MRCA news and dicussions Part III

[nrj]

Definitely mistake! How they are so careless!!
I got excited for a moment, this is Gripen D only.... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Sridhar]

Sweden’s Gripens head for AFS Jaisalmer

BY :THE HINDU

Sweden’s Gripen NG, the last of the six fighter aircraft that are being evaluated by the Indian Air Force for the $12 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, left Bangalore on Monday morning for the Air Force Station (AFS) Jaisalmer.
Having gone through a week of performance trials — including a demonstration of air-to-air refuelling and flying manoeuvres — by the IAF’s specifically designated MMRCA team here, two Gripens will now complete the remaining part of their flight tests over Pokhran and Leh before heading for the AFS Jamnagar and then to an air base in Sweden.
While one of the Gripens will undertake hot weather trials in and around the AFS Jaisalmer and later take off to perform a dummy run and bomb drop at the Pokhran test range, the other fighter, as part of the cold weather trials, will land in Leh, switch off, refuel and then take off again.
Ministry of Defence officials familiar with the MMRCA trials told The Hindu that while they expect no hiccups during the weapons drop over Pokhran, the Leh exercise proved challenging to the other contenders vying for the MMRCA deal.
The officials confided that four of the five aircraft in the MMRCA competition faced problems starting up in the rarefied atmosphere of Leh, and the IAF had to ask the manufacturers to undertake modifications in the aircraft’s fuel systems. The Gripen’s evaluation is part of the MMRCA flight trials, which started in August last, when the F/A-18 Hornets arrived here. These were followed by another American fighter, the F-16IN Super Viper. In September, the French Rafale flew over Bangalore. It was followed by Russia’s MiG-35 and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon flew in March.
Once the flight trials are completed, the MMRCA evaluation team headed by the Principal Director, Air Staff Requirements, Air Commodore R.K. Dhir will write the technical report, narrowing down the competition to three or four contenders. Thereafter, the commercial bids will be opened, with the lowest bidder — as per India’s defence procurement procedures — winning the contract.


http://idrw.org/?p=980#more-980

 

[gogbot]

four of the five aircraft in the MMRCA competition faced problems starting up in the rarefied atmosphere of Leh

Epic fail lol

I wonder which one is the wonder plane

 

[Zoravar]

fail lol

I wonder which one the wonder plane

I think ef typhoon or Mig-35,but im 90% wrong lol.

 

[Armand2REP]

Here is the newest picture in the Rafale saga...

 

[Sridhar]

Armand can you please post the english traslation of this french blog

http://blog.francetv.fr/capitaine-r...-deux-officiers-indiens-ont-vole-sur-rafale--

 

[Armand2REP]

Armand can you please post the english traslation of this french blog

http://blog.francetv.fr/capitaine-r...-deux-officiers-indiens-ont-vole-sur-rafale--

This Thursday, two Indian officers have flown in Rafale

Saturday, 20 March, 2010

This Thursday, March 18, two Indian officers were able to explore and test by themselves all the qualities of the Rafale.

After a morning briefing the Indian pilot -- very experienced pilot on board a plane just for him - Could take off in his Rafale, intercept and identify a fighterr with optical sighting of Rafale, engage multiple targets air-sourced located beyond the visual range of sight, firing a salvo of AASM -- the new GPS French bomb - Landed on the targets detected and recalls during the mission, before landing ... all in one hour of simulated flight.

The two Indian officers were able to see the realism of the Rafale simulator, using this two-seater flight tested what they had learned in less than a day.

They left the Fighter Squadron 1 / 7 amased by how easy our plane is and gave a smile ...

 

[Zoravar]

simulated flight.

This is the only problem.You cant rely on simulations alone.

 

[ajtr]

India lets US know: F-16s for Pak could cloud IAF’s 126-plane deal

While Pakistan may have pitched hard with the US for early transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft and other sophisticated military equipment, a concerned India is learnt to have raised the stakes by indicating to the US that such a transfer may not go down well at a time when two US companies are bidding for the 126 multi-role combat aircraft tender floated by India.
This $10 billion-plus tender is considered one of the biggest international military contracts in the world now. At present, six companies are in the fray: F-16 from Lockheed Martin (US), Boeing’s F-18 SH (US), Eurofighter from a European consortium, the Rafale from France, the Swedish Gripen, and Russian Mig-35.

Most trials are over with the IAF planning to shortlist contenders on the basis of their performance in the next few months.

Pakistan has been in negotiations with the US on obtaining 18 F-16s for the past few years. However, this has been riddled by fears of it being used only to strengthen its military capabilities against India and not justifiably needed in the war against terror.


The Obama Administration had initially said it would ensure that military aid is directed to building Pakistan military’s capacities in counter-insurgency warfare alone.

In this context, India has been concerned over reports that Washington is now making way for F-16 supplies along with laser-guided bomb kits besides other sophisticated equipment. It’s learnt that the matter came up for detailed discussion during Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s recent visit to Washington, which was meant to carry forward the conversation on high technology trade.

While the US assured India that it was not contemplating to move forward with a Pakistan-specific nuclear deal which would only accentuate proliferation concerns in the region, there has been lesser clarity on military sales and transfers. India, sources said, has told the US that the intention of the Pakistan government seems to be to only build its military profile against India using American aid. Weapon systems such as the F-16 aircraft are a clear pointer to this, added sources.

By linking this with the 126-aircraft MMRCA deal, India is not ruling out the possibility of such a transfer to Pakistan becoming a factor in its ultimate selection process.

This apart, Rao’s visit also saw India underline the need for Washington to do a prompt rethink on the entities list which still has certain ISRO entities on the list and that this does not augur well with the fact that the two countries worked together in the successful conduct of the Chandrayaan mission.

Given that there is already a case-by-case clearance mechanism before transfer of high technology goods to any Indian entity, India feels that this “double screening” is proving counterproductive.

 

[Armand2REP]

This is the only problem.You cant rely on simulations alone.

IAF pilots must practice on the simulators before they are allowed to fly the Rafale in preparation for weapons trials.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Does anybody still think F-16 has a chance in the MRCA?? Super Hornet very slim chance possibly but F-16's??

 

[rakesh]

Vendors May Get To Revise Indian Fighter Bids

NEW DELHI — As field trials for India’s 126-aircraft Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) draw to a close, vendors vying for the program could get the opportunity to revise their pricing.

The Saab Gripen is completing its final field trials in Leh, while the Eurofighter is due to start weapons and other equipment tests as part of the third phase of trials in the U.K. and Germany next month. Those trials are scheduled to be completed on April 29.

However, this would mean that India will have officially missed the April 28 decision deadline set for the competition. Effectively, this means that vendors can now reprice and revise their bids, since the request for proposals says commercial offers are valid for two years from the date of submission (which was March 28, 2008), and after that date bidding can be reopened for those vendors shortlisted after technical trials and evaluation.

The six bidders are Sukhoi’s MiG-35, Dassault’s Rafale, Eurofighter, Saab’s Gripen, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F and Lockheed Martin’s F-16.

Once all trials are completed, it will take two months of tabulation and then submission to the Defense Ministry, an air force spokesman told Aviation Week. One original equipment manufacturer (OEM) says it is likely the procedure would take place only in September.

Some vendors have expressed concern that the MMRCA project will be dependent on the political and economical situation, and may take more time for clearance, barring unforeseen circumstances like a security challenge.

“We do hope the process moves faster,” one OEM executive said. “However, we feel it might take time until India’s economy starts on a growth track of approximately 10 percent [gross domestic product], so that politicians can justify the expenditure to their political counterparts.”

While the Ministry has not yet commented on the possibility of repricing, vendors’ opinions on the prospect vary.

“We will redefine our bid, which will be cheaper than the one we submitted two years ago, as we were not as smart then as we are now,” one vendor said, declining to be identified. “We are more competitive and stronger now.”

Another commented, “Technical evaluation is an air force matter. We will try and ensure we hit all wickets. We haven’t made a decision on repricing.” “This, of course, presupposes that the repricing will be called for,” another vendor noted.

And another OEM added that currency fluctuation over the past two years will be another factor to consider.


http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12609

 

[Armand2REP]

The drop of the Euro places the advantage with Rafale and Eurofighter. All the rest of the currencies remain strong. So my shortlist still stands, Rafale, Eurofighter, and SH. I don't see India dropping SH in the shortlist, but its chances of winning are strained.

 

[Singh]

As per some defence blogs, 4 of the MMRCA contenders failed to perform satisfactorily during Leh trails

 

[StealthSniper]

Four MMRCA Contenders Fail Leh Trials!


It's the latest tidbit on India's $12-billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition that's doing the rounds (and it was first reported by The Hindu on Tuesday). Four of the contenders that underwent cold-weather evaluation trials at Leh didn't meet performance requirements. OK, major understatement. Four of the contenders bit dust in Leh. Read that again: four aircraft. That's huge. It's still unclear which part of the Leh test the four aircraft types failed at, though it is quite clear that it was either the switch off/on after landing, or the take-off with meaningful combat load at that altitude. The only thing that appears true is that four aircraft failed the trial -- it is totally anyone's guess which these are. Any want to hazard a try?


Link:

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

 

[StealthSniper]

I think the Mig-35 and the Eurofighter have passed the Leh test. The Mig-29 that India operates has flown from Leh before and the Eurofighter is being flown at high altitudes by the Airforce in Austria.

 

[Agantrope]

All AC expect EF, and MiG failed in the Leh.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Four MMRCA Contenders Fail Leh Trials!


It's the latest tidbit on India's $12-billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition that's doing the rounds (and it was first reported by The Hindu on Tuesday). Four of the contenders that underwent cold-weather evaluation trials at Leh didn't meet performance requirements. OK, major understatement. Four of the contenders bit dust in Leh. Read that again: four aircraft. That's huge. It's still unclear which part of the Leh test the four aircraft types failed at, though it is quite clear that it was either the switch off/on after landing, or the take-off with meaningful combat load at that altitude. The only thing that appears true is that four aircraft failed the trial -- it is totally anyone's guess which these are. Any want to hazard a try?


Link:

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

rumor going around both US planes failed, can anyone confirm?? SH definetly failed the LEh test.

 

[Armand2REP]

I think the Mig-35 and the Eurofighter have passed the Leh test. The Mig-29 that India operates has flown from Leh before and the Eurofighter is being flown at high altitudes by the Airforce in Austria.

I don't see why MiG-35 would have a problem since MiG-29 operates there all the time. So MiG-35 passed and the rest failed.

 

[enlightened1]

Mig-29s at Leh
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zUe7sq7m3h0/SoawcfS3TPI/AAAAAAAAAsI/Lv7wQqNSBo8/s1600-h/Leh+airfield.JPG