Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  April 19, 2018, 10:01 AM A model of a Rafale in Indian colors displayed on the Dassault stand at an Aero India show. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) The training of Indian pilots and maintenance personnel in preparation for delivery of Rafale fighters is in progress in France, Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier told  AIN  in describing progress with the Indian air force contract for 36 Rafale fighters. He also commented on the latest Indian request for information (RFI) for more new fighters while visiting India as head of a delegation from the French Aerospace Industries Association (French acronym: GIFAS). However, Trappier made only passing reference to the financial and legal troubles that have recently beset the Reliance Group, Dassault’s partner in India for the Rafale contract.  In addition to the training in France, India is preparing a hangar at the Reliance Defence facility at Nagpur, where part...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  June 17, 2017, 11:39AM Subcontractor for precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, assembly, forging and special processing for  OEM s and Tier 1 customers, India’s decade-old Aequs Aerospace (Hall 2b, Stand   E170 ) has been on a consistent and disciplined growth trajectory, especially in the past two years. Global acquisitions have helped the company locate closer to a regional customer base and help complement its technical capabilities across the value chain for mechanical parts, Aravind Melligeri, chairman and   CEO   of Aequs, told   AIN . “ Our goal at the 2017 Paris Airshow is to show what we are offering to the world…an ability to deliver value and quality for components of landing gears, actuators and engines parts, including machining capability—[also] including 4D machining,” said Melligeri.  Headquartered in Belagavi in the southern state of Karnataka close to Goa, Aequs is located on ...

Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2016 One of the original batch of LCAs on display at the Aero India show in 2015. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) India’s Ministry of Defense has cleared an order for 83 Light Combat Aircraft ( LCA ), designated Mk1A, from government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) for the Indian Air Force ( IAF ).   HAL   currently has in hand an order for 40   GE   F404 -engined   LCA s for the   IAF . Of the 20 to be produced with an initial operational clearance, three have been delivered and the fourth is scheduled to be handed over by early next year. Twenty more will be supplied once they receive the final operational clearance ( FOC ) by end of 2017. HAL   says it will increase production from eight to 16 a year “once a formal order is received for the 83 Mk1As.”   IAF   Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha said last year: “We want the   LCA   Mk1A with an improved radar [Elta's ...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  November 2, 2016, 12:26 PM Lockheed Martin released this artist’s impression of an F-16 in Indian air force colors in 2011, when the type was previously evaluated for the MMRCA contract. (Image: Lockheed Martin) After  confirming the acquisition  of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters off-the-shelf from France, India has invited proposals from the U.S., Sweden and Russia to transfer technology and produce a single-engine fighter in-country. The latest move seems to preclude any “Make in India” offers from Dassault for the twin-engine Rafale, as well as Eurofighter (for the Typhoon) or Boeing (for the F/A-18). India has a requirement for approximately 100 more fighters. The invitation was in the form of letters handed to the ambassadors of the three countries. Lockheed Martin has already responded, offering an upgraded “F-16 Block 70.” It is believed that Saab will follow, with an offer for the Gripen E. It is unclear what Russia mi...

Neelam Mathews and Chris Pocock Sept 23 2016 French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian (left) signed the inter-governmental agreement on the Rafale with Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. More than four years after the Dassault Rafale  was chosen  for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirement, India has signed an inter-governmental agreement with France worth €7.87 billion for 36 aircraft. The deal was inked in Delhi today by the defense ministers of both countries. It specifies details of the contract, including timelines. However, the support, logistics and 50 percent offsets package will be signed in a few months, a senior MoD official told  AIN . While the agreement has an option clause for 18 more Rafales, it is unclear whether more of the French jets will eventually be manufactured or assembled in the country, under the terms of the “Make In India” policy. The  original  MMRCA  requirement ...

by  Neelam Mathews   Jan 26, 2016 Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s intention to acquire Rafale fighters from Dassault and military helicopters from Airbus, in talks with President François Hollande. France’s nine-year wait for a contract from India for the Rafale is not quite over, but an inter-government agreement covering acquisition of 36 fighters was signed during President François Hollande’s visit to New Delhi on January 26. Invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be the chief guest at India's Republic Day military parade in New Delhi, Hollande also joined the Indian leader in witnessing the confirmation of a previously announced partnership between Mahindra Defence and Airbus Helicopters. The Rafale signing “has effectively transformed the nature of the transaction from a commercial bid to a government to government sale,” Rahul Gangal, partner with consultancy group Roland and Berger, told  AIN . While Dassault Aviation...

Neelam Mathews Aug 19 2015 AIN. Credit. Neelam Mathews India’s expanding aerospace industry has expressed regret about the government’s decision to buy 36 Dassault Rafale combat jets directly from France, without an offsets clause. Delhi has committed to signing the inter-government contract by the end of calendar year 2015,  AIN  has learned  from sources close to the negotiations . The tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ), which has now been withdrawn, specified 50 percent offsets as well as licensed production of 108 aircraft. Negotiations on the  MMRCA  faltered on the liability clause between government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) and Dassault, which was not willing to take responsibility for  HAL ’s work. “ So much for the Make in India program,” said an Indian defense vendor, who told  AIN  that the valuable  MMRCA  project would have boosted the aerospace industry in India. A num...

Neelam Mathews April 14, 2015 India’s new government has put its sluggish defense procurement on track by ordering two squadrons for 36 Dassault Rafales. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the order during his recent visit to France. The buy includes life cycle support and 50% offsets. The 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) has been lying in cold storage over the liability clause on the Rafales produced by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) that Dassault was to be held responsible for. By buying the aircraft in flyaway condition, this will no longer be an issue.  For the fighter squadron-starved Indian Air Force (IAF) looking to replace its obsolete MiG-21s and MiG-27s, the announcement has come as a lifeline. While official figures state the squadron strength at 34,  Shephard  has learnt it is less than 28. The original contract for the 126 included 18 in flyway condition and the rest were to be produced in India under transfer of product...

by  Chris Pocock  and Neelam Mathews     March 26, 2015 The first two Indian air force Mirage 2000s to be upgraded were handled by the Dassault Flight Centre at Istres air base in France. (photo: Dassault Aviation) In a ceremony at Istres airbase in southern France on March 25, the Indian Ambassador to France accepted the first two Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 fighters to be upgraded by Dassault and Thales. It has been agreed that the rest of the IAF fleet will be upgraded by HAL in Bangalore – a fact that the leadership of Dassault and Thales were keen to point out, in view of the long delays in sealing a licensed production deal for the Rafale. After a two-year development phase, the first flight of the upgraded Mirage 2000 I/TI took place at Istres on October 5, 2013. Today’s ceremony is the result of the excellent understanding between the Indian and French partners and of our commitment to India,” said Eric...

N eelam Mathews Feb 19, 2015                      Indian Air Force Chief Arup Raha speaking at the Aero India show. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) India will not buy more Sukhoi Su-30s instead of the medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ), Indian Air Force ( IAF ) Chief Arup Raha told  AIN  at the Aero India show in Bangalore on February 19. There had been speculation that India would turn to Russia for more combat aircraft, after three years of incompleted  MMRCA negotiations with France for the Dassault Rafale. However, “there is no Plan B,” Raha said. Raha said the two types would be complementary, and that the  IAF ’s MiG-21s and MiG-27s have reached obsolescence and need to be replaced. The  IAF  Chief was replying to a query about how urgently the  IAF requires the Rafale. “It is important that we have the  MMRCA  in the quickest possible time…to build to a 42 combat ...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  MAY 30, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Arun Jaitley, India’s new defense and finance minister, meets Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. (Photo: Indian MoD) May 29, 2014, 3:55 PM A lack of decision-making on large Indian defense procurement deals in the past two years is expected to end with the swearing-in of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Changes in procurement and offset policies are also expected. Major projects that are in the final stage of processing and require a signature for conclusion include the 126-aircraft  medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ) won by Dassault Aviation’s Rafale ; the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ); and naval multi-role helicopters. While these are likely to be signed this financial year, a crash crunch could hold other decisions until next year. To fast-track some projects, the Ministry of Defence has proposed an approxim...