Malcolm Merlyn Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 All discussions regarding the Indian Army, its OPS, equipment everything goes here. Let Me Start With Quote IAF to start process to acquire single engine jets this month In a major move, the Indian Air Force will start the process this month to acquire a fleet of single engine fighter jets which are expected to significantly enhance its overall strike capability. Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said having a new fleet of single engine jets was a “priority” for the IAF and the request for information (RFI) for it is likely to be issued “very soon”. Another top official of the IAF told PTI that the RFI, kick starting the acquisition process, will be issued this month. The fighter jets will be produced jointly by a foreign aircraft maker along with an Indian company under the recently launched strategic partnership model which aims to bring in high-end defence technology to India. “The RFI for the single engine fighter is likely to be issued very soon,” Dhanoa said addressing a press conference. A request for information is a business process aimed at gathering information on the capabilities of various suppliers. Swedish defence giant Saab and Indian conglomerate Adani group last month had announced a collaboration, mainly eyeing the contract for single-engine jets for the IAF. US defence firm Lockheed Martin is also seen as a major competitor for the deal. Dhanoa said IAF is giving priority to the single engine fighters as the twin-engine fighters will cost more. “Right now, we are concentrating on the single engine so as to make up the numbers with lower cost,” he said. The IAF currently has 33 fighter squadrons against authorised strength of 42. The IAF chief, however, said the force has requirement of twin engine jets as well. In September last year, India had signed an Euro 7.87- billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal with the French government for purchase of 36 Rafale twin-engine fighter jets. The IAF was keen on a follow-on order of 36 additional Rafales. The supply of Rafale jets is schedules to start from September 2019. Sources said the IAF will start receiving a fresh fleet of 36 Sukhoi jets from 2019. Asked about purchase of tankers for IAF, Dhanoa said, as the RFP for buyinbg them has been withdrawn, the IAF is now upgrading the IL-78 so that it can carry more fuel. The IL-78 is a Soviet-built four-engined aerial refuelling tanker “There is a requirement of tankers which we will pursue again for acquisition,” he said. Asked about the fifth-generation fighter aircraft project (FGFA) with Russia, Dhanoa said a high-level committee has submitted its report to defence ministry which will take a call on it. “The case is with the ministry of defence. The preliminary design phase has been completed. The Varthaman committee has submitted its report which is classified and we have also given our response,” Dhanoa said. In 2007, India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project. In December 2010, India had agreed to pay USD 295 million (Rs 1,897 crore) towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the ‘Perspective Multi- role Fighter’. However, negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years. Answering a question, the Air Chief said that the IAF will consider procuring Predator unmanned combat aerial vehicle in case it is offered by the US. Predator is a remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle used primarily by the US Air Force. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iaf-to-start-process-to-acquire-single-engine-jets-this-month/story-PkWYQpJGVCnA4iksDmcQAP.html Muloghonto 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) The goal should be to be among the most technologically advanced forces in the world Current Priorities: 1. Restoration of the environment and reduction of pollution. Greener and cleaner Ind. Environment / Planet first 2. Curbing population and reducing the density 3. Strong defense and efficient infrastructure 4. Strict laws and punishments esp for crime against women, children, littering, polluting, .... 5. Zero corruption culture Edited October 7, 2017 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Merlyn Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share Posted October 18, 2017 Quote AFTER 36 JETS, RAFALE TO PUSH FOR MAKE IN INDIA NEW DELHI: After selling 36 Rafale fighter jets to India, French government is now pushing for a project to manufacture warplanes here in Indian soil to give a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to encourage local manufacturing under ‘Make In India’. And to put Paris’s case strongly, its newly appointed defence minister Florance Parley is visiting New Delhi and will be meeting her Indian counterpart. According to south block officials, Parly will be landing India with high level delegation on October 26 and on next day she is scheduled to hold series of meetings with Indian officials on issues related to defence cooperation between the two nation. “Though the visit is aimed towards further strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations, but offering production line in India for Rafale jets is surely will be on cards,” said an official. Incidentally, Florence Parly of France and Nirmala Sithraman are the only two women to head the Defence Ministry of nuclear-armed nations. Parly will not hold delegation level talks with defence ministry officials, responsible for acquisitions, she will also hold talks with Indian Air Force for better understanding of the force’s requirement. On October 28, she will travel to Nagpur to launch a production facility of Dassault aviation in Nagpur, which has tied with Reliance Defence for offset of over Rs. 20,000 crore. Dassault Avaition, manufactures of Rafale jets had signed contract worth $11 billion to supply 126 Rafale aircraft and eventually won an order for only 36 planes last year. India had initially agreed to buy all the 126 jets under a long-delayed deal, even mandating Dassault to build some of them locally. But the 126 Medium multi role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender, issued by the Congress led UPA government was cancelled by the Modi government. But now, IAF is desperate to increase its combat strength- -the key concern, which have been raised by the force on many occasions. IAF at present operating with 32 squadrons and on the verge of losing out more squadrons as MiG 21 and MiG 27 fleeting is ageing and the Air Force would achieve its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032. IAF will have 83 indigenous Light Combat Aircaft Tejas, 36 Rafale and 36 additional Sukhoi fighter jets by end of 2019. Though, IAF was keen on a follow-on order of 36 additional Rafales to bridge the gap of it depleting combat fleet, but, they are now settling for lighter single engine warplanes. For this, the IAF is will start the process this month to acquire a fleet of single engine fighter jets which are expected to significantly enhance its overall strike capability. But, IAF has already maintained that requirement of twin engine is very much there. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, on the occasion of IAF Raising day has made it clear that there is absolutely a need for twin-engine fighter jets. And Rafaje is a twin engine jet. Besides other features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of the IAF is the Beyond Visual Range Meteor air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 KM. Its integration on the Rafale jets will mean the IAF can hit targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders while still staying within India's own territorial boundary. Pakistan currently has only a BVR with 80 km range. During the Kargil war, India used a BVR of 50 km while Pakistan had none. With Meteor, the balance of power in the air space has again tilted in India's favour. Scalp, a long-range air-to-ground cruise missile with a range in excess of 300 km also gives the IAF an edge over its adversaries. http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/10/after-36-jets-rafale-to-push-for-make.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muloghonto Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Got a few pictures of Tejas-II from AeroIndia via a friend: Stradlater 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muloghonto Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Synopsis : 1. Its supposed to be a medium-weight fighter, so its MTOW has gone up from 13.5 tonnes to 17.5 tonnes. 2. Canard-delta wing structure. Not sure about the implications. I know canards make manueverability in low speeds and high angles of attack easier/possible. Delta wing provides greater lift for the same thrust. But prior delta wings don't have canards. 3. Expected to be prototype ready and tested around 2022, entering production line around 2025/26. PS: IAF just placed an order of ~ 70 Tejas-I and HAL is saying they will be able to deliver 16 before the year ends. Leads me to think that with MKI production line winding down ( IAF does not want any more Su-30 MKIs after the 273 are produced - we are currently sitting at 240 produced or so), HAL can indeed churn out more than 8-10 Tejas they've been doing so far, perhaps by merging production lines/better using manpower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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