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India’s air force just started a $19.5 billion fighter program — sort of
By: Vivek Raghuvanshi 11 hours ago
Analysts: India won't ink a single-engine fighter deal before 2019
"There isn't now even the slightest IAF interest in the F-16 Block 70 or any other variant" for the single-engine fighter program, even as the Air Force has decided to hold flight tests of Lockheed's aircraft and Sweden's Gripen-E, the two under consideration.
By: Vivek Raghuvanshi
“So far, this entire process of selection of fighters has been very haphazard and lacking any systematic plan of the service,” an MoD official noted.
Former MoD financial advisor Amit Cowshish added the the “RFI is meant only to obtain all manner of information from the prospective suppliers so as to make out a firm procurement proposal based on the feedback. It entails no commitment from the ministry’s side even to issue the tender, much less sign a contract.”
“The IAF has issued an RFI for 110 fighters without mentioning the requirement of single engine/twin engine mainly to widen competition amongst various fighter manufacturers,” a defense official said. “The main emphasis of this RFI is on transfer of technology and performance based logistics.”
“The ToT requirement is very exhaustive and also includes ToT of avionics, electronic warfare systems including missile approach warner, active electronically scanned array radar, engine and also for setting up the manufacturing unit in India,” retired IAF air marshal and defense analyst Daljit Singh said. “It is indeed a tall order for the OEM to provide so much of ToT.”
“The extent of ToT sought through the new RFI is completely unrealistic,” said Vijainder K Thakur, a retired IAF squadron leader and defense analyst. “The OEM will demand a lot of money for the ToT pushing up unit costs to unrealistic levels, limiting our ability to buy more.”
Singh noted that the Indian defense industry has a long way to go before it can start building its own planes. The service wants new fighters to have multiple mission capabilities, including air-to-air combat, striking ground targets, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and air-to-air refuelling — not to mention all weather capabilities.
In mid-2007, the IAF also launched a similar $12 billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft, or MMRCA, program that was scrapped 10 years later without citing any reason.
“This RFI is a repeat of the previous MMRCA program and it can only be done though the joint venture approach as a lot of hand holding would be needed by foreign OEM,” an industry source said. “However, it is also important for MoD to give private sector a thrust in terms of awarding programs.”
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“This RFI seems to be [looking for] a real-time super technology demonstrator rather than proven operational fighter,” an industry insider added. “It will be impossible for any foreign OEM to meet all tasks and this program has no merit unless IAF comes out with a well-defined tender for fighters in future.“
https://www.defensenews.com/air/201...tarted-a-195-billion-fighter-program-sort-of/
By: Vivek Raghuvanshi 11 hours ago
Analysts: India won't ink a single-engine fighter deal before 2019
"There isn't now even the slightest IAF interest in the F-16 Block 70 or any other variant" for the single-engine fighter program, even as the Air Force has decided to hold flight tests of Lockheed's aircraft and Sweden's Gripen-E, the two under consideration.
By: Vivek Raghuvanshi
“So far, this entire process of selection of fighters has been very haphazard and lacking any systematic plan of the service,” an MoD official noted.
Former MoD financial advisor Amit Cowshish added the the “RFI is meant only to obtain all manner of information from the prospective suppliers so as to make out a firm procurement proposal based on the feedback. It entails no commitment from the ministry’s side even to issue the tender, much less sign a contract.”
“The IAF has issued an RFI for 110 fighters without mentioning the requirement of single engine/twin engine mainly to widen competition amongst various fighter manufacturers,” a defense official said. “The main emphasis of this RFI is on transfer of technology and performance based logistics.”
“The ToT requirement is very exhaustive and also includes ToT of avionics, electronic warfare systems including missile approach warner, active electronically scanned array radar, engine and also for setting up the manufacturing unit in India,” retired IAF air marshal and defense analyst Daljit Singh said. “It is indeed a tall order for the OEM to provide so much of ToT.”
“The extent of ToT sought through the new RFI is completely unrealistic,” said Vijainder K Thakur, a retired IAF squadron leader and defense analyst. “The OEM will demand a lot of money for the ToT pushing up unit costs to unrealistic levels, limiting our ability to buy more.”
Singh noted that the Indian defense industry has a long way to go before it can start building its own planes. The service wants new fighters to have multiple mission capabilities, including air-to-air combat, striking ground targets, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and air-to-air refuelling — not to mention all weather capabilities.
In mid-2007, the IAF also launched a similar $12 billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft, or MMRCA, program that was scrapped 10 years later without citing any reason.
“This RFI is a repeat of the previous MMRCA program and it can only be done though the joint venture approach as a lot of hand holding would be needed by foreign OEM,” an industry source said. “However, it is also important for MoD to give private sector a thrust in terms of awarding programs.”
Sign up for our Military Space Report
Get the latest news about space and strategic systems
“This RFI seems to be [looking for] a real-time super technology demonstrator rather than proven operational fighter,” an industry insider added. “It will be impossible for any foreign OEM to meet all tasks and this program has no merit unless IAF comes out with a well-defined tender for fighters in future.“
https://www.defensenews.com/air/201...tarted-a-195-billion-fighter-program-sort-of/
