Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, chief of the air staff of the Indian Air Force, caught up with ShowNews’ Neelam Mathews last week to discuss his expectations for procurement, and immediate plans for increasing force levels.
ShowNews: What is the status of the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft bids? Where do you see it moving from your perspective?
CAS: This month, the Commercial Negotiation Committee (CNC) will start. We have given recommendations [to the Ministry of Defense (MoD)] as to who meets the criteria and who does not. [The CNC is constituted under the MoD. Its members are drawn from the Acquisition Wing, the Service headquarters, users, quality assurance directorate, and the R&D organization].
All the six (vendors) meet 95% of the requirements.
SN: What are the technologies you expect to get from foreign vendors?
CAS:We expect to import raw metals, single crystal engine blades, and, for the moment, the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
SN: How important is the AESA to the MMRCA?
CAS: At the time of formulation of MMRCA [requirements], in the early part of the decade, the AESA was an emerging technology. It has since matured, as was evident during the field evaluation trials of the six MMRCA contenders. For MMRCA, AESA has the same consideration as any other requirement specified
in the RFP such as weapons, EW systems, performance requirements, etc. All these are important to MMRCA, and so is the AESA.
SN: You are looking at more remotely piloted vehicles?
CAS: By 2013 we expect to get eight [Israeli Herons and Searchers].
SN: What about combat UAVs?
CAS:We may go in for the one DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) is developing. However, we are not looking at an outright purchase.
SN: Recently, you lost an aerostat. Are you looking at procuring more?
CAS: At present, an assessment is being made on whether it can be repaired...We are looking for four more.
SN: There has been no news on the bids to re-engine the Jaguars? (NB-Since then Rolls has withdrawn from the tender)
CAS: It is long pending. The Request for Proposal is expected in March.
SN: How important are the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft that are now being bid, for the second time, to the air force? The two contenders are the EADS A330 MRTT and Russian IL-78.
CAS: They are very important. Tankers increase the range. And we need them for various contingencies. In the long run, financial liability will need to be considered. Life cycle costs are important. By 2022, we will require between 12-16 tankers.
SN: There is a buzz that you need around 40 Boeing C-17 cargo aircraft in the future?
CAS: No. We have ordered an initial ten, and require around ten more.
SN: Since you have the Lockheed Martin C-130J, would you consider another size version of the transport aircraft?
CAS: No. DRDO has an agreement with Russia for the 30-ton Medium Transport Aircraft. That will suit our requirements.SN: There is talk that you are looking to buy two seaplanes?
CAS: Not at the moment.
SN: What about the operational data link (ODL) that was to be carried out in phases, under which aircraft, helicopters, surveillance platforms, etc. are to be networked into the main network-centric warfare project?
CAS: The Air Force Net (AFNET – a fiber optic-based network on which the Integrated Air Command and Control System of the IAF will ride) is a strong bedrock of the network centric operations...Two nodes are active. Some have to be geostationary. We expect the ODL to be fully operational three years from now.
SN: What about the light combat aircraft (LCA) order?
CAS:We have ordered 40 LCAs with the GE F404-IN20 engines that are in the class of a Mig-21++.
SN: What about the long delayed upgrades of the Mirage 2000s?
CAS:We need them fast…
SN: When is BrahMos to deliver the air to ground missile?
CAS: Su-30s are being strengthened. The missile will be carried on a center pylon. The first aircraft is in Russia. We plan to have it on 44 Su-30s.
ShowNews: What is the status of the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft bids? Where do you see it moving from your perspective?
CAS: This month, the Commercial Negotiation Committee (CNC) will start. We have given recommendations [to the Ministry of Defense (MoD)] as to who meets the criteria and who does not. [The CNC is constituted under the MoD. Its members are drawn from the Acquisition Wing, the Service headquarters, users, quality assurance directorate, and the R&D organization].
All the six (vendors) meet 95% of the requirements.
SN: What are the technologies you expect to get from foreign vendors?
CAS:We expect to import raw metals, single crystal engine blades, and, for the moment, the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
SN: How important is the AESA to the MMRCA?
CAS: At the time of formulation of MMRCA [requirements], in the early part of the decade, the AESA was an emerging technology. It has since matured, as was evident during the field evaluation trials of the six MMRCA contenders. For MMRCA, AESA has the same consideration as any other requirement specified
in the RFP such as weapons, EW systems, performance requirements, etc. All these are important to MMRCA, and so is the AESA.
SN: You are looking at more remotely piloted vehicles?
CAS: By 2013 we expect to get eight [Israeli Herons and Searchers].
SN: What about combat UAVs?
CAS:We may go in for the one DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) is developing. However, we are not looking at an outright purchase.
SN: Recently, you lost an aerostat. Are you looking at procuring more?
CAS: At present, an assessment is being made on whether it can be repaired...We are looking for four more.
SN: There has been no news on the bids to re-engine the Jaguars? (NB-Since then Rolls has withdrawn from the tender)
CAS: It is long pending. The Request for Proposal is expected in March.
SN: How important are the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft that are now being bid, for the second time, to the air force? The two contenders are the EADS A330 MRTT and Russian IL-78.
CAS: They are very important. Tankers increase the range. And we need them for various contingencies. In the long run, financial liability will need to be considered. Life cycle costs are important. By 2022, we will require between 12-16 tankers.
SN: There is a buzz that you need around 40 Boeing C-17 cargo aircraft in the future?
CAS: No. We have ordered an initial ten, and require around ten more.
SN: Since you have the Lockheed Martin C-130J, would you consider another size version of the transport aircraft?
CAS: No. DRDO has an agreement with Russia for the 30-ton Medium Transport Aircraft. That will suit our requirements.SN: There is talk that you are looking to buy two seaplanes?
CAS: Not at the moment.
SN: What about the operational data link (ODL) that was to be carried out in phases, under which aircraft, helicopters, surveillance platforms, etc. are to be networked into the main network-centric warfare project?
CAS: The Air Force Net (AFNET – a fiber optic-based network on which the Integrated Air Command and Control System of the IAF will ride) is a strong bedrock of the network centric operations...Two nodes are active. Some have to be geostationary. We expect the ODL to be fully operational three years from now.
SN: What about the light combat aircraft (LCA) order?
CAS:We have ordered 40 LCAs with the GE F404-IN20 engines that are in the class of a Mig-21++.
SN: What about the long delayed upgrades of the Mirage 2000s?
CAS:We need them fast…
SN: When is BrahMos to deliver the air to ground missile?
CAS: Su-30s are being strengthened. The missile will be carried on a center pylon. The first aircraft is in Russia. We plan to have it on 44 Su-30s.
No comments:
Post a Comment