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Day Two Combat Aircraft Paradise
Thuersday 10.02.11
Opening day at Aero India 2011, a sort of combat aircraft "paradise". Five of the six fighter on the Indian Air Force MMRCA tender shown their capabilities in front of Indian dignitaries, led by Defence Minister A K Antony and foreign delegations, of which the most senior was the German one with Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Guttenbergs presence at the show marked an important aspect of Aero India 2011: the political factor. With the German MoD are at the show also the Secretaries of State for Defence of Italy, Guido Crosetto and of Spain, Costantino Mendez and the British Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Peter Luff.
Four nations, a single target: 126 Eurofighter for the Indian Air Force. The Eurofighter did its part at the show. Two impressive air displays to show its power, agility and short take off and landing run. Not like the French Rafale - forced to use the spare aircraft after the first one failed the pre-take off checks and that cut its display short probably for some issue also with the second aircraft - the EF at Aero India was without any problems, confirming the "traditional" reliability of the system when deployed also so far from the main base.
The F-16 (at the show are two Block 60 from the UAE Air Force to show the latest standard and 2 F-16C block 50 from the USAF in static display); the F/A-18F of US Navy; the Saab Gripen and the above mentioned Rafale flown yesterday at the show in line with the impressive Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the LCA Teja Mk.I of Indian Air Force - the latter just experiencing Initial Operational Capability activity - to complete the fighter parade at the Aero India 2011.
But not just an air show was the day one at Aero India. An aspect also highlighted at the show is the need of industrial partnership with Indian companies as a key to get the MMRCA deal. The Eurofighter partner companies - totalling 120 B euro of revenues, more than Boeing and Lochkeed Martin - are the biggest of Europe and, most important for India, are the only one that experienced an high level of collaboration and shared experiences, technologies and capabilities. Just a simple example of that is the Eurofighter consortium itself. Italian, German, UK aerospace industries started to work together 40 years ago for the Tornado programme a very successful high tech one for its time with more than 1000 aircraft produced. When the Eurofighter was launched Spain was associated to the programme with no issues to share knowledge, technologies, industrial processes etc. In few years the Eurofighter became the lighthouse of Spanish aerospace industry leading to the healthy position now gained by the Hiberian country in the aerospace field. The same process could be done with India, invited to became the 5th partner of the Eurofighter programme to fully enjoy one of the main target of the MMRCA programme: the transfer of technology.
Eurofighter: Aero India 2011 Blog
Thuersday 10.02.11
Opening day at Aero India 2011, a sort of combat aircraft "paradise". Five of the six fighter on the Indian Air Force MMRCA tender shown their capabilities in front of Indian dignitaries, led by Defence Minister A K Antony and foreign delegations, of which the most senior was the German one with Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Guttenbergs presence at the show marked an important aspect of Aero India 2011: the political factor. With the German MoD are at the show also the Secretaries of State for Defence of Italy, Guido Crosetto and of Spain, Costantino Mendez and the British Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Peter Luff.
Four nations, a single target: 126 Eurofighter for the Indian Air Force. The Eurofighter did its part at the show. Two impressive air displays to show its power, agility and short take off and landing run. Not like the French Rafale - forced to use the spare aircraft after the first one failed the pre-take off checks and that cut its display short probably for some issue also with the second aircraft - the EF at Aero India was without any problems, confirming the "traditional" reliability of the system when deployed also so far from the main base.
The F-16 (at the show are two Block 60 from the UAE Air Force to show the latest standard and 2 F-16C block 50 from the USAF in static display); the F/A-18F of US Navy; the Saab Gripen and the above mentioned Rafale flown yesterday at the show in line with the impressive Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the LCA Teja Mk.I of Indian Air Force - the latter just experiencing Initial Operational Capability activity - to complete the fighter parade at the Aero India 2011.
But not just an air show was the day one at Aero India. An aspect also highlighted at the show is the need of industrial partnership with Indian companies as a key to get the MMRCA deal. The Eurofighter partner companies - totalling 120 B euro of revenues, more than Boeing and Lochkeed Martin - are the biggest of Europe and, most important for India, are the only one that experienced an high level of collaboration and shared experiences, technologies and capabilities. Just a simple example of that is the Eurofighter consortium itself. Italian, German, UK aerospace industries started to work together 40 years ago for the Tornado programme a very successful high tech one for its time with more than 1000 aircraft produced. When the Eurofighter was launched Spain was associated to the programme with no issues to share knowledge, technologies, industrial processes etc. In few years the Eurofighter became the lighthouse of Spanish aerospace industry leading to the healthy position now gained by the Hiberian country in the aerospace field. The same process could be done with India, invited to became the 5th partner of the Eurofighter programme to fully enjoy one of the main target of the MMRCA programme: the transfer of technology.
Eurofighter: Aero India 2011 Blog
