India's Proposed Naval Fighter Jet Procurement Could Be Worth US$12 Billion

[TooRave]

The Indian Navy’s January 17 RFI for the procurement of 57 naval fighters could be worth US$12 billion for the selected foreign supplier.

India needs the fighter jets for its second aircraft carrier being locally built at the Cochin shipyard. The carrier along with the existing INS Vikramaditya which houses only MiG-29 K fighters are expected to be the bulwark of the Indian Navy’s force projection.

The price of the contract has been estimated on the cost of each carrier borne jet at around US$200 million each if it were a western fighter or under US$100 million if it were to be a Russian jet.

The likely contenders for the contract can be Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a naval version of the Dassault Rafale, Russian Su-33 that were used in the recent Syrian operations and another Russian-carrier based fighter, the MiG-29K Fulcrum fighter jet. India operates a total of sixteen MiG-29Ks from the carrier INS Vikramaditya and the navy is expected to take deliveries of all 45 MiG-29K fighters, which began in late 2009, this year.

Saab has earlier offered its Sea Gripen, the naval version of Gripen NG to India. The Sea Gripen is intended for both CATOBAR and STOBAR aircraft carriers. Sea Gripen is the only aircraft that fits with the intended RFI’s terms for aircraft which can operate in both CATOBAR and STOBAR take-off and landing systems.

The selection of the aircraft will depend on what launch system will be used aboard the new carries currently under construction.
It is still not clear if the procurement will have a ‘make-in-India’ component or it will be a fully foreign import like the MiG-29K or the recently purchased Dassault Rafale for the Indian Air Force.

The INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, are both fitted with so-called ski-jump assisted Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) launch systems for launching aircraft, whereas the second carrier of the new Vikrant-class, the INS Vishal, will likely use a catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft launch system, incorporating the new electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) technology.

In November 2016, Indian Navy revealed INS Vishal planned to be launched by 2030 and not carry MiG-29Ks but a new generation of probably CATOBAR aircraft. This will open up opportunities for competitors, in particular France and the United States, to push their naval combat aircraft, or even other Russian aircraft.

According to the RFI, ‘the aircraft, single- or twin-seat (or available as both), should be able to perform Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) or Catapult Take-off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) operations or both’.

Russian Sukhoi Su-33 single-seat ship-based STOBAR fighter can easily take-off at max load of 32000kg from 110m. The aircraft was used in Syrian operations. Only the Russian MiG-29K and Su-33 are STOBAR configured.

The French Naval Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier with active CATOBAR uses Rafale M fighter jets.

Last April, the US agreed to share catapult technology with India on the new launching and landing systems being installed on the latest US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R.Ford.

India wants to move to a flat-deck design for its aircraft carriers, former US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had said that the US is "more than willing" to share its catapult technology for launching fighter jets off carriers.
http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18...ent_Could_Be_Worth_US_12_Billion#.WJBFwxl97IU

 

[Gregor Clegane]

But Sea Gripen NG.Much cheaper.

 

[HRK]

RFI for the procurement of 57 naval fighters could be worth US$12 billion for the selected foreign supplier.

Welcome Rafale-M ..... price seems the indicator for this (~$210+ million) ....

 

[punit]

rafalem is not an option as we don't have a carrier that can operate rafale (CATOBAR) only platform available on the list mig29 k

building an indigenous twin engined fighter is very important, with out it our naval capability will be retarded

tejas is not an option for carrier operations since it has very limited payload capacity and range ie it will not be able to carry anti ship weapons, that means its operation will be restricted to fleet air defense. Adding tejas on board will reduce the number of mig29k
what we really need is multi-role twin engined fighter with good fig on availability

Rafale-M is STOBAR compatible.

 

[Sloth 22]

But Sea Gripen NG.Much cheaper.

Its still on paper!

Welcome Rafale-M ..... price seems the indicator for this (~$210+ million) ....

Yes , most likely.

rafalem is not an option as we don't have a carrier that can operate rafale (CATOBAR) only platform available on the list mig29 k

building an indigenous twin engined fighter is very important, with out it our naval capability will be retarded

tejas is not an option for carrier operations since it has very limited payload capacity and range ie it will not be able to carry anti ship weapons, that means its operation will be restricted to fleet air defense. Adding tejas on board will reduce the number of mig29k
what we really need is multi-role twin engined fighter with good fig on availability

Rafale M is STOBAR capable too.

 

[HRK]

rafalem is not an option as we don't have a carrier that can operate rafale (CATOBAR) only platform available on the list mig29 k

Mig-29k in that price noo...

The price of the contract has been estimated on the cost of each carrier borne jet at around US$200 million each if it were a western fighter or under US$100 million if it were to be a Russian jet.

The likely contenders for the contract can be Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a naval version of the Dassault Rafale, Russian Su-33 that were used in the recent Syrian operations and another Russian-carrier based fighter, the MiG-29K Fulcrum fighter jet.

for me only two possible contenders F/A-18 or Rafale ...

 

[truthseeker2010]

Mig-29k in that price noo...


for me only two possible contenders F/A-18 or Rafale ...

F/A-18 since they already operate Rafale with IAF, and IMO diversifying platforms rather than inter-operatability will weigh in, and also the modi trump relationship..........

 

[HRK]

F/A-18 since they already operate Rafale with IAF, and IMO diversifying platforms rather than inter-operatability will weigh in

politically speaking yes F-18 have more chances this time ....IF THE INDIAN NAVY HAS TO TAKE-UP BIGGER ROLE IN IOR & 'BEYOND'

 

[truthseeker2010]

politically speaking yes F-18 have more chances this time ....IF THE INDIAN NAVY HAS TO TAKE-UP BIGGER ROLE IN IOR & 'BEYOND'

that is highly unlikely, although they will try their best to get some attention and portray as being a major player on the high seas...... but beyond malacca straits i don't see IN since they are highly contested waters for PLAN and USN, and they are and will remain in the league of their own..... plus thats china's backyard and it will have zero tolerance there for others.
IN will remain in IOR for the foreseeable future, since it enjoys a superiority as well as proximity to home as well....
This procurement will be for IAC, and since USN will have to collaborate on this with IN so that too increases the likelihood of hornet.

 

[JOEY TRIBIANI]

Lolz another 20 year's drama .

 

[Alphacharlie]

Rafale will come, Frenchies have played their cards well.

Collaborations in process with Reliance with Dassault.

F18 is Out dated as per Indian Navy....

Navy has clearly represented 10 FSQ need by 2025 Vision

Aab --Tera Kya Hoga Kaliya !!

 

[TooRave]

Lolz another 20 year's drama .

 

[Sloth 22]

F/A-18 since they already operate Rafale with IAF, and IMO diversifying platforms rather than inter-operatability will weigh in, and also the modi trump relationship..........

politically speaking yes F-18 have more chances this time ....IF THE INDIAN NAVY HAS TO TAKE-UP BIGGER ROLE IN IOR & 'BEYOND'

The aircraft and 3 squadrons being discussed here are for a STOBAR AC.

F18SH needs a Catapult.

but it is too costly, and our carriers can carry only 18 combat jets at a time ,we need a twin engined fighter with 70+ operational availability mig 29k operational availabilty is also very low, but it has buddy refueling capability which rafale lack

Mig29K is good for its price , but its not the best.

To utilise INS VIKRANTS potential sortie rate and endurance to the fullest something else is required.

And no, Rafale isn't costly for what it offers.

India is paying 95 million USD for 1 airframe. That is not costly by any measure.

 

[Louiq XIV]

mig 29k operational availabilty is also very low, but it has buddy refueling capability which rafale lack

oopss try again

 

[Tshering22]

If only the Russians had not stopped the Su-33 production lines. We could have always asked them to make an MKI variant of the Su-33.

It would have saved us so much trouble.