Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  August 3, 2016, 8:35 AM An artist's impression of an Indian Air Force A330MRTT refueling two Mirage 2000 fighters. (Airbus D&S) India has withdrawn the tender for a new air refueling tanker, more than three years after choosing the Airbus   A330   MRTT   in preference to the Ilyushin Il-78 following a second round of bidding. This latest example of indecision on major defense projects, following the saga of the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft ( MMRCA ) program, is creating concern in the international defense industry that India is chronically indecisive. However,   AIN   has learned from a senior Indian Ministry of Defence official that the   A330MRTT procurement may still be concluded, on an intergovernmental basis between Spain and India. Though there has been no official confirmation, Indian media reported that the high price of the   MRTT   is the reason behind the natio...

Neelam Mathews Oct 18, 2015 While Boeing Co Chairman, President and CEO James   McNerney announced to an awe-struck audience in Delhi on Oct 16 that the company would be willing to make its twin-engine F-18 fighters in India, when India releases another MMRCA tender in two years, one wonders what is actually happening to thinking in higher echelons of power? I am not even going into issues related to CISMOA, which a few say will be solved ultimately. While it goes to the credit of the OEMs that they are more than willing to include Indian companies in their global supply base, one wonders why homework has not been done to calculate costs that will be incurred should the country add to its already over two dozen different aircraft models? The Indian Air Force, as far as I can remember, has been crying hoarse over this issue. So while, one has no affiliations to the Rafale for instance, why not just set up co-production for another 90 more? We have to start some time. As...

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...

A INONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Hawk trainer engines are at the heart of an inquiry that is being held into Rolls-Royce dealings in India. (Photo: BAE Systems) March 6, 2014, 8:00 AM India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into Rolls-Royce military deals. The investigation began just a day before the announcement of forthcoming elections and the beginning of the “model code of conduct” that disallows announcement of new projects. The probe follows a voluntary disclosure last December by Rolls-Royce to its partner Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) that it had used a consultant, Singapore-based Aashmore, for sales and logistics support in its business in the energy sector. While civil and military projects generally do not overlap, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has nevertheless put on hold the repair, overhaul and supply of Adour Mk 871 engines for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy  BAE  Syst...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  JANUARY 10, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India chose Dassualt's Rafale for its medium multi-role combat aircraft in 2012. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) January 9, 2014, 8:15 AM With national elections looming in India, speculation is growing that contracts for the long-delayed medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ), as well as the multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ), could soon be signed. India announced  its choice of the Rafale  in January 2012. But negotiations  subsequently stalled  over offsets, the transfer of technology and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ).  Delays in procurement are taking a toll on military force levels as Indian Air Force ( IAF ) squadrons deplete. This has resulted in pressure on the Ministry of Defense to increase the pace for awarding pending contracts. A government code of conduct prevents any contracts being awarded within 45 day...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Oct 15, 2013 The Airbus Military Services Logistics Hub has started operations in Seville, Spain, in line with the Full In-Service Support (FISS) model developed by the company. This hub delivers spare parts for all Airbus Military products worldwide as well as ground equipment for the operation of the fleet. The new facility substantially strengthens the spare parts delivery procedure by improving reliability and cutting dispatch times. With the new Services Logistic Hub, 95% of customer’s requests for spare parts will be fulfilled within five days. For Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) Service the dispatch time is reduced to a maximum of four hours. Delivery reliability has increased since the start of operations. The new set up will also mean a reduction in recurring operational costs of around €500,000 a year compared with traditional processes. Philippe Galland, Head of Services, says: “Putting in place this Services Logistics Hub will reduce our deliv...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  OCTOBER 11, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India will receive its first 10 C-17s by next year. Six more are expected to be ordered. (Photo: Indian Air Force) October 11, 2013, 12:25 PM The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) has expressed concern that major aviation-related defense procurements will be delayed following the sudden death of Arun Kumar Bal, Ministry of Defense chief negotiator for air acquisitions. “It will take around three months for his replacement. This is a setback for anything the  IAF  is acquiring,” Air Chief Marshal  NAK  Browne told  AIN . One such acquisition is the approximately $20 billion contract for 126 Rafale fighters the service ordered from Dassault Aviation to fill its need for a  medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ) . A contract signing had been expected by the end of this year, but this “will also be delayed,” said Browne. Furthermore, the j...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  JANUARY 11, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India will become the fifth country to operate A330 multi-role tanker transports (MRTTs), following Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK. (Photo: Airbus Military) January 11, 2013, 10:25 AM The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) has selected the A330 multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ) for its tanker procurement in preference to the Ilyushin Il- 78MK , after a second round of bidding. Commercial negotiations for six aircraft with an option for three more will start soon, and a contract that includes a 30-percent offset commitment is expected to be signed by June. Airbus Military  CEO  Domingo Urena-Raso said, “This has been a long and tough competition, and we are honored to have been selected.” The depot maintenance and life support costs of the A330 were a factor in the Airbus win, since the base price of the Il-78 was lower. Having suffered in t...