Dassault Rafale, tender | News & Discussions

[jha]

Denmark Bails From JSF - Report

Denmark's defense ministry is ready to recommend designating the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as its next fighter, in place of the delayed and more expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a report on Danish radio.

According to the report, the Danish decision has been in the works for some months and currently awaits an auditor's review before being forwarded to the full government and to parliament. The Gripen NG has also been ruled out - not a big surprise to Saab, which has scaled back its campaign in Denmark.

Uncertainty about the country's choice of the JSF has risen in recent months, in the context of the program's own difficulties and a recent series of major government procurements gone awry: EH101 Merlin helicopters which were sold back to the UK, Sagen Sperwer UAVs deactivated and sold to Canada, and the much delayed IC4 high-speed train project.

Denmark is also likely to delay both its decision and the delivery date for new fighters, which are expected to enter service in 2017-18. Delays to JSF and the Pentagon's continued consideration of a further multi-year Super Hornet buy mean that the Boeing fighter is more likely to stay in production until then, and extend its retirement date.

Ares Homepage

 

[jha]

India, the New Land of Opportunity for Defense Contractors

Traditionally a reliable Russian customer, India is also looking further west for its new fighter and attack aircraft; proposals from the U.S., France and Sweden are on the table. The first step of the process is a “fly off” to make sure the proposed aircraft meet the basic requirements. With domestic sales stalling, the contract with India will be one of the most important of the next ten years.

Lockheed Martin (LMT) has proposed the F-16 while Boeing (BA) has entered the F/A-18 into the competition. France’s Dassualt has its Rafael and Sweden has its SAAB-manufactured Grypen. Russia is proposing an updated version of the venerable MiG-29, known as the MiG-35. Most of these aircraft fall into the same size range and are twin-engined with modern avionics and sophisticated weapon suites. The winner will be a significant upgrade for India from its current mix of MiG-27, 29 and Su-27 aircraft.

India wants to make the first cut by early summer. The plan is to use the fly-off to cull the field; the remaining companies will then submit a financial proposal. The planned budget is about $11 billion for 126 aircraft.

India has signed several deals lately with American and Israeli companies to provide hardware. They have also kept buying Russian equipment such as a planned purchase of MiG fighters for their new aircraft carriers. Two contracts that stand out are the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing and an airborne radar and control system (AWACS) from Israel, plus a contract to construct ammunition factories.

The contract reflects two Indian realities. One is its concern about its neighbors - a restive Pakistan and an emboldened China. The other is India’s increasing economic openness. In the past, domestic requirements were so onerous that making a profit was impossible. Joint ventures were difficult to set up and Delhi limited which domestic companies could participate. Not surprisingly, foreign companies were not eager to enter the market. In the last couple of years, though, India has eased its regulations and expanded joint-venture opportunities.

These changes will help India attract better and more proposals which in the long run should reduce costs.

India, the New Land of Opportunity for Defense Contractors | BNET Government Blog | BNET

 

[RPK]

The Hindu : Front Page : Sweden's Gripens head for AFS Jaisalmer

BANGALORE: Sweden's Gripen NG, the last of the six fighter aircraft that are being evaluated by the Indian Air Force for the $12 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, left Bangalore on Monday morning for the Air Force Station (AFS) Jaisalmer.

Having gone through a week of performance trials — including a demonstration of air-to-air refuelling and flying manoeuvres — by the IAF's specifically designated MMRCA team here, two Gripens will now complete the remaining part of their flight tests over Pokhran and Leh before heading for the AFS Jamnagar and then to an air base in Sweden.

While one of the Gripens will undertake hot weather trials in and around the AFS Jaisalmer and later take off to perform a dummy run and bomb drop at the Pokhran test range, the other fighter, as part of the cold weather trials, will land in Leh, switch off, refuel and then take off again.

Ministry of Defence officials familiar with the MMRCA trials told The Hindu that while they expect no hiccups during the weapons drop over Pokhran, the Leh exercise proved challenging to the other contenders vying for the MMRCA deal.

The officials confided that four of the five aircraft in the MMRCA competition faced problems starting up in the rarefied atmosphere of Leh, and the IAF had to ask the manufacturers to undertake modifications in the aircraft's fuel systems. The Gripen's evaluation is part of the MMRCA flight trials, which started in August last, when the F/A-18 Hornets arrived here. These were followed by another American fighter, the F-16IN Super Viper. In September, the French Rafale flew over Bangalore. It was followed by Russia's MiG-35 and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space consortium's Eurofighter Typhoon flew in March.

Once the flight trials are completed, the MMRCA evaluation team headed by the Principal Director, Air Staff Requirements, Air Commodore R.K. Dhir will write the technical report, narrowing down the competition to three or four contenders. Thereafter, the commercial bids will be opened, with the lowest bidder — as per India's defence procurement procedures — winning the contract.

 

[ptldM3]

What kind of radar does the LCA use?

 

[RPK]

the LCA prototype use EL/M-2032

 

[jha]

that radar is just for the prototype..when inducted it will be having ELTA-2052..

 

[sudhir007]

that radar is just for the prototype..when inducted it will be having ELTA-2052..

or May be drdo built AESA

A 3D Active Phased Array radar for fighters, a MMR follow on, the APAR project aims to field a fully fledged operational AESA fire control radar for the Light Combat Aircraft MK2. This will be the second airborne AESA program after the AEW&C project and intends to transfer the success DRDO has achieved in the Ground based radar segment to airborne systems. Lack of prior experience in this arena led to the MMR project facing delays and technical challenges. The overall airborne APAR program aims to prevent this technology gap from developing again, with a broad based program to bring DRDO up to par with international developers in airborne systems: both fire control and surveillance. In contrast to the previous MMR program, the AESA project will be led by the DRDO itself and not by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The AESA fire control radar will be delivered by the 2012-14 timeframe. It is expected that LRDE may tie up with an established radar house to speed up development of sub components.

 

[jha]

in that case it will be made in india...untill it comes out israeli radar can always be used..

 

[sancho]

in that case it will be made in india...untill it comes out israeli radar can always be used..

Not the right thread, but guys, did you forget that IAF was not satisfied with the indigenous AESA radar development and that's why they are searching for a co-development now?

LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: EXCLUSIVE: AESA Programme For Tejas Scans For Development Partner

 

[SSGPA1]

forget everything and just give a date - When is India going to decide?

 

[KEETARP]

The Hindu : Front Page : Sweden's Gripens head for AFS Jaisalmer

BANGALORE: Sweden's Gripen NG, the last of the six fighter aircraft that are being evaluated by the Indian Air Force for the $12 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, left Bangalore on Monday morning for the Air Force Station (AFS) Jaisalmer.

Having gone through a week of performance trials — including a demonstration of air-to-air refuelling and flying manoeuvres — by the IAF's specifically designated MMRCA team here, two Gripens will now complete the remaining part of their flight tests over Pokhran and Leh before heading for the AFS Jamnagar and then to an air base in Sweden.

While one of the Gripens will undertake hot weather trials in and around the AFS Jaisalmer and later take off to perform a dummy run and bomb drop at the Pokhran test range, the other fighter, as part of the cold weather trials, will land in Leh, switch off, refuel and then take off again.

Ministry of Defence officials familiar with the MMRCA trials told The Hindu that while they expect no hiccups during the weapons drop over Pokhran, the Leh exercise proved challenging to the other contenders vying for the MMRCA deal.

The officials confided that four of the five aircraft in the MMRCA competition faced problems starting up in the rarefied atmosphere of Leh, and the IAF had to ask the manufacturers to undertake modifications in the aircraft's fuel systems. The Gripen's evaluation is part of the MMRCA flight trials, which started in August last, when the F/A-18 Hornets arrived here. These were followed by another American fighter, the F-16IN Super Viper. In September, the French Rafale flew over Bangalore. It was followed by Russia's MiG-35 and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space consortium's Eurofighter Typhoon flew in March.

Once the flight trials are completed, the MMRCA evaluation team headed by the Principal Director, Air Staff Requirements, Air Commodore R.K. Dhir will write the technical report, narrowing down the competition to three or four contenders. Thereafter, the commercial bids will be opened, with the lowest bidder — as per India's defence procurement procedures — winning the contract.

Except Engine all other system will not be problematic for TOT

All Weapon system of NG

 

[karan.1970]

forget everything and just give a date - When is India going to decide?

In due time .. You should know.. the beaurocracy is more or less same in India and Pakistan...

 

[sudhir007]

i dnt think it will be Gripen NG arrive. it is Gripen D 2seater which come

The high-voltage $11 billion contest to sell India 126 Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) is reaching the end of the trials phase in a blaze of potential controversy. Today, the last of the six contenders being evaluated by the Indian Air Force — the Swedish Gripen — will fly into Bangalore for trials. But Business Standard has learnt that the fighters that will touch down are not the ones Gripen International has offered: the JAS-39IN Gripen NG. Instead, two older-model Gripen-D fighters will arrive.

The Gripen NG, a light, agile, ultra-modern fighter built by Swedish aerospace giant Saab, has always been one of the hottest contenders in the fray. Saab’s default on the MoD’s trial directive, which lays down that the fighter being offered must be the one that comes for trials, will delight its rivals — Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Dassault, Eurofighter and MiG — since Gripen is now vulnerable to disqualification.

The arrival of the Gripen-D instead of the Gripen NG has a simple cause: the Swedish Air Force, having opted to buy the Gripen NG, has ordered a series of improvements on the Gripen NG prototype. With those under way, Sweden’s flight certification agency, SMV, has ruled that the prototypes require additional flight-testing in Sweden before the aircraft can be sent to India.

Confirming these developments, Gripen International’s Director India Eddy de la Motte told Business Standard, “The Gripen NG prototype cannot come just yet to India as it is required in Sweden for testing and evaluation by the Swedish Air Force which is interested in buying the fighter. Indian pilots have not yet flown the Gripen NG, but we will make sure that they get an opportunity at the very earliest.”

Sources close to the Gripen campaign say IAF pilots will be offered a chance to fly the Gripen NG during a visit to Sweden from April 6 to April 10. Gripen International will also ask for fresh dates for bringing the Gripen NG to India for trials.

Even without having flown the Gripen NG prototype, IAF pilots have been extremely impressed by the fighter’s capabilities. Besides superb avionics and superior flight performance, they say the Gripen NG can land on an 800-metre stretch of highway; and then refuel, rearm and take-off within 10 minutes. This allows each Gripen NG to fly far more sorties per day than any other aircraft today.

The IAF pilots who have visited the Gripen simulators in Sweden have also been impressed by its electronic warfare capabilities and by the training facilities on offer.

The Swedish MoD’s unexpected refusal to allow the Gripen NG to India for trials has blown the race wide open. From a clear front-runner in the eyes of the IAF, the Gripen NG’s very participation in trials now depends upon a decision to be taken by the IAF and the Indian MoD.

 

[sancho]

Except Engine all other system will not be problematic for TOT

All Weapon system of NG

You have to turn it the other way around to understand the dependance of Saab!
Look at the graphic and see how less really is owned, or in control of Saab/Sweden, especially the main parts like engine and radar (which btw is not co-developed, they just integrate the Selsex Galileo AESA).

Also interesting, this is a new graphic for the Brazilian competition and shows, which parts could be made in Brazil. But Saab had the same graphic earlier too, which showed the countries and techs involved, but at that time they had each flag seperate, not only EU flags for all European countries. The fact is, they use parts from UK, GER, FRA, SA, ISR and the US of course. So in terms of ToT, Saab can only offer what these countries allowsto offer.

French Thales was the co-development partner for the Gripen NG Demonstrator AESA radar, till Thales backed out. Some sources say, because Dassault, who owns around 25% of Thales forced them out, to not compete the Rafale in Brazil and India.
Selsex Galileo and the Gov of UK are supporting Saab in Brazil with full ToT and source codes, since the EF is out long ago, but what will happen in MMRCA, when EF and Gripen NG will be shortlisted to the final stage?
Besides the similarity to LCA, the dependance is the biggest problem for the Gripen NG and in terms of ToT they have mainly EWS and data links to offer, which they really own and that is not necessarily something the LCA /our industry could gain from imo.

 

[sancho]

i dnt think it will be Gripen NG arrive. it is Gripen D 2seater which come

Which is very disappointing to me, because except of the general design, IAF can't compare its performance with the performance they would get with Gripen NG. No radar, EWS, or engine techs can be tested.
I really am curious about the Gripen performance it the desert trials, with 6,8t empty weight and only 80kN thrust, even our LCA prototypes should be better (5,8t / 85kN).