India acquires 56 transport aircraft Airbus C295

India has finally signed an agreement for the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295. These aircraft will replace the Indian Air Force (IAF) legacy AVRO fleet.

The first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its final assembly line in Seville (Spain), while the other 40 will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL).

Press release (Airbus).

The contract is the largest signed for the type, representing ~25% of total sales up to date. It will guarantee production for the next few years.

According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space “This contract will support the further development of India’s aerospace ecosystem, bringing investment and 15,000 skilled direct jobs and 10,000 indirect positions over the coming 10 years”.

References:

- https://www.airbus.com/

The Indian Army receives its first Arjun Mk1A tank

The Indian Army has received its first Arjun Mk 1A. This variant incorporates 71 new features. A total of 118 are planned at a cost of Rs 8,500 crore (1,160 million $). The number of imported foreign-made components has been reduced from 63 to 54 percent.

Prime Minister Modi with an Arjun Mk1A tank and its crew (PTI).

From 2004 to 2011 a total of 124 Arjun were manufactured. After that Mk 2 was supposed to come into series, but delays seem to have forced introduction of a Mk 1A version.

References:

- https://theprint.in/

Indian Air Force fighter squadron strength

It is no secret that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been struggling to maintain its envisaged number of fighter squadrons. In the next few years many MiG-21/27 squadrons will be deactivated and there is not an obvious replacement.

Originally the IAF planned a total of 39.5-42 fighter squadrons in order to cope with a 2 front war (Pakistan and China). The delays and lack of funding have led to an actual number which is much lower, around 32-33 squadrons. See table for more details.

There are a number of solutions to remedy this issue in the short term. The following aircraft could be acquired:

- Su-30MKI: This aircraft is a mature design and already produced under license. It would provide work to HAL.
- Rafale: Another package –maybe together with Navy- would help increasing the fighter strength.
- MiG-35: RSK MiG is in a position to produce many in a short term (36 per year). The type is already in service with the IAF.

Tejas is another option, but the design/fielding has been marred by delays. As a consequence MiG-21s had to be upgraded to make up for the delay. A Mk 2 version is now expected.

References:

- http://ajaishukla.blogspot.co.uk/
- http://www.sldinfo.com/
- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/
- http://www.indiandefencereview.com/

Indian Navy tender for carrier-based fighter

7-1-2018

Livefist has informed that the Dassault Rafale F3M and F-18 Block III. Saab and RSK MiG proposals have been discarded (1). No details on the reasons has been given; Gripen was a no go because of it's single engine configuration, which was the reason given to reject a naval Tejas. The Navy was also looking for a mode advanced type than MiG-29K.

In my opinión de Rafale is still the favourite because it is already in service with the Air Force and the logistics would be simplified.

26-1-2017

The Indian Navy has opened a tender for the supply of 57 naval fighters. The request for information can be read in the link below. An offset of 30% of the contract's value is expected. First deliveries would take place 3 years after signing the contract and would have to be completed in 6.

The Indian Navy's fighter is the MiG-29K Fulcrum. A total of 46 have been ordered. The F-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale are likely candidates. The later has been acquired by the Air Force, which could be an advantage. It is unclear if the Super Hornet will be still in production when the decision is taken. So far the LCA Tejas is not a candidate, but an improved Mk 2 version could be marketed.

References:

- http://tenders.gov.in/viewtenddoc.asp?tid=del877328&wno=1&td=TD
- https://www.livefistdefence.com/navy-dogfight-begins-india (1)

India acquires 464 T-90 tanks

Livefist has informed that the Indian MoD's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the acquisition of 464 T-90 tanks. There had been rumours for a number of years but it is only now that a contract has been signed.

The variant to be acquired is probably T-90MS, the latest. The acquisition is due to delays in local production. India has a license to produce 1000 vehicles but production has not met the target.

 Indian T-90.

The T-90 has become one of the most successful tanks of its era, and more than 2000 have been sold. It probably won't be the last sale, as Iraq, Syria and Lybia -amongst other countries- are interested.

These are the current operators:

- Algeria: 305 T-90SA and a license for 200

- Azerbaijan: 94 T-90 (contract signed in 2013)

- Turkmenistan: 40 T-90SA

- India: Contracts for 310, 330, 347 and 464 in different conditions T-90. License for another 1000.

- Russia: ~500; 120 acquired in the 90s y 369 later on.

- Uganda: 44 (no proof)

Total: 2390+ 1200 in licenses.

References:

- https://twitter.com/livefist (contract confirmation)

- http://alejandro-8.blogspot.co.uk/posible-contrato-por-t-90-para-la-india 

India acquires 36 Rafale fighters

India finally signed the contract to acquire 36 Rafale. The type had been selected in April 2014 but negotiations dragged on as both sides could not agree on technology transfer and industrial offsets. It is the largest contract won by Dassault in its history, worth 7.8 billion euros. French journalist Jean-Dominique Merchet has provided the following breakdown (unconfirmed, note that final figure reaches 7.62 billion):

- 36 Rafale: 3.42 billion euros (95 million per aircraft)
- Modification for India: 1.72 billion euro.
- Weapons system (missiles): 710 million euros.
- Support and spare parts for 5 years: 1.79 billion euros.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive 28 single seaters and 8 two seaters. First deliveries will take place in 18 months. Last ones in 67. Dassault will pay fines if the availability is below 75%. The price of a single seater is 91.07 million $, a two seater 94 million $. The contract does not contain an option for additional aircraft, but E. Trapier –CEO of Dassault- is confident that more will be sold in the future, as links with India develop. Spare and logistics can be negotiated for up to 50 years.

 

Ceremony (@manoharparrikar).

Indian Rafales will be more advanced than France’s. A towed decoy will be integrated. They will also be equipped with RWR, IRST, more powerful engines, low band jammers, 10 hour flight data recorder recording, helmet mounted sights and cold engine start capability in Leh. Weapons include Meteor and Scalp missiles. The loitering capability will be ×1.5 higher than Su-30MKI and will have significantly more range.

The warranty will last 2 years and can be extended to 5. The Rafales used for training will have an extra warranty for 60 hours. Maintenance is included for 5 years. Simulators are also included in the package. The offsets package is 50%; 305 corresponds to research project, and 20% for manufacturing Rafale components. Indian government estimates that the value of spare parts exported could reach 3.0 billion $.

 

References:

- http://www.thehindu.com/ 

 - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
- http://www.lopinion.fr
- http://www.lavoixdunord.fr
- http://www.sudouest.fr/

Issues with Indian MiG-29Ks and Vikramaditya?

Reuben F Johnson has published a piece of news in Janes stating that there are issues with  Indian MiG-29Ks and Vikramaditya, the aircraft carrier from which they operate. Aparently the Fulcrums are not being delivered in the agreed configuration and modifications have to be performed in India. This is caused by the Ukrainian embargo on military components/equipment. Vikramaditya lacks an emergency landing barrier amongst other things.

Indian MiG-29K (airliners.net).

The news do not make much sense, as Ukraine's embargo is on military components for use in Russia, not export. Motor-Sich has continued to supply helicopter turbines. Deliveries of components for Antonov transport aircraft have also continued, as the aircraft were not combat types. 

Also, Russian MiG-29Ks have not had any known issues. In fact they will be deployed with Admiral Kuznetsov in the Mediterranean. The differences with Indian Ks are negligible, probably IFF equipment. One of the reasons for Russia to acquire MiG-29Ks was that the aircraft was already in production for India.

References:

- http://www.janes.com/article/62063/indian-navy-reports-problems-with-russian-carrier-aircraft

- http://forum.keypublishing.com/