IAF gets bids for replacing MiGs

Which fighter should replace the MIG-21's in IAF ?

  • US F-16 Block 50

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Swedish Saab

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    2

Xion

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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 ?
 
It's either down to the Swedish Saab or the F-16 I think.
The MiG 29 has poor avionics and a lousy payload capacity. Mirage 2000... another stupid French jet that's past it. I think it's dogfighting ability is the worst of the four presented.
The F-16 is still a very useful jet with a great range and payload, not to mention dogfighting ability.
The Saab's spare parts are from the US actually so it can get a little complicated when your jet is from Sweden and the parts are from America.
 
it wont be a US equipment, not sure about Saab, but i think it will be Mig-29M because India have good relations with Russia.
 
I think it could be MIG-29M's or Mirage 2000-5's , MiG-29M's cos India's ties with Russia and Mirage 2000-5's cos of its nuclear strike capabilities.Would be a good combo with LCA and Su-30's.

F-16's wouldn't stand a chance since Pakis know so much bout em ;)

But do the pakis know about F-16I SUFA 's ? :lol:
 
What will happen the project of LCA?
I think the topic is not realistic.

The project of LCA will continue .The LCA will officially remain in development for some time and eventually LCAs will be inducted in the IAF.

But me thinks , The Indian Air Force wants the Mirage 2000-5. It wants a light fighter to complement the Su-30MKI heavy fighter.
 
Huh? The Mirage, any Mirage is never a lousy choice for light weight, mainly ground attack oriented fighter role.
 
I thought they were looking for a multi role interceptor/strike jet.
Of the choices, the Mirage has the weakest turning capability. But it does probably have better avionics and payload than the MiG-29.

SHERMAN said:
Huh? The Mirage, any Mirage is never a lousy choice for light weight, mainly ground attack oriented fighter role.
 
According my sources, before India thought to buy Mirage-2005 Mk II directly,but later she made decision to take offers from the other companies too.

So, I think India wants fighters which is dedicated to multi role air ground attacking.You know well that, airground attacking needs heavy and strong aircraft like Mirage-2005.

At the begining,Mig29 is a fighter that is dedicated to air to air missions only.
I have no information on whether Mig29-M2 has capability to air ground attacking or not.
I am sure Grippen is a light fighter to india.

Finally,I think Mirage-2005 Mk II has more chance as first.May be F-16 Block 52+ as second.
 
Lets review MiG-29M , Mirage 2000-5 and the F-16


F-16(source:http://www.defense-update.com/featu...vanced-f-16.htm)

Advanced F-16 Block 50/52/60

F-16F (Block 60) built for the Air Force of the UAE, seen on its first flight. This two-seater version is now designated F-16F.

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 was known as “the workhorse of Desert Storm” and its combat-proven tradition continued in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, with close to 4,000 sorties flown in continuous, all-weather operations. The production lines of this versatile strike fighter revived since the turn of the century, with new production orders for 344 aircraft and modernization and upgrading contracts for many more, that position this air combat veteran at the leading edge of air warfare. Firm orders will provide production line work until at least 2008, with anticipated new orders and deliveries lasting through 2011.


The Israeli Soufa (Storm) F-16I is based on a modified F-16 Block 52 configuration, with many indigenous systems designed specifically for the IAF.

The latest Fighting Falcons rolling off the Lockheed Martin's production line in Fort Worth, Texas, are advanced Block 50/52 and lately, Block 60 versions. These production series represent the largest configuration change in the F-16 history, offering additional fuel and payload capacity, new or improved avionics and sensors, color cockpit displays with enhanced pilot/vehicle interfaces. Nine countries have already ordered Advanced Block 50/52/60 F-16s, including the USA, Greece, Israel, UAE, Chile and Poland, The lead customer for Block 52 was the Hellenic Air Force which will receive all its 50 new F-16s in 2004. The Israeli Air Force will receive its first F-16Is in February 2004 and the last of the 102 aircraft is scheduled for delivery by 2008. The lead customer for 80 Block 60 aircraft was the Air Force of the United Arab Emirates which is also in production for initial deliveries in 2004.


The Hellenic Air Force will receive this year the last of the 50 F-16 Block 52 aircraft ordered in 2000, both two seaters and single seater.

Advanced versions of the Block 50/52 F-16s are difficult to tell from previous F-16s, as most changes are internal. However, the two-seat models of the Advanced Block 50/52 and Block 60 are equipped with a dorsal avionics compartment that accommodates all of the systems of the single-seat model as well as some special mission equipment and additional chaff/flare dispensers. Most aircraft are procured wit Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT) for extended range and mission endurance. The rear cockpit can be configured for either a weapon system operator or an instructor pilot and can be converted with a single switch in the cockpit.

Advanced Engines
Advanced Block 50/52 aircraft have a common engine bay that allows customers a choice of engines in the 29,000-pound thrust class. The Block 50s and are powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 and have the Modular Common Inlet Duct (known as the large mouth inlet). Block 60 aircraft (for the UAE) are fitted with GE F-110-GE-132 engine, a derivative of the F-110-GE-129 that is rated at 32,500 pounds of thrust. The Block 52s are powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 Improved performance Engine (IPE) which also has 29,000 pounds of thrust. The engine is configured with the Normal Shock Inlet (also known as the small mouth inlet). The aircraft is also equipped with an on-board oxygen-generating system replaces the liquid oxygen system of earlier versions to provide breathable air to the pilot. The system improves mission rate, maintainability, deployment flexibility and safety.

Targeting and Weapon Systems
For air/air missions, the aircraft is equipped with medium range missiles such as the AIM-120A AMRAAM. For close range combat, the aircraft can support the AIM-9X, IRIS-T, Python 4 and Python 5. The aircraft also retains the capability to use the six barrel 20mm Gatling gun. Block 52 configurations are also equipped with an advanced version of the APG-68 radar - the (V)9, while F-16E/F is fitted with the new APG-80 Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) system. These new radars have improved performance, higher processing speed and memory capacities and improved high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mode which allows the pilot to locate and recognize tactical ground targets from considerable distances. In conjunction with inertial aided weapons, the advanced F-16 gains an enhanced capability for all-weather precision strike from standoff distances. Modern F-16s of the advanced Block 50/52 can accommodate various targeting systems, including the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR/Pantera, and Northrop Grumman/RAFAEL Litening. These pods are used for target identification, acquisition and designation for smart, GPS guided munitions or laser guided bombs such as GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), SPICE guided weapon, and CBU-103/104/105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD). The later can also be cued by target data provided directly from the radar, in low visibility conditions. On recce missions, advanced F-16s can also carry autonomous reconnaissance pods on the centerline, on intelligence gathering penetration or standoff sorties.

Navigation Systems
A navigation pod, such as LANTIRN/Pathfinder and digital terrain models are contributing to a safe, accurate low level flight. The aircraft is also equipped with various navigation systems such as tactical air navigation (TACAN), VHF omnidirectional receiver (VOR), distance measuring equipment (DME), and instrument landing system. An integrated precision navigation suite consisting of a ring laser gyro inertial navigation system (INS), global positioning system (GPS), and digital terrain system (DTS) are also standard.

Cockpit Configurations
The standard configuration of an Advanced Block 50/52 cockpit features helmet-mounted cueing system, which allows the pilot to direct sensors or weapons to his line of sight or to help him find a designated target. Head-Up Display and several color multifunction displays and advanced recording and data-transfer equipment is used to reduce pilot workload in every phase of the mission. The cockpit is compatible with night vision goggles. A common configuration includes multi-channel VHF/UHF/HF/Data communications, satellite communication and tactical data link systems (such as the NATO-standard Link 16), in addition. Link 16 provides secure, jam-resistant, high-volume data exchange on a multi-node network. Also standard is the combined friend from foe interrogator/ transponder, which permits autonomous identification to maximize launch ranges of radar-guided air-to-air missiles at distances beyond visual range (BVR).

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MIRAGE-2000-5(Source:http://www.defencejournal.com/jun99/mirage.htm)
Mirage 2000-5

French MIRAGE 2000-5

The newcomer to the Mirage 2000 family, the Mirage 2000-5 is a multi-role single-seater or two seater fighter. It differs from its predecessors mainly in its avionics, its new multiple target air-to-ground and air-to-air firing procedures linked to the use of RDY radar and its new visualization andcontrol system.



The Mirage 2000-5 is the latest addition to the Mirage 2000 combat aircraft family. As a multi-role combat aircraft with particularly versatile air-to-air mission capabilities, the Mirage 2000-5 integrates the state-of-the-art of the know-how based on the experience gained from the previous Mirage 2000 versions (Mirage 2000 DA, Mirage 2000 E, Mirage 2000 D) and is designed for the most-advanced armaments.

The particular expertise acquired in the various technologies, and related upgrades, used on the other Mirage 2000 versions is reflected amongst others, in the :

aerodynamic qualities ;
efficient fly-by-wire flight control system ;
extensive use of composite materials.
It retains the SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan engine (98KN thrust with reheat) with low specific consumption, offering well-proven reliability.

The Mirage 2000-5 is available as a single or two-seater aircraft, the latter version retaining all the operational capabilities of the former, also offering training capacities. As for its previous Mirage 2000 brothers, the Mirage 2000-5's low wing load, combined with its aerodynamics, its high thrust-to-weight ratio and fly-by-wire control system, endow the aircraft with superb manoeuvrability and handing qualities. This also gives it impressive agility in air combats as well as short take-off and landing features.

The Mirage 2000-5's cockpit, an entirely new pilot interface, offers :

a combined Head Up/Head Level (HUD/HLD) display collimated to infinity for optimal presentation of all data relative to handling, nav- igation, air and ground target engagement and firing,
two coloured lateral displays, for pre- sentation of all sensor and system management information,
one display dedicated to data fusion, to permanently provide the pilot with the clearest possible vision of the tactical situation.
All necessary selections or actions for air combats are made real-time controls on stick and throttle only (HOTAS concept).

Thanks to the man-machine interface, the integration of the sensors dedicated to nav. system, target acquisition and weapon firing, the Mirage 2000-5 single seater executes target destruction missions with reduced pilot work load.

Mirage 2000 is equipped with a multi-mode Thomson-CSF RDY doppler radar which allows, in air defence missions, multi-target selections at all altitudes and look down/shoot down operation. This radar can simultaneously detect up to 24 targets and track while scan the 8 most threatening ones.

The aircraft also has a comprehensive, totally integrated self-protection system not requiring any external pod, which can be interfaced with a new efficient programmable mission planning/debriefing ground system.

The Mirage 2000-5 new weapon delivery system is designed for firing, in air defence missions, the Matra MICA multi-target air-to-air intercept and combat missiles, as well as for use of Magic 2 combat missiles whose system integrates autonomous detection capabilities. The Mirage 2000-5 single seater version is furthermore fitted with 2 internal, high firing rate, 30mm guns. The Mirage 2000-5 can simultaneously carry 4 MICA and 2 Magic missiles. The Mirage 2000-5 offers great possibilities for air-to-surface missions and can use all currently existing conventional weapons.

Furthermore, when fitted with a laser designation pod (TV/CT LDP), the Mirage 2000-5 can fire, both day and night, any laser-guided weapon with greatest accuracy.

In '4 MICA + 2 Magic missiles + 3 drop-tanks' configuration, the Mirage 2000-5 offers considerably extended mission times.

The Mirage 2000-5 Weapon Delivery and Navigation System (WDNS) architecture and wiring, notably its digital core system, have been designed with an impressive growth potential for further integration and use of new sensors and weapons.




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The link below refers MiG 33 & MiG 29M as to be the same



MiG-33(MIG 29M) - modernisation of the MiG-29(Source:http://www.hostultra.com/~migalley/comparison_data.html)(PS:MiG33)

Authors: Anatoly Belosvet, Mikoyan design bureau, deputy general designer, Yuri Polushkin, Mikoyan design bureau, branch manager

Demonstrated for the first time at Farnborough-94, the MiG-33, a new Russian fighter, is a deep modernisation of the MiG-29. The main goals of the modernisation were:

- multifunctionality with further growth of air-to-air and air-to- ground capability widely using high-precision weapons;
- considerable growth of combat range owing to an increase in the internal fuel capacity;
- better pilot-to-aircraft interface in the cockpit;
- introduction of new-generation equipment. The external changes between the MiG-33 and the MiG-29 are negligable and confined chiefly to the following:
- Changes in the intakes' geometry including the removal of the upper intake louvres, enlarging inlet dimensions for higher airflow, installation of movable nets protecting the engines from the ingestion of foreign objects during take-off and landing.
- The number of hard points has been increased up to nine and this enables either suspension of a 4,5 tonne bomb load or eight [Vympel] RVV-AE air-to-air missiles [Russian counterpart to the AMRAAM]. The MiG-33 can carry same types of missiles as the MiG-29 does, and many more. For instance, four air-to-surface missiles such as laser-guided Kh-25ML and Kh-29L, or TV-guided Kh-29T missiles or four KAB-500KR guided bombs can be carried .

The number of changes invisible for the eyes of a spectator is greater. The MiG-33 features more powerful, upgraded engines and the quadraple-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system. A new onboard radar with a reprogrammable signal processor provides not only a greater aerial target detection range, but is also capable of detection of sea and small-sized ground targets, ground mapping, terrain following and alerting to avoid ground obstacles.

A new electro-optical sighting system (EOSS) provides a growth in the target acquisition range, all-aspect target acquisition and the capability of illuminating a ground target with the laser laser beam. It also can detect a "laser spot" being created by an external designator, identify targets and track automatically ground targets with the help of the TV-channel. Modern interior of the cockpit features EFIS [electronic flight-instrumental system] (two multi-function displays, a head-up display, a track-and-alert system indicator). Besides, the MiG- 33 has more effective computers, running new software along with [modern] communication, friend-or-foe identification and electronic warfare systems.

In an effort to reduce the weight and the number of manufacturing hours as well as to achieve a higher level of quality, the forward fuselage (including the cockpit section) is made of aluminium-lithium alloy by means of welding. A variety of systems and devices have been modernised, including the landing gear.

The flight performance and the handling qualities either remain the same [as those of the MiG-29] or boast an improvement, this is due to the new engine and the fly-by-wire system. The combat range saw a considerable increase owing to the enlarged fuel capacity. For an aerial close-in engagement (five 360-degree turns, load of two medium, two short range missiles, three drop fuel tanks) the combat radius is 1,250 km. The subsonic interception mission range (M=0.85, armament of four medium range missiles, three drop fuel tanks) is 1,440 km, and for a ground target attack mission with air-to-surface missiles (load of two air-to-surface, two short range air-to-air missiles, three drop fuel tanks) the comabt radius is 1,190 km.



Some great pics of Mirage 2000-5

mirage2000_1.jpg


mirage2000_3.jpg


mirage2000_8.jpg
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