Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

sorcerer

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India to sign $2.5-billion contract for 56 transport planes for IAF

 

WolfPack86

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India to sign $2.5-billion contract for 56 transport planes for IAF
India will sign a $2.5-billion contract his year for the supply of 56 medium transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force to replace its fleet of aging Avro-748 planes, officials familiar with the development said on Tuesday.

Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will jointly execute the project to equip the air force with 56 C-295 transport aircraft under the Make-in-India initiative in the aerospace sector.

Under the contract, Airbus will supply the first 16 aircraft in flyaway condition while the remaining 40 will be assembled in India by TASL, the officials said.

The procurement of 56 C-295 from Airbus with participation of an Indian production agency for the manufacture of 40 aircraft (out of total 56) in India is at financial approval stage and the contract is likely to be signed in the near future, the defence ministry said in its year-end review.

“The case is first of its kind which envisages participation of private companies and would prove to be a boost for our defence industry,” the ministry said.

While the C-295s are meant to replace the Avro-748 transport planes, the new aircraft will also be suitable for demanding roles that the AN-32 currently undertakes, as previously reported by Hindustan Times.

The Avro-748 entered service in the early 1960s and has been long due for replacement, said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

“The replacement C-295 project has been in the works for the past eight years and has spawned a new term --- the Avro model --- in the acquisition field due the unique path adopted. Actually, there is an acquisition fatigue that has crept in, a state that needs to be broken by actually inducting the aircraft that is sorely required by the IAF. The C-295 would also be the natural replacement for AN-32s which too would be getting phased out soon,” Bahadur said.

The first 16 planes will be supplied in two years, and the deliveries of the 40 locally-assembled ones will be spread over an additional eight years. The aircraft can operate from short, unprepared airstrips and carry out a variety of missions in all-weather conditions.

The contract for buying 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft for the IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is also likely to be signed soon after approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security, the ministry said its review. Last March, the defence ministry gave a green light to the purchase of 83 advanced Tejas jets from HAL. The deal is expected to be worth Rs 38,000 crore.

The deal for the 83 Mk-1A jets will take the total number of Tejas variants ordered to 123.

The 40 LCAs already ordered by the IAF are in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations. The LCA Mk-1A will come with additional improvements over the FOC aircraft, making it the most advanced Tejas variant so far.

The Mk-1A variant is expected to come with digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, active electronically scanned array radar, advanced beyond-visual-range missiles and significantly improved maintainability.

India is also likely to sign a deal with Israel for additional Harop (P-IV) loitering weapon systems in the first quarter of 2021, the year-end review said. The Harop is designed to locate and attack high-value targets with precision. The weapon (also known as a suicide drone) tracks the target, dives on to it and detonates the warhead on impact, according to its maker Israel Aerospace Industries.
 

WolfPack86

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CCS TO SOON INK DEAL FOR 83 TEJAS MK-1A FIGHTER JETS WORTH OVER RS 37,000 CRORE
NEW DELHI: India is gearing up for a long-pending military aircraft deal. The contract for 83 indigenous TEJAS fighters is set to be inked within the next few months.


The over Rs 37,000 crore order for 83 TEJAS MK-1A jets from defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will be the biggest-ever deal in the indigenous military aviation sector. These 83 fighters, the deliveries of which will begin three years after the contract is inked, will have 43 “improvements” over the 40 TEJAS MK-1 (totalling 123 jets) already ordered by the IAF.

The project have been sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the final approval. “The TEJAS contract is likely to be inked in early-February.” said an official on Tuesday.

The overall cost of acquiring the 83 single-engine TEJAS fighters and their support package has been cut down from the earlier around Rs 56,500 crore being demanded by HAL after protracted negotiations, as was reported by IDN last year.

The IAF’s two TEJAS squadrons, the “Flying Daggers” and “Flying Bullets” at Sulur, have till now inducted only around 20of the original 40 TEJAS MK-1 fighters, which were all slated for delivery by December 2016 under two contracts worth Rs 8,802 crore inked earlier.

The 83 TEJAS MK-1A fighters will have 43 “improvements” to improve maintainability, AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar to replace existing mechanically-steered radar, air-to-air refuelling, long-range BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missiles and advanced electronic warfare to jam enemy radars and missiles.

After these 123 fighters, IAF is also looking to induct 170 TEJAS MK-2 or the MWF (Medium Weight Fighter) jets with more powerful engines and advanced avionics. But IAF is banking upon the first 123 TEJAS to add to its fighter squadrons, which is down to just 30 (each has 18 jets) when at least 42 are required for the requisite deterrence against Pakistan and China.

“It is great news that the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has completed 20 years of flying since its first flight. I am happy to share that the project is progressing at HAL very well as we now have augmented production capacity of 10 to 12 LCAs per year, with exclusive production facilities in Bangalore. We have also developed partners for the supply of major structural assemblies.

A new facility, spread across 35 acres, with a built-up area of over 34,000 square metres (sq. m.), is being made ready for production of structural assemblies of the advanced variant of Tejas - LCA Mk1A. This facility will be in full-fledged operation from FY 2021-22 onwards. The HAL will be able to produce 16 aircraft per year from 2022-23 onwards to match with deliveries against the 83 LCA order,” said R Madhavan , HAL Chairman and Managing Director R Madhavan.
 

Arihant Roy

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An IAF Mi-17 on firefighting duties boards rescue personnel with the Dzukou Valley ablaze in the background. Operations continuing against the forest fire in the hills spanning Nagaland & Manipur.

The HADR side of IAF.

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WolfPack86

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CONTRACT FOR 56 C-295 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT, 83 TEJAS-MK1A SOON
Deal, expected to cost around ₹38,000 cr., could possibly be concluded at Aero India 2021 in Feb., says defence official


Major contracts for procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus to replace the Avro aircraft in service and 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A are likely to be concluded in the next few months, in addition to few other deals.

“Case for procurement of advanced 83 TEJAS MK-1A from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] is at final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and contract is likely to be signed soon,” the Defence Ministry said.

The deal, expected to cost around ₹38,000 crore, could possibly be concluded at the Aero India 2021 in February, a defence official said.

On the C-295 deal, the Ministry said, “Case of procurement of 56 C-295 from Airbus with the participation of an Indian Production Agency for manufacture of 40 aircraft [out of total 56] in India is also at the Competent Financial Authority (CFA) approval stage and the contract is likely to be signed in the near future.”

Boost To Defence Industry

The case was first of its kind which envisaged the participation of private companies and would prove to be a boost to the defence industry, the Ministry said in its annual report.

In addition, contracts for procuring the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) from HAL, additional Harop (P-IV) loitering drones from Israel and upgrade of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV) in service were also at an advance stage. “Contracts are likely to be signed in the first quarter of 2021,” the Ministry stated.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 40 TEJAS in two batches of 20 each in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configurations and has raised two squadrons. Till date, 16 aircraft have been delivered to the IAF in IOC configuration. Delivery of the FOC aircraft has also commenced with improved weapons capability, enhanced fight envelope, inflight refuelling capability and advance features for low-speed handling. The 83 TEJAS MK-1A, which will have major capability enhancements, will take the total TEJAS order to 123. There is also a TEJAS MK-2 under development.

Need To Replace Avros

The IAF has 56 Avro transport aircraft procured in the 1960s and they are in urgent need of replacement. Under the present deal, 16 C-295s will be built by Airbus and imported and the remaining 40 built in the country by an Indian manufacturer under transfer of technology. The Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued to global firms in May 2013 and the sole bid by Airbus and Tata with the C-295 aircraft was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in May 2015. However, the final deal has been repeatedly delayed.

The number of C-295s has gone up from 56 to 62, combining the requirement from the Coast Guard. With the proposed joint development of a Medium Transport Aircraft with Russia meant to replace the AN-32 scrapped, there is discussion within the IAF on making the C-295 the replacement for the An-32 fleet in future.
 

Flying Dagger

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CONTRACT FOR 56 C-295 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT, 83 TEJAS-MK1A SOON
Deal, expected to cost around ₹38,000 cr., could possibly be concluded at Aero India 2021 in Feb., says defence official


Major contracts for procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus to replace the Avro aircraft in service and 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A are likely to be concluded in the next few months, in addition to few other deals.

“Case for procurement of advanced 83 TEJAS MK-1A from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] is at final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and contract is likely to be signed soon,” the Defence Ministry said.

The deal, expected to cost around ₹38,000 crore, could possibly be concluded at the Aero India 2021 in February, a defence official said.

On the C-295 deal, the Ministry said, “Case of procurement of 56 C-295 from Airbus with the participation of an Indian Production Agency for manufacture of 40 aircraft [out of total 56] in India is also at the Competent Financial Authority (CFA) approval stage and the contract is likely to be signed in the near future.”

Boost To Defence Industry

The case was first of its kind which envisaged the participation of private companies and would prove to be a boost to the defence industry, the Ministry said in its annual report.

In addition, contracts for procuring the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) from HAL, additional Harop (P-IV) loitering drones from Israel and upgrade of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAV) in service were also at an advance stage. “Contracts are likely to be signed in the first quarter of 2021,” the Ministry stated.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 40 TEJAS in two batches of 20 each in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configurations and has raised two squadrons. Till date, 16 aircraft have been delivered to the IAF in IOC configuration. Delivery of the FOC aircraft has also commenced with improved weapons capability, enhanced fight envelope, inflight refuelling capability and advance features for low-speed handling. The 83 TEJAS MK-1A, which will have major capability enhancements, will take the total TEJAS order to 123. There is also a TEJAS MK-2 under development.

Need To Replace Avros

The IAF has 56 Avro transport aircraft procured in the 1960s and they are in urgent need of replacement. Under the present deal, 16 C-295s will be built by Airbus and imported and the remaining 40 built in the country by an Indian manufacturer under transfer of technology. The Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued to global firms in May 2013 and the sole bid by Airbus and Tata with the C-295 aircraft was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in May 2015. However, the final deal has been repeatedly delayed.

The number of C-295s has gone up from 56 to 62, combining the requirement from the Coast Guard. With the proposed joint development of a Medium Transport Aircraft with Russia meant to replace the AN-32 scrapped, there is discussion within the IAF on making the C-295 the replacement for the An-32 fleet in future.
That will be smart way to go onwards by having one type for both Avro and An 32 replacement.

Similarly Airbus 320/neo should be made standard for AWACS tankers and transport fleet requirement.
 

FalconSlayers

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That will be smart way to go onwards by having one type for both Avro and An 32 replacement.

Similarly Airbus 320/neo should be made standard for AWACS tankers and transport fleet requirement.
We should urge our airlines and Airforce sto standardise a single aircraft for majority of needs similar to each other so that we can urge Airbus to open a local manufacturing plant here.
 

Flying Dagger

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We should urge our airlines and Airforce sto standardise a single aircraft for majority of needs similar to each other so that we can urge Airbus to open a local manufacturing plant here.
Airline like Indigo have played it smart by limiting to one or two type and they are reaping benefit out of it. Maintenance and operation both have seen cost cutdown.

If we don't have any plan to acquire Embraer and it seems so , then Airbus 320/neo /C295 will be best bet .
 

Maharaj samudragupt

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Airline like Indigo have played it smart by limiting to one or two type and they are reaping benefit out of it. Maintenance and operation both have seen cost cutdown.

If we don't have any plan to acquire Embraer and it seems so , then Airbus 320/neo /C295 will be best bet .
Yes just like war office in great brutain ( british brute regiment ) convinced many a shipping companies which operated passengers ocean liners and cargo ships to construct newer ship s in such manner so as to them being capable of mounting weapons if the need arise and royal navy faced ship shortages .
 

FalconSlayers

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Airline like Indigo have played it smart by limiting to one or two type and they are reaping benefit out of it. Maintenance and operation both have seen cost cutdown.

If we don't have any plan to acquire Embraer and it seems so , then Airbus 320/neo /C295 will be best bet .
yes China is already making Neos in Tianjin and we should do the same urging them to set up a plant here catering the domestic and international market in Asia and urge them to leave china stating the pandemic and India being a democracy.

 

Bhurki

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They should order additional C-295s for the Air Force to replace the garbage An-32 and then use offsets to get the Kaveri running.
Those 'garbage' an-32 have >50% of their airframe life left.
They weren't flown a lot due to problems.
 

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