Govt to shortly declare winner of mid-air refueler competition

[Sridhar]

Govt to shortly declare winner of mid-air refueler competition
By SP's Special Correspondent
Photo Credit : Airbus

A330MRTT at Leh during trials in November 2011
July 02, 2012: EADS/Airbus will be waiting with baited breath for an impending decision on the winner of the Indian Air Force's mid-air refueler competition. The tender, a second iteration after the first was aborted in 2009, is a delicate one for EADS. It's Airbus A330 multirole tanker transport (MRTT), which emerged the winner in the last competition, lost out when the tender was scrapped citing the cost of the system. Airbus has fielded the same aircraft for the current competition, facing off against the Russian Ilyushin-78M, six of which are already operational with the IAF at its Agra air base.

The Finance Ministry's objections on cost in 2009 are not expected to hold up the same way this time around, considering the dynamics of cost of ownership and life-cycle expenses worked into procurement processes. Russia's pitch has of course been type commonality not just with the existing flight refueling aircraft, but also with its A-50 Phalcon jets and existing heavy transports, all of which are Ilyushin-76 platforms.

Govt to shortly declare winner in mid air refueler competition - SP's Aviation

 

[sob]

Looks like IL 76 might just make it through this time.

 

[Blackwater]

Looks like IL 76 might just make it through this time.

Don't think so, A-330 is better option.


.BTW What is the parameter of "declare shortly" another 10 years

 

[sob]

I also agree, Airbus is the much better aircraft, but strange are the decisions that flow from MOD.

 

[p2prada]

The first competition was based on procurement costs. IAF chose Airbus and was in turn rejected by MoF because IL-76 was cheaper.

This time the competition is based on procurement + lifecycle costs. Unlike before it may be a decision by MoF. If IL-76 is cheaper, it will go through.

IAF wants Airbus though.

 

[arya]

just dont waste time

 

[Armand2REP]

Tashkent doesn't even make the IL-76 anymore. China has been waiting seven years for its order and nothing. Production facilities for the IL-476 are under consideration at Ulyanovsk but no decision has been made. IAF cannot wait for them to decide and then years to build the site.

 

[bhramos]

I also agree, Airbus is the much better aircraft, but strange are the decisions that flow from MOD.

MOD itself wanted A-330, so it called for tender process, if it wanted IL-76 refueller it would have made follow on orders for them.. we already have 6 of them...
A-330 is winner, so no surprise..
already once declared A-330, but due to Financial troubles.. tender was cancelled,

 

[Armand2REP]

What financial troubles? MoD leaves over a billion in unspent procurement funds every year. It is the only military that I have ever seen that doesn't spend all its money. :shocked:

 

[Zebra]

It is the only military that doesn't spend all its money.



ham bolega to, bologe ke bolata hai.

 

[bhramos]

What financial troubles? MoD leaves over a billion in unspent procurement funds every year. It is the only military that I have ever seen that doesn't spend all its money. :shocked:

thats true, but the last time A-220 was more then the money allocated, so deal cancelled last time, but now it will go through.. A-220 will be winner this time..

 

[Zebra]

thats true, but the last time A-220 was more then the money allocated, so deal cancelled last time, but now it will go through.. A-220 will be winner this time..

........A-330.

:thumb:

 

[bhramos]

........A-330.

:thumb:

Opps......... its A-330.
sorry my mistake..

 

[pmaitra]

Tashkent doesn't even make the IL-76 anymore. China has been waiting seven years for its order and nothing. Production facilities for the IL-476 are under consideration at Ulyanovsk but no decision has been made. IAF cannot wait for them to decide and then years to build the site.

Post collapse of USSR, Chkalov Tashkent Aviation Production Association has produced quite a few Ilyushin-76 and derivatives, some of them with PS-90 aviation engines (avia-dvigatel) with Beriev's collaboration for IAF. Beriev markets the same air-frame with the trade name Beriev-A50. Following bankruptcy, it has recently joined United Aircraft Corporation, and will continue production of Ilyushin-76MF.

 

[sob]

thats true, but the last time A-220 was more then the money allocated, so deal cancelled last time, but now it will go through.. A-220 will be winner this time..

But around the same time PC had no problems clearing the files for the super expensive VVIP Helicopters, but he had no hesitation in shooting down the tender, even though IAF was very strongly in it's favour.

 

[Armand2REP]

Post collapse of USSR, Chkalov Tashkent Aviation Production Association has produced quite a few Ilyushin-76 and derivatives, some of them with PS-90 aviation engines (avia-dvigatel) with Beriev's collaboration for IAF. Beriev markets the same air-frame with the trade name Beriev-A50. Following bankruptcy, it has recently joined United Aircraft Corporation, and will continue production of Ilyushin-76MF.

Uzbek Aircraft Plant Ends 70 Years of Plane Building

TASHKENT, June 13 (RIA Novosti)

Uzbekistan's state-owned Chkalov Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation (TAPO) will end seventy years of making airplanes by the end of 2012 and switch to producing engineering components, a TAPO plant official said on Wednesday.

TAPO will close its final deal to supply Uzbekistan airways with a sixth Il-114-100 turboprop airliner in June, the official added.

"Production lines and assembly halls for plane-building are now being dismantled. Machine parts and equipment will be sold to interested clients," the official at the plant told Prime news agency.

The plant will make building structures, household products, car components and spare parts for farm machinery.
General Motors Uzbekistan joint venture also plans to site a semi-knocked down assembly line at the plant to produce Chevrolet Malibu and Epica sedans and Captiva offroaders at TAPO, the official said.

The plant was established in 1941 on the basis of an aircraft enterprise which was evacuated to Uzbekistan from Moscow region in World War II. In the 1970's and '80's, TAPO built hundreds of Il-76 transport planes and a small number of Il-114 airliners.

China canceled a contract agreed in 2005 with Russia for delivery of around 38 Il-76 transport and Il-78 tankers, after TAPO said it could no longer deliver the airframes as production capacity had withered.
UAC then had to move production to Russia's Aviastar in order to complete the Il-476 modification programs for the Russian Air Force.

In 2007-2008, TAPO and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation planned a share-swap to bring the TAPO plant into the Russian aerospace holding, but the deal failed.

TAPO went bankrupt in 2010 and a court ordered in external management at the enterprise until November 2, 2012.

http://en.ria.ru/business/20120613/174001250.html

 

[p2prada]

TAPO is done. Now the Russians plan on modifying the IL-76, call it IL-476 and then produce the new ones.

It seems the IL-476 will see first flight in August this year.

For the refueler tender, they will probably refurbish old frames like they did for the A-50's(IAF Phalcons).

 

[Armand2REP]

TAPO is dead and Aviastar still does not have fab facilities to produce IL-476 frames. What they do now is modernise IL-76s to 476 standard, the first prototypes of which were pieced together.