Saurabh Joshi analyses the significance of the agreement to produce GE F414 fighter aircraft engines in India and its far-reaching consequences for India’s military aviation industry, indigenous fighter capability and defence ties with the U.S.
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar: ‘A replacement (for the MiG-21) could be the LCA Tejas or another – I’ll not call it low end – but a single engine lighter aircraft. Tejas is a good aircraft but it has its limitations.’
The new concept is a spin-off from the hollow titanium blisk (bladed disk) of the Trent 700 engine and also derived the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem for the Pratt and Whitney F-135 vertical lift engine for F-35B.
If the charges against Rolls-Royce are proved correct, there could be serious consequences for the Indian Air Force and navy. Here’s the how and why.
Carter is looking at the Indian defense ministry to make it easier for US companies to do business with it and wants resolution of issues related to offsets, limitation of liability and delays in decision-making.
Rolls Royce is hoping the IAF will select it’s Trent 700 engine over the GE CF-6 engine for the Airbus A-330 MRTT aircraft and is relying on performance, costs and market leadership to make its case.
Honeywell will first be required to conduct a trial modification of two Jaguar aircraft with its F-125IN engines, which is expected to be completed by 2015-2016.
This is the second and concluding installment of the two-part analysis of the process of acquisition of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
