Most probable answer is wiring. F-16s also can’t use A2A weapons on innermost pylons, but can use A2G
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I figured it was mostly just the cost.
I checked the book you sent me a while ago and I found this.
Also the original.
Page 552 of this book.
One comes out of the other I think. Because Su-27M can use A2A weapons on all of its pylons, so is Su-33 or MKI.
If I had to guess, china wanted the extra A2G hardpoint of the 27M, but didn’t want the extra cost of putting the newer wings that can use a ton of A2A onto the Su-30 platform?
I don’t know. But considering the state of the PLAAF in the late 90s early 00’s it would make sense that they would want a cheap but capable aircraft.
It is still a wing similar to Su-27M because Su-27 wing doesn’t have pylons there at all. But by not installing connectors, data buses (USSR and Russia at the time weren’t big on standardised data buses iirc) and FCS upgrades you can make it not as expensive?
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I mean I would assume so.
Comparing the two Su-30 derivatives the MKI variants are probably a lot more expensive than the MKK variants.
Well, MKI in itself is more expensive because India wanted a bunch of shit integrated, and also paid for technology transfer. But looking at MK2 contracts, they are around 80 mil USD a piece. MKI of the latest batches with domestic Indian stuff go around 110-120 mil USD. Hilariously enough, Su-30SME costed Myanmar around 66 mil USD per unit
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Yeah, because Indians are famous for de-bloating projects.
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Overpaying for Rafales because they simply can. But honestly i am impressed with SME cost, 66 millions is with all additional service, training and weaponry, just the jet itself is like 35 mils. F-16 Block 70 is what, 60 mil per airframe itself?
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Obviously this is because the F-16V Block 70 is better. And SME has no conceivable advantage.
Indians would absolutely love this pitch
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I mean, supposedly they had interest in the F-21.
Literally a Block 70 with more stuff and probably 3x the price.
India never changes. I wonder what they put in Rafales to justify the price.
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They got a F.3R with F4.1 stuff.
Like HMD + 8 Missiles.
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I mean the Rafale looks so good I’d do the same…
But it doesn’t really make sense for the IAF, the great thing about the Rafale is that it does everything but the IAF operates quite a lot of different planes anyway
Don’t worry, it’s ok to be wrong
what aircraft isn’t these days? And a lot of the aircrafts do everything at a lower price or easier maintenance.
Yeah don’t worry I won’t judge you :D
Yes and no, basically every modern fighter is multirole but Dassault isn’t really wrong when they said the Rafale is more than that. France couldn’t afford to operate more than one advanced plane so the Rafale does everything you could ask a fighter to do. For example, it can do advanced reconnaissance with a big pod, it can perform nuclear strikes…
India on the other hand, operates many different planes, so the Rafale’s ability isn’t really that useful for them
But I now realize this is going off topic so whatever
I like rafale I’d buy one if I had the money(I don’t have moneys 😔)