Lockheed Martin to offer F-35 to India ?

[WolfPack86]

According to a report prepared by Financial Express , after Lockheed Martin failed to create Indian interest in their legacy F-16 fighter jets , is currently preparing to offer its latest 5th generation F-35A to Indian Air force to meet its requirements for 90 combat fighter jets above 36 Rafale fighter jets currently been negotiated with France . The report also mentions that India has officially turned down ” Make in India ” F-16 offer from Lockheed Martin and is currently going through proposals submitted by Swedish SAAB for their Gripen E and American Boeing’s F-18s combat fighter jets with Transfer of Technology to be made in India . F-35A reported per unit cost is 98$ million with additional funds required for weapons ,spares and training support . Defence analyst close to idrw.org do not believe Lockheed Martin will offer Transfer of Technology (TOT) nor will agree to Make it in India , most likely it will offer to establish local supply chain in India for its maintenance and components but it is unlikely to see any interest in India’s Defence ministry . India is already negotiating with Russia for the development of 5t generation FGFA based on Sukhoi’s T-50 design and has committed to contribute 4 $ Billion each in its development with committed orders for 114 units of this Indo-Russia developed 5th generation Heavy Class fighter which will be slotted above current Air superiority fighter jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI . India also plans to kickstart its own 5th generation multirole fighter jet programme AMCA by the end of this year for which Defence ministry and various Aerospace developmental and production agencies in India are waiting for official clearance to the project from the government with project budget allocation, timelines and collaborations to be cleared soon .
http://idrw.org/source-idrw-news-network/

 

[WolfPack86]

Pentagon to offer F-35 to India in upcoming tech transfer talks

• 

Accompanied by a high-level official delegation and representatives of several US defence companies, under secretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Frank Kendall will arrive here next week. Topping his agenda would be the review of existing transfers and identifying new high-end technologies to strengthen New Delhi’s military capabilities. Kendall, a top Pentagon official, will reach Delhi on July 27 for the joint technology group meeting with India’s defence secretary G Mohan Kumar. He is also the US’ point person for the bilateral Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Highly-placed sources told FE that the heads of several defence majors including General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell and Raytheon are accompanying him and they will interact with the Indian defence industry captains at a breakfast meeting on July 27. In a joint statement at the end of PM Modi’s recent visit, the US welcomed India’s ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage earlier this year and the significant steps taken by Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Westinghouse towards finalising contractual negotiations by June 2017 on a deal to build six AP1000 reactors in India by 2030. The joint statement stated, “Once completed, this project will fulfill the promise of the US-India civil nuclear agreement, will create jobs in both the United States and India, and will advance our shared clean energy objectives”.

US company General Atomics, which is in talks with the Indian Navy for unmanned aerospace systems, is also a world leader in radiation monitoring systems for nuclear power plants at over 120 sites globally. General Atomics is eyeing huge opportunities in India along with Westinghouse and other nuclear reactor makers. Vivek Lall, global chief executive at General Atomics, will also be interacting with the Indian industry captains. Incidentally, American aerospace majors Lockheed Martin and Boeing have been offering shifting of whole production facilities to India for the F-16 and F-18 ‘Hornets’. “Both companies have made two rounds of presentations to the ministry of defence. Lockheed Martin has been told by the authorities that India is not keen on F-16s and Boeing, which through its tie up with Tata Aerospace, is already making components in India that are used on board its fighter jets,” said sources.

However, after getting clearances from the Obama administration on what information can be provided to India by the two aerospace companies, Lockheed Martin is expected to offer F-35 for the Indian Air Force and Boeing might offer making more parts that could be fitted on board the F-18s.
http://www.defencenews.in/article/P...to-India-in-upcoming-tech-transfer-talks-6936

 

[WolfPack86]

Pentagon To Offer F-35 to India In Upcoming Tech Transfer Talks

 

[WolfPack86]

After rejected F-16, US to offer F-35 to India in upcoming tech transfer talks

 

[Mikesingh]

There are over 35 contractors and sub contractors in the US and Europe for the manufacture of various components for the F-35. So make in India and TOT is out of the question. At most we can assemble them here from SKD kits.

And $120 million a pop including weapons, spares etc is outrageously expensive. We could buy two SU-35s for the cost of one F-35. We have the manufacturing base for the SUs too.

 

[WolfPack86]

Danish Government Recommends Buying 27 F-35s
WASHINGTON and HELSINKI — The Danish government is recommending Denmark buy 27 Lockheed Martin F-35s to replace its aging F-16 fighter jets, top government officials announced during a press conference Thursday.

The Danish Prime Minister and the Defense Minister announced that the government is recommending Denmark purchase 27 F-35s at a price of 20 billion Danish Kroner, or about $3 billion. The next phase is an open debate in the Danish parliament, which is expected to last about a month before Denmark makes a final decision.

The Danish government chose the F-35 as the best option for its next-generation fighter fleet over Saab’s Gripen NG, Eurofighter’s Typhoon, and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet. Although critics frequently slam the joint strike fighter for cost overruns, the Danish government concluded buying the F-35 would actually be the cheapest option to meet national security needs.

Officials estimated life cycle costs are lowest for the JSF because Denmark needs fewer F-35s than Super Hornets or Eurofighters to perform the same missions, according to an executive summary of the type selection of Denmark's new fighter aircraft.
If parliament approves the decision, Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the fifth-generation fighter jet, joining the US, the UK, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

"Lockheed Martin is pleased that Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to the F-35 program with the down select of the F-35 in this fair and open competition," according to a May 12 Lockheed statement. "The F-35 Lightning II will help ensure Denmark’s national security, and also positions Danish industry to capture long-term work throughout the life of the program."

Denmark has eyed a replacement for its F-16s for years. The competition was in its early stages in 2010 when economic woes forced the government to pause the program. It was officially re-launched in 2013, but with a reduced buy — 30 fighters instead of 48.

"We are honored Denmark is considering the F-35A to meet its national defense requirements," according to a statement from the F-35 joint program office. "We understand the selection process for the New Fighter Program is still ongoing and the Joint Program Office will continue to provide the Danish Government with the data needed to make an informed decision that is in their country's best interest."
http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...nment-likely-recommend-buying-f-35s/84249050/

 

[WolfPack86]

Denmark brought 27 f- 35 fighter worth 3 billion dollar. While we are buying 36 rafale worth 8 billion dollar. I think f- 35 fighter cheaper than rafale

 

[Harinath]

yes, I have that opinion too, it said that f-35 will be $85 mil in 2019. is rafale more advance than F-35?

 

[kstriya]

Danish Government Recommends Buying 27 F-35s
WASHINGTON and HELSINKI — The Danish government is recommending Denmark buy 27 Lockheed Martin F-35s to replace its aging F-16 fighter jets, top government officials announced during a press conference Thursday.

The Danish Prime Minister and the Defense Minister announced that the government is recommending Denmark purchase 27 F-35s at a price of 20 billion Danish Kroner, or about $3 billion. The next phase is an open debate in the Danish parliament, which is expected to last about a month before Denmark makes a final decision.

The Danish government chose the F-35 as the best option for its next-generation fighter fleet over Saab’s Gripen NG, Eurofighter’s Typhoon, and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet. Although critics frequently slam the joint strike fighter for cost overruns, the Danish government concluded buying the F-35 would actually be the cheapest option to meet national security needs.

Officials estimated life cycle costs are lowest for the JSF because Denmark needs fewer F-35s than Super Hornets or Eurofighters to perform the same missions, according to an executive summary of the type selection of Denmark's new fighter aircraft.
If parliament approves the decision, Denmark would be the 11th country to buy the fifth-generation fighter jet, joining the US, the UK, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

"Lockheed Martin is pleased that Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to the F-35 program with the down select of the F-35 in this fair and open competition," according to a May 12 Lockheed statement. "The F-35 Lightning II will help ensure Denmark’s national security, and also positions Danish industry to capture long-term work throughout the life of the program."

Denmark has eyed a replacement for its F-16s for years. The competition was in its early stages in 2010 when economic woes forced the government to pause the program. It was officially re-launched in 2013, but with a reduced buy — 30 fighters instead of 48.

"We are honored Denmark is considering the F-35A to meet its national defense requirements," according to a statement from the F-35 joint program office. "We understand the selection process for the New Fighter Program is still ongoing and the Joint Program Office will continue to provide the Danish Government with the data needed to make an informed decision that is in their country's best interest."
http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...nment-likely-recommend-buying-f-35s/84249050/

At this price we can buy 81 F35 for 9 billion $ we plan to spend to acquire RAFALE. We can dump the RAFALE and buy F35 if the cost is even comparable but does not come with any string attached. Buy more scorpene to offset the RAFALE deal might be 6 additional to keep the French happy.

 

[Harinath]

At this price we can buy 81 F35 for 9 billion $ we plan to spend to acquire RAFALE. We can dump the RAFALE and buy F35 if the cost is even comparable but does not come with any string attached. Buy more scorpene to offset the RAFALE deal might be 6 additional to keep the French happy.

Right, Rafale is is already a very old plane, by the time we finish getting last batch, many technologies would be evolved, and it could even be obsolete, and I do not understand y the hell do we need so many different types of planes from all around the world, does any body in the world have such a huge list of different types of planes. Lets say F-35, FGFA for airsuperiority and MKI is a very good multirole, so do doubt in ground attack. which type of job IAF wont be able to do? more over, we have lots of other tech to answer out enemies, SAM, BVRAAM, Laser beams, electric pulse, rail gun, hypersonic cruise missiles, jammer pods, ew suits, they are all in pipeline around the world and they are way more cheap than maintaining such a large fleet is very costly especially with such large number of type of planes. very soon things can go into space.

 

[Rizvi Khan]

@BON PLAN
Should we dump rafale or your govt gonna do something? Indians are in no mood to spend the money on a fair plane with extra high high cost. What is going on ?

 

[asianobserve]

As I said many times before the F-35 is the future of air combat. It renders all 4th and 4th+ gen fighters obsolete. But I'm sure F-35 will not come with TOT (for 5th gen tech), maybe Lockheed will offer TOT on the proposed F-16 Block 70/71 tech that could be incorporated to Tejas Mk2.

If India can buy even just 100 of these bad boys then India will all of a sudden put China to second place. But of course India will have to wait for complete delivery since a lot of F-35 partner nations are waiting.

 

[WolfPack86]

F-35 Cost May Drop to $85 Million by 2019

Despite its history of cost overruns, the Pentagon's fifth-generation fighter program is on course to realize significant savings in coming years, the program manager said this week.

Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin's program manager for the F-35 program, told reporters Tuesday that the cost of the F-35A -- the Air Force variant of the aircraft -- was expected to drop from nearly $100 million per plane to about $85 million by 2019, thanks to efficiencies and cost-cutting manufacturing technologies.

The B and C variants designed for the Marine Corps and Navy, which are heavier and purchased in smaller quantities, are not included in the 2019 goal.

By contrast, the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft cost about $60 million apiece.

"We think that price with this capability will be unbeatable," Babione said. "You'll be able to afford a fifth-generation airplane for what would be a fourth-generation price for anything else offered in the free world. The Lockheed/BAE/Northrop Grumman contractor team is hyper-focused on reducing the price of the airplane."

With the Air Force set to reach F-35 initial operating capability by the end of this year, Babione said Lockheed Martin's manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, was busy assembling the largest number of airplanes the program had ever produced at one time. At any given time, he said, there are some 115 F-35s in stages of major sub-assembly.

While production volume drives costs down, Babione said Lockheed was also finding savings through manufacturing innovations. A robotic arm that applies coatings to the aircraft's diverterless supersonic inlet bump reduces man-hours and facility costs, he said, saving $6,000 per jet and $27 million across the robotic system's program life. A laser system that strips paint and prepares metal surfaces ahead of drilling saves $15,000 per aircraft and $46 million across the system's expected program life. A high-tech forging system that reduces waste is good for another $30,400 per jet, or $10 million across the life of the program.

Also key to realizing F-35 program cost savings goals is a multi-year international and U.S. "block buy" that would allow Lockheed to procure materials to build the planes far ahead of time and at lower cost. This is a more controversial proposal, however.

A study released this year by the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation suggested that the proposed block buy may be premature because of ongoing software and maintenance issues.

"Is it prudent to further increase substantially the number of aircraft bought that may need modifications to reach full combat capability and service life?" DOT&E officials asked in the report.

Babione said these issues shouldn't stand in the way of a block buy.

"When I look at a program and decide, 'is it stable enough to do a block buy,' you really don't look at things like software, because I can change the software tomorrow. What I'm looking for is, 'is the foundation of the aircraft stable?' So you start looking at the structural integrity, the way the aircraft was designed," he said. "If you look at fatigue test results, we're significantly better than most aircraft before. The aircraft structural design is very sound, and that's what forms the foundation of the aircraft for the next 40 or 50 years."

The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office is expected to make a decision regarding a possible block buy this summer.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/03/16/f35-cost-may-drop-to-85-million-by-2019.html

 

[WolfPack86]

F-35 Lightning II Fighter Jet

 

[curryman]

If India is interested in acquiring F-35s it better streamline its procurement process. The time it took to acquire Rafales is totally ridiculous: by the time India gets them, they will be outdated.

 

[AnantS]

F-35 is carrot dangled by US, while asking India to eat F-16/F-18 hay. India wont fall for the offer.

 

[Sakal Gharelu Ustad]

First US should think about using F-35 itself!!

 

[curryman]

F-35 is carrot dangled by US, while asking India to eat F-16/F-18 hay. India wont fall for the offer.

US is doing no such thing. Read the original post. Lockheed Martin offered the F-16, India refused. Now is offering the F-35 instead. If India does not want the F/A-18, they can refuse buy have yet to do so. The ball is in India's court what it wants to do -- or not do.

First US should think about using F-35 itself!!

The F-35A will be operational by end of 2016. US military is committed to this aircraft. India won't be eligible to receive this aircraft until 2025 any way, which by that time the F-35 will have matured.

 

[WolfPack86]

Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin's program manager for the F-35 program, told reporters Tuesday that the cost of the F-35A -- the Air Force variant of the aircraft -- was expected to drop from nearly $100 million per plane to about $85 million by 2019, thanks to efficiencies and cost-cutting manufacturing technologies.

 

[WolfPack86]

If F-35 fighter cost drop to 85 million by 2019 then it is good. But rafale cost more than f-35 besides f-35 is fifth generation fighter while rafale is fourth generation fighter how come rafale cost so much when f-35 cost less than rafale. Govt so dump rafale and proceed with f-35 which less than rafale. Now a days there is no news about rafale . what happened to rafale deal is it alive or dead.