Mort Walker wrote:Admiralji mentioned Safran engine development. Safran is in partnership with GE. More than likely If Safran is in financial trouble or GE spins off its engine division, then one of the two will become the managing company, however it’s partnership will only strengthen. The Safran partnership for India is all well and good, but I see no reason not to place an order for 300 F414 and 200 F404 as the Tejas II and IA production is being ramped up through 2025.
No ji please
AFAIK, Safran is in partnership with GE on the civil aviation market --->
https://www.safran-group.com/aviation/a ... ft-engines
But with military engines, both engine houses do their own thing. Please correct me if I am wrong.
That the F404/F414 family of engines are stellar is no doubt. That in Gagan Shakti, over 90% availability of the Tejas is a huge testament to the engine itself. If the Tejas did not have an engine of that calibre, then that percentage would not exist.
But long term, perhaps the IAF is looking at 300 F414 engines and 200 F404 engines (which would translate to 200 Tejas Mk2, 50 AMCA and 200 Tejas Mk1/Mk1A) and perhaps they are not happy with leaving 50% of her combat fleet in the hands of the Americans. Perhaps the MRCA is meant to offset that very risk. If they go in for an American bird in the MRCA, the Govt of India is not only making the MRCA sanction prone, but the Tejas as well. But Nachiket could very well be right though -
perhaps I am imagining this onlee.
However if India and France indeed pull off an Indo-French engine and the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA fly with that engine - instead of the F414 engine - then the equation changes in India's favour. They are doing this right now, with the Shakti engine for the HAL Dhruv, the Light Combat Helicopter and the Light Utility Helicopter.
The sad reality is that no money has been invested in a local engine. And now we are holding the short end of the stick and making (as always) ad hoc purchases. These two posts from Indranil and Cybaru are so apt. Unfortunately nothing is moving on this front.
Indranil --->
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3351&start=4880#p2386762
Cybaru --->
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3351&start=4880#p2386767
*Point 6 in CY's post is what needs to be done with utmost urgency.