|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
India Clarifies Combat Aircraft Plans |
|
|
|
(Source: defense-aerospace.com; published Feb. 11, 2005)
|
|
|
|
PARIS --- The Indian government has this week gone some ways to clarify its plans to renew its fleet of combat aircraft, but there are lingering doubts as to whether it will be able to implement these plans in their present form.
For example, the cost and complexity of aircraft development programs makes an investment in three distinct jet trainer programs a needless duplication of expenditure and energy. The Indian air force’s procurement plans also include fighter and transport aircraft, AEW&C aircraft, helicopters and beyond-visual range air-to-air missiles, but India has allocated about $50 billion to defense procurement over the next five years.
The most significant development was the Feb. 7 confirmation by Air Force Chief of Staff S.K. Tyagi that India would buy 125 new combat aircraft, and had issued Requests for Information (RFI) to four manufacturers: Dassault Aviation for the Mirage 2000, Lockheed Martin for the F-16, Russia for the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Saab for the Gripen. The Eurofighter Typhoon was not included as “there are specifications which the IAF had in mind which the Typhoon does not match,” Tyagi was quoted as saying.
Until recently, Indian had been negotiating directly with Dassault to buy 120-140 Mirages, which it already operates, and no reason was provided for its new procurement strategy. The inclusion of the F-16 is somewhat surprising as India has previously operated Russian and French combat aircraft, and introducing US weapons, logistics and training would undoubtedly add to capital and operating costs.
Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters during the Aero India show in Bangalore this week that Washington has shown interest in participating "in a big way" in India's defense market, and that while New Delhi wanted to "encourage" this trend the US would have to demonstrate its "credibility and dependability" as a supplier. He also noted that there are political and legal obstacles.
"We have been contacted with an RFI (request for information). We are considering that matter at the moment. No decision has been made," U.S. ambassador David Mulford told reporters Feb. 8.
The intent is to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) once the response to the RFI has been evaluated, and while no firm schedule has been set Tyagi said the aircraft are required as soon as possible. India will insist on technology transfer for whichever aircraft is selected, including the source code for avionics. He also added that all of the aircraft will be acquired from a single manufacturer, as "we cannot buy a part from one company and some others from some other manufacturer."
This program alone could cost about $10 billion, although actual costs will be higher because of local production, making it by far the most valuable fighter competition going.
In parallel, India is also continuing its indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Indian officials said they will shortly award state-run aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited an order for 20 LCAs, with an option for 20 more, at a total cost of about $900 million. The first aircraft of this new batch is to be delivered to the air force in 2008 and should be operational in 2010-2011. This first production batch will be powered, like the three prototypes now flying, by US-supplied General Electric GE404s, but follow-on aircraft should switch to the Indian-developed Kaveri engine if it is ready in time.
The LCA made its first flight in January 2001. Two technology demonstrators and two prototype versions have since flown more than 150 hours in 350 sorties, but clearance for production will require logging 1,500 flight hours. HAL is currently contracted to build eight pre-production aircraft.
India, which is already buying Phalcon airborne early warning aircraft from Israel, announced Feb. 8 that it has signed an MoU with Brazil’s Embraer to support local development of a new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system. An initial contract will follow shortly for three EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft costing $100 million, with another four to follow later (about $150 million). Embraer sees the agreement’s potential value at up to $1 billion over the long term, according to a company official.
At Aero India, Indian officials also revealed plans to develop a new Lead-In Jet Fighter, based on technologies initially developed for the LCA. N. Natarajan, scientific advisor to the defense minister, said the new aircraft “will have dual roles of a trainer and fighter,” but would be distinct from other training aircraft now planned or in production. Confusingly, these include:
-- Advanced Jet Trainer: In consultation with the Indian Air Force, HAL has prepared a project for developing an indigenous AJT, which will be positioned between the British Hawk/IJT and the LCA. Snecma CEO Jean-Paul Bechat told reporters Wednesday: "We are in talks with HAL to offer an advanced version of our Larzac engine to power” the AJT.
--The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), also developed by Hindustan Aeronautics, is expected to replace the Indian Air Force’s current Kiran training aircraft. Pilots would graduate from IJT to the new Advanced Jet Trainer. The IJT is to be powered by an AL-551 engine supplied by Russian’s NPO-Saturn, but Snecma will again offer its Larzac. "We still hope to get an order from HAL for the Larzac engine as its requirements are likely to be substantial after the IAF order of 225 IJTs," Bechat said.
-- At Aero India, HAL also unveiled a model of a Combat Air Trainer that aims to ultimately replace the BAE Hawk and to follow the Intermediate Jet Trainer in the air force syllabus. The CAT will be a twin-engine aircraft, and Indian Air Force engineers are close to freezing the design which calls for a glass cockpit, modern avionics, transonic speed and a secondary combat capability. HAL tentatively plans to build the all-composite CAT by 2010.
-- BAE Systems Hawk: India last year awarded BAE Systems a $1.45 billion contract to supply a total of 66 Hawk 134 jet trainers, 22 to be supplied from Britain and the remaining 44 due to be license-manufactured by HAL. The first will be delivered in late 2006, the company said during the show.
(With news agency and other reports)
-ends-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
