If cost was the issue, then by how much does the cost of the RDM7 differ from that of the RDI ? one factor that the IAF was very particular about was fleet commonality, they did’nt want any major differences between their existing Mirages and the attrition reserves they procured.

Indian1973, the 126 fighter jets deal does not include the 66 Hawk AJTs that have already been purchased. This is a separate order, one that will be for 126 fighters most likely to be sourced from a single vendor.

Kaveri engine to be fitted on Tejas next year

BANGALORE: UNI

The indigenously-developed Kaveri engine will be fitted on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, next year, a top official of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) said here on Friday.

Suffering a serious delay, the Kaveri engine, whose revised development cost had been approved at Rs 2,800 crore, would undergo flightbed test in Russia later this year in prepartion to power the LCA, GTRE Director Dr K Ramachandra told UNI at the Aero India 2005.

As per the original schedule, the engine should have been ready last year.
”We are carrying out simultaneous studies to ensure that the Kaveri engine is fitted on LCA,” he said, brushing aside criticism over delay in its development. Even big aeroengine makers suffer delays in such major projects, he said, adding that the work was going on smoothly and the engine would go to Russia again for another high altitude test.

Dr Ramachandra said the engine had not broken down during the first high altitude test as was reported in a section of the Press. Certain snags were found and they had been rectified and the second high altitude test would take place next year. He was confident that the Kaveri would be ready to power the LCA next year and the production version ready by 2009.

The LCA project was given a boost when the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi announced at the Aero India earlier that the IAF had signed for 40 LCAs, including an optional purchase of 20 LCAs, with the HAL at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore. Currently three developmental aircraft were logging precious development flight hours, with more than 357 sorties already completed.

Dr Ramachandra said currently six engines were in the test bed. One of the possible candidate engines for flightbed test in Russia was fitted on LCA and displayed at the Aero Show. He said efforts were also being made to reduce the weight of the engine, currently around 1,235 kg, to around 1,100 kg.

In December last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the revised cost of the project at Rs 2,800 crore. By then, the DRDO had spent Rs 1,300 crore on the engine’s development.

From the Outlook,

Lockheed will respond through US govt to India’s request
BANGALORE, FEB 9 (PTI)

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, which has signed a technical assistance agreement with HAL on P-3C ‘Orion’ aircraft, today allayed fears of supply problems due to possible US sanctions, saying “mistrust belongs to the past” and that it would respond through the American government to India’s request for information on F-16 Falcon fighters, which the country has sought.

“There is a request for information on F-16s that has been received by the US government. The US government is studying that request and will respond to the Indian government through formal government channels,” Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Regional Vice President, Dennys Plessas told reporters on the sidelines of the Aero India air show here.

“We are willing, we have the desire to work together in addressing mutual interests,” he said, soon after announcing that Lockheed would reveal to India, the sensitive technology behind the P-3C Orion naval reconnaissance aircraft, to state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

“To my knowledge, this is the first such technical assistance agreement between the United States and the Indian defence industry,” he said.

“I think what you refer to as mistrust is something that belongs to the past. I see a new page, I see a new relationship. I see a relationship based on mutual respect and trust. There are common values that are shared between the two countries,” Plessas said, reacting to comments by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who earlier in the day said issues like dependability of supplies and technology transfers would have to be first sorted out before India decides to buy US military aircraft.

India’s military upgrades, as well as the indigenous development programmes suffered due to US sanctions imposed following the 1998 nuclear tests, which Washington lifted two years ago after the relationship between the two countries improved.

India’s navy is considering buying the P3-C variant of the Orion and has asked for technical information to be able to maintain the aircraft it would buy and also to produce it locally. “The agreement will enable HAL to refurbish, overhaul and co-produce the aircraft as necessary,” Plessas said.

awesome pics ! how much zoom did you use in most of these pics ?

IAF Garuds

MiG-29M2

Hawk

IAF Mirages with IL-78 Midas tanker

exactly, Srbin, the Mirage-2000-5MkII obviates the need for any similar fighters like the Gripen. as for the IAF, the interest shown in the Gripen is just token, doubt if they’re serious about acquiring it.