Air Force eyes US tankers

[sudhir007]

Air Force eyes US tankers- Hindustan Times

The Indian Air Force appears to have shifted into overdrive to expand the reach of its fighter planes, enabling them to deploy swiftly to distant theatres of operations. It is toying with the idea of buying tankers from the US to reinforce its aerial refuelling capabilities.

The air force’s interest in US military contractor Lockheed Martin’s KC-130J tanker, used by the Marines, follows the cancellation of a proposed $2 billion (Rs 9,000 crore) deal for importing six Airbus 330 tankers manufactured by European aerospace major EADS.

The IAF, which currently operates the Ilyushin-78 tankers, is leaning on an existing contract to place orders for KC-130J tankers. It had ordered six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, configured for special operations and airborne assault, three years back in a deal worth $1.2 billion (Rs 5,400 crore) under the US government’s foreign military sales programme. Military contracts usually have a provision for placing follow on orders.

Jack Crisler, who heads Lockheed Martin’s International Air Mobility Programs, told Hindustan Times, “The IAF has sought details about the capabilities of the KC-130J tanker (a variant of the C-130J). There’s a strong indication that it may place a follow on order for six tankers.” The first C-130J will be delivered to the IAF early next year. Indian pilots will kick off conversion training on the C-130Js at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility where the plane is manufactured and Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

The finance ministry has put the air force on rocky ground by refusing to support the proposed acquisition of Airbus 330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) arguing that they were overpriced. The IAF had chosen the Airbus platform over Il-78 tankers after exhaustive trials.

The hunt for new tankers will not end with the KC-130J as the defence ministry is likely to float a fresh international tender for longer range tankers.

The KC-130J can tank up not only fighter planes but also helicopters, enabling them to remain airborne longer.

The air force’s existing helicopter fleet cannot be aerially refuelled.

But the new class of attack and heavy-lift choppers that India proposes to acquire are configured for mid-air refuelling, a senior IAF officer said.

 

[manish123]

Air Force eyes US tankers- Hindustan Times

The Indian Air Force appears to have shifted into overdrive to expand the reach of its fighter planes, enabling them to deploy swiftly to distant theatres of operations. It is toying with the idea of buying tankers from the US to reinforce its aerial refuelling capabilities.

The air force’s interest in US military contractor Lockheed Martin’s KC-130J tanker, used by the Marines, follows the cancellation of a proposed $2 billion (Rs 9,000 crore) deal for importing six Airbus 330 tankers manufactured by European aerospace major EADS.

The IAF, which currently operates the Ilyushin-78 tankers, is leaning on an existing contract to place orders for KC-130J tankers. It had ordered six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, configured for special operations and airborne assault, three years back in a deal worth $1.2 billion (Rs 5,400 crore) under the US government’s foreign military sales programme. Military contracts usually have a provision for placing follow on orders.

Jack Crisler, who heads Lockheed Martin’s International Air Mobility Programs, told Hindustan Times, “The IAF has sought details about the capabilities of the KC-130J tanker (a variant of the C-130J). There’s a strong indication that it may place a follow on order for six tankers.” The first C-130J will be delivered to the IAF early next year. Indian pilots will kick off conversion training on the C-130Js at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility where the plane is manufactured and Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

The finance ministry has put the air force on rocky ground by refusing to support the proposed acquisition of Airbus 330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) arguing that they were overpriced. The IAF had chosen the Airbus platform over Il-78 tankers after exhaustive trials.

The hunt for new tankers will not end with the KC-130J as the defence ministry is likely to float a fresh international tender for longer range tankers.

The KC-130J can tank up not only fighter planes but also helicopters, enabling them to remain airborne longer.

The air force’s existing helicopter fleet cannot be aerially refuelled.

But the new class of attack and heavy-lift choppers that India proposes to acquire are configured for mid-air refuelling, a senior IAF officer said.

We are subsidizing pakistans aid by buying all this s**t.We will never be able to use it when the time comes.Congress is selling india to US in bits and pieces.

 

[sancho]

We are subsidizing pakistans aid by buying all this s**t.We will never be able to use it when the time comes.Congress is selling india to US in bits and pieces.

Cool down, mate! KC 130 has nothing to do with the tanker competition, although the articles say so. These are not comparable to IL 78, A330, or KC 767 and should be additions on the lower end. Also, as long as we only buy tankers and transport aircrafts from US and we have similar Russian types in the fleet too, there will be a good ballance. On the one side the US aircrafts with more quality and reliability in technical terms, on the other side the Russian aircrafts which are cost-effective and sanctionprove.

 

[Parashuram1]

What is that we see? You cancel a European contract because of our price despite no strings and shift to American ones? I think that this is a result of the recent cozying you guys are upto with Americans.

Well, Not very professional from your government's side.

 

[saurabh]

What is that we see? You cancel a European contract because of our price despite no strings and shift to American ones? I think that this is a result of the recent cozying you guys are upto with Americans.

Well, Not very professional from your government's side.

The story I heard was like this, AF and MOD passed the European contract, that was the best offer. But then it got rejected by the finance ministry. There point was that product is good, really good, infact too good. AF doesn't really need that. It could work out perfectly well with relatively cheaper US one.
We are not that rich that we can just spend money on anything shiny, even if we don't really need it.

 

[Mahakaya]

The story I heard was like this, AF and MOD passed the European contract, that was the best offer. But then it got rejected by the finance ministry. There point was that product is good, really good, infact too good. AF doesn't really need that. It could work out perfectly well with relatively cheaper US one.
We are not that rich that we can just spend money on anything shiny, even if we don't really need it.

Or one might think from the BABU's mindset and say hey are we giving too much to the Europeans - So we need to balance somethings here and there. Let us cancel the order and buy the US stuff to keep the US happy given we will keep EADs VERY VERY happy by getting the TYPHOON. On the other hand give the not so strategic stuff TO THE USofA and also bare heavy on them that given we have never bought your stuff we are giving you so many ORDERS - LETS BUILD SOME TRUST WITH RESPECT TO US AND KEEP THE EXISTING ONE INTACT WITH THE EUROPEANS AND WE ARE ALL HAPPY NOW AREN'T WE -

I Think this is what you call DIPLOMACY


WELL We are smarter than you know WHO!