Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) per l'India

[FAS]

a proposito del RAFALE in Libia.......qualcuno è a conoscenza del carico bellico che sta utilizzando per le sue missioni????
Non credo che sia una macchina matura per lo swing rule......

Nel caso dell'abbattimento "a terra" dell'aereo da addestramento libico, i "Rafale" hanno impiegato bombe "A2SM" o, se preferite, "AASM" .....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AASM

Au cours de ces missions, un AWACS de la coalition a détecté un aéronef dans la zone de Misratah. Une patrouille Mirage 2000 et une patrouille Rafale Air française se sont rendues sur zone et ont confirmé la présence d’un avion de combat qui opérait en violation de la résolution 1973. La patrouille Rafale a réalisé une frappe air-sol, avec un armement A2SM, alors que l’avion de combat des forces du colonel Kadhafi venait d’atterrir sur la base aérienne militaire de Misratah.

Fonte ..... http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/a ... mattan-n-6

domanda successiva.....
la bomba in questione puó avvalersi di differenti sistemi di guida.....I francesi quali stanno utilizzando....?
le prime versioni di queste bombe, avevano solo guida laser, successivamente sono state migliorate con un sistema inerziale ed ancora dopo anche con sistemi GPS.
É noto che i sistemi a guida laser, per scenari dove si hanno codizioni smoky (luoghi giá bombardati) o dusty (come in zone desertiche), non riescono ad essere efficaci....in piú le puoi usare solo con il bel tempo...

é allo studio la "all weather millimeter wave seeker"

[richelieu]

FAS ha scritto:
domanda successiva.....
la bomba in questione puó avvalersi di differenti sistemi di guida.....I francesi quali stanno utilizzando....?

Non sarà che adesso pretendi troppo?
"Sarkò" ha impartito rigorosissime istruzioni di comunicarlo soltanto ai potenziali acquirenti .....

[FAS]

a volte mi assale la cattiveria......tra l'altro vorrei anche sapere quali Blocchi di produzione Rafale sono stati imbarcati per la missione.....

[richelieu]

a volte mi assale la cattiveria......tra l'altro vorrei anche sapere quali Blocchi di produzione Rafale sono stati imbarcati per la missione.....

E daje ..... qui ci vorrebbe l'agente segreto OSS 117 .....

[sidew]

E daje ..... qui ci vorrebbe l'agente segreto OSS 117 .....

Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath? Il mio preferito, insime a James Bond (007) e Malko Linge (SAS)

[FAS]

un ottima campagna di prova per le vendite agli indiani.....:

Subject: Eurofighter Typhoons Multi-Role Debut - Latest News from http://www.flightglobal.com

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... ombat.html

LIBYA: RAF Typhoons drop first bombs in combat By Craig Hoyle<mailto:craig.hoyle@flightglobal.com>

DATE: 13/04/11
SOURCE: Flight International

The UK has given the historic first offensive use to the Eurofighter Typhoon, with two Royal Air Force aircraft having dropped precision-guided bombs on Libyan targets on 12 April.

Chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton says the aircraft each dropped one Raytheon Paveway II 454kg (1,000lb) precision-guided bomb against ground vehicles being operated by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. Each target was struck "very successfully and very accurately", he revealed during the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace 2011 conference in London.

The event represents "a significant milestone in the delivery of multi-role Typhoon," he says.

While the type currently lacks the wider range of weapons and sensors being employed by the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4s, Dalton says this is "by design and by definition". The Eurofighter's capabilities will be progressively enhanced over the next three to four years for the UK, he adds.

Preparations for the Typhoon's offensive debut began in earnest on 10 April, when several of the aircraft conducted joint sorties over Libya with Tornado GR4s, all launched from Gioia del Colle air base in Italy.

Tornados fired MBDA dual-mode Brimstone air-to-surface missiles during the missions, hitting two main battle tanks and two surface-to-air missile launchers near the rebel-held town of Misrata.

Dalton hails the performance of the Tornado force during the UK's Operation Ellamy contribution to NATO's Operation Unified Protector, noting: "It has become the norm for each GR4 to take on four or six targets, each of which has been positively identified." Its key weapons are the Brimstone and Raytheon Systems' Paveway IV 226kg precision-guided bomb.



------------------------------------------------
Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH
Chief Executive Officer: Enzo Casolini
Registergericht: M?nchen HRB 80129
-------------------------------------------------

[richelieu]

Ed ecco il relativo video .....

Footage shows an RAF Typhoon aircraft destroying Libyan regime main battle tanks. This was the first ever operational air to ground strike by Typhoon.

On the evening of 12 April 2011, an RAF Typhoon patrolling with a Tornado GR4 aircraft over western Libya was able to positively identify Gaddafi regime main battle tanks to the south of Misurata.
The two aircraft attacked and the Typhoon successfully engaged two tanks with Enhanced Paveway II precision guided bombs (one of which is shown in this clip), while the Tornado hit another tank with a Paveway IV bomb.

Dal sito del "MoD" .....

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... ations.htm

[richelieu]

Un forte concorrente eliminato .....
..... il "Gripen" è fuori dalla competizione .....

DATE: 27/04/11
SOURCE: Flight International

Saab dropped from Indian fighter deal shortlist

By Stephen Trimble


Saab today announced the Gripen fighter was not short-listed by India for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract.

The Indian ministry of defence informed Saab of the decision, but the official short-list has not been released.

Local reports indicate that the short-list includes at least the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. The status of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-16IN and Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-35 is not clear.

Although the single-engine Gripen did not make the short-list, Saab has not completely given up on the India's pending order for 126 fighters.

"We will closely monitor the future process and provide additional information if requested by the Indian Ministry of Defense," says Håkan Bushke, president and chief executive of Saab.

The decision is a huge blow to the future of the Gripen. Saab is currently searching for more export orders. The next generation version of the fighter, with a more powerful engine, active electronically scanned array radar and greater fuel capacity, is competing for Brazil's F-X2 contract against the Rafale and the Super Hornet.

India's short-list for the next phase of the MMRCA competition has been anticipated ever since the six competitors submitted proposals last July.

The competition has stressed meeting the Indian air force's operational requirements with the greatest amount of technology transfer possible.

[MarcoGT]

[FAS]

braking news:
rimangono sono Tifone e Rafale....


fondamentale alla fine della scelta sará la performance delle due macchine in Libia....


nota a margine:
l'ambasciatore USA in India é stato rimosso dal suo incarico questa notte

[MarcoGT]

braking news:
rimangono sono Tifone e Rafale....


fondamentale alla fine della scelta sará la performance delle due macchine in Libia....

Interessante.

Quanti Tifoni e quanti Rafale ci sono impegnati in Libia ora?

[richelieu]

nota a margine:
l'ambasciatore USA in India é stato rimosso dal suo incarico questa notte

Se ne fa cenno in questo articolo apparso questa mattina su "Il Sole - 24 Ore" ..... anche se non si parla esplicitamente di siluramento.

http://www.difesa.it/Sala+Stampa/Rasseg ... dfIndex=45

Quanto agli USA, non è che possano poi lamentarsi più di tanto se si considerano i recenti acquisti di P-8I, C-130J e C-17A effettuati dall'India in tempi recenti.
Acquisti che, in futuro, potrebbero anche avere un seguito .....

Comunque, FAS, pensi che il "Tifone" possa avere delle concrete possibilità di farcela?

[FAS]

Comunque, FAS, pensi che il "Tifone" possa avere delle concrete possibilità di farcela?

Adesso é solo politica, gli indiani vogliono ovviamente il ritorno industriale!


comunque dal punto di vista tecnico:
gioca a favore del Rafale la versione navale che é giá operativa
a favore del Tifone la capacitá di volare RVSM, Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System AGCAS, Automatic Critical Altitude Recovery ACAR ed il fatto di essere giá maturo per lo swing role.

Comunque per richieste tipo Jeppesen Database, Damocles laser designator pod, satcom, e missili antiradiazione entrambe le macchine sono ancora in alto mare.

[FAS]

Eurofighter hat in Indien gute Karten

Der Eurofighter Typhoon ist in der Ausschreibung für Indiens neues Kampfflugzeug eine Runde weiter und steht jetzt in direkter Konkurrenz zum französischen Rafale.

Indien möchte in ihrer Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Ausschreibung (MMRCA) mittelfristig bis zu 126 neue Kampflugzeuge beschaffen. Der Eurofighter Typhoon ist dem Ziel, diesen Wettbewerb für sich zu gewinnen, einen grossen Schritt weiter gekommen. Bei dem Eurofighter handelt es sich zweifellos um einen der besten Luftüberlegenheitsjäger am Jagdflugzeugmarkt. EADS verfügt mit dem Eurofighter ein Rüstungsprogramm, das durch die vier Partnerländer Grossbritannien, Deutschland, Italien und Spanien über viele weitere Jahre gesichert ist. Eurofighter wäre in der Lage für Indien eine ideale Lösung anzubieten und selbst ein Sea Typhoon für Indiens Navy Luftwaffe scheint bei dem Konsortium kein Tabu zu sein. Mit dem Eurojet 200 verfügt der Typhoon über ein leistungsfähiges Triebwerk der Spitzenklasse, hier liegt der Hauptvorteil gegen den direkten Konkurrenten aus dem Hause Dassault.

http://www.fliegerweb.com/militaer/news ... =news-7439

[MarcoGT]

Incrociamo le dita

[richelieu]

Non conosco purtroppo il tedesco, ma, da quanto ho potuto capire cercando di leggere le sgangherate traduzioni che saltano fuori quando si usano i sistemi di traduzione automatica del web, si direbbe che un importante punto di vantaggio del "Tifone" sul "Rafale" sia costituito dal motore.
Quanto al "Tifone" navale ..... quello è ancora da sviluppare, mentre i Francesi il "Rafale" navale lo hanno già bello disponibile .....
Speriamo bene .....

[richelieu]

In altri tempi qualcuno avrebbe detto .....

La parola d'ordine è una sola ... categorica e impegnativa per tutti: SPINGERE!

Fonte: Aerospace Daily and Defense Report (AW&ST)

Germany, France Push For Indian Fighter Deal

By Jay Menon (June 1, 2011)

NEW DELHI —
France and Germany are making a last-ditch effort to boost their companies’ chances to win the $11 billion Medium-Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program for the Indian air force, as authorities are set to open the bids of the two downselected firms vying for the 126-aircraft order.

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet pitched Dassault Aviation’s Rafale during his visit to New Delhi last week, and the Eurofighter Typhoon topped the agenda during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s discussion with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 31. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizere also met Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony on May 31.

The German companies are part of EADS, which is part of the Eurofighter consortium along with BAE Systems and Alenia Aeronautica.

Longuet and Merkel expressed full confidence in the Indian procedures and expressed satisfaction about the transparency in the selection process. Both also took jibes at the other.

“We are one single speaking country, and we have enjoyed a relationship since 1953,” Longuet says. “Dealing with one country you know well, I imagine, is better than dealing with four countries. It is just simpler.” He was referring to the rival Eurofighter consortium.

Merkel also tried to hard sell the Typhoon, claiming that it was the best plane being offered. “With the Eurofighter, we have made good proposals and want to intensify our relationship with India,” Merkel says. “The Eurofighter is the best product on offer. We will not exert any influence on the procurement process and we shall wait and see.”

German Ambassador to New Delhi Thomas Matussek also says, “EADS’s Typhoon represents the most advanced and cost-efficient machines.” EADS will be open to sharing technology besides developing second- and third-generation aircraft, he adds.

EADS has even invited India to become a partner for the Typhoon program if the aircraft wins the contract. Eurofighter’s offer to establish a production line in India could give it an edge.

The other contender, Rafale, has the advantage of being logistically and operationally similar to the Mirage 2000. The air force has already been equipped with similar fighters, and its inclusion would require fewer changes in the existing infrastructure of the force.

Ajay Lele, a former air force wing commander and currently research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, says, “The Indian armed forces might have done calculations based on the most advanced technology. One cannot shy away from the fact that India is facing serious threats from its neighbors and it needs the latest technology to safeguard its boundaries. India is in a position to look [at] issues on face value and not get influenced by international pushes and pulls. So the deal will go in favor of the company that provides the best technology at the best available price.”

Indian authorities are expected to open bids from Dassault and Eurofighter in June, according to a defense ministry official. Under the order, the first 18 jets will be bought in “fly-away” condition and the remainder will be produced with a licensed vendor in India.

According to persons close to the project, the government has initiated negotiations with the two companies on their plans to fulfill offset commitments. India has fixed offset obligations for the MMRCA at 50% to ensure that half of the deal’s worth is reinvested in India to energize its defense industry.

Under current rules, foreign companies that receive import orders in excess of three billion rupees ($67 million) must draw at least 30% of that order from Indian suppliers or make a similar-sized investment within the country.

E SPINGEREMO !!!!!

[richelieu]

MMRCA ..... inadeguati sul piano tecnico i competitori USA .....

DATE: 03/06/11
SOURCE: Flight International

Tellis: US fighters lost MMRCA contract due to technical faults

By Stephen Trimble

Both US bids for a major Indian Air Force fighter contract lost because of technical faults - not US export control policies or corruption in New Dehli, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace scholar Ashley Tellis said in an interview.

The former American diplomat in New Dehli arrived at his conclusions after a three-week trip to India that included meetings with top Indian government, military and industry officials. The IAF selected the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon as finalists for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).

By excluding the Boeing F/A-18E/F and the Lockheed Martin F-16 - as well as the Saab Gripen and MiG-35 - the Indian government angered Washington DC, as well as set off a wave of speculation that the decision was based on concerns in New Dehli about overly restrictive US export policies.

But Tellis believes that interpretation of the MMRCA downselect is incorrect, while providing the most detailed assessment of the factors that led to the final decision.

According to Tellis' sources in the IAF, the F-16IN bid received low marks in the technical evaluation for a slow turn rate and poorer handling performance due to the addition of conformal fuel tanks.

Those deficiencies made the F-16IN less competitive in dogfights against older F-16 Block 50s, which are operated by Pakistan.

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was the US government's best shot to win the contract, but it was also hampered in the Indian evaluation by poor manoeuvrability compared to the European fighters, Tellis said.

Boeing's bid proposed to improve the Super Hornet's power by introducing the General Electric F414 enhanced performance engine (EPE), with 20% higher thrust.

But the Indian evaluators refused to credit the EPE because it is a developmental item, Tellis said. This contrasted with India's acceptance of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology by the European bidders despite its developmental status.

"They just gambled on the fact that they were going to get an AESA by the time the airplane was going to enter the force," Tellis said.

The decision also reflected the IAF's preference for an aircraft with strong dogfighting performance over a combat style emphasising beyond visual range engagements using long-range sensors, Tellis said.

Indian officials expressed no concerns about the US government's export policies, which would have required heavy monitoring by US officials if certain sensors and avionics systems were included in Boeing's or Lockheed's bid, Tellis said.

"What they would have done in this case was demand that the vendor [substitute] equipment that did not have [monitoring] constraints," Tellis said. India had agreed to a similar arrangement with the acquisition of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon.

Despite the initial reaction by Washington officials, both sides are cooling off since the announcement, he added.

"The damage was certainly serious," Tellis said. "But both sides have understood how this outcome came out and both sides have made efforts to get beyond it. The US is going to win many more competitions in India."

[FAS]

mi preme ricordare che oltre il 46% delle azioni Dassault appartengono ad EADS.....

[MarcoGT]

mi preme ricordare che oltre il 46% delle azioni Dassault appartengono ad EADS.....

Questo non lo sapevo...interessante...

[mendris]

Basta guardare (ogni tanto) Wikipedia. Per essere ancora più precisi è "Dassault Aviation" ad avere una cospicua parte del capitale azionario detenuta da EADS. A parte questo "dettaglio", sembra che l'India acquisti, per oltre 800 mio di CHF, 75 Pilatus PC-7 MkII con l'intenzione di acquisirne altri 200. Per il costruttore di Stans l'affare del secolo! L'esportazione, come aerei "non militari" (perché non armati), è stata ufficialmente autorizzata dall'ufficio federale competente. Il prodotto svizzero ha battuto una serie di concorrenti (anche jet) compreso il Texan II (pur sempre una versione del PC-7 costruita negli USA). Motivazione della scelta: offerta conveniente. Si tratta in pratica di riavviare su solide basi la formazione dei piloti indiani che avrebbe luogo, in parte, in Svizzera. Dapprima formazione poi...si passa agli aerei importanti, se verranno davvero acquistati!

[Slowly]

Thread ripulito e riaperto.

Non tollererò alcun intervento off-topic.

[richelieu]

Forte appoggio britannico .....

Fonte: AviationWeek.com

U.K. Supports Eurofighter For Indian MMRCA

By Jay Menon (July 11, 2011)

NEW DELHI —
Britain has outlined its strong support for the Eurofighter Typhoon’s bid for the Indian air force’s $11 billion Medium-Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, as the U.K. seeks to advance its defense industrial cooperation with the country.

“The Eurofighter Typhoon not only provides India with cutting-edge operational capability, but also unmatched potential for an enduring strategic partnership in developing future defense technology,” said U.K. Defense Secretary Liam Fox after a meeting with Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony in New Delhi July 8.

According to a British High Commission statement, Fox’s visit to India underlines the commitment at the highest levels of the British and Indian defense establishments to ensure that defense cooperation is a fundamental pillar of the enhanced partnership between the U.K. and India as set out by U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last July.

“In today’s world of multi-layered security and economic interdependence, the U.K. and India are looking for relationships that are built on partnership and respect, not one-off transactions,” Fox says.

The Tyhpoon is pitted against French company Dassault Aviation’s Rafale for the MMRCA program. Indian authorities are set to open final bids for the 126-aircraft order.

The Eurofighter consortium comprises Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems of the U.K., EADS CASA and EADS Germany. Recently, France and Germany also made last-ditch efforts to boost their companies’ chances to win the fighter program.

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet had pitched the Rafale during his visit to New Delhi in May, and the Eurofighter Typhoon topped the agenda during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s discussions with Prime Minister Singh on May 31. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizere also met Antony on May 31.

EADS has even invited India to become a partner for the Typhoon program if the aircraft wins the contract. Eurofighter’s offer to establish a production line in India could give it an edge.

The Rafale has the advantage of being logistically and operationally similar to the Mirage 2000. The Indian air force has similar fighters, and the Rafale’s inclusion would require fewer changes in existing infrastructure.

[FAS]

Date of publication: 25.07.2011
Media type The Star Malaysia - my
URL: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.as ... sec=nation
Govt considering latest Eurofighter
KOTA TINGGI: The Government is considering replacing the 10 MiG-29 aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
(RMAF) with the Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA). He said his ministry was now evaluating
the Eurofighter Typhoon MRCA fighter jet, which costs RM3bil each, for its capabilities and specifications. "The
Eurofighter is admittedly the best fighter jet in the world today. "However, as it is expensive, we need to evaluate in
detail," he told reporters after closing an Umno membership drive organised by Tenggara Umno here yesterday.
He said the purchase of the aircraft would depend on the financial capability of the Government.

[richelieu]

"Flight International" conferma la notizia ..... ma appare un forte concorrente .... il "Super Hornet" di Boeing .....

DATE:26/07/11
SOURCE: Flight International

Malaysia defence chief prefers Eurofighter

By Greg Waldron

Malaysia has named the Eurofighter Typhoon as the best option for its long-running fighter requirement.

"The Eurofighter is admittedly the best fighter jet and, as it is expensive, we need to evaluate in detail," defence minister Ahmad Hamidi told official news agency Bernama.

Other definite challengers in the competition are the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Saab Gripen. However, it appears that Dassault is prepared to pitch in with its Rafale as well and an industry source familiar with Malaysia's fighter requirements confirmed Dassault is interested in participating.

Malaysia wants 16-18 fighter aircraft to replace its 10 RSK MiG-29s, as well as its fleet of ageing Northrop F-5s.

Persistent rumours have surrounded maintenance and availability issues of Malaysia's MiG-29s.

The country has had more success operating its eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornets, which could put Boeing's Super Hornet offering in a strong position if interest in the Typhoon not followed through.

In June, Boeing moved to strengthen its position in the country, signing memorandums of understanding with three Malaysian companies. Two of the companies are CTRM AC, which manufactures composite aerostructures and defence equipment, and SME Aerospace, which makes aircraft components. The third is Spirit AeroSystems Malaysia, a unit of the US-based aerostructures company.

Some contenders may be growing impatient with Malaysia's fighter programme, which has seen three Requests For Information in the past ten years, the latest in early 2010.

After the last RFI, an executive at one of the competitors said his company could walk away if a final decision was not forthcoming.

More clarity about the long-running contest could come at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition in December.

[richelieu]

"La scelta avverrà nel giro di poche settimane" ..... così afferma il Comandante in Capo uscente delle Forze Aeree Indiane, lo "Air Chief Marshal" Pradeep Vasant Naik .....
..... e il contratto sarà assegnato al miglior offerente ..... in quanto la IAF non ha un preferito fra "Typhoon" e "Rafale" .....

Fonte: Aerospace Daily and Defense Report (Aviation Week & Space Technology)

India May Pick Fighter Contest Winner Soon

By Jay Menon (July 27, 2011)

NEW DELHI — India is likely to announce the winner of its $11 billion competition to furnish its air force with 126 combat jets in the next five to six weeks.

“The next step is to call vendors and open up the commercial bids. Of the two manufacturers left in the fray for the Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft [MMRCA], we will [determine the lowest bidder] in the next five to six weeks,” Indian Air Force (IAF) chief P.V. Naik said July 26. As per India’s defense procurement procedures, the lowest bidder wins the deal.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is competing with the French Dassault Rafale in the race to supply the MMRCA to the IAF. The IAF has already “completed the benchmarking” of the two aircraft, which were downselected in April of this year from among six contenders.

Naik says the IAF has completed benchmarking, while the Technical Offset Evaluation Committee is due to submit its report to the defense ministry. The ministry has to accept that benchmarking, after which the cost negotiations committee will open the commercial bids.

“I have been very upbeat about it. I hope it comes through,” says Naik, who is due to retire at the end of this month.

Naik says the IAF does not have a favorite between the two competing aircraft. “The contract will go to the lowest offer when the commercial bids are opened.”

The tender was issued in August 2007, and after several grueling flight and weapons trials, the IAF in April eliminated from the competition Boeing’s F/A-18, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Russia’s MiG-35 and the Swedish Gripen.

The tender also has an option to increase the order by another 63 aircraft for a total of 189 at the cost negotiated for the 126 jets in the initial order. The first 18 of the 126 jets will be bought in flyaway condition, and the remaining 108 will be manufactured by Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. under a technology transfer agreement.

[richelieu]

Il momento si avvicina ..... ma qualcuno spera ancora in un colpo di scena .....

Fonte: Aviation Week and Space Technology

Indian Fighter Competition Nears Finals

By Asia-Pacific Staff
New Delhi (August 11, 2011)


The winner of the Indian air force’s $12 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) fighter competition should soon emerge, as the government is set to formally begin the process of identifying the lowest bidder in early September.

The Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale are the final contenders left in the race and Indian government officials have finalized how they will judge offset and industrial participation offers that are crucial in deciding which company will be chosen to supply the initial order for 126 fighters. However, a defense ministry official indicates that the air force wants contractual options to be exercised immediately, which would boost the buy to 189 fighters and the program value to almost $20 billion.

Air Chief Marshal (ret.) P.V. Naik revealed the impending source selection decision just before he retired July 31 and said a formula has been found to benchmark the offers to provide a like-for-like comparison. This is designed to determine what the government considers a reasonable cost, reflecting several factors such as pricing in other countries, known commercial bids and inflation.

The defense ministry’s Technical Offsets Evaluation Committee has almost completed its review of the two offset packages and will make its report final shortly, according to government officials. The MMRCA competition has a 50% offsets requirement, running into at least $6 billion and acknowledged by industry observers to be one of the most challenging reinvestment propositions in recent aerospace contracting.

A key challenge is that India’s aerospace industry is not considered mature enough to absorb all those offsets, putting pressure on the winner to work with companies to establish the capability to deliver on what is being promised, warns a European industry executive.

One building manager suggests that the offsets element is likely to simply be looked at as “compliant or non-compliant.” Officials from both Dassault and Eurofighter have held multiple meetings with Indian offset managers, and both companies have expressed confidence that their packages meet what is required. However, that issue will be even more thorny if the option for more aircraft is exercised at the outset.

Even though the government says it has determined how to benchmark the two offers, industry watchers warn that there could still be hurdles. For example, the source selection has left the government with two of the most expensive aircraft in the competition, which will try the available budget—the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Lockheed Martin F-16, MiG-35 and Saab Gripen were eliminated in the April downselect.

“If the [defense ministry] has benchmarked realistically, it will almost definitely mean that the government will need more money to sign a contract for either the Typhoon or Rafale, even accounting for inflation. Is the ministry willing to go down that road?” asks a manager at Boeing.

Both Eurofighter and Dassault have publicly insisted that their bids are competitive and privately hope the government has taken several factors into consideration while arriving at their benchmark price, in particular that the aircraft are more capable and newer than some that were in the running.

There is concern, however, that if the government looks across all six competitors originally in the field, the benchmark price will be below that proffered by either Eurofighter or Dassault, which could lead to questions about how the source selection process should proceed.

Perhaps anticipating a rapid change of fortunes, the local MMRCA team offices of the four eliminated contenders remain fully staffed. Officials at all four acknowledge that while they have been given satisfactory debriefs on the downselect, they also believe that things are delicate enough in the final phase for them to remain in the country. “We are ready to respond to the government in any eventuality,” says a manager for Rosoboronexport, the Russian agency fronting the MiG-35 offer. Saab officials have also suggested the competition could open again.

If the Indian government begins examining commercial bids next month, a lowest bidder could be named in November or December and a contract signed before the end of March.

[mendris]

Visto che lo si cita anche qui...

il Dassault "R A F A L E" avrebbe vinto la gara svizzera per la successione dei Tiger battendo Typhoon e Gripen. Lo scrivono il quotidiano zurighese Tages Anzeiger e Flightforum. E' un'indiscrezione, però...
A Berna Dassault riapre la propria rappresentanza e al prossimo meeting di Sion (VS) il Rafale sarà certamente presente.

La decisione ufficiale dovrebbe avvenire entro l'anno e la proposta d'acquisto contenuta nel Programma d'armamento 2012.

[richelieu]

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/sta ... y/19950976

[richelieu]

Mancano pochi giorni .....

Fonte: Aerospace Daily and Defense Report (AW&ST)

India To Open Fighter Bids In October

By Jay Menon (Sep. 23, 2011)


NEW DELHI — India will open the commercial bids of its two shortlisted vendors for the $11 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) by the middle of October, with the deal likely to be finalized by the end of this year, the Indian Air Force chief says.

“We have a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council on October 7, where some of the issues are going to be discussed. Once those issued are cleared, hopefully by the middle of month, we should be in a position to open the bids,” Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne said Sept. 22. “We are in final stages of this process and hopefully [will] be done by the end of the year.”

In April, India downselected the Eurofighter Consortium’s Typhoon and Dassault’s Rafale as the final contenders for the 126-fighter deal. The two bidders have extended their offers until December; the Indian government has to decide the final winner by then or the bids will expire.

The MMRCA tender was issued in August 2007. Boeing’s F/A-18, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, the MiG-35 and Saab’s Gripen were rejected by the Indian government.

The Indian Air Force is looking at inducting the jets into its fleet by 2015, as it will be phasing out its Soviet-era MiG series aircraft.

According to defense ministry officials, there has been a delay in finalizing the deal due to the 50% offset clause imposed by the Indian government, which requires the contract winner to plough back half the deal’s value into the Indian defense industry.

“Offsets for this program amount to 200 billion rupees [$5 billion] and these are going to be in service for over a period of 13 years,” Browne says.

Asked to compare MMRCA with the Indo-Russian fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), Browne says, “MMRCA does not have stealth features and super cruise capability, while FGFA has all that. FGFA has a recessed armament carrier where all the missiles and weapons are located inside the aircraft, which gives it a certain amount of stealth potential.”

India is planning to induct 250-300 FGFAs and it will share the $11 billion development cost equally with Russia. The total cost of the FGFA fleet is likely to surpass $30 billion.

[richelieu]

Intanto ..... sul "Tifone" si addensano nubi scure .....

BAE reveals dramatic cut to Typhoon production rate 

Craig Hoyle - London ..... 10 hours ago

Source: Flight International

The Eurofighter programme's annual production rate is to be slashed dramatically as partner nations Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK battle economic difficulties.

Details of the reduction emerged as BAE Systems announced plans to axe about 3,000 jobs at several of its sites around the UK, including its Eurofighter Typhoon final assembly site at Warton in Lancashire.

"The four partner nations in the Typhoon programme have agreed to slow production rates to help ease their budget pressures," said BAE chief executive Ian King.

Four final assembly sites around Europe had been configured to deliver up to a combined 60 Typhoons a year, with 53 planned in 2011, but BAE has confirmed that this rate is to be progressively cut to only 35. This decision has contributed to a plan to axe 843 staff at Warton and in Preston, Lancashire, the company said.

A BAE source noted that the decision to extend the production schedule will enable the Eurofighter consortium to keep its final assembly lines active while it pursues several international sales opportunities.

Eurofighter said the multinational agreement will see production fall to a rate of 43 a year by late 2012, before later being reduced further to 35. This is expected to extend Tranche 3A production of the type by at least two years until late 2017.

The move will also buy more time for industry partners Alenia Aeronautica, BAE and EADS to secure a planned Tranche 3B production order. Negotiations had been hoped to resume in late 2011, but sources suggest this can also now be deferred by up to two years.

India is expected to open bids for its medium multi-role combat aircraft requirement from mid-October, with the Typhoon facing up to Dassault's Rafale for the initially 126-unit deal.

Also on 26 September, BAE responded to Japan's request for proposals for a McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-4 replacement, with the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Block II and Lockheed Martin F-35 also in contention for the F-X deal.

Sources suggest a proposed government-to-government sale between the UK and Oman continues to progress, but a Typhoon contract signature is unlikely to emerge before 2012.

BAE also announced that 899 jobs are expected to go at its Military Air & Information site at Brough in Yorkshire, with the bulk of these linked to its Hawk advanced jet trainer programme.

Further manufacturing linked to the platform will be performed at its nearby Samlesbury site in Lancashire, although about 565 positions are also expected to be cut at this facility.

Some of these are linked to the slower-than-anticipated increase in the production rate for the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the company said.

The remaining cutting of about 700 jobs will be implemented at 10 other BAE sites in the UK, including around 78 at its Farnborough headquarters in Hampshire. More than 100 will also go at UK locations including Royal Air Force bases, with this development linked to the early retirement of the Harrier GR7/9 and a fleet-size reduction to the service's Panavia Tornado GR4 force.

"Our customers are facing huge pressures on their defence budgets, and affordability has become an increasing priority. Our business needs to rise to this challenge to maintain its competitiveness and ensure its long-term future," said King.

"To ensure we remain competitive, both in the UK and internationally, we need to reduce the overall costs of our businesses in line with our reduced workload."

[giragyro]

i denari son finiti ...e chi ne ha ancora sceglie qualcosa di più economico , diretta conseguenza della follia che sono diventati i caccia di ultima generazione .

[MarcoGT]

i denari son finiti ...e chi ne ha ancora sceglie qualcosa di più economico , diretta conseguenza della follia che sono diventati i caccia di ultima generazione .

E cosa sceglie quindi?

[richelieu]

i denari son finiti ...e chi ne ha ancora sceglie qualcosa di più economico , diretta conseguenza della follia che sono diventati i caccia di ultima generazione .

E cosa sceglie quindi?

Questo .....



http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ft-362595/

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?o ... Itemid=107

[Hobo]

Cioè fratello diversamente abile del Bronco???

Io non sono un economista, ma non credo ci voglia un genio per capire che i programmi per i caccia di prossima generazione potrebbero spingere l'indebitamento di alcuni grandi paesi sull'orlo del baratro. In effetti questi caccia odierni potrebbero veramente essere un'arma, ma in modo diverso.