Lockheed has offered India a new F-21 fighter jet.
The F-21 will have some parts and technology from the F-35 and the F-22 stealth fighter.
The F-21 seems to be a modified version of the F-16.
The F-21 will have new AESA (anti-stealth) radar and cockpit electronics that similar to the F-35 cockpit.
There are now seven planes in the running for a possible $15-20 billion order of 110 jets.
F/A-18
Rafale
Gripen E
Typhoon
Su-35
MiG-35
F-21/F-16 Block 70
Here’s how the 7 aircraft that have responded to the Indian Air Force’s RFI for 110 fighters are present at #AeroIndia2019. Clockwise from top left:
F/A-18
Rafale
Gripen E
Typhoon
Su-35
MiG-35
F-21/F-16 Block 70 pic.twitter.com/os0Egs8zLe— Livefist (@livefist) February 20, 2019
India has been exploring for about a decade deals to buy the French Rafale fighters and setting up a joint stealth fighter project with Russia.
In January 2012, Dassault’s Rafale was announced as India’s combat aircraft of choice. There were negotiations for two years over a possible 126 Rafale jets. In 2015, thirty-six Rafale jets were declared to be purchased. However, the Rafale jets have not been delivered.
India considered buying Lockheed F-16s before choosing but not buying the Rafale.
The F-21 could be India’s pathway to the stealth F-35 fighter.
SOURCES- Lockheed, Nasdaq, Wikipedia, Youtube, Twitter, Popular Mechanics
Written By Brian Wang. Nextbigfuture.com
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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