tharikiran
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2009
- Messages
- 763
- Likes
- 1,040
superb pic there man...
MMRCA news and discussions.
- Thread starter nitesh
- Start date
J
John
Guest
i know, imagine the guy who was caught off-guard...must have been deafening.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2009
- Messages
- 3,474
- Likes
- 1,062
Air-pockets before the air fair
BY : DNA
In a few days, the first of the foreign fighters will land in Bangalore to kick-start field trials for India’s biggest open tender military contract ever, worth almost Rs60,000 crore, for 126 fighters. Just days away from that, industrial espionage, national rivalries and gigantic logistical nightmares take over the race.
The complexities of the field trials would be unheard of in Indian military standards. Six of the contenders — two American fighters (F-18 and F-16), three from Europe (Eurofighter, Gripen and Rafale) and one from Russia (MIG-35) — would land in India for extensive evaluation by a team of officers drawn from various branches of air force and outside. Those from the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, DRDO’s Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification and HAL will be involved in the evaluation process.
The process starts this August and winds up next summer. Competing fighters will be in India for two to three weeks, air force sources indicate. The first fighters to land could be from the US.
Sources said a large number of air force officials, respective fighter companies and others have been shuttling round the globe for the field trials. Representatives of vendors came to India to survey locations in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh for the field trials.
Presently, air force is in the process of sending pilots and engineers to vendor locations for training. Vendors have been asked to bring at least one double-seater fighter for the trials, but most of the companies are expected to have at least one back-up during the trial period.
The teams will also carry out evaluations in the home countries of the fighters. None of the six contenders are expected to fly their fighters across continents armed with missiles.
“So the weapon trials would have to be at the home bases,” said an air force source. However, the air force has already said it would prefer to carry out the firing in India. “That would significantly shoot up our insurance charges,” says a source in one of the companies.
Lockheed boss flees
Even as US firm Lockheed Martin makes an aggressive pitch with its legendary F-16 fighter, it has embroiled itself in an embarrassing controversy that forced its India chief to quit and leave India secretly. In a bizarre twist, Lockheed Martin headquarters sent back to the MoD a couple of its internal files that the US defence firm had illegally obtained. The files came back because of a mess-up by a senior executive who thought it was legitimately handed over to the firm by the MoD.
The heat is on
Sources from Israel Aerospace Industries alleged, through Israeli media, that they were forced to quit a partnership with Gripen, the Swedish fighter, for a contract. Pressure from Pentagon forced the Israelis to keep out of the lucrative contract, but it now looks like the US was paving way for the American fighter companies.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive Air-pockets before the air fair
BY : DNA
In a few days, the first of the foreign fighters will land in Bangalore to kick-start field trials for India’s biggest open tender military contract ever, worth almost Rs60,000 crore, for 126 fighters. Just days away from that, industrial espionage, national rivalries and gigantic logistical nightmares take over the race.
The complexities of the field trials would be unheard of in Indian military standards. Six of the contenders — two American fighters (F-18 and F-16), three from Europe (Eurofighter, Gripen and Rafale) and one from Russia (MIG-35) — would land in India for extensive evaluation by a team of officers drawn from various branches of air force and outside. Those from the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, DRDO’s Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification and HAL will be involved in the evaluation process.
The process starts this August and winds up next summer. Competing fighters will be in India for two to three weeks, air force sources indicate. The first fighters to land could be from the US.
Sources said a large number of air force officials, respective fighter companies and others have been shuttling round the globe for the field trials. Representatives of vendors came to India to survey locations in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh for the field trials.
Presently, air force is in the process of sending pilots and engineers to vendor locations for training. Vendors have been asked to bring at least one double-seater fighter for the trials, but most of the companies are expected to have at least one back-up during the trial period.
The teams will also carry out evaluations in the home countries of the fighters. None of the six contenders are expected to fly their fighters across continents armed with missiles.
“So the weapon trials would have to be at the home bases,” said an air force source. However, the air force has already said it would prefer to carry out the firing in India. “That would significantly shoot up our insurance charges,” says a source in one of the companies.
Lockheed boss flees
Even as US firm Lockheed Martin makes an aggressive pitch with its legendary F-16 fighter, it has embroiled itself in an embarrassing controversy that forced its India chief to quit and leave India secretly. In a bizarre twist, Lockheed Martin headquarters sent back to the MoD a couple of its internal files that the US defence firm had illegally obtained. The files came back because of a mess-up by a senior executive who thought it was legitimately handed over to the firm by the MoD.
The heat is on
Sources from Israel Aerospace Industries alleged, through Israeli media, that they were forced to quit a partnership with Gripen, the Swedish fighter, for a contract. Pressure from Pentagon forced the Israelis to keep out of the lucrative contract, but it now looks like the US was paving way for the American fighter companies.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive Air-pockets before the air fair
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2009
- Messages
- 3,474
- Likes
- 1,062
France best positioned for Brazil’s Air Force 4.5 billion USD contract
France best positioned for Brazil’s Air Force 4.5 billion USD contract — MercoPress
France best positioned for Brazil’s Air Force 4.5 billion USD contract — MercoPress
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2009
- Messages
- 3,474
- Likes
- 1,062
France’s Dassault targets Lockheed in combat aircraft deal
BY: Business Standard
The gloves are off in the competition to sell India 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for an estimated Rs 50,000 crore. Two days after Business Standard reported on the sudden replacement of Lockheed Martin India’s CEO, Lockheed’s French rival, Dassault Aviation — whose Rafale fighter is pitched against Lockheed Martin’s F-16 IN in the MMRCA tender — is contemplating asking the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to disqualify Lockheed Martin from the tender. The reason: sources in Dassault allege that Lockheed Martin has illegally obtained access to classified documents relating to the competition.
Approached for details of Dassault’s decision, the company’s Indian representative, Pusina Rao, told Business Standard over the telephone from Paris, “Dassault executives are in discussions and will soon reach a final decision on what action it will initiate against Lockheed Martin. In any case, the French government will have the final word, since there are political repercussions involved.”
Rao declined to comment on how long it would take for Paris to approach the Indian MoD for action against Lockheed Martin.
Sources close to the MMRCA contract point out that tension has been growing between Dassault and Lockheed Martin since the end of 2008, when the Indian media reported that Dassault had been eliminated from the MMRCA contract because it had not fulfilled some of the technical requirements spelt out in the Indian tender. Weeks after the report — and apparently after French President Nikolas Sarkozy spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the phone — it was announced that Dassault was very much in contention.
But Dassault believed that Lockheed Martin was responsible for those reports. Now, Dassault is determined to get back at Lockheed Martin, citing charges of corruption in clear violation of the guidelines in India’s Defence Procurement Policy-2008 (DPP-2008).
On Tuesday, reporting on Lockheed’s India CEO, Ambassador Douglas A Hartwick’s sudden recall to the US without the appointment of a replacement, Business Standard had quoted Lockheed Martin’s Asia Chief, Rick Kirkland, as saying that while Lockheed Martin had never possessed classified Indian procurement documents, the company’s US headquarters had written to the MoD in New Delhi seeking clarification over two “unclassified files” that had found their way into Lockheed’s possession.
The MMRCA competition is growing increasingly heated, with all six competitors — Lockheed Martin; Boeing; Dassault; Grippen; MiG; and Eurofighter — scheduled to produce their aircraft for flight testing by the Indian Air Force, turn by turn, starting this month.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive France’s Dassault targets Lockheed in combat aircraft deal
BY: Business Standard
The gloves are off in the competition to sell India 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for an estimated Rs 50,000 crore. Two days after Business Standard reported on the sudden replacement of Lockheed Martin India’s CEO, Lockheed’s French rival, Dassault Aviation — whose Rafale fighter is pitched against Lockheed Martin’s F-16 IN in the MMRCA tender — is contemplating asking the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to disqualify Lockheed Martin from the tender. The reason: sources in Dassault allege that Lockheed Martin has illegally obtained access to classified documents relating to the competition.
Approached for details of Dassault’s decision, the company’s Indian representative, Pusina Rao, told Business Standard over the telephone from Paris, “Dassault executives are in discussions and will soon reach a final decision on what action it will initiate against Lockheed Martin. In any case, the French government will have the final word, since there are political repercussions involved.”
Rao declined to comment on how long it would take for Paris to approach the Indian MoD for action against Lockheed Martin.
Sources close to the MMRCA contract point out that tension has been growing between Dassault and Lockheed Martin since the end of 2008, when the Indian media reported that Dassault had been eliminated from the MMRCA contract because it had not fulfilled some of the technical requirements spelt out in the Indian tender. Weeks after the report — and apparently after French President Nikolas Sarkozy spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the phone — it was announced that Dassault was very much in contention.
But Dassault believed that Lockheed Martin was responsible for those reports. Now, Dassault is determined to get back at Lockheed Martin, citing charges of corruption in clear violation of the guidelines in India’s Defence Procurement Policy-2008 (DPP-2008).
On Tuesday, reporting on Lockheed’s India CEO, Ambassador Douglas A Hartwick’s sudden recall to the US without the appointment of a replacement, Business Standard had quoted Lockheed Martin’s Asia Chief, Rick Kirkland, as saying that while Lockheed Martin had never possessed classified Indian procurement documents, the company’s US headquarters had written to the MoD in New Delhi seeking clarification over two “unclassified files” that had found their way into Lockheed’s possession.
The MMRCA competition is growing increasingly heated, with all six competitors — Lockheed Martin; Boeing; Dassault; Grippen; MiG; and Eurofighter — scheduled to produce their aircraft for flight testing by the Indian Air Force, turn by turn, starting this month.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive France’s Dassault targets Lockheed in combat aircraft deal
J
John
Guest
Its all going to be well till they submit the price bids, the French will loose in that case. Gripen NG and SH are a lot cheaper.
$12-billion prize
A Unbiased Article -
All leading world aircraft makers producing advanced combat planes consider the tender for delivering 126 fighters to the Indian Air Force under the MMRCA (Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft) programme the most important and the largest of all present-day tenders. The contract is estimated at $11-12 billion. The Russian MiG-35, US Lockheed-Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18, French Dassault Rafale, European Eurofighter Typhoon and Swedish SAAB Gripen are going to compete for this prize. In April, some mass media reported that Rafale refused to participate, but then it was denied and now the French fighter seems to take part in the tender.
Most market analysts think there are no evident winners. The winner will be chosen after comparative tests of all participating fighters that should start in April-May. To this end, each participant should present two aircraft – a single- and double-seat one. Indian Air Force pilots will carry out tests in two stages. At the first stage, they will estimate their flight performance and applicability for the Indian climate and terrain including high-level airdromes. The second stage scheduled for this autumn will probably take place at test bases of manufacturing countries – the Indians will compare characteristics of on-board equipment and armament. After flight tests, India is going to bolt out three or four outsiders. The choice from the resulting short list of 2-3 fighters will be made considering many factors. India will take into account the cost and financing structures, amount of technologies transferred, offset programme for compensation deliveries, which should account for at least 50% of the contract price and local production options. 108 of 126 fighters should be assembled and manufactured at a growing rate at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) enterprises in India. Foreign policy trends will be important, too. It was initially planned that the Indian Air Force will get MMRCA aircraft in 2012. Speaking at the Aero India show, however, Indian Air Force Chief of Staff (this post corresponds to Commanderin- Chief in Russia) Chief Air Marshal Fali Homi said that fighters deliveries would start in 2013 if everything was al right. India’s Air Force is going to raise the number of its combat squadrons from the current 32-33 (each having 14-18 aircraft) to 39.5 by 2017 and to 42 by 2020. These plans also envisage important modernization programmes, firstly relating to the MiG-29. At the press briefing devoted to the MiG-35 at Aero India 2009, RSK MiG Engineering Center Chief Vladimir Barkovskiy said the company had started fulfilling the modernization contract worth about $1 billion. Six Indian MiGs (four MiG-29s single-seat fighters and two MiG-29UB two-seat combat trainers)
have already arrived in Moscow.
Mr.Barkovskiy said that “India has now 62 MiG-29 fighters in total”. Another 56 aircraft will be upgraded at the Indian 11th aircraft maintenance base. “We have visited this enterprise and concluded that Indian specialists would cope with this task”, noted the chief of RSK MiG Engineering Center. Well-known Indian newspaper The Times of India announced some other information in its local Bangalore edition on February 13. It reported that India has 69 MiG-29s and all of them should be modernized already by 2011. The contract for upgrading 51 Dassault Mirage 2000 may be signed soon, too. But no doubt that Su-30MKI fighters are the beauty and pride of the Indian Air Force. The contracts for their deliveries and license production totally cost about $8.5 billion. About 100 aircraft have already been put into service, while India totally ordered 230 Su-30MKIs. By the way, the MMRCA project (126 aircraft) costs 41% more than the Su-30MKI one (230 aircraft) given the 1.8 times less number of aircraft.
The military-technical cooperation between Russia (the Soviet Union) and India started as early as 1963 from the contract of the then-advanced MiG-21 fighter. Of course, the 45-year military-technical cooperation between our countries raises
the chances of the MiG-35 in the tender. The Zhuk-AE AFAR radar designed by Fazotron-NIIR and new missile equipment may play the decisive role, too. The Vayu Show Daily issued at Bangalore’s show reported that the MiG-35’s armament includes Kh-59MK2 air-to-surface missiles with a range of up to 285 km and 300-kg penetrating or cluster warhead. The missile works by the fire-and-forget principle, has terrain recognition and correlation guidance capability and can engage targets lacking radar, optical and IR signature. The MiG-35 can be also armed with the Kh-38 modular missile that has modifications with laser, active radar and IR homing devices as well as satellite navigation system. The 520-kg missile has a warhead weighing 250 kg. The Kh-59MK2 and Kh-58 are developed by Tactical Missiles Corporation. The MiG- 35’s air-to-air missiles will be renewed, too. The fighter will get RVV-MD and RVVSD advanced short- and medium-range missiles that outperform the well-known
RVV-AE and R-73.
But India has some reasons not to choose the MiG-35. The main one is that it does not want to put all the eggs in one basket buying foreign military equipment, which is a consistent and firm position. As it was already told, the Su-30MKI is the main aircraft of the Indian Air Force. In these conditions, the expected consolidation of RSK MiG and Sukhoi companies that has already started when Mikhail Pogosyan became their sole chief will not only make Russia the monopoly supplier of combat aircraft to India if it chooses the MiG-35 but will leave no choice even among manufacturers. By the way, two US companies – Boeing and Lockheed- Martin – are participating in the tender and the US is not afraid of the so-called internal competition, which Rosoboronexport is actively trying to get rid of.
AFAR and PR
But there is another side of the problem, which is traditionally underestimated by Russia. It is the PR support of our contract bid. Russia sent only one MiG-35 to the Aero India show held in February this year. At first it seemed to send two fighters but did not manage to prepare the second one, while the US sent there as many as five F-16s. They included two F-16E/F Block 60s of the UAE Air Force and three F-16C/D Block 50s of the US Air Force. Lockheed-Martin offers India a special modification dubbed F-16IN Super Viper, which, however, differs from the UAE’s F- 16E/F chiefly by the name. But there is a special sense in the name, too! In Russian, Super Viper does not sound very good, but it raises the respects for the fighter and its aggressiveness by the Indians who have a special attitude to poisonous snakes. Index IN also proves that the model was created specially for the client. By the way, Sweden was the first to use this designation offering their Gripen IN. How could we surpass the invasion of Falcons that turned to Super Vipers in Bangalore? Indeed, we have an excellent Strizhi pilot team with six MiG-29s. Why not send them to India to show their skills over the Yelahanka air base? Of course, it is expensive but it is a trifle against $12
billion to be received by the winner.
Another PR solution of Lockheed-Martin was the demonstration flight of India’s-first individual Olympic champion Abkhinava Bindra in F-16’s dual cockpit. During the 45-min flight, he even had hold of the control stick. The popularity of the 26-year air rifle shooter can be compared with that of Yuriy Gagarin in the Soviet Union in the 1960’s. With that, Indian newspapers and even Russian and international mass media using Lockheed-Martin’s press releases to tell about this advertisement flight forgot that the first India’s Olympic gold was won by its field hockey team at Moscow 1980 Olympics.
To tell the truth, Russia gave as good as it got, too. A day before Bindra’s flight, RSK MiG’s test pilot Mikhail Belyayev piloted the MiG-35 with retired Air Marshal Kharish Masand, who was the chief of the Indian Air Force 28th Squadron, which was the first to get MiG-29s. The
62-year Masand highly appreciated the MiG-35’s flight performance, “One can only imagine what younger Indian pilots can do on this aircraft!” Interestingly, the pretty 30-year Indian journalist Suman Sharma was the first Indian citizen to fly on both the MiG-35 and F-16. So, the score of demonstration flights is 2 to 2, but the US surpassed us by the attention in Indian mass media due to a better choice of a passenger. The agreement of Northrop Grumman with two Indian companies Bharat Electronics and Dynamatic Technologies for manufacturing in Bangalore components for US APG-68(V)-9 radars installed on F-16s was not accidental, too. Though these radars have mechanical scanning and the F-16IN employs the APG-80 AFAR radar of the same producer, one can say that well begun is half done. By this step, the US proved that it is ready to cooperate with Indian electronics
industry.
AFAR equipment plays an important role in the MMRCA. The Indian Air Force stress they want to have this breakthrough technology on delivered fighters very much. The US installs Northrop Grumman APG-80 AFAR radars on F-16E/F fighters of the UAE Air Force and Raytheon APG-79 one – on F/A-18E/F Block 2 fighters of the US Naval Air Force. These
very radars are offered to India.
The French Rafale can be equipped by a new Thales-made AFAR radar. Sweden also has an AFAR radar on their newgeneration Gripen NG, which can be called the dream of the Indian Air Force meeting all their requirements. Indeed, the Gripen has achieved everything and even more that India has been fruitlessly trying to do for about twenty years developing their own LCA Tejas fighter. But unfortunately, Sweden does not produce its own tranceivers – the basis of AFAR. To test the technology, Sweden bought US-made tranceivers and combined them with well-reputed blocks of their own PS- 05/A radar. By the way, Fazotron has chosen the same method of combination with tried-and-true blocks. But then the Swedes were disappointed. It turned out that the US did not want to sell tranceivers for series production offering the radar only in block. Thus, Sweden would have to ask the US permission for every export contract. The Swedes did not agree with it and signed a contract for tranceivers with French company Thales. But this had happened before Thales and Dassault received a state order for the development and production of AFAR radar for French Rafale fighters. Later on, Dassault bought a large block of Thales stock thus getting a possibility to influence its decisions. But the most important thing is that the Gripen became the main Rafale’s rival not only in India, but in Brazil, too. France told Sweden that it would deliver tranceivers only for the test model but not for series ones. So, Swedish designers had only two possible transceiver suppliers left – Scotland and Russia. In the author’s opinion repeatedly expressed in his articles for a number of years (he is an expert in the Swedish aircraft and electronics industries) the Russian-Swedish cooperation in this field would have been fully mutually-beneficial. After getting a denial by Russia, Sweden turned to Edinburgh-based company SELEX S&AS UK. At first, this Scottish company was called Ferranti, then – GECMarconi, after that – BAE Systems and now, in the era of total globalization, this is a division of Italian holding FINMECCANICA. SELEX has the Vixen AFAR radar, which won tenders for equipping the US Coast Guard HC-130 patrol aircraft and US Customs and Border Service
Cessna Citation.
And what about Eurofighter Typhoon? This company has a unique position relating to the AFAR radar. They are trying to convince Indian Air Force authorities that their fighter’s Captor mechanical scanning radar is better than expensive and not well-proven AFAR ones. To confirm this position, three Typhoons and chiefs of staff of the German, UK, Italian and Spanish air forces arrived in India. Notably, the Russian MiG-35 did not receive such a support from the Russian Air Force. Europeans noted that 167 Typhoons have already been built and there are firm orders for 707 aircraft, which will load production lines up to 2020. By the way, orders for the F-16 will soon end, while any country wants to have an aircraft still being manufactured in series. The fleet of Typhoons has already amassed 57,000 flight hours – 10,000 by the German Luftwaffe and 25,000 – by the Royal Air Force. The main advantage of the EU bid is, perhaps, compensating for the lack of an AFAR radar. The European consortium offered to help India in testing and finishing the long-suffering Tejas including the installation of Typhoon’s Eurojet EJ200 powerplant on the next Tejas Mk2 version. India is attracted by the reduction of operational costs by unifying engines on the both types of aircraft in service. They also say that the newer Tejas with European engines could be exported to third countries jointly with the Typhoon as light and medium fighters with the same engine. It is not clear which markets are meant, but they are probably represented by poor African states still armed with MiG-21s and F-5s. By the way, the modification of the Russian RD-33 engine can also power Tejas and the latter can be unified with MiG-29K and MiG-35 aircraft. Rosoboronexport’s press release says “The development of the Kaveri national aircraft engine for the LCA Tejas light combat aircraft is the main task for India.” India plans to deliver at least 150 LCA fighters to its Armed Forces. It is the Kaveri that should make this aircraft a multifunctional fighter able to engage ground and aerial targets. Powered by this engine, the Tejas LCA can be used as a deck-based fighter, too. Considering the changed requirements for the engine, Russia said it was ready to participate in the Kaveri programme or upgrade it to the level of an advanced Russian aircraft engine. As for finishing the Kaveri that has already been developed for 20 years, the hero of Pavel Luspekayev in a wonderful movie “The white sun of the desert” said “It will hardly happen…” But “East is a complicated matter” (a quotation from the same film), so the cooperation with Indian engine manufacturers may raise the MiG-
35’s chances, too.
Many-sided cooperation
The cooperation between Russia and India is developing in many directions. The AERO INDIA 2009 airspace show proved that Moscow and Deli have strategic relations in the military-technical sphere. This was repeatedly stressed by Indian Defense Minister Arakkaparambil Kurian Entoni, who said “Our joint projects on BraMos missiles, 5th-generation combat aircraft and multifunctional transport aircraft have became the forerunners of new heights to be achieved by our countries in the military-technical sphere. India is interested not only to maintain but to strengthen this interaction as well.” Rosoboronexport considers that at this new stage, the Indian-Russian cooperation remains long-term and mutuallybeneficial. Previously we had only ‘sellercustomer’ relations, but now our countries are actively cooperating in the field of joint developments and production. Rosoboronexport, Irkut Research and
Production Enterprise, Ilyushin Aircraft Corporation and Indian corporation HAL are jointly developing the MTA Russian- Indian medium-range transport aircraft initially positioned as a dual-purpose aircraft. It should both meet requirements of the military and have commercial prospects. This project is carried out on technical and financial risks sharing conditions. The new aircraft is to replace obsolete Indian Air Force C-130 and An-12 aircraft. India has already confirmed its plans to buy 45 aircraft with an option for the same number. Russian military sources say Russia is going to acquire at least 100 aircraft by 2025, which is quite enough for the project’s financial feasibility. Notably, Brazilian company Embraer is planning to create almost the same aircraft. The C390 project is supported by the Brazilian Defense Ministry, besides Embraer aircraft will be based on a successful E190 passenger liner. Brazil has directly told that it wanted to unite efforts on the transport aircraft programme. But Russia and India seem to be unwilling to join efforts with Brazil. The author of this article feels sorry for this unwillingness. The MTA project allowed accumulating a rich experience of implementing joint international projects that will be further used to create combat aircraft, particularly the 5th-generation fighter. According to Indian Air Marshall Fali Homi Major, the Russian-Indian 5th-generation fighter is to make its first flight in 2015 and probably even sooner. This project is being realized according to the intergovernmental agreement on the joint development and production of the 5th-generation fighter signed in October 2007 in Moscow at the 7th meeting of the Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation. The advanced aircraft will employ a completely new platform with cutting-edge solutions including stealth technology. The fighter will combine extra maneuverability and supersonic speed, long range and high anti-air defense capability. It will be equipped with advanced communications systems as well as multifunctional intelligence information accumulation equipment with optical, IR, laser and radar sensors. In Bangalore, Indian mass media repeatedly asked when the prototype of the Russian 5th-generation fighter (PAK FA) will make its maiden flight. So, Sukhoi and RSK MiG General Director Mikhail Pogosyan answered that this will happen within a year. Notably, Russia and Brazil have signed a memorandum on military- technical cooperation about a year ago, in which Russia said it was ready to talk with Brazil on the 5th-generation fighter. But nothing has been heard about this project so far. If Russia, India and Brazil start cooperating both on the MTA and PAK FA, Brazil will surely include the Su-35 into their tender. The Su-35 left this Air Force tender last year as it was out of the final short list. The acceptance tests of the new AL-55I engine made by Russia for the HJT-36 Indian combat trainer on order of the HAL corporation have begun following engine testing on the Russian flying platform, which proved its main flight characteristics. Russia and India signed the respective protocol in Moscow on October 16 last year. The next stage allows for the AL-55I’s certification tests on Indian HJT-36 aircraft. At present, Rosoboronexport is actively helping to organize manufacturing the pilot batch of AL-55Is, their certification and license production in India. Speaking about the results of the show, Chief of Rosoboronexport delegation, Deputy General Director Viktor Komardin said “We are fully satisfied with the results of AERO INDIA 2009. In Delhi and Bangalore, we have conducted a number of serious marketing events, useful negotiations and meeting. We think the Indian airspace forum is much more important than European ones and we are going to do our best to raise the prestige of the AERO
INDIA show.”
$12-BILLION PRIZE
A Unbiased Article -
All leading world aircraft makers producing advanced combat planes consider the tender for delivering 126 fighters to the Indian Air Force under the MMRCA (Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft) programme the most important and the largest of all present-day tenders. The contract is estimated at $11-12 billion. The Russian MiG-35, US Lockheed-Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18, French Dassault Rafale, European Eurofighter Typhoon and Swedish SAAB Gripen are going to compete for this prize. In April, some mass media reported that Rafale refused to participate, but then it was denied and now the French fighter seems to take part in the tender.
Most market analysts think there are no evident winners. The winner will be chosen after comparative tests of all participating fighters that should start in April-May. To this end, each participant should present two aircraft – a single- and double-seat one. Indian Air Force pilots will carry out tests in two stages. At the first stage, they will estimate their flight performance and applicability for the Indian climate and terrain including high-level airdromes. The second stage scheduled for this autumn will probably take place at test bases of manufacturing countries – the Indians will compare characteristics of on-board equipment and armament. After flight tests, India is going to bolt out three or four outsiders. The choice from the resulting short list of 2-3 fighters will be made considering many factors. India will take into account the cost and financing structures, amount of technologies transferred, offset programme for compensation deliveries, which should account for at least 50% of the contract price and local production options. 108 of 126 fighters should be assembled and manufactured at a growing rate at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) enterprises in India. Foreign policy trends will be important, too. It was initially planned that the Indian Air Force will get MMRCA aircraft in 2012. Speaking at the Aero India show, however, Indian Air Force Chief of Staff (this post corresponds to Commanderin- Chief in Russia) Chief Air Marshal Fali Homi said that fighters deliveries would start in 2013 if everything was al right. India’s Air Force is going to raise the number of its combat squadrons from the current 32-33 (each having 14-18 aircraft) to 39.5 by 2017 and to 42 by 2020. These plans also envisage important modernization programmes, firstly relating to the MiG-29. At the press briefing devoted to the MiG-35 at Aero India 2009, RSK MiG Engineering Center Chief Vladimir Barkovskiy said the company had started fulfilling the modernization contract worth about $1 billion. Six Indian MiGs (four MiG-29s single-seat fighters and two MiG-29UB two-seat combat trainers)
have already arrived in Moscow.
Mr.Barkovskiy said that “India has now 62 MiG-29 fighters in total”. Another 56 aircraft will be upgraded at the Indian 11th aircraft maintenance base. “We have visited this enterprise and concluded that Indian specialists would cope with this task”, noted the chief of RSK MiG Engineering Center. Well-known Indian newspaper The Times of India announced some other information in its local Bangalore edition on February 13. It reported that India has 69 MiG-29s and all of them should be modernized already by 2011. The contract for upgrading 51 Dassault Mirage 2000 may be signed soon, too. But no doubt that Su-30MKI fighters are the beauty and pride of the Indian Air Force. The contracts for their deliveries and license production totally cost about $8.5 billion. About 100 aircraft have already been put into service, while India totally ordered 230 Su-30MKIs. By the way, the MMRCA project (126 aircraft) costs 41% more than the Su-30MKI one (230 aircraft) given the 1.8 times less number of aircraft.
The military-technical cooperation between Russia (the Soviet Union) and India started as early as 1963 from the contract of the then-advanced MiG-21 fighter. Of course, the 45-year military-technical cooperation between our countries raises
the chances of the MiG-35 in the tender. The Zhuk-AE AFAR radar designed by Fazotron-NIIR and new missile equipment may play the decisive role, too. The Vayu Show Daily issued at Bangalore’s show reported that the MiG-35’s armament includes Kh-59MK2 air-to-surface missiles with a range of up to 285 km and 300-kg penetrating or cluster warhead. The missile works by the fire-and-forget principle, has terrain recognition and correlation guidance capability and can engage targets lacking radar, optical and IR signature. The MiG-35 can be also armed with the Kh-38 modular missile that has modifications with laser, active radar and IR homing devices as well as satellite navigation system. The 520-kg missile has a warhead weighing 250 kg. The Kh-59MK2 and Kh-58 are developed by Tactical Missiles Corporation. The MiG- 35’s air-to-air missiles will be renewed, too. The fighter will get RVV-MD and RVVSD advanced short- and medium-range missiles that outperform the well-known
RVV-AE and R-73.
But India has some reasons not to choose the MiG-35. The main one is that it does not want to put all the eggs in one basket buying foreign military equipment, which is a consistent and firm position. As it was already told, the Su-30MKI is the main aircraft of the Indian Air Force. In these conditions, the expected consolidation of RSK MiG and Sukhoi companies that has already started when Mikhail Pogosyan became their sole chief will not only make Russia the monopoly supplier of combat aircraft to India if it chooses the MiG-35 but will leave no choice even among manufacturers. By the way, two US companies – Boeing and Lockheed- Martin – are participating in the tender and the US is not afraid of the so-called internal competition, which Rosoboronexport is actively trying to get rid of.
AFAR and PR
But there is another side of the problem, which is traditionally underestimated by Russia. It is the PR support of our contract bid. Russia sent only one MiG-35 to the Aero India show held in February this year. At first it seemed to send two fighters but did not manage to prepare the second one, while the US sent there as many as five F-16s. They included two F-16E/F Block 60s of the UAE Air Force and three F-16C/D Block 50s of the US Air Force. Lockheed-Martin offers India a special modification dubbed F-16IN Super Viper, which, however, differs from the UAE’s F- 16E/F chiefly by the name. But there is a special sense in the name, too! In Russian, Super Viper does not sound very good, but it raises the respects for the fighter and its aggressiveness by the Indians who have a special attitude to poisonous snakes. Index IN also proves that the model was created specially for the client. By the way, Sweden was the first to use this designation offering their Gripen IN. How could we surpass the invasion of Falcons that turned to Super Vipers in Bangalore? Indeed, we have an excellent Strizhi pilot team with six MiG-29s. Why not send them to India to show their skills over the Yelahanka air base? Of course, it is expensive but it is a trifle against $12
billion to be received by the winner.
Another PR solution of Lockheed-Martin was the demonstration flight of India’s-first individual Olympic champion Abkhinava Bindra in F-16’s dual cockpit. During the 45-min flight, he even had hold of the control stick. The popularity of the 26-year air rifle shooter can be compared with that of Yuriy Gagarin in the Soviet Union in the 1960’s. With that, Indian newspapers and even Russian and international mass media using Lockheed-Martin’s press releases to tell about this advertisement flight forgot that the first India’s Olympic gold was won by its field hockey team at Moscow 1980 Olympics.
To tell the truth, Russia gave as good as it got, too. A day before Bindra’s flight, RSK MiG’s test pilot Mikhail Belyayev piloted the MiG-35 with retired Air Marshal Kharish Masand, who was the chief of the Indian Air Force 28th Squadron, which was the first to get MiG-29s. The
62-year Masand highly appreciated the MiG-35’s flight performance, “One can only imagine what younger Indian pilots can do on this aircraft!” Interestingly, the pretty 30-year Indian journalist Suman Sharma was the first Indian citizen to fly on both the MiG-35 and F-16. So, the score of demonstration flights is 2 to 2, but the US surpassed us by the attention in Indian mass media due to a better choice of a passenger. The agreement of Northrop Grumman with two Indian companies Bharat Electronics and Dynamatic Technologies for manufacturing in Bangalore components for US APG-68(V)-9 radars installed on F-16s was not accidental, too. Though these radars have mechanical scanning and the F-16IN employs the APG-80 AFAR radar of the same producer, one can say that well begun is half done. By this step, the US proved that it is ready to cooperate with Indian electronics
industry.
AFAR equipment plays an important role in the MMRCA. The Indian Air Force stress they want to have this breakthrough technology on delivered fighters very much. The US installs Northrop Grumman APG-80 AFAR radars on F-16E/F fighters of the UAE Air Force and Raytheon APG-79 one – on F/A-18E/F Block 2 fighters of the US Naval Air Force. These
very radars are offered to India.
The French Rafale can be equipped by a new Thales-made AFAR radar. Sweden also has an AFAR radar on their newgeneration Gripen NG, which can be called the dream of the Indian Air Force meeting all their requirements. Indeed, the Gripen has achieved everything and even more that India has been fruitlessly trying to do for about twenty years developing their own LCA Tejas fighter. But unfortunately, Sweden does not produce its own tranceivers – the basis of AFAR. To test the technology, Sweden bought US-made tranceivers and combined them with well-reputed blocks of their own PS- 05/A radar. By the way, Fazotron has chosen the same method of combination with tried-and-true blocks. But then the Swedes were disappointed. It turned out that the US did not want to sell tranceivers for series production offering the radar only in block. Thus, Sweden would have to ask the US permission for every export contract. The Swedes did not agree with it and signed a contract for tranceivers with French company Thales. But this had happened before Thales and Dassault received a state order for the development and production of AFAR radar for French Rafale fighters. Later on, Dassault bought a large block of Thales stock thus getting a possibility to influence its decisions. But the most important thing is that the Gripen became the main Rafale’s rival not only in India, but in Brazil, too. France told Sweden that it would deliver tranceivers only for the test model but not for series ones. So, Swedish designers had only two possible transceiver suppliers left – Scotland and Russia. In the author’s opinion repeatedly expressed in his articles for a number of years (he is an expert in the Swedish aircraft and electronics industries) the Russian-Swedish cooperation in this field would have been fully mutually-beneficial. After getting a denial by Russia, Sweden turned to Edinburgh-based company SELEX S&AS UK. At first, this Scottish company was called Ferranti, then – GECMarconi, after that – BAE Systems and now, in the era of total globalization, this is a division of Italian holding FINMECCANICA. SELEX has the Vixen AFAR radar, which won tenders for equipping the US Coast Guard HC-130 patrol aircraft and US Customs and Border Service
Cessna Citation.
And what about Eurofighter Typhoon? This company has a unique position relating to the AFAR radar. They are trying to convince Indian Air Force authorities that their fighter’s Captor mechanical scanning radar is better than expensive and not well-proven AFAR ones. To confirm this position, three Typhoons and chiefs of staff of the German, UK, Italian and Spanish air forces arrived in India. Notably, the Russian MiG-35 did not receive such a support from the Russian Air Force. Europeans noted that 167 Typhoons have already been built and there are firm orders for 707 aircraft, which will load production lines up to 2020. By the way, orders for the F-16 will soon end, while any country wants to have an aircraft still being manufactured in series. The fleet of Typhoons has already amassed 57,000 flight hours – 10,000 by the German Luftwaffe and 25,000 – by the Royal Air Force. The main advantage of the EU bid is, perhaps, compensating for the lack of an AFAR radar. The European consortium offered to help India in testing and finishing the long-suffering Tejas including the installation of Typhoon’s Eurojet EJ200 powerplant on the next Tejas Mk2 version. India is attracted by the reduction of operational costs by unifying engines on the both types of aircraft in service. They also say that the newer Tejas with European engines could be exported to third countries jointly with the Typhoon as light and medium fighters with the same engine. It is not clear which markets are meant, but they are probably represented by poor African states still armed with MiG-21s and F-5s. By the way, the modification of the Russian RD-33 engine can also power Tejas and the latter can be unified with MiG-29K and MiG-35 aircraft. Rosoboronexport’s press release says “The development of the Kaveri national aircraft engine for the LCA Tejas light combat aircraft is the main task for India.” India plans to deliver at least 150 LCA fighters to its Armed Forces. It is the Kaveri that should make this aircraft a multifunctional fighter able to engage ground and aerial targets. Powered by this engine, the Tejas LCA can be used as a deck-based fighter, too. Considering the changed requirements for the engine, Russia said it was ready to participate in the Kaveri programme or upgrade it to the level of an advanced Russian aircraft engine. As for finishing the Kaveri that has already been developed for 20 years, the hero of Pavel Luspekayev in a wonderful movie “The white sun of the desert” said “It will hardly happen…” But “East is a complicated matter” (a quotation from the same film), so the cooperation with Indian engine manufacturers may raise the MiG-
35’s chances, too.
Many-sided cooperation
The cooperation between Russia and India is developing in many directions. The AERO INDIA 2009 airspace show proved that Moscow and Deli have strategic relations in the military-technical sphere. This was repeatedly stressed by Indian Defense Minister Arakkaparambil Kurian Entoni, who said “Our joint projects on BraMos missiles, 5th-generation combat aircraft and multifunctional transport aircraft have became the forerunners of new heights to be achieved by our countries in the military-technical sphere. India is interested not only to maintain but to strengthen this interaction as well.” Rosoboronexport considers that at this new stage, the Indian-Russian cooperation remains long-term and mutuallybeneficial. Previously we had only ‘sellercustomer’ relations, but now our countries are actively cooperating in the field of joint developments and production. Rosoboronexport, Irkut Research and
Production Enterprise, Ilyushin Aircraft Corporation and Indian corporation HAL are jointly developing the MTA Russian- Indian medium-range transport aircraft initially positioned as a dual-purpose aircraft. It should both meet requirements of the military and have commercial prospects. This project is carried out on technical and financial risks sharing conditions. The new aircraft is to replace obsolete Indian Air Force C-130 and An-12 aircraft. India has already confirmed its plans to buy 45 aircraft with an option for the same number. Russian military sources say Russia is going to acquire at least 100 aircraft by 2025, which is quite enough for the project’s financial feasibility. Notably, Brazilian company Embraer is planning to create almost the same aircraft. The C390 project is supported by the Brazilian Defense Ministry, besides Embraer aircraft will be based on a successful E190 passenger liner. Brazil has directly told that it wanted to unite efforts on the transport aircraft programme. But Russia and India seem to be unwilling to join efforts with Brazil. The author of this article feels sorry for this unwillingness. The MTA project allowed accumulating a rich experience of implementing joint international projects that will be further used to create combat aircraft, particularly the 5th-generation fighter. According to Indian Air Marshall Fali Homi Major, the Russian-Indian 5th-generation fighter is to make its first flight in 2015 and probably even sooner. This project is being realized according to the intergovernmental agreement on the joint development and production of the 5th-generation fighter signed in October 2007 in Moscow at the 7th meeting of the Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation. The advanced aircraft will employ a completely new platform with cutting-edge solutions including stealth technology. The fighter will combine extra maneuverability and supersonic speed, long range and high anti-air defense capability. It will be equipped with advanced communications systems as well as multifunctional intelligence information accumulation equipment with optical, IR, laser and radar sensors. In Bangalore, Indian mass media repeatedly asked when the prototype of the Russian 5th-generation fighter (PAK FA) will make its maiden flight. So, Sukhoi and RSK MiG General Director Mikhail Pogosyan answered that this will happen within a year. Notably, Russia and Brazil have signed a memorandum on military- technical cooperation about a year ago, in which Russia said it was ready to talk with Brazil on the 5th-generation fighter. But nothing has been heard about this project so far. If Russia, India and Brazil start cooperating both on the MTA and PAK FA, Brazil will surely include the Su-35 into their tender. The Su-35 left this Air Force tender last year as it was out of the final short list. The acceptance tests of the new AL-55I engine made by Russia for the HJT-36 Indian combat trainer on order of the HAL corporation have begun following engine testing on the Russian flying platform, which proved its main flight characteristics. Russia and India signed the respective protocol in Moscow on October 16 last year. The next stage allows for the AL-55I’s certification tests on Indian HJT-36 aircraft. At present, Rosoboronexport is actively helping to organize manufacturing the pilot batch of AL-55Is, their certification and license production in India. Speaking about the results of the show, Chief of Rosoboronexport delegation, Deputy General Director Viktor Komardin said “We are fully satisfied with the results of AERO INDIA 2009. In Delhi and Bangalore, we have conducted a number of serious marketing events, useful negotiations and meeting. We think the Indian airspace forum is much more important than European ones and we are going to do our best to raise the prestige of the AERO
INDIA show.”
$12-BILLION PRIZE
J
John
Guest
these proposed nuclear sites should be in Andhra, its ideal, far from PAk and China..Gujarat is too close to Pak.
Dassault May Build Rafales in Brazil to Win Sale, Valor Reports
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Dassault Aviation SA is prepared to build 36 Rafale warplanes in Brazil in a bid to be chosen over Boeing Co. and Saab AB for a $2 billion order, Valor Economico said, citing the Paris-based company’s representative in Brazil.
Dassault has signed contracts with Empresa Brasilieira de Aeronautica SA, the world’s fourth-largest planemaker, and 37 other companies to shift production of the Rafale to Brazil, Jean-Marc Merialdo said, according to the Sao Paulo-based newspaper. Dassault has a 0.9 percent stake in Embraer, Valor said.
As part of a long-term defense agreement with Brazil, the French government has also authorized Dassault to transfer all of the Rafale’s technology to Brazil, including the source codes for the fighter jet, the newspaper said, citing Merialdo.
Brazil’s military is expected to decide the winner of the so-called FX-2 program later this year.
Dassault May Build Rafales in Brazil to Win Sale, Valor Reports - Bloomberg.com
July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Dassault Aviation SA is prepared to build 36 Rafale warplanes in Brazil in a bid to be chosen over Boeing Co. and Saab AB for a $2 billion order, Valor Economico said, citing the Paris-based company’s representative in Brazil.
Dassault has signed contracts with Empresa Brasilieira de Aeronautica SA, the world’s fourth-largest planemaker, and 37 other companies to shift production of the Rafale to Brazil, Jean-Marc Merialdo said, according to the Sao Paulo-based newspaper. Dassault has a 0.9 percent stake in Embraer, Valor said.
As part of a long-term defense agreement with Brazil, the French government has also authorized Dassault to transfer all of the Rafale’s technology to Brazil, including the source codes for the fighter jet, the newspaper said, citing Merialdo.
Brazil’s military is expected to decide the winner of the so-called FX-2 program later this year.
Dassault May Build Rafales in Brazil to Win Sale, Valor Reports - Bloomberg.com
Vikramaditya
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2009
- Messages
- 702
- Likes
- 321
If tech is coming its better to buy F18sh.
To counter China we need US,Russia will not come in between India and China and we should not forget pakistan
Politically its good because the main issue is china and its relation with pakistan which is giving headach to us.:2guns:
To counter China we need US,Russia will not come in between India and China and we should not forget pakistan
Politically its good because the main issue is china and its relation with pakistan which is giving headach to us.:2guns:
J
John
Guest
PICTURE: First flight for Australia Super Hornet
Boeing has successfully conducted the first flight of Australia's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the USA.
The aircraft, which was unveiled on 8 July, took off from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on its inaugural flight that lasted just over an hour.
Canberra, the first export customer, is acquiring 24 Super Hornets under an A$6 billion ($4.9 billion) deal. The aircraft will be delivered at a rate of around one a month, allowing the Royal Australian Air Force to set up its first operational Super Hornet squadron in March-April 2010.
The fighters will serve as an interim capability between the retirement of the General Dynamics F-111 bombers next year, and induction of the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters around 2015.
While Australia is unlikely to order additional F/A-18s, it could convert 12 of the Super Hornets that it has ordered into E/A-18G Growlers. Australia is also conducting mid-life upgrades for its F/A-18A/Bs.
PICTURE: First flight for Australia Super Hornet
Boeing has successfully conducted the first flight of Australia's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the USA.
The aircraft, which was unveiled on 8 July, took off from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on its inaugural flight that lasted just over an hour.
Canberra, the first export customer, is acquiring 24 Super Hornets under an A$6 billion ($4.9 billion) deal. The aircraft will be delivered at a rate of around one a month, allowing the Royal Australian Air Force to set up its first operational Super Hornet squadron in March-April 2010.
The fighters will serve as an interim capability between the retirement of the General Dynamics F-111 bombers next year, and induction of the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters around 2015.
While Australia is unlikely to order additional F/A-18s, it could convert 12 of the Super Hornets that it has ordered into E/A-18G Growlers. Australia is also conducting mid-life upgrades for its F/A-18A/Bs.
PICTURE: First flight for Australia Super Hornet
IAF Combat Jet Trials begin in July
New Delhi. The Indian Air Force is set to begin the flight trials of the six US and European aircraft for India’s Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) competition from July and finish them by March 2010.
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told India Strategic in an interview on the eve of the Paris Air Show that teams from the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore, were being deployed to test the competing aircraft within a tight schedule from the country of manufacture to within India at three places.
“Whether one or more aircraft are short-listed would depend upon the results of the comprehensive tests, and there would be a common template for all.”
He also disclosed that IAF had shortlisted the Boeing C 17 Globemaster III for its very Heavy Transport Aircraft (VHTAC) requirement, and that it was also considering more Lockheed Martin C 130Js in addition to the six already ordered.
Asked if the tanker deal for six Airbus 330 MRTT aircraft had been signed, he said that while the aircraft had been shortlisted, the proposal was with the MoD for procedural clearance and was yet to be signed. IAF already has six Il 78 midair refuelers, and the new orders are to augment the requirement.
Although the Il 76 aircraft has served the Indian Air force well, Russia does not make the Il 76/ 78 platform any more, and whether for AWACS or refueler requirement, old aircraft are refurbished and re-sold by Russia or Central Asian states which were part of the Soviet Union. Apparently, IAF has decided to choose new, and newer generation, aircraft for its various requirements.
Overall, Air Chief Marshal Naik said that IAF was on track to achieve its total transformation by 2020-25, by which time IAF should be spending around USD 100 billion on aircraft, systems, infrastructure, sensors, UAVs, missiles, training and related modernization programmes.
As for the combat fleet, be observed: “The IAF of the future, post-2025, would consist of FGFA (Fith Generation Fighter Aircraft), SU 30 MKIs, MRCAs and Tejas/ MCA (indigenous Medium Combat Aircraft) with multi-role as well as significant swing role capability.”
“They would employ advanced technologies, sensors and precision weapons. The larger aircraft, i.e. FGFA and SU 30 would focus on Air Dominance and specialise in similar roles in long ranges over land and sea, while the MRCAs would don a variety of medium-range and tactical roles. These assets would be capable of all weather, day and night attack with adequate self-protection capability…these assets would be immensely capable and are not going to be confined to the strictly stereotyped roles. They would carry out a number of roles in the same mission.”
Air Chief Marshal Naik, who assumed charge on May 31 from Air Chief Marshal F H Major (Retd), would be visiting the Paris Air Show along with top IAF officers to witness what new technologies are being introduced and displayed there by various aircraft manufacturers.
(Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju is expected there along with Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel).
The six aircraft in fray for the IAF requirement, including the French Rafale, would be on display at the air show. The others are EADS Eurofighter, US Lockeed Martin F 16, Boeing F 18 Super Hornet, Swedish Gripen and Russian Mig 35.
According to reliable sources, the Rafale was nearly out because its manufacturer, Dassault, had simply not filled in all the columns in the Indian RfP. There was some drama when the news leaked out, but after French diplomatic intervention, the Indian Ministry of Defence, which is the actual acquisition authority, allowed it to be back in the competition last month.
There was no comment however from the Air Chief, except to confirm that “all the six aircraft are in the competition.”
Giving details of the Field Evaluation Tests (FETs), he said that in the first round, Indian pilots would visit the country of manufacture of each aircraft to see the facilities; in the second round, two to three aircraft from each manufacturer would be flight tested in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh; and in the third round, actual weapon firing tests would be held in the country of manufacture (or in another country as designated by the manufacturer – not all European countries have firing ranges).
There wold be a common leader but two or three different teams under him. The aircraft would go to Bangalore for “performance, systems and humidity trials, to Jaisalmer for hot weather and weapon trials, and to Leh for high altitude and cold weather trials.”
“The evaluations would be in sequence, one after the other, starting from Bangalore.”
Specifically, Air Chief Marshal Naik pointed out: In India, the aircraft would be subjected to performance trials which would include takeoff and landing characteristics, aircraft maneuvering, and checks of certain systems in the air. Evaluation of its maintainability, mission support equipment, operations at high altitude and in specific environments will also be conducted. Analyses of some aspects operations of its avionics, radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems along with live firing of long range weapons would be conducted at vendor-specific locations.”
All the trials are on No-Cost-No- Commitment basis, and the IAF will buy only the one which meets all the parametres in terms of capabilities and cost.
The Air Chief observed that this was the first time that field trials of multiple aircraft under a single RfP were being undertaken. Live firing, maintainability, and environmental tests would be part of the testing. “The magnitude of the task is enormous and time lines are critical. Considering the complexity of trials, the evaluation will be split and each sub-team will evaluate a set of aircraft each, though under a common team leader.”
He said that initially, IAF was looking at only 126 aircraft as per the RfP but an increase in the number of aircraft was likely. The RfP has a 50 per cent option clause, that is, IAF could buy another 63 aircraft in future without any escalation.
However, said Air Chief Marshal Naik, “the acquisition of more aircraft would be assessed at an appropriate time, based on our experience and requirement.”
IAF was hopeful to get the first selected aircraft by 2013-14. After the IAF submits its choice of one or more aircraft to the MoD, the latter would take a decision on the final selection, and its manufacturer would begin supplying the aircraft within three years of the signing of the contract.
The initial value for 126 aircraft with two years of spares and maintenance is estimated at around USD 10 billion. It would be the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure periodic upgrades and serviceability for up to 40 years.
Asked how would the IAF evaluate the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) requirement that is mandatory but not yet available on board some of the aircraft, the Air Chief said that the trial template is common for all, without deviation, and to be selected, an aircraft would have to meet the requirements in the RfP.
“A very comprehensive and detailed trial plan and methodology has been formulated by the Air HQ for the complete evaluation of platforms being offered. This includes testing the performance of all systems including the AESA radar. The same template would be used to evaluate all the offered aircraft and systems.”
“The performance of all aircraft would be evaluated and checked for compliance, strictly against the desired specifications, that have already been published and made known to the vendors. Comprehensive reports would then be compiled and submitted (to the MoD). That is the process that we will follow.”
The aircraft are evaluated “strictly under the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs) which include maintainability, reliability, performance, life-cycle costs, warranties and many complex issues. It is only after checking out the offer against the specified parameters that final recommendations are made.” The Air Chief Marshal defined Mission Success and Safe Return of Pilots and Assets as the key to the IAF modernization and acquisition programme.
The entire IAF acquisition and modernization programme was in this perspective, and assets like the AWACS, Midair refuelers, sensors and precision strike systems were being acquired accordingly.
“The Indian Air Force seeks to be a credible force that can deliver airpower wherever and whenever required (to defend the country). Our effectiveness in doing so will largely determine our credibility. Our Air Force will comprise equipment that promises us effectiveness and high mission rates.
Survivability is an integral component of that requirement, and there will be no compromise on either of these two counts.”
The Air Chief said that the state-of-he-art SU 30 MKI was set to become IAF‘s maintstay “shortly” and that was why “we have modified our basing plans so as to distribute our assets equitably.”
It may be noted that in the past, the ratio of IAF aircraft has been two in the west and one in the east. Indications are that from now on, this distribution will be 50:50.
IAF has already ordered an additional 40 SU 30 MKIs from Russia to take their total number to 230. The aircraft is being made in India by HAL under technology transfer, and the existing IAF fleet was under upgrades to Phase-III standards.
About the helicopters, the Air Chief said that while the IAF had recently issued the RfPs for 22 combat and 15 heavy lift helicopters, another RfP for utility helicopters in a joint tender with the Indian Army would be floated soon.
IAF has already signed a contract in 2008 with Russia for 80 new Mi 17 V5 helicopters last year to add to its existing fleet. Their delivery should complete in 2010.
A contract is also being awarded to Ukraine to upgrade IAF‘s 100-plus An 32 transport aircraft.
The indigenous Dhruv is also being acquired at a steady pace, said Air Chief Marshal Naik.
..:: India Strategic ::.. IAF Combat Jet Trials begin in July
New Delhi. The Indian Air Force is set to begin the flight trials of the six US and European aircraft for India’s Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) competition from July and finish them by March 2010.
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told India Strategic in an interview on the eve of the Paris Air Show that teams from the IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore, were being deployed to test the competing aircraft within a tight schedule from the country of manufacture to within India at three places.
“Whether one or more aircraft are short-listed would depend upon the results of the comprehensive tests, and there would be a common template for all.”
He also disclosed that IAF had shortlisted the Boeing C 17 Globemaster III for its very Heavy Transport Aircraft (VHTAC) requirement, and that it was also considering more Lockheed Martin C 130Js in addition to the six already ordered.
Asked if the tanker deal for six Airbus 330 MRTT aircraft had been signed, he said that while the aircraft had been shortlisted, the proposal was with the MoD for procedural clearance and was yet to be signed. IAF already has six Il 78 midair refuelers, and the new orders are to augment the requirement.
Although the Il 76 aircraft has served the Indian Air force well, Russia does not make the Il 76/ 78 platform any more, and whether for AWACS or refueler requirement, old aircraft are refurbished and re-sold by Russia or Central Asian states which were part of the Soviet Union. Apparently, IAF has decided to choose new, and newer generation, aircraft for its various requirements.
Overall, Air Chief Marshal Naik said that IAF was on track to achieve its total transformation by 2020-25, by which time IAF should be spending around USD 100 billion on aircraft, systems, infrastructure, sensors, UAVs, missiles, training and related modernization programmes.
As for the combat fleet, be observed: “The IAF of the future, post-2025, would consist of FGFA (Fith Generation Fighter Aircraft), SU 30 MKIs, MRCAs and Tejas/ MCA (indigenous Medium Combat Aircraft) with multi-role as well as significant swing role capability.”
“They would employ advanced technologies, sensors and precision weapons. The larger aircraft, i.e. FGFA and SU 30 would focus on Air Dominance and specialise in similar roles in long ranges over land and sea, while the MRCAs would don a variety of medium-range and tactical roles. These assets would be capable of all weather, day and night attack with adequate self-protection capability…these assets would be immensely capable and are not going to be confined to the strictly stereotyped roles. They would carry out a number of roles in the same mission.”
Air Chief Marshal Naik, who assumed charge on May 31 from Air Chief Marshal F H Major (Retd), would be visiting the Paris Air Show along with top IAF officers to witness what new technologies are being introduced and displayed there by various aircraft manufacturers.
(Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju is expected there along with Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel).
The six aircraft in fray for the IAF requirement, including the French Rafale, would be on display at the air show. The others are EADS Eurofighter, US Lockeed Martin F 16, Boeing F 18 Super Hornet, Swedish Gripen and Russian Mig 35.
According to reliable sources, the Rafale was nearly out because its manufacturer, Dassault, had simply not filled in all the columns in the Indian RfP. There was some drama when the news leaked out, but after French diplomatic intervention, the Indian Ministry of Defence, which is the actual acquisition authority, allowed it to be back in the competition last month.
There was no comment however from the Air Chief, except to confirm that “all the six aircraft are in the competition.”
Giving details of the Field Evaluation Tests (FETs), he said that in the first round, Indian pilots would visit the country of manufacture of each aircraft to see the facilities; in the second round, two to three aircraft from each manufacturer would be flight tested in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh; and in the third round, actual weapon firing tests would be held in the country of manufacture (or in another country as designated by the manufacturer – not all European countries have firing ranges).
There wold be a common leader but two or three different teams under him. The aircraft would go to Bangalore for “performance, systems and humidity trials, to Jaisalmer for hot weather and weapon trials, and to Leh for high altitude and cold weather trials.”
“The evaluations would be in sequence, one after the other, starting from Bangalore.”
Specifically, Air Chief Marshal Naik pointed out: In India, the aircraft would be subjected to performance trials which would include takeoff and landing characteristics, aircraft maneuvering, and checks of certain systems in the air. Evaluation of its maintainability, mission support equipment, operations at high altitude and in specific environments will also be conducted. Analyses of some aspects operations of its avionics, radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems along with live firing of long range weapons would be conducted at vendor-specific locations.”
All the trials are on No-Cost-No- Commitment basis, and the IAF will buy only the one which meets all the parametres in terms of capabilities and cost.
The Air Chief observed that this was the first time that field trials of multiple aircraft under a single RfP were being undertaken. Live firing, maintainability, and environmental tests would be part of the testing. “The magnitude of the task is enormous and time lines are critical. Considering the complexity of trials, the evaluation will be split and each sub-team will evaluate a set of aircraft each, though under a common team leader.”
He said that initially, IAF was looking at only 126 aircraft as per the RfP but an increase in the number of aircraft was likely. The RfP has a 50 per cent option clause, that is, IAF could buy another 63 aircraft in future without any escalation.
However, said Air Chief Marshal Naik, “the acquisition of more aircraft would be assessed at an appropriate time, based on our experience and requirement.”
IAF was hopeful to get the first selected aircraft by 2013-14. After the IAF submits its choice of one or more aircraft to the MoD, the latter would take a decision on the final selection, and its manufacturer would begin supplying the aircraft within three years of the signing of the contract.
The initial value for 126 aircraft with two years of spares and maintenance is estimated at around USD 10 billion. It would be the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure periodic upgrades and serviceability for up to 40 years.
Asked how would the IAF evaluate the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) requirement that is mandatory but not yet available on board some of the aircraft, the Air Chief said that the trial template is common for all, without deviation, and to be selected, an aircraft would have to meet the requirements in the RfP.
“A very comprehensive and detailed trial plan and methodology has been formulated by the Air HQ for the complete evaluation of platforms being offered. This includes testing the performance of all systems including the AESA radar. The same template would be used to evaluate all the offered aircraft and systems.”
“The performance of all aircraft would be evaluated and checked for compliance, strictly against the desired specifications, that have already been published and made known to the vendors. Comprehensive reports would then be compiled and submitted (to the MoD). That is the process that we will follow.”
The aircraft are evaluated “strictly under the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs) which include maintainability, reliability, performance, life-cycle costs, warranties and many complex issues. It is only after checking out the offer against the specified parameters that final recommendations are made.” The Air Chief Marshal defined Mission Success and Safe Return of Pilots and Assets as the key to the IAF modernization and acquisition programme.
The entire IAF acquisition and modernization programme was in this perspective, and assets like the AWACS, Midair refuelers, sensors and precision strike systems were being acquired accordingly.
“The Indian Air Force seeks to be a credible force that can deliver airpower wherever and whenever required (to defend the country). Our effectiveness in doing so will largely determine our credibility. Our Air Force will comprise equipment that promises us effectiveness and high mission rates.
Survivability is an integral component of that requirement, and there will be no compromise on either of these two counts.”
The Air Chief said that the state-of-he-art SU 30 MKI was set to become IAF‘s maintstay “shortly” and that was why “we have modified our basing plans so as to distribute our assets equitably.”
It may be noted that in the past, the ratio of IAF aircraft has been two in the west and one in the east. Indications are that from now on, this distribution will be 50:50.
IAF has already ordered an additional 40 SU 30 MKIs from Russia to take their total number to 230. The aircraft is being made in India by HAL under technology transfer, and the existing IAF fleet was under upgrades to Phase-III standards.
About the helicopters, the Air Chief said that while the IAF had recently issued the RfPs for 22 combat and 15 heavy lift helicopters, another RfP for utility helicopters in a joint tender with the Indian Army would be floated soon.
IAF has already signed a contract in 2008 with Russia for 80 new Mi 17 V5 helicopters last year to add to its existing fleet. Their delivery should complete in 2010.
A contract is also being awarded to Ukraine to upgrade IAF‘s 100-plus An 32 transport aircraft.
The indigenous Dhruv is also being acquired at a steady pace, said Air Chief Marshal Naik.
..:: India Strategic ::.. IAF Combat Jet Trials begin in July
In May (1997), an Indian Force (IAF) Mikoyan MiG-25RB Foxbat-B reconnaissance aircraft created a furore when the pilot flew faster than Mach 2 over Pakistani territory following a reconnaissance mission into Pakistan airspace. The Foxbat broke the sound barrier while flying at an altitude of around 65,000 feet, otherwise the mission would have remained covert, at least to the general public. The Pakistan Government considered the breaking of the sound barrier as deliberate: to make the point that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has no aircraft in its inventory which can come close to the cruising height of the MiG-25 (up to 74,000 feet).
However, from one of PAF's Forward Operating Bases, radar traced the intruder and the F-16As scrambled. Sources in the PAF said that there was no need to intercept a plane flying at the altitude of 65,000 feet as the F-16 can reach an operating ceiling of 55,000 feet.
India denied the incident but Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Gohar Ayub Khan, believed that the Foxbat photographed strategic installations near the Capital, Islamabad. Interestingly, the two countries signed a 'Prevention of Air Space Violations' agreement in April 1991, which recognized that PAF and IAF aircraft operate near each other's airspace. The agreement permitted overflights and landings by military aircraft, but certainly not airborne reconnaissance.
Former President Of India K.R. Narayanan
With tensions running high between Pakistan and India, there have been the inevitable comparisons of relative strengths and weaknesses of the two sides and discussion of possible scenarios in the event of armed hostilities. The general consensus is that while India has superiority in both manpower and arms in a strictly numerical order-of-battle assessment, it has certain key weaknesses that would make it difficult, perhaps impossible, for India to win a quick and decisive victory.
In terms of air power, India has a 2:1 advantage with an estimated 900 combat aircraft to Pakistan's 450, and this is even greater when viewed in qualitative terms. The IAF has re-equipped its combat inventory in the past decade with: Dassault Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-30s for air defence, MiG-23s for tactical air support, SEPECAT Jaguars for the deep penetration strike role, and MiG-25s for strategic reconnaissance.
On the other side, the PAF's acquisitions have been limited to three squadrons of General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16A/B fighters and Chinese F-7P Skybolt day fighters to supplement its 100 Mirage IIIs and 5s and Chinese A-5s. Six MiG-25RB Foxbat-B high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft were delivered to India in 1981 together with two MiG-25RU Foxbat-C two-seater conversion trainers, forming No. 102 'Trisonic' Squadron at Barelli.
The MiG-25 design was already over 20 years old in 1981, originating in the late 50s as a response to the ambitious Lockheed YF-12A development. Referred to inside the OKB as the Ye-155P-1 (P for Perekhvatchik or Interceptor), the prototype was powered by two Mikulin-Tumansky R-15B-300 turbojets (rated at 10,210 kg thrust with afterburner with a service life of only 150 hours). It's first flight was in September.
RAW POWER: MiG-25 with afterburners engaged
To achive Mach 3 requires not only powerful engines, but the airframe also has to withstand the heat barrier wit airflow temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius. The aircraft structure was therefore made of welded steel and skinned partly with titanium and D19 duralumin, which was revealed for the first time to the West when Victor Belenko defected with his MiG-25P to Japan, landing at Hakodate Airport in September 1976.
Mass production of the MiG-25P Foxbat-A interceptor commenced in 1969 but the type didn't enter service with the Soviet Air Force until 1973, to be followed by the improved MiG-25PD in 1978. The Tumansky engineers also managed to extend engine service life in stages to 1000 hours.
With the MiG-25's impressive operational envelope, the obvious step was to develop the type into a high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft. It was designed and built in 1961 to 1962 as the Ye-155R-1. The prototype was first flown in March 1964, powered by the same Tumansky R-15BD-300 engine type fitted to the MiG-25P.
The Ye-155R-1 engine entered into production in 1969 at the Gorki factory as the MiG-25R Foxbat-B, followed one year later by the MiG-25RB, giving the type a bombing capability. All MiG-25Rs already built were upgraded with retrofit kits to the standard of the MiG-25RB reconnaissance/bomber variant, which was further developed in several specialized subtypes.
The MiG-25RB has no defensive armament but relies on its Mach 3 speed and operating ceiling of above 70,000 feet to escape any attacker. Two left-to-right rotating cameras of a focal length of 650 mm and/or 13000 mm can be fitted in the three interchangeable camera bays located in the nose cone of the aircraft. The two cameras shoot through two port and two starboard windows, and a vertical camera with a shorter focal length is located under the cockpit to make the horizon-to-horizon shots.
The aircraft is also equipped with a number of electromagnetic-spectrum sensors along with a larger and more capable side-looking airborne radar (SLAR). The MiG-25RB can also carry up to six 500 kg bombs, four under the wings and two under the fuselage. With a length of over 22 metres, the MiG-25 is as long as a Fokker F-27 Friendship.
As the MiG-25 represented an entirely new performance envelope for combat pilots, a dedicated conversion trainer was developed. Named MiG-25U, which first flew in 1973 and entered service soon after, it differed from the standard MiG-25 variants in having a totally redesigned forward fuselage component containing two seperate cockpits. The type has no SLAR nor any reconnaissance capability and is solely used for conversion training. Algeria, Bulgaria, Iraq and Syria were other export customers of the MiG-25RB, and more than 700 MiG-25 of all variants had been built when production came to an end in late 1984.
Vayu Sena - IAF MiG-25R incursion over Pakistan in 1997
No participant in MMRCA can fly at that altitude...
However, from one of PAF's Forward Operating Bases, radar traced the intruder and the F-16As scrambled. Sources in the PAF said that there was no need to intercept a plane flying at the altitude of 65,000 feet as the F-16 can reach an operating ceiling of 55,000 feet.
India denied the incident but Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Gohar Ayub Khan, believed that the Foxbat photographed strategic installations near the Capital, Islamabad. Interestingly, the two countries signed a 'Prevention of Air Space Violations' agreement in April 1991, which recognized that PAF and IAF aircraft operate near each other's airspace. The agreement permitted overflights and landings by military aircraft, but certainly not airborne reconnaissance.
Former President Of India K.R. Narayanan
With tensions running high between Pakistan and India, there have been the inevitable comparisons of relative strengths and weaknesses of the two sides and discussion of possible scenarios in the event of armed hostilities. The general consensus is that while India has superiority in both manpower and arms in a strictly numerical order-of-battle assessment, it has certain key weaknesses that would make it difficult, perhaps impossible, for India to win a quick and decisive victory.
In terms of air power, India has a 2:1 advantage with an estimated 900 combat aircraft to Pakistan's 450, and this is even greater when viewed in qualitative terms. The IAF has re-equipped its combat inventory in the past decade with: Dassault Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-30s for air defence, MiG-23s for tactical air support, SEPECAT Jaguars for the deep penetration strike role, and MiG-25s for strategic reconnaissance.
On the other side, the PAF's acquisitions have been limited to three squadrons of General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16A/B fighters and Chinese F-7P Skybolt day fighters to supplement its 100 Mirage IIIs and 5s and Chinese A-5s. Six MiG-25RB Foxbat-B high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft were delivered to India in 1981 together with two MiG-25RU Foxbat-C two-seater conversion trainers, forming No. 102 'Trisonic' Squadron at Barelli.
The MiG-25 design was already over 20 years old in 1981, originating in the late 50s as a response to the ambitious Lockheed YF-12A development. Referred to inside the OKB as the Ye-155P-1 (P for Perekhvatchik or Interceptor), the prototype was powered by two Mikulin-Tumansky R-15B-300 turbojets (rated at 10,210 kg thrust with afterburner with a service life of only 150 hours). It's first flight was in September.
RAW POWER: MiG-25 with afterburners engaged
To achive Mach 3 requires not only powerful engines, but the airframe also has to withstand the heat barrier wit airflow temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius. The aircraft structure was therefore made of welded steel and skinned partly with titanium and D19 duralumin, which was revealed for the first time to the West when Victor Belenko defected with his MiG-25P to Japan, landing at Hakodate Airport in September 1976.
Mass production of the MiG-25P Foxbat-A interceptor commenced in 1969 but the type didn't enter service with the Soviet Air Force until 1973, to be followed by the improved MiG-25PD in 1978. The Tumansky engineers also managed to extend engine service life in stages to 1000 hours.
With the MiG-25's impressive operational envelope, the obvious step was to develop the type into a high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft. It was designed and built in 1961 to 1962 as the Ye-155R-1. The prototype was first flown in March 1964, powered by the same Tumansky R-15BD-300 engine type fitted to the MiG-25P.
The Ye-155R-1 engine entered into production in 1969 at the Gorki factory as the MiG-25R Foxbat-B, followed one year later by the MiG-25RB, giving the type a bombing capability. All MiG-25Rs already built were upgraded with retrofit kits to the standard of the MiG-25RB reconnaissance/bomber variant, which was further developed in several specialized subtypes.
The MiG-25RB has no defensive armament but relies on its Mach 3 speed and operating ceiling of above 70,000 feet to escape any attacker. Two left-to-right rotating cameras of a focal length of 650 mm and/or 13000 mm can be fitted in the three interchangeable camera bays located in the nose cone of the aircraft. The two cameras shoot through two port and two starboard windows, and a vertical camera with a shorter focal length is located under the cockpit to make the horizon-to-horizon shots.
The aircraft is also equipped with a number of electromagnetic-spectrum sensors along with a larger and more capable side-looking airborne radar (SLAR). The MiG-25RB can also carry up to six 500 kg bombs, four under the wings and two under the fuselage. With a length of over 22 metres, the MiG-25 is as long as a Fokker F-27 Friendship.
As the MiG-25 represented an entirely new performance envelope for combat pilots, a dedicated conversion trainer was developed. Named MiG-25U, which first flew in 1973 and entered service soon after, it differed from the standard MiG-25 variants in having a totally redesigned forward fuselage component containing two seperate cockpits. The type has no SLAR nor any reconnaissance capability and is solely used for conversion training. Algeria, Bulgaria, Iraq and Syria were other export customers of the MiG-25RB, and more than 700 MiG-25 of all variants had been built when production came to an end in late 1984.
Vayu Sena - IAF MiG-25R incursion over Pakistan in 1997
No participant in MMRCA can fly at that altitude...
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2009
- Messages
- 3,474
- Likes
- 1,062
Typhoon in IAF?
BY : UTIV
India is shopping for around 130 fighter jets, spending around $10 billion in what is considered to be one of the biggest boosts to the country’s air defences. One of the main contenders is Europe’s Eurofighter, UTVi went to see the plane. Eurofighter Typhoon jets might be in-charge of all India’s air defence system in the next decade.
Built by a consortium of Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, the Eurofighter is expected to take over most of the NATO policing duties in the next few years.
Col Andreas Pfeiffer, Luftwaffe, said, “The Eurofighter is one of the most advanced fighters we have ever had.”
The field trials for jet deal later this year and the contenders apart from the Eurofighter include Russia’s MiG-35, Sweden’s Gripen, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Boeing’s F/A-18 and France’s Rafale. Most experts believe that the final battle will be between the Americans and the Europeans. Europeans say that they are willing to totally transfer military technology of the jet to India which is not possible with America. But the Americans are pushing this deal as the big move forward in Indo-US ties post the civil nuclear deal.
Matthias Schmidlin, Eurofighter campaign director, said, “The Eurofighter is the beginning of the greater Indo-Europe ties.”
The Eurofighter’s most recent task was air surveillance for the World Economic Forum at Davos in January. Among the countries that have bought the fighter, apart from the four nations that built it, are Austria and Saudi Arabia and in a world of economic downturn, this deal will come a huge boost to the industry of the country that wins it.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive Typhoon in IAF?
BY : UTIV
India is shopping for around 130 fighter jets, spending around $10 billion in what is considered to be one of the biggest boosts to the country’s air defences. One of the main contenders is Europe’s Eurofighter, UTVi went to see the plane. Eurofighter Typhoon jets might be in-charge of all India’s air defence system in the next decade.
Built by a consortium of Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, the Eurofighter is expected to take over most of the NATO policing duties in the next few years.
Col Andreas Pfeiffer, Luftwaffe, said, “The Eurofighter is one of the most advanced fighters we have ever had.”
The field trials for jet deal later this year and the contenders apart from the Eurofighter include Russia’s MiG-35, Sweden’s Gripen, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Boeing’s F/A-18 and France’s Rafale. Most experts believe that the final battle will be between the Americans and the Europeans. Europeans say that they are willing to totally transfer military technology of the jet to India which is not possible with America. But the Americans are pushing this deal as the big move forward in Indo-US ties post the civil nuclear deal.
Matthias Schmidlin, Eurofighter campaign director, said, “The Eurofighter is the beginning of the greater Indo-Europe ties.”
The Eurofighter’s most recent task was air surveillance for the World Economic Forum at Davos in January. Among the countries that have bought the fighter, apart from the four nations that built it, are Austria and Saudi Arabia and in a world of economic downturn, this deal will come a huge boost to the industry of the country that wins it.
IDRW.ORG Blog Archive Typhoon in IAF?
proud_indian
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2009
- Messages
- 501
- Likes
- 1,344
^^
although its the best aircraft amongst mmrca contenders
but its too costly to buy in numbers
although its the best aircraft amongst mmrca contenders
but its too costly to buy in numbers
| Thread starter | Similar threads | Forum | Replies | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MMRCA 2.0: News & Discussions | Indian Air Force | 1598 | |
|
MMRCA News and Discussions - Part II | Indian Air Force | 996 | |
| J | Breaking news MMRCA Cancelled due to suspected scam | Members Corner | 4 | |
|
Opinion Su-57 MMRCA choice over Rafale ???? | Indian Air Force | 84 |
