Argentina reveals talks with India on Tejas

[Puffin]

Have they got an alternative to the Martin Baker ejection seat? and the British refueling probe? Otherwise this is a trivial matter. The UK will not allow for exports of anything that can be turned around and used for any attack on the Falklands, which it went to war with Argentina over in the past.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is seeking a foreign partner to set up a joint venture to manufacture ejection seats in India, for its own aircraft and for export.

The ejection seat market is dominated by a few companies, just five. They are Collins Aerospace (USA), Martin Baker (UK), NPP Zvedza (Russia), Aerospace Life-support Industries (China) and Aero Vodochody Aerospace and Zlin Aircaft (Czech Republic). However, it is Martin Baker that maintains a position of clear dominance, holding more than 75% of the market, which can lead to conditions, restrictions and even blockages when exporting indigenous aircraft from growing aerospace industries, such as South Korea or India.
This was the case with the UK’s veto on the export of Korean KAI FA-50 advanced trainer/light fighters to Argentina. And this restriction is also hampering India’s negotiations to try to sell its LCA Tejas Mk-1A light fighter to the Argentine Air Force.

India recognizes that its freedom to place its products in export markets will always be constrained by the use of critical foreign items, such as the engine or the ejection seat, in the case of fighters, and is therefore working to achieve ever-increasing levels of nationalization of its defense industry.

According to the Financial Express newspaper, during the recent DefExpo 2022 international arms show, an industry source told them that “HAL is exploring the possibility of setting up a Joint Venture for manufacture of seats in India,”.

The source declined to say which of the above companies HAL is in talks with.

There are more than 1,000 Martin Baker ejection seats in operation in India, including those of the LCA Tejas.
This quest for indigenization has at least three implications. First, it will allow India to free itself from the influence of the United Kingdom and sell to countries such as Argentina. Second, it will allow other manufacturers an alternative in terms of ejection seats. According to information available in the public domain, Martin Baker sells an ejector seat for between $140,000 and $400,000. Acquiring this capability would boost Indian defense exports. Finally, it will reduce the cost of indigenous offerings such as the LCA Tejas and make them more competitively priced

aviacionline

 

[Faceless]

Have they got an alternative to the Martin Baker ejection seat? and the British refueling probe? Otherwise this is a trivial matter. The UK will not allow for exports of anything that can be turned around and used for any attack on the Falklands, which it went to war with Argentina over in the past.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1681530207654793216

HAL in talks withs NPP Zvezda for setting up a JV for their K 36 ejection seat.

Development of Air to Air Refueling Probe (Retractable) | Technology Development Fund (TDF)

tdf.drdo.gov.in

DRDO's RFI for refueling probe for tejas mk2 (most probably completed before 2026), can be modified for tejas mk1, (However Argentina doesn't have any refuelers to use the air to air refueling capability)

About the radome,

https://twitter.com/x/status/1480175175098241025

Tests are already underway and once completed this radome will be integrated on Tejas mk1a

 

[hyperman]

HAL in talks withs NPP Zvezda

Any buyer is going to be hesitant acquiring Russian Subsystems, in fear of getting CAATSAed. Way too much of a mess acquiring a plane with a russian seat, an American engine, and and avionics from various places.

 

[Faceless]

Any buyer is going to be hesitant acquiring Russian Subsystems, in fear of getting CAATSAed. Way too much of a mess acquiring a plane with a russian seat, an American engine, and and avionics from various places.

Even US companies have JV with NPP Zvezda https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/02/...ss-new-factory-to-use-russian-technology.html

Not to mention NPP only manufactures ejection seats and nothing else, so them getting sanctioned is pretty unlikely but even if we assume that buying from them will get you sanctioned that would not be the case here because it would be a JV company and said company would be registered in india not Russia and US of A is not going to sanction India over some ejection seats.
Simply put it would be similar to buying brahmos, you can get sanctioned for buying P 800 but not brahmos.

 

[hyperman]

Even US companies have JV with NPP Zvezda https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/02/...ss-new-factory-to-use-russian-technology.html

Thats an article from 1998. lol

I guess we will see, I don't see much prospects for Tejas exports to Argentina. Indian media seems to really like blowing smoke up the asses of their public. Like how Tejas was going to be exported to Malaysia, or UAE, and in the end other companies ended up filling the tender.

I suspect Argentina will either get used F-16s, or they will end up with a chinese fighter.

 

[Faceless]

Thats an article from 1998. lol

And How does that negate my point, that there have been successful JV between defence companies of two bitter enemies.
And before you point out the changed geopolitical scenario, the rest of my earlier comment was explaining why a JV would still be possible because USA won't sanction an indian company

 

[hyperman]

And How does that negate my point, that there have been successful JV between defence companies of two bitter enemies.

It negates your point in that Russia US relation post 1991 to like a honeymoon period up till the Georgia invasion is nothing compared to what it is now, at this point anyone who gets involved with Russia is on the US's shit list, and that comes with consequences one of which is CAATSA.

USA won't sanction an indian company

You wanna bet? lol

 

[StraightEdge]

Some common sense says that this will never happen (opinion). Argentina is a country which is ridden with debt and it's debt repayment is riddled with massive problems. Inflation in Argentina is more than 100%. China just now helped them in payment of some IMF loan payments.

UPDATE 3-Argentina, short of dollars, to use yuan in $2.7 bln IMF payment | Reuters

There is absolutely no way I see this country spending anything on defence procurement right now. Even if it wants, most likely China will put pressure for obvious reasons.