Dhruv
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinodkumarm/4163454223/sizes/l/

That picture should be backed up with “Ride of Valkyries” 🙂

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/12/mmrca-jet-deal-results-expected-in.html

3rd week of January.

One possible reason for the rafale to lose :

-Better offset package from Typhoon Gmbh

While it has been long known that the supplier with the cheaper fighter (procurement, operation, upgrades etc) will have to offer lower amount of offsets, how exactly will the offsets be accounted for hasn’t been made public yet. That.. could be interesting.

Out of curiosity, anyone have any idea over how many years India would want the 126 MMRCA’s to be delivered?

Eurofighter should be able to deliver the initial 18 quite quickly (diversion from partner countries).

If Dassault’s line is capable of producing 30 per annum – 19 more than the current level, they should be able to increase production to deliver the initial 18 without great problems.

How long would it take HAL to set up a line and start assembling frames 19 onwards? With the experience gained through Tejas, would it take long?

Would we see 18 frames being delivered from Europe then a pause until the first HAL-built aircraft emerged from their line?

First 18 will start arriving by 2014 and the HAL assembly line should start by 2016, so neither of the developers should have a problem. Between the signing of the contract and first deliveries, hopefully, there should be integration of some Indian sub systems, mainly communication suite, operational datalink, IFF and maybe a few components in the avionics suite.
It may be entirely possible that the initial 18 are very close to the stock versions with customisation happening later on. Although no one has come out with an exact date, but Indian production line can run anywhere upto 2022 or even 2025.

>> I am not the IAF. Just showing my personal disappointment.

Twinny when a real war comes the differences will show.

Why do you want the design bureau to spend considerable funds and energy to reduce the signature of an engine which isn’t even the definitive one ?

Captured screenshots from vesti-24 video, possible t-50-3 ?

http://www.vesti.ru/only_video.html?vid=377869

By twin_blade at 2011-11-22

By twin_blade at 2011-11-22

By twin_blade at 2011-11-22

By twin_blade at 2011-11-22
By twin_blade at 2011-11-22

With the new cost saving M88 being ready (40% redesign) and the Indians going for mirage 2000 upgrade and micas missiles it seems that the rafale should have some good assets to be the clear L1 over a 40 years period.

The M88 being already the smaller engine, the operating cost gap should normally be quite significant with this improvement.

Good news Eagle1, any link ?

If India signs a contract next year, they can surely get up and running on component manufacture before 2018? Perhaps I don’t live in the real world but I used to work in Formula One. I don’t recall anyone taking 5 years+ to design, develop, test and produce components for next year’s car!

It’s amazing how quickly things can be done if you work within a culture where time matters.

Well I was just basing my expectations (or keeping them down) on the Mki deal, where the deal was signed in 2000, the assembly line delivered first airframes in 2004, and the ability to manufacture/assemble all components in the scope of ToT was gained after 90+ airframes in 2011. However the times are different and the technology gap a little smaller, so I would not be surprised if the Indian line starts assembly with the supplier base for several technologies already established (like vendors for MFDs, suppliers of raw material for composite panels). If deal is signed next year, with production line opening up in 2016, and keeping past history in mind, 2018 seems a very reasonable date for absorption of adequate levels of production technology to make any significant difference to the cost of components being made in India.