quadbikeF-16’s have just started testing a refueling probe mounted in their CFT (CARTS) that I’m certain is not included in L-M’s proposal, but would certainly be available to a customer planning a 190x aircraft purchase…
It is included. Check LMs India Brochure as well as Code one Magazine 2008 last quarter.
quadbikeLockheed Pipes In: F-16IN Has Great Growth Prospects
The American teens are working overtime to battle deep perceptions that their wares — the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-16IN Super Viper — are essentially old aircraft (i.e. not modern) with a few new systems bunged in, and are basically platforms in the twilight of their operational lives, being replaced as they are with new assets by US forces. Boeing tried dealing with that perception a few days ago when it revealed that India was being offered something called the International Roadmap as part of the MMRCA competition. Arch-rival Lockheed-Martin articulated something similar recently, which they sent over. Posting it in full:
“While the Super Viper is a new design just for India, it is also the starting point for future growth. The F-16 has a well documented history of continuous evolution in capability. This is very important since the F-16IN is inherently designed for a long service life (in excess of 6500 flight hours). During this service life the desire will likely arise for significant upgradation to add capability for expanded mission roles, improved combat capability, and reduced operating costs. There are two primary enablers to this evolution: technology advancements and a proactive upgradation strategy.
Technology Advancements. The Super Viper is on the cutting edge of fighter aircraft technology with its 5th gen-based AESA radar, fiber optics data network, large flat panel color displays and the latest precision weapons. Starting now the Super Viper has inherent growth capacity due to ample unused space and large processing reserves. Nevertheless, emerging technologies will enable even greater capability. The history of technology advancement, especially for digital systems, shows that this added capability comes in increasingly smaller packages with lower power requirements. (Today’s mobile phone includes web browsing, games, and video in a smaller size than yesterday’s voice-only device.) The F-16 has demonstrated this many times across seven major block changes. This includes five generations of core avionics, five radar versions, ten different EW suites, and dozens of new weapons without changing the aircraft structure or size. To take advantage of these new technologies the Super Viper has a growth-oriented architecture for adding new systems and capabilities. Maximum use has been made of commercial standards and technology such as processing, software and networking.
Upgradation Strategy. The U.S. Air Force along with the European operators of the F-16 have been jointly executing a long term continuous upgradation strategy since the beginning of the F-16 program. As part of the overall sustainment philosophy, this strategy recognizes the need for continuous improvement and it defines a step-wise approach to keeping the F-16 on the forefront of war fighting capability. There are F-16s flying today in the U.S. and in Europe that are 30 years old but they have the same systems and capabilities as a new Block 50 F-16. At the heart of the strategy is a long term capability improvement roadmap which is synchronized with technology-driven improvements in weapons, sensors, displays, and computing. These key technology areas have their own improvement roadmaps which dovetail with the aircraft capability improvement roadmap. The roadmap is implemented through a series of software releases and hardware updates. For the U.S. and European Air Forces there is typically a major software release each 18 months. This allows for balance between rapid fielding of new capability and time required to assimilate the new capabilities into operational use. Major hardware updates are likewise spaced out to optimize fleet management while aircraft are being inducted into the modification program.
In summary, the growth potential for the Super Viper is much more than just the currently available spare capacity. Combining the latest technologies with a long term continuous upgradation strategy will keep the F-16IN relevant from the day it is first inducted until it is finally retired from service.”
quadbikeVery Impressive.
quadbikeThe comment i replied to was about ToT for R 77. We already are on our way to developing an active radar homing medium range missile the Astra. So the ToT of R 77 is useless.
If a next generation missile like Meteor is offered with ToT, then thats a good deal.
quadbikeImpressive marketing, sadly they are not selling to the public.
quadbikeGripen’s 32-Page Supplement With Latest Edition Of INDIA TODAY Magazine
quadbikeIAF to receive all six C-130J airlifters in 2011
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the first two C-130J special operations aircraft from the United States in February 2011 and the remaining four ordered by the end of the year.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik told India Strategic defence magazine (http://www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview that the IAF was giving equal importance to the acquisition of combat and transport aircraft as part of the “transformation process” now underway and that the infrastructure to operate the
C-130Js from the Hindon airbase near the Indian capital was nearing completion.
The IAF and the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) had signed an agreement with the US Air Force (USAF) and Department of Defense (DoD) to buy six Lockheed Martin C-130Js in January 2008 in a package deal of around $1 billion.
There is an option to buy an additional six aircraft, without any cost escalation, but Naik said that while the IAF was considering this, a decision was likely after the first C-130Js would be received.
“We will see them, and then exercise the option,” India Strategic quotes him as saying in its coming edition.
The US government is selling the aircraft under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, through the USAF.
According to Lockheed Martin, all the six aircraft are under various stages of construction. A picture of three of them being built has already been released while one C-130J has been painted in IAF colours and is undergoing pre-delivery flying tests.
The C-130J is a multirole airlifter with night landing capability from football field-sized air strips and battlefields.
The IAF’s C-130Js will also be equipped with a midair refuelling probe.
The USAF and DoD are involved in overseeing the fulfilment of contractual obligations by Lockheed Martin, and at present, 10 IAF pilots are undergoing training as part of the support package. Eight more will be sent shortly.
Naik said that all aircraft now come with their simulators and support and training packages. There is renewed emphasis on training and safety, both of which are crucial for mission success.
On an earlier occasion, the air chief has observed that mission success means destruction of an enemy and safe return of own aircraft and pilots.
quadbikeThe Russkies aren’t afraid of the Indians running to LM- they know it won’t happen. Having said that, Pogosyan’s a pragmatist he’s known for a long time MMRCA is lost. The T-50 is his company’s crown jewel- it requires no ‘hard sell’ .
I think Russians are making a big mistake espeically with MMS government in charge. Never say never about LM. How about Gripen for MRCA and a JV with SAAB for 5th gen ?
quadbikeTejas Mk.2 will equate Gripen-NG and approach F-16 in performance.
My understanding is that the NG will have better performance than F 16.
quadbikeNo contract is signed. So we won’t know exactly, former ACM FH Major was quoted saying 2020+.
There is a small chance of the deal not happening as well.
quadbikeIAF to Airlift Heavy Bridging Equipment to Leh
In a bid to speed up rebuilding of bridges and restoration of road networks by Border Road Organisation (BRO) in flood-battered Leh, Indian Air Fore (IAF) today airlifted vital equipment, primarily bailey bridges, from Pathankote.
“With airlift of BSNL and Army’s communication equipment, IAF IL-76s are now readying to airlift 190 tonnes of the projected 800 tonnes load of vital bridging equipment, primarily bailey bridges, from Pathankote in Punjab to Leh”, a senior officer at Northern Command said tonight.
Eight IL-76 sorties are planned from sunrise tomorrowfrom the forward air base of Pathankot, he said.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has so far set up four bailey bridges and is in the process of setting up four more after the arrival of the bridging equipment, he said.
The BRO is engaged in clearing landslides to restore traffic on the Manali-Upshi-Mahe-Debring road, the officer said.
The road between Mahe and Debring had been cleared of landslides, he said.
As part of relief and rescue operations, the IAF made 161 sorties to Leh ravaged by recent flashfloods, the officer said.
Meanwhile, even as defence and civilian authorities are working round the clock on relief measures in Leh following the cloudburst, PSU IndianOil is doing its bit by providing cooking gas on credit-basis to affected persons.
The company has deployed its personnel to work with the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, the Army and Air Force, IndianOil said in a statement here today.
quadbikeIAF going in for massive upgrade of airfields, helipads
NEW DELHI: From new Sukhoi-30MKI bases at Chabua (Assam), Halwara (Punjab) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan) to one for Tejas fighters in Sulur (Tamil Nadu), IAF is going in for a massive upgrade of its airfield and helipad infrastructure across the country.
This will not only bolster operational logistics and flexibility on both the eastern and western fronts with China and Pakistan, apart from plugging existing gaps over central and peninsular India, but also make IAF airbases more accessible to civilian aircraft.
This is in tune with IAF’s aim to have 42 fighter squadrons by 2022, up from the existing 32, with progressive induction of 270 Sukhois, 126 multi-role combat aircraft, 120 indigenous Tejas Light Combat aircraft and the first lot of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft to be developed with Russia.
A major endeavour in all this is the soon-to-be-launched MAFI (modernisation of airfield infrastructure) programme, under which 30 of IAF’s 51 operational airbases will be upgraded in Phase-I over 42 months.
” Commercial negotiations with the Tata Power-led consortium for MAFI Phase-I, at a cost of around Rs 1,300 crore, is in the final stages now. Bhatinda airbase will be taken up as the pilot project,” said a source.
Under Phase-II, remaining IAF, Army, Navy and Coast Guard airfields will be modernised. The upgrade includes resurfacing, expansion and lighting of runways for night operations as well as installation of new tactical navigational (TACAN), instrument landing (Cat-2 ILS), air traffic management and air-to-ground radio communication (RCAG) systems.
The North-East is a major thrust area, with upgrade of airbases in Chabua, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Mohanbari, Hasimara, Guwahati and Bagdogra, among others. The Tezpur airbase already houses Sukhois after it underwent an upgrade last year.
Then, after reactivating western sector ALGs (advanced landing grounds) like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama in eastern Ladakh, IAF is now concentrating on upgrading eastern sector ALGs like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal.
This is meant to strategically counter China’s massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, which includes 14 airbases directed against India in Tibet.
The focus on the western front, of course, remains as sharp as before. The Phalodi airbase in Rajasthan, just 102 km away from the Pakistan border, for instance, began fighter operations earlier this year.
“The aim is to make all the bases capable of operating all kinds of aircraft. This will, for instance, allow our IL-78 mid-air refuellers to support fighters from virtually anywhere in the country,” said the source.
quadbikeR 77 is operational Astra is undergoing captive trials. My point was we are well on our way to achieving an R 77 equivalant ARH missile indigenously. So R 77 ToT may not appeal much. Things would be different if it is a next gen missile like the Meteor.
quadbikeWhatever progress you make in the thunder, it will still be a third generation airframe. IAF has different requirements to PAF, have more money and has the world courting them for new fighters, so things are a bit different.
We are License building Su 30MKIs now, just when you are license building 3rd gen JF 17.
I am sure if JF 17 was an Indian project IAF would not even have had a second look.
quadbikeSo the Miggie 35 is still alive after all this is getting interesting Hmmm… 🙂
The Russians should just pull some crazy stunt right here right now and offer R-77 ToT and have them integrate the Brahmos missile system onto the Fulcrums. And perhaps even lease them another Nuclear SSBN FREE of charge to lure the corrupt one’s in the government onto their side (Politics – only way to win is to play dirty too).
The MIG 35 being much smaller may not be able to carry the giant Brahmos. India already has its ARH missile program in Astra. R77 type doesn’t bring much to the table, ToT for something like the Meteor and then we are talking 😀
Russia leased India the Nerpa an SSN and not an SSBN.
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