Iran shows new footage of Q-313 ‘stealth’ fighter

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When it was first revealed on 2 February 2013, the original aircraft was immediately met with almost universal derision from the international press with design features that showed the aircraft to be fundamentally flawed. These included (but were not limited to) features that suggested no fly-by-wire control of the aircraft, poorly positioned air inlets, and an almost comically small cockpit (complete with a Perspex canopy).

While the recently broadcast footage shows the F-313 to be broadly similar in nature to the mock-up, some changes are apparent. While the original had shown a single-engined configuration, the new aircraft is a twin-engined designed. It has a beefed-up undercarriage, complete with a twin nosewheel; a two-piece canopy in place of the single-piece one of the mock-up; and is now at least large enough to accommodate a pilot.

Even so, many of the previously revealed design flaws remain. These include too small and poorly positioned air inlets that would likely cut air flow to the engines at even the slightest angle-of-attack; a wing-chord that is too thick for high speed performance; a retractable sensor turret that would limit the aircraft’s speed when deployed; engines that appear to have no exhaust nozzles; and an overall design configuration that looks far from stealthy in just about every aspect. Aside from the apparent design flaws, a feature of the footage that casts doubt over the veracity of the aircraft is that the rudders do not seem to move in sync with the nosewheel, as should normally be the case.

Peru receives final locally produced KT-1P trainer

Vietnamese Air Force shops for new trainer jet

With news emerging that India is interested in buying the remaining 12 Malaysian MiG-29N and MiG-29UBs and in turn provide for a service center for Su-30MKM spares, it might just provide a little more impetus for the MRCA buy. Getting rid of the Fulcrum fleet will free up some cash, in addition to getting some cash from the sale, which would be welcome.

Statements made recently about cooperation with countries that operate the Rafale (most likely India, which trains RMAF pilots on the Su-30MKM and had a hand in the selection of the MiG-29N originally) would seem to indicate that the Indian buy of Rafales with the possibility of shared training and cooperation in spares supply is an additional plus point for the Rafale.

From AW&ST

India Plans Bulk Buy of Israel Barak-I Missiles

India will soon buy more than 100 Barak-I surface-to-air missiles (SAM) from Israel for about 5 billion rupees ($77 million). Rafael’s Barak short-range SAMs are installed on most of the navy’s front-line warships, including its only aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya.

“The new missiles are urgently needed to replace the current ones,” a defense ministry official says. The Indian navy took delivery of the first batch of 262 Barak-Is in 2015 to arm its 14 main warships. Deliveries of that first batch will continue until 2020. The spokesman did not mention when India will start taking delivery of the new order.

The naval point defense system is vertically launched. A shipborne radar monitors the intercept and continuously guides the missile to its target. The missile has a short minimum range (a few hundred meters), and 10-km (6-mi.) maximum range against air targets.

Meanwhile, the Indian navy recently issued a global request for information (RFI) for a new short-range SAM system that would eventually replace the Barak-I. The RFI delineates a requirement for 10 vertical-launch SAM systems and 600 missiles for installation onboard its vessels. “We are looking for a missile system that is adequate to engage [targets traveling up to] Mach 3,” an Indian navy spokesman says, without specifying the range. Vendors have been asked to indicate the shortest tentative time schedule for supplying the systems, he added.

MBDA, Thales, Saab, Raytheon, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have already shown interest. A full-fledged tender under the “Make in India” policy is likely to be issued later this year, and the system is expected to be inducted within the next five years.

—Jay Menon in New Delhi

India contracts IAI for nearly $2 billion for LR-SAM and MR-SAM Barak ER

Actually they started with three options: CFTs, relocate landing gear, and make the Gripen longer. They chose to go with a combination of the latter two. Gripen E is 15.2m long and has a width of 8.6m compared to 14.1m and 8.4m for Gripen C (Gripen D is a 14.8m long).

Of course I do not know if all this extra space is used for fuel, perhaps some of it is used for other purposes… perhaps it also partly explains the increase in empty weight?

Edit: This is a nice summary: http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/09/asd_09_25_2014_jas7.pdf

Internal fuel capacity increases by 50%…

Thanks for the reply to that question.

Question for those who may know more on the Gripen development plans- was the idea of conformal fuel tanks for the Gripen ever taken forward? FG has an article from 2001 that talks about an enhanced Gripen that would feature CFTs. Or was this subsumed into the Gripen NG/E program wherein the additional fuel was to be included internally ?