Vitaly Kuzmin’s photo-reportage of the 790th Fighter Regiment based @ Hotiilovo:

MiG-31:

http://vitalykuzmin.net/?q=node/354

MiG-31 & Su-27:

http://vitalykuzmin.net/?q=node/355

Su-27 maintenance & repair:

http://vitalykuzmin.net/?q=node/356

Is the full functionality being offered or is it a potential the aircraft can do? From my understanding nothing is published about what has been offered.

The Government of India has requested proposals from several foreign suppliers, including the United States, to provide the next generation attack helicopter for the Indian Air Force. In this competition, the Government of India has yet to select the Boeing-United States Army proposal. This notification is being made in advance so that, in the event that the Boeing- U.S. Army proposal is selected, the United States might move as quickly as possible to implement the sale. If the Government of India selects the Boeing-U.S. Army proposal, the Government of India will request a possible sale of 50 T700-GE-701D engines, 12 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars, 12 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometers, 812 AGM-114L-3 HELLFIRE LONGBOW missiles, 542 AGM-114R-3 HELLFIRE II missiles, 245 STINGER Block I-92H missiles, and 23 Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors, rockets, training and dummy missiles, 30mm ammunition, transponders, simulators, global positioning system/inertial navigation systems, communication equipment, spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment, support equipment, repair and return support, personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics support to be provided in conjunction with a proposed direct commercial sale of 22 AH-64D Block III APACHE Helicopters. The estimated cost is $1.4 billion.

http://www.deagel.com/news/FMS-India-Requests-Sale-of-22-AH-64D-Block-III-Apache-Helicopters_n000008262.aspx

The Block III Apache features a 701D engine, composite rotor blades, improved networking and communications avionics, and an Improved Drive System of the 21st Century — known as IDS-21 — Face Gear Transmission.

“The new 701D engine has a significant increase in reliability based on new coating, new metal and increased airflow which allows it to operate at higher temperatures,” Bailey said.

http://www.helihub.com/2011/04/08/first-next-generation-ah-64-block-iii-apache-under-construction/

Easily the most capable machine in the tender. Maybe the Indian Army can get a nice deal following the recent revelations @ Abbottabad! 😉

MiG-29UPG @ Zhukovskii today:

Just behind the cockpit there seems to be slight hump , is that for additional fuel not seen on other flankers ?

No, it appears to be some new avionics/EW kit. The ‘bump’ offset from the (new) OLS seems to be IFF. There’s a whole host of new stuff on the serial version. Awesome machine.

High-res c/o QuadroFX.

Kovy says you could almost fit the moon in Rafale’s radome, a size which should be adequate for those Meteors:

In theory using the same pylons that are used with the external fuel tanks solves this problem, but it creates another, lack of fuel.

What happened to Eurofighter’s CFT plans? Non-starter?

@Jo: Rafale would not have been short-listed if IAF was unwilling to purchase it. Come on.

Rafale makes the cut as per technical evaluation (at least that’s the official/public line), the points I mention (and L1) come into play between now & decision time- otherwise it would’ve been a shortlist of 1 (EF) :D.

However I still fear a dumping from the Eurofighter using the profit of Airbus (France created by half may I recall) to pay for the financial fiasco of the EADS defense department…

The numbers game:

At the edge of winning or losing the competition, both the semifinal contenders could cut down their prices by at least four to five million US$ per aircraft.

It may be noted that according to industry insiders, Rafale had put a quote of US$ 85 million per aircraft and Eurofighter $100 million per aircraft in flyaway condition in the recent Brazilian competition.

The cost of Boeing F/A 18 Super Hornet, which was also in this competition, is not known but its cost to the US Navy per aircraft was $ 49.9 million in 2007.

How much the Rafale and Eurofighter quote now is anybody’s guess, but $ 75 to 80 million per aircraft in flyaway condition is what I would wager on. The F 18 Super Hornet perhaps would have been in the range of $ 60 to 65 million…

http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories994.htm

Imo , we will see the F 35 operating from IN carriers within the next 10 years.

The IN is an official partner in the AMCA, so the F-35 could be a fall-back option.