India will soon begin trials of fighter jets competing for one of the world's biggest arms deals, a defence ministry official said, brushing aside speculation the upcoming election could affect the deal.
Last year, six international companies submitted bids to supply India with 126 multi-role fighter jets and bag the $US10-billion contract.
Two US companies, Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co., are competing with Russia's MiG-35, France's Dassault Rafale, Sweden's Saab KAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, a consortium of British, German, Italian and Spanish companies for the fighter deal.
Indian media have been reporting that a new government could take a fresh look at the deal after the April/May election, but defence officials said the trial process could begin by end-May.
"The election will not have a bearing on the fighter jet trials, as the Indian Air Force is now working on the modalities before trials and things are moving in the right direction," said defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar.
India is looking to spend more than $US30 billion over the next five years to modernise its largely Soviet-era weapons systems and is also launching its first military spy satellite next year.
Talks between Indian officials and some of the bidders were held last week and would continue before the trials, officials said.
A special technical team from Lockheed Martin Corp had also arrived in India to oversee the company's preparation, company officials said.
The first step will be to train Indian pilots to fly the sophisticated aircraft, before the trials begin.
"We are ready for the trials," Douglas A Hartwick, chief executive officer of Lockheed's Indian operations, told Reuters. "It will take a few weeks of training for the pilots to get used to flying the planes."
Lockheed last year sold six C-130J military transport planes to India for about $US1.1 billion and is now offering its F-16 fighters to India.
Lockheed and its US-based rival Boeing Co, which is offering the "Super Hornets", have emerged as the frontrunners for lucrative contract, air force officials said.
After the training of the Indian pilots, trials to test the planes' manoeuvreability and effectiveness will begin in various weather conditions, officials said.
"It will take a full cycle of season to test the fighters," Kar said.
An excellent assessment, Atul. You have very clearly defined on what basis the Indian government has to selected one or two of these fighter aircraft for the air force.6 Jets that have participated in the MRCA the widest choice any country in this world can be offered in case of Jets, can be broadly categorized as below :
In Case of Engines :
1) Single engine : Gripen & F-16
2) Twin Engine's : F-18 SH, Rafale, EF & Mig-35
In Case of Rate :
1) Below $ 50 Million : Mig-35, F-16, Gripen
2) Above $ 50 Million : EF, SH, Rafale.
In Case of Operatibility with Existing Infrastructure :
1) With Existing Infrastructure ( with some changes ) : Mig-35 & Rafale
2) With a Completely new Infrastructure : Gripen, F-16, SH, EF
In Case of Country wise Reputation :
1) Reliable supplier: Russia, France, Sweden,
2) Reliability Problems : Us, European Union ( the british had blocked seaking Helos sent for mid life refit the during Kargil Conflict)
In Case of War Operatibility :
1) War Tested : F-16, F-18, Rafale ( in Afghanistan )
2) Still to go in a War : Gripen, EF, Mig-35
Note : Remember for the 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, The Defence Ministry has allocated Rs. 42,000 crore or (Approx. US$10.5 billion)for the purchase & Dollar Rate is not at all Stable.
May be for Kiwis they are the front runners. (check out the source: it from New Zealand) :tank:I haven't heard any statements about them being frontrunners??
Well aware of Russia's goodwill to us for so many years myself, I would have loved to agree with you views Atul, However, even when it comes to budgetary constraints, I would prefer a US$ 65 million aircraft on time rather than 2 aircrafts in one's price about a decade late. At present, we need aircraft numbers in order to retain deterrence to either of our adversaries. While the Western front can still be handleed reasonably, in order to counter the Eastern front, we might have to hurry up with the aircraft numbers being inducted. From punctuality point of view, Rafale seems to be a good choice even though its higher price tag as compared to the MiG-35s. Besides, there must have been some arrangement clause for a slightly lesser per unit price since if we choose a single supplier, 200+ aircraft would be a sure shot solid deal for that company and it could definitely expect a future committment from the Indian side.Payeng,
The Budget for MRCA is allocated & the Cost of an Rafale can get the IAF not one but Two MIG-35.
& Remember an MIG-35 can be fitted with a TV engine....:vehicle_plane:
MRCA about not just about feeling the vacency. It main purpose is to get advanced technology to IAF.We have so many Mig 29s already, it just makes more sense if we get a platform they we are used to and already have a tech support setup.And the fair part is that we will be getting source code for AESA radar....if they ever make it.
Mig-35 is not at all comparable to Rafale at all when it comes to Air to Air combact. Rafale is said to be better that SH when it comes to Air to Air combact.I don't know how mig-35 compares with rafale in terms of BVR but given its cost,it's pretty much a good deal.
I think the increased military aid to Pakistan offers a good clue about the MRCA choice, I think US planes have been eliminated or have very little to no chance of winning IMO. I think it will come down to choosing between Rafele and MIG-35 with the edge given to Rafele for many different reasons.May be for Kiwis they are the front runners. (check out the source: it from New Zealand) :tank:
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