The program was for the procurement of 56 aircraft of which 16 would be delivered off the shelf by a foreign manufacturer and 40 were to have been manufactured in India. Indian industry has found the order to be too small to justify the capital expenditure.
Tag: IAF
IAF looks to replace crashed Mirage fighter jets
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Although the case for the acquisition of the two single-engine trainers is still at a preliminary stage, the IAF is ‘desirous’ of getting their ‘numbers up from 49 to 51’ again and is planning to make a pitch for the aircraft to the Ministry of Defense.
HAL looks to build 20 BAE Systems’ Hawk trainer jets
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India’s HAL has issued an RFP to BAE Systems for the license production of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft, meant to replace the HJT-16 Kiran Mk II aircraft of the IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatics team.
Why fighter operating costs matter
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The IAF evaluation of the six competing aircraft for the MMRCA contest took into account the issue of life-cycle cost, which could be loosely understood to mean cost of ownership over the period of operation of the aircraft. This was because it was felt that the true cost of owning a fleet of aircraft was not reflected in the purchase price alone.
French drive hard bargain on Indian MMRCA: Report
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A recent French media report offers insight into the French position in the negotiations with the Indian defense ministry on the MMRCA fighter aircraft purchase by the IAF. Here’s an edited translation of the report and an analysis of what it could mean.
Gorshkov air trials to begin mid-July
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Interestingly, the fighters involved will include a Russian MiG-29K and a MiG-35 prototype, which was part of the Indian Air Force tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).
Top Gun Saraswat
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DRDO head, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, took a backseat ride in the Swedish Saab’s Gripen C/D aircraft on the sidelines of the Aerospace Forum held at Linköping, Sweden, last week.
Indian VIP helo buy under cloud
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The deal for the purchase of 12 AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters for VIP transportation is under scrutiny by the Indian defense ministry after reports surfaced that the company may have employed agents to facilitate the contract.
Lockheed Martin’s Sea Hercules unveiled
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Airbus bets on MRTT life cost in Indian tanker contest
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Life Cycle Cost was not a consideration in the earlier contest, in which the Airbus A-330 MRTT was selected over the IL-78, before the tender was withdrawn. This time the factor is expected to be a key determinant of the acquisition cost of the two aircraft.
An alternate theory of the MMRCA process – II
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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).
An alternate theory of the MMRCA process – I
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This, first of a two-part analysis, examines the MMRCA process and invites you to draw your conclusions as to the veracity of the claims of transparency and adherence to the rule book.
Finmeccanica brings wide product line to DefExpo
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The Italian defense major will be represented at DefExpo by its group companies AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, DRS Tactical Systems, Inc. (a division of DRS Technologies), SELEX Galileo, Oto Melara and WASS – in DEFEXPO 2012, exhibiting products, platforms and technological solutions in the field of helicopters, aeronautic, radar systems, naval and land armaments and underwater systems.
MBDA’s arsenal on display at DefExpo
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The French defense company MBDA is planning to display a wide range of weapons systems from its product line at DefExpo, including the Mistral VSHORAD, the Mistral ATAM for the Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv Mk IV WSI (Weapons System Integrated), as well as their PARS 3 LR anti-tank guided missile system, which is also being considered for the Dhruv.
Lockheed Martin to announce new F-16 Block 50 variant
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Although the design will be based on the Block 50 model, it will incorporate newer features that have, so far, only been included in the Block 60 Desert Falcons flown by the UAE Air Force and were part of the F-16IN Super Viper for the Indian Air Force tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft.
