suspended under the aircraft fuselage.
Engines
The MiG-29K has two RD-33MK engines with a maximum thrust of 5400 kgf, in afterburner 8000 kgf and in takeoff mode 9000 kgf. Maximum speed at altitude: 2200 km/h (M=2,1), at the ground: 1400 km/h (M=1,17). Climbing rate 18 m/min. (000 m/s). Service ceiling: 300 m
Combat radius:
- without PTB - 850 km
- with 1 PTB - 1050 km
- with 3 PTB - 1300 km
The Rafale is equipped with Snecma M88-2E4 engines capable of providing a maximum thrust of 5100 kgf and 7500 kgf with afterburner. Maximum speed at an altitude of 1900 km/h (M=1,7), at the ground 1350 km/h, rate of climb 18300 m/min (305 m/s), service ceiling 15 m.
Combat radius with three PTBs is 1300 km.
weaponry
The MiG-29K has a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon at the root of the left wing with 150 rounds of ammunition. A fairly wide range of weapons with a total mass of 5 kg on 500 hardpoints includes laser and television-guided bombs, in addition to conventional free-fall bombs. Air-to-surface missiles are represented by the Kh-9, Kh-25T, Kh-29, Kh-31U families. For air combat, air-to-air missiles of the RVV-AE, R-35ER/ET and R-27E types are used. In general, the MiG-73 uses almost the entire range of Russian-made aviation weapons, and can also carry imported products on board.
Rafales are capable of performing a variety of missions with weapons weighing a total of 9 kg on 500 hardpoints: air defense and superiority missions using Mica IR and EM air-to-air missiles, precision ground attacks, typically with using SCALP EG cruise missiles and AASM Hammer air-to-surface weapons, fighting ships with the AM13 Exocet anti-ship missile.
In addition to missiles, the Rafale can be equipped with a range of laser-guided bombs to attack ground targets. All versions of the aircraft also carry a 30 mm GIAT 30 DEFA cannon with 125 rounds of ammunition.
The picture is peculiar. Do you see two planes here, one of which has an unconditional advantage over the other? So I don’t see it. Considering that the maximum take-off weight of both aircraft is the same, 24 kg, the MiG-500K is clearly a little faster and flies higher if necessary. And the Rafale has a (large) advantage in the amount of cargo on external slings.
At the same time, the amount of composite materials in aircraft structures is approximately the same, but in terms of thermal insulation of engines, the MiG-29K is considered one of the best in the world. That is, they are also approximately equal.
Of course, if you install an AFAR radar on the Rafale, it will have a decent advantage, but the question is, will India get such a modification (most likely not)?
In general, these are two aircraft that are equal in terms of performance characteristics and capabilities. And everything would be fine, even if the Rafale has certain advantages, but the price... Still, 240 million and 40 million dollars is just an insane difference. That is, for the price of two Rafales, we get a whole full-fledged MiG-29K squadron.
That case when the irrepressible desire to earn money ruined everything.
What can we say to summarize? Well, it’s clear that the best way for Indians to equip the Air Force and Navy is to buy Russian stuff. But you can’t make as much money with us as with the French. But we won’t “get away” like the representatives of this country.
In general, the Indians turned out beautifully. Direct purchase outside the tender of 36 Rafale M will give three full-fledged squadrons or two squadrons on board an aircraft carrier and one in reserve, because the Indians have learned how to hit aircraft on the deck, but not so much how to repair them. Moreover, French planes. The whole nuance here is precisely that the Mirages that fought in the Indian Air Force were not used on the deck of an aircraft carrier, which is why they served for quite a long time.
So India seems to be saving face as one of the world’s largest arms buyers, while investigations into the stolen billions of euros (including in France) continue, everything will gradually calm down. And the 36 Rafales purchased will be some kind of compensation to France for the 90 not purchased.
But here’s another problem right at hand: India has withdrawn the MiG-27ML from service. The MiG-23 was filmed even earlier. The MiG-21 is also going to be retired. And here the Indian Air Force’s plans to have 44 aviation squadrons instead of today’s 34 do not seem very meaningful.
Also, this purchase of 36 aircraft directly contradicts the Make in India strategy proclaimed by the new Prime Minister of India Modi, Rafales will never be assembled in India, France broke it off quite clearly.
But three squadrons of “platinum” aircraft are not a solution. These are three squadrons of aircraft that simply cannot be allowed anywhere beyond a parade once a year. And even more so, crashing as hard as you can onto the deck of an aircraft carrier. It's not profitable.
"Rafal", buddy, how are you? Boring? But those who made money from you are still having a lot of fun.
In general, there is one place where all this nonsense and scandal-mongering comes into play in full. That's right, this is Russia. The collapse and scandal over the cancellation of the MMRCA tender improves Russia’s position in working with India.
After all, the purchase of Rafales does not at all solve the issues of loading the capacity of the state aircraft concern HAL with work. Today, HAL factories are busy assembling the Su-30MKI, but there are no more than three dozen of them left, after which - stop. There will be nothing to collect. That is, if active steps are not taken, the assembly lines will stop working in a couple of years.
But with the money that Indian corrupt officials stole from the budget at the tender, it would have been easy to complete the fifth-generation fighter project, from which India withdrew at one time. And produce modern aircraft in the quantities that will be needed by the Indian military.
So it would be worth considering the issue of buying another 40-50 of the same Su-30MKI from Russia and thereby plugging the hole that is formed after the departure of the MiG-21 and the non-arrival of 90 Rafales. And these new machines will be built based on the modernization of the Su-30MKI2, or as it is also called “Sukhoi Super”. And at the same time think about the FGFA fifth-generation fighter production program.
Rafale at this cost is a direct killer of the FGFA project. Today it is already quite reliably known that the campaign in the Indian press against the FGFA was initiated and financed precisely by the French. Now the Indians have found a compromise that, frankly, does not satisfy either the French or us. What does this mean? This suggests that it is a good compromise: buy some Rafales and leave the FGFA issue open, that is, try to work in both directions. It's possible.
Likewise, it turned out to be quite possible to order another 45 MiG-29K. We need not only planes on which fortunes are made, but also planes that can fight.
Does Russia have a chance to return to full cooperation? Of course have. And the further the vampires in the form of Rafale aircraft devastate the Indian military budget, the greater the chance that the MiG-29K, which so far has no alternative as a weapon for the Vikramaditya, will be a good alternative for the Vikrant. It’s not even worth talking about the Su-30MKI, which has taken root in the Indian Air Force for many years.
And it is quite possible to return to the conversation about the MiG-35. Yes, today it is not customary to buy aircraft that are not mass-produced, but at one time the MiG-29K had the same status, which would not have become an aircraft if not for the contract with India.
In general, the MMRCA tender will include history, as not only the longest, but also the most scandalous process in the history of aviation. And the most corrupt, because they stole there at the level of two states.
The money spent on the Rafale, a model from the early 30s, would be more than enough to complete the joint FGFA program with Russia, or invest in another joint project, as was the case with the Su-XNUMXMKI fighter. As a result, the Indians will receive three squadrons of good, but expensive and quickly becoming obsolete Rafales, which, moreover, are simply scary to release into battle.
In general, it is possible that the Rafale will be the phenomenon that will return Russian-Indian military cooperation to its previous course. In general, sometimes it’s not bad to run head-on into a pole like that, and with the cheerful crackle of sparks, reboot the relationship, realizing that everything is not so bad with Russian technology, and especially with the conditions and price.
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