• India to contribute 25% to fifth generation fighter aircraft
January 06, 2010
Reports noted that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the biggest Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has negotiated for a 25 per cent work share in the design and development of Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) with the Sukhoi Corporation of Russia. HAL’s work will include ‘critical software, including the mission computer, navigation system, most of the cockpit displays, the counter measure dispensing (CMD) system, and modification the aircraft to enable it to a twin-seater plane. In 2007, India and Russia had signed an Intergovernmental Agreement for the joint development and joint production of the aircraft. The FGPA, known as PAK FA in Russia, is expected to cost around $8-10 billion and both sides are expected to induct around 250 planes each.
• MoD cancels 6,000 cr mid-air refueling contract
January 07, 2010
Reports noted that Indian MoD has cancelled the 6,000 crore contract to purchase six mid-air refuelling aircraft. The cancellation comes after the Finance Ministry’s objection over the competitiveness of the bid, in which the European consortium, EADS was selected over its Russian rival. Indian Air Force, after over a two year long evaluation process, “had recommended the government to buy the Airbus A330 multirole transport tanker aircraft as it believed that the European aircraft was technologically more capable than the Russian IL-78 aircraft in the fray.”
• India issues letter of request to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Aircraft
January 07, 2010
In what could be the biggest defence deal so far between New Delhi and Washington, Indian MoD has sent letter of request to the US government, enquiring about the possibility of acquiring 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircrafts. Vivek Lall, India country head of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems said his company “is very pleased that the Indian government has expressed interest in acquiring the C-17 to modernize its airlift capabilities, and we look forward to working closely with them.” Although financial details are yet to be known, each aircraft, as per the US Air Force, costs US $202.3 million. If the deal fructifies, India will buy the aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, under which it is expected to pay the price which the US pays to Boeing, plus some service charges. According to Boeing, the C-17 has a “payload of 1,60,00 pounds, can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less”.
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