Approval granted for issue of RFP for MRMR tender.
http://www.stratpost.com/india-approves-9-maritime-patrol-aircraft-buy

The Defense Acquisitions Council of the Ministry of Defense has accepted the necessity for procuring nine Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft for the Indian Navy. The Acceptance of Necessity (AON) this week came after the evaluation of data provided by vendors in response to the Request for Information (RFI) issued almost exactly a year back.

Interestingly, while earlier the perceived requirement was for six aircraft, this has now been upped by three, with an option for additional aircraft, the number of which is yet to be carved in stone.

Aircraft Manufacturers and Makes

Boeing: Boeing P-8 (Turbofan)

Airbus: Airbus A-319 (Turbofan)

Embraer: 145 MP (Turbofan)

Dassault: Falcon 900 MPA (Turbofan)

Saab: Saab 2000 (Turboprop)

ATR: ATR 72 (Turboprop)

Bombardier: Q400 (Turboprop)

Casa: C-295 (Turboprop)

Lockheed Martin: C-130 [Interestingly, the RFI had required the aircraft to be a twin engine aircraft. The four turboprop engines of the Hercules may be considered to merely exceed requirements. And the same goes for the Dassault Falcon’s three engines.]

so will the indian AEW&C aircraft be used for monitoring Indian waters? I know the IN will buy the P-8i but will these DRDO aircraft be used to complement those?

No, that would be done by MRMR aircraft.

recent citation from Pogosyan: “T-50-4 fill fly till the end of 2012”

That should mean an average of 3+ prototypes for the next 3 years for “14 prototypes before then end of 2015” statement :rollseyes:

http://www.frontline.in/stories/20120309290411800.htm

A detailed article about the capabilities of DRDO-EMB-145 AEWCS

While this aircraft will now undergo a full certification process over the next two years, India will receive two more Embraer aircraft by the middle of next year to be integrated with the AEW&C System.

The Indian AESA radar is the primary sensor for the indigenous AEW & C. The radar can look 240 degrees within a short time and has a range of 350 km; it can track more than 500 targets simultaneously.

The Defence Acquisition Council has given approval for the indigenous development of 2,700 IFF systems and the Services want a single-box solution in the IFF system. The government has the option of buying the remaining 500 IFF systems in the global market.

India chopper deal figures in Italy graft investigation

The deal for choppers for VVIP transport is under investigation in Italy. Also under investigation is the contract to supply radar and other equipment for IAC by Selex.

Does it mean that US will purchase meteors ?

Livefist just tweeted that two of the MMRCA committee members are in opposition of Rafale being declared L1. Brace for impact fellas.

What’s unfair about cost cutting? x and y are 2 dealers who sell tomatoes in a street market. They buy tomatoes at the same price. Both x and y sell for a higher price than the price they pay but dealer x sells at a lower price than dealer y. Is it unfair if dealer x is prepared to make a smaller gross profit than dealer y? I don’t think it is unfair commercial practice.

Trading in aircraft is far more complex and India has not been offered the same product by x and y but is it unfair if x and y do not make the same profit margin? I don’t think it is. In any case it seems that Eurofighter cannot win on price – they could reduce their profit margin to 0% and Dassault would be able to offer a lower price and still make make a profit.

Although common sense would have us believe that, but such practices amount to dumping which endanger both the vendor and customer in case of unexpected market fluctuation and is detrimental to competition. However we should wait till the contract is inked before commenting on it.