India, Raytheon Negotiate ISTAR Buy

[RPK]

India, Raytheon Negotiate ISTAR Buy | Defense News | defensenews.com


NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) is negotiating purchase of two intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft from Raytheon to boost its ground-detection capabilities.

Negotiations got a push after a visit by US Vice President Joseph Biden to New Delhi July 23, and a team from Raytheon briefed IAF officials here on the ISTAR capabilities on Oct. 11, said a source in the Ministry of Defence.

An executive of Raytheon here said their team has briefed IAF officials, but provided no details.

IAF interest in ISTAR capabilities was boosted by allied operations in Libya.

“The U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan and the Operation Ellamy in Libya have brought to light the use of ISTAR aircraft and IAF decided to acquire these capabilities,” said a retired IAF official.

IAF shortlisted Raytheon after evaluating responses to a request for information sent in 2011 to Thales, Boeing, BAE, Elta and Raytheon. IAF proposes to purchase two ISTAR aircraft from Raytheon on a government-to-government basis at a cost of about $350 million each. Raytheon has offered a Gulfstream platform for the aircraft but has left it open for the IAF to make its own platform selection.

The ISTAR aircraft will use active electronically scanned array radar and be able to scan more than 30,000 kilometers in a minute and analyze the data in 10 to 15 minutes to identify targets. The system would operate in all weather, day and night.

To cover India’s lengthy borders, the ISTAR surveillance aircraft would need to fly as high as 40,000 feet , said an IAF official.

When acquired, the ISTAR aircraft will be integrated with India’s indigenous air command and control system (IACCS).

Being built on the lines of NATO’s air command-and-control system, IACCS will handle air traffic control, surveillance, air mission control, airspace management and force management functions, added the IAF official. IAF’s airborne warning and control system (AWACS), aerostat radars and other radars are being integrated with the IACCS, enabling quick transfer of data from various platforms to a central battlefield management system.

ISTAR aircraft are used against ground targets and for battlefield management, whereas the AWACS are meant for air defense and aerial targeting, said the IAF official. India also uses aerostat radars, which are mini versions of the AWACS and do not help in ground target acquisition.

The service also uses UAVs for surveillance and reconnaissance, but they have limited capabilities.

 

[Raje amar]

Now thats interesting. The acquisition is more important to Army. Will it start another tussle in IA and IAF?

Why just 2. May be its a regular habit of MOD to start with lower no. And then place the follow on orders.
How much will India require considering its borders? Any guess?

 

[Bhai Zakir]

- When acquired, the ISTAR aircraft will be integrated with India’s indigenous air command and control system (IACCS).

- IAF’s airborne warning and control system (AWACS), aerostat radars and other radars are being integrated with the IACCS, enabling quick transfer of data from various platforms to a central battlefield management system.

 

[GR!FF!N]

wasn't India floated rfp for 9 sigint platforms only years ago?or is that 9 sigint rfp is different from this?

 

[[Bregs]]

This is a very potent aircraft for identifying foe and its exact location

 

[VeeraBahadur]

NEW DELHI — India has offered to buy two intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft from Raytheon on a government-to-government basis.

The request was made to visiting US Defense Secretary Ash Carter Wednesday, said a Defence Ministry source. Another project which India and the US are discussing, on India's request, is joint development of the GE-414 jet engine for use by India's homemade Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the source added.

The Defence Ministry's official release did not mention India's offer, but the MoD source said the proposal has been kept low key.

The Air Force has already been briefed by Raytheon about the ISTAR aircraft and has evinced interest in wanting to procure planes that will use an active electronically scanned array radar and be able to scan more than 30,000 kilometers in a minute and analyze that data in 10 to 15 minutes to identify the targets.

No official of Raytheon was available for comment.

On the engine project, the Defence Ministry's release said: "Building on the areas of agreement during President Obama's visit to India in January 2015, Raksha Mantri (Indian Defense Minister) and Secretary Carter agreed to expedite discussions to take forward cooperation on jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, and other areas. The two also agreed to pursue co-development and co-production projects that will offer tangible opportunities for American defense industries to build defense partnerships with the Indian industries including in manufacturing under 'Make in India'."

The two countries are also working toward sharing technology for aircraft carriers, which includes helping build a nuclear carrier and sharing the next-generation electromagnetic aircraft launch system technology, used on carriers, which will enable the carrier to fly a variety of aircraft ranging from small to medium-sized combat aircraft, the source added.

During Carter's visit, India and the US extended their 10-year defense framework agreement, first signed in 2005.

According to the official release, the new framework "builds upon the previous framework and successes to guide the bilateral defense and strategic partnership for the next ten years. The new framework agreement provides avenues for high level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between armed forces of both countries, and strengthening of defense capabilities."

India and the US also have finalized two project agreements for joint development of mobile electric hybrid power sources and next generation protective ensembles, the release added.




India Requests ISTAR Aircraft From US