Dassault Rafale, tender | News & Discussions

[SpArK]

Which fighter would India prefer?​

A struggle for many-billioned contract on delivery of multi-role fighters to Indian air forces is becoming aggravated. America makes the strong moves, Europe strengthens the lobbyistic potential and Russia is likely to drop out of this contest.

Indian tender MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) aimed at identifying the jet to replace outdated MiG-21 is still staying in the limelight of aviation experts. According to the latest intelligence, Deli may make its final choice by mid-year. The bets are rising.

More than $9 billion is reserved for acquisition of 126 jets by the Indian Ministry of Defense. Half of these funds is fixed by an offset agreement: it is referred to the contracts which must be performed in India and by Indian enterprises. It is a novelty; usually Deli does not increase the offset part higher than 30%. Looks like India has decided to hit the jackpot in technological transfer, assuming that it would be easier to persuade the manufacturers on localization of modern components production when talking about such a scope of delivery.

Six jets are claiming to reserve a seat in the fleet of Indian air force: American F-16IN Viper (Lockheed Martin) and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (Boeing), pan-European Eurofighter Typhoon, distressful French Dassault Rafale, permanent participant of all the tenders Swedish JAS-39NG Gripen (Saab), Russian MiG-35, demonstrated on Aero India 2007 and MAKS.
What is the state of affairs of every participant before the crucial dash?


Multivalued Europe

Let's start with common things. "Rafale" traditionally seems to be an outsider. And it is not about overcharge (for example, Typhoon's price is much higher) it is about much more common reasons. Military-technical co-operation between France and foreign countries is developing badly; in particular, Rafale has come in nowhere on several international tenders. For example a serious misfortune has overshadowed Rafale in Brazil on F-X2 tender, when new president of the republic has reloaded' the tender and made the final choice in Boeing's favor. Something is obviously wrong with French arms traffic and these problems cannot be solved by Dassault.

Rafale's prospects are not impressive. According to sources, close to the tender, Rafale has been charged off the tender, but Indian officials remain speechless in this respect. Even wide technological transfer package does not make the situation better; Paris has promised Deli new RBE-2AA radar with active phased antenna array which has not been delivered yet even to French air forces, and full package of radar's program codes.

French treatment of offset clauses also does not help: Dassault has promised to equip Rafale with Indian engine GTX-35VS Kaveri in order to decrease operational costs using unification with Tejas fighter project. It is hard to say what the actual Indian reaction was. Possibly they did not like the proposal assuming quite low operational characteristics of their engine.

Gripen is also very exotic for the Indian market. It is quiet cheap and Sweden has offered a wide package of aircraft furnishings including radar with active phased antenna array. It is interesting that this jet's NG version uses the same General Electric F414 engine as American Hornet. It is known that India is considering equipping Tejas with this engine, until Kaveri will be brought to operating status. As against Rafale, the Swedish fighter has come off with flying colours several times this year. In particular it has been sold to the Eastern Europe countries - Czech Republic and Hungaria (to replace MiG-29s) and also to Republic of South Africa and Thailand.

At the same time, the Swedish proposal is connected with a lot of problems. Gripen's prospects as a platform passed into service for about 30 years seem very uncertain as well as prospect of its modernization during this period of time. The jet has good aircraft furnishings, but the modern equipment promised by Sweden is currently being developed while the French equipment is almost ready to be passed into service. Some say that Gripen does not have enough range. The fact that India is not familiar with Swedish vehicles is also against Saab. In addition, specialists say that Stockholm does not have enough political heft and Deli is willing to gain some geopolitical benefits from the military-technical cooperation with foreign countries.

Eurofighter Typhoon - pan-Europen fighter, the result of very long development, but anyway it seems quite competitive. It is a good jet with excellent avionics and its manufacturers have already signed contracts with Austria and Saudi Arabia on delivery of 87 jets. Gulf States, Japan and Greece are also taking interest in Typhoons.

Implementation of offset agreement will likely be organized with maximum craft: the question of Hawk trainers' assembly in India has been considered for a long time in accordance with BAE order, one of fighter's developers. However, this area is having some problems at the moment.

There are also some disadvantages of choosing this fighter. First of all, Typhoon is the tender's most expensive jet. Secondly, the jet is extremely well equipped for striking ground targets but it has problems with radar operating availability. Thirdly, political benefits from cooperation with a lot of isolated companies are not so clear as in case of firm contract with a single manufacturer supported by the power of its national government (like Rafale, MiG or American jets).

Anyway, looks like Eurofighter is shooting ahead in the struggle for place inside Indian air force. "According to the latest information, Typhoon is the main favorite of the tender, - said deputy director of Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Konstantin Makienko. - However, things are changing very fast in India ".

I must admit that "diversification" is the All-father for Indian military. They acquire different equipment and prefer to have a maximum number of different technical solutions in the inventory, thus the platforms of tanks or jets are more like international zoo from time to time. In this respect the acquisition of Eurofighter will fit the Indian policy since it is taking a list to the Russian side.


A jump in the last carriage



After the final lifting of sanctions from India in the area of arms delivery, Russia has seen a dangerous rival. American MIC attracted by a great potential of Indian market will do its best to have the largest part of this pie.

USA offers two jets in the network of MMRCA tender. F-16IN Viper is also known as F-16 block 70. It is the further modification of F-16E block 60 Desert Falcon, delivered to UAE and equipped in accordance with requirements presented for striking multi-role aircraft. F-16 is well-known all over the world and the jet's most modern version equipped for striking ground targets is offered at the tender.

The jet's karma however is spoiled by Lockheed's connections with Pakistan, which have already been using F-16 for some time. Lockheed's positions are also assessed as weak in the area of the Offset agreement implementation.

The second American fighter seems to have greater chances. Boeing has initially offered F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the tender. It is equipped with AN/APG-79 radar having an active phase antenna array, which has sparked interest among Indian military. It has no problems with decking requirements. The agreement on localization of F414 engines production is also a factor in jet's favor. These engines are intended for Tejas. However, this production can be used for the offset agreement implementation in the network of Super Hornet deliveries, if the Indians will choose this jet.

At Aero India 2011 air show, which has taken part in Bangalore in February, Boeing has demonstrated a new modernization package - Silent Hornet. It is reported that the fighter has been equipped with reduced radar signature elements, conforming fuel tanks and internal armament compartment and new avionics.

As we may see, this package will be presented at Indian tender and likely it will be the second favorite on MMRCA. Konstantin Makienko belives that Super Hornet in its "silent" version is the only American offer that makes sense. And it will struggle with Typhoon for the first place. According to the expert's opinion, F-16 has no chances as a platform.


A draw in the extra-time

And what about Russian vehicle? Russian success on the Indian market is traditionally connected with Sukhoi design bureau and it is a strong debut for Mikoyan during post-Soviet era. Of course India has acquired MiG-29Ks before but these contracts are not very significant compared to the deliveries of Su-30 MKI. In addition, funds from such contract will significantly improve the financial situation of MiG.

One of this offer's advantages is an onboard electronics: the jets will be equipped with Zhuk-AE radar with active phased antenna array. There are also good prospects regarding an offset agreement: the production of parts for RD-33 has already been established in India, thus it will be easy to use it for production of parts for RD-33MK engines installed on MiG-35. The fighter also has excellent maneuvering performance. The Indian air forces are familiar with MiG's fighters since they have been operating MiG-29Ks, MiG-27s and Mig-21s. The price is also a positive factor since MiG-35 is the tender's cheapest vehicle.

A great number of our jets acquired by India becomes a disadvantage in this case, especially after the barrier between India and USA has fallen. Deli prefers to operate different jets delivered by different manufacturers rather than use a limited number of models in its fleet.

Absence of MiG-35 at Aero India 2011 has also become a disadvantage and have sparked rumors about MiG fighter dropping out of the tender. According to the sources close to the industry, hardly anybody is still believing in MiG-35's prospects in India.


There's nowhere to step back

This situation reminds us of problems connected with MiG-35s production. The planned acquisition of MiG-35 by Russian air force won't mitigate the Indian misfortune (in fact it will likely complicate things because of production costs. It is unlikely that MiG will get a contract of such scope in the near future. The only way is to offer modernization of the existing jets along with deliveries of the new ones to all the operators of MiG's. I must admit that it is a slow and labor-consuming process.

The fourth-generation platforms' era is coming to its end. Possibly, the Indian tender and Brazilian F-X2 are the last ones for such fighters. The market of fifth-generation foreign systems lies ahead and American F-35 has very good chances there, however, this jet has not been finished yet and it have arisen a lot of questions connected with enormous cost of its development.

An export version for the Russian PAK FA program has also been specified. A framework agreement has been signed with India regarding delivery of 250 heavy fighters in the network of FGFA project. These jets will be manufactured in cooperation between India and Russia on the basis of T-50.

The Americans has already claimed both markets (F-22 and F-35), and Russia has only presented next-generation heavy platform, but with an export potential (we remind that USA do not sell its F-22). A place for next-generation light fighter in Russian air force is still vacant.


MiG's experience in development of light tactical fighters must be used for solving this problem. MiG has all the capabilities to start next-generation light fighter's development and its export platform. In other words, the rival for F-35, which feels lonely without any competitors at the future market of modern multi-role aviation systems. In this case, the failure at Indian tender may by a positive factor since MiG surely has nowhere to step back.

Which fighter would India prefer? - Russian Aviation - RUAVIATION.COM

 

[SpArK]

M-MRCA Selection To Showcase Independence & Professionalism": Indian MOD ​

"If you think extraneous factors are going to guide our decision, then you may be surprised by the result." The words of a senior MoD officer who spoke to select journalists recently about the Indian medium multirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA) competition. As the decade-stretched competition plods toward a decision, tentatively scheduled in the next few months, the near unanimous sense -- from rumours, reports, leaks, hearsay, background briefings -- is that the big European twins, the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon -- are the IAF's two most preferred aircraft, and in that order [It was news station Times NOW's senior editor Srinjoy Chowdhry who first suggested this in a report last year].

The MoD officer quoted above also said, "There is no political pressure. This is such a large deal that it is apt for showcasing the excellent and professional job India has done in making an informed decision which is independent of any factors, including strategic and geopolitical. The air force is the customer, not the Ministry of External Affairs."

The question now is whether there will be a full-fledged down-select -- where two, or three, aircraft will be kept in the game -- or if only the one leading aircraft will be picked out for commercial negotiations and the others asked to have a good flight home. Both possible, say sources. In the first scenario, there is speculation now about the third spot. Different versions suggest that in third place is either the Gripen or the F/A-18.

After a decade of staying studiously below radar, and quietly emerging a supposed frontrunner, the Dassault campaign will be kicking itself for the ugly mess it now finds itself in -- the blacklisting of the company's Indian face for "embarrassing" the air force. Last heard, the French Embassy in Delhi was doing everything it could to get the IAF to reconsider, and allow Dassault's PV Rao to meet them. For what it's worth, the MoD has said the development doesn't in any way affect the M-MRCA selection process, seeing as it has nothing to do with the competition, but let's face it -- what Dassault has in effect done is to seriously piss off the customer in a competition it simply cannot afford to lose.

Taking off from IAF chief PV Naik's fears expressed during Aero India in February that losing vendors could delay the competition with protests and appeals, Defence Minister AK Antony has reminded the M-MRCA team to ensure that the companies are kept briefed about all decisions at every step. Once a final decision is made, the Minister has directed, that an extensive briefing will be held with all vendors, and all questions/queries sorted out in the shortest possible time.

If the Chief of Air Staff had his way, we'd have a decision on a downselect/elimination by April. The month has begun. Don't hold your breath too much.

Livefist: "M-MRCA Selection To Showcase Independence & Professionalism": Indian MOD

 

[luckyyy]

Independence & Professionalism !!

then it will be gripen !!

 

[sudhir007]

New offset rules won’t apply to multi-role fighter contract: MoD

The Defence Ministry has decided that new rules that relax defence offset obligations to include the civil aviation and internal security sectors will not apply to the upcoming $10 billion contract for medium multi-role combat aircraft.

After considering a report of an expert committee constituted to look into the merits of applying the new offset rules to the multi-billion dollar contract that requires the winner to pump back 50 per cent of the contract value into the Indian market, the Defence Ministry has decided that older rules restricting the investment to the defence sector will remain in force.

The committee was set up after representations by the defence industry that argued the Indian market is not mature enough to absorb offsets to the tune of $5 billion that are expected to come in when the winner of the deal is announced.

In fact, all six contenders were asked to hold their offset proposals as the decision was being taken.

In the new Defence Procurement Policy announced earlier this year, the ministry opened the offsets field from the defence sector to include civil aviation and internal security.

As per government estimates, the value of offset contracts is expected to exceed Rs 10,000 crore in the 11th plan.

It is learnt that the defence minster was in favour of strengthening the domestic defence sector and dismissed suggestions that the winning contender also be allowed to invest in the aviation and internal security sectors.

The decision comes as the Defence Ministry is in the final stages of selecting contenders who will go into the next stage of commercial negotiations.

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik had been on record to say the finalists for the deal to supply 126 new fighters to the Air Force would be announced by the end of March.

He said that he was “extremely hopeful” that the contract would be finalised by the time he retired in July.

While there is anticipation that a “down select” will be made shortly, sources say that there is no pressure on the Defence Ministry to take a hasty decision.

In fact, contenders are likely to be asked to extent their commercial offers that are set to expire by the end of April by one more year.

The ministry is, however, certain that it will conclude the contract in the coming financial year.

---------- Post added at 11:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:37 AM ----------

IAF’s mega buy delay to cost $1 bn

For the second time in row, the commercial bid validity of the six contenders for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) will be extended which may cost the government $1 billion more over and above the $10.4 billion for 126 planes.

Industry sources told FE that “the government is planning to seek extension of the validity of the commercial bid expiring on April 30 as none of the vendors have received any indication from the ministry of defence (MoD) about being down listed nor has the price negotiation committee been set up.”

Last year, the ministry had extended the commercial validity of bids on India’s 126-aircraft MMRCAbid by a year to April 28, 2011.

The Air Chief Marshal PV Naik had recently announced that by March end the price negotiation for the mother of all deals will take off.

However, sources revealed that “those who have been shortlisted have to be given enough time to get ready for the talks, with this extension, the negotiations for the Offsets too will get delayed.”

The ministry’s Technical Oversight Committee (ToC) is currently looking at the ‘offset’proposals — a requirement that the winning contractor source a certain amount of the value of each aircraft that India buys from Indian industry — submitted by the contenders for the deal.

Simultaneously, their proposals for transfer of technology, critical for the rapid development of an Indian capability to build advanced fighters, are also being examined. The chosen combat jet will be the mainstay of IAF's fighter aircraft fleet for the next 40 years. The new MMRCA will replace the IAF's existing fleet of MiG variants.

---------- Post added at 11:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 AM ----------

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Arms deal diplomacy

As India’s military establishment sits on the cusp of a potentially game-changing strategic partnership through a $12-billion air force deal, the man who was at the centre of forging defence ties with both Russia and the US, Ronen Sen, today explained what it takes to leverage arms acquisitions for diplomatic gain.

The air force contract for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) is now at a decisive phase, seven years after the efforts for the acquisition began.

Bureaucrats, diplomats and military officers agree that the awarding of the contract would largely shape the contours of Indian strategic policies for some time.

Sen, who was the ambassador to Russia from October 1992 to October 1998 and, later, envoy to the US from August 2004 to March 2009, was in both assignments required to determine the turn military relations would take.

As the ambassador to Russia immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, his political mandate was to restore military ties with Russia as India’s armed forces were dependent on its hardware.

As the ambassador to the US, Sen was not only at the centre of the civilian nuclear deal but also instrumental in drafting the June 2005 New Framework for the India-US Defence Relationship, which guides New Delhi’s military ties with Washington.

“India and the US are just at the beginning of getting used to systemic differences, just like it was with the USSR and with (post-Soviet Union) Russia,” Sen said.

“In this addressing of systemic differences, the US support to our national security concerns and the rapidity of the change has not yet sunk in. I do not think either country can afford to take decades as it did with the Soviet Union,” he explained at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) here. He said that the defence relationship with the US was revived by the Vajpayee government of the NDA.

Sen was speaking on “India’s defence co-operation with its major traditional and new strategic partners”. The major traditional partner was the Soviet Union/Russia and the new strategic partner is the US.

When Sen was ambassador to Russia he was instrumental in the contract for the frontline Sukhoi 30 MKi fighter aircraft that today make up the sharp edge of the air force combat fleet.

The total value of the Sukhois — the IAF will ultimately have 270 of the aircraft — is more than the estimated $12 billion that the MMRCA contract is worth.

In his insider’s view of military-to-military relationships, Sen doubts Russia’s ability to sustain support for the hardware it transfers to India. Relations with Russia have also moved from “friendship prices” to “international prices” but Moscow was not following the globally accepted norms of military trade that involves sustained support with spares and equipment through the lifecycle of the hardware.

And despite the stability of the strategic partnership with the Soviet Union since 1971, there were differences in the relationship that disconcerted India, says Sen. The Russians are competing for the IAF MMRCA contract with the RAC MiG-35 aircraft. The US is backing the bids of Lockheed Martin and Boeing with the F-16IN Super Viper and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

France’s Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, a four-nation European Consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden’s Gripen are in the race too.

Each country is lobbying the Indian government intensely for the order, but probably none as publicly as the US. US Ambassador Timothy Roemer said only last month that the future of India-US strategic relations depended in large measure on the award of the IAF contract to a US firm.

“Defence cooperation and partnership has to be seen in the context of the global geo-strategic architecture plus the promotion of economic interest through balanced trade,” said Sen.

More than the threat perceived from Pakistan, the current emphasis on military modernisation in India is against the backdrop of a rapid upgrade by China’s armed forces, Sen pointed out.

Though there was debate in India on conditionalities the US put on the transfer of military equipment, US controls on arms sales to Pakistan would be more rigid, he said.

Defence minister A.K. Antony has been raising this concern frequently.

“Whenever we get the opportunity we tell them (the US) that they (Pakistan) are using the (US-made) arms for possible use against us,” Antony had said in February.

Sen said that military purchases should be guided with the need “to reduce our dependence and to increase inter-dependence”.

Ultimately, India’s political leadership will have to take a call on its strategic partnerships: if that entails signing pacts like the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) with the US, it will have to be done.

Sen said that there was more to the 123 Agreement with the US than nuclear energy. “It was a key to open a door and once you have opened the door you may find many other doors and windows of opportunity,” he said.

 

[Just Yash]

GOD DAMM IT.............. JUST CHOOSE ONE

 

[conworldus]

GOD DAMM IT.............. JUST CHOOSE ONE

India the window shopper.

 

[Skull and Bones]

 

[SpArK]

All Gripen planes reach Sicily
​

Published: 3 Apr 11 08:56 CET

All eight Swedish JAS Gripen fighters have landed at a base in Siciliy and are now under NATO command. They can be in the airspace over Libya by the middle of next week, reported news agency TT.
The first three JAS Gripen fighters landed Saturday afternoon at Sigonella base in Sicily. “We flew via a base in Hungary and landed there, and then later continued to Sicily,” air force inspector Anders Silwer told TT.

A Gulfstream also flew down to Sigonella with technicians and security personnel.

Five other Gripen fighters arrived Sunday and an additional four Hercules planes are currently on their way to Sicily.

Silwer told TT that it is likely that two Swedish flying officers each will be placed at three combat control centers – in Napels and outside Venice in Italy, and at Izmir in Turkey.

The Swedish Armed Forces are now analyzing which of NATO's mission rules the Swedish pilots will follow. Later the pilots will be educated on the rules before they start to fly in the area.

Nine of the ten pilots who are participating in the operation have chosen to remain anonymous under the mission.

“It's a way for the pilots and their families to have some peace from the media,” Johan Svetoft, Head of the F17 base in Kallinge, told Swedish Radio (Sveriges Radio) in Blekinge.

Criticism has arisen because the JAS Gripen fighters only can attack enemy fighter planes at a time when Qaddafi's air force is likely destroyed.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said that he needed a broad majority in parliament, adding that the Social Democrats set those limits to support the mission.

“Then I had to kind of hold them back within the Moderate and other Alliance parties who also thought that Sweden should take a more offensive role,” he told TT.

Reinfeldt would not air his personal opinions on the question except to say that broad support was most important. He added that a no-fly zone must be monitored and that altercations can occur.

TT/The Local/gs (news@thelocal.se)

 

[SpArK]

Arms deal diplomacy
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Ronen Sen

New Delhi, April 1: As India’s military establishment sits on the cusp of a potentially game-changing strategic partnership through a $12-billion air force deal, the man who was at the centre of forging defence ties with both Russia and the US, Ronen Sen, today explained what it takes to leverage arms acquisitions for diplomatic gain.

The air force contract for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) is now at a decisive phase, seven years after the efforts for the acquisition began.

Bureaucrats, diplomats and military officers agree that the awarding of the contract would largely shape the contours of Indian strategic policies for some time.

Sen, who was the ambassador to Russia from October 1992 to October 1998 and, later, envoy to the US from August 2004 to March 2009, was in both assignments required to determine the turn military relations would take.

As the ambassador to Russia immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, his political mandate was to restore military ties with Russia as India’s armed forces were dependent on its hardware.

As the ambassador to the US, Sen was not only at the centre of the civilian nuclear deal but also instrumental in drafting the June 2005 New Framework for the India-US Defence Relationship, which guides New Delhi’s military ties with Washington.

“India and the US are just at the beginning of getting used to systemic differences, just like it was with the USSR and with (post-Soviet Union) Russia,” Sen said.

“In this addressing of systemic differences, the US support to our national security concerns and the rapidity of the change has not yet sunk in. I do not think either country can afford to take decades as it did with the Soviet Union,” he explained at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) here. He said that the defence relationship with the US was revived by the Vajpayee government of the NDA.

Sen was speaking on “India’s defence co-operation with its major traditional and new strategic partners”. The major traditional partner was the Soviet Union/Russia and the new strategic partner is the US.

When Sen was ambassador to Russia he was instrumental in the contract for the frontline Sukhoi 30 MKi fighter aircraft that today make up the sharp edge of the air force combat fleet.

The total value of the Sukhois — the IAF will ultimately have 270 of the aircraft — is more than the estimated $12 billion that the MMRCA contract is worth.

In his insider’s view of military-to-military relationships, Sen doubts Russia’s ability to sustain support for the hardware it transfers to India. Relations with Russia have also moved from “friendship prices” to “international prices” but Moscow was not following the globally accepted norms of military trade that involves sustained support with spares and equipment through the lifecycle of the hardware.


And despite the stability of the strategic partnership with the Soviet Union since 1971, there were differences in the relationship that disconcerted India, says Sen. The Russians are competing for the IAF MMRCA contract with the RAC MiG-35 aircraft. The US is backing the bids of Lockheed Martin and Boeing with the F-16IN Super Viper and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

France’s Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, a four-nation European Consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden’s Gripen are in the race too.

Each country is lobbying the Indian government intensely for the order, but probably none as publicly as the US. US Ambassador Timothy Roemer said only last month that the future of India-US strategic relations depended in large measure on the award of the IAF contract to a US firm.

“Defence cooperation and partnership has to be seen in the context of the global geo-strategic architecture plus the promotion of economic interest through balanced trade,” said Sen.

More than the threat perceived from Pakistan, the current emphasis on military modernisation in India is against the backdrop of a rapid upgrade by China’s armed forces, Sen pointed out.

Though there was debate in India on conditionalities the US put on the transfer of military equipment, US controls on arms sales to Pakistan would be more rigid, he said.

Defence minister A.K. Antony has been raising this concern frequently.

“Whenever we get the opportunity we tell them (the US) that they (Pakistan) are using the (US-made) arms for possible use against us,” Antony had said in February.

Sen said that military purchases should be guided with the need “to reduce our dependence and to increase inter-dependence”.

Ultimately, India’s political leadership will have to take a call on its strategic partnerships: if that entails signing pacts like the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) with the US, it will have to be done.

Sen said that there was more to the 123 Agreement with the US than nuclear energy. “It was a key to open a door and once you have opened the door you may find many other doors and windows of opportunity,” he said.


The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Arms deal diplomacy




Somebody decipher this.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Does anyone know the nature of the MMRCA field trials by IAF officials? As I was watching a show called "Test Pilots" on Discovery about the development and testing by USN Test Pilots of the SuperHornet and given the extensive testing they put it through a number of questions came up:
1) Does the IAF/IN have anything similar? I sort of know the answer as I watched the Aero India 2001 seminar on testing but I was wondering if the pilots worked for HAL or the IAF/IN as the USN Test Pilots work for their service but with assistance and input from Boeing.
2) Given that such extensive testing was done on this platform (and I assume the other 5 contenders) would the IAF field trails have been as extensive and arduous, or just a demonstration of flying at altitude/desert?
3) was it IAF test pilots/TACDE pilots who conducted the trails or ordinary out of academy fresh pilots?
4) what input do the IAF pilots have on MMRCA? I mean I know reports were fielded but were they technical or practical on a down-to-earth/ pilot's POV perspective (who will actually have to fly them)?
5) a side not and not really linked to ^^^ but would the MMRCA pilots be fresh faced pilots or hardened, experienced pilots form other planes as I relive the majority of SU-30MKI pilots are ex-MiG Bisons?

 

[sancho]

Rafale Libyan campaign photo album

https://picasaweb.google.com/109915371251354495235/RafaleLibyanCampaign?feat=directlink#

 

[bhagat]

Which fighter will the Indians choose?


The competition for the multibillion-dollar contract to supply all-purpose fighter jets to the Indian Air Force is hotting up. America is making some strong moves, Europe is honing its lobbying potential, and Russia, too, is nursing hopes of winning.

India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender to select a replacement for the MiG-21 remains the focus of the aviation experts’ attention. New Delhi might make a final decision as soon as the middle of this year. The country’s Ministry of Defence has set aside more than $9 bn to pay for a total of 126 aircraft. Half of them are reserved for an offset agreement, meaning that the orders must be filled in India by Indian firms. This is a novelty, as New Delhi has never before set the offset threshold above 30%.

Six machines are in the race for a place on the Indian Air Force’s fleet: the American F-16IN Viper (by Lockheed Martin) and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (by Boeing), the Pan-European (essentially British/German) Eurofighter Typhoon, the ill-fated Dassault Rafale from France, the Swedish JAS-39NG Gripen (by SAAB) – a fixture at all recent tenders, and the Russian MiG-35.

So what are their individual ratings before the final push?

Let us start with the simplest. The Rafale traditionally appears an outsider and its outlook is, indeed, not impressive. Its huge technology transfer package does not help either: For example, Paris has promised New Delhi the latest RBE-2AA radar equipped with an active PAA (not yet delivered even to the French Air Force) and has thrown in a promise of complete on-board radar codes for good measure.

The Gripen is just as exotic for the Indian market. Not over expensive, the Swedish offering is rounded off with a nice set of on-board equipment, also including an APAA radar. Unlike the Rafale however, the Swedish fighter has made some headway in recent years, with sales also including Eastern Europe (the Czech Republic and Hungary), South Africa, and Thailand.

That said, the Nordic offering is fraught with a lot of problems. The Griffin’s outlook as a platform for at least 30 years to come is rather uncertain, as are the chances of its comprehensive overhaul over that period. The Indians’ unfamiliarity with Swedish aircraft in general also seriously undermines SAAB’s positions.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, a product of United Europe, looks quite competitive. It is a competent aircraft with excellent avionics whose manufacturers have already secured export contracts from Austria and Saudi Arabia.

Any offset agreement involving the Eurofighter Typhoon is likely, though, to be highly convoluted: assembly in India of the Hawk training plane under licence from BAE, one of the fighter jet’s developers, has long been under discussion. But this whole area appears rather problematic at the moment.

Nor is the Eurofighter Typhoon without its flaws, being the most expensive bid at the tender. In addition, the benefits of political cooperation with a disparate conglomerate of firms, a serious proportion of which (such as BAE) have totally obscure trans-Atlantic connections, are not as evident as those of definitive contracts with a single manufacturer/integrator with the weight of a national government thrown behind it (as with the Rafale, the MiG, or the American jets.)

The United States has presented two fighter jet models at the MMRCA. The F-16IN Viper, also known as the F-16 block 70, is a further modification of the F-16E block 60 Desert Falcon, equipped to meet the standards expected of an all-purpose assault aircraft. The F-16 has long been well known around the world and its arguably most advanced version, specially equipped to strike against ground targets, is now offered for sale.

The Lockheed machine’s karma is tainted, though, by its manufacturer’s long-standing ties to Pakistan, which makes quite wide use of the F-16. Lockheed’s positions are also considered weak in terms of possible ways to meet the offset manufacturing requirements.


The second American fighter apparently stands a much better chance. Initially, Boeing offered its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the tender. This is equipped with the serially-produced APAA-based AN/APG-79 radar, which aroused a lot of interest on the part of the Indian military. It also easily meets the carrier-basing requirements. The Super Hornet also has the advantage of an agreement, signed late last year, for localising the manufacture of the F414 engines. Those engines are, of course, intended for installation on the Tejas but this arrangement could also be used to meet the offset requirement for Super Hornet supplies. At the Aero India 2011 show, held last February in Bangalore, Boeing showcased its new upgrade package, the so-called Silent Hornet. The fighter has reportedly been outfitted with elements of reduced radar visibility, conformal fuel tanks, an internal weapons compartment, and new on-board radio and electronic equipment.

Russia’s successful track record on India’s aircraft market has been traditionally linked with Sukhoi jets; for Mikoyan, the MMRCA represents a vigorous post-Soviet debut of sorts. Obviously, India has bought the carrier-based MiG-29K as well, but the volumes of Su-30MKI supplies dwarf those deals hands down. On-board electronic equipment is a strength of Mikoyan’s offering: the aircraft will be supplied with the pre-installed Zhuk-AE APAA-equipped on-board radar. The offset prospects also look good: India has already localised manufacture of the third-generation RD-33 engines for these same MiG-29Ks, which is now easy to retool or expand to accommodate the MiG-35’s RD-33MK. The fighter’s manoeuvrability is also assessed as excellent. The Russian proposal has the value advantage as well, with the MiG-35 being among the cheapest aircraft competing in the tender.

Which fighter will the Indians choose? | Russia & India Report

 

[SpArK]

^^^^

Already posted in the last page.

 

[bhagat]

^^^^oops...sorry

 

[luckyyy]

New Delhi: The Eurofighter Typhoon in combat for the first time over Libya. And the Indian Air Force is watching with deep interest. The aircraft is one of six competing for the MMRCA tender. And recent reports give the Eurofighter and the French Rafale the edge in the competition.
Air Marshal PK Barbora, Ex Vice Chief of Air Staff said, "The Air Force is not looking at price. That's not our area of concern. What we want is QRs are focussed on technical aspects, latest technology. Lot is available in the market and there is potential for future growth."
The EuroFighter and the Rafale are relatively new aircraft and in that sense, state of art. The Eurofighter entering service with six air forces in the last few years. And the Rafale in service with the French Air Force.
Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director, Centre for Air Power Studies said, "We've bought a huge amount of arms from the US already. In comparision, the last few years, hardly anything from Europe. Therefore, you could make an adjustment and spread your eggs in different baskets."
Subtle weaknesses could rule out some of the contenders. Boeing's F18 is huge and the IAF isn't keen on planes that heavy. Sweden's Gripen is deadly but India's Light Combat Aircraft could be improved to match it. Lockheed Martin's F-16 is also flown by Pakistan.
But, India urgently needs more fighters. The new planes will take ten years to come, even after the deal is signed. An offer for second hand planes, over and above the new ones being negotiated, could sweeten the deal.
The crucial element now, is political capital. How India can leverage the world's biggest fighter aircraft tender for larger gains.

IAF vies for $ 10 bn combat aircraft deal - India News - IBNLive