Imported Single Engine Fighter Jet Contest

[Sancho]

Translated

Singapore Air Show 2018: Soon three prototypes for the Gripen E

According to Saab, the Gripen E development program is proceeding on a nominal basis. The Swedish group remains ambitious in Asia where the Gripen could find new customers.

Thanks to the Thai air force, the Gripen hunter is present this year, for the first time, at the Singapore show. The aircraft is presented both on the ground and in flight. Saab is also present to promote its catalog of defense products. In particular his fighter and his surveillance aircraft Global Eye and Swordfish.

The Swedish manufacturer is in discussion with the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia for a possible supply of Gripen. In Malaysia, Saab a few months ago proposed a rental solution to adapt to local budget constraints. It seems today that the acquisition of a new type of fighter is no more the priority of Kuala Lumpur. In the Philippines, a need has been expressed but no call for tenders has been issued. Saab is also waiting for a tender to be officially launched in India for a single-engine fighter. The representatives of the Swedish group believe that the situation could change during the year 2018. The Gripen M, naval version of the aircraft,

In Sweden, the development of Gripen E is continuing. Between its first flight in June 2017 and the month of October last year, the prototype n ° 39-8 made about twenty flights. It has since been equipped with a set of sensors necessary for further testing. Ground tests are in progress with the use of pendular tanks and armament. The next flight test campaign should focus on carrying these external loads.

The next two prototypes (39-9 and 39-10) are being assembled and should soon be available for testing. The 39-10 will be used for testing tactical systems. Saab also announces that the first Gripen E is already in production.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/singapore-air-show-2018-bientot-trois-prototypes-pour-le-gripen-e-106843

 

[Sancho]

Lockheed eyes long future for F-16 production
FEBRUARY, 2018

...Overall, Carvalho says there is potential for sales for over 400 new-build F-16s in the coming years given fighter competitions in India, Indonesia, Slovakia, and Colombia. Poland, which already operates F-16s, may also obtain additional aircraft.

While the Indonesian deal would call for 48 aircraft, the real prize for Lockheed would be India. There has been significant engagement between the US and Indian governments on the requirement, which calls for an unspecified number of single-engined fighters to replace legacy types such as the Mikoyan MiG-21 and MiG-27.

“Our fundamental offering to the Indian Air Force is the Block 70, the most advanced F-16 we have ever offered,” he says. “It has AESA [active electronically scanned array] radar, as well as structural upgrades to go to 12,000 hours, which is not insignificant. A lot of airplanes in the past have been 6,000-8000 hours. It also includes computing and cockpit upgrades to take advantage of the latest technology for the pilot, and for the capability the airplane carries.”

The core of Lockheed’s India offering, however, is its promise to setup an F-16 production in line with India in conjunction with a local partner, Tata Advanced Systems. This deal will be contested with Saab, which is offering its Gripen NG as well as comprehensive industrial participation.

“Once we get the commitment from India to procure F-16, then we would begin a process where we’d bring our industry partners from India over to Greenville to help them learn and understand the production line,” says Carvalho. “Then we can replicate it in India. Basically as we ramp up the Indian production line and build airplanes for the Indian air force, we would make a logical decision about when we’d ramp down production in Greeneville, and put all production in India.”

Apart from supply F-16s for the Indian Air Force, the India line would also provide F-16s for any other international buyers that may emerge.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...kheed-eyes-long-future-for-f-16-produ-445717/

 

[Sancho]

Saab gets a grip on the region
8th February 2018

The Gripen E variant of the multirole fighter is ready for the next test phase that will see external stores loadouts, release tests and ground trials.

Speaking to media at the Singapore Airshow officials from manufacturer Saab said that the second and third test aircraft are at final assembly. The second of the three aircraft, designated E39-9, is destined to test sensor fusion of the type upon completion.

Other tests will involve simulating stalls on the aircraft followed by a full-flight test while the first customer Gripen E is currently under production.

Robert Björklund, VP of Saab Thailand and former Swedish Air Force pilot, said the Gripen E had ‘gone through’ Phase 1 testing in the months after its maiden flight in June 2017.

The Gripen E’s weapon suite includes air-to-air capability such as METEOR, AMRAAM, IRIS-T, AIM-9 missile capability. The avionics comprises of an AESA radar, infrared search and track passive sensor and HMD sensors.

With a MTOW of 16,500kg, its service ceiling is 52,500ft and attain a top speed of Mach=2.

According to the Saab officials, the company is in discussions with India regarding a potential procurement of the E-series Gripen M (formerly known as the Sea Gripen), which it views as India’s ‘ideal solution’ owing to its low cost and high level of technology. It is currently awaiting an Indian RfI...

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/singapore-airshow-2018-saab-gets-grip-region/

 

[Vinod DX9]

SAAB is to unveil new prototypes , LM tries to woo with V...

 

[Sancho]

Saab on track with regional Gripen campaigns
08 February 2018

...India has two requirements. Saab said it is waiting for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to issue a request for information (RFI) in support of its stated requirement to procure up to 150 single-engine fighter aircraft to replace its ageing Russian MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter platforms. Under the requirement, the selected aircraft would be built locally.

“In India we are waiting for the RFI to be issued,” said a Saab official. “There is intent and great ambition but there isn’t the process yet. So, when the RFI comes along then we can take this to the next step.”

Saab is competing against Lockheed Martin in the procurement programme, which is likely to reach a value of about USD12 billion.

The other Indian requirement is centred on the Indian Navy’s (IN's) procurement of an initial 57 fighters under its Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighter (MRCBF) programme. Saab confirmed that it has responded to the IN’s RFI, which was issued in early 2017, with its Gripen M variant. This aircraft was previously named Sea Gripen...

http://www.janes.com/article/77737/...-saab-on-track-with-regional-gripen-campaigns

 

[Sancho]

Sieh dir den Tweet von @FG_STrim an:

 

[Sancho]

Indian navy, air force fighter jet contests to heat up in 2019: executives
FEBRUARY 9, 2018

...The naval contract, as well as a less-advanced plan to buy 100 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, represent multi-billion dollar opportunities for manufacturers and for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” drive to build a domestic production base.

But with the country due to hold a general election by next May, the expectation is both processes could take time.

Boeing is proposing its F/A-18 Super Hornet and Saab has touted its Gripen M concept in responses to a request for information (RFI) on the naval contract but they are waiting for a more formal request for proposal (RFP) to be issued...

...“We see that evolving over the next year or so, then driving to a competition,” he told Reuters at the Singapore Airshow.

An Indian Navy spokesman said work was in progress and he expected an RFP would be issued in the months ahead detailing specific requirements...

...The separate air force contract, expected to be for 100 single-engine fighters, has attracted Saab’s Gripen E and Lockheed Martin Corp with its F-16, but the contest has yet to reach the RFI stage.

“Hopefully we get an RFI this year,” Saab Head of Asia Pacific Dean Rosenfield said. “More than likely, 2019. But it really is dependent on the customer and what they do with the election there as well.”...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...s-to-heat-up-in-2019-executives-idUSKBN1FT10D

 

[Screambowl]

First IAF wanted a light fighter having qualities similar to Mirage 2000. When Mirage 2000 was not available, they wanted a medium multi-role fighter like Rafale because HAL is already producing a "heavy" Su-MKI. Now when Rafale is too costly materially and politically and Tejas is available, they want a "medium single engine fighter".
If we manage to make a Tejas MK2 medium single engine fighter and AMCA, they will ask for a single engine stealth fighter (read F-35).
I think the defense ministry needs to give the IAF bosses one tight slap and stop this travesty once and for all.

The best ever analysis and fact
...........................................................

 

[abingdonboy]

Sieh dir den Tweet von @FG_STrim an:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...s-to-heat-up-in-2019-executives-idUSKBN1FT10D

SAAB and LM now saying they expect RFI only in 2019, this after in Oct 2017 IAF said RFI was coming “in a matter of weeks”.

RFI—> first delivery will easily be 7-8 years so BEST case scenario is 2026-7 for the FIRST jet in India and the last one in 2037?!!


If it wasn’t already apparent, SEF deal is DEAD. Not even an RFI exists and we are having to indulge these fantasies?

 

[Screambowl]

If it wasn’t already apparent, SEF deal is DEAD. Not even an RFI exists and we are having to indulge these fantasies?

I dont really understand the need of new single engine fighter when they have LCA already, They should rather look for avionics than whole aircraft.
They have wasted precious 10 years just to get 36 dual engine aircrafts and now what? Are we never going to fill the depleting number of sqdrns before 2050.

 

[abingdonboy]

I dont really understand the need of new single engine fighter when they have LCA already, They should rather look for avionics than whole aircraft.
They have wasted precious 10 years just to get 36 dual engine aircrafts and now what? Are we never going to fill the depleting number of sqdrns before 2050.

It never made sense to me either unless 0 LCA were to be ordered. Now that at least 123 of them will be in service it makes ZERO sense to induct another single engine fighter.

The entire point of the SEF in IAF doctrine is to act as a low cost interceptor and air policing asset, it’s not going to be a heavy hitter, it’s not going to be going deep into enemy territory. So the LCA Mk1A is excellent for that role considering it will have AESA, a 100km capable BVRAAM etc. And the other point is it has to be CHEAP so 100s of hen can be afforded, what sense does it make to get a plane that is almost as expensive as the Rafale but has perhaps 65-75% of the capability only?

The ONLY SEF the IAF will get is the LCA, end of story. Probably going to have this foreign SEF deal hanging over us for another decade but it’ll never move past RFI stage. Perhaps it will be used to pressurise ADA for Mk.2.


If IAF is serious about addressing the depleting SQN strength the LCA is the only option, for the price of 100 Gripen/F16 Blk.70 it can get 250++ LCAs. Only way they will get to 42 SQNs is with a hell of a lot of LCAs inducted, another highly expensive foreign fighter from another source (US or Sweden) is going to cripple OPEX and CAPEX accounts.

 

[Arihant Roy]

An Israeli F-16I Sufa has been shot down by the Syrians over Northern IsraelI The pilots ejected and are safes

https://t.co/GgPyDlaPl0?amp=1

Now the claims of the F-35I being targeted and shot down doesnt seem too far fetched. It may not have been shot down but it was positively targeted and got nicked in the process.

Man, this was a F-16I Sufa, the latest and most capable Falcon inithe IAF inventory with all the latest gizmos and stuff. The top of the line EW and ECM gear and it was shot down.

I think after this, no one in the Indian Airforce and even thetMoD should ever mention F-16 Block 70 while talking on the SEF tender.

Good bye Lockheed Martin.

 

[Sancho]

The best ever analysis and fact
...........................................................

It actually can't be further from the facts.

- IAF never wanted light fighters, since M2K, F16 and Mig 29 don't belong in that category in their upgraded versions that were fielded in MRCA
- IAF was forced to change the tender into a new limit, because Dassault withdrew M2K and offered Rafale instead, which was above the 20T MTOW limit of the initial MRCA tender
- When the government cancels the MMRCA and leaves IAF with a lack of at least 90 MEDIUM class fighters, how can a LIGHT Combat Aircraft be an alternative?

But yes, when LCA M2K might finally be available, IAF might prefer AMCA, simply by the fact that a 4th gen LCA, doesn't play any reasonable role in Indias defence anymore beyond 2027.

So you can (fake) blame IAF as much as you want, but the "facts" are quite different.

 

[Sancho]

SAAB and LM now saying they expect RFI only in 2019, this after in Oct 2017 IAF said RFI was coming “in a matter of weeks”.

IAF was ready, the vendors and Indian partners too, all it needs to start the tender is a government that actually supports defence modernisation and not just make PR deals. Also we don't need foreigners to tell us, that the more the government delays the decision towards the elections, the more likely it is to be pushed to 2019 or?

RFI—> first delivery will easily be 7-8 years

Lol and what is this fantasy calculation based on?

- we only evaluate 2 fighters
- according to the SPM process, we don't need an RFP evaluation anymore to start the tender, because it's an SPM tender
- the shortlisting already was done by limiting the contenders to single engine fighters only
- for some reasons (that wasn't part of the SPM), we already have JV's with Indian partners, so don't have to wait like we did with Dassault and Co

All it takes is a decisive government!

 

[Sancho]

I dont really understand the need of new single engine fighter when they have LCA already

Unless you believe that a single engine Mig 21 is as capable as a single engine Mirage 2000, or a twin engine Mig 29 as capable as a twin engine Su 30 MKI, it should be more than evident why capability is not based on the number of engines a fighter has.

It were Mig 29 and M2K that won Kargil for us, not Mig 21s.

 

[smestarz]

Your analysis is correct .
IAF has needs and wants, IAF does not know what it needs, its just chasing its wants.

First IAF wanted a light fighter having qualities similar to Mirage 2000. When Mirage 2000 was not available, they wanted a medium multi-role fighter like Rafale because HAL is already producing a "heavy" Su-MKI. Now when Rafale is too costly materially and politically and Tejas is available, they want a "medium single engine fighter".
If we manage to make a Tejas MK2 medium single engine fighter and AMCA, they will ask for a single engine stealth fighter (read F-35).
I think the defense ministry needs to give the IAF bosses one tight slap and stop this travesty once and for all.

 

[smestarz]

But unfortunately almost for a past decade the IAF bosses are going public and trying to thwart the ideas of MoD, first we see that when DM Parrikar was trying to negotiate Rafale and said in case Rafale deal does not work out, they can surely go for more Su-30 MKI and then IAF Chief Arup Raha undermined him and went public saying there is only Rafale there is no plan B. I see this very unprofessional of IAF rather get a feeling that, they are being fed by someone else, not indian salt.

First IAF wanted a light fighter having qualities similar to Mirage 2000. When Mirage 2000 was not available, they wanted a medium multi-role fighter like Rafale because HAL is already producing a "heavy" Su-MKI. Now when Rafale is too costly materially and politically and Tejas is available, they want a "medium single engine fighter".
If we manage to make a Tejas MK2 medium single engine fighter and AMCA, they will ask for a single engine stealth fighter (read F-35).
I think the defense ministry needs to give the IAF bosses one tight slap and stop this travesty once and for all.

 

[smestarz]

True but the flight testing pilots who tested Tejas have a lot of experience on M2K which IAF fly (those are IAF pilots) and they vouch that Tejas is more better than M2K
Because Spitfires won the Battle of Britain, are we going to order them now????

Unless you believe that a single engine Mig 21 is as capable as a single engine Mirage 2000, or a twin engine Mig 29 as capable as a twin engine Su 30 MKI, it should be more than evident why capability is not based on the number of engines a fighter has.

It were Mig 29 and M2K that won Kargil for us, not Mig 21s.

 

[Screambowl]

Unless you believe that a single engine Mig 21 is as capable as a single engine Mirage 2000, or a twin engine Mig 29 as capable as a twin engine Su 30 MKI, it should be more than evident why capability is not based on the number of engines a fighter has.

It were Mig 29 and M2K that won Kargil for us, not Mig 21s.

I also said they should invest in avionic upgradation in LCA because its that EW suite which is the dominatory factor now. It has been tested over ladhak skies and it does well. Pay load is never a poblem for this bird. Especially for combat sorties on the western front.
And why would you need single engine fighters for northern front? Either IAF is aiming for low cost single engine fighters in huge numbers both for naval deployments and along Chinese border. But do you think F16 or SaAb is within budget.
what do you think would do the job? Avionic upgradation on lca or whole series of new aircraft. I dont doubt Its capability.

LCA can be a great fighter if not the best to dominate the skies but mixed sorties with m29 would definitely be a deadly cobination to create no flyzone in IAf favor. And also you can deploy it for training purposes. Then the IAf doesnt have to seek foreign tech for trainer purpose.

 

[Sancho]

True but the flight testing pilots who tested Tejas have a lot of experience on M2K which IAF fly (those are IAF pilots) and they vouch that Tejas is more better than M2K

More capable than the M2K bought in 1986? In terms of techs for sure, but not in terms of flight performance, not in terms of load capabilities, not in terms of range..., when you than take the upgraded M2K to account, the difference gets even bigger, because it is technically at the same or even higher level as LCA IOC and FOC.

Because Spitfires won the Battle of Britain, are we going to order them now????

No, you get the modern equivalent, just as we want the modern equivalents of M2K and Mig 29s now => MMRCAs