Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 12, 2018, 2:58 PM The AMCA stealthy fifth-generation fighter project aims to provide a replacement for India's Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighters, one of which is seen here with an Australian F/A-18 Hornet. (photo: Royal Australian Air Force) With the number of the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadrons expected to decrease quickly from the present 31 as the current fleet ages, there has been a decisive endeavor to accelerate the recapitalization of the fighter fleet. The majority of the new fighters are to bear the “Make in India” label. By 2032, the Indian Air Force plans to have at least 18 squadrons of Indian-made fighters, said the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal R. Nambiar, at a conference held in Delhi this month. Nambiar said that the squadrons of the indigenously built fleet would include the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1, Mk1A, and Mk2 that, in 10 years, “would be the mainstay of our inventory.” LCA variants would r...

by  Neelam Mathews  - July 31, 2018, 11:52 AM As India’s general elections draw closer this year, the  deal signed in 2016  for 36 Dassault Rafales is getting attention in parliament as opposition political parties brawl over the contract they label as a “scam and graft,” while promising to make it an election issue against the present Narendra Modi government. Charges leveled against the government-to-government deal include lack of transparency on details and a cost that is claimed to be much higher than that negotiated in early 2012. That year, the Rafale emerged as the winner for the Indian Air Force’s 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft program. Negotiations by congress were not taken further due to unresolved issues on the transfer of technology and offsets between Dassault and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The flyaway costs of the aircraft being supplied by Dassault Aviation now are less than those negotiated six years ago but, “the Mete...

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...

Sorry-posting it a bit late! AEROSPACE Mag -UK Rafale deal sealed at last 21 October 2016 In the wake of India's deal to acquire 36 Dassault Rafale fighters,  NEELAM MATHEWS  analyses this key defence procurement. A new dawn for Indian air power? (Dassault Aviation)  Four years after Dassault Aviation’s Rafale was chosen for India’s 126 Medium Multi Role Aircraft, India and France have signed a watered down deal for 36 aircraft valued at €7.87bn. It includes 28 single seaters at €91.7m each and eight twin seaters at €94m each. India has become the third international customer to buy Rafale after Qatar and Egypt. India will receive the first Rafale fighter within 36 months of signing the agreement while the remaining jets will be delivered in the following 30 months. “We have requested them to (deliver it) as fast as possible,” said defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Analysts view this in the backdrop of increased cross border tensions following n...

ROTORHUB HAL stacks up helicopter orders 12th September 2016 - 10:20 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  The recent  technical flight of the Bangalore-built Light Utility Helicopter  (LUH) on 6 September could result in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) winning an order for nearly 200 additional units from the military. This is in addition to a current order for 187 LUHs. An Indian Army official told  Shephard , ‘We expect this project to move fast as ... Read more... ShephardMedia

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...

by   Neelam Mathews  -Pix Credit-Snecma February 16, 2015, 3:18 PM France’s Snemca and India’s Max Aerospace have finalized an agreement to form an aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul operation called Maxaero Aircraft Engines Pvt Ltd ( MAEPL ). The partners claim that the operation, which is set to start operations during the second quarter of 2015, will be India’s first privately owned engine   MRO   joint venture. Initially,   MAEPL   will provide line support for the Snecma M53 engines that power Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters operated by India’s air force. The service has indicated that it plans to outsource more maintenance work. The new company will also start supporting   CFM 56 airliner engines, made by Snecma’s   CFM   International partnership with   GE   Aviation. According to   MAEPL   chairman Bharat Malkani, there are currently approximately 400 CFM 56 engines in ser...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Indian companies may manufacture parts for the ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian under a recent agreement between India and Japan. (Photo: Chris Pocock) September 11, 2014, 11:33 AM With a clear mandate from the 100-day-old government to make aerospace manufacturing a focus area for domestic and export markets, there is renewed interest by manufacturers to be in the forefront. This was clear at a recent conference the Center for Air Power Studies and the Confederation of Indian Industry held in New Delhi. India is taking stock of aerospace manufacturing opportunities that are expected to arise in offsets from the $72 billion worth of contracts signed or about to be signed for work running through 2021. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics’ ( HAL ) current commitments will keep it busy for the next decade, and private-sector involvement in the manufacturing arena is imm...