India Cancelled Contract for A-330 Midair Refuellers

[mshoaib61]

Josy Joseph


In a development that could severely hamper the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) ability, the government has cancelled a $1.5-billion contract for midair refuellers for fighter aircraft. Midair refuellers extend the reach and endurance of the aircraft. Defence ministry sources said the contract was cancelled after the finance ministry raised several objections to the acquisition. The ministry’s objections, sources in the military said, were due to a lingering L1 (lowest item in a contract) syndrome in the government.

The air force pleaded hard with AK Antony to not cancel the contract after a few years of trial and evaluations, but the defence minister decided not to oppose the finance ministry. Under the norms of contract of government of India, the cheapest item that satisfies the parameters must be bought.

The air force is upset at the cancellation. When it comes to the military, technological capabilities and sophistication make a huge difference, “but that is immaterial if the finance ministry is to be trusted”, a source in the force said. “For every bit of sophistication, we have to pay a price, and that makes a huge difference in the battlefield,” he said.“It would take us a few years now to select a tanker, unless they force us to buy the Russian tanker,” an IAF officer said.

“We need to break the logjam” on opting for the cheapest, another air force officer said. He pointed out that the contract for the purchase of 12 helicopters for transporting VVIPs, such as the president and the prime minister, was also facing resistance from the finance ministry. The ministry has argued that the deal is far more expensive than what was projected. However, since there is no “L1 trouble” in the chopper deal, it may “finally go through”, the officer said.

The finance ministry had also objected to the acquisition of the costlier Airbus 330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft six years after the air force bought the Russia-made Ilyushin-78. But, sources said, the force justified the buy in a detailed written reply, saying Airbus was technologically superior than Ilyushin-78 and that the overall cost of the European product would be competitive. IAF pointed out that Airbus was fuel efficient and most of its civilian parts could be serviced in India.


ASIAN DEFENCE

 

[karan.1970]

Josy Joseph


In a development that could severely hamper the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) ability, the government has cancelled a $1.5-billion contract for midair refuellers for fighter aircraft. Midair refuellers extend the reach and endurance of the aircraft. Defence ministry sources said the contract was cancelled after the finance ministry raised several objections to the acquisition. The ministry’s objections, sources in the military said, were due to a lingering L1 (lowest item in a contract) syndrome in the government.

The air force pleaded hard with AK Antony to not cancel the contract after a few years of trial and evaluations, but the defence minister decided not to oppose the finance ministry. Under the norms of contract of government of India, the cheapest item that satisfies the parameters must be bought.

The air force is upset at the cancellation. When it comes to the military, technological capabilities and sophistication make a huge difference, “but that is immaterial if the finance ministry is to be trusted”, a source in the force said. “For every bit of sophistication, we have to pay a price, and that makes a huge difference in the battlefield,” he said.“It would take us a few years now to select a tanker, unless they force us to buy the Russian tanker,” an IAF officer said.

“We need to break the logjam” on opting for the cheapest, another air force officer said. He pointed out that the contract for the purchase of 12 helicopters for transporting VVIPs, such as the president and the prime minister, was also facing resistance from the finance ministry. The ministry has argued that the deal is far more expensive than what was projected. However, since there is no “L1 trouble” in the chopper deal, it may “finally go through”, the officer said.

The finance ministry had also objected to the acquisition of the costlier Airbus 330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft six years after the air force bought the Russia-made Ilyushin-78. But, sources said, the force justified the buy in a detailed written reply, saying Airbus was technologically superior than Ilyushin-78 and that the overall cost of the European product would be competitive. IAF pointed out that Airbus was fuel efficient and most of its civilian parts could be serviced in India.


ASIAN DEFENCE

I suspect this order will become the consolation prize for the country not getting the MMRCA contract. That is Russia if INdia goes with F18 or F16 and US (Boeing) in case we go with the 35

Any thoughts.. anyone??

 

[Hari]

For Officials of GoI, cheapest thing is the best. I m very much sure that India will buy only Mig 35

 

[XYON]

Indian is unnecessarily creating HYPE about MMCA project for the other potential manufacturers such as F-18, Eurofighter, F-16, Typhoon etc. The fact of the matter is that India CANNOT risk loosing the support and invite the ire of the Russains by getting too cozy with the US or the Europeans! The bulk of Indian military hardware and its future depends on it!

 

[mrwarrior006]

^^^do u know india just bought 140 howitzer from USA

 

[devd]

Indian is unnecessarily creating HYPE about MMCA project for the other potential manufacturers such as F-18, Eurofighter, F-16, Typhoon etc. The fact of the matter is that India CANNOT risk loosing the support and invite the ire of the Russains by getting too cozy with the US or the Europeans! The bulk of Indian military hardware and its future depends on it!

This is what you think not the india. GOI thinks in different way.

 

[gogbot]

Honestly, since they canceled the Airbus contract.

They should just get the Russian Il-78
Save time and money

 

[Iggy]

Honestly, since they canceled the Airbus contract.

They should just get the Russian Il-78
Save time and money

Bro I read in thread about Pakistans airfuellers Taimi answering my enquiry that western and russians using different technology so they cant use their air refuellers for F-16..so if we bought F-18's or any other western aircrafts is IL-78 can be used for refuelling that aircraft???

 

[gogbot]

Bro I read in thread about Pakistans airfuellers Taimi answering my enquiry that western and russians using different technology so they cant use their air refuellers for F-16..so if we bought F-18's or any other western aircrafts is IL-78 can be used for refuelling that aircraft???

we can modify the F-18's

We are buying a huge order, with tot

We are building the dam things in India. and most probably also modified to use Indian weapons. Why not modify to use Il-78 refuters.

 

[Chanakyaa]

Indian is unnecessarily creating HYPE about MMCA project for the other potential manufacturers such as F-18, Eurofighter, F-16, Typhoon etc. The fact of the matter is that India CANNOT risk loosing the support and invite the ire of the Russains by getting too cozy with the US or the Europeans! The bulk of Indian military hardware and its future depends on it!

Mate That is NOT an Issue at all.

#1. India is already Involved in a over $15 Billion Programme of FGFA 100% with Russia ONLY.

#2. Mig 29 Upgrade Programme already in Progress - $1 Billion Only To Russia

#3. Mid Life Upgrade of MKIs - Upgrade to AESA Radars .. Again only to Russia

The Total cost of the Development and Purchase of 250 FGFAs is over $20 Billion !

So Russia will NOT be annoyed since ...We Need MMCRA to phase out Mig 21s.

Now :

#1. Mig 35 will NOT be available by 2015-2016 if an order is Given.
That is too late.

#2. By that Time.. FGFA will be almost ready for Induction by 2018 .. so no point to go For Mig 35s.

#3. The Mig 35 are from the same company from whcih we plan to get 18 Mig 29Ks and more once IAC arrives in 2012.

This means that a total of 35+ Mig 29Ks [ Navy ] by 2015 and Upgradation of 60 IAF Mig 29 is already in Migs Pocket ...

Why will they be annoyed when what they can give is already ordered and what they cannot is being bought from some one else ?

Besides, Getting Western Fighters is NOT new as we did get Mirages in 80s from France...

Thanks to Indian Top Leadership...
They get NSG clearance by US' Help and Buy Reactors from Russia with Reprocessing Freedom !!! WoW ...

Let US make restriction in 123 Agreement..

Dont worry Indians Know how to Deal with International Affairs especially in their own favor.

 

[IBRIS]

For Officials of GoI, cheapest thing is the best. I m very much sure that India will buy only Mig 35

APG ain't got nothing on ZHUK-MEMIG's will prevail.

 

[sancho]

Bro I read in thread about Pakistans airfuellers Taimi answering my enquiry that western and russians using different technology so they cant use their air refuellers for F-16..so if we bought F-18's or any other western aircrafts is IL-78 can be used for refuelling that aircraft???

All MMRCA contenders can be refuelled buy our IL-78, because all fighters are offered with a refueling probe. The only fighter that don't has this tech from the beginning was the F16, but it has new CFTs with integrated probes and some reports said, that these were shown during the trials in Bangalore. PAF F16 can be refuelled by their Russian tankers if they get the same CFTs and I'm sure they will get them, because LM already stated that these new upgrade will be available for all F16 operators!

Here you can see the difference:

F16 with new CFTs refueling


Normal F16 refueling

 

[BlackenTheSky]

^^So really india decided to by F 16,or just its a photoshopped.?
and when will be MRCA annonce?

 

[gogbot]

^^So really india decided to by F 16,or just its a photoshopped.?
and when will be MRCA annonce?

is not Photo shop

IAF said the refueling rod was a requirement, so Lockheed showed up with a modified F-16.

So most of the other contenders. Everyone showed up with one form of the IN version.

 

[sudhir007]

Govt to relaunch hunt for mid-air refuellers idrw.org

In a setback to IAF’s plans to further boost its ‘strategic reach’ capabilities, the government has decided to re-float the tender for acquiring six new mid-air refuelling aircraft for fighter jets after scrapping the virtually finalised $1.5-billion contract with European aerospace major EADS.

‘‘The RFP (request for proposal) will be re-floated and will go EADS, Boeing (US) and Ilyushin (Russian), among others, for a global competition now,’’ said a defence ministry official on Wednesday.

Defence minister A K Antony, on his part, told Parliament last month that the finance ministry had ‘‘expressed certain reservations relating to the competitiveness of the bids and the reasonableness of the price’’ for the IAF project to acquire the six new flight refueller aircraft.

IAF had selected the Airbus A-330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) aircraft of EADS after a thorough evaluation quite some time back but the file was stuck in the finance ministry, which felt they were overpriced. With Antony not intervening in the matter, the government has now cancelled the entire acquisition process. IAF, incidentally, was not too keen to buy more Ilyushin-78, six of which it had acquired from Uzbekistan a few years ago, since it said the A-330s better met its tanker requirements.

Be that as it may, the four-engined IL-78s, which can each carry over 75 tonnes of fuel to tank up fighters during flight, have proved to be a major force-multiplier for IAF.

IL-78s have made it possible for IAF fighters like the multi-role Mirage-2000s, the deep penetration Jaguars and the air-dominance Sukhoi-30MKIs to operate with extended ranges and flight-times.

Sukhois, for instance, have a cruising speed range of 3,200 km and can carry around eight tonnes of armaments. This strategic capability gets a further boost with air-to-air refuelling by IL-78 tankers, enhancing their radius of operations by more than double, making it possible for them to strike targets deep inside China. Incidentally, Pakistan inducted the first of its four mid-air refuellers, contracted from Ukraine, just last month.