LokeAir Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on Sunday said the contract for supply of 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MCRA) to Indian Air Force will be signed soon.
“Evaluation of six aircraft from the bidding companies has been completed and details have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence which is expected to take a final decision soon,” Air Chief Marshal Naik told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
[…]
“The evaluation report will be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Security, after which the process of awarding contract would be initiated,” he said.
He said that it would take another year to sign the contract and the delivery of first batch of 18 aircraft would be received within three years after the orders are placed.
The Defence Ministry has allocated Rs. 42,000 crore for the purchase of 126 aircraft.
So will they really decide soon?
LokeIn the long taxiway is soon a small queue of F-16 aircraft to the air. It is the last Tuesday in August, and that means air combat over Sweden. Sometimes the Swedes over here to train, for example, in the seas off Lofoten. Other times there is a meeting between Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish fighter pilots over the Finnmark plateau and northern Finland.
The agreement to conduct joint training between the Nordic countries started two years ago. Earlier, Swedish and Finnish air space inviolate for Norwegian fighter aircraft. But the agreement has proved so successful that they now meet the air war almost weekly.
[…]
– But who is really best in the Nordic air battle?
It is difficult to determine over time. Often it is chance that decides. OK, let’s put it this way: With a clean slate and aircraft that are the same set up, turns tighter and the Gripen is rising faster than an F-16, after all it is a newer aircraft. But the experienced Norwegian pilots also managed to outmaneuver the Gripen.
Complete story:
Original link:
Loke“that’s old dude” :diablo:
LokeNavy pilot: F-35B bad call by Marines
In proclaiming the F-35B a critical capability for the future of Marine Corps aviation and pursuing no viable alternatives to its full-scale procurement, the service’s leadership has accepted an untenable amount of risk. The Marine Corps must, at least privately, explore options to the wholesale procurement of the F-35B or prepare to weather the turbulence — as it did with the MV-22 Osprey — of a complex STOVL program entering flight testing and the inevitable setbacks that will cause pundits to question the viability of Marine Corps fixed-wing tactical aviation. The Corps needs the F-35B, but it cannot afford — doctrinally or fiscally — to have only the F-35B.
The service needs a new STOVL aircraft to enable Operational Maneuver from the Sea as a viable doctrine and to support Marines on the ground no matter where they land. The F-35B is the only aircraft poised to fill that role in time to replace the aging Harrier fleet, but alternatives to its wholesale adoption exist. Inexorably tying the future of Marine Corps aviation to a publicly flailing program, however, is not prudent.
http://blogs.star-telegram.com/sky_talk/2010/09/navy-pilot-f-35b-bad-call-by-marines.html
Loke11 extra Rafale to France in 2013
A more readable version:
The Air Force has at least two reasons to rejoice today. On the one hand, it hosts the 2010 edition at Istres summer schools of the defense, great appointment military-industrial complex. Most importantly, it will get more Rafale few years ahead. The export contracts expected for this fighter was slow to materialize, the MoD will have to buy 11 more than expected to Dassault Aviation in 2013.
Invoice amount: 800 million euros according to several sources. An extension that-obviously-did not facilitate the preparation of the next triennial budget of the army.
How did this happen? In 2008, when the department prepares law on military programming period 2009-2014, it builds on the success of the Rafale export. He envisions the delivery of a copy in 2011, then 4 in 2012 and 6 in 2013.
Echaudé by the failure of the Moroccan campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy had made the purchase of this national treasure abroad a priority. And then, several promising avenues were open: Brazil, United Arab Emirates and even Libya. Not illogical to imagine that these conditions Dassault can deliver his first foreign customers at relatively short notice.
First deliveries in 2014
In parallel, the State has undertaken to the manufacturer on a rate of 11 aircraft per year, minimum threshold below which the manufacturer no longer felt able to maintain its prices. But hoped well not having to buy all this production. Given the other needs of the Army, the Department was not displeased to stagger the payments, even at the expense of increasing power squadron of Rafale in France. The concern is that no contract has been signed. Negotiations in the UAE have not been completed. According to “Defense News”, Abu Dhabi would look as the Boeing F18, what one calls a rumor in Paris. Libya blows hot and cold. And in Brazil, President Lula will not decide anything (if he chooses) before the presidential elections of October 3. And even as he inclined to the French plane, the few months necessary to implement a contract that made the first deliveries will not occur until 2014.Given the commitments made with Dassault, the defense is going to have to take delivery of 11 Rafale earlier than expected. The financial impact is not neutral as it is added to the 3.6 billion euro budget sacrificed to reduce the deficit. Hence the shift of a large number of programs (see below).
All is not negative as long as these 11 aircraft will not be payable thereafter. And the prospect of starting to deliver Rafale export in 2014 remains intact.
72.7 million Euros (93.5 million USD) a piece — does anybody know what is included in that price?
Loke“We are in the final stages of placing orders to acquire 126 multi-fighter aircrafts from US, France or Sweden within a year,” Air Marshal Anil Chopra told reporters during his visit to the Sainik School here.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/948672_IAF-to-acquire-126-multi-fighter-aircrafts-soon-
So Mig and Typhoon are out ?
LokeWell it seems that France is going to buy all the 11 Rafale produced in 2013 (?)
The Army will acquire 11 additional aircraft Rafale 2013, according to the daily Les Echos. One consequence of the absence of foreign sales of fighter aircraft designed by Dassault, which represent 11 million euros.
The state has indeed been involved with the manufacturer to guarantee him a rate of 11 aircraft per year, or breakeven program at no extra cost. During the 2009-2014 military programming law, the State was relying on orders from abroad to satisfy this requirement.
The lack of opportunities in negotiations with Brazil, the UAE, and Libya is tantamount to advance the delivery of Gusts in the Air Force. “These 11 aircraft will no longer pay later”, says Les Echos.
LokeWhat is a bit funny though is that it took them so long — I thought the French were hoping that the negotiations were moving towards a conclusion?
It will take time to implement a competition which means that everything will be quite delayed.
But I guess with their quite modern Mirage they may not be in a terrible hurry?
LokeSome possible explanations:
a) The US may be willing to change their policy and allow something similar to Black Shaheen on UAE SH.
b) UAE could keep some of the Mirage for the Black Shaheen only.
c) UAE has decided that they don’t need that capability anymore.
d) UAE will go for Rafale; this is just another “fake competition” to reduce the Rafale price.
LokeSo the F18 is already “there” while the Rafale needs 90kN engines to compete? I call BS on that one.
I’m sure there are currently more radar modes on the SH but besides that WTF are they on about?
Either the US put political pressure to secure an order, or the UAE went to the US to put pressure on Dassault to lower their bid.
Nic
Well a previous article seemed to indicate that the Rafale AESA had also shorter range than the F-16 bl. 60 — I would not be surprised if the SH AESA has longer range than the bl. 60. And as you notice there is also the issue of different radar modes.
Then there may also be some issues with the EWS, as indicated in the article.
However the sources also claim that it’s not about technology; my guess it’s more about technology vs cost.
On the one hand they can buy the SH as is; on the other they can pay a lot to upgrade Rafale to the wanted tech level and in addition pay a higher price per unit than for the SH. Perhaps the UAE looked at it and decided competition was the way to go.
Maybe they also learned something from the F-16 bl. 60 story? Not a single Bl. 60 has been sold to any other country.
LokeNorway to get F-35s in 2018?
Government postpones elections of fighter base until 2012. Therefore must Bodø, Orland and Evenes still lubricate themselves with patience.
Hundred Questions
Secretary of State Roger Ingebrigtsen (Labour) confirmed to Times that the case is now scheduled to be treated politically in early 2012. He will not schedule further when the decision is taken.“This is a hundred questions. We must live with the decision in many years, and it is important to spend time. Moreover, we can see it in close connection with the entire combat aircraft project has been delayed,” said Ingebrigtsen.
Waiting for F35
Postponement is justified by the development of the new F35 fighter planes is 18 months overdue. It probably means that Norway’s new fighter is not operational in 2016, first expected, but perhaps first in 2018.Thus, the decision to base selection for aircraft only be made after the election in 2011.
LokeWell if they want a good and relatively inexpensive 5. gen fighter may I suggest the F-35 that will be operated also by fellow NATO countries…?
Or are you still worried about Turkey? If yes you could perhaps consider strengthen the ties with Israel and try to obtain F-35i…
If that’s not an option then yes the PAK FA seems attractive. The PAK FA may be the only fighter that realistically will be able to handle the F-35 in an effective manner, IMHO.
The only alternative would be to buy large numbers of 4.5 gen fighters and then the Gripen NG should be the obvious choice due to low operating costs.
Quantity is a quality of it’s own.
LokeI’ve just posted a new pool on my blog : what weapons shoul be integrated on the Rafale.
http://rafalenews.blogspot.com/
I’m interested in your opinion on the subject 🙂
Congratulations with a nice blog.
I am tempted to suggest a small addition to your list of weapons that should be integrated: the JSM.
LokeNow its official..Rafale will be announced winner in October..
Famous last words…? :diablo:
LokeLatest rumor from Brazil
…those same sources say that is growing within the circle of the federal government to “sympathy” for the Gripen in the process of choosing the F-X2 fighter, even for political reasons, reflections of positions contrary to Brazil in recent international decisions involving Iran’s wait a little longer to give …
Sign In
