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India : Opinion: Gripen hard to beat in Indian MMRCA contest

Author: idrw team | 5 August 2008 | Views: 810

BY : JANES

While there is no shortage of fighter aircraft procurement programmes currently under way, the most eagerly anticipated contest is undoubtedly India's medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) requirement for at least 126 aircraft.

The six contenders have now submitted their proposals: Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault's Rafale, Eurofighter's Typhoon, Lockheed Martin's F-16, Russian Aircraft Corporation's (RAC's) MiG with the MiG-35 and the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Arguably each aircraft stands a fighting chance of securing the lucrative USD10 billion contract.

India continues to have a close relationship with Dassault, which supplied the Indian Air Force (IAF) with Mirage 2000 fighters in the 1980s. However, given the IAF's emphasis on future upgrades for its MMRCA aircraft, the lack of operators of the Rafale is likely to be seen as a significant issue.

The Rafale and the Typhoon could also struggle with the issue of cost. Both are relatively large twin-engined platforms, which will significantly increase operating costs compared with the single-engined MiG-21 fleet it will replace.

The MiG-35 is seen by many as a strong contender. India has a very close relationship with Russia, which has provided the majority of its equipment over the past 30 years. However, over the past year India's relationship with Russia with regards to arms contracts has soured.

The two US contenders seem well placed in terms of price and capability as India seeks to establish closer military bonds with Washington. However the F-16 is hindered by the fact that Pakistan already operates the type. Furthermore the aircraft is already being phased out by the US Air Force.

The Boeing Super Hornet does not suffer from these issues. However, one unresolved issue with regards to both US platforms is the authorisation of technology transfer.

Saab holds a strong hand with the Gripen. The aircraft is single engined, which will keep operating costs low, upgrades are already being defined under the Gripen Demonstrator programme and acquisition costs are highly competitive.

(Votes #: 1)

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Comments (1)

#1 Author: XYZ (7 August 2008 09:38)

| Registered: -- | ICQ: --

Recent News Articles on the India Fighter bids have stated that some of the manufacturers are relying on the fact that the Indian Govt would increase the budget from the prescribed $ 10 billion to accomodate their aircraft if chosen by the IAF be it the Typhoon or the Rafale or the number of aircraft to be bought( inc offshelf purchase and localised production) would be cut significantly from the already known figure of 126.Such a shortfall therefore could be compensated later when LCA's would start rolling out in large numbers.It is true that Gripen is a serious threat to both the F-16 and the F-35's chances of winning contracts.Even if India goes for a foreign engine for the LCA ( GE 414 or EJ 200 in case of direct import and ToT) or codevlops it with the French Snecma it would be hard to say which aircraft would be favoured. Tech Transfers would be a serious setback with the Americans and therefore the other choices left with India are the EF Typhoon and the GripenNG. Even with the French entering the fray for LCA power plant Rafale may not be preferred as it has not won a single export order as yet. But if Dassault-Thales-Snecma propose thesame engine ( 2 in this case) for the Rafale who knows even the Rafale could win.Keeping in mind cost considerations this MMRCA contract could be a straight fight between the F-16IN and the Next Gen. Gripen IN. As far as the US Airforce is concerned though they have stopped inducting the F-16 Blocks into their inventory but it would take another 20-25 years for them to replace their entire Falcon(Viper) Fleet as hundreds of their F-16's are only 10-15 years old.The US Airforce, Navy, Marines would require as many as 2458 F-35's in different versions of which the Airforce wants as many as 1763 JSF( F-35's) to replace the entire F-16 line up with some F-15 eagles in the next 40 years.

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