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| India-Pakistan |
| F-16 ahead in race for Indian Air Force order |
| 2006-04-08 |
| The US with its F-16 fighter aircraft is leading the race to win an Indian Air Force order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft — one of the biggest single military orders up for grabs globally — after the first round in the competition saw the Mirage 2000-V from France and the Russian MiG 29M/M2 out of contention. The value of the order after the shortlist was drawn up could be anywhere between $7 billion and $12 billion at current prices. It is estimated that the actual selection of aircraft, not accounting for political pulls and pressures, will take till early 2008. The global tender — called request for proposal (RFP) — will be issued by the end of April, sources said today. Manufacturers of six aircraft who will be given the RFPs will have till October to respond. The Eurofighter EADS’s Typhoon, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and the Russian MiG 35 now enter the fray formally. The original four contenders were F-16 (Lockheed Martin), MiG 29M/M2 (RSK MiG Corporation), Jas 39C Grippen (Saab) and the Mirage 2000-V (Dassault Aviation). |
| Posted by:john |
| #18 btw john thanks for all the info: grrr but *what* about cruise or high speed abilities? |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-08 21:23 |
| #17 iow, At relative slow speeds the Su-30's high thrust to weight ratio along with the canard and vectoring nozzles can radically manoeuvre, but about cruise or high speed abilities? |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-08 21:22 |
| #16 Here is a short video clip (850 kb) of the Su-30 performing TVC turns |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 20:57 |
| #15 The Su-30MKI is the world's first (and so far only) operational combat aircraft to feature TVC. The above mentioned integral aerodynamic configuration combined with TVC results in what is referred to as "practically unlimited manoeuvrability," enabling the MKI to take sharp turns without any AoA (Angle of Attack) limits, as well as unique TO and landing characteristics.. Perhaps someone in the know could explain why the Su-30MKI "unlimited" Angle of Attack wouldn't produce high speed stalls, loss of the fly in flying, in other words. I'm guessing that the Su-30MKI's ability to "skid vector" is at the low end of the airspeed limits for the aircraft. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-08 20:32 |
| #14 This is a few years old The Su-3OMKI supersonic multi-role two-seat fighter is the first Russian combat aircraft ever to be designed in conformity with the requirements of a foreign customer. Most observers agree that the time taken by India in defining and developing the MKI version was rather well spent, as it took great pains to incorporate several technologies from the Su-37 technology demonstrator and mate it with the Su-30 airframe. These include: > Digital Fly-By-Wire controls, which have now become the industrial standard for latest generation fighter aircraft; > Aerodynamic configuration of an unstable longitudinal triplane, with fully movable canard surfaces; > Rear-facing radar in the tail boom to provide warning of hostile aircraft approaching from the rear quadrants and the option of rearward-firing R-73 missiles; > Single-axis Thrust Vector Control (TVC), that allows the axisymmetric vectoring nozzles to swivel 15 0 in the vertical plan to provide differential thrust control. Depending on the manoeuvere to be performed, engine deflection can be synchronous with or differ from horizontal stabiliser deflection. The Su-30MKI is the world's first (and so far only) operational combat aircraft to feature TVC. The above mentioned integral aerodynamic configuration combined with TVC results in what is referred to as "practically unlimited manoeuvrability," enabling the MKI to take sharp turns without any AoA (Angle of Attack) limits, as well as unique TO and landing characteristics; > Phazotron phased array radar with increased search range, ground mapping function and compatibility with all Russian and some Western air-air and air-grwund weaponry. The radar is integrated with the fire control system for day-night, all-weather interception of hostile targets. The radar ensures a 20m resolution detection of large sea targets at a distance of up to 400km, while smaller targets can be detected at a distance of 120km. The system can simultaneously track up to 15 air targets while engaging four of them; > Modified aerial refuelling probe: The air refuelling system enables combat missions of up to 10h duration, with a range of 8,000km at a cruise altitude of 11,000- 13,000m, > High speed datalink providing ground control precise information about the state of the aircraft and its weapons. In addition to the above, the specific Indian modifications to the avionics and other systems, which India developed on its own with cooperation from France and Israel, are as follows: > A new indigenous ECM package developed by the Indian Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) with technical support from Israel; > A state-of-the-art "glass" cockpit with a total of six Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), including two multi-functional displays and a HUD developed together with then Sextant Avionique of France (now part of Thales); > All software controls (including the mission computer and navigation systems) have been developed in India; > An open avionics architecture allowing for the integration of a wide choice of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles of various origin. The Su-30MKI has a total of twelve weapons stations. No formal plans have been announced, but in addition to the standard Russian range likely AAM candidates include the French MICA and the Israeli Derby and Python IV. It is also expected that the Su-30MKI will eventually receive the air-launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile currently being developed in cooperation between Indian and Russian industries; > A quick response auto pilot operative during combat engagements. It provides "hands free" capability to the pilot to stay focused on targeting and weapons deployment. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 20:04 |
| #13 Also driving this is the manufacturing agreements between MDBA and Bharat Dynamics for the full range of MDBA missiles. Recently read that Bharat Dynamics had manufactured more than 30 000 Milan anti-tank missiles for the Indian army. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 19:38 |
| #12 It carries the Israeli Litening targeting pod. The French MICA missile is supposed to be integrated with the MKI soon. This was a design consideration for the MKI - the ability to field non Russian weapons. They already field the French Magic-2 on their Mig-29s. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 19:22 |
| #11 Typo: AESA radar. Not mentioned in the article is the F-18E/F that was also offered. Which western weapons are the Indian Su-30s carrying? |
| Posted by: ed 2006-04-08 18:45 |
| #10 that if its avionics is anything like the Mig-29, stay away from it. If the Mig is chosen, the avionics will be western. This is the route India took with the Su-30. The plane may be Russian but there are Israeli, French and Indian avionics and weapons. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 18:22 |
| #9 They appear to do licensed manufacturing of certain types of aircraft as well as just assembly. Link to website |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 18:19 |
| #8 Not rebuilds. Lockheed offered the "Block 70". It doesn't exist yet, but is most likely a variant of the Block 60 the UAE flies (conformal fuel tanks like Israeli F-16I and Block 60, ASEA radar, AIM9-X). I'm sure the USAF wished they had a few. Lockheed Martin offers 'exclusive' F-16 fighters I'm a bit surprised the F-16 is leading since Pakistan flies the F-16A and is receiving Block 50s. Might get a little confusing in an air war. In addition while the IAF already flies the Mirage 2000, it lost out on the tech race and the assembly line is closing. The Rafale is at least 50% more expensive than the F-16 and has less capability. The Typhoon is at least twice the price of the F-16. I know little of the Mig-35 except that it has thrust vectoring and that if its avionics is anything like the Mig-29, stay away from it. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-04-08 18:18 |
| #7 According to the HAL website Today, HAL has got 16 Production Units and 9 Research and Design Centres spread out in seven different locations in India. Its product track record consists of 12 types of Aircraft from in-house R & D and 14 types by license production. HAL has so far produced about 3,550 aircraft, 3,600 Engines and overhauled over 8,150 Aircraft and 27,300 Engines. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 18:13 |
| #6 The fighters will be new. As with previous Indian orders, the first few squadrons will probably arrive assembled but majority of aircraft will be CKD kits - the planes will be assembled at Hindustan Aviation in Bangalore - where the Su-30 MKIs, the various Migs, the Jaguars, the Hawk trainers etc are already being built. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-08 18:10 |
| #5 The F-16-CPO (Certified Previously Owned) A full 1,000,000 km or 2 war warranty, whichever comes first. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-08 17:26 |
| #4 RD- Thinking they'd be rebuilds - we have a couple wings worth sitting out at DMAFB, and they can be easily brought up to current standards. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-04-08 16:47 |
| #3 There's nothing quite like that "New Fighter-Jet smell"... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-08 16:19 |
| #2 Sweet revenge indeed! Brand spanking new or re-manufactured? |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-08 15:58 |
| #1 oh ace that'll really hack the french off if they buy f-16's |
| Posted by: ShepUK 2006-04-08 15:40 |