MRCA News & Dicussions (IV)

[nitesh]

we will here the down listing of MRCA contenders after the AF1 clears the Indian air space in it's return flight

 

[RAM]

Defence ministry goes slow on downlisting firms for aircraft deal


New Delhi: Despite getting gentle nudges from the government, the defence establishment does not seem to be ready for an early downlisting of the $10-billion 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract in which companies from the US, France and Russia are in the race. Sources told FE, "The field trial report of the six contenders has been sent to the director-general acquisition's office, who is expected to make recommendations and send it to the defence acquisition council (DAC) of the ministry of defence (MoD)."


"The DG's recommendations will not only be based on the field trial report but will also take into consideration the evaluation of the offset proposals of the six contenders. The Offset Technical Committee in the defence ministry has already initiated the process of evaluating the offset proposals," sources added.


They went on to clarify that they are under no pressure to downselect contenders prior to the visit of the US President Barack Obama, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni and the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
American companies, Lockheed Martin F-16IN, Boeing F/A-18, French Dassault Rafale, EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen and Russian MiG-35 are in the running for the 126 aircraft deal which is expected to replace the ageing MiG-21s. According to sources, "Vendors who are compliant rule wise, Defence Procurement Policy and Technical offsets will ultimately be opened for consideration. Also, the lowest bidder, designated L1, will be selected as the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA)."


Once the contenders receive the evaluation of the Offset Technical Committee, the contenders for the MMRCA will give fresh offset proposals. After that, fresh recommendations will be sent to the defence ministry. Once the Cabinet Committee on Security gives the nod, negotiations between governments will begin, which could start early next year, sources added. The contenders have being invited to submit their offset plans and the IAF will meet different contenders to discuss flight evaluation reports once the field trials are complete. It may be noted that the IAF is considering "life-cycle costs" and not just the lowest bid for the MMRCA. The contract entails acquisition of 18 aircraft to be bought off-the-shelf and the rest to be manufactured in India under transfer of technology.


:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[pranay]

may ol of these presidential visits end soon and then mod fastracks the aqquisition process..
hoping for eurofighter !! :emot159:
\m/

 

[neo29]

MRCA aircraft deal to be signed soon: IAF chief

Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on Sunday said the contract for supply of 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MCRA) to Indian Air Force will be signed soon.

"Evaluation of six aircraft from the bidding companies has been completed and details have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence which is expected to take a final decision soon," Air Chief Marshal Naik told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The IAF has been holding trials for its $10-billion Medium MCRA tenders in which Boeing and Lockheed Martin from U.S., French D'Assault, Swedish SAAB, European consortium EADS and Russian MiG are contenders.

"The evaluation report will be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Security, after which the process of awarding contract would be initiated," he said.

He said that it would take another year to sign the contract and the delivery of first batch of 18 aircraft would be received within three years after the orders are placed.

The Defence Ministry has allocated Rs. 42,000 crore for the purchase of 126 aircraft.

MRCA aircraft deal to be signed soon: IAF chief

 

[adityamech06]

To project IAF as a dominant force, it needs a qualitative as well as quantitative advantage over its adversaries, which is primarily china. Not going for MRCA doesn`t make sense... and dare I say, this is the perfect time for the IAF to begin a new chapter, in a new direction.

PAK-FA is what the Russians call the Sukhoi T-50, India refers to it as FGFA. AFAIK, 250 FGFA are going to be inducted.

 

[neo29]

Spain grounds Eurofighter jets

Spain has followed Germany's lead and grounded its Eurofighter combat aircraft until an inquiry into a possible ejector seat problem is completed, a defence ministry spokeswoman said Monday.

The decision was taken on Thursday, she said, one day after Germany grounded its Eurofighter jets as a precaution, saying that "in certain circumstances the ejector seat does not operate faultlessly in case of emergency."

The problem had been detected during a check and was being taken up with the manufacturers, a German defence ministry spokesman said last week.

Britain's Royal Air Force said Monday it has modified the ejection seat harnesses on its Eurofighter jets after a lieutenant-colonel of the Saudi air force was killed during a training flight in Spain last month involving one of the planes.

A Spanish instructor managed to eject before the Eurofighter Typhoon crashed for an unknown reason and was only slightly hurt, the Spanish defence ministry said at the time.

Saudi Arabia, which took delivery last year of the first of the 72 Typhoons it plans to buy, has its pilots trained to fly the aircraft by the Spanish air force under a bilateral agreement with Madrid.

The Typhoon, a multi-purpose twin-engine fighter jet introduced in 2003, is built by a consortium made up of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), Britain's BAE Systems and Alenia/Finmeccanica of Italy.

It also used by the Italian air force.

Spain grounds Eurofighter jets

 

[neo29]

More fuel under the wings of Gripen NG Demo

The Gripen NG Demo is now flying with new extra large drop-tanks. Instead of the more traditional 300 gallon tanks used by Gripen C/D these new external tanks can carry 450 gallons of fuel each.Combined with added spaces for internal fuel and a more fuel efficient engine Gripen NG will get substantially longer range and more time on station. The new drop-tanks are made by RUAG in Switzerland.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

Nice pics of the Gripen NG:emot112:

 

[nrj]

UAE May Turn Away from Rafale as Interest is Expressed in Super Hornet

Seems Shornet is going to cast off Omni-Role Fighter......... :happy_2:

The United Arab Emirates has requested technical information on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, indicating it wants competition in its search to replace its fleet of Mirage 2000-9 jets first purchased from French company Dassault in 1983. The UAE is considering a purchase of new aircraft worth about $10 billion.

This news is unlikely to be greeted with much enthusiasm in Paris, where French officials had hoped to lock down a sale of the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft to the UAE sans competition. France has failed to win an export contract for its new-generation Rafale and has pinned its hopes on several prospective markets, including Brazil, India, Kuwait and the UAE, with the latter deemed a likely candidate due to its familiarity with French aviation and traditional reliance upon French defense hardware.

The interest expressed in the Super Hornet by the UAE underlines the growing dominance of high-end U.S. defense exports to the oil-rich Gulf nations, a trend that threatens to crowd out French exports to a market considered crucial by Paris due to its ample oil wealth and military modernization needs. France has traditionally been a supplier to the UAE, selling everything from combat aircraft to helicopters to main battle tanks to the Gulf nation. Defense relations between the two countries have been close, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy making Gulf relations a priority for Paris and personally inaugurating a new French military base in Abu Dhabi on May 26, 2009.

The cause for the UAE's shift in attention solely from the Rafale to a U.S.-based option has led to speculation that UAE authorities are uneasy with the price and technology offered up by France. The opening granted to Boeing may be an attempt by the Emiratis to extract more from the French side than Paris previously was willing to grant.

The UAE is interested in a newer-generation model of the Rafale, an expense that the French side has asked Abu Dhabi to cover. UAE officials believe, on the other hand, that the Super Hornet offers an off-the-shelf option already equipped with the technologies it desires. French Defense Minister Herve Morin has stated that further developments of the Rafale - which would include a longer-range active electronically scanned radar (AESA), a more powerful engine, and a more capable Spectra electronic warfare suite - would cost the UAE about EUR2 billion ($2.6 billion), though France would be willing to bear some of the cost.

In the past, the UAE has been willing to invest in the development of a foreign-built aircraft, as it did with the Block 60 version of the Lockheed Martin F-16 (of which it now owns some of the technology). But considering its petro-wealth, price may not be the true factor in the UAE's consideration of a U.S.-built option. Politics, on the other hand, may be.

The U.S. is set to unveil a $60 billion military package to Saudi Arabia next week as it continues to help build up Gulf area defenses and improve its partners' military capabilities. The UAE is expected to get its own slice of the defense assistance pie in the near future after previously being green-lighted by the Pentagon in recent years for purchases of helicopters, Patriot PAC 3 air defense missiles, and the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Air Defense) anti-tactical ballistic missile system.

American export dominance in the high-end Gulf defense market is being locked down through blocks of government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the region and should only tighten in the near future.

Source

 

[black eagle]

 

[neo29]

US eyes India's new fighter jet programme

Ahead of his meeting with Indian counterpart A K Antony, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the Pentagon wants to strengthen and expand its military to military ties with India.

"We are looking to expand this relationship in ways that are mutually beneficial," Gates told media persons at a Pentagon briefing ahead of the crucial Antony visit next week.

"They (India) have a big competition going on for a new modern fighter. We'll probably have some conversations about that," Gates.

The Defence Secretary said he had a very good visit to India last year wherein he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony.

Responding to a question on the India's concerns about restriction on export of high-technology items, Gates acknowledged that this is high on the agenda and he would like to see those restrictions removed.

"I think that that is certainly high on our list, particularly in the context of export-import, or export controls, and my view of the importance of changing those export controls in ways that better protect the things that are really important and open up trade and allow US companies to sell abroad those things that technologies that are not critical," Gates said.

"So, I think India certainly is high on our list in terms of a country that we would like, I would like to see those restrictions eased," Gates said at the Pentagon news conference which was jointly addressed by Admiral Mike Mullen [ Images ], Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The military-to-military relationship with India is exceptionally strong and growing, said Mullen.

"We are very committed to that, and with all of our services. I was recently there and it has taken on a significance that is equal to so many other historic relationships for us, and we know that," Mullen said.

"The Indian Ocean, we also know, is an incredibly important body of water; not just now, but also in the future. So we recognize the importance of keeping that relationship as strong as it is, and also making it grow," he said.

Source : Rediff

 

[p2prada]

I personally think UAE is bringing in the Super Hornet to get a reasonable price deal from the French. The French get carried away with their prices sometimes.

 

[Armand2REP]

I personally think UAE is bringing in the Super Hornet to get a reasonable price deal from the French. The French get carried away with their prices sometimes.

If UAE goes with Super Hornet it would make the French base obsolete as a function. They asked us to establish it for their protection and a place to house French training and maintenance personnel for their own equipment. We are not there for the purpose of threatening Iran like the US is intent to do. It is a courtesy for one our best customers.

 

[p2prada]

UAE is learning geopolitics from India.

Who knows they might give their option only after India releases its winner. That goes double for Brazil.

 

[Agantrope]

UAE is learning geopolitics from India.

Who knows they might give their option only after India releases its winner. That goes double for Brazil.

If we do any somersault then all will follow the same suit

 

[vishal_lionheart]

Actually, We have to see in a direction, WHAT AIR FORCE actually need and what we GETTING?

 

[vishal_lionheart]

what are we getting with MIG 35


A) super-manoeuvrability (a capability to fly at supercritical angles of attack, at increased level of sustained and available g-loads and high turn-angle rate, which require a greater thrust-to-weight ratio and improved wing aerodynamic efficiency);

B) supersonic flight with afterburner disabled (what is also referred to as 'super-cruise');

C) low detection in radar and IR wave bands (meaning stealth);

D) short takeoff and landing runs;

E) a significant reduction in flight hour cost, ground crew, size and weight of non-standard ground support equipment;

F ) a new layout of onboard equipment and a new arrangement of cockpit information and control instruments; a high level of integration.

Klimov's 3-dimensional system has the nozzles moving 18° in all directions. Aircraft can fly at very low speeds without angle-of-attack limitations, and that it will also remain controllable in zero-speed and 'negative-speed' (tail-forward) areas for sustained periods.

Off topic
European suck our money, even they don't have past experience of Aircraft manufacturing, except France. American want to use us, for their geo political view.

Mig 35 offer super cruise like Eurofighter

It also offer high angle attack better than Rafael.

We can integrate weapons of our choice, no one can offer

We can make change in Aircraft by our needs, no one can offer

 

[neo29]

US has enough political power over UAE. More so if u remember Dubai financial crash was financed by Abu Dhabi. Reports suggest that UAE will be having economic problem in coming years. It needs US hence bending to its demands. US are made a very good geopolitical move out here.

They trying the same out here, using the leverage on China issue. They would love to have their fighters facing China.

 

[vishal_lionheart]

They trying the same out here, using the leverage on China issue. They would love to have their fighters facing China.

American are not loyal friend outside EUROPE. The best examples are PAKISTAN, IRAN, CHINA and LATIN AMERICA. They use and exploit their friends. How you can trust American company, we already experience it in TEJAS. Europeans are alike their American counterparts their policies are largely depend on their AMERICAN counterparts. Lot of Critical system in Tiffy and Rafael are American, which is sanction prone...
Think twice and act once.....
Our dumb ass politician has only got brain for corruption .

 

[Oracle]

American are not loyal friend outside EUROPE.

Alright we had a story with the US of A, but that was during the cold war period. Now, we have a relationship with US of A which is mutually beneficial. We as a nation have matured a lot, we don't need USA to fight our wars, we are capable of inflicting excessive damage, should any country try us.

The best examples are PAKISTAN, IRAN, CHINA and LATIN AMERICA. They use and exploit their friends.

Yes, I agree. But 9/11 changed a lot of things. It changed a lot of assumed perceptions.

How you can trust American company, we already experience it in TEJAS.

????
GE is providing the engines right, or so is competing with eurojet I guess. Dude, it is unfair of us to expect rich technology just because we can pay for it.

Europeans are alike their American counterparts their policies are largely depend on their AMERICAN counterparts. Lot of Critical system in Tiffy and Rafael are American, which is sanction prone...
Think twice and act once.....
Our dumb ass politician has only got brain for corruption .

The time for us to come to a decision with regards to USA is yet to arrive.