Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  - October 5, 2016, 7:34 AM The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that it will re-engine its fleet of Anglo-French Jaguar strike aircraft. The plan was discussed by IAF Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha during his annual press conference this week. Raha was enthusiastic about the recently confirmed acquisition of Dassault Rafales, but cautious on progress with the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project with Russia. “Technology is improving so rapidly that weapon systems and platforms soon become redundant,” said Raha. This phenomenon is being addressed through the IAF’s Long Term Perspective Plan, a 15-year scheme that is divided into three five-year spans. Raha said that while most previous procurement “had been process-driven; it is now changing to outcome-driven.” Honeywell is to supply 270 F125IN turbofan engines to replace the twin Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 821s on apporoximately 120 Jaguars. The...

by Neelam Mathews  - October 15, 2015, 11:16 AM Indian air force chief of air staff AM Arup Raha reviews engine component production at HAL’s Koraput factory. (Photo: Indian MoD) The Indian Air Force continues to mull alternative plans for its future combat aircraft fleet. But despite a recent call by chief of staff   AM   Arup Raha to speed up production of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft ( LCA ), a senior MoD official has told   AIN   that India will exercise its option for 36 more Rafales in a year’s time. The contract for the first 36 is expected to be signed shortly. Despite years of development, the   IAF   has received only one   LCA   from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ), for weapons integration and testing. Another three are due to be delivered by mid-2016, and   HAL   has said it can produce up to eight   LCA s annually, after investment in jigs, tools and fixtures. The   IAF   place...

Posted by:  Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2012   Even as India is believed to have given a June deadline to Dassault to present its offset plans, LaTribune reports Brazil, yet to decide on its MMRCA, has said Rafale’s maintenance costs are higher compared to its competitors, the Gripen (Saab) and F-18 (Boeing). “This does not mean that the Rafale is out of play,” it notes. (French to English translation of the article in Google of the Tribune  isn’t the world’s best! Apologies) But, here goes- some major points: There are many supporters of the Rafale that say:. "This is the most technologically advanced aircraft……We have many things to learn from cooperation with Dassault Aviation…..But the French offer must be better explained or otherwise improved," said an official to the Tribune. “As for the F/A-18 Hornet (Boeing), another rival for the Rafale, it benefits from euro / dollar rate to be competitive with the French aircraft,” quotes the paper. Like...