It was surprising that the US Government and Lockheed Martin did not put forth the F35 Lighting II as a contender to the MMRCA contract.The F35 is a poorer cousin of the F22 Raptor and meant to fill the void to be created after the retirement of the venerable single engine multi role F16’s- the back bone of the USAF.The F35 has it’s detractors though,it is over budget and has missed milestone schedules. However, if the US could have allowed sales of the F35 to countries such as Australia, Turkey, Greece why did it not allow Lockheed Martin to place the F35 in the MMRCA competition, does it not harp that the relationship it has with India being of a strategic nature in each forum.
Let us look at a scenario where there is a full blown conflict with the Red Dragon in 2020,F35’s in IAF roundels take off from Gwalior in India.IL78 refuelers top up the F35’s flying in near stealth mode.The F35’s has its powerful AN/APG-81 AESA radar turned off and is using passive sensors to guide it towards its objective.Some where over Leh the “Phalcon” eye in the sky AWACS gives it updates through a highly encrypted data link on the enemy fighter movement over Tibet and updates it on the position of the HQ-9, the Chinese version of the superb Russian S300 Air defense missile system. If India has to make any headway in this conflict then the HQ-9’s have to go. The experienced squadron leader turns on the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic attack system. This coupled with the Mayawi Indian built electronic warfare system ensures that the Chinese radars go near blind.The lowly observable frontal stealth F35 then lights up the HQ-9 missile system, its position and coordinates are then transferred to his wingman .His wingman selects couple of Indian built sudarshan laser bombs and lets them rip. Additionally two AGM-154 JSOW’s are fired to complete the mission.BDA (Battle Damage assessment) is left to the CARTOSAT-5.
The Chinese Air force does not know what has hit them, before Chinese fighters are scrambled the F35’s are within the protective envelope of the IAF Sukhoi 30’s.The F35’s have created a gaping hole in the Chinese Air Defence one which has tilted the war in India’s favour.
The above fictional scenario is a much simplified version of the utility of the F35.I feel even with the MMRCA decided in the Rafale’s favour India would do well to purchase a couple of squadrons of F35 when they are available to do just break down the “barn door” and make life easier for other missions to be flown against the enemy.
However, the F35 is not available yet, not even to the USAF and to be a part of the F35 program now would mean India would have to wait at the end of a very long queue. Deliveries to the IAF would come as late as 2018 or 2020 unless the US allocates part of her quota to meet India’s requirement.Further the US Government would loathe to part away with software source codes and other sensitive data in respect of radar,avionics and the sensor suite of the F35.The British the ever reliable allies’ of the Americans had to beg them to share the source course of the F35 and it needed the intervention of the British PM at that time ,Mr. Tony Blair no less to ensure that the RAF has the ability to look into the source course of the F35’s software package.
It is unlikely that the US Government would be so benevolent with India.
Also its is very important to note that when the US goes to war its weapon systems are a part of the entire package, the F35 would be a cog in the wheel, supported by the myriad of sophisticated sensors and electronics weaponry some of which are still top secret.Computer bugs would infiltrate radar warning system of the enemy similar to the ones rumored to have been used by the Israeli’s on their attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear site.The F35 would not be alone.
The F35 Lighting has been built ground up to be a low observable aircraft which also is one of its major disadvantages. To remain stealthy the F35 would not be able to carry weapons on its wings. Weapons are carried in its internal bay instead which limits the number of weapons it can carry on an Air to Air Mission some analyst argue that it would run out of missiles when faced with numerically superior Su30 or the J20 of PLAAF.
Very well created scenario integrating almost all the facets...but what about the FGFA which should be in active IAF service by 2020? With a lower frontal radar cross section AND much better avionics compared to the F-35, FGFA can take care of the Chinese HQ-9.... Not to mention that the partner nations themselves have no idea when the F-35 will actually be inducted...and at what cost.
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