Bharat Rakshak

This video clear the doubt about two way datalink IMHO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8KOPzL ... ata_player

The AdA Rafale training center in Saint Dizier: CFER (Centre de Formation des Equipages Rafale)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9089 ... ...........

HAL has been preparing for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) project in terms of allocation of funds and organisational changes needed to launch and deliver the targets on time. Three phases have been earmarked for HAL's goalposts in manufacturing this highly-sophisticated aircraft.

Deshmukh, who was earlier managing director of HAL's MiG complex at Nasik, said that over the next 10 years, the Rafale project should generate business approximating $4-5 billion. "It is a huge project for us," he observed.

He disclosed that HAL already had Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Dassault and engine-maker Snecma to produce some of the designated parts. "HAL has been preparing for the MMRCA project in terms of allocation of funds and organizational changes needed to launch and deliver the MMRCA project targets on time."

Separate divisions have been planned for the aircraft and engine of the MMRCA at Bangalore, and two locations have been shortlisted within the HAL estate there for setting up the airframe and engine divisions.

Pre-planning activities with respect to conceptual design of plant layout for the aircraft and engine production units are under progress. Accessory production has been planned at HAL divisions at Hyderabad, Lucknow and Korwa (Uttar Pradesh).

Deshmukh described the Rafale as a state-of-the-art multi-role combat aircraft capable of a wide range of missions such as air defence, air superiority, close air support, air-to-ground precision strikes, interdiction, maritime roles and nuclear strikes. It has an integrated suite of avionics, electronic sensors, AESA Radar and active/passive counter measures.

"HAL is the designated lead production agency for the airframe, aero-engine and systems integration of the aircraft. Out of the 126 aircraft,, 18 aircraft will be directly supplied by Dassault Aviation and 108 aircraft will be built at HAL in three phases. In the next four years, the Rafale aircraft deliveries would commence from HAL to the Indian Air Force as per the agreed schedule. HAL envisages a business volume of about Rs.20,000 to Rs.25,000 crores ($4-5 billion) in the MMRCA project over the next 10 years."

Deshmukh said that the offset requirement of the MMRCA programme being 50 percent of the foreign exchange content, HAL is also looking forward to active participation in this industrial effort up to around 30 per cent of the offset value.

My understanding is that the preferred bidder decision has been made but final outcome has not been completely determined and we continue to believe that we have an attractive offer available", Browne said. Asked if Typhoon would lower the bid to win back the contract, he said: "That's a commercial decision which the people making the offer need to make". On some British MPs demanding an end to British aid to India after Typhoon failed to win the contract, Browne said he certainly does not believe that one should link development spending to contracts. "No, I don't", he responded when asked if he subscribed to the view of some British MPs who saw India's decision as a "snub" and failure of British diplomacy.

"The Indian government is completely free to decide who wins contract", Browne said, noting that "obviously, when there is a British bidder, we would like the British bidder to be successful". He termed Typhoon as the "strongest offer". Browne, however, stressed that the relationship between India and Britain is built on "much more solid foundations" and does not depend on a single contract, even a "big and important bid like this".

Dassault should definitely give India a MASSIVE discount for turning its fortunes a total 360! Royalties for every sale made in Bra and UAE

Nope.
He means 126 for India + Those for UAE + Brasil + Swiss

Informed sources told Defenseworld.net that a high level team would arrive from France and interact with the Indian MoD's Contract Negotiations Committee (CNC) on defining what the aircraft composition would be like and freezing the price.

The Pioneer|February 14, 2012|New Delhi

Rafale may not be the best choice for IAF

http://www.dailypioneer.com/home/online ... r-iaf.html

The French firm beat its European, American and Russian rivals because it had bid the lowest price for supplying the fighter planes in its category.

Not worth a read.
Quote from the article.

Not worth a read.
Quote from the article.

Switzerland would consider alternatives to the 22 Gripen jets it has agreed to buy from Saab to replace older warplanes, its defence minister said on Tuesday. Flanked by his military chiefs of staff, Ueli Maurer told a news conference the government would be ready to look at any serious rival bids.

According to recent newspaper reports, Dassault put forward a counter offer to supply Switzerland with 18 Rafale jets for 2.7 billion Swiss francs instead of an original demand of 4 billion francs for 22 jets. Maurer said on Tuesday the government had not received any formal counter offers. "We've asked the French to give us a really concrete offer," he said. "If we really do get a lower offer, we'd be able to look at it."

British officials involved in the Typhoon bid have distanced themselves from the ministerial comments, which some might interpret as sour grapes or even disrespectful to India’s right to make its own defense acquisition choices. They believe that Indian officials handling the MMRCA contest have been transparent throughout the process. They are hoping that the Indian defense ministry will debrief the Typhoon team on why the Rafale bid was preferred, although there is no legal obligation for it to do so. The Typhoon camp are fully aware that in a number of previous Indian defense acquisitions, the preferred bidder has failed to secure the final contract–raising the prospect of another twist in the MMRCA saga.

According to the rules established in the original MMRCA solicitation, no trade-off of performance against cost was allowed in the final stage of the evaluation, when the commercial bids were unsealed. No information has leaked on which of the two finalists scored more in the technical evaluation, which was extensive

In any case, neither finalist in the Indian contest was able to demonstrate the required active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. However, Team Rafale will have shown French commitment and tangible progress toward the introduction of an AESA, which is still not an unequivocal requirement of the four Eurofighter partners.

Before the contract is signed the following points need to be nailed down: the level of technology transfer for the 108 aircraft to be built in India; the coproduction plan; whether and how any government-furnished equipment is to be integrated; the guaranteed mean time between failure rates; and whether to choose an engineering support package or a performance-based logistics package. The life-cycle cost data supplied by the MMRCA contenders covered 6,000 hours of flying over 40 years. The 18 aircraft to be supplied in flyaway condition comprise 12 single- and six twin-seaters. They should be delivered within 48 months of the contract taking effect, with the complete weapons package. Of note, the MMRCA weapons and stores specification includes anti-radiation and anti-ship missiles, a reconnaissance pod and a buddy refueling pod. Neither the Rafale nor the Eurofighter has an anti-radiation missile, nor is one planned for either type. The Exocet anti-ship missile has already been integrated on the Rafale. The Typhoon bid included the Saab Rbs15 or the MBDA Marte ER anti-ship missile, neither of which are required by any of the Eurofighter partner nations. No reconnaissance or buddy refueling pod has yet been integrated on the Typhoon. The Thales Areos recce pod has already been fitted to the Rafale, which also already does buddy refueling.

The Indian production will comprise 74 single- and 34 twin-seaters. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has been designated as the lead production agency for the airframe and engine, and as system integrator. The first deliveries are due four years after contract signing, in a three-phase transfer of production. HAL is expected to produce six aircraft in that first year, 10 in the second and the total of 108 by the seventh year of local production. The Indian government expects licensed production of engine accessories, avionics, radars, systems, role equipment and tooling. Some or all of this could be undertaken by privately owned Indian defense companies that have been chosen by the successful bidder. The MMRCA package also includes simulators and other training aids, and ground handling and support equipment.

In any event, the industrial benefits for Indian industry should multiply after the MMRCA enters service. Following the 24-month warranty period, the lifetime support and depot level maintenance must be provided by an Indian partner. “To ensure high aircraft availability, each operating base will have second-line facilities, including servicing of radar and avionics LRUs, electronic warfare equipment and hydraulics. An engine repair section and test bed will need to be set up,” said an Indian air force engineer. There will be three operating bases, each with two squadrons. Depot-level maintenance will benefit from technology transfer including metallic and composite structures, canopy, radome, castings and forgings, landing gear, engine including Fadec, turbine and compressor blades, wheels and brakes, hydraulics and fuel system, including in-flight fueling. Thales and its Indian partner, Samtel Display Systems (SDS), will be a major beneficiary of the Rafale’s selection. “The MMRCA has provided the opportunity for Thales to grow this into a bigger company. We can build a center of excellence for airborne technologies that can be sold for different platforms,” Puneet Kaura, executive director of SDS, told AIN.

if two people know each other through a long relationship and have decided to marry, all these 'well meaning elders' and 'friends n well-wishers' and 'buddhijibis' (each with their own agendas and prejudices) should back off and await the wedding invite

3 operating bases with 2 squadrons each

Rafale 2-seater sacrifices fuel, weight, and a bit of drag also. But operationnal performances are roughly the same as over Lybia we used to see formations of single and 2 seaters Raffys.
I think i would have gone for only 2-seaters for the first batch of 18 fly-away a/c, in order to train as max pilots as we can, the sooner as possible. (maybe 1 or 2 single for manufacturing follow-up for HAL as well as for IAF to see the differences in terms of maintenance and performances).
A 33% 2-seaters is the rate in France. It could be lower as situational awareness is very good and can be handled by a sole pilot.
French AF use to have mixed formations of 4 a/c, with 3 single and one 2-seater, the back-seater being the formation leader, mainly towards awacs, and global tactics.
So 25% for operational squadron, + 10 for permanent training (blue pilots) : you have the 33% ratio.
But 16 2-seaters would be helpful to start IAF intense training on this new beast.
(note that the back-seater has the same control panels and commands than the front, and that one can play a2a while the other can perform a2g targetting. The 2 are independant except for use of sensors: optronics, radar as long as there's no dual mode radar capable of a2a ranging while providing a2g map or scanning)

Badar : "I think we don't need to react that much. The notoriously purple British press is distinct from the Government/BAe/Cassidian. They can say what they want (as does ours). Holding relations hostage to them is pointless. I think we should give a little rope to the british premier as well, his posturing is for his own voters and not really directed at us.
We should look at them, enjoy a moment of schadenfreude and walk away. Their tamasha is not worth getting worked up over."
A confused and meandering statement. Not clear what you mean.

However, their top political honchos, including their PM, David Cameron, have also been spouting nonsense. Specially Cameron, with his hyperbole about the EF being vastly superior to the Rafale.

A waste of time to carry on with this dialogue.

Badar : your so-called elucidation is even more contradictory than your earlier warbling.

And you tie yourself in knots further when you say something in one line and the exact opposite in the next.

Example : Badar A : "Prime Minister pushing Typhoon. Why? Local Politics. Response: Ignore."

Badar B : in the very next line : "Calibrate response to official moves from GoUK/BAe/Cassidian.".
Is the British PM the "GoUK" or not ? Which is "official" in your convoluted world ?

As far as responding to BAe / Cassidian is concerned, we don't even have to give them the time of the day. They lost / were booted out - the matter end here.

" Hope that is sufficiently less confusing for you." For a person who is going around in circles, this is rich.

A waste of time to carry on with this dialogue.

Where ? Ambala ? Halwara ? Gwalior ? Kalaikunda ? Bhuj ?

Remember that a few years ago ACM Fali Major had said that all the air bases will be developed such that any aircraft can be based at any base.

...
IAF has already identified Ambala and Jodhpur airbases in the western sector, followed by Hashimara in the eastern sector, to house the first MMRCA squadrons.
...

The problem for France is that while the government has long acknowledged that its arms industry must consolidate – with recent austerity measures intensifying the pressure on companies to cut costs – progress has been almost non-existent. The UK, Italy and Germany have all consolidated their industries to the point where they have defined national champions in BAE Systems, Finmeccanica and EADS respectively. France, by comparison, has a complex system of cross-ownership and duplication, where Dassault, EADS and Thales, the military electronics group, all vie for leadership.

EADS is the company that loses most from Dassault’s dominance. Louis Gallois, the outgoing French chief executive, says it has made three attempts to buy into or acquire Thales to consolidate its own French military business with the defence electronics group. It has been blocked each time, most recently in 2008 when Paris let Dassault acquire a 21 per cent stake in Thales even though EADS offered a better price. Dassault now exercises “industrial control” over Thales. In one of those strange quirks of French industry, EADS owns 46 per cent of Dassault Aviation, but has no control. At a recent meeting with investors Marwan Lahoud, EADS’s number two, spoke of his company’s “Thales dream” and said he could think of 10 good reasons why it would make a good match. His problem is a German government – which controls 22.5 per cent of EADS, the same level as France – that is wary of making the company “too French”. Paris is equally suspicious about selling defence assets to EADS, particularly with the German Tom Enders about to become chief executive.