thought it prudent to post updates on the MMRCA testing here.
Apparently, 4 out of the 5 aircraft tested (6 in the fray) in one of the 4 climatic conditions didn't perform per expectation.
The condition in question was at (one of?) the highest airbase in the world, where the rarity of oxygen required for engine start and sustained burn
was being tested.
Ministry of Defence officials familiar with the MMRCA trials told The Hindu that while they expect no hiccups during the weapons drop over
Pokhran, the Leh exercise proved challenging to the other contenders vying for the MMRCA deal.
The officials confided that four of the five aircraft in the MMRCA competition faced problems starting up in the rarefied atmosphere of Leh, and the
IAF had to ask the manufacturers to undertake modifications in the aircraft's fuel systems. The Gripen's evaluation is part of the MMRCA flight
trials, which started in August last, when the F/A-18 Hornets arrived here. These were followed by another American fighter, the F-16IN Super Viper.
In September, the French Rafale flew over Bangalore. It was followed by Russia's MiG-35 and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space consortium's
Eurofighter Typhoon flew in March.
Source
Other Links:
www.stratpost.com...
Other environments included Bangalore for humidity/wetness testing, Rajasthan for arid/desert like conditions, and Leh for high altitude testing.
The 6 aircraft are the F-16, F-18, MiG 35, Typhoon, Rafale, and the Gripen.
Now my question is, if 4 out of the 5 failed (presuming that the Gripen as the untried 6th) then which one succeeded at a clean uneventful engine
start at ~10500 feet?
Typhoon?
Speculations anyone?