The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going shopping for aircraft. The budget is a cool $10 billion, and manufacturers across the world are racing to bag the contract. The aircraft in question are the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). Field trials for the contract, in which all the parameters that the manufactures have claimed are put to test, have begun in Bangalore and the action will soon shift to the deserts of Rajasthan and Leh, where the six contenders will be put through their paces.
The aircraft will beef up future strike capability of the force, whose fighter strength has been dwindling. Estimates are that fighter squadrons have gone down from about 39 (each with 12-18 aircraft) and may reach 27 in a few years, bringing it to the level of the Pakistani Air Force.
No matter which manufacturer bags the contract though, India is likely to benefit in more ways than one. The contract has a huge commercial implication for Indian industry. According to India’s offset policy, the manufacturer that wins the contract will have to either re-invest at least 50 percent of the contract value in India, or source the same amount through Indian industry.
The foreign vendors have already begun forming associations with 25 to 30 local manufacturers, who will get active as soon as the order is placed. Of the 126 aircraft order, only the first 18 or so will be made by the global supplier, the rest will be assembled and later built completely in India. Most like Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Saab have begun forming joint ventures and incubating smaller ventures in preparation for the deal. The foreign vendors are also required to transfer technological knowledge to the Indian aerospace industry.
At the core, the six aircraft can be divided into two categories by weight. The light weight, flyaway single-engined aircraft and the heavier twin-engined machines. The Americans, Swedes, Russians and the French are all locked in a battle to sell India machines that cost between $55 million to $70 million. The big question really is: Will the Americans be able to storm the Indian defence business through this deal?
Eurofighter
Typhoon
Maximum Take Off Gross Weight: 23,500 kg
Engines Two, Eurojet EJ200
Thrust 13,500 pounds per foot (lbf)
Wingspan 10.95m
Radar Captor E AESA
Range 3,790 km (with external fuel tanks)
Cost $123 mln (Approximate Cost)
By far the heaviest and most expensive machine in this race, the canard, delta-strike fighter, is built by a European consortium. The company, EADS, has invited India to be part of the four-country consortium if the Typhoon is chosen by the IAF.
Lockheed Martin F-16IN
Super Viper
Maximum Take off Gross Weight: 21,772 kg
Engines Single
Thrust 19,000 lbf
Wingspan 9.44 m
Radar Both advanced multimode mechanically scanned and AESA on offer
Cost $50 mln
The F-16, which first flew in 1977, has proven to be effective in several air-engagements. About 4,400 of the machines have been sold. The IN series, an advanced version of the Block 50, is tailor made for India. The Pakistan Air Force operates older Block 52 versions.
Mikoyan 29 OVT
Mig 35
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 29,000 kg
Engines Two Klimov RD-33 MK
Thrust 14,030 lbf
Wingspan 15 m
Speed Mach 2.25
Range 2,000 km (without external tanks)
Cost $38.5 mln
The IAF already has maintenance facilities for the MiG-29, so Mig 35 could be inducted with minimum expenditure. But Russian product support, especially for the MiG-29 fleet, has been inadequate. Buying the aircraft would mean almost total reliance on the Russians.
Boeing F/A-18
Super Hornet
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 29,932 kg
Engines Two General Electric 414-GE400 turbofans
Thrust 14,000 lbf
Wingspan 13.68 m
Range 2,346 km
Cost $57 mln
One of the strongest contenders, Boeing is looking for its big military aerospace break in India. The first 18 aircraft will be made in the US and from the 19th, assemblies will start here. By the time the 126th piece is delivered in 2020, about 30,000 parts in each plane will be Indian.
Saab JAS 39
Gripen IN
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 16,000 kg
Engines GE 414G
Thrust 14,000 lbf
Wingspan 8.4 m
Radar AESA
Range 4,070 km
Cost $48 mln
Tailor made for India, the Gripen IN is an advanced version (with a higher payload capability) of the NG which is being offered to the rest of the world. The delta-wing, canard aircraft is in use in Sweden, South Africa, Hungary and the Czech republic.
Dassault
Rafale
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 24,500 kg
Engines Two Snecma M-88-2 turbofans
Thrust 11,250 lbf
Wingspan 10.80 m
Radar Thales RBE2 AESA
Range 3,700 km
Cost $94 mln
The aircraft has not been sold outside France, and is currently in use only in the French Air Force and Navy. The plane almost didn’t make it on the IAF shortlist, but is now a very active contender. The IAF already uses Dassault’s Mirage 2000, that saw action in Kargil.
source : Forbes India
The aircraft will beef up future strike capability of the force, whose fighter strength has been dwindling. Estimates are that fighter squadrons have gone down from about 39 (each with 12-18 aircraft) and may reach 27 in a few years, bringing it to the level of the Pakistani Air Force.
No matter which manufacturer bags the contract though, India is likely to benefit in more ways than one. The contract has a huge commercial implication for Indian industry. According to India’s offset policy, the manufacturer that wins the contract will have to either re-invest at least 50 percent of the contract value in India, or source the same amount through Indian industry.
The foreign vendors have already begun forming associations with 25 to 30 local manufacturers, who will get active as soon as the order is placed. Of the 126 aircraft order, only the first 18 or so will be made by the global supplier, the rest will be assembled and later built completely in India. Most like Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Saab have begun forming joint ventures and incubating smaller ventures in preparation for the deal. The foreign vendors are also required to transfer technological knowledge to the Indian aerospace industry.
At the core, the six aircraft can be divided into two categories by weight. The light weight, flyaway single-engined aircraft and the heavier twin-engined machines. The Americans, Swedes, Russians and the French are all locked in a battle to sell India machines that cost between $55 million to $70 million. The big question really is: Will the Americans be able to storm the Indian defence business through this deal?
Eurofighter
Typhoon
Maximum Take Off Gross Weight: 23,500 kg
Engines Two, Eurojet EJ200
Thrust 13,500 pounds per foot (lbf)
Wingspan 10.95m
Radar Captor E AESA
Range 3,790 km (with external fuel tanks)
Cost $123 mln (Approximate Cost)
By far the heaviest and most expensive machine in this race, the canard, delta-strike fighter, is built by a European consortium. The company, EADS, has invited India to be part of the four-country consortium if the Typhoon is chosen by the IAF.
Lockheed Martin F-16IN
Super Viper
Maximum Take off Gross Weight: 21,772 kg
Engines Single
Thrust 19,000 lbf
Wingspan 9.44 m
Radar Both advanced multimode mechanically scanned and AESA on offer
Cost $50 mln
The F-16, which first flew in 1977, has proven to be effective in several air-engagements. About 4,400 of the machines have been sold. The IN series, an advanced version of the Block 50, is tailor made for India. The Pakistan Air Force operates older Block 52 versions.
Mikoyan 29 OVT
Mig 35
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 29,000 kg
Engines Two Klimov RD-33 MK
Thrust 14,030 lbf
Wingspan 15 m
Speed Mach 2.25
Range 2,000 km (without external tanks)
Cost $38.5 mln
The IAF already has maintenance facilities for the MiG-29, so Mig 35 could be inducted with minimum expenditure. But Russian product support, especially for the MiG-29 fleet, has been inadequate. Buying the aircraft would mean almost total reliance on the Russians.
Boeing F/A-18
Super Hornet
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 29,932 kg
Engines Two General Electric 414-GE400 turbofans
Thrust 14,000 lbf
Wingspan 13.68 m
Range 2,346 km
Cost $57 mln
One of the strongest contenders, Boeing is looking for its big military aerospace break in India. The first 18 aircraft will be made in the US and from the 19th, assemblies will start here. By the time the 126th piece is delivered in 2020, about 30,000 parts in each plane will be Indian.
Saab JAS 39
Gripen IN
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 16,000 kg
Engines GE 414G
Thrust 14,000 lbf
Wingspan 8.4 m
Radar AESA
Range 4,070 km
Cost $48 mln
Tailor made for India, the Gripen IN is an advanced version (with a higher payload capability) of the NG which is being offered to the rest of the world. The delta-wing, canard aircraft is in use in Sweden, South Africa, Hungary and the Czech republic.
Dassault
Rafale
Maximum Take off Gross Weight 24,500 kg
Engines Two Snecma M-88-2 turbofans
Thrust 11,250 lbf
Wingspan 10.80 m
Radar Thales RBE2 AESA
Range 3,700 km
Cost $94 mln
The aircraft has not been sold outside France, and is currently in use only in the French Air Force and Navy. The plane almost didn’t make it on the IAF shortlist, but is now a very active contender. The IAF already uses Dassault’s Mirage 2000, that saw action in Kargil.
source : Forbes India