French Tiger HAD Block2 qualifies

French Def Min heads to Delhi with MMRCA on the agenda

from the article..

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Senior IAF officers told IHS Jane’s that it was unlikely that the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract for the Rafales would be signed during Le Drian’s visit, but affirmed that the trip could help progress towards a deal by the end of the current financial year in March 2015.

Official sources said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had completed negotiations with Dassault on a large part of the draft contract, which reportedly runs to about 15,000 pages.

Under the terms of the contract, 18 Rafales are to be delivered to the IAF in flyaway condition within 36 months of the deal being signed. The remaining 108 would be licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The sources said the impasse over Dassault’s reluctance to accept responsibility for these 108 platforms – with regard to delivery schedules, quality assurance, and liquidated damages – which had stalled the deal for months, had now been settled.

“Both sides [Rafale and HAL] have arrived at a compromise that appears acceptable to the MoD,” a senior IAF officer said. This resolves a major blockade that was delaying the contract after Rafale was shortlisted in January 2012 from among six contenders vying for the MMRCA tender, he added.

Final approval is now awaited from the MoD’s Cost Negotiation Committee, officials said.

“The Rafale deal is likely to be signed sooner than later, possibly within the next few months,” military analyst Air Marshal V K Bhatia (retd) said. “It seems that the new [Bharatiya Janata Party] BJP government is mindful of the IAF’s dire operational requirements”.

KFX/IFX program now being used by both SAAB and Eurofighter to further their campaign. With the program design most likely will be used GE-414 or EJ200 class engine, both SAAB and Eurofighter banked on commonality card on campaigning their respective fighters. For me, I see more and more (based on ROK media and forums) the likelihood of 414 being chosen for KFX. With smaller amounts, I don’t think Indonesian version will used different engine with KFX.

This seems will add more points for SAAB, apart from operational cost and procurement budget compared to Eurofighter. Still LM which more likely come out as Tech partner for KFX/IFX program can come out with another card to further F-16 inventory in Indonesian AF. If I’m betting man, despite SAAB and Eurofighter strong campaign in Indodefence recently, I still see more F-16 come out as F-5 and latter on Hawk 200 replacement. Then again, seems SAAB increasingly gaining confidence for Gripen for TNI-AU.

What is the procurement timeline, the proposed dates of induction for the F-5 replacement? is the Gripen C/D being offered or the Gripen E?

Some details on the KF-X’s Indonesian variant, the IF-X emerged at the Indo Defence Show and this article provides them.

Indonesia moves forward fighter programs

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Last month Indonesia committed to providing 20 percent of the development funding as the project moves into the full development phase. Some details of the aircraft emerged during last week’s Indo Defence show, held in Jakarta.

In the summer South Korea settled on the twin-engine, single-seat C103 design as the basis for the KF-X/IF-X. The engines will offer a combined thrust of at least 36,000 pounds, and two contenders are the Eurojet EJ200 and General Electric F414. The aircraft is similar in configuration to the F-22, with chined nose and outward-canted fins. Alignment of the leading edges of the wings, root extensions and tailplanes is 40 degrees aft sweep, while trailing edges are aligned 10 degrees forward. The wings have an aspect ratio of 2.7:1. The caret-shaped intakes offer a capture area of 781 sq in.

Up to 16,000 pounds of stores can be carried on 10 hardpoints, including four staggered recesses under the fuselage for the semi-conformal carriage of missiles in the AMRAAM class. The IF-X model on show at Indo Defence was displayed with guided glide bombs. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense is currently undertaking a research program for a range-extension and precision guidance kit for application to Mk 80-series unguided weapons, and intends to make its first test drops next year.

While South Korea has yet to decide who will lead the program, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI, the state-owned airframer) will take the major role in Indonesia’s participation. Lockheed Martin is also to be involved with some technology transfer, a stipulation of South Korea’s recent purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. KF-X and IF-X will be similar in most respects, but with some local suppliers contributing to the Indonesian version. Avionics specialist Infoglobal has been selected to provide cockpit displays and other systems for the IF-X. First flight is expected around 2020, with service-entry around 2024/25.

In the medium term Indonesia is seeking an F-5 replacement. An RFI was issued in the summer of last year, and an RFP is expected early next year. A number of OEMs are bidding for this contract, which will initially be for 16 multi-role aircraft. Lockheed Martin (F-16), Sukhoi (Su-35), Saab (Gripen NG) and Eurofighter (Typhoon) are in the running. Sukhoi has been supplying Su-27/30 Flankers to Indonesia in small batches for some time, and this may play in its favor.

However, under Indonesian law new defense acquisitions must include a minimum 30-percent direct offset, while the selection criteria have been weighted 30 percent for aircraft/system performance, 30 percent acquisition/life-cycle costs and 40 percent for industrial cooperation. Both Saab and Eurofighter are offering attractive cooperation packages that include technology transfer, local production and development work. Each company has been holding talks with PTDI to finalize its joint industrial proposals.

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