India y su industria aeronáutica

[champi]

Pues sí­. Y algo parecido con los tanqueros. Después de pedir el MRTT de Airbus (cuando estaban operando Il-78) para después anularlo, ahora parece que ya hay nuevo RPF: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... chase.html

By Radhakrishna Rao

India's defence ministry has issued a fresh request for proposals to aerospace concerns in Europe, Russia and the USA for six inflight refuelling aircraft, reviving a contest worth an estimated $2 billion.

New Delhi had previously selected Airbus Military's A330-200-based multi-role tanker transport to meet its air force requirement, but cancelled the programme before a contract could be signed. Its decision followed pressure from India's finance ministry regarding the proposed cost of the deal.

Vivek Lal, vice-president of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, confirms that the US company has received the new RFP.

The Indian air force currently flies seven Ilyushin Il-78MK tankers, as listed in Flightglobal's MiliCAS database. Russia's United Aircraft Corporation has previously offered to produce a modernised version of the current aircraft for India.

[Orel]

Pues mirad, Polluelo y Champi, aquí­ tenéis su mareo:

Se declara oficialmente que la oferta mejor es la del GE F-414

Cuando acababan de decirnos lo contrario... para fiarse de las fuentes no oficiales...

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Huge news, and it's official. The DRDO/ADA announced earlier today in a statement that the GE F414 engine has been identified as the lowest bidder in the race against the Eurojet EJ200, to power the LCA Tejas Mk-II.

This turns things completely around. In recent weeks, there had been a spate of source-based reports suggesting that the EJ200 had the more competitive tender, though there had been no confirmation.

But now, a formal statement from DRDO!

The Price Negotiating Committee for the Alternate Engine for LCA Mk-2 has finalised the Comparative Statement of Tenders. The committee had its representations from Ministry of Defence, Defence Finance, ADA, DRDO, HAL, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. After evaluation and acceptance of the Technical offer provided by both Eurojet and GE Aviation, the commercial quotes were compared in detail and GE Aviation was declared as the lowest bidder. Further price negotiations and contract finalization will follow.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/09/th ... owest.html

Comunicado de Eurojet en respuesta:

"We respect the decision taken by the Price Negotiating Committee. However, we regret that the Committee has decided against the most capable & latest generation engine on offer for the LCA-Tejas. Together with our consortium partner companies and their respective governments we will carefully study the decision and its implications. We expect further details from Indian authorities and more information about the process leading to the announced selection. This decision does not affect our strong commitment to India. We will continue to explore true and trusted partnerships here which will support the development of a strong Indian aerospace and defence industry."

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/09/eu ... ision.html

Si al final eligen el GE-414 (lo que ya es casi seguro) en teorí­a eso serí­a un empujón al SuperHornet o al Gripen NG de cara al MMRCA (supongo que más para el Rhino).

Chao

[champi]

Visto lo visto, los europeos tenemos poco que pintar aquí­. Después de ver lo que los norteamericanos van a pagar por sus últimos SH (a penas $43 millones) la única ventaja que podemos ofrecer es la transferencia tecnológica porque ni por alianzas estratégicas ni por precio tenemos nada que hacer.

Un dato que poco sale es la gran rivalidad que la India tiene con China. Desde este punto de vista hacer alianzas con los rusos por un lado y con los EEUU por otro podrí­an aislar a su gran rival en caso de roces (y estos mismos encantados). Hacer alianzas con Europa no les vale para nada, y eso se mira mucho. Por eso ya en su dí­a desde Eurofighter se avisó de que la decisión serí­a puramente polí­tica (intentando implicar un poco más a los estados europeos).

Así­ que nada del motor para el LCA, posiblemente nada en el MMRCA, y veremos lo que pasa con el MRTT al que ya dijeron una vez que no.

[champi]

Confirmado, 99 F-414 para el Tejas: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... s-lca.html

(Source: Times of India; issued Oct. 1, 2010)
...
The defence ministry on Thursday announced General Electric's F-414 engines have been selected over its rival Eurojet Turbo GmbH's EJ-200 engines, after a bitter race over last two years, to power the Tejas Mark-II version.

While initial contract will be for 99 engines for over $650 million, the option for 49 more engines could be exercised later. Eight engines will be bought off-the-shelf, while other 91 will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology.

Y del mismo enlace pero de otra fuente:

(Source: Frontier India; issued Oct. 1, 2010)
...
GE 414 was also the IAF's choice of engine.

The offer also included redesigning the LCA Tejas to accommodate the GE- F 414. However it was felt that this offer defies the very Air Staff requirement (ASR) for the light weight, small aircraft.

[As the] GE- F 414 is heavier engine, LCA dimensions will drastically change and it will push back LCA development for at least 3-5 years. Also, the past experience dealing with US on LCA weighed heavy on the Indian minds.

This time, [if the] US decides not to cooperate midway [into the program], the Tejas project will be non recoverable.

A rediseñarlo otra vez. Ahora que por fin ya volaba...

Por cierto. Si también es la elección de la IAF (como nos anuncian) es muy probable que sea porque tienen en mente el SH o el Gripen (menos probable, por aquello de la polí­tica).

[Orel]

A rediseñarlo otra vez. Ahora que por fin ya volaba...

Por cierto. Si también es la elección de la IAF (como nos anuncian) es muy probable que sea porque tienen en mente el SH o el Gripen (menos probable, por aquello de la polí­tica).

Sí­, ambas cosas ya las cité anteriormente.

[Orel]

Y ahora que la elección del GE-414 para el Tejas no influirá en la elección del MMRCA.... cada vez se dice una cosa distinta

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/10/no ... mk-ii.html

[Orel]

India se plantea comprar entre 200 y 250 cazas de 5ª generación (T-50 PAK FA) (programa "fight generation fighter aircraft" ó "FGFA"):
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ia ... rs_1447629

Y para ello van a gastar 25.000 millones de dólares, incluyendo desarrollo, etc:
http://www.lenta.ru/news/2010/10/05/fifthgen/

Será el programa más caro de India.

[champi]

Vuela el primer C-130J para la India: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -130j.html

By Craig Hoyle

India's first US-built military transport has made its debut flight, with the Lockheed Martin C-130J having taken to the air from Marietta, Georgia on 4 October.

The first of six stretched-fuselage Hercules on order for the Indian air force, aircraft KC-3801 will be followed by two more examples getting airborne "within the next few weeks", Lockheed says.


Both images © Lockheed Martin

"The aircraft will now complete a series of company and customer flight tests prior to delivery in December," the company says.

New Delhi signed a contract for its new tactical transports in 2007. The aircraft will feature equipment including an in-flight refuelling probe and a FLIR Systems AAQ-22 Star Safire III electro-optical/infrared sensor turret.

Por cierto, leyendo la SP's Aviation Magazine (especial de la IAF) es de alucine lo que están pagando por el material occidental. Por ejemplo, por estos 6 Hércules van a pagar $1.100 millones, y la fecha de entrega dicen que será de los dos primeros ejemplares en febrero del 2011 y los restantes antes de final de año. Otros $1.000 millones para 3 Boeing bussines jet en configuración VVIP, $5.800 millones por 10 C-17 ($580 millones la unidad ). Además, también van a pagar $750 millones por 12 AW-101 en configuración VVIP y en cambio para los 6 cisternas tienen pensado gastarse sólo $1.500 millones (los BBJ les saldrí­an más caros...). Y me faltan las cifras del P-8I.

Además tambieÅ„ quieren remotorizar los Jaguar (unas 100 unidades), modernizar los Mirage 2000 ($40 millones por avión ), modernizar 105 An-32, 60 Mig-29 y ya existe un plan propuesto por HAL para modernizar los Su-30MKI por un valor de $2.370 millones. Ah, y por supuesto también quieren comprar helicópteros de todos los tamaños y formas a montañas, y los FGFA (aunque aquí­ sólo hablan de $6.000 millones)... Total, $100.000 millones en 10 años.

Eso sí­, alguno de los de muy arriba ya empieza a pensar que igual la logí­stica puede que sea algo problemática: http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/10/mu ... ntory.html

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik indicated today that the potential multiplicity of aircraft types in his fleet inventory was a major cause for concern, and that by the end of the decade, the IAF would hopefully have an inventory of just five fighter types: the upgraded Su-30MKI (272), the MMRCA (126), the PAK FA/Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (200-250), the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (100) and the Tejas MK-II (150-200). "If it were upto me, I would have a single aircraft type. But we don't live in a perfect world," the Air Chief said.

La última frase me recuerda a "con faldas y a lo loco"

Ah, y este mismo "jefazo" también dice que la mitad del equipamiento actual de la IAF es obsoleto: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =ASI&s=AIR

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 5 Oct 2010 12:53

NEW DELHI - Half of the weapons and equipment used by the Indian Air Force are obsolete and need urgent replacement, a top Indian defense official has said.

Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, pointing to investment by the government in defense, said half of the existing fighter jets, radars, transport aircraft and air defense weapons will be upgraded by 2014-15.

The country is reportedly negotiating a $3.5 billion aircraft defense deal with the U.S. that will be signed in November when President Barack Obama visits the Indian capital.

Naik said the air force was also likely to agree a $25 billion defense deal with Russia by 2010 to buy advanced stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

"Around 50 percent of our equipment is obsolete and needs to be replaced," Naik told reporters on Oct. 4, in comments reported by local media.

"Ten years ago, we had no money for modernization. This caused some delays. Subsequent planning will fructify by 2014-15," he said.

Vuelven a salir los $25.000 millones para el FGFA, y por lo que se ve de una fuente oficial.

Un saludo.

[champi]

En breve comenzará la negociación final para la venta de los 99 F-414: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... 0GE%20F414

Oct 7, 2010
By Neelam Mathews

NEW DELHI — Price negotiations will begin soon for 99 General Electric F414 fighter jet engines selected to power the Mk II version of the Indian Air Force's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) awarded the contract on Oct. 1, and it is expected to be signed in a few months (Aerospace DAILY, Oct. 1).

The F414 engine was in the running along with the EuroJet EJ-200. The contract's value cannot be confirmed until it is finalized, a Defense Research Development Organization spokesman says. “We could always go for more [engines],”he adds.
...
The contract requires 8-10 engines to be provided in fly-away condition, with the rest to be delivered in semi-knocked-down condition and assembled in India. The agreement also contains a 30% offset clause and will tap some of the 24 Indian companies that GE has certified. “The deliveries will depend on when the development phase of the LCA is over,”and official says.

A remaining point of contention is the technology transfer clause.

“The requirement and conditions were not clear,”an engine manufacturer says. “You cannot offer a product unless you know how it will be used. Besides, you need to consider which of the two technologies are more advanced.”

GE requires U.S. government clearance for transfer of technology. “We can almost be sure there will be no transfer of crystal blades of the F414,”an analyst says.
...
While the LCA Mk2 has been slated for production by 2014, that is seen as a distant dream, an analyst says. The new aircraft's fuselage and components need to be modified and put through armament tests, and the behavioral patterns of the aircraft will change accordingly. The LCA Mk 2 also will need to undergo at least four technology demonstrators that will delay military commissioning beyond 2014, the analyst said.

Un chollazo para GE, sólo un 30% de contraprestaciones y posiblemente no les transferirán la tecnologí­a de los álabes del fan (como sí­ prometiera hacer Eurojet). Sólo falta ver el precio final, ya que el presupuesto original para esta compra rondaba los $750 millones.

[Orel]

Ya sabemos, Champi, polí­tica...

[champi]

La India quiere ponerle AESAs a sus Su-30MKI: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... el=defense

Oct 11, 2010
By Neelam Mathews

NEW DELHI — India is looking at fitting its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.

The X-band radar can track 30 aerial targets in the track-while-scan mode and engage six targets simultaneously in attack mode. By 2018, the Indian air force inventory is expected to comprise around 300 Su-30MKIs.

India's Sukhois currently use N011M passive array technology, which delivers less peak power than an AESA. The N011M also has limitations in its back-end processing and requires more maintenance.

Defense Minister A.K. Antony recently told the Indian parliament about a proposal to upgrade the Indian air force's Su-30 fleet. The upgrade is be carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Russia's Irkutsk, the original equipment manufacturer, starting in 2012. It is likely that the order for the AESA also will be made simultaneously, as the radar will have to be integrated into most parts of the aircraft, including the navigation systems and engines.

[Orel]

El Phazotron Zhuk-AE es el que tienen de serie los Mig-35. No me explico bien porqué no se lo pusieron también al Su-35 desde el principio. ¿Alguien lo sabe? Si se lo pusieran a los MKI, ¿lo harí­an sobre la base móvil de su actual PESA o pondrí­an la antena AESA fija? Si fuera lo primero y antes de 2015 se adelantarí­an al posible AESA móvil del EFA.

[champi]

No me explico bien porqué no se lo pusieron también al Su-35 desde el principio.

Lo cierto es que el Phazotron Zhuk-AE es más bien chico sobre todo para el morro del Flanker. Así­ que no acabo de entender la jugada, a no ser que sobredimensionen la antena...

La foto de defense-update: http://defense-update.com/features/du-1 ... huk_AE.htm

India prueba con éxito nuevo avión no tripulado de combate: http://sp.rian.ru/Defensa/20101018/147761535.html

Nueva Delhi, 18 de octubre, RIA Novosti.

India efectuó con éxito el primer vuelo de su nuevo avión no tripulado de combate “Rustom-1”, informó hoy, lunes, el diario Hindú.

“A pesar de las condiciones de tiempo desfavorables, el aparato realizó el primer vuelo que duró 12 minutos y al cumplir todas las tareas aterrizó con éxito”, declaró la Organización hindú de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Defensa (DRDO, por sus siglas en inglés).

El aparato Rustom-1 realizó su primer vuelo ayer, domingo, en el cual lo acompañaron otros dos vehí­culos no tripulados, uno para identificar objetivos y el otro para misiones de reconocimiento.

“Próximamente Rustom podrá ser usado como aparato dotado con armamentos”, dijo el portavoz de la DRDO.

Rustom tiene capacidad de carga hasta 75 kilogramos, la autonomí­a de vuelo entre 12 y 15 horas y la altura hasta 7,5 kilómetros, es pilotado por un sistema de manejo a distancia, elaborado por la DRDO.

A diferencia de otros vehí­culos no tripulados que aterrizan con paracaí­das, Rustom toma tierra sobre una pista de aterrizaje.

Francia preparando la visita de Sarkozy a la India en diciembre: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =EUR&s=AIR

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 18 Oct 2010 10:29

NEW DELHI - France hopes to forge closer military ties with India through arms co-production and joint field operations, Defense Minister Herve Morin said in comments published Oct. 18.

"We could intensify our cooperation at the theatres of operation where both our armed forces are deployed - piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden being such a case," Morin said in an interview with Indian Defence Review magazine.

"We could also develop more armament programs that are efficient and adapted to the needs of both armed forces," he added.

Morin also sought to promote the French-built Rafale aircraft, which Dassault hopes to sell to India as part of a deal for 126 fighter jets worth $12 billion.

"I am sure that the field trials, completed in spring 2010, would have enabled the Indian air force and the ministry of defense to gauge fully the quality of this aircraft," he said.
...
Dassault is however poised to pick up a $1.2-billion contract to revamp 56 Mirage-2000 aircraft that France sold India nearly two decades ago.

The deal is expected to be finalized during French President Nicholas Sarkozy's scheduled visit to India in December.

La nueva versión del caza Tejas tendrá elementos de quinta generación: http://sp.rian.ru/Defensa/20101018/147764604.html

© RIA Novosti. Evgeni Pajomov
Moscú, 18 de octubre, RIA Novosti.

La Agencia de Desarrollo de Aeronáutica (ADA) de la India finalizó la proyección previa de una nueva modificación del caza Tejas Mk2, informó hoy IDRW.

Se supone que en la nueva versión de ese avión de combate se utilizarán elementos del caza de quinta generación FGFA, el que la India desarrollará junto con la compañí­a rusa Sukhoi. Esos mismos sistemas se montarán en perspectiva en el caza indio de quinta generación AMCA que el paí­s creará por su cuenta.

Además de un nuevo radar con una agrupación de antenas activas, el Tejas Mk2 tendrá una cabina modernizada provista de nuevos sistemas de cómputo y displays multifuncionales de tecnologí­a multi-touch. Ese mismo instrumental se instalará también en el caza indio AMCA.
La mayorí­a de esos elementos estarán listos en los próximos dos o tres años.

El Tejas Mk2 tendrá alas más largas que el Tejas ordinario. Esto permitirá al nuevo aparato portar más armas y más combustible. Además, dispondrá de mayores tomas de aire.

El Ministerio de Defensa de la India anunció a comienzos de este mes de octubre al ganador del concurso para el suministro de motores del Tejas Mk1 y el Tejas Mk2. El nombramiento lo obtuvieron los motores F414 de la compañí­a estadounidense GE.

Luego que la Fuerza Aérea de la India reciba el Tejas Mk2, ADA acometerá el desarrollo de su nueva modificación, el Tejas Mk3.

Definitivamente se solapa con el Gripen. Aunque lo más probable es que no llegue a volar en cantidades importantes antes del final de la década. Y a pesar de ello ya empiezan a nombrar un tal AMCA que suponemos entonces para dentro de otros 50 años

[champi]

Accidente de un Mig-27 indio, afortunadamente sin ví­ctimas: http://www.defpro.com/news/details/19582/

08:56 GMT, November 11, 2010 A MiG-27 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan shortly after take off for a routine sortie, but the pilot bailed out safely.

The crash occurred at 1320 hrs, 15 minutes after the aircraft took off from Jodhpur air base.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant A Patni, who is safe, had reported trouble in the aircraft, a defence official said, adding there is no damage on the ground.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the mishap. "The crash took place about 60 km away from Jodhpur," defence spokesperson Lt Col N N Joshi said.
...
The MiG-27 crash comes just a couple of days after a Cheetah helicopter of the IAF crash landed near the Siachen Glacier base camp. (DD India)

Parece que además de los 10 C-17 iniciales, podrí­an comprar otros 6 más: http://bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13769

Written by Arjun, Anand
Thursday, 11 November 2010
...
Each Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft supports 650 suppliers across 44 U.S. states. The US $4.1 billion deal, all of which is U.S. export content, will support approximately 22,160 jobs.

In the future, Boeing could also look at incorporating Indian companies in the C-17 Globemaster III program. The aircraft is manufactured by Boeing at its facility in Long Beach, California.
...
The Boeing C-17 military aircraft is powered by four Pratt & Whitney engines and with spares, it is expected that India would purchase approximately 45 engines.
...
Once all ten have been delivered, the Indian Air Force will be the owner and operator of the largest fleet of C-17s outside of the United States. India may even order another six C-17s after the first ten.

El trabajo en el MTA comenzará oficialmente en enero del año que viene: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=13757

STAFF WRITER 18:59 HRS IST

New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) The Indo-Russian joint project for designing and developing a military multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) will formally begin in January next year, the government today said.

[Orel]

Una fuente fiable y de "alto rango" de la industria aeronáutica española-europea me ha reconocido (lo que no significa tampoco que se dé nada por sentado) que el Eurofighter lo tiene muy difí­cil en India, y que vé una intención mayor hacia el material yanqui (supongo yo que será SuperHornet no Viper IN, ya que además eligieron su motor para el LCA). Su apuesta es yanqui, puede que complementado por un poco ruso. Que el mayor problema es que no hay una apuesta fuerte europea conjunta, si no que unos apoyan el Rafale, otros el EFA, otros el Gripen y todos echando pestes de los demás, lo que no hace más que perjudicarnos. Que hasta que no tengamos una diplomacia europea unida de verdad... algo utópico.

Me ha desanimado un poco, pero bueno, después de todo yo no saco nada de la venta o no venta, así­ que...