MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

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Rakesh
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

Rakesh wrote:https://twitter.com/livefist/status/103 ... 78784?s=21 —> BIG: @LockheedMartin announces all future F-16 wings will be built in India by @TataCompanies Advanced Systems Ltd.
As the competition gets closer to selecting L1, they will have moved the entire assembly to India. Now it is wings, then soon it will be fuselage, then cockpit and so on. In that way, they stand an excellent chance to deliver planes rapidly.

The question remains, does the IAF want the F-16 Block 70?

As a side note, if the PAF does get additional F-16 Block 50/52s - as baksheesh - the wings will have come from TASL :)
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

Posted by BRF Member Peregrine

--------------------------------------------------

Lockheed to make wings for F-16 jet in India with partner Tata
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bus ... 672475.cms

Reuters | Updated: Sep 4, 2018, 20:26 IST

NEW DELHI: Lockheed Marin will build wings for its F-16 combat plane in India with its local partner, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, an executive at the US company said on Tuesday.

Lockheed is bidding for a contract - estimated at more than $15 billion - to supply the Indian Air Force with 114 combat planes, which must be all manufactured locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Make in India programme.

However, Vivek Lall, vice president of strategy and business development at Lockheed, said the proposed Indian production of the F-16 wings would not be contingent upon the company winning the order for the planes.

"Producing F-16 wings in India will strengthen Lockheed Martin' strategic partnership with Tata and support Make in India," the company said in a statement.

PM Modi has been pushing for local manufacturing that will provide jobs and also end the military's dependence on imports.

Lockheed's announcement came just days ahead of top level talks between the United States and India aimed at expanding defence ties.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will meet with Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Boeing has pitched its F/A-18 Super Hornet for the Indian contract as well as Sweden's Saab with its Gripen fighter. France’s Dassault Systemes SE’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also in the fray.

Lall said Lockheed had offered to make India its sole F-16 production facility that would Lockheed Martin supply the Indian military but also other countries. "If India buys the F-16 then it becomes the centre of manufacturing for the global market," he said.

Lall said the company planned to begin production of the F-16 wings in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad from 2020. He said these were being produced at a facility in Israel and would not impact any jobs in the United States.

The Israeli centre will continue to be involved in other production, he said. "All F-16 wings globally are to be built in the Hyderabad facility," he said.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by souravB »

Rakesh wrote: The question remains, does the IAF want the F-16 Block 70?
If IAF wanted F-16, they would've selected it in the first round of MMRCA. Since they only selected 2 of the eurocanards speak about what they want actually. I don't think IAF imagines flying in F-16 in 2050, 80 solid years after the a/c first flew. Also IAF do not fly US fighters and they wouldn't want to start it now for an airframe that is already 40 years old.
Introduction of Su-35 is highly interesting and heats up the competition by a fair margin. It actually is a good thing before the 2+2.
With the prospect of Turkey being out of F-35 program, LM must be looking for other player to buy those planes also they have a component production hub in Turkey which could be moved to India to satisfy the Offset clause with TOT.
Strategically India will also be in a great location for maintenance provided for Asia Pacific partners of US.
I have a feeling LM is itching to bring F-35 into the contest, since they know IAF doesn't want F16 and that's the plane they want to sell more to bring the cost down but cannot presently due to COMCASA and S400. Hence all the noise about 'F16 with F35 technology'
But I might be totally wrong and IAF might select F16 though I cannot find any reason why they should.
If NS can just drop a hint to Mattis that we are looking at Su-35 with interest, the meeting will actually be very entertaining. :D
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by SaiK »

I dont think so it is IAF need based. It is a private tie-up between LM & Tatas for global sales as F-Solahs are getting phased off from advanced countries requirements. Of course they will always try to squeeze their product into IAF needs.

India being a hub makes sense for all 3rd world sales ops. Politically speaking. We should be open as we would for any make in India effort for global needs(3rd).

Another angle to look - like how bajaj bought off parts for vespa to quell market... meaning they fear Tejas Mk2 arrival soon.

Oh yeah .. capitalistic cutthroats for sure but all based on capability profiles (obviously )
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

SaiK: I agree with the general theory of what you are suggesting, however this is an attempt (and a pretty good one at that!) to win the MMRCA competition. They would not be shifting the production of the F-Solah's wings from Greenville, South Carolina to TASL in India, if the bird was not in contention for MMRCA 3.0

The end goal is to quickly induct a 4++ generation fighter into the IAF, due to squadron shortage. On the issue of technical merit, the IAF will have its reservations about the F-16. But to the Govt in power, one 4++ generation fighter is just as good as another 4++ generation fighter. And to the Govt in power, if they are already making the bird in India....then it will be hard pressed to argue as to why not get the F-16 onlee? So for the IAF, its only saving grace - in avoiding the F-16 - lies in the technical down select. Even better, would be scrap the competition altogether.

Politically, where it can go south for the Amreeki birds is the upcoming 2+2 meeting.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

deleted.
Last edited by Rahul M on 05 Sep 2018 17:02, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: uncalled for. please see PM.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

Eric Thompson wrote:
soumik wrote:AON for new 114 jet tender to be cleared by center this week.
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/arti ... den/278987

Also there's a new Dog on the block & one with real teeth as well!
The offer of SU-35 is a clever maneuvering by Russia.

Russia clearly knows the neither MIG-35 nor SU-35 would be picked and the deal would go to the US fighter. Once this happens Russia would use this rejection of Russian offer by India as an excuse to sell SU-35s to Pakistan.
I know Eric is banned temporarily or permanently but this kind of scare mongering needs to be unpacked and destroyed.

Current stuff in the pipeline with Russia and India
Naval:
Frigates
Weaponery
Mig-29 attrition replacement orders
Kilos Upgrades
Potential Submarine order

Army
- Ongoing T-90 parts and what nots
- more ammo for tanks
- license fees for T-90s and BMPs

Air Force
- S-400
- potential Phalcon
- potential Refuelling tankers

all that and Pakistan buys a squadron of Su-35.
Yeah sure.... they are on the verge of being bankrupt and have taken enough credit lines from China for the Silk Road thing to sell their great grand daughters into slavery to China.
Yeah sure.... dream on buddy.

They did sell how many Mil-35s to Pakistan ? 4 or 6 ?
Go on sell them another 12 , I don't care. We are getting off that platform as well.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by brar_w »

SaiK wrote:I dont think so it is IAF need based. It is a private tie-up between LM & Tatas for global sales as F-Solahs are getting phased off from advanced countries requirements. Of course they will always try to squeeze their product into IAF needs.
Yeah, it makes good business sense. With the Turkish market going on what appears to be a long dormancy phase and the European supplier base already mature , expect them to channel their investment and work through the Indian OEMs because that is going to be viewed as a growth market for them in the future and they would want a relationship with players in it. I don't think it necessarily hurts or helps the current F-16 prospects but they are probably thinking more long term.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Cain Marko »

If one were to venture a guess, I wouldn't diss the block 70 viper off hand. This is not the same bird that was tested during the mrca trials. You are essentially looking at a BLK 50 with BLK 60 engine and latest radar plus sensor package. Should have much more power than any BLK 50/60 out there and could clear the hot, high requirements of the iaf. With cfts, it will have long legs on strike missions and will be a pia a2a with the increased thrust and newer sensors.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rahul M »

I would rather invest that money in engine tech, including a couple of flying testbeds. may be some wind tunnels too ?
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

Rahul M wrote: Re: PM
Dear Saar,
I just realised that I don't have permission to send PM
in regards to your PM, my open apologies for all the posters that I took a swipe at.
It was below the belt and possibly driven by frustrations that I ought to have checked.

Happy BRFing
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

I don't think that an SU-35 offer is a devious Rus (pun intended !) to sell the bird to Pak.They've already sold a small number of attck helos to it and if truly wanting to damage the Indo-Ru relationship would've done so.

The SU-35 has an advantage in being a single pilot bird unlike the MKI.Ru is acquiring SU-30SMs- their version of our MKIs, MIG-35s and SU-35s.They are calling the SU-35 a "5th. Gen.--" fighter, rather than a 4th.Gen ++ bird.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Manish_P »

Philip wrote:They are calling the SU-35 a "5th. Gen.--" fighter, rather than a 4th.Gen ++ bird.
So can we call the Sopwith Camel a "5th Gen ------------" fighter :roll:
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

Why not? WW1 era. :D
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Manish_P »

Correct. But you wouldn't have considered it a good bet in WW2 against the birds of that time, would you?
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

We have a different era for WW2! Camels and Fokkers obsolete for that era.Why we suffered losses of Vanpires in '65.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Manish_P »

Exactly, Sir.

WW1 (1914) to WW2 (1939) - 25 years
US stealth aircraft (~1983) to present day (2018) - 35 years of operational experience!

They don't go about claiming that their latest versions of F15 and F18s are 5th Gen --
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Vips »

Philip wrote:I don't think that an SU-35 offer is a devious Rus (pun intended !) to sell the bird to Pak.They've already sold a small number of attck helos to it and if truly wanting to damage the Indo-Ru relationship would've done so.

The SU-35 has an advantage in being a single pilot bird unlike the MKI.Ru is acquiring SU-30SMs- their version of our MKIs, MIG-35s and SU-35s.They are calling the SU-35 a "5th. Gen.--" fighter, rather than a 4th.Gen ++ bird.
The reason Russians have not sold the bird to the Pakis is because pakistanis are bankrupt and do not have the Money and the other more important reason is if they do so then once and for all they will lose their only remaining large customer and the literal holy cash cow - India.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

Vips wrote: The reason Russians have not sold the bird to the Pakis is because pakistanis are bankrupt and do not have the Money and the other more important reason is if they do so then once and for all they will lose their only remaining large customer and the literal holy cash cow - India.
Well summarised Vips.
Bloody amazing ... yes ofcourse.

Adding further from
https://www.dawn.com/news/1430640

Why we shouldn’t sign Phase II of Pak-China FTA
In the first phase,
Chinese exports to Pakistan grew from $4.2 billion to $12bn,
Pakistan’s exports to the country only moved up marginally from $0.6bn to $1.6bn



This is a Paki author discouraging his country from sigining the phase II of the free trade agreement with the Dragon.
This disproportionate growth between the one belt to whip them all , one debt to wreck them all partners is playing exactly as the current Indians strategists were predicting.

So yes indeed, Dear Phillip and Co, Please sell them your Russian Su-35 and the Pakistanis will pay for in surplus heroin and cotton.
because the discounts are off the F-16s. China has a yearly advantage of almost 10 Billion. And this bankrupt (morally as well as financially) nation will buy your warez.

Latest breaking news
Russian Air Force orders a grand total of 2 Su-57 in the IOC configuration.

Honestly Phillip, break out of your Russian slumber bro and smell the Tamilian Coffee bru
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by ArjunPandit »

Jokes aside, yes russia would not do that, but for the sake of argument if it does, it will not be a minor headache for india for sure.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

^^^
IAF F-16 Block 70 vs PAF F-16 Block 50
OR
IAF Su-30 MKI vs PAF Su-35
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

Smell the chai gents.China has invested enormously into Pak as its proxy to keep India off balance, for over 50 years.It has just pushed in $50B for the Africans who've been given loans earlier and are in a debt trap.
While there are genuine reservations in Pak about it suffering the same fate, when it comes to its military who call the shots and the issue of India, as Zulfie B famously said it would eat grass but get the bomb.

That it did and according to latest info. possesses somewhere between 250 to 300 N - warheads plus delivery systems with a large number being tactical weapons to use on the battlefield against us.It is China which has helped it get this far militarily.Right from its first nuclear device and arranging for NoKo ding-dongs , plus the development of its cruise missiles to be carried by its subs, 8 Chin subs arriving before 2025 .

The Paki military machine therefore can be assumed to be not only beholden to China but part of the Chin military machine .If China feels that Pak needs more sophisticated fighters like Flankers, stealth birds, bombers, whatever, do not doubt that they will arrange for it somehow.Right now we have been outflanked in the strategic equation as Pak possesses more N- warheads than us according to the latest intl. intel entities.Even if the Paki N- arsenal is only equal to us in numbets, the missiles and warheads that China has reserved for us will together outnumber us significantly ,and make our second strike capability which is yet to fully mature look less menacing.Chin subs operating in the IOR based at Paki naval bases will in the next decade be a regular threat.Even if Russia does not sell its SU-35s to India, China will sell its Flanker clones, etc. to prop up its closest ally, our mortal enemy to attempt to checkmate us in the IOR, especially now after signing COMCASA whatever, we appear to be joining the US led anti- China military alliance.

It is in this scenario that the IAF requires the 40+ sqds. , some say it should be even higher vloser to 60+. However, lusting after the most expensive firang birds when the rupee is sinking by the day is extremely unrealistic and as Ramana well describes it " unobtanium".
Retiring MIG-21 and 27s in their hundreds are best replaced by indigenously designed Tejas.Its high HAL built cost must be brought down- and it surely can be by concentrating our efforts onto the programme management aspect and setting up another production line either DPSU or in the pvt. sector.Tatas are now to make F-16 wings, they make helo shells too.They could equally make LCAs or its components very effectively.This is certainly easier and less financially taxing , plus allowing for faster and larger numbers to be inducted well before the first locally built firang MRCA arrives.

For the heavy fighter air- dominance role extra MKIs to SS std. plus upgrading sev.MKI sqds. to the same std. will suffice.Augmenting the numbers of med. sized fighters to keep sqd. numbers happy could also be achieved with more Rafales ( if affordable) and/ or extra MIG-29s to either 28-UG std. or even 35.A budgetary figure for the med. component of the force could be fixed, but acquiring 200+ Tejas the order of the day.The MRCA-2 could then be put to sleep as it should.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/strategic_front/sta ... 1003289600 ---> 72 are assured. 126 was before politics got involved. Still think it is highly probably as budgets increase and utility of Rafale is demonstrated. One thing for sure is MMRCA 2.0 is doomed to fail.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Vips »

--- del ----
Last edited by Rakesh on 08 Sep 2018 22:33, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Already Posted in Rafale Thread.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by souravB »

Gripen-E NG Cockpit
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

There is a piece in the media,posted in the Raffy td.,which says that meteor is not special to the Raffy as it has been integrated with the Gripen and is being considered for MKI's,etc.In the event of cost becoming a critical factor and the rate of the whoopie...oops! Rupee,in the eventuality of a firang buy ,the cheaper models will get better traction.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by SaiK »

To supplement numbers, the Indian Air Force is also looking for over 100 Indian-built foreign fighters as part of the Make in India campaign. It is unlikely, however, that the process will move forward significantly before next year’s national election in the country.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

SaiK: Please put source of news article in your post...
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Khalsa »

Rakesh wrote:SaiK: Please put source of news article in your post...
I can quite multiple sources dear Admiral.
One straight off the bat is the Rajya Sabha TV piece on FGFA where ACM Kaak talks about the next 100 air craft.

Anyway, I have been thinking about current situ over the weekend and I am really tempted to start up a numbers thread altogether.
I can't think of anyone else as qualified or bestowed with acumen such as yourself.

I think , with the maturation of tech, this will seriously become a logistics game (Napoleon and MacArthur turn in their grave).
Are you keen on starting a new thread on this ?
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by SaiK »

Rakesh wrote:SaiK: Please put source of news article in your post...
oops sorry.. it is from Mk2 dhaaga /
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by SaiK »

Rakesh wrote:SaiK: Please put source of news article in your post...
oops sorry.. it is from Mk2 dhaaga /
https://www.livefistdefence.com/2018/09 ... firms.html
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

^^^^ Thank You SaiK and Khalsa-ji.
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

Why the Air Force Won't Buy the F-15X or 'New' F-22 Raptor
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... ptor-31442
The United States Air Force has no interest in purchasing either Boeing’s advanced fourth-generation F-15X version of the aging Eagle. Nor does the service have any plans to revive the stealthy fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in either its original configuration or in a modified form with avionics from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Instead the priority for the Air Force is to produce as many F-35s as it can to increase the proportion of fifth-generation fighters in its fleet while it continue to explore next-generation technologies for the future air superiority mission.
Similarly, an effort to modernize the F-22 and restart production of that "is not something we’re currently considering” either, Wilson said. That should not come as a surprise to anyone. The U.S. Air Force has strongly resisted any effort to build new fourth-generation fighters such as new Lockheed Martin F-16s and F-15s because the service fundamentally does not believe those aircraft will be effective in combat in the coming decades. While both the F-15 and the F-16 could make use of stealthy standoff weapons to hit fixed targets inside hostile airspace, without stealth, the non-stealthy fourth-generation jets are not survivable inside areas protected by advanced enemy air defenses such as the formidable Russian-made S-400 and Chinese HQ-9.
Moreover, the Air Force is convinced that by the time that Raptor production could be restarted, the aircraft would increasingly challenged by Russian and Chinese efforts to counter American air superiority. “The timeline associated with pursuing F-22 production restart would see new F-22 deliveries starting in the mid-to-late 2020s,” the Air Force stated in its report. “While the F-22 continues to remain the premier air superiority solution against the current threat, new production deliveries would start at a point where the F-22's capabilities will begin to be challenged by the advancing threats in the 2030 and beyond timeframe.”
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

^^^ In light of the article above, how relevant is the F-16, Block 70/72? :)

https://twitter.com/livefist/status/1042030892271714304 ----> 7-PACK: Indian MoD receives 7 responses to its global information request to support a 110 Make In India fighter aircraft deal, Defence Minister Sitharaman confirms. Here’s the list....

Image
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Philip »

Light dawning upon illiterate yindoos! No more legacy birds for the Yanquis- can't survive in the next decade against Ru/ Chin ADs, so dump them upon unsuspecting yindoos for a hefty sum in the bargain! Therefore, it's perhaps pointless in going through another tortuous exercise in futility to select an aircraft inferior to the Rafale , when instead we could simply order extra sqds. of birds in service either built at home or outright buys to save time and keep IAF numbrrs and sqd. strength happy.

This is why I've in the LCA td. kept advocating that the MK-2 could be the LCA-S, leveraging our desi stealth tech developed and turned into a relevant fighter for the latter half of the next decade onwards.We are already going to produce around 80 to 120 MK-1As, which at the HAL prod. rate will take not less than 6 to 8 years to achieve at thd earliest.The brand new AMCA will arrive in 2035 or so we're now told.So what stealth bird will the IAF possess for the next 15 years? Zilch ,since we've almost burnt our boats with the SU-57/ JV , opted out of the JV , but may buy a few later on at at least $100M a pop.If the LCA Mk-1 supposedly costs more than an F-16, resulting in the MOD cost inquiry, imagine what the desi AMCA will cost 2030+ and what the $ to Rupee rate will be!

The US having invested "such much" moolah into the JSF, still a work in progress, are trying to build as much as possible despite some drawbacks to reduce cost, export as much as possible to its allies and in the process is jettisoning as much of its legacy junk as it can.
An SE LCA-S should cost much less than any firang bird as we've mastered composite materials and have already done some work on stealth for the AMCA.Such a bird would also have excellent potential in the export market.

Therefore ,since the only active programme right now is the LCA, with a vastly improved MK-2 required by the IAF,
with much development to happen, fast- forwarding MK-2
to have stealth features would save both time and money in providing the IAF with a desi stealth bird, a far better exercise than choosing a much married aging beauty with an overdose of paint as a bride which the new MRCA lust is all about! This light stealth bird could serve us well in the interim until we have the firang % tech. reqd.
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MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Peregrine »

Saab is interested in Indian fighter jet deal : Swedish official
Image

NEW DELHI: Amid the raging controversy over the Defence Ministry's procurement of the Rafale fighter aircraft from French firm Dassault Aviation, a senior Swedish official has said that his country's firm Saab, in its Gripen aircraft, has the requisite experience to contest for the upcoming Indian deal for manufacturing 110 new fighter jets under the Make in India programme.

"I know that Saab is interested, they want to be a part of this procurement," Teppo Tauriainen, Director General for Trade in the Swedish Foreign Ministry, told IANS in an interview here.

“They think they have something good to offer that will be of interest to India," Tauriainen said.

"They, of course, know what the expectations of the government is in terms of local production and cooperation with a local partner."

India is expected to select by the end of this year one fighter aircraft that will be manufactured by the private sector under the Make in India programme for supply to the Indian Air Force.

The Saab Gripen will be contesting with the likes of the Russian MiG 35, Dassault Rafale,Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F/A 18 and Lockheed Martin F-16 for the upcoming deal.

While MiG has already said that it will have state-owned Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) as its local partner, Indian companies like Tata, Reliance Defence, Mahindra and Adani are in the fray for local partners in the project that is expected to be worth over $20 billion (Rs 1.44 lakh crore).

Tauriainen said that for Saab, contesting for the deal will be nothing new as it has signed a similar deal for Gripen with the Brazilian government with Embraer as its local partner.

"I have myself visited the Brazilian partner, Embraer, and seen there are a lot of spin-offs locally in the Brazilian economy from this fighter jet deal," he said.

"So, I think for Saab, as a company, it won't be unusual to do it the way the Indian Government wants it to happen."

During his visit to Sweden in April this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that defence and security have emerged as an important pillar of the India-Sweden bilateral partnership.

"Sweden has been a partner of India in the defence sector for a long time. I am confident new opportunities for cooperation in this sector will arise in the future, especially in defence production," Modi said.
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Rakesh
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

If there was any doubt that the Rafale was the front runner in the MMRCA competition, this is it....

https://twitter.com/GurungShauryaET/sta ... 2896816129 ---> When asked if IAF wanted two more Rafale squadrons after the IGA, IAF Deputy Chief, Air Marshal Nambiar smiled and said we wanted 126 Rafales. On another question, if Rafales being considered part of 114 jets or a separate arrangement IAF said 114 jets include Rafale participation.

https://twitter.com/sneheshphilip/statu ... 5854501888 ---> Rafale will form the cornerstone of our high end fighter capability which will be inducted from next year: IAF Deputy Chief, Air Marshal Nambiar.
Rakesh
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Rakesh »

FYI...the info on Tejas production numbers below is dated. If it is this bad, I am beginning to question the wisdom of Boeing's tie up with Mahindra and HAL to produce the F-18 Super Hornet Block III, if they win MMRCA 3.0!!!

https://twitter.com/Iyervval/status/1042793255686086656 ----> Bingo. The US Ambassador, Tim Roemer was APPALLED at the state of HAL. The planes they have built are metal, LCA is the only composite and they cant produce more than 3 a year with ATROCIOUS quality control. HAL resists as modernisation = redundancies.
Karan M
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Karan M »

I wouldn't worry... Iyerval is just hyping things up. Its ok to support the Rafale deal, but running down our own people like HAL is a self-goal which he won't realize. His articles with Angad Singh also have a bunch of half baked info. Neither has any tech program experience but both are now eggsperts on all things defense. Anyways. better than Pandit etc I guess.

PS: What was Roemer's experience with any manufacturing?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Roemer
Indranil
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Re: MRCA (Many Rakshaks Choose Aircraft) Contest - Episode III

Post by Indranil »

There are a few journos out there who are holier than thou. They are average reporters but experts in aircraft design, manufacturing and project management.
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