MRCA news and discussion /feb-june 2009

Which Aircraft should win

  • Dassault Rafale

    Votes: 28 38.9%
  • Eurofighter Typhoon

    Votes: 7 9.7%
  • Mikoyan MiG-35

    Votes: 15 20.8%
  • JAS 39 Gripen

    Votes: 6 8.3%
  • Lockheed Martin F-16 IN

    Votes: 2 2.8%
  • Boeing Hornet E/F Superhornet F-18

    Votes: 14 19.4%

  • Total voters
    72
  • Poll closed .
J

John

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Our pilots have indeed flown all the aircraft before a few time already, SH, mig-35, Rafale, EF, Gripen,F-16 block 60 have had Indian pilots in them, the only thing we haven't flown the latest block 2 SHs, T-3 EF and new AESA Rafale, Gripen IN and block 70.

Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 Demonstrates Network-Enabled Capability

PARIS, June 17, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 completed a major milestone when the weapon's Strike Common Weapon Datalink communicated between two Link-16 nodes. The test demonstrated the weapon's ability to function as a node on the network.

JSOW is a family of low-cost air-to-ground weapons that employs an integrated GPS/Inertial Navigation System and terminal infrared seeker that guide the weapon to the target. JSOW C-1 adds moving maritime target capability and the two-way Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) Strike Common Weapon Datalink to the combat-proven weapon. Raytheon has received a full rate production contract for the JSOW C-1 from the U.S. Navy and will reach initial operational capability in 2010.

"This test proves the integrated JSOW C-1 team is on track to providing the warfighter with connectivity and interoperability between sensor platforms, shooting platforms and weapons," said Capt. Mat Winter, the U.S. Navy's Precision Strike Weapon program manager. "I am confident that we will deliver this key capability to the fleet on schedule."

The May 6 test was part of the U.S. Navy's Joint Surface Warfare Joint Capability Technology Demonstration. During the demonstration, the JSOW C-1's Strike Common Weapon Datalink received and replied to in-flight target updates from a simulated P-3 Orion aircraft's Littoral Surveillance Radar System.

"The SCWDL has already demonstrated the capability to communicate between the weapon and an F/A-18 fighter aircraft; testing it with a P-3 demonstrates the versatility of the weapon," said Phyllis McEnroe, Raytheon's JSOW program director. "The test also proves the technology in JSOW C-1 is extremely mature."

http://www.deagel.com/news/Joint-St...es-Network-Enabled-Capability_n000006205.aspx

another advantage for the teens.
 

Sridhar

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Field trials for combat aircraft deal to begin soon

BY:TNN

The stage is now set for the elimination process of the six contenders in fray for the `mother of all defence deals’, the Rs

42,000-crore project to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, with IAF keen to begin the field trials by July-August.

In the hotly-contested race to bag the contract are American F/A-18 `Super Hornet’ (Boeing) and F-16 `Falcon’ (Lockheed Martin), French Rafale (Dassault), Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation), Swedish Gripen (Saab) and Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies).

After an initial hiccup over whether Rafale was in or out, the defence ministry on May 29 issued the letter for the “flight evaluation trials” to all the six contenders.

The elimination process, however, will be a long, torturous one. The six fighters will be put through the paces in two sets of field trials conducted in summer and winter, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of Leh, scorching Rajasthan deserts (Jaisalmer) and humid conditions of south India (Bangalore).

Moreover, the fighters will also be evaluated in the countries of their origin. So, in effect, the trial results will be out only by mid-2010 at the earliest.

The commercial bids will only be opened, examined and compared after a shortlist is made of two to three top contenders following the extensive field trials and staff evaluation.

With the final negotiations to begin thereafter, the entire process is expected to take a minimum of two years before the deal is actually inked for what will be the largest global defence contract. While 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology.

IAF, of course, is desperate to induct the first lot of the new fighters by 2012-2013, especially since it is grappling with a dip in the number of its fighter squadrons, which are down to 33 from the “sanctioned strength” of 39.5.

IDRW.ORG Blog Archive Field trials for combat aircraft deal to begin soon
 
J

John

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Northrop Grumman Pushes to Offer E-Scan Radar to Eurofighter, Gripen

Northrop Grumman is lobbying the U.S. government for permission to market its Active Electronically Scanned radar for use on non-U.S. fighters, including the Eurofighter and Gripen, an official said Wednesday.

"It would make sense to target the non-U.S. Typhoon, Japanese F-2, [Aermacchi] M346 and potentially the Gripen," said Mark Gaertner, Northrop Grumman vice president business development.

Gaertner said such sales of U.S. technology are forbidden by the U.S. government.

"We are calling for a policy guideline to continue with AESA technology abroad," he said. "We are shaking up a bees' nest and we await a decision."

Gaertner was speaking at a briefing on the SABR e-scan radar developed by Northrop Grumman for sale to F-16 customers around the world seeking to upgrade from manual to e-scan radar.

The firm wants to sell the radar at a cost comparable to the mechanically scanned APG-68 it has previously sold for use on F-16s, even if the new e-scan radar will have at least 50 percent greater range. Northrop aims to test fly the new radar on a USAF F-16 in the third quarter of this year before formally launching the product in 2010.

Gaertner said that foreign e-scan radars providers were likely banned by the U.S. government from putting their own radars on F-16s.

Northrop Grumman Pushes to Offer E-Scan Radar to Eurofighter, Gripen -

The EF T-3 doesnt look so bad any more i wish radar is available for us.
 

luckyy

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Rafale back in IAF's USD 10 billion M-MRCA bid

New Delhi, May 21: After being ruled out of the race for IAF's over USD 10 billion contract for 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA), French contender Rafale fighter aircraft has been allowed by India to take part in the bid.

"The decision to induct the Rafale back in the bid was taken by Defence Ministry officials during a meeting of the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) held earlier this week," Defence Ministry sources said here.

Earlier, the French fighter aircraft was declared out of the race after it was found lacking on certain requirements of the IAF during the technical evaluation phase of the contract.

The recommendation of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), sources said, was not accepted by the DPB headed by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Rafale was allowed to take part in the competition.

After the DPB decision, the Rafale will now be allowed to participate in the field trials of the M-MRCA, which are expected to be held by the IAF at different places and different weather conditions in India.

Rafale back in IAF`s USD 10 billion M-MRCA bid
under $10bn fund alloted for MMRCA ,Rafale might not fill the 126 numbers , but will the ministry would increase the budget or IAF have to manage for lesser numbers of Rafales alonge with some second hand Mirages to make up the total number of aircrafts required ....
 
J

John

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PARIS AIR SHOW: Raytheon trumps Northrop with new AESA designation

Boeing confirms that Raytheon has proposed an active electronically scanned array (AESA) for the F-15 Silent Eagle called the APG-82.

The APG-82 matches the front-end antenna from the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's APG-79 antenna with an all-new back-end processor derived from the APG-63(V)3 radar.

The US Air Force designation of the APG-82 stems from its selection for the F-15E Strike Eagle's radar modernisation programme.

For marketing purposes, the new designation could become a coup for Raytheon. As it tops the Northrop Grumman APG-81 in development for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Raytheon can claim possession of the latest-generation radar system in the US inventory.

Although the APG-82 will be integrated for the F-15E RMP, Boeing has not yet decided whether to use it for the export-focused F-15SE.

"That's a subject of discussion between Raytheon and our company," says Tom Bell, the Boeing military aircraft division's director of business development.

Asked what factors are involved in those discussions, Bell replied simply: "Two words: customer requirements."

PARIS AIR SHOW: Raytheon trumps Northrop with new AESA designation
 

vijaytripoli

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under $10bn fund alloted for MMRCA ,Rafale might not fill the 126 numbers , but will the ministry would increase the budget or IAF have to manage for lesser numbers of Rafales alonge with some second hand Mirages to make up the total number of aircrafts required ....
but how ur so sure that government will increse the budget from more that 10BILLION $$ ?
i Think Rafale will lose just because of money factor but not from technical one!
chau
 

pppppppp

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I feel none of the three in the medium range (SH, Rafale and EF) fit in the budget. Only Falcon, MIG and Grippen come in the expected range. I feel going in for these three (F16, MIG and Grippen) would not make sense as LCA can take up similar roles. Looking at the progress of the LCA MKII, I feel a decision will be made either to go in the heavy range or the low range fighters. If LCA MKII is progressing well by next year, then more chances are there to take up SH as it is the cheaper and we have a relation going on with Boeing for C17, P8I etc...
 

SATISH

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The aircraft manufacturers know that the budget is $10billion. The aircrafts must cost Rs. 42000 crores. The Rafale costs that much because of the French production lines. They are paying the French workers there. In the Indian deal the Manufacturing costs are cheaper due to ToT and Indian labour costs are cheaper.
 

p2prada

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but how ur so sure that government will increse the budget from more that 10BILLION $$ ?
chau
The budget allocated for MRCA is not known. The $10Billion figure was a guesstimate by some journos.
 
J

John

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with Northrop's SABR or Raythoen's RACR put on board the Rafale F-4, the Rafale doesnt look too bad either. But if indeed the Us govt. clears these radars to be used for export, this deal could go anyways.
 

pppppppp

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If at all we are going for any american component in MMRCA, then not worth going in for any other ones, SH would be the better one as it costs much less and better in all aspects. With the latest AESA and also 5th generation updates coming from boeing (like for F15), it is a good choice. The only issue is the control Americans have on the planes and the components. They are not yet dependable. Probably we need to wait and see the diplomatic things that happen on the nuclear front too. If politics kept aside, F18 shall be the choice of its varying roles. Naval SH is the most proven one. Probably our navy may ask for VTOL variant of SH.
 

Singh

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^never heard of a Naval VTOL SH. IN has already chosen Mig29k and N-LCA is undergoing trials and these ships will be unable to launch SH in present avatar.
 

jackprince

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If at all we are going for any american component in MMRCA, then not worth going in for any other ones, SH would be the better one as it costs much less and better in all aspects. With the latest AESA and also 5th generation updates coming from boeing (like for F15), it is a good choice. The only issue is the control Americans have on the planes and the components. They are not yet dependable. Probably we need to wait and see the diplomatic things that happen on the nuclear front too. If politics kept aside, F18 shall be the choice of its varying roles. Naval SH is the most proven one. Probably our navy may ask for VTOL variant of SH.

VTOL means 'Vertical Take Off Landing'. Which till date only one fighter plane mastered, that is Harrier jump jet in it's many variants - Hawker Siddeley Harrier (still serves in Indian Navy), BAE Sea Harrier (UK airforce and Navy), McDonnell Douglas-BAe/Boeing Harrier (USMC). Yakovlev Yak-38 of USSR was also a limited success in VTOL role, but it's limited payload and range rendered it not so useful fighter. Now, when F-35B of USMC and RN/RAF comes it will be the thid successful VTOL fighter.

SH needs CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery) system to operate with it's full potential from an aircraft carrier which neither INS vikramaditiya or planned three carriers will have. CATOBAR system is also a very expensive system to install and maintain than STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery) which the Indian Navy carriers will have. With full payload and fuel SH is simply too heavy to operate on a STOBAR platform.
 

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