I think it’s rather unlikely for the Rafale to be eliminated if its performance in the UAE is any indication of its capabilities. Remember the Rafale beat out even the F-15K in the Korean technical evaluation, was short listed in the Brazilian competition, and leads in the Brazilian technical evaluation,

According to some sources Gripen was ranked numero uno also on the technical evaluation in Brazil…. and Rafale was ranked last, after SH.

India to speed up MMRCA process

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE61H07420100219?type=marketsNews

NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (Reuters) – India will narrow down the number of bidders by mid-2010 for its $11 billion fighter jet tender, a minister said, in a closely watched deal where diplomacy and strategic interests will play a big role.

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 is competing with Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russia’s MiG-35, Sweden’s Saab (SAABb.ST) JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, produced by a consortium of European companies.

The acquisition of 126 air and ground attack fighters will elevate India’s air force to a super-power status, with deployments planned near the western and northeast borders to tackle any threats from Pakistan or China, officials say.

India fears China could be trying to strategically encircle it as they jostle for resources and global influence, while Pakistan has the U.S. F-16 fighters in its fleet, forcing New Delhi to buy planes that can shoot at targets 30 miles away.

“The trials should conclude by the middle of this year,” Pallam Raju, India’s junior defence minister, told Reuters on the sidelines of an arms fair in New Delhi this week.

“Once the trials are concluded, then we will be looking into the financial bids. We are speeding up things.”

While Lockheed’s F-16 has completed trials which began last August, the other five, including the MiG-35 from Russia, India’s traditional supplier of weapons, and Sweden’s Gripen, are in the midst of field trials. The phased trials will end by April.

It really makes no sense whatsoever to contemplate a third type ! unless they’re planning a back-up option in case the N-LCA is not successful due to weight issues. in which case it would be better to go with a proven type like the Rafale M or Super Hornet or the F-35B if offered. BTW, in this N-LCA case, the US is showing its true colours- Lockheed Martin after winning the bid to consult with ADA on possible ways to reduce the landing gear weight, has not yet begun as its not been able to get the required licences.

I think you’re right in assuming that this is a backup strategy.

Would the Rafale or SH be able to fly off the smallish Indian carriers?

Saab presents naval Gripen to Navy

http://www.stratpost.com/gripen-presents-naval-variant-to-navy

Gripen has made presentations of its Sea Gripen fighter aircraft to the Indian Navy last week.

Tony Ogilvy, Vice President, International Marketing for Gripen informed StratPost that his company had made presentations to the navy last week and said the response was ‘very good’.

Ogilvy, who is also a former Royal Navy Buccaneer and Sea Harrier pilot, said the ‘inherent design characteristics’ of the Gripen aircraft make it ‘very similar to a deck based aircraft’.

He said that in the two-hour presentation, which took place last Friday, Sea Gripen’s salt water protection characteristics and maritime operational engine and its ability to operate off both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers were some of the features highlighted.

According to Ogilvy, the Sea Gripen is being especially pitched to nations which are looking for compact carriers and are not necessarily interested in global force projection capabilities. The aircraft is said to have a very small footprint and is very easy to operate off smaller carriers.

So would the Sea Gripen be good for the Indian 40,000 ton Vikrant class carrier under construction? “Perfect,” said Ogilvy.

Loke, please don’t correct gammar if you are going to misspell. 😉

:confused:

SPECTRA does play a role in any engagement. You’re infrared seekers are slaved to fire control, which in many situations uses a radar lock to align the seeker to a target. There are few countries with the technical know-how to silently intercept without some kind of emmissions. SPECTRA gives the pilot awareness 90% of the time by that fact alone. Not all emmissions are from transmitters. The mere act of cutting air with your airframe gives off emmissions detectable out to about 10km.

Are those emissions IR?

AFAIK WVR is normally considered to be less than 5 nm (10 km).

Now it’s official — Gripen NG will get the Selex Skyward-G IRST:

http://www.selex-sas.com/EN/Common/files/SELEX_Galileo/Press_Releases/PRSELEXGalileo_15_02_2010_IRST_NG_Gripen_ENG.pdf

Do you think it is possible to replace with EJ200 EPE in time for Brazil and India competitions? Also is it possible to add Conformal Fuel Tanks to increase the range of Gripen ?(Although it carries external drop tanks too, but rafale came with CFT variant too)

The range of Gripen NG is excellent, it has increased internal fuel with 40% compared to current Gripen. No need for CFT.

Gripen NG can do a 1300 km radius a2a mission with 6 a2a missiles and 30 minutes on-station using only one drop tank — if you want to go even further you can add another drop tank.