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Indias Mid-Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft Competitions
14-Jan-2009 16:16 EST
Indias growing power is creating growing naval responsibility around the Indian Ocean, from the strategic chokepoint and shipping channel represented by Indonesias Straits of Malacca in the east, to anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and basing agreements with Madagascar in the west. Hence the January 2009 deal for 8-16 of Boeings 737-derived P-8i Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will replace Russian-built TU-142s as Indias long-range patrol aircraft.
Closer to home, however, India has its own long coastline to patrol, and nations like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan that represent existing or potential trouble spots along its borders. The P-8i will work those problems, too, but less-expensive and shorter-range aircraft will be needed to supplement their coverage and to replace Indias aging Britten-Norman Islander and Dornier Do-228 aircraft. UAVs will also play a role, and Indias Israeli-built Searcher and Heron UAVs are already doing so. Their role does not exclude smaller manned aircraft, however, which will still have a job to do in Indias Navy and its Coast Guard.
In January 2009, India began a pair of follow-on competitions in order to fill exactly these roles
Reports indicate that Indias Ministry of Defence has issued an RFP for 6 medium-range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft. They will replace the aging Islander fleet, which may be shifted to a training role, handed over to the cost guard, or even gifted to other countries like the 2 that were given as a gift to the Myanmar junta.
The coast guards requirements also involve 6 aircraft, but they will require less sophisticated equipment. The aircraft will need to have a range of over 500 nautical miles, and an endurance of around 6 hours.
These are easy criteria to meet, and there are a number of contenders. At least 2 of the rumored Navy contenders participated in Indias previous maritime patrol aircraft competition.
There are rumors that Boeing would offer a modified version of the P-8i for the medium range role as well. A modified P-8i would offer commonality, handle required industrial offsets smoothly, and may include some savings due to a larger order volume, but the platform itself is not cheap. Cost is likely to be the biggest stumbling block for this option.
The other MPA holdover is a maritime patrol version of Dassaults Falcon 900, which was reportedly submitted by Israels IAI Elta. The tri-engined aircraft offers more attractive operating costs than a P-8, and its 4,100-4,500 nautical mile/ 7,600-8,330 km unrefueled range would allow for both long patrols of Indias coastline and deployments across the Indian Ocean. Israel has a good reputation for delivering capable and reliable military equipment, and a MRMR aircraft that can also fill high-end roles may be attractive, but the Falcon 900 will be more expensive than several of the other rumored contenders.
In a similar vein, Brazils Embraer modifies its own EMB-145 regional jets into sophisticated surveillance platforms. The P-99 MPA has been ordered by Mexico (2), and is rumored as a contender for Indias MRMR as well. At 1,876 miles/ 3,019 km, its range is less than the Falcons but still more than adequate for the requirement. Embraer, like Canadas Bombardier, is working to make inroads into Indias civil aviation industry, and this could help position it well for industrial offset requirements.
ATR-72 ASW conceptThe next 2 rumored contenders are both turboprops. They offer more economical low-level flight costs, in exchange for shorter ranges and slower transit time to patrol areas or emergency situations.
EADS subsidiary ATR and Alenia Aeronautica have crated the larger ATR-72, which has been ordered by Turkey and Italy to fulfill maritime patrol requirements. The ATR and its smaller ATR-42 are both regional civil transport aircraft. Alenias modifications include sophisticated surveillance gear and, in the case of the ATR-72 ASW, a long Magnetic Anomaly Detector in the back that helps it find submarines, and pylons/launchers for weapons.
The ATR-72 ASW is rumored as a candidate for the Indian Navys MRMR, while the smaller ATR-42MP Surveyor, which has been ordered by Italy, Nigeria, and Libya, and has attracted interest from Pakistan, is a rumored candidate for the Coast Guards MRMR.
EADS other subsidiary EADS-CASA has carved out a leading role for its maritime surveillance turboprops. The CN-235MP Persuader is in service with a number of countries, including the US Coast Guard, and has just been ordered by South Koreas Coast Guard. Unsurprisingly, its a rumored candidate for Indias Coast Guard MRMR. If so, its likely to be a leading candidate, and the affiliation with Airbus gives them good industrial benefits options.
The larger C-295MP has been ordered by Chile, and modified C-295 light transport aircraft already serve in a search and rescue role with a number of countries.
Contracts and Key Events
Jan 12/09: Reports surface that Indias Navy and Coast Guard have issued their MRMR solicitations, and rumored candidates are identified in the press.
India Defence adds that the Navy will also be getting 11 new Dornier short-range aircraft, but this is not confirmed by other sources. It is true that in 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. bought a production license for the Do-228, and the Swiss firm RUAG Aerospace will commence building the Dornier 228 New Generation model at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany using structural parts supplied by HAL. RUAG will also integrate specialty equipment into existing or future Do-228s, including surveillance and search-and-rescue gear. India Defence | India Express | Aviation Week
India’s Mid-Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft Competitions
14-Jan-2009 16:16 EST
Indias growing power is creating growing naval responsibility around the Indian Ocean, from the strategic chokepoint and shipping channel represented by Indonesias Straits of Malacca in the east, to anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and basing agreements with Madagascar in the west. Hence the January 2009 deal for 8-16 of Boeings 737-derived P-8i Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will replace Russian-built TU-142s as Indias long-range patrol aircraft.
Closer to home, however, India has its own long coastline to patrol, and nations like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan that represent existing or potential trouble spots along its borders. The P-8i will work those problems, too, but less-expensive and shorter-range aircraft will be needed to supplement their coverage and to replace Indias aging Britten-Norman Islander and Dornier Do-228 aircraft. UAVs will also play a role, and Indias Israeli-built Searcher and Heron UAVs are already doing so. Their role does not exclude smaller manned aircraft, however, which will still have a job to do in Indias Navy and its Coast Guard.
In January 2009, India began a pair of follow-on competitions in order to fill exactly these roles
Reports indicate that Indias Ministry of Defence has issued an RFP for 6 medium-range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft. They will replace the aging Islander fleet, which may be shifted to a training role, handed over to the cost guard, or even gifted to other countries like the 2 that were given as a gift to the Myanmar junta.
The coast guards requirements also involve 6 aircraft, but they will require less sophisticated equipment. The aircraft will need to have a range of over 500 nautical miles, and an endurance of around 6 hours.
These are easy criteria to meet, and there are a number of contenders. At least 2 of the rumored Navy contenders participated in Indias previous maritime patrol aircraft competition.
There are rumors that Boeing would offer a modified version of the P-8i for the medium range role as well. A modified P-8i would offer commonality, handle required industrial offsets smoothly, and may include some savings due to a larger order volume, but the platform itself is not cheap. Cost is likely to be the biggest stumbling block for this option.
The other MPA holdover is a maritime patrol version of Dassaults Falcon 900, which was reportedly submitted by Israels IAI Elta. The tri-engined aircraft offers more attractive operating costs than a P-8, and its 4,100-4,500 nautical mile/ 7,600-8,330 km unrefueled range would allow for both long patrols of Indias coastline and deployments across the Indian Ocean. Israel has a good reputation for delivering capable and reliable military equipment, and a MRMR aircraft that can also fill high-end roles may be attractive, but the Falcon 900 will be more expensive than several of the other rumored contenders.
In a similar vein, Brazils Embraer modifies its own EMB-145 regional jets into sophisticated surveillance platforms. The P-99 MPA has been ordered by Mexico (2), and is rumored as a contender for Indias MRMR as well. At 1,876 miles/ 3,019 km, its range is less than the Falcons but still more than adequate for the requirement. Embraer, like Canadas Bombardier, is working to make inroads into Indias civil aviation industry, and this could help position it well for industrial offset requirements.
ATR-72 ASW conceptThe next 2 rumored contenders are both turboprops. They offer more economical low-level flight costs, in exchange for shorter ranges and slower transit time to patrol areas or emergency situations.
EADS subsidiary ATR and Alenia Aeronautica have crated the larger ATR-72, which has been ordered by Turkey and Italy to fulfill maritime patrol requirements. The ATR and its smaller ATR-42 are both regional civil transport aircraft. Alenias modifications include sophisticated surveillance gear and, in the case of the ATR-72 ASW, a long Magnetic Anomaly Detector in the back that helps it find submarines, and pylons/launchers for weapons.
The ATR-72 ASW is rumored as a candidate for the Indian Navys MRMR, while the smaller ATR-42MP Surveyor, which has been ordered by Italy, Nigeria, and Libya, and has attracted interest from Pakistan, is a rumored candidate for the Coast Guards MRMR.
EADS other subsidiary EADS-CASA has carved out a leading role for its maritime surveillance turboprops. The CN-235MP Persuader is in service with a number of countries, including the US Coast Guard, and has just been ordered by South Koreas Coast Guard. Unsurprisingly, its a rumored candidate for Indias Coast Guard MRMR. If so, its likely to be a leading candidate, and the affiliation with Airbus gives them good industrial benefits options.
The larger C-295MP has been ordered by Chile, and modified C-295 light transport aircraft already serve in a search and rescue role with a number of countries.
Contracts and Key Events
Jan 12/09: Reports surface that Indias Navy and Coast Guard have issued their MRMR solicitations, and rumored candidates are identified in the press.
India Defence adds that the Navy will also be getting 11 new Dornier short-range aircraft, but this is not confirmed by other sources. It is true that in 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. bought a production license for the Do-228, and the Swiss firm RUAG Aerospace will commence building the Dornier 228 New Generation model at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany using structural parts supplied by HAL. RUAG will also integrate specialty equipment into existing or future Do-228s, including surveillance and search-and-rescue gear. India Defence | India Express | Aviation Week
India’s Mid-Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft Competitions