More MKI does not make sense cosnidering it would be the hi end of the hi-lo mix. Most airforces operating around hi-lo mix usually tend to operate more lo than hi, cost being a primary concern .

There is nothing called hi-low for the IAF. In certain area low LCA will be ahead of current MKI. LCA mk2 will be much ahead. Whats matter is the pay load, range and multirole capabilities along with air def/dom and strike capabilities. If India goes for another 150 modified MKI than it will be more than enough to have a good deterrence against PAF or PLAAF, thats the main thing. We should not follow others, our forces should reflect India’s concerns.

Its hard to compare the overall life cycle costs (including operating costs) of MKI and LCA but one can expect MKI’s costs to be considerably higher than then LCA. So what’s the solution? Reduce the number of overall squadrons?

MKI have better life cycle costs than previous Russian fighter with extensive use of Indian and other COTS equipments. But lags behind many western fighters. Considering relatively higher capabilities to cost ratio (including life cycle) wrt other fighters, MKI still win. Thus IAF went for large number of MKI (230) and probably order more. IAF fielded the basic MKI against many fighters and has experience with trails of MRCA which resulted increased respect for MKI. Certain areas MKI lack capabilities will be sorted out with upgrades.

Tejas engine offset offers come in
Praveena Sharma / DNA
Saturday, December 12, 2009 3:34 IST

Bangalore: European aerospace company Eurojet and America’s General Electric submitted offset proposals for their bids for light combat aircraft Tejas engines to the ministry of defence on Friday, a day before the deadline expires — December 12.The Indian government invites offset proposals from bidders of defence and civil aircraft deals.

An offset obligation is expected to be discharged through direct purchases or by executing export orders for defence products and components manufactured by or services provided by Indian defence industries. In many instances, it also involves technology transfer and training for military requirements.

As per the defence procurement policy 2006, 30-50% offset obligation is mandatory for the winner of the defence deal. There are two offset proposals — technical and commercial — submitted by each bidder, which are opened after completion of technical and commercial evaluations. For instance, technical offset proposal is opened after the technical evaluation and commercial offset offer after commercial evaluation.

Since the offset programme of the Indian government will require transfer of the key technology, the two aerospace companies need clearances from their respectively governments or regional economic organisations.

Apparently, Eurojet, which will be supplying its EJ200 for the new LCA Tejas, has got clearance from Nato Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (Netma) for the transfer of “key technology” under the offset programme.

“In their proposal, they (Eurojet) have accepted to transfer key technology. They have also mentioned in the same note they can discuss transfer of other technologies too,” the source said.

According to him, if the European engine maker offers 100% transfer of technology, the price of its bid would shoot up; “Then its bid would not be competitive.”Eurojet has said it would form a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd or some private company to fulfill its offset obligation.

GE, which will supply the F-414 engine, is also said to have acquired the approval of the US government for technology transfer for the LCA programme. The two companies that have bid for the $750 million order for 99 engines for Tejas.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_tejas-engine-offset-offers-come-in_1322774

A joint production of EJ200 on the lines similar to Shakti engine would be the best for Eurojet and India.

And there should not be any Tejas with EJ200 export restrictions. After all it does not fall into the same segment as EF.

Yes. Among the engines being considered EJ200 is the latest one. There is considerable room for upgrade also. But there are two factors here which may effect Tejas engine deal… number one, India will most probably select the F-18E/F as MRCA so the F414 may get a priority, atleast according to IAF sources and analysts. Number two, India already signed an agreement with Russia for license production of RD-33. Again I have ‘confidence’ in Indian armed forces… they want everything possible to get! Varieties…… Diversity… 😀

If Eurojet offers such an agreement DRDO should grab it. We had successful joint cooperation with France wrt engine technologies. Shakti, Vikas etc.

Eurojet could develop thrust vectoring with India
By Murdo Morrison

The consortium behind the Eurofighter Typhoon’s engine has hinted strongly that it could partner a non-European country – possibly India – to develop and demonstrate a thrust-vectoring version of the EJ200 as part of a technology-sharing deal.

Eurojet is keen to source funds to test its thrust vectoring nozzle (TVN) on a flight demonstrator. It believes if it can obtain enough in-flight data, it will be able to prove the lifecycle cost benefits of the technology – which has been in development for over a decade – to current and future customers.

However, military budget pressures facing the four Eurofighter launch nations – Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – and scepticism about the advantages of a capability associated more with spectacular air show manoeuvres than operating prudence will make it difficult to secure backing from existing customers.

Instead, the four-nation industrial combine and Eurofighter plan to discuss with possible export customers offset and technology transfer packages that would include “growth potential” for the fighter.

“We are evaluating future markets and a number of RFPs [requests for proposal] have asked for potential growth,” says Adrian Johnson, senior vice-president sales for Eurojet. “TVN is in there. It might be that a customer outside Europe could come on board and embrace that technology.”

Although Eurofighter has secured Austria and Saudi Arabia as export customers and is pitching the Typhoon at countries such as Greece, Japan, Romania, Switzerland and Turkey, India is the most likely partner because of the size of its requirement and the fact that it is determined to develop its aerospace industrial base.

Another factor is that Eurojet is separately bidding against General Electric to supply the EJ200 for an improved version of India’s single-engine Tejas light combat aircraft. A combined offer could provide sufficient economies to persuade India to fund a demonstration programme.

Johnson says Eurojet could be ready for a flight demonstration within 18-24 months, but stresses that the emphasis will be on obtaining data that backs the TVN’s economic benefits rather than its enhanced dogfighting capability.

“Increasing agility isn’t going to cause [potential customers] to back TVN,” he says. “What will cause them to back it is a reduction in lifecycle costs. That’s what we have to demonstrate and build a cast-iron case around.”

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/10/336039/eurojet-could-develop-thrust-vectoring-with-india.html