DTN News - BRAZIL DEFENSE NEWS: Brazil "Very Likely" To Choose French Fighter - Sources

DTN News - BRAZIL DEFENSE NEWS: Brazil "Very Likely" To Choose French Fighter - Sources
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Brian Winter - Reuters
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012: Brazil is "very likely" to choose France's Rafale fighter jet to refurbish its air force, government sources say, a decision that would award one of the emerging-market world's most coveted defense contracts to a jet whose future was in doubt only two weeks ago.

President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's (AVMD.PA) bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The other two bidders in the competition are U.S.-based Boeing (BA.N) with its F-18 Super Hornet and Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) with its Gripen.

Rousseff has cast the deal as a watershed decision that will help mold Brazil's military and strategic alliances for the next few decades as it establishes itself as a leading economic power. The contract will have an initial value of about $4 billion, but will likely be worth considerably more over time once maintenance and follow-on orders are included.

Rousseff previously had concerns about the Rafale because the jet had not found any buyers outside France. That raised doubts about whether Dassault would have the scale necessary to build the jets at a reasonable cost and maintain them over time.

The sources said Rousseff's concerns were assuaged when India announced on January 31 that it had entered exclusive talks to buy 126 Rafales. Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim traveled to New Delhi last week to discuss the deal with Indian officials and examine documents related to Dassault's bid.

"The India deal changed everything," one of the Brazilian sources said. "With India's decision, it's now very likely the Rafale will be the winner here."

Shares in Dassault Aviation were up about 4.5 percent, at 706.5 euros, in Paris following the news. A spokesman for the company declined comment.

Jeff Kohler, a vice president of Boeing's business development division, said on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow he believed the Brazil bid was still "up in the air."

The Brazilian sources said Dassault offered the best combination of a high-quality aircraft and the sharing of proprietary technology that Rousseff has said is most critical to the deal. Brazil hopes to use the technology to expand its own budding defense industry, led by aircraft maker Embraer (EMBR3.SA).

Boeing's offer of technology has yet to be finalized, but the sources said they believe it cannot compete with Dassault's bid because the United States has previously placed tight restrictions on the sale of military technology abroad, including one incident involving Embraer in 2006.

Dassault touts the Rafale as an agile, medium-sized aircraft with low operating costs that can be more quickly deployed than its bulkier competitors. Those attributes may appeal to Brazil, which has no significant problems with its neighbors and plans to use the aircraft mainly for defensive purposes such as patrolling its recently discovered offshore oil fields.

POTENTIAL WIN FOR SARKOZY

If confirmed, the deals would enhance France's partnerships with Brazil and India, two of the world's biggest up-and-coming economic powers. They could also provide a boost to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has cast himself as a champion of French industry and an energetic salesman of the Rafale in particular as he faces a tough re-election fight this year.

The sources said that unexpected developments, especially a breakdown in India's talks with Dassault, could still cause Rousseff to change her mind.

They also said her decision would probably not be announced until after France's April-May election, in an attempt to keep the deal from becoming overly politicized.

Brazil's air force contract is one of several deals in developing countries that have been highly contested by European and U.S. defense companies as their home markets suffer due to budget cuts. Companies are also competing for jet contracts in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Korea.

Brazil's bidding process has been open for more than a decade, spanning three presidents and several dramatic ups and downs. Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said in 2009 that Brazil would choose the Rafale but then left office without finalizing the deal.

Rousseff was extremely close to Lula as his chief of staff, but upon becoming president in January 2011 she surprised her cabinet ministers by asking them to re-evaluate the bids from scratch. A month later, Rousseff told visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that Boeing's F-18 was the best jet among the three finalists, but she still wanted better terms on the technology transfers.

Ultimately, Rousseff grew frustrated by what she perceived as Boeing's inability to improve the guarantees on the transfers, the officials said. Rousseff is a moderate leftist who has built her presidency around policies she believes will help expand Brazilian industries in areas from oil exploration to auto production.

The officials said that Rousseff remained especially wary of a 2006 incident in which the United States blocked the sale of Embraer's Super Tucano military aircraft to Venezuela's leftist government. Washington had the power to veto the deal because Embraer's planes contained U.S. technology.

In a separate incident in 2009, Embraer said it was temporarily blocked from selling commercial jets to Venezuela because they contained U.S. communications systems.

The episodes raised doubts about whether Brazil would face similar restrictions in the future with the technology it received from Boeing as part of the F-18 bid.

"Nobody's ever forgotten what happened with Venezuela," a second official said.

In a twist that may have influenced Rousseff's decision, Brazil's most vocal point-man in the confrontation with the United States in both Embraer incidents was Amorim. He was Lula's foreign minister at the time and Rousseff appointed him as her defense minister in August.

AMORIM GETS INDIAN DOCUMENTS

Boeing has responded to those doubts by trying to compete as the more cost-effective option. The F-18 is widely believed to be cheaper than the Rafale, and Boeing recently confirmed that it will offer the jet to Brazil at the same per-unit price as during the last round of bidding in 2009.

Despite her misgivings on Boeing, Rousseff also did not want to choose a jet that might not even be in production a decade into the future. In December, French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet warned that Dassault would stop production of the Rafale in 2021 if it did not win any export orders.

Within days of India's announcement regarding talks for the Rafale, Amorim traveled to New Delhi to gauge the bid's terms and its likelihood of proceeding as planned.

Amorim told the Times of India on Wednesday that Indian officials "promised to give us some documents...such as basic rules on the tender process that we could compare to ours."

Brazil is not the only country that appears to be suddenly following India's lead. French newspaper La Tribune reported on February 2 that Dassault could soon seal a sale of at least 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, turning around a deal that also appeared to be a lost cause.

(Additional reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan in Singapore and Cyril Altmeyer in Paris; Editing by Kieran Murray and Vicki Allen)

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Brian Winter - Reuters
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - SWISS DEFENSE NEWS: Saab Gripen Is The Preferred Choice For Switzerland

DTN News - SWISS DEFENSE NEWS: Saab Gripen Is The Preferred Choice For Switzerland
>In a press conference today, Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer reiterated Gripen E/F as the optimal solution for Switzerland.
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Federal Department of Defence - Switzerland
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012:  After an initial evaluation document reached media, the Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer called for a press conference 

(http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de/home/documentation/news/news_detail.43408.nsb.html) to comment on the rumors that Gripen would not meet the Swiss Air Force requirements. Today, the Swiss defence authorities reconfirmed Gripen as the optimal solution for Switzerland.

On 30 November 2011, the Swiss Federal Council selected the Gripen E/F as preferred candidate to replace their present F-5 aircraft. Saab and Sweden are now in negotiations with Switzerland, optimizing the complete package and preparing for the acquisition of Gripen E/F.

Saab is confident that the Gripen package gives Switzerland what it needs in all areas, particularly in terms of a fighter that delivers the best price-to-performance ratio with a long-term and agreed development path. Saab is committed to deliver a comprehensive Industrial Package that delivers long-term benefits to all of society. The acquisition of Gripen will further strengthen the partnership between Switzerland and Sweden.

Gripen, in operational service with five air forces, is an unquestionable capable fighter system that delivers its tasks. It is a new generation, multi-role fighter aircraft which uses state-of-the-art technology. It is capable of performing an extensive range of Air-to-Air, Air-to-Surface and reconnaissance missions employing the most modern range of weapons. Gripen has been part of NATO’s QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) organization since 2005. The operating air forces have participated with Gripen in several large, international exercises (including two Red Flag exercises in the US) with very good result.

With approximately 2,000 flight hours in combat missions over Libya and delivery of close to 40 per cent of the total need of Tactical Reconnaissance in the NATO operation Unified Protector, Gripen is a very capable fighter aircraft.

Saab has been an innovation powerhouse for advanced defence and security technology for 75 years, with system knowledge and system integration as core competencies. Today, Saab has operations in more than 30 countries, while our solutions, products and services are sold to more than a hundred countries. Saab reported sales of SEK 23,498 billion and an operating margin of 12,5 per cent for the full year 2011.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Federal Department of Defence - Switzerland
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: Indian Fighter Downselect Coming

DTN News: Indian Fighter Downselect Coming

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including Aviation Week By Neelam Mathews

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - August 14, 2010: With flight trials complete, the downselect process has begun for the six candidate fighters in India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, a competition with a $10 billion-plus payday for providing 126 aircraft. Opinions vary widely among observers on how long it will take to narrow the field to two finalists from among the MiG-35, Dassault Rafale, EADS Eurofighter, Saab Gripen, Boeing F/A-18 and Lockheed Martin F-16. Some speculate an announcement might come in just two weeks. Others insist it will take much longer to evaluate the extensive technical reports that the tests have produced. Regardless, a commercial bidding process will follow the announcement. Final selection is to be made by the end of 2011. Trials included 643 test points. Results are being forwarded as tabulated data without a quantification of the level of compliance achieved, a senior Indian air force official reports. “We have done an objective assessment and are taking into account the needs of national security,” he says. But cost and politics will play a role in the defense ministry’s selection, he acknowledges. French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to India this year is expected to be followed by a host of inducements, including a large transfer of technology, on behalf of the Rafale. India has yet to sign the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. that sets limits on what sensitive technology the U.S. will export. It may be signed during President Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to India in November. Beyond informal briefings said to already have taken place, the six manufacturers are to receive a 250-page technical evaluation of how they did. Problems during the trials included the failures of engines and large electromechanical actuation systems. Meanwhile, the defense ministry has revealed that it will buy 42 more Su-30MKI fighters, with deliveries to unfold between 2014-2018 (Aerospace DAILY, Aug. 11). The $4.3 billion deal, which will run through Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., is a top-up order that is to bring the Indian Su-30 inventory to more than 250 aircraft and the number of HAL-assembled versions to close to 200 fighters. Talks continue with Russia about joint development of the T-50 (or PAK-FA), a fifth-generation fighter developed by Sukhoi. The program is valued at $8 billion. Whether those talks will work to the advantage of the MiG-35 MMRCA fighter candidate is unclear.

DTN News: Malaysia Issues RFIs For Fighters And AEW Aircraft

DTN News: Malaysia Issues RFIs For Fighters And AEW Aircraft Source: DTN News / Flight International By Leithen Francis (NSI News Source Info) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - March 25, 2010: Malaysia has issued a request for information for fighters and airborne early warning aircraft, with a view to placing orders in 2011-15. The sudden flurry of activity has occurred because Malaysia's government is now formulating its 10th five-year national plan for the 2011-15 period, say industry sources. Kuala Lumpur wants information on fighters such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Saab Gripen. Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport has stated publicly that it will offer the Sukhoi Su-30. Malaysia wants to order enough aircraft for one to two squadrons, potentially totalling 36-40 airframes. It is seeking to phase out its older fighters, such as the Northrop F-5, and simplify its fleet. Boeing and Sukhoi are arguably the strongest contenders because Malaysia already operates eight F/A-18Ds, that it ordered in the early 1990s, and 18 Su-30s that it ordered in 2003. Meanwhile, the RFI for two AEW aircraft will bring the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and Saab Erieye system in contention. The Swedish manufacturer has already been successful in selling one Erieye-equipped Saab 340 to Thailand, in addition to a first batch of six Gripens. The radar has also already been integrated with the Embraer EMB-145 and Saab 2000. Northrop has previously sold E-2Cs to Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. The company is considered unlikely to offer the developmental E-2D for the Malaysian requirement. Even though Malaysia has issued the new RFIs, suppliers have reason to be sceptical about its ability to progress to a contract award, as it has twice launched similar competitions in the past. A failure to follow-through with orders this time could result in some companies being reluctant to entertain future requests, some industry sources warn.

DTN News: Boeing Still Hopeful On Brazil Fighter Jet Deal

DTN News: Boeing Still Hopeful On Brazil Fighter Jet Deal

* Boeing to meet, discuss deals with Brazil parts makers * Hopes to beat French, Swedish to clinch Brazil jet order

*Source: DTN News / Reuters By Eduardo Simoes (NSI News Source Info) SAO PAULO, Brazil - September 16, 2009: Boeing Co still hopes to woo Brazil away from buying 36 French Rafale fighter jets in favor of its own planes, dangling supply deals with around 150 Brazilian parts makers and suppliers as a sweetener.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a combat-proven strike fighter with built-in versatility. The Super Hornet's suite of integrated and networked systems provides enhanced interoperability, total force support for the combatant commander and for the troops on the ground. Brazil's Defense Ministry said last week it had not yet chosen a manufacturer for the multibillion dollar deal for which France's Dassault Aviation, seen as favorite up to now, and Sweden's Saab are also competing. The North American firm is holding conferences with the Brazilian firms this week, to prod them to aim for a bigger slice of its annual $45 billion in purchases from other firms in the manufacture of its planes. "That is why the (deal) is important to change this," said Michael Coggins, who heads customer relations and new business at Boeing, at a press conference the firm held in Sao Paulo. Separately from the jet deal, Boeing is planning to provide Brazilian airplane manufacturer Embraer with a platform from one of its own models to use in a Brazilian cargo plane, the KC-390. France, whose bid for the contract was bolstered by an official visit by President Nicolas Sarkozy last week, had previously said it intended to buy some of these cargo planes if Brazil chose its Rafale jets over competing designs. The United States government has also thrown its weight behind Boeing's bid, through its representatives in Brazil. "What is being offered here ... is a relationship with the largest defence company in the world, which is acting in the largest economy in the world, in the largest defence market in the world," said Sao Paulo-based U.S. consul general Thomas White. "That's a package that Rafale and (Saab's) Gripen can't touch," he said, Bob Gower, a senior developer of Boeing's F-18, said the jet competed favorably with the Rafale, which has never been sold abroad, on price and technological advancement, while France in turn has promised it would offer Brazil more generous transfer of technology through the sale. (Writing by Peter Murphy; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

DTN News: Defence Groups Fight For military Contracts

DTN News: Defence Groups Fight For military Contracts *Sources: DTN News / The Times By David Robertson (NSI News Source Info) LONDON - June 24, 2009: Defence companies are preparing for the biggest surge in orders for fighter jets since the Cold War, with nearly $100 billion (£61 billion) of business thought to be up for grabs — but the stakes are higher than ever for those manufacturers chasing the contracts. Eurofighter Typhoon ~ The authorisation for Tranche 3 production and capabilities will have a tremendous effect on the export potential of Eurofighter Typhoon. Having already secured two export contracts with Austria in 2003 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2007, the Eurofighter partner companies are actively pursuing campaigns in Switzerland, India, Japan, Romania, Greece, Turkey and exploring possible opportunities in Bulgaria and Croatia. With the production of Eurofighter Typhoon now being confirmed until the later part of the next decade and the agreed new capabilities, Eurofighter Typhoon confirms itself as the most advanced real multirole fighter available on the market. The winners of big orders will gain entry to new markets and guarantee multibillion-dollar revenue streams for decades; the losers may be forced out of the fighter market altogether because the cost of developing new aircraft has risen so high that they might not be able to challenge in future. BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence company, is one of the best-placed. It is part of the consortium building the Eurofighter Typhoon, a leading contender in many of the competitions. Defence sources have said that the future of Rafale, France’s independent fighter programme, is under threat if it cannot win at least one big order. Likewise, Russia’s MiG could cease to be a viable export product for all but second-tier states. Gripen, of Sweden, needs big wins to stay in production. Even Boeing, the largest aerospace company in the world, is facing an uncertain future in the market as its F18 Super Hornet and F15 may be eclipsed by the Typhoon and Lockheed Martin’s F35. Defence chiefs have told The Times that they have never known so much international competition for fighters, with a dozen countries expected to announce plans to buy new aircraft soon. The biggest prize is India’s medium multirole combat aircraft project, worth more than $12 billion for about 126 aircraft. Gripen, Typhoon, the F18 Super Hornet, the Lockheed Martin F16 and the MiG 35 are on offer, with a decision likely next year. Brazil wants 36 new fighters and a preferred bidder is expected to be announced this year. In the running are the F18, Rafale and Gripen. A senior defence source said at the Paris Air Show: “This is the last roll of the dice for some of these aircraft. If Rafale and Gripen do not win at least one big order, it is hard to see how they can survive. MiG is finished in the leading countries if it does not get India.” There are also strategic concerns for a country such as France because, if it cannot afford to keep Rafale going, it will have to join an international project, such as the Joint Strike Fighter. BAE is leading Typhoon campaigns in the Middle East and Japan and is also involved with the India bid. The Japanese order could be the most valuable, at up to $25 billion, depending on the model selected. The Japanese are thought to want Lockheed Martin F22s at $250 million each, but the United States does not permit them to be exported. However, the Pentagon has said that it will not buy any more F22s and it may be willing to loosen export rules so that Lockheed can keep the production line open. If the F22 is unavailable, the Typhoon may be next in line. It would be a coup for Europe, as previously Japan has bought its military equipment from the United States. It would open a market for BAE and extend the life of the production line at Warton, Lancashire. BAE switch Walt Havenstein, chief executive of BAE Systems’ US business, has resigned a year after missing the top job. Mr Havenstein, who has worked for BAE since 2000, is to become chief executive of SAIC, an American defence group. General Anthony Zinni, a member of BAE Systems Inc’s board, becomes chairman of the US business and will stand in for Mr Havenstein until a successor is found.

Thailand Scraps Plan To Buy Six More Gripens / Thailand Air Force Scraps Plan To Buy More Gripen Fighters

Thailand Scraps Plan To Buy Six More Gripens / Thailand Air Force Scraps Plan To Buy More Gripen Fighters

(NSI News Source Info) BANGKOK, Thailand - May 12, 2009: Budget cuts have compelled the air force to shelve its planned purchase of six more Swedish-made Gripen fighters, the Bangkok Post reports. As the government decided on Wednesday to slash the defence budget for the next fiscal year from 171 billion to 151 billion baht, the air force had to ditch its plan to order six more Gripen fighter jets worth 15 billion baht, commander Itthaporn Subhawong said.

Thailand has scrapped plans to order six additional Gripen fighters, but will retain the six already on order which are to be delivered from next year. (Gripen Int’l photo)

The air force has already bought six Gripen jets worth 19 billion baht with the planes due for delivery next year. The air force needs the other six Gripen jets to complete a fleet of 12 that will replace its ageing F-5 fighters scheduled to be decommissioned in 2011.

With only six Gripen jets, the air force was not confident of protecting national security, according to the air force chief, who also warned that the decision would weaken national defence where competitive weaponry is vital.

"This affects the potential of the armed forces because they need modern weaponry. If we must defend the nation with weapons that cannot match [our enemies'] or are outdated, nobody will have respect for us," ACM Itthaporn said.

He said that the six other Gripen jets were necessary for national defence. "We must explain what is essential and need a review from the government. Weapons result in national security. Without strong defences, neighbours will not have respect for us.

"We, all soldiers, are ready to sacrifice our lives for the nation but in any fight we must have competitive weaponry. The life of every soldier is valuable. If a conflict erupts and we have weapons that do not compare, soldiers will be killed," he said.

The Swedish fighters will be stationed at the air force base in Surat Thani to protect the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and all areas in the southern region of the country.

The air force plans to use them as its main fighters instead of the F-16 jets used now.

The Defence Ministry was one of the agencies hit hardest by the budget cuts, implemented because government revenues have fallen short of target and the need to raise money to pay for economic stimulus schemes.

A ministry source said there was a question whether relations between the Democrat Party-led coalition and the armed forces would sour because the armed forces had supported the government but received budgetary reductions in return.

India Set To Build Medium Combat Aircraft

India Set To Build Medium Combat Aircraft

(NSI News Source Info) BANGALORE, India - May 2, 2009: With India’s home-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) — the Tejas — flying successfully through its testing process, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has now signed up for an indigenous Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA). Within days, the IAF and a team of aircraft designers will formally set up a joint committee to frame the specifications for India’s own MCA, which will be built largely in Bangalore. The HAL Tejas is a lightweight multirole jet fighter developed by India. It is a tailless, compound delta wing design powered by a single engine. Originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)—a designation which continues in popular usage—the aircraft was officially named "Tejas" by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 4 May 2003. The limited series production of the Tejas commenced in 2007. A two-seat trainer variant is also in development (exited the production line as of November 2008), as is a naval variant capable of operating from the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers. The IAF is reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion trainers, while the Indian Navy may order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60. The LCA naval variant is expected to take to the skies by 2009. The MCA’s design team will centre on the agencies that have built the LCA: the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA); the National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL); Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL); and a host of Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) laboratories that will develop futuristic sensors and systems for the MCA. The director of ADA, Dr PS Subramaniam, confirmed to Business Standard, “The joint committee is likely to be formed within two or three weeks. This committee will finalise what will go into the MCA, as well as the budget and development schedule.” According to Dr Subramaniam, the programme will aim to develop the MCA and build five to six prototypes at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore. That is approximately the same amount that has gone into the LCA programme. With this, Indian aeronautical designers will be working in all the fighter categories. In the light fighter category (10-11 tonnes), the Tejas LCA is expected to get operational clearance in 2011; the MCA will be India’s first foray into the medium fighter category (14-15 tonnes); and in the heavy fighter category (20 tonnes plus), currently ruled by the Russian Sukhoi-30MKI, Indian designers plan to partner their Russian counterparts in developing the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). Interestingly, the decision to develop an indigenous MCA comes alongside the overseas procurement of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for an estimated Rs 50,000 crore. Senior IAF planners point out that the MMRCA procurement is unavoidable for replacing the MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s that will become obsolete while the MCA is still being developed. By 2020, when the IAF’s current fleet would have been largely phased out, MoD planners forecast a requirement for at least 250 medium fighters. This has raised hopes amongst the MMRCA contenders (the US F/A-18 and F-16, Russia’s Mig-35; the Eurofighter Typhoon; and the Swedish Gripen) that the winner could end up supplying twice as many fighters as the current tender. But a successful Indian MCA programme would cap the MMRCA procurement at 126 fighters. After that, the MCA production will kick in. The MCA designers plan to pursue technologies superior to anything currently on offer. The ADA director points out, “None of the MMRCA contenders will be state-of-the-art in 2015-2017. But the MCA will; it will incorporate the technologies of the future, which currently feature only on the US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor.” India’s aeronautical designers see the MCA programme as crucial for taking forward the expertise that has been painstakingly accumulated in the Tejas LCA programme. The IAF is in agreement; and the Rama Rao Committee, set up for restructuring the DRDO, has recommended that programmes must be created to provide continuity for designers. Says a senior MoD official: “With great difficulty we have built up a team that can design a complete combat aircraft. After a couple of years, when the LCA goes into production, there will be no design work left. Without another aircraft programme to work on, we will lose this team, having attained this level.”

LAAD 2009: Saab Makes Case For Gripen As F-X2 Choice

LAAD 2009: Saab Makes Case For Gripen As F-X2 Choice

(NSI News Source Info) RIO DE JANIERO - April 16, 2009: In a press briefing at the Latin America Aerospace and Defense conference, executives of Swedish company Saab appealed to Brazil's desire to gain technology through its fighter jet competition, and said Saab would make offset investments in Brazil equal to the size of the contract, which Brazil plans to award this year. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world. The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Air Force, the Hungarian Air Force and the South African Air Force, and has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. A total of 236 Gripens have been ordered as of 2008.

In October 2008, it was reported that the Brazilian Air Force had selected three finalists in their F-X2 program. They are Dassault Rafale, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Gripen NG, and the number of aircraft involved are said to be anywhere between 36 and 120. The decision should be made early 2009. On 2 February 2009, Saab submitted a tender for 36 Gripen NGs to the Brazilian Air Force Command. The $2.2 billion competition for 36 fighters pits the Gripen against Boeing's F-18 and Dassault's Rafale. Saab is trying to displace French and U.S. companies in its fighter strategy for Brazil, India and South Africa, said Bob Kemp, Gripen International's sales and marketing director. For nations not aligned with NATO, Saab's strategy is to "move the French, who dominated this market over the last 20, 30 years [with] the Mirage [and] Jaguar," and persuade customers to choose Gripen fighters instead, Kemp said. "So far, we've been most successful here and getting ourselves established in South Africa, with campaigns in India and in Brazil here. "We believe that we have got a unique opportunity to succeed in these nations because they're looking for independence. And this is an area that we offer something quite unique, because Sweden itself is an independent nation and we recognize the value of controlling your own destiny," he said. More than 99 percent of fighters worldwide come from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Kemp said. "I can tell you those guys don't go around handing out their technology. That's why they still have over 99 percent of the market. If you want to do something different and control your own destiny, there is only one choice, and that is Sweden." Saab has completed 78 test flights with the Next-Generation Gripen it is proposing for Brazil's contest, Kemp said. The company received nine requests for proposals or for information involving the Gripen from countries worldwide.

India Worried After Russia Grounds MiG-29s

India Worried After Russia Grounds MiG-29s

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - March 19, 2009: Russia's decision to ground a large portion of its MiG-29 fighters is reverberating in India, where Defence Ministry sources say they are worried about the timely delivery of MiG-29K aircraft on order for the Navy and Air Force. Sources also say the grounding could hurt the chances for the derivative MiG-35 in India's $10 billion Combat Aircraft order. Indian Air Force (IAF) officials say they won't ground their 60 MiG-29s. The force is short of aircraft, fielding just 31 18-plane squadrons instead of the sanctioned 39.5 and desired 45 units. Russian Air Force officials grounded their 200 MiG-29s after two crashes last year. Many have been returned to flight, but 90 will remain out of action until they can be upgraded. The crashes may also affect talks, said to be near completion, between India and Russia for the purchase of more MiG-29Ks, ministry sources said. The Indian Navy ordered 16 in 2004 for $640 million. Russia unveiled the MiG-35 at the Aero India 2007 airshow in Bangalore, amid Moscow's keenness to sell these planes to India. It was reported that the MiG-35 made its way from Moscow to Bangalore in less than three hours, assisted by in-flight refueling on the way and flying at supersonic speeds. The MiG-35 is a contender with the Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, JAS 39 Gripen and F-16 Falcon for the bid of more than 126 multirole combat aircraft to be procured by the Indian Air Force in Indian MRCA competition. Aero India 2007 was the first time that the final version of the MiG-35 fighter was displayed in an international air show. Until then, only the prototype of the MiG-35 had been shown to the public at air shows in Russia and the UK in 2005. It was again demonstrated at Aero India 2009 held at Yelahanka Airbase near Bangaloru where it was flown by an Indian Air Force Pilot.Aero India. The MiG-35 is also competing for the IAF's $10 billion order of 126 combat aircraft against the Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing Hornet, Dassault Rafael, EADS Eurofighter and Saab Gripen. A senior IAF official said the MiG-35 is structurally identical to the MiG-29 SMT, which includes advanced avionics, radar and enlarged dorsal spine for more fuel. But another IAF official said the MiG-35 is better than its predecessor and comparable to Eurofighter and the F-18. India was the first, and today remains the largest, foreign operator of the MiG-29. Part of the Russian sales pitch is that it ensures commonality with existing planes. Indian Defence Ministry sources said the grounding might hurt the MiG-35's chances, depending on what government holds power after India's May 16 general elections. Sharad Deshpande, a retired Indian Air Force air marshal, said, "The IAF should be in close contact with the Russian design and maintenance experts and would have obtained details of the structural defects/problems experienced by the Russian Air Force. Based on the inputs available, the IAF would have started a thorough inspection of their MiG-29 fleet and taken requisite remedial actions. Under no circumstances would they clear MiG-29 for flying if there is any question mark on its structural integrity and flight safety parameters." Defense analyst Mahindra Choudhary said the IAF and Navy should not buy the MiG-29 derivative, which may be increasingly hard to maintain.

Russia’s MiG-35 fighter To Win Billion-Dollar Contract And Leave US Rivals Behind

Russia’s MiG-35 fighter To Win Billion-Dollar Contract And Leave US Rivals Behind

(NSI News Source Info) February 11, 2009: Russia is prepared to fight for the highly lucrative arms market of India. Delhi will assign $35 billion for the five-year program to completely rearm the national armed forces. A third of this amount falls for aviation. About $10.4 billion is to be spent on purchasing 126 up-to-date fighter jets. Several other billion dollars will be used to acquire 197 light helicopters. The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. Classified as a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft, the only existing prototype is the third modification of the existing MiG-29M2 airframe which previously served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. The MiG-35 is now classed as a medium-weight aircraft because its maximum take-off weight has increased by 30 percent which exceeds its previous criteria of classification. India has become one of the largest arms importers during the recent years due to the nation’s complicated relations with Pakistan. A third Indo-Pakistan war may break out at any moment. Foreign companies get ready to fight for the Indian billions.

France’s Rafale, Europe’s Eurofighter, Sweden’s Gripen and USA’s F-16 and F-18 will be a serious competition for Russia. Russia’s Sukhoi already conducts cooperation with India : the nation launched the licensed production of Su-30MKI fighters in 2004. However, Russia has another trump card to win a possible contract – the MiG-35 fighter, which will be unveiled at Aero India 2009 air show. MiG-35 is outfitted with aviation electronics of new generation, including a powerful radar. The aircraft also has optoelectronic systems to fight air and ground targets, a powerful defense complex and latest airborne weapons. “MiG-35 is virtually a new modification of the old fighter, but it is quite competitive. Its low price and technical advantages leave Western rivals behind,” Konstantin Sivkov of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems told Pravda.ru. “It would also be better for India to buy this fighter for compatibility reasons. The political aspect and the foreign orientation of the political leadership play the most important role on the market of arms. The future tender will test the political orientation of India ,” the expert said. Russia has all chances to sign the contract with India at this point. The two countries have been maintaining friendly relations with each other for many years. One should not forget the ties between Russia’s MiG Corporation and its Indian partners either. MiG fighters originally appeared in India in 1963, whereas MiG-21 used to be the basic aircraft of the Indian Air Force for years. The cooperation continues today as well. India’s navy receives the MiG-29K/KUB carrier fighter on a regular basis. The personnel of the Indian Air Force undergoes the technical training in Russia . To crown it all, MiG modernizes India’s MiG fighters and supplies them with necessary spare parts.

However, it does not guarantee Russia’s success at the air show. Anatoly Tsyganok of the Institute for Military and Political Analysis told Pravda.ru that Russia would have to work hard to win the tender. “The USA and France will be Russia ’s major competitors at this point – Delhi has arms contracts with them too. I would also like to say that Barack Obama views India as one of the top priorities of the US foreign politics,” the expert added. Russia has had troubles with the execution of its arms contracts with India. The recent scandal with the delivery of MiG-29 fighters to Algeria may come to surface here again. An additional point is that India (as well as China ) tries to acquire licenses to be able to launch its own arms production. Other experts say that MiG-35 is just another modification of MiG-29 fighter, while India wants to receive the fifth-generation fighter jet. The agreement for the production of the fifth-generation fighter jet was signed in October 2007. About 18 months were wasted on bureaucratic red-tape, and the contract for the mutual development and production of the new fighter jet was signed in December 2008.

SAAB International Has Favoured Gripen Offers India Technology For Multi-Role Fighter Jets

SAAB International Has Favoured Gripen Offers India Technology For Multi-Role Fighter Jets

(NSI news Source Info) New Delhi - January 28, 2009: Heating up the race for the contract to supply 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force, Gripen, a Swedish firm, has proposed to India transfer of technology to become 'an independent manufacturer' of its own fighter jets. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world. The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Air Force, the Hungarian Air Force and the South African Air Force, and has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. A total of 236 Gripens have been ordered as of 2008. India is evaluating the Gripen for its tender for 126 multi-role combat aircraft. Gripen International handed over its proposal on 28 April 2008. The company is offering the Gripen IN, a version of the Gripen NG for India's tender. Looking forward to the trials for the medium multi-role combat aircraft, the Swedish manufacturer of Gripen, SAAB International has favoured 'extensive transfer of technology' well in excess of 60 percent requirement to boost India's indigenous capabilities in this regard. 'Gripen would like to provide strategic leverage, operational dominance and define future capability of India by becoming an independent manufacturer. We would help India in designing and manufacturing their own aircraft,' country head of SAAB International Jan Widerstrom told IANS. 'We have offered transfer of technology levels far exceeding the RFP (request for proposal) requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). An early transfer of technology would be ensured to maximize indigenous capabilities,' Widerstrom said. The deal is estimated to cost $10 billion. The contract will include licensed manufacture for 108 fighters by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and offset clauses for supplying sub-systems and components to the winning bidder by Indian aerospace firms in the public and private sectors. The selected manufacturer will have to supply 18 aircraft in flyaway condition in batches. The technical evaluation of the bidders is complete and will soon be followed by trials. 'Three aircraft will be brought to India, including two-seaters and one seater. The trials will be conducted for dry, dry and humid, and humid conditions,' Widerstrom added. Apart from the Swedish Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Lockheed Martin F-16, the French Rafale and the Russian MiG-35 are also in the fray. The Swedish company claims to have an edge over the competitors due to its 'low cycle cost' and 'range and payload capabilities' beyond IAF's operational requirements. 'We are recognized as very economical solution. Gripen has a very low life cycle cost,' Widerstrom said.

DTN News: India MMCA Details Would Be Finalized With MoU During May - Report / Trials Of MMCA Multi-Role Combat Aircraft In April-May

DTN News: India MMCA Details Would Be Finalized With MoU During May - Report / Trials Of MMCA Multi-Role Combat Aircraft In April-May

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - January 19, 2009: The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to conduct trials in April-May of six different medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMCA) being considered for its order of 126 fighters, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said Saturday. 'The technical evaluation of the MMCA is almost complete. Hopefully, field trials should commence by April-May this year,' Major said in his address at the annual Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture here. The IAF intends to purchase the combat jets at an estimated cost of $10 billion to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet in phases. Six global aircraft majors submitted their bids in April 2008 for the lucrative order. The bidders are the US aerospace majors Boeing with its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockeheed Martin with its F-16, the Swedish Gripen, the French Rafale, the Russian MiG-35 and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Mikoyan MiG-35 is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. Classified as a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft, the only existing prototype is the third modification of the existing MiG-29M2 airframe which previously served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. The MiG-35 is now classed as a medium-weight aircraft because its maximum take-off weight has increased by 30 percent which exceeds its previous criteria of classification. The MiG-35 was officially unveiled when the Russian Minister of Defence, Sergey Ivanov, visited Lukhovitsky Machine Building Plant "MAPO-MIG". Its vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, notably the new AESA rada and the uniquely designed Optical Locator System (OLS), relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception (GCI) systems and enables it to conduct independent multi-role missions. The aircraft is being marketed under the designation MiG-35 (single seat) and MiG-35D (dual-seat) for export. MiG Corporation had their first official international MiG-35 presentation during Aero India 2007. The selected bidder will have to re-invest 50 percent of the multi-billion dollar contract in India as part of the offset obligations mandated under the Defence Procurement Policy-2008. The request for proposals (RFP) for the 126 combat jets was floated in August 2007 after the bidders responded to the air force request for information earlier. Major said the present fighter aircraft fleet was being enhanced with the induction of newer and better platforms in face of the depletion due to obsolescence and regular phase out of the ageing aircraft. 'The Jaguars, MiG-27s and MiG 21-BIS have been upgraded with latest avionics and weapons systems. Similarly, the MiG-29 upgrade is underway and the Mirage 2000 upgarde will commence soon. The induction of the Sukhoi fighter (Su-30MKI) has been accelerated with the indigenous version from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) facility at Nashik,' Major pointed out. The air chief also hoped the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme would gain momentum for the initial operational clearance and induction of the aircraft, christened Tejas, into squadron service by 2010-11. In the case of the helicopter fleet, a comprehensive modernisation programme is underway, with the Chetak and Cheeta copters are being replaced with 125 light utility copters being acquired through a global tender. 'The contract for 80 Mi-17 helicopters with advanced glass cockpits has already been signed. They will be inducted in phases from 2010 to 2013. We are processing a proposal to procure 22 attack copters, which will be best in its class. We have signed a contract with HAL for 38 advanced light helicopter (ALH), including 16 armed version with new Shakti engines and glass cockpit,' Major pointed out.