quadbikeAmazing.
quadbikeGreat Video on the Gorshkov – Vikramaditya transformation
quadbikeRussians Give Indian Navy Big MiG-29K Induction Troubles
http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/12/russians-give-indian-navy-big-mig-29k.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FUQMw+%28LiveFist+-+The+Best+of+Indian+Defence%29
Hardly surprising anymore. Sources indicate that the MiG-29K induction experience is proving to be a real nuisance, with the Russians nitpicking over contractual provisions and delaying smooth operations at the Black Panthers squadron in Goa. I’ve been requested by my sources not to put down the precise nature of the problems, though suffice it to say that the Indian Navy is not in the least pleased with how the Russians are executing and following up on the K contract.
quadbikeI suppose whatever problems with America will not be relating to the quality of equipment and delivery schedules.
Russians Give Indian Navy Big MiG-29K Induction Troubles
http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/12/russians-give-indian-navy-big-mig-29k.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FUQMw+%28LiveFist+-+The+Best+of+Indian+Defence%29
Hardly surprising anymore. Sources indicate that the MiG-29K induction experience is proving to be a real nuisance, with the Russians nitpicking over contractual provisions and delaying smooth operations at the Black Panthers squadron in Goa. I’ve been requested by my sources not to put down the precise nature of the problems, though suffice it to say that the Indian Navy is not in the least pleased with how the Russians are executing and following up on the K contract.
quadbikeI totally agree with USSNovice
And The Russians aren’t Angels either. No wonder IN is looking for F-35
Russians Give Indian Navy Big MiG-29K Induction Troubles
http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/12/russians-give-indian-navy-big-mig-29k.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FUQMw+%28LiveFist+-+The+Best+of+Indian+Defence%29
Hardly surprising anymore. Sources indicate that the MiG-29K induction experience is proving to be a real nuisance, with the Russians nitpicking over contractual provisions and delaying smooth operations at the Black Panthers squadron in Goa. I’ve been requested by my sources not to put down the precise nature of the problems, though suffice it to say that the Indian Navy is not in the least pleased with how the Russians are executing and following up on the K contract.
quadbikeI think it will be similar to the purchase price of a new Gripen, F 16 or MIG. If any one of these is selected for the MRCA, it will make more sense to run down the Mirage 2000s till the end of their service life and replace them with the MRCA.
The CAG will have a field day with this upgrade. May be that is prompting a rething by the govt.
quadbikeA lot of these scaremongering is without reason. If you take the leaks for face value all of the nations will have some gripe with the U.S.A including some “special friends”. If you have leaks from all countries you will see that they will all be similar. Even your best friends may be critical about certain aspects of you when he is talking about you to his family. Wikileaks is basically an invasion into the privacy of a nation, It is akin to one of your family members leaking your family secrets and what you think about your neighbours and firends to the rest of the world.
Gripen/F-16 will win the MRCA IMHO.
quadbikeHigh cost of Indian Mirage 2000 fighter upgrade causing a rethink
French President Nicholas Sarkozy may miss signing of the Mirage 2000 upgrade deal with the Indian Air Force (IAF) during his visit to India. While officially, “negotiations are still going on”, according India’s senior foreign ministry officials, the reason for the delay seems to be that the high cost of upgrading the fighters is causing a rethink, informed sources told defenseworld.net.
The cost of upgrading the 51 fighters is working out to an average of Euro 45 million per piece which is well over the price of acquiring a new generation fighter such as the Rafale or F-16 which is around Euro 30million-35 million. India is seeking to upgrade the fighters with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities, Look-down, shoot-down capabilities, Advanced Electronic Counter Counter Measures (ECCM) and Multi-target, multi-shoot capabilities.
The total cost is around Euro 2.4 billion of which work worth Euro 1.5 billon will be directly with the French company Dassault and the rest for work done and equipment supplied by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
In comparison, India signed a similar upgrade contract for 62 MiG-29 fighters in 2008 for around $850 million which works to $13.71 million (Euro 10.28 million approximately) per fighter.
Further, the bulk of the IAF Mirage 2000 fleet was acquired in 1986-87 which makes it over 20 year old. The upgradation process is expected to take 7-9 year and residual life of the airframe after the upgrade will be about 15-10 years. A new fighter instead will have a life of 30 plus years.
quadbikeWhatever you people think I don’t believe having U.S components is going to be a drawback in the MRCA contest. If India was so concerned about it, it would not have selected the F414 IN for the Tejas MK2.
Moreover India is strictly neutral in most affairs and have resisted the temptation to join the American camp and is refusing to sign agreements. We don’t want their crypted communication stuff, we will find alternatives from Israel or develop in house.
quadbikeWe will know the details when contracts are signed.
quadbikeNot in my book they don’t. The Brits never screwd us in any way or form. And AFAIK never enven give it a thought. Exporting J-35 Draken with British engines was never a problem. And BAE Systems has provided very valuable marketing support for Gripen for manny years now.
I, for one, hope that Sweden will try to seek the closest possible cooperation/relationship with the UK aerospace industry ín the future. We are not big enougth to keep standing on our own on this market. (Who is?) And the US is obviousely not to be trusted (did the same thing with Viggen). So teaming up with the Brits would be the optimal solution for SAAB and Sweden.Ok sorry, that was far OT I know.. Im just a bit worked up right now. Lets keep discussing MRCA instead!
edit: IIRC PAF F-16s are not allowed fo leave Pakistani airspace without getting premission from the US. Will the same rules apply to IAF Falcons if the deal goes through?
I think India could be an Ideal partner for SAAB/Sweden with the AMCA. First of all the risk is reduced for both parties, for SAAB because they know IAF is an assured buy and for IAF/HAL because with SAABs experience the project looks far less risky.
Now there is a problem with engines, if the Kaveri with the Eco core comes along well even that will be offset.
quadbikeAnd the Wiki citation points to Janes I believe.
Actually its AW&ST according to Wiki.
quadbikeAccording to reports IAF mirage upgrade will involve ASRAAM, I don’t know if its instead of MICA IR.
quadbikeIf Gripen wins for example I doubt the Americans will do anything to prevent smooth moving of parts etc. There are other big purchases at stake.
If you want absolutley no strings then the only choices are the Rafale and the MIG 35. The Typhoon may not have any American strings, but it depends on the goodwill of far too many countries.
quadbikeBrahMos takes over Kerala PSU
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?2356
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 5 Kerala will become a hub for production of supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles with BrahMos Aerospace Corporation signing an agreement with the state government today to turn Kerala Hightech Industries Ltd into a centre for production and integration of the missile.
The deed document for the transfer of the unit was signed by DRDO Chief Controller and BrahMos Aerospace Corporation CEO, A Sivathanu Pillai, and Principal Secretary (Industries) T Balakrishnan in the presence of state Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem at a function here.
The unit, to be known as BrahMos Aerospace (Trivandrum) Ltd, would be turned into a major centre for production of components and integration of the supersonic cruise missile system whose demand for the Navy and Army was going to increase in the coming days, Sivathanu Pillai said.
The missile is a unique system as no other country had any matching missile in terms of accuracy and speed, Pillai said. “Most other countries have sub-sonic missiles and our missile is unique in terms of accuracy and speed.” The BrahMos missile, with maximum range of 290 km, can be launched from submarines, naval ships, aircraft and land and is a joint venture of DRDO and Russian defence organisation.
The Thiruvananthapuram centre is going to be an important facility under the project as missiles would begin to roll out of the campus, Pillai said.
The unit would also continue to supply critical components and assemblies to its present customers like ISRO, DRDO and BARC. The unit would formally be handed over to BrahMos Corporation next month at a function to be attended by Defence Minister A K Antony.
Speaking on the occasion, Kareem said BrahMos corporation was expected to make an initial investment of Rs 125 crore for the facility.
The BrahMos-KELTEC merger was the result of the state Government’s policy of strategic merger or tie-ups with the Central public sector undertakings.
The underpinning of this strategy was to protect the state’s larger interests, speed up industrialisation and ensure better wages for the workers, he said.
Also, the presence of BrahMos in the state would benefit other public sector ventures like Keltron in the state by way of orders for making components and sub-systems, he said.
Located at Chakkai on the periphery of the state capital, Keltec was set up in 1989 as a unit for making critical components for leading scientific institutions like ISRO.
After running into financial troubles, the unit was referred to BIFR for revival in 1999 and saved by ISRO and DRDO by pumping in Rs 10 crore as interest-free loan.
It was against this backdrop that the state began negotiations with the Centre for turning it into a defence production unit. PTI
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