MRCA news and discussion /feb-june 2009

[pyromaniac]

guys is there any jamming pod on eurofighter

hey I found this website for you...comprehensive information the Eurofighter

http://typhoon.starstreak.net/Eurofighter/defences.html

 

[pyromaniac]

Okay so my last post was on the Eurofighter...this one is the link for the Rafale...along with Mirage and heck there is even a customer support link..

http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/defense/rafale/omnirole-by-design.html?L=1



This one is more condensed ---- http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/dassault_rafale.pl

 

[pyromaniac]

Russia’s MiG-35 fighter to win billion-dollar contract and leave US rivals behind

Russia is prepared to fight for the highly lucrative arms market of India. Delhi will assign $35 billion for the five-year program to completely rearm the national armed forces. A third of this amount falls for aviation. About $10.4 billion is to be spent on purchasing 126 up-to-date fighter jets. Several other billion dollars will be used to acquire 197 light helicopters.

India has become one of the largest arms importers during the recent years due to the nation’s complicated relations with Pakistan. A third Indo-Pakistan war may break out at any moment. Foreign companies get ready to fight for the Indian billions. France’s Rafale, Europe’s Eurofighter, Sweden’s Gripen and USA’s F-16 and F-18 will be a serious competition for Russia.

Russia’s Sukhoi already conducts cooperation with India : the nation launched the licensed production of Su-30MKI fighters in 2004. However, Russia has another trump card to win a possible contract – the MiG-35 fighter, which will be unveiled at Aero India 2009 air show.

MiG-35 is outfitted with aviation electronics of new generation, including a powerful radar. The aircraft also has optoelectronic systems to fight air and ground targets, a powerful defense complex and latest airborne weapons.

“MiG-35 is virtually a new modification of the old fighter, but it is quite competitive. Its low price and technical advantages leave Western rivals behind,” Konstantin Sivkov of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems told Pravda.ru. “It would also be better for India to buy this fighter for compatibility reasons. The political aspect and the foreign orientation of the political leadership play the most important role on the market of arms. The future tender will test the political orientation of India ,” the expert said.

Russia has all chances to sign the contract with India at this point. The two countries have been maintaining friendly relations with each other for many years. One should not forget the ties between Russia’s MiG Corporation and its Indian partners either. MiG fighters originally appeared in India in 1963, whereas MiG-21 used to be the basic aircraft of the Indian Air Force for years.

The cooperation continues today as well. India’s navy receives the MiG-29K/KUB carrier fighter on a regular basis. The personnel of the Indian Air Force undergoes the technical training in Russia . To crown it all, MiG modernizes India’s MiG fighters and supplies them with necessary spare parts.

However, it does not guarantee Russia’s success at the air show. Anatoly Tsyganok of the Institute for Military and Political Analysis told Pravda.ru that Russia would have to work hard to win the tender. “The USA and France will be Russia ’s major competitors at this point – Delhi has arms contracts with them too. I would also like to say that Barack Obama views India as one of the top priorities of the US foreign politics,” the expert added.


Russia has had troubles with the execution of its arms contracts with India. The recent scandal with the delivery of MiG-29 fighters to Algeria may come to surface here again. An additional point is that India (as well as China ) tries to acquire licenses to be able to launch its own arms production.

Other experts say that MiG-35 is just another modification of MiG-29 fighter, while India wants to receive the fifth-generation fighter jet.

The agreement for the production of the fifth-generation fighter jet was signed in October 2007. About 18 months were wasted on bureaucratic red-tape, and the contract for the mutual development and production of the new fighter jet was signed in December 2008.

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/107084-0/

 

[pyromaniac]

F-16IN Super Viper

The Ultimate Fourth Generation Fighter


The F-16IN Super Viper is a unique new fighter sharing a heritage with the world's only fifth generation fighters – the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 Raptor. Evolutionary integration of fifth generation technologies makes the F-16IN the most advanced fourth generation fighter in the world today.

This ultimate fourth generation fighter is tailored exclusively to meet or exceed all of India’s Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements. The F-16IN is the right choice for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is ready for integration into India’s infrastructure and operations now.


The ability of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to incorporate the latest technologies into the F-16IN is the key to expanding mission roles and improving combat capability, therefore creating the most effective multi role fighter today. With a robust upgrade capacity and the continuous insertion of technology, the F-16IN can be readily equipped with emerging capabilities throughout its lifecycle.

The Super Viper has the most advanced technologies and capabilities available today on the international market. It is truly the ultimate fourth generation fighter with all it brings to the battlefield.

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
The Northrop Grumman APG-80 AESA radar is the only AESA operational in the international market today. This revolutionary all-weather, precision targeting sensor has been exported by the United States government and is defending a sovereign nation today; no other MMRCA competitor can make that claim. The APG-80 AESA radar provides outstanding situational awareness and detection; ultrahigh-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, fully interleaved modes of operations with automatic terrain following; and air-to-air tracking of multiple targets.

Net-Centric Warfare Capability
The fusion of net-centric operations and onboard data provides a total battle space picture and optimizes mission accomplishment. The F-16 was the first multi-role fighter to incorporate a data link capability, and the IAF's Operational Data Link (ODL) can be integrated onto the F-16IN when available, ensuring interoperability with other IAF aircraft. Data integrates through all phases of the mission – from mission planning, navigation, communication and target prosecution to return to base – transforming the pilot from an aircraft system manager to a tactician.

Modern, Full-Color, All-Digital Glass Cockpit
Pilots receive easy-to-interpret information via the all-digital cockpit and helmet -mounted cueing system. The large color displays are capable of fusing data from on- and off-board sensors, reducing the workload and enabling the pilot to focus on the mission.

Advanced Survivability Features
The low radar signature of the F-16IN reduces detection by enemy radars. Its single-engine design has smaller infrared and visual signature than twin-engine fighters. The internal electronic warfare and towed decoy systems, provided by Raytheon, avoid or defeat the most advanced threats. Raytheon's combat-proven EW systems are deployed on F-16 aircraft worldwide. Superior agility and excellent pilot situational awareness reduce vulnerability to attack, while critical systems redundancy and shielding enhance survivability.

Enhanced High Thrust Engine
The F-16IN offers the highest thrust engine in the competition, the General Electric F110-132A. It has 32,000 pounds of thrust with an unprecedented record of safety, reliability, maintainability and durability.The F110 incorporates the latest technology, including full authority digital engine control, for maximum fuel efficiency and performance.

Safety, Reliability and Maintainability
The F-16IN is the most reliable, maintainable and safest multirole fighter in the world . . . based on more than 13 million flight hours in peacetime and combat operations. Also, our support approach provides the lowest life-cycle cost and is consistent with existing IAF maintenance practices.

Proven Combat and Operational Effectiveness

* Over 400,000 combat hours
* More air-to-air victories (72-0)
* Over 100,000 combat missions flown
* Over 2,200,000 ordnance delivered in combat
* Over one million operational sorties in support of the Global war on Terror

Lockheed Martin understands that meeting the specific needs of each partner, the company insures that the F-16 maintains an unmatched record of program performance and mission success. India’s partnership with Lockheed Martin can provide access to the highest technology, opportunities for technology co-development, low-risk licensed production, transfer of technology, and opportunities for extensive long-term business. The Super Viper facilitates a key strategic partnership with the United States and the U.S. Air Force including joint training, logistical and operational concepts.

Also, Lockheed Martin has a proven history of successful partnerships. The F-16 is the fighter of choice for 24 nations with 52 follow-on buys, including successful international licensed manufacturing of 928 aircraft. Lockheed Martin’s worldwide industrial partnership success is unsurpassed by anyone and includes these accomplishments:

* Establishment of four highly successful international F-16 manufacturing lines
* Demonstrated ability to transfer advanced technology successfully
* Over $37 billion in offsets realized by 40 countries
* Establishment of indigenous international support systems
* Joint technology development for international markets

From the manufactures website:- http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f16/f16in/index.html

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Another F-16 avoids disaster-Defective polish F-16's

http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/news/artykul103209_another_f_16_avoids_disaster.html



Another F-16 avoids disaster
Created: 26.02.2009 15:05

More evidence has emerged that the fleet of F-16s that Poland received from the United States may be defective.



On February 17, an F-16 fighter jet almost fell from the skies, from an altitude of 10,000 meters during training exercises conducted in the Krzesiny district, near Poznan, western Poland. After plunging 2 kilometers the pilot finally regained control of the aircraft and avoided disaster, reports Rzeczpospolita.



The case is being investigated by the Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation.



In 2006, Poland bought 48 F-16 fighters from the US and became the 23rd country to start using the model. The machines were said to be one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Their reliability, however, was put into question due to a series of problems, the last of which took place in July 2008 when the pilot had to conduct an emergency landing in Okecie Airport, Warsaw.



And in October 2007, two F-16 jet fighters stationed at Krzesiny airport were forced to make an emergency landing.



In 2003, Mac Stevenson, the then Vice President for Business Development at Lockheed-Martin who set up the deal worth 3.5 billion dollars, plus 6 billion dollars in offset deals, with the Polish government, said: “The airplane that the Polish government is going to receive is the finest F-16 that's flying. They're getting the latest in modern electronic warfare, the latest in weapons. The performance of the airplane is not exceeded anywhere. This airplane has capabilities in it that actually exceed the capabilities of the United States Air Force's F-16s." (pg/un)


pakistan is also getting f-16's(defective??)

 

[ahmedsid]

The F16 is still a formidable plane, and Yes, Quality wise, they may not be as great as before because lots of better and new options are available. The USA is dumping these F16s I feel because they are gonna phase them out and they are a means of generating revenue for the next platform.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Eurofighter Nations Delay Meteor Missile until 2015

Eurofighter Nations Delay Meteor Missile until 2015


March 02, 2009
By Chris Pocock
February 18, 2009
Defense

The four partner nations in Eurofighter have agreed to delay until 2015 the introduction of the Meteor, the advanced rocket-ramjet beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed by MBDA. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is managing the development of Meteor, and is the only country to have committed to production so far.

However, the MoD told the UK National Audit Office that it was falling into line with Germany, Italy and Spain. After reviewing the “likely environment” (meaning the threat), the MoD said that the Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles currently carried by the Typhoon would “provide sufficient capability out to 2015.

The Meteor was scheduled to enter UK service in August 2012, after an eight-year development period. That date has been redefined as the “platform-ready In-service date,” but subsequent integration onto the Typhoon will take three more years.

France and Sweden are also partners in the project, intending to buy Meteors for the Rafale and Gripen, respectively. An informed source suggested to AIN that the timetable of those two countries for integrating the new missile would be driven by the export prospects of the two fighters.

The initial airborne test-firings of the Meteor took place on the Gripen, after negotiations to use a Typhoon failed. The next round of test-firings will be from a British Tornado F.3 fighter this year.

 

[A.V.]

The delay in the meteor induction is not a good development for the iaf who was interested to get a few of them.

the most interesting part about the above article is that it states that the induction of the meteor on the french rafale and swedish gripen will depend on the export orders.by this if we consider the french rafale wins the mrca bid in the near future will the meteor be provided to them for incorporation before 2015?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

the MRCA has become very complex from the main deals and the side deals.

 

[A.V.]

the MRCA has become very complex from the main deals and the side deals.

you are right on this absolutely but the mrca is too big a contract/money that is on offer we need to know specifically what we are actually getting and at what point of time.the meteor surely does fall into the IAF's sphere of interest and if the rafale is not offering the meteor then we can even look towards the american fighters.
the meteor was a strong plus for the rafale to win the mrca contract.but i think we will get a clarification from the rafale and gripen source shortly.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

this gameplay by the french may blow the deal for them, I personally liked the rafaele to win but this changes things.

 

[nitesh]

http://www.business-standard.com/in...ndia-airbus-parent-to-suppliers/11/41/350571/

“Manufacturing parts in India would be 30 to 40 per cent more cost-effective, although it does depend on where the manufacturing takes place in India owing to differential tax structure,”

 

[LETHALFORCE]

RAFALE evaluation in SWITZERLAND

RAFALE evaluation in SWITZERLAND
http://prepaplsanglais.canalblog.com/tag/RAFALE


The next aircraft (the last one was the Gripen) being evaluated in the framework of the replacement of the Swiss F−5, is the Dassault-Aviation-manufactured RAFALE until November 7. Two two-seaters stationed at Emmen airfield - Switzerland - are being tested the same way the two Swedish Gripens were tested previously.

Latest Dassault Aviation creation, the RAFALE performed its maiden flight on July 4, 1986! Its program highlighted all the major French suppliers such as: SNECMA for the M88 engine; Thales (former Thomson - CSF) for the RBE-2 phased array radar; Dassault systems; SAGEM (electronics and optronics); and the English Messier - Dowty for the landing gear.


sz_flag fr_flag


Unlike the Mirage 2000 which versus its American competitors, the RAFALE does not fear its opponents as far as technical performance is concerned:

* RBE-2 phased array radar
* Latest generation SPECTRA (electronic warfare system)
* OSF (Front-sector optronic system)
* a GPS (Global Positioning System)
* last but not least: a lower cost of development and maintenance compared to the majority of its opponents...

52841790348b3a5facbd61[1].png

The RAFALE has a wide range of weapons at its disposal: the infrared and radar MICA missile, the SCALP (air-to-surface cruise missile) as well as the future long-range European METEOR missile. The multirole Dassault fighter aircraft is able to be equipped with various American-made bombs: Laser-guided Paveway III, for instance, but it is a shame that foreign weapons have not been licensed for the RAFALE yet.


The RAFALE fighter aircraft are parted into three standards:

* F1 standard: air-to-air-mission dedicated only. This standard fields the French Fleet Air Arm.
* F2 standard: encompasses the F1 standard, and has the air-to-surface capability to its disposal. The French Air Force is fielded with these aircraft.
* F3 standard encompasses the previous skills plus the strategic capability which enables this fighter to carry out nuclear-deterrence/strike missions, reconnaissance missions, and anti-ship-strike missions. This latter standard might field the Swiss Air Force (without the nuclear and anti-ship capabilities)

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

Who do you guys think will win the MRCA ???

And, when is the result / selection due ???

The last I heard the planes were undergoing testing by the IAF to check them in various operating conditions....

 

[Payeng]

Who do you guys think will win the MRCA ???

And, when is the result / selection due ???

The last I heard the planes were undergoing testing by the IAF to check them in various operating conditions....

Its hard to say maybe even IAF don't know and would reach to a conclusion after extensive evaluation also to consider political and other issues, more over it is not what a particular fighter have in it but what actually is required by IAF i.e. what are the needs and wants of IAF. A lot weightage should be given to
diplomatic ties of the selected nation too. I think India have already learnt its lesson in this regard, lets hope thier is no bribery attached to this tender. If so any fighter selected would be respected.

 

[Payeng]

Personally I like the F-18 it have good PWR, range, thrust, good payload capacity and a lowered RCS and great avionics if offered, I think this should satisfy the IAF requirements but it may not satisfy the GoI or even the US may cause problems in ToT.

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

Personally I like the F-18 it have good PWR, range, thrust, good payload capacity and a lowered RCS and great avionics if offered, I think this should satisfy the IAF requirements but it may not satisfy the GoI or even the US may cause problems in ToT.

Exactly my feeling about the Super Hornet. Especially with the administration try to scuttle defence deals with even friendly nations now. For example, the notice to GE to not produce engines for the Shivalik Frigate... hehehehe....

I think this will put a big dent on the prospects of the Super Hornet. And, I'm quite sure they'd have problems giving ToT for their AESA radars even though, arguably, the French would have no such problem offering AESA to us...

Anyways, what about the Eurofighter? I know its not value for money, but if I give 122 million dollars a piece, it should be one hell of a piece of equipment, right?

And, if we buy Eurofighter, we're not only denying it to Pakistan, but also getting the whole of Europe on our side... What say???

 

[Payeng]

Anyways, what about the Eurofighter? I know its not value for money, but if I give 122 million dollars a piece, it should be one hell of a piece of equipment, right?

And, if we buy Eurofighter, we're not only denying it to Pakistan, but also getting the whole of Europe on our side... What say???

Honestly speaking, I don't know how much value does it deliver for a given amount of money.

Anyways EF Typhoon is a good fighter but it is very costly since one of the main concern of India in this tender is to strengthen the rapidly depleting squadron strength, A highly priced 4th(4.5) generation Fighter may not be the choice of our defense planners when we have active plans for the next gen. fighter and we already have the Su 30's




I don't know what privileges India may achieve being the part of this consortium but the nations defense structure should not be compromised for mere diplomatic privileges.



Don't worry about Pakistan acquiring EF Typhoon, Can Pakistan with its current stand be able to acquire this Fighter? By the time Pakistan be able to get this fighter we would be moving for acquiring a fifth generation fighter.:vehicle_plane:

 

[Atul]

Honestly speaking, I don't know how much value does it deliver for a given amount of money.

Anyways EF Typhoon is a good fighter but it is very costly since one of the main concern of India in this tender is to strengthen the rapidly depleting squadron strength, A highly priced 4th(4.5) generation Fighter may not be the choice of our defense planners when we have active plans for the next gen. fighter and we already have the Su 30's




I don't know what privileges India may achieve being the part of this consortium but the nations defense structure should not be compromised for mere diplomatic privileges.



Don't worry about Pakistan acquiring EF Typhoon, Can Pakistan with its current stand be able to acquire this Fighter? By the time Pakistan be able to get this fighter we would be moving for acquiring a fifth generation fighter.:vehicle_plane:

Dear : Payeng,

If we are concerned what Pakistan is interested in acquiring, by no way considering the economic position of Pakistan, can it afford an Typhoon, It will & always will be the JAS 39 Gripen.... :vehicle_plane:

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

Dear : Payeng,

If we are concerned what Pakistan is interested in acquiring, by no way considering the economic position of Pakistan, can it afford an Typhoon, It will & always will be the JAS 39 Gripen.... :vehicle_plane:

I agree with you. The chances of Gripen to Pakistan are more. They're cozying upto the Swedes recently. I believe they're going to get quite a few AWACS from them...