India set to buy around 300 5th generation fighters from Russia

[ErnstBlofeld]

RIA Novosti:

India is planning to buy up to 300 co-produced fifth-generation fighters and 45 utility transports from Russia, the Indian defense minister said on Thursday.

"Over the next decade, Russian-Indian military cooperation will focus on two projects: a utility transport and a fifth-generation fighter," said Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who is on a two-day visit to India.

The jointly-produced fifth generation fighter will not be a copy of the existing Sukhoi T-50 prototype ordered for the Russian Air Force, but will be a separate creation, a high-profile source in the Russian delegation in New Delhi said.

The countries are planning to unveil a one-seater and a two-seater version of the fighter by 2015-2016.

The costs are planned to be shared by the two states fifty-fifty.

The Times of India earlier said India may invest over $25 billion on buying fifth-generation fighters for its Air Force.

[ErnstBlofeld]

The PAK-FA is at best a 4.5 generation fighter.

[AceRimmer]

Why would India be buying any military hardware from Russia when even the Russkies are looking at buying Western arms?

[Stella]

The PAK-FA is at best a 4.5 generation fighter.

 

 

What does a 4.5 generation mean? Translation please for us non military tech people.

[ErnstBlofeld]

The PAK-FA is at best a 4.5 generation fighter.

 

 

What does a 4.5 generation mean? Translation please for us non military tech people.

It has become common in the aviation community to classify jet fighters by "generations" for historical purposes. There are no official definitions of these generations, they represent the notion that there are stages in the development of fighter design approaches, performance capabilities, and technological evolution.Aircraft classified as fourth-generation jet fighters are those in service approximately from 1980 to 2010, representing the design concepts of the 1970s. Fourth-generation designs are heavily influenced by lessons learned from the previous generation of combat aircraft.

[ErnstBlofeld]

Why would India be buying any military hardware from Russia when even the Russkies are looking at buying Western arms?

 

The reason why is because India and Russia have a treaty.The IndoSoviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was a treaty signed between India and the Soviet Union in August 1971 that specified mutual strategic cooperation.India and Russia enjoyed close strategic relationship during the major duration of the Cold War. The relationship was a comprehensive one embracing political, military, cultural and economic cooperation and exchanges.

[ErnstBlofeld]

Why would India be buying any military hardware from Russia when even the Russkies are looking at buying Western arms?

 

The reason why is because India and Russia have a treaty.The IndoSoviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was a treaty signed between India and the Soviet Union in August 1971 that specified mutual strategic cooperation.India and Russia enjoyed close strategic relationship during the major duration of the Cold War. The relationship was a comprehensive one embracing political, military, cultural and economic cooperation and exchanges.

On February 25, 1954, US President Eisenhower announced his decision to provide arms to Pakistan. A month later, Pakistan and the US signed a mutual defence assistance agreement. Some four months later, Pakistan joined the US sponsored military pact, the SEATO, and subsequently the CENTO in 1955.