More Evidence for Growing Indo U.S Ties.
AERO INDIA: India may relaunch attack helicopter contest
By Siva GovindasamyIndia’s $500 million attack helicopter competition is hanging in the balance, with the country considering whether it should issue a fresh request for proposals that would allow US companies to enter the contest.
New Delhi had issued an RFP in May 2008 and hoped to evaluate the AgustaWestland AW129, Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, Bell AH-1Z SuperCobra, Eurocopter Tiger, Kamov Ka-50 and Mil Mi-28 for the 22-aircraft requirement.
Bell and Boeing, however, pulled out late last year over India’s insistence that it purchase the helicopters directly from the manufacturers. Both the Apache and Cobra are available only through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales mechanism. In addition, Boeing felt that it was not given adequate time to respond to the RFP.
Industry sources say that technical evaluations were scheduled to begin in early 2009 and flight trials were to have taken place over the summer, but none of the remaining manufacturers have heard from the Indian government.
“There are worries that the Indian government may decide to go for a new RFP that allows the American companies to take part. If it does, that is very unfair to the other companies that submitted their bids on time and had no issues with the original RFP. They might as well simply issue a new RFP to the Americans if they are so eager to accommodate Washington,” says an official from one of the manufacturers.
The air force hopes to sign a contract within two years and complete deliveries within a further three-year period. The tender is to replace the service’s ageing Mil Mi-35 fleets.
Its requirements include a twin-engined design capable of operating in all weather and terrain and of deploying turret-housed guns, rockets, and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. EADS and India’s Defence Avionics Research Establishment will pursue a requirement for an electronic warfare self-protection suite, having jointly developed and tested a new missile warning system based on the European company’s AAR-69 MILDS system.
I fear we are pissing off the Europeans a bit way too much.
On the possible F 18 G to India. It seems to me that both Scooter and I as well as MM11 and others were right. It seems to me that Boeing is ready to offer a Lite version of the Growler with Awareness rather than attack capabilities to export customers.
AERO INDIA: Boeing reveals plans for ‘Growler Lite’
By Andrew DoyleBoeing plans to market an EA-18G “Growler Lite” tailored for an “electronic awareness” role rather than attack.
The manufacturer believes that offering what it internally refers to as the Growler Lite could boost export sales prospects for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, following the arrival of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter in the international market.
The strategy would prevent jammer pod releasibility issues from holding up incremental EA-18G export sales to Super Hornet customers. The USA’s next-generation jammer is not expected to become operational until around the middle of the next decade. The ALQ-99 tactical jamming pod which equips the US Navy’s Super Hornets is no longer in production.
“There is some interest in having just the awareness, not the attack,” says Bob Gower, Boeing vice president F/A-18 and EA-18 programmes, speaking at the Aero India airshow in Bangalore. “This came from discussions with customers,” he adds.
An air force equipped with a couple of squadrons of Super Hornets could use around four “electronic awareness” Growler Lites to enhance its battlespace management capabilities, says Gower, and ensure that attacking aircraft are able to safely enter and leave the conflict zone.
“One element of that is to understand where the threats are,” says Gower. “Part of our strategy will be to sell Super Hornets where Growlers help. It’s a great market-shaping opportunity for us.”
As well as jammer pod exportability issues, some nations may be reluctant to raise regional tensions by introducing an electronic attack capability, says Gower.
He adds that Boeing could begin formally marketing the Growler Lite this year, but not in time for June’s Paris Air Show.
Boeing is planning to offer ‘Growler Lite’ to potential export customers
India is evaluating the Super Hornet alongside five other fighter types from European, Russian and US manufacturers as part of its 126-aircraft medium multirole combat aircraft programme.
Australia – the only announced export customer for the Super Hornet – has expressed interest in potentially acquiring several Growlers.
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