IAF gets bids for replacing MiGs
The Ministry of Defence is against the IAF’s idea of going for the French Mirage as it may lead to a single vendor situation.
BY BIDANDA M CHENGAPPA
DH NEWS SERVICE BANGALORE:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is evaluating bids for a mega purchase of 126 aircraft from four foreign aeronautical majors to replace seven squadrons of its obsolete MiG 21, 23 and 27 fighter aircraft.
The contenders are the Swedish Saab Viggen, the Russian Moscow Aircraft Production Organisation, the French Marcel Dassault and the US Lockheed Martin. Delays in induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft into squadron service and the intermittent MiG 21 crashes necessitate this purchase.
The various aircraft for sale include the Swedish Saab, the Russian MiG 29M, the French Mirage 2000-5 and the US F-16 Block 50. The IAF is said to be keen on the French Mirage 2000-5 since it already has three Mirage squadrons on its inventory. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has insisted against the IAF getting into a single vendor situation, as in the case of the advanced jet trainer aircraft, with only the British Aerospace’s Hawk aircraft eventually being available for purchase.
The Russians have evolved a new MiG-29M that is an improved version of the 1970s vintage aircraft that continue in IAF squadron service. This plane comes without problems of poor fuel combustion, weak avionics, air-to-ground strike. The IAF’s ‘air staff requirements’ or product specifications demand a multi-role fighter capable of an air superiority/ air defence role, and an anti-surface forces role against land/sea targets.
Besides, these new aircraft should be compatible with the IAF’s newly acquired air-to-air refuelling capabilities and use as a ‘force multiplier’ to conduct counter-air operations against enemy airfields, radars etc; also strike roles against targets deep within enemy territory.
These companies have responded to a global tender floated by the MoD and includes license production at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The French company Dassault’s executives have already inspected HAL facilities that is supposed to produce 12 aircraft per year.
The expenditure covers acquiring the license, setting up infrastructure like production lines, civil construction work, associated facilities that is estimated to be in the region of Rs 30,000 crore. The IAF would ideally like to maintain a 37 fighter squadron strength on its ‘order of battle’ to cope with a two-front threat that pertains to hostile actions either from Pakistan or China. The remainder of the aircraft on its inventory comprise transport and helicopter squadrons.
Which one do ya'll think it should be ?
The Ministry of Defence is against the IAF’s idea of going for the French Mirage as it may lead to a single vendor situation.
BY BIDANDA M CHENGAPPA
DH NEWS SERVICE BANGALORE:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is evaluating bids for a mega purchase of 126 aircraft from four foreign aeronautical majors to replace seven squadrons of its obsolete MiG 21, 23 and 27 fighter aircraft.
The contenders are the Swedish Saab Viggen, the Russian Moscow Aircraft Production Organisation, the French Marcel Dassault and the US Lockheed Martin. Delays in induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft into squadron service and the intermittent MiG 21 crashes necessitate this purchase.
The various aircraft for sale include the Swedish Saab, the Russian MiG 29M, the French Mirage 2000-5 and the US F-16 Block 50. The IAF is said to be keen on the French Mirage 2000-5 since it already has three Mirage squadrons on its inventory. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has insisted against the IAF getting into a single vendor situation, as in the case of the advanced jet trainer aircraft, with only the British Aerospace’s Hawk aircraft eventually being available for purchase.
The Russians have evolved a new MiG-29M that is an improved version of the 1970s vintage aircraft that continue in IAF squadron service. This plane comes without problems of poor fuel combustion, weak avionics, air-to-ground strike. The IAF’s ‘air staff requirements’ or product specifications demand a multi-role fighter capable of an air superiority/ air defence role, and an anti-surface forces role against land/sea targets.
Besides, these new aircraft should be compatible with the IAF’s newly acquired air-to-air refuelling capabilities and use as a ‘force multiplier’ to conduct counter-air operations against enemy airfields, radars etc; also strike roles against targets deep within enemy territory.
These companies have responded to a global tender floated by the MoD and includes license production at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The French company Dassault’s executives have already inspected HAL facilities that is supposed to produce 12 aircraft per year.
The expenditure covers acquiring the license, setting up infrastructure like production lines, civil construction work, associated facilities that is estimated to be in the region of Rs 30,000 crore. The IAF would ideally like to maintain a 37 fighter squadron strength on its ‘order of battle’ to cope with a two-front threat that pertains to hostile actions either from Pakistan or China. The remainder of the aircraft on its inventory comprise transport and helicopter squadrons.
Which one do ya'll think it should be ?