Make In India - Fighter Jet musings - News, Developments, Updates - F16,F18, Gripen, Any other

[StraightShooter]

Donald Trump administration backs sale of F-16, F-18 jets to India
The Donald Trump administration has told Congress that it "strongly supports" the sale of F-18 and F-16 fighter jets to India and asserted that the proposals have the potential to take Indo-US defence ties to the next level.

PTI| Last Updated: Thursday, September 7, 2017 - 15:06

Washington: The Donald Trump administration has told Congress that it "strongly supports" the sale of F-18 and F-16 fighter jets to India and asserted that the proposals have the potential to take Indo-US defence ties to the next level.

Alice Wells, acting assistant secretary of state for the South and Central Asian Affairs, told a Congressional Subcommittee in a written submission that defence cooperation with India would be an important pillar in the bilateral relationship as it needs the country to be a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.

In this context, the Trump administration has informed the Congress that it "strongly supports" the sale of F-18 and F-16 fighter proposals put forward by Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively.

These proposals have the potential to take India US defence relationship to the next level, the official said.

"The reason why defence cooperation with India is so vital to US interests is because we need India to be a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific," Wells said.

She highlighted that the region serves as the fulcrum of global trade and commerce, with nearly half of the world's 90,000 commercial vessels, many sailing under the US flag, and two-thirds of traded oil travelling through the region.

Wells is also scheduled to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on "Maintaining US Influence in South Asia: The FY 2018 Budget".

She said in her submission that the Indo-Asia Pacific region is also home to nearly half of the planet's population and some of the fastest growing economies on earth.

"Working with like-minded partners, India has the strategic and economic potential to uphold the international order that has served so much of humanity over the past seven decades. The investments we make in our security partnership now will pay dividends for decades to come," she said.

As fellow democracies, countering terrorism is the critical priority for both India and the United States, she asserted.

"India is situated in a dangerous neighbourhood, where terrorist attacks have killed both Indians and Americans alike. Joint training and capacity building are essential to expanding our counter terrorism cooperation," she said, citing the State Department Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) programme in which more than 1,100 Indian security personnel have received training from the US since 2009.

Wells said India is among America's most important strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
"In the words of President Trump, the relationship between India and the United States has never been stronger, has never been better," she said in the testimony.

"The President's first meeting with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi in June set a positive tone and ambitious agenda for strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of defence, energy and trade," she added.

Talking about the trade between the US and India in her written submission, Wells said the economic relationship has largely been on a positive trajectory and America needs to do more to balance the trade deficit between the two countries, which totalled nearly USD 30 billion last year.

"We are working closely with USTR and the Commerce Department to address the concerns of the US business community regarding India, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, subsidies, localisation policies, restrictions on investment, and intellectual property concerns that limit market access and impede US exporters and businesses from entering the Indian market," Wells said.

"Our bilateral trade has more than doubled in the last decade from USD 45 billion in 2006 to more than USD 114 billion in 2016. US exports to India support more than 260,000 American jobs across all 50 states," she said.

Last year alone, investment from Indian companies supported more than 52,000 jobs in the US, she added.

She said the Trump administration is committed to ensure that the trade relationship with India is fair and reciprocal, and continue to press India to further open its markets and create a level-playing field for US companies.

http://zeenews.india.com/india/dona...-sale-of-f-16-f-18-jets-to-india-2040302.html

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Boeing flags inexperience of private sector 'strategic partners'

In New Delhi on Thursday, the world’s largest aerospace corporation, The Boeing Company, openly expressed what many global arms vendors have complained about in private: The Indian private sector is not yet capable of manufacturing complex military aircraft under transfer of technology (ToT).

Pratyush Kumar, Boeing’s India chief, proposed that highly experience defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) – like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) – be coopted, since that is where aerospace expertise and experience lies in India.

Speaking “from the vantage point of a company that has been in the aerospace industry for 100 years, across the world,” Kumar in effect proposed a major reorientation of the defence ministry’s new Strategic Partner (SP) policy.

The policy aims at creating capable defence manufacturers in the private sector, to compete with the DPSUs and Ordnance Factories (OFs) that have historically dominated defence manufacture in India. The policy requires private firms chosen as SPs to enter technology partnerships with nominated global “original equipment manufacturers” (OEMs), and jointly bid for contracts to build aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armoured vehicles for the military.

But Kumar, speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies, the air force’s think tank, pointed out that successful examples of ToT-based manufacture involved “co-opting of public enterprise and private enterprise in a way that leveraged the investment made in the public enterprise for multiple decades”.

The Boeing chief said he “tried hard, and could not find a single example [of successfully building an aircraft under ToT] where it was just the brand new private enterprise with limited aerospace experience. Look at Turkey, look at Japan, look at Brazil — look at multiple countries. In all cases, there is a fine balancing act of co-opting the capabilities of both public and private enterprise.”



Other foreign companies are less forthright than Boeing. With two multi-billion dollar aircraft acquisitions already launched via the SP route — for single-engine fighter aircraft and helicopters — foreign OEMs have begun partnering Indian private firms. Lockheed Martin has partnered Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Saab has partnered the Adani Group, anticipating a tender for the single-engine fighter.

This although TASL has never assembled an aircraft, while the Adanis have never built a single aerospace component. Foreign OEMs resent having to partner novices, but comply quietly so as not to rock the boat, said a foreign executive based in India.

Boeing is more forthright, bolstered by the confidence of being the most successful arms vendor in India over the last decade. Since 2009, Boeing has sold India aircraft worth $12 billion. These include eight P-8I maritime aircraft in 2009, and then four in a follow-up order; ten C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft in 2011; and 15 Chinook CH-47F and 22 Apache AH-64E helicopters in 2015.

While these were all sales of ready-built aircraft, Boeing is perhaps anticipating having to “Make in India” with an SP in another forthcoming contract — the navy’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of 57 ship-borne fighters for its aircraft carriers. In that acquisition, for which a tender is awaited, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would possibly compete with Dassault’s Rafale-Marine; Saab’s Sea Gripen and an upgraded version of the Russian MiG-29K/KUB.

Aspiring Indian SPs, like TASL, admit that their role in an SP contract would remain “build to print”, i.e. manufacturing sub-assemblies and assemblies to blueprints provided by the OEM. Yet, it would provide a lucrative growth opportunity.

“The need of the hour is for the ministry of defence to go forward with the two very large aerospace orders [for] single engine fighter and helicopters. Frankly, in my mind, there is nothing else to it,” said TASL chief, Sukaran Singh, at the same seminar.

In contrast, HAL chief T Suvarna Raju talked up his engineers’ design skills and experience. Pointing to the range of helicopters HAL has designed ground-up – the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, Rudra armed helicopter, and the eponymous Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter – he declared: “Each component of our helicopters demonstrates the skill sets of HAL designers, of their capabilities and innovation efforts. Look at the carbon composite blades and the transmission system, composite body structure, glass cockpit and many more…” The air force, however, continues to back the SP policy. “The only way to sustain the momentum in the aerospace manufacturing space is to start manufacturing here and strategic partnership model is a step in the direction,” said Air Marshal Shirish Deo, the air force’s vice-chief. The SP policy has been in the making since 2014-15. It remains contested and a work in progress.




First Published: Fri, September 08 2017. 01:49 IST

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...sector-strategic-partners-117090800051_1.html

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Boeing flags inexperience of private sector 'strategic partners'

In New Delhi on Thursday, the world’s largest aerospace corporation, The Boeing Company, openly expressed what many global arms vendors have complained about in private: The Indian private sector is not yet capable of manufacturing complex military aircraft under transfer of technology (ToT).

Pratyush Kumar, Boeing’s India chief, proposed that highly experience defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) – like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) – be coopted, since that is where aerospace expertise and experience lies in India.

Speaking “from the vantage point of a company that has been in the aerospace industry for 100 years, across the world,” Kumar in effect proposed a major reorientation of the defence ministry’s new Strategic Partner (SP) policy.

The policy aims at creating capable defence manufacturers in the private sector, to compete with the DPSUs and Ordnance Factories (OFs) that have historically dominated defence manufacture in India. The policy requires private firms chosen as SPs to enter technology partnerships with nominated global “original equipment manufacturers” (OEMs), and jointly bid for contracts to build aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armoured vehicles for the military.

But Kumar, speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies, the air force’s think tank, pointed out that successful examples of ToT-based manufacture involved “co-opting of public enterprise and private enterprise in a way that leveraged the investment made in the public enterprise for multiple decades”.

The Boeing chief said he “tried hard, and could not find a single example [of successfully building an aircraft under ToT] where it was just the brand new private enterprise with limited aerospace experience. Look at Turkey, look at Japan, look at Brazil — look at multiple countries. In all cases, there is a fine balancing act of co-opting the capabilities of both public and private enterprise.”



Other foreign companies are less forthright than Boeing. With two multi-billion dollar aircraft acquisitions already launched via the SP route — for single-engine fighter aircraft and helicopters — foreign OEMs have begun partnering Indian private firms. Lockheed Martin has partnered Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Saab has partnered the Adani Group, anticipating a tender for the single-engine fighter.

This although TASL has never assembled an aircraft, while the Adanis have never built a single aerospace component. Foreign OEMs resent having to partner novices, but comply quietly so as not to rock the boat, said a foreign executive based in India.

Boeing is more forthright, bolstered by the confidence of being the most successful arms vendor in India over the last decade. Since 2009, Boeing has sold India aircraft worth $12 billion. These include eight P-8I maritime aircraft in 2009, and then four in a follow-up order; ten C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft in 2011; and 15 Chinook CH-47F and 22 Apache AH-64E helicopters in 2015.

While these were all sales of ready-built aircraft, Boeing is perhaps anticipating having to “Make in India” with an SP in another forthcoming contract — the navy’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of 57 ship-borne fighters for its aircraft carriers. In that acquisition, for which a tender is awaited, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would possibly compete with Dassault’s Rafale-Marine; Saab’s Sea Gripen and an upgraded version of the Russian MiG-29K/KUB.

Aspiring Indian SPs, like TASL, admit that their role in an SP contract would remain “build to print”, i.e. manufacturing sub-assemblies and assemblies to blueprints provided by the OEM. Yet, it would provide a lucrative growth opportunity.

“The need of the hour is for the ministry of defence to go forward with the two very large aerospace orders [for] single engine fighter and helicopters. Frankly, in my mind, there is nothing else to it,” said TASL chief, Sukaran Singh, at the same seminar.

In contrast, HAL chief T Suvarna Raju talked up his engineers’ design skills and experience. Pointing to the range of helicopters HAL has designed ground-up – the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, Rudra armed helicopter, and the eponymous Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter – he declared: “Each component of our helicopters demonstrates the skill sets of HAL designers, of their capabilities and innovation efforts. Look at the carbon composite blades and the transmission system, composite body structure, glass cockpit and many more…” The air force, however, continues to back the SP policy. “The only way to sustain the momentum in the aerospace manufacturing space is to start manufacturing here and strategic partnership model is a step in the direction,” said Air Marshal Shirish Deo, the air force’s vice-chief. The SP policy has been in the making since 2014-15. It remains contested and a work in progress.




First Published: Fri, September 08 2017. 01:49 IST

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...sector-strategic-partners-117090800051_1.html

They wont be inexperienced soon. HAL was also, "inexperienced", when it started to assemble it's aeroplanes.

We're seeing eager private sector companies raise plants for small arms, ammunition, armoured vehicles, artillery systems, soon aero plants for helicopters, cargo planes, jet fighters. It's a good start, with the, "help", of outside OEM, they are, "helping", India produce it's MIC. The concept of the government companies can only do this or that is coming to an end. You'll see who is inexperienced in 15+ years out of TATAs, Adanis, Reliance, etc. and HAL.

 

[Hindustani78]

Madhumathi D.S.
BENGALURU , September 09, 2017 00:59 IST
Updated: September 09, 2017 00:59 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-trials-of-improved-saras/article19647155.ece


The 14-seater light plane was grounded after 2009 mishap

Saras, one of the first attempts at making small, short-haul planes in the country, is rolling on its wheels after eight years, warming up before it tests its wings again.

A modified prototype of the 14-seater transport aircraft started making low-speed taxi trials in early August. Air Force pilots have completed five runs of around 45 minutes each and will next move on to high-speed taxi tests, according to Jitendra Jadhav, Director, National Aerospace Laboratories, under the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

Dr. Jadhav said, “We plan to fly the aircraft in the first week of October after the high speed taxi trials are completed. We made more than 10 modifications since the accident. The performance of the plane’s systems after the modification will be evaluated during the flights.”

About 25 flights are planned in the first set of the modified prototype, the PT1N, he recently told The Hindu. By the end of 2019, NAL plans to fly a production-standard version for air-worthiness certification.

Except for minimum maintenance engine runs, the 14-seater aircraft has not taxied or flown since one aircraft version crashed near Bengaluru in 2009 killing all three crew members. In February this year, the Minister of Science & Technology — in whose purview NAL and other CSIR labs fall — said the government was intent on completing the plane’s development and making it flight worthy.

The revival activities started with five ground-runs of its two Pratt & Whitney engines followed by the taxi trials. A few more LSTTs [low speed taxi trials] are due.

The 10-odd modifications were made to make it more pilot-friendly, agile, or easy to control; and to enable it to fly higher. The final Saras is planned to be able to cover 1,600 km at a maximum speed of 425 kmph, have a service ceiling of 9-10 km and fly continuously for five hours.

Dr. Jadhav outlined the roadmap: "After the trial flights, the design configuration of Saras is targeted to be frozen by March 2018 as production standard. By then we should have reduced the weight and drag issues. We would have made improvements in avionics, glass cockpit, environment control systems, cabin pressure control systems and a few changes in flight control systems. We then go in for funding [from the government] for two limited series production vehicles and a static specimen.

"The current plan is that we start flying the LSPs by December 2019 for final certification," he said.

When ready, Saras, initiated in 1999 as a civil light transport plane, will first get certified for military use. The Indian Air Force has indicated a need for 15 of them. A civil variant is to follow.

Full-scale production is scheduled to be taken up in 2020 at the Kanpur facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd - where HAL produces its Dornier-228 transport aircraft.

The project has used up around ₹ 500 crore. Dr. Jadhav said, "We need around ₹ 550-660 crore to produce two LSP versions. We will move the necessary papers after the first flight."

 

[Hindustani78]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

BENGALURU: HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju the company's order book of Rs 41,000 crore is very low for an aeronautical industry and hoped to book fresh orders soon.

"We do have an order book today of Rs 41,000 crore, which is very very low for an aeronautical industry," Raju said.

He said "We have to only produce about 35 Sukhoi-30 aeroplanes, that's in the next three years and then there is nothing else left for us unless we start booking orders." Stating that HAL is eagerly looking for 83 LCAs which has been cleared, Rajus said "otherwise there is no fixed wing aircraft production in the next five years to come."

However, the basic trainer aircraft HTT-40 would start the stalling and spinning tests in the next 45 days and HAL would take a production decision by the beginning of next year, he said, adding that servicing contributes to about 20 per cent of HAL's turnover while the manufacturing line is depleting.


Raju was speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre memorial Lecture organised by Air Force Association, Karnataka, in association with HAL and Aeronautical Society of India.

The lecture was delivered by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa.

Pointing out that HAL's two visionary projects Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) were conceptualized during Air Chief Marshal Katre's time, Raju said "today we are proud to state that LCA production line has started delivering the aircraft."


He said "45 Squadron has five aircraft and by the end of this year it will have 11. HAL is investing Rs 1,200 crore to enhance capacity of LCA production from eight per year to 16." "In addition we have adopted a concept of contracting higher modules of the aircraft to the Indian Industry. If the industry starts delivering these modules like front fuselage, center fuselage and rear fuselage, it adds to the capacity of HAL of 16 aeroplanes per year, plus 8 so that we could deliver 24 LCA aircraft per year to the Indian Air Force," he added.

Raju also said HAL is parallely working on other variants along with Aeronautical Development Agency and particular developments that are required by the customer- ease of maintenance modifications- refuelling probe and AESA radars.

"We are working on it... in the next 18 to 24 months we will be able to demonstrate to our customer on LCA and the product would be delivered in numbers," he added.

Noting that on the upgrades part Jaguar DARIN-III was close to its Final Operational Clearance (FOC), Raju said "may be this month we should be concluding that." HAL would also get AESA radars for the Jaguar fleet, which is being modified under DARIN-III, he said.

On the Dornier 228 civilian aircraft, Raju said it had just flown last month and HAL would be ready give this either on a purchase or a dry lease from December onwards.

"We are having discussions with various operators for regional connectivity," he said.

 

[Taygibay]

defence.pk/pdf/threads/make-in-india-fighter-jet-musings-news-developments-updates-

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-trials-of-improved-saras/article19647155.ece


The 14-seater light plane was grounded after 2009 mishap

Saras, one of the first attempts at making small, short-haul planes in the country, is rolling on its wheels after eight years, warming up before it tests its wings again. ... ETC

Turboprop service aircraft.

Glaring discrepancy wouldn't you say?
This post seems misplaced here; you
might want to look for or open a thread
about all Bharat indigenous projects.

But do keep up the good info work.

Have a great day, Tay.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

defence.pk/pdf/threads/make-in-india-fighter-jet-musings-news-developments-updates-



Turboprop service aircraft.

Glaring discrepancy wouldn't you say?
This post seems misplaced here; you
might want to look for or open a thread
about all Bharat indigenous projects.

But do keep up the good info work.

Have a great day, Tay.

@Hindustani78 opens all kinds of threads and quickly derails them himself with all kind of rubbish.
Noone else seems to be interested in his threads, but he keeps them alive by regular
postings of non related items.
Have no clue why.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/gripen-or-f-16-its-a-dogfight/article19653621.ece
Gripen or F-16? It’s a dogfight

While the Tatas have tied up with Lockheed, SAAB is aligning with the Adani group

After several dramatic twists and turns, as the Air Force looks at procuring a new single engine fighter, the Adani group is emerging as the dark horse that could end up manufacturing a large number of India’s future fighters.

The IAF is now working on issuing Request for Information (RFI) to the two single-engine fighter manufacturers available in the global market — Lockheed Martin for its F-16 and SAAB for its Gripen. While the Tata group has tied up with Lockheed Martin for possible manufacture of F-16s in India, SAAB last week announced a tie-up with the Adani group.

“In the present scheme of things, Gripen enjoys a clear advantage because of its capabilities,” says an Air Force source. While the F-16 is 50 years old, the Gripen is a four-and-a-half generation fighter of very recent vintage.

The IAF had sent out an informal request asking the two manufacturers details of their products. Based on the input and other analysis, the RFI would be issued under the Strategic Partnership model in a couple of months, officers said. The target would be to acquire at least 100 fighters in the first stage, but the demand is expected to go up further now.

The government will select the preferred aircraft and its Indian partner based on submissions. Once selected, the manufacturing plant for the selected fighter is to be set up in India, with the Indian partner holding the majority stake in the venture.

MMRCA process in mess

“By not taking a quick decision and dragging its feet, the government has messed up the MMRCA [Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft] process,” says Air Marshal (retired) M Matheswaran, who played a crucial role in drawing up the requirements and conceptualising its original tender in the early 2000s.

“[The] original MMRCA was not only to get fighters but also to get technology here in India. All those objectives have been defeated,” he said.

The IAF in 2001 projected a requirement for 126 fighters, to fill the gap between its future indigenous light combat aircraft and the heavy-weight Sukhoi-30 fighters.

Though the initial move was to buy more Mirage 2000 fighters, it evolved into the MMRCA global tender.

In January 2012, the twin-engine Rafale fighter was declared the winner, and finally negotiations began with its French manufacturers.

Air Force sources point out that the only reason the government has now put out the present single-engine requirement is the cost.

The purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France not only surprised most military sources but also upset the financial projects for the fleet modernisation, sources say.

Air Force sources point out that the requirement is now for over 200 fighters, and the Rafales are being limited to just 36.

 

[StraightShooter]

@Hindustani78 opens all kinds of threads and quickly derails them himself with all kind of rubbish.
Noone else seems to be interested in his threads, but he keeps them alive by regular
postings of non related items.
Have no clue why.

Gripen or F-16? It’s a dogfight

While the Tatas have tied up with Lockheed, SAAB is aligning with the Adani group

After several dramatic twists and turns, as the Air Force looks at procuring a new single engine fighter, the Adani group is emerging as the dark horse that could end up manufacturing a large number of India’s future fighters.

The IAF is now working on issuing Request for Information (RFI) to the two single-engine fighter manufacturers available in the global market — Lockheed Martin for its F-16 and SAAB for its Gripen. While the Tata group has tied up with Lockheed Martin for possible manufacture of F-16s in India, SAAB last week announced a tie-up with the Adani group.

“In the present scheme of things, Gripen enjoys a clear advantage because of its capabilities,” says an Air Force source. While the F-16 is 50 years old, the Gripen is a four-and-a-half generation fighter of very recent vintage.

The IAF had sent out an informal request asking the two manufacturers details of their products. Based on the input and other analysis, the RFI would be issued under the Strategic Partnership model in a couple of months, officers said. The target would be to acquire at least 100 fighters in the first stage, but the demand is expected to go up further now.

The government will select the preferred aircraft and its Indian partner based on submissions. Once selected, the manufacturing plant for the selected fighter is to be set up in India, with the Indian partner holding the majority stake in the venture.

MMRCA process in mess

“By not taking a quick decision and dragging its feet, the government has messed up the MMRCA [Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft] process,” says Air Marshal (retired) M Matheswaran, who played a crucial role in drawing up the requirements and conceptualising its original tender in the early 2000s.

“[The] original MMRCA was not only to get fighters but also to get technology here in India. All those objectives have been defeated,” he said.

The IAF in 2001 projected a requirement for 126 fighters, to fill the gap between its future indigenous light combat aircraft and the heavy-weight Sukhoi-30 fighters.

Though the initial move was to buy more Mirage 2000 fighters, it evolved into the MMRCA global tender.

In January 2012, the twin-engine Rafale fighter was declared the winner, and finally negotiations began with its French manufacturers.

Air Force sources point out that the only reason the government has now put out the present single-engine requirement is the cost.

The purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France not only surprised most military sources but also upset the financial projects for the fleet modernisation, sources say.

Air Force sources point out that the requirement is now for over 200 fighters, and the Rafales are being limited to just 36.

Both Ambanis and Adanis are close to Modi while TATAs are close to Sonia. So Gripen has a very good shot if the Single Engine Fighter decision is made under Modi while F-16s would have better chance if the decision is made under congress rule.



Adani group the dark horse in fighter race
Josy Joseph & Dinakar Peri
NEW DELHI,SEPTEMBER 09, 2017 20:59 IST
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 09, 2017 21:04 IST

• 
  SHARE ARTICLE
• 4
• HANDOUT_E_MAIL
  
  
  Gripen, manufactured by SAAB, enjoys a clear advantage because of its capabilities, say sources
  After several dramatic twists and turns, as the Air Force looks at procuring a new single engine fighter, the Adani group is emerging as the dark horse that could end up manufacturing a large number of India’s future fighters.
  
  The IAF is now working on issuing Request for Information (RFI) to the two single engine fighter manufacturers available in the global market — Lockheed Martin for its F-16 and SAAB for its Gripen. While the Tata group has tied up with Lockheed Martin for possible manufacture of F-16s in India, SAAB last week announced a tie up with the Adani group.
  
  “In the present scheme of things, Gripen enjoys a clear advantage because of its capabilities,” says an Air Force source. While the F-16 is half-a-century old fighter, the Gripen is a four-and-half generation fighter that is of very recent vintage.
  
  The IAF had sent out an informal request asking the two manufacturers details of their products. Based on the input and other analysis, the RFI would be issued under the Strategic Partnership model in a couple of months, officers said. The target would be to acquire at least 100 fighters in the first stage, but the demand is expected to go up further now.
  
  The government will select the preferred aircraft and its Indian partner based on submissions. Once selected, the manufacturing plant for the selected fighter is to be set up in India, with the Indian partner holding the majority stake in the venture.
  
  MMRCA process in mess
  “By not taking a quick decision and dragging its feet, the government has messed up the MMRCA [Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft] process,” says Air Marshal (retired) M Matheswaran, who played a crucial role in drawing up the MMRCA requirements and conceptualising its original tender in the early 2000s. “[The] original MMRCA was not only to get fighters but also to get technology here in India. All those objectives have been defeated,” he said.
  
  The IAF in 2001 projected a requirement for 126 fighters, to fill the gap between its future indigenous Light Combat Aircraft and the heavy-weight Sukhoi-30 fighters. Though the initial move was to buy more Mirage 2000 fighters, it evolved into the MMRCA global tender.
  
  In January 2012, the twin-engine Rafale fighter was declared the winner, and finally negotiations began with its French manufacturers.
  
  Air Force sources point out that the only reason why the government has now put out the present single engine requirement is the cost. The purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France, in a surprise move during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit there in April 2015, and in place of the ongoing negotiations for 126 fighters, not only surprised most military sources but also upset the financial projects for the fleet modernisation, sources admit.
  
  Air Force sources point out that the requirement is now over 200 fighters, and the Rafale fighters are being limited to just 36. “Is there a single private industry with aerospace capabilities to build a fighter, to absorb that level of technology? The answer is no,” one source points out.
  
  Air Marshal Matheswaran points out that the proposed SP model for the manufacture of fighters could end up being a mere licence production model without any significant technology gains in India.
  
  “You will end up creating an HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] from scratch. You could have got HAL to do this work at a better pace,” says Matheswaran, who led an official landmark study on India’s aerospace capabilities.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/adani-group-the-dark-horse-in-fighter-race/article19651738.ece

 

[#hydra#]

Don't know why we are not pushing mk2 tejas

 

[ranadd]

Don't know why we are not pushing mk2 tejas

Because there are loads of money to be made.

You do get that right? You don't need to let a OEM win, just help him do a tender and make money.

Silent Singh or Mudi kaka, Middle men and babus win.

 

[X_Killer]

Don't know why we are not pushing mk2 tejas

There will be no significant visible progress unless or until FOC For MK1 will be achieved.
Also FOC for mk1 will be achieved within first half of 2018 for sure.
Also you may hear a news with more orders by end of 2019.

 

[ejaz007]

Enhancing India-US Defence Ties: Easier Said Than Done
© AP Photo/ Aijaz Rahi
ASIA & PACIFIC
20:01 04.10.2017(updated 20:21 04.10.2017)Get short URL
142161
Analysts say American companies remain reluctant to share closely-guarded technology and may avoid “liability” when jointly producing military equipment with Indian counterparts; hence India has a long way to go before it gains access to cutting-edge defense technology.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — US Defense Secretary James Mattis’ New Delhi visit last week was the first time the top leaders of the two countries interacted at a high level following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s new South Asia policy.

© AP PHOTO/ MANISH SWARUP
India, US to Expand Defense Cooperation After Mattis' Visit - Minister
The visit was preceded by widespread speculation that the two countries would hammer a deal for greater cooperation in Afghanistan, albeit in military terms. Considering an earlier offer by the US to relocate its F-16 fighter jet production line to India, a weapons deal was also highly anticipated. However, the outcome of the visit was different. While the two countries agreed to enhance defense and strategic cooperation, the actual statement by India’s Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focused on joint projects, in line with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ mission.


In her joint press briefing with Mattis, Sitharaman said: “I reiterated India’s deep interest in enhancing defense manufacturing in India under PM Modi’s Make-in-India initiative. I thank Secretary Mattis for his supportive position in this regard and look forward to working closely with him to realize joint projects.”

Experts in India are divided on whether such an agreement would indeed give India access to cutting-edge weapons technology. Harsh Pant, a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation is of the opinion that the agreement for further expanding defense ties will shape the trajectory of India-US bilateral ties, given the fact that healthy growth has been recorded, with defense trade rising from $1 billion to over $15 billion in the span of about a decade.

“Both India and the US recognize the importance of expanding defense ties and its broader role in shaping the trajectory of bilateral ties. More importantly, the leadership on both sides is ready to invest in that. President Trump’s South Asia strategy brings India to the center stage of Washington’s Afghanistan policy. India and the US share similar concerns and views in areas like terrorism, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and other areas. The US is no longer coy about selling sensitive military technologies to India. New Delhi, too, is ready to diversify its sources of military hardware,” Harsh Pant told Sputnik.

He says that with both countries looking to explore joint production initiatives, defense ties are expected to improve further.

"Both India and the US, through the Defense Technology and Trade Initiatives, are looking to elevate the India-US defense relationship from a buyer-seller engagement to a partnership model, working to co-develop and produce key defense technologies," Pant adds.

However, another expert points out that it is too simplistic to assume that the US-India strategic partnership in cutting-edge defense technology would be smooth, especially when both sides want to augment domestic production capabilities to boost job creation. The case in point being: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative and President Trump’s concept of America First.

“Sitharaman would know that the US doesn’t 'co-develop' weapons or transfer military technology developed at enormous cost. It prefers to sell weapons and keep the end-users on a tight leash,” M.K. Bhadrakumar, a former career diplomat, wrote in an op-ed article in The Tribune.
Bhadrakumar opines that “US firms want to retain control over technology” and avoid “liability” when jointly producing equipment with Indian counterparts, therefore “‘Make in India’ is fast becoming a nuisance.”

“The challenge for Indian diplomacy lies in differentiating the imperative needs of India’s military modernization (and the creation of a world-class defense industry) from the geopolitics swirling around the region,” he adds.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201710041057932236-india-us-defense-ties/

 

[wiseone2]

Lockheed Martin is gearing up to shift production of new F-16s to its Greenville, South Carolina, facility, but is still eyeing a longer-term move to India if New Delhi agrees to buy at least 100 new aircraft. Discussions between Washington and New Delhi about moving the F-16 production line to India are ongoing, says Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of F-16 business development, dispelling rumors that the move to Greenville means the India deal is a no-go.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Eyeing jet deal, Saab offers full tech transfer to India
Updated: Nov 22, 2017, 05.13 PM IST

The Gripen-E, an advanced version of the Gripen C/D, is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft fitted with advanced avionics.
NEW DELHI: Swedish defence giantSaab Group said today it would ensure "full" technology transfer of its Gripen-E fighter jet to India if the company gets the contract to supply a fleet of the single engine combat aircraft to Indian Air Force.

The company also said it will build the world's most modern aerospace facility in India, besides creating a local supplier base of ancillary systems, if it wins the contract for which US defence major Lockheed Martin has emerged as a major contender.

"Saab is committed to full technology transfer to India in connection with Indian procurement of Gripen-E," Saab India Chairman Jan Widerstrom said.

Eyeing the multi-billion dollar contract, Lockheed Martin has offered to set up a production line in India for its F-16 Block 70 fighter jets.

In September, Saab and the Adani Group had announced a collaboration in defence manufacturing entailing billions of dollars of investment and said the joint venture would produce Gripen military jets in India if it wins the single-engine aircraft deal.

The Gripen-E, an advanced version of the Gripen C/D, is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft fitted with advanced avionics.

"We will build the world's most modern aerospace facility and ecosystem in India. We will abide by the terms of the Strategic Partnership that would be set by the government for the single engine fighter aircraft programme and will undertake complete transfer of technology to the chosen joint venture partner," Widerstrom said in a statement.

His comments came as government is all set to start the process for procuring the fleet of single-engine fighters.

The fighter jets will have to be produced jointly by a foreign aircraft maker along with an Indian company under the recently launched strategic partnership model which seeks to bring in high-end defence technology to India.

The Saab said it will work with its Indian joint venture partners to ensure that transfer of technology takes place in a manner that it not only ensures transfer of technology but also complete capability.

It said the company sees a green field operation where it will train people in India and in Sweden to be able to design, develop, manufacture and maintain its operations in India.

"There will be a lot of training in Sweden and in India, and industry-academia-government cooperation. In that way we can reach an indigenous capability to maintain, to sustain, to further develop Gripen in India," said the Saab India chief.

He said, "We will not simply move an assembly line. We will build development capability. We will design, produce, support, innovate in India."

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ch-transfer-to-india/articleshow/61754171.cms

 

[Papa Dragon]

Boeing flags inexperience of private sector 'strategic partners'

In New Delhi on Thursday, the world’s largest aerospace corporation, The Boeing Company, openly expressed what many global arms vendors have complained about in private: The Indian private sector is not yet capable of manufacturing complex military aircraft under transfer of technology (ToT).

Pratyush Kumar, Boeing’s India chief, proposed that highly experience defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) – like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) – be coopted, since that is where aerospace expertise and experience lies in India.

Speaking “from the vantage point of a company that has been in the aerospace industry for 100 years, across the world,” Kumar in effect proposed a major reorientation of the defence ministry’s new Strategic Partner (SP) policy.

The policy aims at creating capable defence manufacturers in the private sector, to compete with the DPSUs and Ordnance Factories (OFs) that have historically dominated defence manufacture in India. The policy requires private firms chosen as SPs to enter technology partnerships with nominated global “original equipment manufacturers” (OEMs), and jointly bid for contracts to build aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armoured vehicles for the military.

But Kumar, speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies, the air force’s think tank, pointed out that successful examples of ToT-based manufacture involved “co-opting of public enterprise and private enterprise in a way that leveraged the investment made in the public enterprise for multiple decades”.

The Boeing chief said he “tried hard, and could not find a single example [of successfully building an aircraft under ToT] where it was just the brand new private enterprise with limited aerospace experience. Look at Turkey, look at Japan, look at Brazil — look at multiple countries. In all cases, there is a fine balancing act of co-opting the capabilities of both public and private enterprise.”



Other foreign companies are less forthright than Boeing. With two multi-billion dollar aircraft acquisitions already launched via the SP route — for single-engine fighter aircraft and helicopters — foreign OEMs have begun partnering Indian private firms. Lockheed Martin has partnered Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Saab has partnered the Adani Group, anticipating a tender for the single-engine fighter.

This although TASL has never assembled an aircraft, while the Adanis have never built a single aerospace component. Foreign OEMs resent having to partner novices, but comply quietly so as not to rock the boat, said a foreign executive based in India.

Boeing is more forthright, bolstered by the confidence of being the most successful arms vendor in India over the last decade. Since 2009, Boeing has sold India aircraft worth $12 billion. These include eight P-8I maritime aircraft in 2009, and then four in a follow-up order; ten C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft in 2011; and 15 Chinook CH-47F and 22 Apache AH-64E helicopters in 2015.

While these were all sales of ready-built aircraft, Boeing is perhaps anticipating having to “Make in India” with an SP in another forthcoming contract — the navy’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of 57 ship-borne fighters for its aircraft carriers. In that acquisition, for which a tender is awaited, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet would possibly compete with Dassault’s Rafale-Marine; Saab’s Sea Gripen and an upgraded version of the Russian MiG-29K/KUB.

Aspiring Indian SPs, like TASL, admit that their role in an SP contract would remain “build to print”, i.e. manufacturing sub-assemblies and assemblies to blueprints provided by the OEM. Yet, it would provide a lucrative growth opportunity.

“The need of the hour is for the ministry of defence to go forward with the two very large aerospace orders [for] single engine fighter and helicopters. Frankly, in my mind, there is nothing else to it,” said TASL chief, Sukaran Singh, at the same seminar.

In contrast, HAL chief T Suvarna Raju talked up his engineers’ design skills and experience. Pointing to the range of helicopters HAL has designed ground-up – the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, Rudra armed helicopter, and the eponymous Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter – he declared: “Each component of our helicopters demonstrates the skill sets of HAL designers, of their capabilities and innovation efforts. Look at the carbon composite blades and the transmission system, composite body structure, glass cockpit and many more…” The air force, however, continues to back the SP policy. “The only way to sustain the momentum in the aerospace manufacturing space is to start manufacturing here and strategic partnership model is a step in the direction,” said Air Marshal Shirish Deo, the air force’s vice-chief. The SP policy has been in the making since 2014-15. It remains contested and a work in progress.




First Published: Fri, September 08 2017. 01:49 IST

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...sector-strategic-partners-117090800051_1.html

LM and Boeing have already denied ToT for their fighter jets. They are very much aware that Indian private sector would catch up pretty fast if they are coopted which would pave way for rapid development of indigenous defense industry and soon foreign players would be irrelevant in India.

While, if they partner with a PSU which everyone knows are inefficient and highly corrupt, they would still have a chance to mint money and continue selling their outdated weapons systems to India as PSUs aren't good at absorbing ToT