MoD approves 9 medium range maritime patrol aircraft by for navy, RFPs to b

[Green Hornet]

NEW DELHI: The government has finally approved the naval proposal to acquire nine advanced medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft, which will cost upwards of $1 billion, to ensure Indian Ocean can be guarded against both conventional and terror threats.

These MRMR planes will be in addition to the 12 long-range (LRMR) aircraft already being acquired for the Navy at a $3.1 billion price tag. After first inking the $2.1 billion contract in 2009 for eight Boeing-manufactured P-8I LRMR aircraft, which will be inducted in the 2013-2015 timeframe, the defence ministry is now finalizing the follow-on deal for four more such planes.

The MRMR project got the "acceptance of necessity'' from the Defence Acquisitions Council, chaired by A K Antony, last week, sources said. Several global aviation majors, ranging from American Boeing and Lockheed Martin to Swedish SAAB, French Dassault Aviation, Brazilian Embraer and European EADS are in contention for this big contract.

The radar-packed MRMR planes, much like the LRMR ones, will be armed with deadly missiles, rockets and torpedoes for potent anti-warship and anti-submarine warfare. With an operating range of over 350 nautical miles, the multi-mission MRMR planes will be Navy's "intelligent eyes and ears'' over Indian Ocean in the medium range.

While the P-8Is, with an operating range of around 1,200 nautical miles, will patrol the outermost layer of India's three-tier maritime surveillance grid, Israeli spy drones like Heron and Searcher-II as well as Dorniers make up the innermost layer.

India is really stepping up acquisition of its naval air assets as well as warships to take care of its primary area of strategic interest stretching from Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait. The country has a vast 5,422-km coastline, 1,197 islands and 2.01 million sq km of Exclusive Economic Zone to guard against all threats.

India will spend around Rs 85,000 crore just on naval aviation over the next few years, sources said. This includes already-inked contracts for around Rs 28,000 crore, with another 16 to 17 firm proposals worth about Rs 18,000 crore in the pipeline.

This includes the ongoing induction of 45 MiG-29K fighters, contracted from Russia for about $2 billion, which will operate from both the refurbished 44,570-tonne INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) and the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being constructed at Kochi.

Then, American Sikorsky S70B and European NH-90 choppers are currently battling it out after field trials to grab the over Rs 2,000 crore initial contract for 16 multi-role helicopters. The Navy, in fact, is looking to induct 90 such helicopters, with both combat and search-and-rescue capabilities, to replace its older Sea King helicopters.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-nod-for-1bn-Navy-plane-deal/articleshow/12048694.cms

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

Acquisition of P-8I will surely add tooth to India's security, they will prove asset as we have been lacking behind in terms of reconnaissance and surveillance.

 

[yyetttt]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

 

[Green Hornet]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

Are you really so naive that you don't understand the significance of these advanced medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft???

 

[janon]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

No, we need these to patrol the ocean for enemy ships and submarines. It is a maritime patrol aircraft, like your P-3 orions, and our P-8I neptunes. Check out what maritime reconnaisance means. Here is a snippet:

Navies and air forces employ patrols to locate and identify enemy or potential enemy ships and submarines. The patrols report these findings to combat vessels which can then take appropriate action. Characteristics to identify are the numbers and types of vessels, as well as bearing and speed information to assist tracking the units. Anti-submarine patrols often deploy sonobuoys or other devices to assist with tracking. During peacetime, patrols are maintained by military forces for practice and to prevent surprise deployments by enemies.

It has nothing to do with hunting pirates.

 

[KS]

Why dont we just go ahead and buy extra P8Is for this amount as well..?

And what are the contendors for this ?

 

[janon]

Why dont we just go ahead and buy extra P8Is for this amount as well..?

And what are the contendors for this ?

Because these are going to be much cheaper to aquire as well as operate. P8 is a long range aircraft, this is a medium range one with lesser capabilities.

Check out the other thread running on this topic to know the contenders:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian...nge-maritime-patrol-aircraft-navy-rfps-b.html

Mods should delete this thread, as it is a duplicate.

 

[Mech]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

Its for border hopping terrorists who sneaking in through the weak zones in lil' government sponsored dinghies.

 

[SamantK]

What I think is the cost involved, 9 cost around $1 billion whereas 12 cost $3.1 billion... Math justifies the purchase...

 

[Abingdonboy]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

YOU:

2008 Mumbai attacks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[T90TankGuy]

similar thread already running mates.

 

[boris]

Do you really need this huge plane for patrolling the Indian Ocean from Somali pirates? Seriously? Who else will attack you?

We have a very big coastline mate.

 

[Tija]

Better filling of prosperity comes with better security

 

[arp2041]

MBDA Marte missile release trial from Airbus Military C295

Airbus Military and MBDA have successfully demonstrated the release of an instrumented Marte MK2/S anti-ship inert missile installed under the wing of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft. This flight was the last of a series of trials performed in a joint Airbus Military–MBDA collaboration to validate the aerodynamic integration of Marte on C295, its handling qualities and performance tests.

The installation of weapons under the wings provides new operational capabilities to the C295 MPA, allowing the aircraft to perform new missions demanded by the customers. In the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role, the C295 is already in-service carrying the MK46 torpedo.

This successful trial provides further proof of the operational versatility of the Marte missile and clearly establishes it as the benchmark weapon in the medium-weight anti-ship missile sector. The Marte Mk2/S is already integrated on the AW101 and the NFH (Naval NH90) helicopters in service with the Italian Navy and integration activities for the Marte ER on the Eurofighter Typhoon are currently under way.

The MBDA Marte MK2/S missile is a fire-and-forget, all-weather, medium-range sea-skimming anti-ship weapon system, equipped with inertial mid-course guidance and radar homing terminal guidance, and capable of destroying small vessels and heavily damaging major vessels. The missile has a weight of 310 kg and is 3.85m long.

MBDA Marte missile release trial from Airbus Military C295 - SP's Naval Forces

@sancho @Abingdonboy any relevance to MRMR competition??

I think C295 will be the front runner or I am also of the opinion that IN go for addition P-8Is for the same contract.

 

[Abingdonboy]

@arp2041 for this tender (MR-MPAs) Boeing have proposed the "diet" P-8. Now it remains to be seen what platform this is offered on ie whether it is on standard 737-800 (as on the "full" P-8s) or on a smaller platform like a business jet. If so it comes down to what the IN really wants. Ie a prop or turbofan platform, the range it wants, whether it wants the MPA to be at all configured for ASW or purely patrol.

 

[sancho]

@sancho @Abingdonboy any relevance to MRMR competition??

I think C295 will be the front runner or I am also of the opinion that IN go for addition P-8Is for the same contract.

No, it's just part of the integration of this new weapon, to the European MPA and naval helicopter fleets, but it would be available if we select the aircraft.
The MRMR aircrafts should be pro engined once, for longer endurance and better low level flight capability. The P8Is are excellent survaillance aircrafts, but mainly at high altitude and speed, so I don't see it beeing selected in this competition, especially when the budgets are tight and you could get 4 to 5 of this one, for a single P8I.