Imported Single Engine Fighter Jet Contest

[WolfPack86]

Defence Acquistion Policy: Indian And Foreign Firms That May Vie For Contracts

The defence ministry has released a new policy that seeks to boost private participation in domestic manufacturing of defence equipment

The Defence Acquisition Policy, which awaits approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security, has selected four key strategic platforms that require private participation – submarine, helicopter, single-engine aircraft and armoured vehicle/main battle tank. The policy proposes one strategic partner for each platform that will act as a ‘System of Systems’ integrator and partner with not just original equipment manufacturers or foreign suppliers, but other domestic manufacturers with defence capabilities. It seeks to create an ecosystem for micro and medium and small enterprises who will contribute to the strategic partner.
BloombergQuint looks at which Indian and foreign companies currently have capabilities in each of the four platforms identified by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), an arm of the defence ministry that cleared the policy.

Submarine

India's indigenous stealth conventional submarine INS Kalvari

The government plans to build at least six submarines at an estimated cost of Rs 60,000 crore under its Project 75 (l) in various shipyards across the country. The DAC had approved the project in 2014 but the contracts were withheld till a Strategic Partner Policy was finalised. The diesel-electric engine-powered submarines will be equipped with advanced air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems that allow submarines to remain under water for a longer duration.

Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and France’s DCNS could be in the fray for the OEM status, while Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro Ltd. have capabilities to build submarines as strategic partners.

“DCNS is involved with P-75, so they will certainly remain in the picture, but ThyssenKrupp is the only one which has proven AIP today. DCNS doesn’t have anything called an AIP, while the Russians are ahead on AIP than DCNS. We have our own indigenous AIP solution developed along with Defence Research and Development Organisation,” said Jayant Patil, senior vice-president and head of defence and aerospace at L&T.

L&T is the only company which participated in the construction of country’s first indigenous nuclear submarine, Arihant.

Although we don’t speak about Arihant in public, in the strategic program we have an involvement.
Jayant Patil, Senior Vice President And Head-Defence & Aerospace, L&T

Helicopters

Sikorsky's Seahawk S-70B shipboard multi-role helicopters (MRHs)
The government has floated a proposal seeking private sector participation to build 110 indigenous helicopters under the Naval Utility Program. These helicopters will replace the Navy’s Cheetah helicopters. The program, spread over 10-15 years, is likely to cost close to Rs 12,000 crore. U.S.-based Bell Helicopters and Europe’s Airbus Helicopters could vie to become partners. The third player, Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters (erstwhile AugustaWestland), has been blacklisted by the government.

In India, the Mahindra Group and the TATA Group have capabilities to build helicopters. Mahindra Defence has been supplying aerostructure parts to Airbus and in January last year, extended its partnership with the European aircraft maker to build military helicopters in India.
TATA Son’s arm, TATA Advanced Systems Ltd., tied up with Boeing in November 2015 to make aerostructures and parts for the U.S. major’s AH-64 Apache Helicopters.

Single-Engine Aircraft

SAAB Gripen-E &F-16 are touted to be a good options for the single engine aircraft program
India has been looking to replace its aging fleet of over 200 MIG-21s fighter aircraft for many years. As a short-term measure, India struck a government-to-government partnership to acquire 36 Rafale aircraft from France for more than $8.5 billion. The off-the-shelf acquisition of Rafale was a setback to the country’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Programme. India is now looking for a strategic partnership to build single-engine multirole aircraft locally. American F-16 fighter aircraft maker Lockheed Martin, Sweden’s SAAB Group that makes Gripen, and Rafale maker Dassault Aviation of France could be in the fray to be OEMs.

Indian companies in the space include TATA Advanced Systems, which already has a tie-up with Lockheed Martin to make aerostructures for the C-130J Super Hercules.

The Adani Group is said to be in discussion with SAAB for a tie-up to manufacture Gripen-E in India, according to a February report in the Mint. Reliance Defence has partnered with Dassault Aviation to make aerostructure parts for Rafale aircraft. The joint venture will execute an offset obligation as the deal requires Rafale to engage Indian suppliers for components. However, while Rafale is a twin-engine fighter, the government seeks a strategic partnership for a single-engine aircraft.
The new indigenously-built Tejas Aircraft for IAF. (Photo Courtesy: ADA/Dev Rana)

Armoured Vehicle/Main Battle Tank

The government has already invited proposals for armoured vehicles under its ‘Make in India’ program, seeking bids from Indian companies to showcase prototypes of armoured vehicles to be used by the army and para-military forces. Four consortiums including L&T, M&M, TATA Motors-Bharat Forge and TATA Power-SED have been shortlisted and are undergoing technical evaluation. The Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) program has been kept outside the strategic partnership, said L&T’s Patil.

The armoured vehicle platform will primarily replace the aging fleet of main battle tank Arjun. The government has already started replacing the old Arjun tanks with Russian-built T-90 tanks. The value of orders in this segment would be upwards of over Rs 30,000 crore, he added.

“Only one program in the armoured program is yet to be initiated, which is the MBT (main battle tank). If it is an SP (strategic partner), they may not allow us, but if there are four FICV players in India, they would bid for the MBT. FICV and MBT technologies are not different. What is different is the physical power or mobility in terms of mass,” said L&T’s Patil.

Indian players shortlisted for the FICV program will bid for the MBT program. Foreign companies in the space include U.S.-based General Dynamic and state-owned Russian firms.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/05/defence-acquisition-policy-indian-and.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Done and dusted! Super fast clearance for Strategic Partnership policy for private sector in defence manufacturing.
https://twitter.com/manupubby_ET?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

 

[WolfPack86]

It took @arunjaitley just a few weeks to clear the strategic partnership policy and get cabinet approval. Boost to private sector.
https://twitter.com/manupubby_ET?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

 

[WolfPack86]

BREAKING: Indian Cabinet clears strategic partnership policy for private sector @MakeInIndia defence manufacture.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

CABINET COMMITTEE OF SECURITY CLEARS POLICY FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN DEFENCE: ARUN JAITLEY

The policy, which has been under discussion for more than year, was approved by the Cabinet Committee of Security, Arun Jaitley told reporters

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday cleared a long-awaited policy to boost local defence manufacturing by effectively picking industry champions that would tie up with foreign players and make high-tech defence equipment, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said.
Under the "Strategic Partnership" model, the government will shortlist and then pick Indian companies to join forces with foreign firms to supply fighter jets, helicopters, armoured vehicles and submarines.

The policy, which has been under discussion for more than year, was approved by the Cabinet Committee of Security, Jaitley told reporters.

What is Strategic Partnership Model?

• The strategic partnership policy aims to boost Make In India in defence sector
• It was proposed in 2015 by Dhirendra Singh Committee
• Under this policy, both larger domestic corporates and the MSME firms will participate
• The projects will be carried out in partnership with global manufacturers
• The global manufacturers will transfer technology and manufacturing know-how for domestic manufacturing

http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/05/cabinet-committee-of-security-clears.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Strategic Ties With Foreign Oems

Indian firms will be partners in new model for defence manufacturing
In a few weeks, the Union government will sound out five or six private sector majors to execute mega defence deals in four key areas — submarines, single-engine fighter aircraft, helicopters and armoured vehicles.

With the Union Cabinet taking note of the strategic partnership model last week, the Defence Ministry is awaiting its formal notification.

“The Cabinet has taken note of it. It will now formally come to the Ministry and then get notified as a separate chapter under the Defence Procurement Procedure. The process should roll out immediately after that,” a senior defence official told The Hindu.

Each of the four segments has programs under way. “A lot of work has already been done on all these platforms. Short-listing the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) should not be difficult,” the official said and expressed confidence that the first contract should be concluded in a year to a year-and-a-half.

Private sector majors will be selected as the strategic partner for each segment and they will tie up with the foreign OEMs. “We had suggested a mechanism for implementing the policy. We need a composite structure in the Ministry to roll out the policy quickly unlike the present system,” the official said. The mechanism is essential, officials said, as there are various stakeholders involved in the procurement process such as the acquisition wing and services
.
The present defence procurement policy, which is handled by the acquisition wing, is cumbersome.

Incorporating DPSUs
While the SP policy is for the private sector, the government has stated that it look at the feasibility of how defence public sector undertakings (DPSU) can be involved in the process and what their contribution would be. “There was a lot of resistance from the DPSUs and the Department of Defence Production to be involved in the policy,” a source added.

The source said that all DPSUs had full order books and were working at full capacities, and added that probably at some stage in future, there could be collaborations between them and the selected SPs.

The deals in the four segments are six submarines under Project-75I expected to cost around ₹50,000 crore, deal for 100-plus single-engine fighter aircraft estimated at ₹60,000 crore, the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle program estimated at around ₹50,000 crore and utility helicopters for the Navy estimated at ₹12,000 crore.

There are broadly six or seven companies viewing to become strategic partners which will be selected by a two-stage evaluation process. Minimum criteria have already been drawn up in Stage I and those shortlisted will be will evaluated in detail under Stage II.

Larsen & Tourbo, Mahindra, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., Tata Motors and Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd. are leading the race. From the public sector, only Mazagon Docks Ltd. will compete as it is currently building the French Scorpene submarines.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/05/strategic-ties-with-foreign-oems.html

 

[WolfPack86]

IAF to trial American F-16, Swedish Gripen for 120-jet Make in India project to replace MiGs

The Indian Air Force will hold limited trials of the American F-16 and Swedish Saab Gripen fighter aircraft for selecting the foreign partner to build 120 combat planes under the Make in India project. The total worth of the deal is estimated to be around $20 billion (Rs 1.3 lakh crore).

IAF sources said the two planes had undergone extensive trials seven years ago when the IAF was evaluating aircraft for buying 126 mediummultirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA).

"We have chosen the two planes based on evaluation done by us seven years ago. For the Make in India project, we will now hold trials of only those capabilities which they were found to be lacking in these aircraft in those days," an IAF officer told Mail Today.

Sources said during the M-MRCA trials, the F-16 was not selected as it was found that there was no potential for developing the aircraft further while the Saab Gripen did not have advanced radar called AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array), which was mandatory requirement in that project.

IAF sources said both the firms have informed the air force that they would be fully compliant to the requirements now as the American firm has come up with a latest version of the F-16 known as Block 70 while the Swedish firm has also acquired the advanced AESA radar.

"To test the new capabilities, there would a limited trial only and we are hoping to select and finalise the foreign partner within the next one year," the IAF sources said.

The 120 single-engine fighter jets would be used by the IAF to replace its ageing fleet of the Russian MiG-series planes including the MiG-21s and the MiG-27s which form the backbone of the Indian fighter plane fleet.

Almost all the variants of the MiG-21s and MiG-27s would retire by the year 2025 and the IAF is hoping that their replacements would be ready for induction into the service in form of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft and the 120 'Made in India' fighter planes.

The IAF has plans of inducting around 123 LCA combat jets as the NDA government recently gave clearance to a Rs 50,000 crore project to induct 83 planes and augment the rate of production of these planes in the state-owned HAL in Bangalore.

Meanwhile, the Navy is testing the American F-18 and the French Dassault for acquiring 57 twin-engine planes for its next aircraft carrier Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC).

Asked about the need for acquiring twin-engine fighter aircraft in the category of Rafale-36 which have been contracted for the IAF, the sources said India would hold a separate competition for those aircraft but only after the single engine fighter aircraft competition is completed.

The IAF has 33 squadrons of fighter aircraft in its inventory, which includes mainly single-engine planes like MiG 21s and MiG 27s along with Su-30MKI, MiG 29 and Jaguar.

Source - India Today
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TejasMrca/photos/?ref=page_internal

 

[square]

its between gripen vs f16..

or

its between adani vs tata..


in both , those will be selected , that can deliver !!

 

[Filtercoffee]

Both types are 4th generation as we have a training establishment here for our budding pilots to transition, it seems far fetched and irrelevant to have this come up when MK 2 and AMCA are going to take off in a few years. The peer based business companies should be itegrated completly, if not already with HAL, as support units only.

Further reading suggested a total u turn for FDI into defence, as I saw a virtual control of the system. As an example, what happend to the Pakistan armed forces in the past and is still eating it.

As hate led to suffering and as our PM said 'may the force be with you', Only a local knows the way personally; therefore my personal choice and only recommendation to the Indian ministry of defence is the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

 

[Hari Sud]

If Trump permits F-16 complete ToT will be a better deal. This fighter is going to be around till 2044. Until then, there is going to be a huge need to refurbish and upgrade about 4000 flying F-16s. That upgrade will be a great business to have in India. It hinges on TOT.

As regards to the fighting capabilities of F-16, it is still unmatched by mist fighters of the world including the lower end stealth fighters.

 

[Kchontha]

Thi

IAF to trial American F-16, Swedish Gripen for 120-jet Make in India project to replace MiGs

The Indian Air Force will hold limited trials of the American F-16 and Swedish Saab Gripen fighter aircraft for selecting the foreign partner to build 120 combat planes under the Make in India project. The total worth of the deal is estimated to be around $20 billion (Rs 1.3 lakh crore).

IAF sources said the two planes had undergone extensive trials seven years ago when the IAF was evaluating aircraft for buying 126 mediummultirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA).

"We have chosen the two planes based on evaluation done by us seven years ago. For the Make in India project, we will now hold trials of only those capabilities which they were found to be lacking in these aircraft in those days," an IAF officer told Mail Today.

Sources said during the M-MRCA trials, the F-16 was not selected as it was found that there was no potential for developing the aircraft further while the Saab Gripen did not have advanced radar called AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array), which was mandatory requirement in that project.

IAF sources said both the firms have informed the air force that they would be fully compliant to the requirements now as the American firm has come up with a latest version of the F-16 known as Block 70 while the Swedish firm has also acquired the advanced AESA radar.

"To test the new capabilities, there would a limited trial only and we are hoping to select and finalise the foreign partner within the next one year," the IAF sources said.

The 120 single-engine fighter jets would be used by the IAF to replace its ageing fleet of the Russian MiG-series planes including the MiG-21s and the MiG-27s which form the backbone of the Indian fighter plane fleet.

Almost all the variants of the MiG-21s and MiG-27s would retire by the year 2025 and the IAF is hoping that their replacements would be ready for induction into the service in form of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft and the 120 'Made in India' fighter planes.

The IAF has plans of inducting around 123 LCA combat jets as the NDA government recently gave clearance to a Rs 50,000 crore project to induct 83 planes and augment the rate of production of these planes in the state-owned HAL in Bangalore.

Meanwhile, the Navy is testing the American F-18 and the French Dassault for acquiring 57 twin-engine planes for its next aircraft carrier Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC).

Asked about the need for acquiring twin-engine fighter aircraft in the category of Rafale-36 which have been contracted for the IAF, the sources said India would hold a separate competition for those aircraft but only after the single engine fighter aircraft competition is completed.

The IAF has 33 squadrons of fighter aircraft in its inventory, which includes mainly single-engine planes like MiG 21s and MiG 27s along with Su-30MKI, MiG 29 and Jaguar.

Source - India Today
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TejasMrca/photos/?ref=page_internal

This will surely kill Tejas mk2 IAF version. And India will be fourth generation technology dumping site while the north eastern rival is heading towards 5th Gen technology. Nowadays smart and intelligent airforces import small numbers of fighter aircraft instead of large numbers.

 

[Filtercoffee]

Token flying units are not required for front line fighter squadrons.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Gripen is a more complicated deal with many parts from EU nations. F-16 offers no strategic advantage since pak and saudis know it. Reject both , total waste of time. Order more rafaels or work with Japanese on their sixth generation program.

 

[Srinivas_K]

Gripen is a more complicated deal with many parts from EU nations. F-16 offers no strategic advantage since pak and saudis know it. Reject both , total waste of time. Order more rafaels or work with Japanese on their sixth generation program.

F16 manufacturing lines are going to be shifted to India. If India opts for F16, India will cater the spare parts to the entire world.

By opting to F16, India will nullify the Pakistani advantage, we also have LCA, Su 30 MKI and Rafales.

 

[Krusty]

its between gripen vs f16..

or

its between adani vs tata..


in both , those will be selected , that can deliver !!

Who is the loser? LCA and the Indian tax payer

 

[LETHALFORCE]

F16 manufacturing lines are going to be shifted to India. If India opts for F16, India will cater the spare parts to the entire world.

By opting to F16, India will nullify the Pakistani advantage, we also have LCA, Su 30 MKI and Rafales.

And PAKFA the big unknown??????? It all started with this.

http://pakobserver.net/india-us-lemoa-regional-implications/


US-India bilateral relationship, both countries have renewed their framework for defence relationship for next 10 years as well as the US has designated India as the ‘Major Defence Partner’ while negotiations for co-production of F-16 aircraft in India are also underway, one cannot remain naïve of the strategic intentions of the LEMOA pact.

 

[Krusty]

F16 manufacturing lines are going to be shifted to India. If India opts for F16, India will cater the spare parts to the entire world.

By opting to F16, India will nullify the Pakistani advantage, we also have LCA, Su 30 MKI and Rafales.

We need to ask why the Americans are willing to shift F16 production line to India. There is no other way around the fact that no matter how good the aircraft is, it's a late 70s airframe that is at its end of life stage waiting to be replaced by the F35. Too many countries has their hands on it and too many countries know its capabilities. I have absolutely no doubt that Chinese Engineers already have got their hands on them via Pakistan. Going for it would be a blunder IMHO. Please explain how will it nullify Pakistani advantage(assuming they have any) after the full AD layers are deployed by India.

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

LCA mk2 is far away.How do we propose to fill up the numbers left by retiring Mig 21s?

Secondly will a F16 block 70 or a Gripen NG be any less capable than a LCA MK2?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Who is the loser? LCA and the Indian tax payer

LCA is a target for European , Russian and American warplane industries

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We need to ask why the Americans are willing to shift F16 production line to India. There is no other way around the fact that no matter how good the aircraft is, it's a late 70s airframe that is at its end of life stage waiting to be replaced by the F35. Too many countries has their hands on it and too many countries know its capabilities. I have absolutely no doubt that Chinese Engineers already have got their hands on them via Pakistan. Going for it would be a blunder IMHO. Please explain how will it nullify Pakistani advantage(assuming they have any) after the full AD layers are deployed by India.

Radar signatures for f16 are probably known by Russians and Chinese