Imported Single Engine Fighter Jet Contest

[WolfPack86]

A Hard Look At The F-16 Block 70

Armed with 4588 orders, 4573 deliveries and 40 years of production experience, US defence major, Lockheed Martin is set at moving the entire production line of F-16 fighter jets to India from its only operational facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
In sync with Make in India, Lockheed Martin is all out to move the production facility of its F-16 next generation fighters to India. ‘We have had a round of discussions earlier this year with the U.S. government, the government of India and the Indian industry partners about this opportunity. At this stage Indian government has been supplied with all data to support an informed decision’ said Abhay Paranjape, National Executive, India of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. He however mentioned, that shifting of the assembly line is conditional to some assured orders from the India.

Randall L Howard - F-16 Business Development, Lockheed Martin & Abhay Paranjape - National Executive, India, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Highlighting the partnership strengths, Randall L. Howard from the F-16 Business Development team at Lockheed Martin added, ‘we have an unmatched Industrial partnership experience and we have established the industrial capability in country after country’. Lockheed had delivered a total of 958 fighters from its partnerships with SABCA-Belgium, Fokker-Netherlands, TAI-Turkey and KAI-Korea apart from 3616 deliveries from its facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
‘In India, we are already making components for the worldwide fleet’, added Abhay. Lockheed Martin has partnered with TATA Advanced Systems Limited.
The C-130J airlifter sold internationally contains major aero structure assemblies manufactured in India and each S-92 medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has a cabin manufactured in Hyderabad.
Describing the next gen fighter, Randall pointed on the advantages, ‘Block 70 is most advanced F-16 ever and it will be made in India with an Indian company, this next generation fighter is an evolution of the proven design of the mid-life update (MLU) and common configuration improvement programme (CCIP). The fighter is equipped with latest technology in avionics equipment, operational capabilities, joint helmet cueing systems II and has an unparalleled survivability with modern internal electronic warfare system along with certified advanced weapons onboard’.
Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP Guide Publications spoke to Randall L. Howard and Abhay Paranjape of Lockheed Martin. Excerpts:
Jayant Baranwal (Baranwal): Does F-16 Block 70 offer any kind of stealth element?
Randall L. Howard (Howard): True stealth in all aspects has to be designed within the aircraft, that’s not the kind of stuff that comes with any aircraft but for F-22 and F-35. Having said that, F-16 offers a lot of general stealth, as it is a small aircraft and it has a pretty small cross section. There is coding that can be placed on the aircraft. The fighter includes a new radar system, stealth detection capability and threat detection capability; it competes very well in its class being undetectable to the radar.
Baranwal: What exactly is the offer of Lockheed Martin, also in the context of Make in India?
Abhay Paranjape (Paranjape): We are not looking at just assembling India’s aircraft here. We are looking at establishing the complete manufacturing base and the ecosystem here in India. We are looking at transferring our entire production from our existing Fort Worth facility to India and also exporting them from here. So what that means also, is, we now have a vested interest in making sure that it succeeds. Lockheed Martin is going to be selling aircraft made here to the world and we will make sure that it succeeds.
Baranwal: Which particular program of Indian Air Force you are aiming for with the F-16 block 70?
Paranjape: You are very well aware that the MMRCA programme was about 126 odd aircraft. The Rafale is going though in final stages right now and is apparently for much smaller number. The MMRCA proposal came out in 2007 and we are in 2016, so we definitely think there is significant number of aircraft that will be required going forward, how many, what type, what and when exactly, that is up to the Indian Air Force.
Baranwal: Can F-16 compliment the LCA induction?
Paranjape: The induction of an aircraft into the force is obviously the decision of India Air Force’. You saw the briefing from Howard, as far as the capability; you can look it up as far as LCA’s capabilities, the range and the type and compare that with F-16 and you can see.
Baranwal: What will be the turnaround time for the first delivery from the Indian facility post the decision? Can you give an exact timeline?
Howard: I think it is hard to give an exact timeline. The typical delivery period of F-16 is about 36 months range. The challenge we have is to train the workforce and put in place all the facility. We have given a notional time-line to the government on the production. To be very specific in the public forum is very hard, because there are lot of variables and dependencies. But I can say that we have done these many-many times and we have a proven track record of having it done successfully.
Baranwal: As per recent reports, we believe that you are expecting a potential business worth $15 billion in India?
Howard: According to us this is a very conservative figure. We believe if the things fall in place then the potential of business is way too bigger than $15billion.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/08/a-hard-look-at-f-16-block-70.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Key Points

• Lockheed Martin plans F-16 production in India
• Company holds talks with potential joint venture partners

Lockheed Martin is in discussion with companies in India with a view to establishing a joint venture (JV) in the country in support of its proposal to locally build its F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The proposal, which rests on an Indian decision to procure the aircraft, is intended to support New Delhi's 'Make in India' programme and the deepening defence alliance between the United States and India.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told IHS Jane's on 5 August that a JV model "with Indian industry as prime owner" is thought to be the best method to produce the F-16 in India.

Lockheed Martin did not disclose potential industry partners but they are certain to include Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), with which the US corporation already has close industrial ties and an existing JV to produce aerostructures for the global C-130 transport aircraft programme.

The spokesperson said, "We are in discussions with all of our F-16 suppliers with the common objective of maximising F-16 production in India across the F-16 production spectrum. Those discussions are ongoing, both in the US and with multiple industries in India."

She added, "Discussions between [Indian] industry and the government are ongoing to determine the various elements required to transfer F-16 production to India."

Outlining some details about the local production programme, which was first mooted earlier this year, the spokesperson confirmed, "Lockheed Martin is offering to move the one and only global F-16 production facility [in Fort Worth, Texas] to India."

She added that the proposal features a "phased process [that] would begin with final assembly and quickly move to structural manufacturing and production of the myriad parts that encompass the F-16 from nose to tail".

"F-16s produced in India would be operated by India and available for global export from India.
http://www.janes.com/article/62817/...indian-jv-to-support-proposed-f-16-production

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed Martin Looks To Establish Indian JV To Support Proposed F-16 Production

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed Martin looks to establish Indian JV to support proposed F-16 production

• 

Lockheed Martin is in discussion with companies in India with a view to establishing a joint venture (JV) in the country in support of its proposal to locally build its F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The proposal, which rests on an Indian decision to procure the aircraft, is intended to support New Delhi's 'Make in India' programme and the deepening defence alliance between the United States and India.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told IHS Jane's on 5 August that a JV model "with Indian industry as prime owner" is thought to be the best method to produce the F-16 in India.

Lockheed Martin did not disclose potential industry partners but they are certain to include Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), with which the US corporation already has close industrial ties and an existing JV to produce aerostructures for the global C-130 transport aircraft programme.

The spokesperson said, "We are in discussions with all of our F-16 suppliers with the common objective of maximising F-16 production in India across the F-16 production spectrum. Those discussions are ongoing, both in the US and with multiple industries in India."

She added, "Discussions between [Indian] industry and the government are ongoing to determine the various elements required to transfer F-16 production to India."

Outlining some details about the local production programme, which was first mooted earlier this year, the spokesperson confirmed, "Lockheed Martin is offering to move the one and only global F-16 production facility [in Fort Worth, Texas] to India."

She added that the proposal features a "phased process [that] would begin with final assembly and quickly move to structural manufacturing and production of the myriad parts that encompass the F-16 from nose to tail".

"F-16s produced in India would be operated by India and available for global export from India.
http://defencenews.in/article/Lockh...n-JV-to-support-proposed-F-16-production-7398

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Market Less Accessible Israel's Defense Industries
The Indian market has become less accessible to the Israeli defense industries. The Indian demand to transfer manufacturing to Indian companies causes a situation in which states like the US are gaining control over complete defense technology sectors, in certain fields.
The Indian market with its huge potential has become more and more complicated for the Israeli defense industries, whose ability to transfer technologies has been very limited.
A Defense Ministry source said yesterday that Israel must examine its policy considering defense technology export to countries such as India, otherwise the “situation might only get worse”, he said.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has been in discussion with the US government and the government of India in regard to the shifting of the F-16 fighter aircraft assembly line to India. Will the company transfer four crucial technologies which was denied to South Korea, a close US ally, for the KF-X program?
In exchange for a large order of F-16 fighter aircraft from the Indian Air Force (IAF), Lockheed Martin is offering to close its only assembly line in Fort Worth, USA and relocate it to India.
According to Defense World, the question is will the Pentagon allow the of transfer of the following technologies to India:
integrated systems for active electronically scanned array radar
electro-optical targeting pod
infrared search and track
radio frequency jammer
These technologies form an important component of the F-16V fighter jet, the latest evolution of the world’s most successful war plane that has been offered to New Delhi.
US had denied parting with the four technologies citing national technology protection policy. Lockheed Martin spokesperson was quoted as saying by that the company was “offering India the exclusive opportunity to produce, operate and export F-16 Block 70 aircraft. He added that “the production of the F-16 will continue in Fort Worth with current contract work through late 2017,” forecasting that as Fort Worth F-16 production deliveries are completed, F-16 mechanics will transition to the F-35 production line.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/08/indian-market-less-accessible-to.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed Martin ‏@LockheedMartin 26m26 minutes ago
The #F16 is based at more than 80 locations worldwide. Learn more: http://lmt.co/2aLrdTy

 

[WolfPack86]

Why Lockheed Martin's Bid To Build Lethal F-16 Fighters In India could Be A Game Changer.

The US Air Force and those of other NATO countries are phasing out F-16s much sooner than anticipated. This implies that performance of F-35s has met expectations, and that there are no obvious show-stoppers to ramping up production as fast as budgets allow. The F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 production lines are all slated to close by 2020. But there is more to this deal, as it has the potential to alter the balance of power in South and Southeast Asia over the next decade.
Lockheed-Martin’s “Made in India” deal, which offers exclusive rights to manufacture and produce ‘Block 70/72’ F-16s, implies that few—if any—orders are expected from NATO countries. India will have a veto on sales to sensitive countries like Pakistan and Taiwan. This deal is being “finalized”, though no deal with India is a done deal until cash arrives on the barrel head. But suppose it moves forward, and Indian F-16s are produced in quantity starting in 2019 or 2020. Depending on the technologies transferred or made accessible by India, there is considerable scope to update and upgrade the F-16 to achieve a degree of equivalence to stealth-by-other-means, so as to be competitive with state-of-the-art and relatively stealthy Russian and Chinese fighters. Those upgrades will likely find a ready market with the world’s F-16 operators.
India is one of the world’s largest operators of both Russian and European military equipment. The deal opens the door for India to be the only vendor in the world that can acquire the expertise and infrastructure to integrate and upgrade existing Russian, European, and American platforms. The technical and logistical challenges are formidable, and India will likely require external assistance. However, a well-integrated Indian air defense system built around numerous and inexpensive pre-5th generation aircraft, appropriately upgraded, together with a few indigenously developed items will be sufficient against likely Chinese and Pakistani threats for decades. Will India step to the challenge? Successfully fielding this capability would give India leverage in many areas.
The F-16 deal can be used as the cornerstone to develop a domestic Indian military aircraft manufacturing capability with considerable export potential. This would give China pause before risking a conflict with India, and put China on notice that its arming up Pakistan—to include the transfer of nuclear weapons know-how—is threatening India. Until now, China has not paid much of a price for this Maoist-era strategy of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Developing these technologies and capabilities can give India the option of expanding arms sales to other Southeast Asian states which presently operate a mix of poorly integrated or wholly unintegrated American, European and Russian equipment. Beyond that, there is the option of Indian arms sales to Taiwan in response to a major provocation or conflict with China. Integrating these weapons with appropriate upgrades and acquisition of a few key pieces will challenge Chinese dominance of the South China Sea. To wit, the sale of BrahMos cruise missiles fundamentally altered Chinese strategic calculations toward Vietnam. Modest sales of relatively inexpensive (at $3 million each) air-, land-, ship- and submarine-based cruise missiles to Southeast Asian states disputing the 9-Dash-Line claims would effectively make those waters a no-go zone for major Chinese surface combatants or shipping. The BrahMos and the F-16IN would thus constitute a key component of a low cost, high leverage anti-access and area denial strategy against China.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/08/why-lockheed-martins-bid-to-build.html

 

[Zebra]

https://fightersweep.com/6024/dogfight-f-16v-viper-versus-j-39e-gripen/

Dogfight! F-16V Viper versus J-39E Gripen: Who Wins?

Nate Jaros

So you think you know the answer on who wins between the F-16V and the J-39E? Well let’s see if you agree with our resident expert, former F-16 pilot, and current SkunkWorks test pilot Nate “Buster” Jaros.
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Nate Jaros Nate “Buster” Jaros is a retired USAF fighter pilot with over 2,000 hours in F-16 C/D/CM and T-38A/C aircraft and over 500 hours in General Aviation aircraft. He is currently a Test Pilot and Instructor Pilot with Lockheed Martin Skunkworks. He has a Bachelor of Science degree as well as a Master of Business Administration and owns, operates, and maintains a 1969 V-tail Bonanza. Buster currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada and is a long-time member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as well as the American Bonanza Society.
You can view his webpage at: http://engineout.weebly.com

 

[Superdefender]

Twist in the Tale- Lockheed Martin's F-16 C/D Block 70 Production Offer
Aug 12, 2016
Vijainder K Thakur

Introduction: Lockheed Martin (LM), with backing from the US Government, has offered to build a new variant of the venerable F-16 Fighting Falcon in India.

Designated F-16 C/D Block 70, the fighter would introduce the following new capabilities.

1. AESA Radar
2. 4th/5th generation interoperability
3. Enhanced Data Processing

LM has in the past set up local production lines in Belgium, The Netherlands, Turkey and Korea. The offer to India goes beyond the past co-production arrangements - the company is ready to make India the sole producer of all future variants of the F-16 fighters and is ready to set up a joint venture (JV) with the majority stakes being held by an Indian company.

LM sees a potential for the JV to export at least 100 fighters within the next 5-7 years.

This is an offer we have never made to anyone before," says George Standridge, vice-president (aeronautics strategy and business development), Lockheed Martin.

India urgently needs medium, multi-role fighters to address the serious depletion in its fighter squadron strength caused by the obsolescence driven phasing out of its older MiG-21 variant fleet.

The F-16 C/D Block 70 would be among the most capable 4th generation multi-role fighters in the world. LM would be able to supply the fighters within months, not years, of signing the contract, since the order backlog is minimal.

Over the next 30 years, air forces of major powers are expected to feature a mix of 4th and 5th generation manned fighters. Current generation 4th generation fighters like the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, Su-30, Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale will continue to be fielded with improved 5th gen fighter interoperability.

The LM offer dovetails beautifully into the current government's Make-in-India policy thrust, and in some ways goes well beyond.

If India accepts the offer, the IAF will quickly halt and then reverse its fighter strength depletion. The service would augment its fire power to levels that would make the country far more secure than it presently is.

Go ahead, pinch yourself, to make sure you are not asleep and dreaming. Yes, the LM offer does sound too good to be true.

Having made sure we are awake, let's look beyond the LM marketing hype for any catches.

Two are readily evident.

Conditional Offer
The LM offer

1. Entails no ToT. (Ah! Ha!)
2. Is conditional to an IAF order for an economical viable number of aircraft. (Ah! Ah! Ha!)

Time to pause and absorb the twist in the plot line.

What LM is offering to India is licensed production / local assembly of the F-16. India in the past has license manufactured MiG-21 variants and Jaguar. It currently license manufactures Hawk Mk.132 AJT and Su-30MKI.

The LM licensed production offer, despite the Make-in-India spin, is no big deal.

As mentioned earlier, in the past Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey and Korea set up F-16 'production lines' in partnership with LM...and have since closed them, with no evidence of any serious ToT!

India's Real Need - ToT
India doesn't need another license production arrangement. What it needs is R & D assistance.

After a struggle of 30 years, India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has learn't to build a contemporary fighter. The Tejas LCA is 70% indigenous by value at the LRU level. However, India still hasn't mastered design and development of critical fighter components such as contemporary fighter aircraft engine and radar.

The Tejas LCA was inspired by the F-16 in the early 80s. Despite its severely stretched development timeline, the Tejas, fitted with a more powerful engine and a capable AESA radar, could still be be a worthy alternative to the F-16.

India doesn't need the F-16 as much as it needs single crystal blades that retain strength at high turbine temperatures so that the Kaveri engine developed for the LCA could produce its rated 81 KN reheat thrust. India needs a multi-mode AESA radar for the LCA that can engage adversary fighters at beyond visual range (BVR) and guide smart weapons aimed at adversary ground targets at stand-off ranges.

Economically Viable Order Quantity
The LM offer is understandably conditional to an IAF order quantity that would justify setting up a production line and therein lurks danger. A large F-16 order could result in the IAF losing interest in further development of the Tejas LCA. Firstly, because the F-16 order would leave no money for additional Tejas LCA purchase. Secondly, being a matured design fitted with well integrated sensors, weapons and avionics, the F-16 will outperform the Tejas in squadron service making it look worse than it really is. The F-16's high cost would become moot. Trained to fight and win wars, IAF squadron pilots aren't inclined to perform performance vs cost analysis.

If the IAF loses interest in the LCA Mk-1A and LCA Mk-2, ADA would be hard pressed to deliver on the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project.

F-16 / F-35 Interoperability
An important ingredient of the F-16 C/D Block 70 upgrade is F-22/F-35 interoperability. Were the IAF to commit to the F-16 in large numbers, It's likely that the IAF would be drawn deeper into the LM ecosystem of 4th/5th generation fighters at the cost of the Russian (Su-30/FGFA) or Indian (Tejas/AMCA) ecosystem.

With a limited budget, the IAF could not possibly work with two different 4th/5th gen ecosystems.

Conclusion
Based purely on the outstanding capabilities of the F-16 C/D Block 70 and the likely short delivery timeline, MoD should consider acquiring the aircraft, but only in limited quantity, to address the depletion in fighter squadron strength.

Acquiring the aircraft under Make-in-India could prove detrimental to the country's interest in the long run, since the LM offer does not include ToT and an order quantity that would justify setting up local production would adversely impact the IAF's ability to support the LCA Mk-2 and AMCA programs. Local production could also draw the IAF too deeply into the LM ecosystem of 4th/5th generation fighters.

"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. MyIndMakers is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of MyindMakers and it does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same."



Vijainder K Thakur

Source Link: https://www.myind.net/twist-tale-lockheed-martins-f-16-cd-block-70-production-offer

 

[WolfPack86]

Gripen & F-16 compete in MMRCA re-run

Since April 2011, when the Indian Air Force (IAF) shortlisted the Eurofighter and Rafale for purchase, Swedish company Saab has believed its JAS-39 Gripen fighter was unfairly eliminated from that globally watched tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft(MMRCA). Similarly, US aerospace giant, Lockheed Martin, which had offered an F-16 Block 50/52 variant called the Super Viper, feels hard done by. Yet, one of these companies might still have the last laugh after the eventual MMRCA winner, Dassault of France, failed to conclude a contract for the Rafale. The Gripen NG and the F-16 Block 70 – improved variants of the fighters Saab and Lockheed Martin had earlier offered – are front runners in a truncated replay of the MMRCA contest. Boeing, meanwhile, has repeated its offer of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. All three offers are couched in the rubric of “Make in India”. Of the original six vendors in the MMRCA race, only Russia’s RAC MiG has faded away. Dassault continues negotiating with New Delhi, albeit only for 36 Rafales under a government-to-government sale. Eurofighter remains poised on the sidelines; offering to step in should negotiations with Dassault collapse. A call to battle In April 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended three years of tortuous negotiations with Dassault, compensating the French vendor with an order for 36 fighters, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar realised a light fighter would still be needed to replace the IAF’s retiring MiGs and bolster plummeting fighter numbers. On April 13, 2015, Parrikar stated on Doordarshan TV: “Rafale is not a replacement for MiG-21. LCA [Light Combat Aircraft] Tejas is a replacement for MiG-21. Or, if we build some other fighter under ‘Make in India’… another single engine (fighter) in India, which is possible, that could be a replacement for the MiG-21.” For Saab and Lockheed Martin, which both had single-engine, light fighters to offer, this was a call to battle. And the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which runs the LCA programme, realised the Tejas had to come good quickly. The IAF and ADA wasted no time in accelerating Tejas’ induction. Since the Tejas Mark II requires the time-consuming integration of a new engine, it was agreed to induct a stopgap Tejas Mark IA. This would have four improvements over the Mark I: active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to boost air combat capability; an externally-carried self-protection jammer (SPJ) to blind enemy radar; mid-air refuelling to extend its range, and tidied-up internals for easier maintenance. The IAF undertook to order at least 80 Tejas Mark IA fighters. Saab makes its play Meanwhile, Saab prepared a three-point plan that piggybacks on the Tejas. This has not been formally proposed, but its strategy is evident from the informal offers made. First, Saab has offered to manufacture and assemble the Gripen NG in India, partnering an Indian firm. Ministry insiders say Saab hopes to roll out the first fighter in 36 months; ramping up quickly to 18 fighters per year. The Gripen NG’s cost will depend upon how much indigenisation India demands. Building more components and sub-systems indigenously would naturally raise the cost. Second, Saab has offered to partner ADA in developing the Tejas Mark IA, focusing on the four improvements needed. The Gripen NG’s vaunted Selex Galileo Raven ES-05 AESA radar would be manufactured in India for the Tejas Mark IA and the Gripen NG. With a 100-degree sweep, this scans a wider cone than any other current radar. Third, Saab would help ADA develop its planned fifth-generation (Gen-5) fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). In this, Saab’s capability is untested, since Europe has no Gen-5 fighter programme. Instead, Saab is part of a European consortium working on an unmanned stealth aircraft, called the nEUROn. Significantly, Saab is silent on the Tejas Mark II – which would directly compete with the Gripen NG. Saab’s vision clearly involves bypassing the Tejas Mark II – and moving from the Mark IA, to the Gripen NG, to the AMCA. Jan Widerstrom, Saab India chief, says on the Saab website: “The offer includes setting up of a full manufacturing facility; transfer of state-of-the-art technology; setting up of an aerospace eco-system in India; creation of a local supplier base of ancillary systems; employment of a well-trained Indian workforce. We would train engineers in Sweden, as we’re doing with Brazilian engineers right now for the Brazilian Gripen program. We see ourselves as a catalyst. We will provide India with cutting-edge technology which will energise India’s aerospace ecosystem.” A usually reticent Stockholm has thrown its weight behind Saab. Sweden-India discussions centre on a joint working group (JWG) that meets annually, in accordance with a 2009 Indo-Swedish defence cooperation agreement. After the last JWG meeting in Delhi on September 29-30, the two national security advisors met in October in the first Indo-Swedish “strategic dialogue”. Ramming home the message, Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Lofven, travelled to India in February for the “Make in India” exhibition in Mumbai. According to a joint release after his meeting with Modi: “The two prime ministers… agreed that under the rubric of Make in India, cooperation possibilities between their respective defence industries could be identified and taken forward appropriately, including in the field of aviation.” On June 10, IAF boss, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, travelled to Saab’s production facility in Linkoping, Sweden, and test flew the Gripen NG at a Swedish airbase. There is talk of IAF test pilots travelling to Sweden to check out the fighter. While the IAF apparently likes the Gripen NG, it does not want to disturb the Rafale negotiations, which it considers top priority. While not a Gen-5 fighter, the Gripen NG’s data link – a key element in modern air combat – is reputedly the world’s most advanced. Its avionics are built of Gallium Nitride, which delivers superior performance over conventional Gallium Arsenide avionics. The Gripen NG carries diverse weaponry from various countries, including the French Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), reputedly the world’s most advanced, with an estimated range of about 150 kilometres. Independent researcher IHS Jane’s, finds the Gripen the cheapest contemporary fighter to operate. F-16 Block 70 offer Going toe-to-toe with Saab, a characteristically aggressive Lockheed Martin is pushing hard on its offer, made through the Indo-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), to shift its F-16 production line from Fort Worth, Texas to India. Over the preceding four decades, 4,588 F-16s have been built, in 138 versions, for 27 user countries, the sheer size of that production run making it a cheap and affordable fighter. But now F-16 orders have dried up, and Lockheed Martin wants Forth Worth fully turned over to building the thousands of F-35 Lightening II joint strike fighters (JSFs) on order. “An Indian F-16 order clearly serves multiple US interests. It would revitalise the F-16 production chain, which is about to shut down; sell India the 1970s production line instead of just junking it; allow Fort Worth to focus on building F-35s; and strengthen defence ties with New Delhi,” notes a senior IAF officer. At a media briefing in New Delhi last Friday, Lockheed Martin’s Randy Howard made it clear that production would be shifted to India only if the IAF buys the F-16. Howard talked up the “next generation avionics” of the Block 70 version of the F-16, but IAF officials are sceptical. Its APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), while a reputed AESA radar, has been built by Northrop Grumman since 2014 for the US and Taiwanese air forces. Nor is the “high speed data network” and the “upgraded core computer” that Howard advertised noticeably superior to what is on the older Block 50/52. Analysts wonder what changes justify a new block number. Within the IAF, which has for the last four decades, focused its training and tactics on fighting Pakistan F-16s, there is entrenched resistance to buying that fighter. Further, the air marshals are certain Washington would never allow Lockheed Martin to offer the kind of holistic proposal and technology transfer that Saab has offered. Assuaging these concerns, Ben Schwartz, who heads aerospace and defence for the US-India Business Council, says: “The F-16 offers would come in as FMS deals with unprecedented technology transfer and Make-in-India characteristics. A lot of work has gone into evaluating the level of indigenisation – more so than in any other case that people can recall.” Backing him up, a senior Pentagon official says: “In US-India negotiations today, you have to throw away all the assumptions of the past about what Washington will allow and what it will deny. Don’t assume anything is off the table.” Boeing officials, who have separately offered to build the heavy, twin-engine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in India, say their “Make in India” beats Lockheed Martin’s. “If India wants an indigenous aerospace eco-system, it makes no sense to buy an old production line, with all its inefficiencies. Boeing is offering a fighter that will remain in service through the 2040s, and possibly the 2050s, far longer than the F-16, and offering to build it on a brand new Indian production line”, says one official. Boeing’s most powerful argument for the Super Hornet is perhaps its utility for the Indian Navy. After worrying questions from the Comptroller and Auditor General over the Russian MiG-29K’s ability to operate off a carrier, there is talk of the need to hedge India’s bets for the second indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vishal. With three offers in hand, the defence ministry has not yet taken the initiative, nor issued a single “request for information” (RFI) or “request for proposals” (RFP). New Delhi has not divulged whether it wants competitive tendering, or a government-to-government strategic acquisition. The long-promised policy for nominating Indian “strategic partners (SP) remains in limbo, leaving foreign vendors with little idea about who could be their Indian partner. Says a senior executive from one of the vendor companies: “It may well emerge that New Delhi is using discussions with Saab, Lockheed and Boeing as a stalking horse for the Rafale negotiation, putting pressure on Dassault with the range of options that India has. Until there is clarity, we can only continue groping in the dark.”
http://idrw.org/gripen-f-16-compete-in-mmrca-re-run/

 

[WolfPack86]

Co-Production Of F-16 Jets To Figure In US Secretary's Visit to India

• 

India-US cooperation in defence technology and trade initiatives will be the focus of the US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James when she travels to India later this month. A proposal to jointly produce aircrafts will also come up for discussion.

Ms James will be travelling to India as part of four nation tour which will see her travel to Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines also. Her talks with Asian countries will include discussions on the South China Sea controversy and threat of terrorism in the region.

While in India, Ms James will meet Chief of Air Staff Marshal Arup Raha and Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar to discuss a proposal to co-produce aircrafts in India, in-line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' policy.

"We will be looking to see how we can deepen our partnerships and take it to the next level," Ms James said about the focus of her upcoming visit.

The United Sates is very interested in following up the defence and trade initiatives discussed during US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter's visit to India in April, Ms James said. A proposal to assemble F-16 fighter aircrafts in India was made by US defence major Lockheed Martin in April to bolster India's fighter jets and jet engine technology working group.

"I am also aware of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for Make in India and the importance of creating new jobs. Proposal to co-produce certain aircrafts in India is one example of something that will be useful from a military standpoint but also might play into the Make in India campaign."

Ms James said she also looks forward to "congratulating the Chief of Air Force in particular on what is I think a magnificent execution of the C-17 operation where Indian citizens were evacuated from South Sudan. Well done on that, well done."

Asserting that the United States of America considers the recent ruling from The Hague on South China Sea to be "legally binding on all parties" Ms James said that Washington hoped "all of the claimants in the South China Sea will exercise restraint in the future and will work to lower tensions." She added that the US stands "very firmly" behind the principle of freedom of navigation.
http://www.defencenews.in/article/C...o-Figure-In-US-Secretarys-Visit-to-India-7572

 

[suny6611]

other than THE latest avionics what all specs r known for this block ?

 

[WolfPack86]

other than THE latest avionics what all specs r known for this block ?

From @LockheedMartin's media brief today: kit/capabilities on F-16 Block 70 that competes for a @MakeInIndiadeal.

Here's the F-16 Block 70 that @LockheedMartin offers to build in India contingent on firm Indian orders.

 

[WolfPack86]

Israeli F-16 Pilots visiting India under Air Crew Exchange Program, likely to fly Sukhoi-30s

Israeli Air Force F-16 pilots are to visit India next month for a working visit to one of the squadrons of the Indian Air Force. The air force described it as a “first of its kind exercise,” but would not say whether the pilots would be flying in India. The visit is part of an air crew exchange between the two militaries. Indian Air Force crews visited a combat squadron at the Ramon Air Force Base three months ago and met with other air force units, including the air force’s search and rescue unit (Unit 669) and the IAF Flight Academy at Hatzerim. The Indian pilots got briefings from their Israeli counterparts and explanations about the F-16, which is known in Israel as the Sufa (“storm”) and is considered the IAF’s most advanced fighter jet. Something similar is expected to take place in India, which operates Russian Sukhoi-30 jets that were adapted for the local military. The Indian Air Force also operates aircraft used by the IAF, such as the Heron drone, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (which the IAF calls the Shoval), and the Samson (C130J) cargo plane made by Lockheed-Martin. The Israeli and Indian defense establishments have a wide-ranging working relationship. Then-Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon declared that military cooperation between the two countries would be broadened during a visit to India last year. IAF commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel visited India last December, and India’s air force chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, visited Israel in March. The IAF regards its Indian counterpart as a “strategic partner.” Israel is a major supplier of arms to the Indian military, with the value of the transactions estimated at a billion dollars a year. Several transactions were recently reported, like the sale to India of Spike anti-tank missiles, made by Rafael, and Israeli Barak ship-borne missiles, which are destined to be installed on Indian battleships. Two months ago, India conducted successful tests of the land version of the Barak missiles that were developed jointly by Israel and the United States. While India is continuing to equip itself with advanced weaponry, an Israeli defense industry source expressed concern about whether the Indian military would continue to make large purchases from Israel. Lately, India seems to be favoring American aircraft over Israeli ones, the source said, noting that India has expressed the intention to procure Predator drones made by General Atomics, rather than the Israeli-made alternatives. The IAF began a joint exercise with other air forces, including the Pakistani air force, in the United States this week. During the Red Flag exercise, taking place at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, fighter jets are simulating combat as part of a coalition. Before the exercise began, aviation photographers took pictures of Israeli, Spanish and Pakistani fighter planes practicing in the region. A cargo plane from the United Arab Emirates was also spotted, indicating that its air force is also involved. Israeli F-16As are participating in the exercise, and both air and ground crews are taking part. Red Flag is scheduled to end on August 26.
http://idrw.org/israeli-f-16-pilots-visiting-india-air-crew-exchange-program-likely-fly-sukhoi-30s/

 

[suny6611]

From @LockheedMartin's media brief today: kit/capabilities on F-16 Block 70 that competes for a @MakeInIndiadeal.

Here's the F-16 Block 70 that @LockheedMartin offers to build in India contingent on firm Indian orders.

all this is part of avionics.

what i meant was the

engine
composites
fuel capacity
RCS
hard points & weapons ................. will they transfer the tech. to have all these "made in India"

 

[WolfPack86]

all this is part of avionics.

what i meant was the

engine
composites
fuel capacity
RCS
hard points & weapons ................. will they transfer the tech. to have all these "made in India"

Specifications for f -16 block 70 still not revealed yet.

Here i found few details of f-16 block 70
Falcon flourishes in the desert [IDX15D1]
Having evaluated and rejected the Dassault Rafale and the Euro-fighter Typhoon, and having been informed that the existing order backlog alone would keep the UAE from obtaining the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter until after 2020, a solution to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence’s long-term requirement for a ‘next-generation fighter’ to replace the Mirage 2000 from 2018 seems as far away as ever.

In the meantime, the UAE is expanding its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcons through the acquisition of 30 new Block 61 F-16E/F aircraft. The 79 surviving Block 60 F-16E/F Desert Falcons will be upgraded to a similar ‘Block 60+’ standard.

Lockheed Martin has thus far refused to comment on the Block 61 and Block 60+ configurations, but the new-build Block 61 is believed to be an evolutionary upgrade of the original Block 60, with diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence issues addressed, and some interoperability enhancements.

Block 61 aircraft are being purchased via a direct commercial sale, rather than using the more usual foreign military sale (FMS) process, so there was no requirement for the usual Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the aircraft sale to Congress, though Congress was notified of an associated FMS sale of training, logistics support and support equipment, weapons and other items to the UAE, on 23 January 2014.

Entering front-line service in 2005, the Block 60 F-16E/F has been called “the most advanced F-16 variant in the world”, and is described as being “a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force.”

The aircraft is fitted with a Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 AESA (active electronically scanned antenna) radar, which made it the first F-16 variant to be fitted with an AESA array, and is still the only in-service F-16 version with an ‘e-scan’ radar.

The introduction of the Block 60 F-16 made the UAE AF&AD the first fighter force outside the USA to field this revolutionary radar technology.

The Block 60 also has provision for the conformal fuel tanks associated with later Block 50/52 aircraft, giving it a mission radius of 1,650km – a 40 per cent increase compared with non-CFT-equipped F-16 variants.

While the USA does not normally export the vital software source codes required to program the electronic warfare and radar systems on US-built fighters, in the case of the Block 60 F-16, the USA provided “object codes”, which allow new mission data to be added to the F-16E/F’s threat library autonomously.

This has allowed the UAE to refine and improve the Block 60 aircraft exponentially, and to keep it abreast of developing threats. Lockheed did integrate the UAE’s MBDA Al Hakim rocketboosted glide bomb on the F-16E/F, but the US State Department refused to allow integration of the MBDA Black Shaheen cruise missile (a derivative of the Storm Shadow used on UAE Mirage 2000s). This 51 was because the Black Shaheen was assumed to have a range of more than 300km, which is the current range limit for cruise missiles under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Instead, the USA is providing AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles and the AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon.
http://www.janes.com/article/49208/falcon-flourishes-in-the-desert-idx15d1

 

[suny6611]

Specifications for f -16 block 70 still not revealed yet.

Here i found few details of f-16 block 70
Falcon flourishes in the desert [IDX15D1]
Having evaluated and rejected the Dassault Rafale and the Euro-fighter Typhoon, and having been informed that the existing order backlog alone would keep the UAE from obtaining the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter until after 2020, a solution to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence’s long-term requirement for a ‘next-generation fighter’ to replace the Mirage 2000 from 2018 seems as far away as ever.

In the meantime, the UAE is expanding its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Desert Falcons through the acquisition of 30 new Block 61 F-16E/F aircraft. The 79 surviving Block 60 F-16E/F Desert Falcons will be upgraded to a similar ‘Block 60+’ standard.

Lockheed Martin has thus far refused to comment on the Block 61 and Block 60+ configurations, but the new-build Block 61 is believed to be an evolutionary upgrade of the original Block 60, with diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence issues addressed, and some interoperability enhancements.

Block 61 aircraft are being purchased via a direct commercial sale, rather than using the more usual foreign military sale (FMS) process, so there was no requirement for the usual Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the aircraft sale to Congress, though Congress was notified of an associated FMS sale of training, logistics support and support equipment, weapons and other items to the UAE, on 23 January 2014.

Entering front-line service in 2005, the Block 60 F-16E/F has been called “the most advanced F-16 variant in the world”, and is described as being “a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ aircraft that form the backbone of the US Air Force.”

The aircraft is fitted with a Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 AESA (active electronically scanned antenna) radar, which made it the first F-16 variant to be fitted with an AESA array, and is still the only in-service F-16 version with an ‘e-scan’ radar.

The introduction of the Block 60 F-16 made the UAE AF&AD the first fighter force outside the USA to field this revolutionary radar technology.

The Block 60 also has provision for the conformal fuel tanks associated with later Block 50/52 aircraft, giving it a mission radius of 1,650km – a 40 per cent increase compared with non-CFT-equipped F-16 variants.

While the USA does not normally export the vital software source codes required to program the electronic warfare and radar systems on US-built fighters, in the case of the Block 60 F-16, the USA provided “object codes”, which allow new mission data to be added to the F-16E/F’s threat library autonomously.

This has allowed the UAE to refine and improve the Block 60 aircraft exponentially, and to keep it abreast of developing threats. Lockheed did integrate the UAE’s MBDA Al Hakim rocketboosted glide bomb on the F-16E/F, but the US State Department refused to allow integration of the MBDA Black Shaheen cruise missile (a derivative of the Storm Shadow used on UAE Mirage 2000s). This 51 was because the Black Shaheen was assumed to have a range of more than 300km, which is the current range limit for cruise missiles under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Instead, the USA is providing AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles and the AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon.
http://www.janes.com/article/49208/falcon-flourishes-in-the-desert-idx15d1

thanks

i think going for the F 16 XL will be better than this shape & size. i am sure that this 1 has not been tested at all where as the XL has been.

 

[Zebra]

Published on Aug 11, 2016, by The Joint Forces Channel

 

[WolfPack86]

Co-Production Of F-16 Jets To Figure In US Secretary's Visit to India

 

[sob]

@WolfPack86 any idea of the range of the F 16 with the Conformal fuel tanks.