Thanks for these updates Mildave, been real useful. =)

Glad you enjoyed it.

Reliance-backed consortium bags Rs 1000 cr deal to install CCTVs in Mumbai

This is a major project undertaken by the Reliance-backed consortium that seeks to enter the homeland security, defence and aerospace market in India, reports RS Chauhan

Mumbai can soon hope to have better preventive security across the megapolis.

A Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries-backed consortium, led by the Mumbai [ Images ]-based Allied Digital Services Ltd or ADSL, has won a Rs 1000-crore tender to install closed circuit cameras and sensors throughout Mumbai. ADSL is a technology services company with a focus on infrastructure management.

The Maharashtra government had invited tenders for the project in the wake of the November 2008 terror attack by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists that killed over 170 people.

The plan is for installation of cameras and sensors all over Mumbai and their integration with command and control centres, something that is done in many cities around the world, particularly in the British capital of London where every movement on roads, pavements, dark corners and public places is recorded.

This is believed to be a major project undertaken by the Reliance consortium that seeks to enter the homeland security, defence and aerospace market in India.

In June, the Mumbai-based giant incorporated the Reliance Aerospace Technologies (P). This venture, headed by Dr Vivek Lall, will undertake production of aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, onboard equipment and various defence equipment in collaboration with foreign partners.

The RIL group has also signed an agreement with French Dassault to manufacture some systems for its Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft in India. Rafale emerged as the winner in the over 18-billion dollars worth contract to buy 126 combat jets for the Indian Air Force. Although the Indian government and the French manufacturers are yet to sign the final contract, Reliance has already entered into partnership with Rafael [mistake for Rafale?].

Dr Vivek Lall, a distinguished aerospace expert who is president and CEO, formerly worked with NASA, Raytheon and Boeing. Dr Lall has also been associated with a homeland security body set up by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
RS Chauhan in New Delhi

First landing of Rafale to AIA Clermont-Ferrand [video]
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Boeing sweetens Brazil fighter jet offer: report

U.S. aerospace company Boeing Co has offered to transfer more technology to Brazil if the government upgraded its Air Force fighter fleet with the firm’s F-18 Super Hornet jet, a local paper reported on Saturday.

Boeing vice president of the F/A-18 program, Mike Gibbons, said his company would offer Brazilian “companies the opportunity to construct components for the new Super Hornets and other future projects of Boeing,” according to O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper.

He did not go into detail about the expanded technology deal Boeing was offering, if the government chooses to award the American company Latin America’s most coveted multi-billion-dollar defense contract.

In February, government sources told Reuters that Brazil was very likely to award the contract to France’s Dassault for its Rafale fighter. Dassault is offering unrestricted technology sharing to win the contract.

But since 2011, Boeing has been tipping the scales back in its favor by expanding its business ties with Brazil.

In June, Boeing and Brazilian aerospace designer Embraer said they would collaborate on some aspects of developing Embraer’s KC-390 military transport and refueling jet, tightening relations between the two countries’ defense industries.

And on July 10, Embraer announced plans for Boeing to supply a new weapons system for its light attack fighter, strengthening its offer in a fiercely contested bid for a U.S. Air Force contract in Afghanistan.

Dassault Falcon to Provide Technical Support for Operators Traveling to the London Olympics

It doesn’t produce more thrust per say, but allows the aircraft to use the existing thrust more efficiently while reducing fuel consumption.
😮 I need to find my readings on that subject…

We need to leave the monkey model 21/23s aside as this is not the question we need to ask.. We are talking F-22/Typhoon/Rafale now, so let us seek historical counterparts.

Was the F-15 able to “completely outclass” fighters like Tornado ADV or Mirage 2000C? Was the F-15 so much forward in aicraft design if you count the later cancelled Mirage 4000 into equation? I personally doubt it although I do see certain advantages of the Eagle compared to the ADV (slotted array radar, airframe with more growth potential, better TWR…)

The F-15 advantages were mostly in BVR compared with the ADV or Mirage 2000 (at least in the early version of these aircraft), while it would retain its advantages in WVR over the ADV, it would certainly not against the Mirage…
The F-22 might have some advantages over Typhoon/Rafale, but it also has question marks over sustainability, reliability and affordability the F-15 didn’t (at least as far as I’m aware).

There is also going to be question marks over how affordable and profitable it’s to upgrade and since contrary to the F-15, the US is the only operator of the F-22, keeping it relevant might be less than profitable for LM and the USAF. As such it’s not unreasonable to believe that Typhoon/Rafale might catch up in the sensors and ESM area especially if they can benefit from exports-specific requirements and developments.

Hopefully that should put some salt (a lot of actually) into BAE’s claim…