IAF plans for 100 combat missiles for Jaguar

[ironman]

India Wants Air-to-Air Missiles for Its Jaguars - Defense News

India Wants Air-to-Air Missiles for Its Jaguars

NEW DELHI - India is on a global hunt for air-to-air close-combat missiles along with helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) for the Air Force's British-made Jaguar ground-attack aircraft. Bids for the procurement, valued at more than $100 million, have been sent to MBDA of France, Rafael of Israel, Diehl Defense of Germany, Raytheon of the U.S. and Rosoboronexport of Russia.

The Air Force also is improving its Jaguars through the incorporation of stealth technology, an engine with higher thrust and advanced avionics. The Air Force wants to raise the combat capability of its Jaguar aircraft to be comparable with the Russian-made Su-30MKI multi-role aircraft in its fleet.

Precision-guided bombs and anti-ship missiles will be acquired later, an Air Force official said.

As part of the upgrade, Thales is supplying autopilot systems for the Jaguar, and Rafael is supplying laser designator pods.

The Jaguars also will be equipped with Magic-2 and R-77 missiles. Communications and radio navigation systems are being built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), and the mission computer is being provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

HAL and DRDO also have teamed up to develop software for the upgrades. Elta Electronics Industries of Israel is supplying other radar equipment, including electronic countermeasures.

In the current bid, the Indian Air Force has a requirement for 384 fire-and-forget missiles, 130 HMDs and 226 launchers.

The Air Force requires that the missiles be able to scan the target area for hostile aircraft and then lock on after launch. The missile also should be capable of firing backwards, employ thrust vector technology and have an infrared imaging system.
The missile must have a range of more than 10 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 4.

 

[sancho]

Ram coating, nothing else and again imo only waste of money!

 

[ironman]

Yep.. with approximate 100 million dollars we get 100plus new engine+new radar+modern avionic+all missile capable CRAP. isn't it?

 

[sancho]

Yep.. with approximate 100 million dollars we get 100plus new engine+new radar+modern avionic+all missile capable CRAP. isn't it?

Yes, because of the simple fact that all these upg won't make that aircraft better than Su 30 MKI, MMRCA, or even LCA MK2 in any role. They are not needed for air defense, they will be not useful for maritime patrole and even for deep strikes any MMRCA and MKI will be way better.

 

[ironman]

Battle Royale
An upgraded Jaguar in the horizon​

This promises to be the mother of all combat aircraft-specific upgrades: upto 120 existing SEPECAT/HAL-built Jaguar IS interdictor/strike aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be re-engined as well as re-equipped with a fourth-generation combined cockpit/mission avionics suite along with a related defensive aids suite, all of which will result in the twin-engined Jaguar IS being reborn as a formidable all-weather platform with enhanced technical service life, enhanced weapons carriage capability (especially precision-guided munitions, or PGM), and also a platform capable of undertaking dedicated suppression of enemy air defence (SEADF) missions.

Last month, the IAF set up a high-level systems evaluation committee whose first task will be to identify a suitable turbofan for the re-engining component of the massive upgrade-cum-service life extension programme. The engine evaluation-cum-selection process will be overseen by K.V. L. Rao, the former Project Director (propulsion systems) of the Defence Research & Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is leading the R&D efforts of the Tejas Mk1 and projected Mk2 light combat aircraft (LCA). Bidding for supplying up to 280 turbofans (including 40 spare engines) are UK-based Rolls-Royce and US-based Honeywell, with the competitive evaluation process being expected to reach its conclusion by next month. Honeywell is offering its F125IN, a 43.8kN thrust (with afterburning) turbofan, while Rolls-Royce, whose Adour Mk811 (rated at 32.5kN thrust with afterburning) presently powers the Jaguars, has proposed its Adour Mk821 turbofan. Honeywell, which first showcased the F125IN at the Aero India 2009 expo in Bangalore last February, claims that its proposed solution boasts ‘improved pilot safety, lower maintenance costs and outstanding reliability’. Honeywell has also since stated that the F125IN’s modular construction and integral dual full-authority digital engine control system (FADEC) would save the IAF one and half billion dollars in life-cycle costs as compared to its competitor. Rolls-Royce, on the other hand, claims that its Mk821, which is built on the proven technology of the preceeding Adour engines, ‘offers a low-risk route to the twin benefits of greater thrust and lower life-cycle costs’.

According to the aero-engine manufacturer, choosing the Mk821 will also offer a high degree of commonality with the Adour Mk871 turbofan that currently powers the BAE Systems/HAL Hawk Mk132 lead-in fighter trainers now in delivery to the IAF. Rolls-Royce recently demonstrated the successful installation and ground-testing of an Adour Mk821 engine in an ex-Royal Air Force Jaguar at Cosford, which was witnessed by IAF officials. During these tests the Adour Mk821 ran at full reheat and reportedly passed all performance targets set down by the IAF. The tests were conducted by Rolls-Royce’s Chief Test Pilot Phill O’Dell, who said: “As a former RAF Jaguar pilot myself I was impressed with the performance and functionality that the Mk821 delivered. This had no adverse affect on the aircraft, highlighting the ease of the integration process and the compatibility of the engine with the airframe. This is no real surprise as they were literally made for each other.” Martin Fausset, managing director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “As the only engine certified for the Jaguar we were always confident that the Adour Mk821 could be successfully installed without any aircraft modification, even with the new technologies and enhanced performance, but this exercise has allowed us to demonstrate this high level of compatibility to the IAF. We believe that we have proved that the Adour Mk821 meets all IAF performance requirements at the lowest risk.” The Mk821, according to Rolls-Royce, includes several technology inserts from other civil and military programmes and has been specifically designed for the IAF’s operational requirements, offering the twin benefits of greater thrust and lower life-cycle costs.