Saab roped in to assist Tejas MK1 A

Saab roped in to assist Tejas MK1 A

Swedish defense firm Saab requested to assist in the LCA program, to resolve the problems in the Tejas and to produce upgraded variant of Tejas called MK 1 A. IAF already orderd 20 Tejas from HAL, which has no real fighting capability nor any guided launching capability. IAF looks for a upgraded Tejas which can capable to perform BVR missile firing along with internal EW suites to fight in modern battlefield.

The IAF has an requirement of more than 300 light aircraft similar like Tejas, However due to the issues in Tejas, IAF ordered 40 units, later decreased into 20 units due to its incapability to fight in modern battlefield. Since the first batch of twenty aircraft's don't have any real fighting capability,  rather than just being used for training purpose.

Tejas don't have BVR firing capability, no proper electronic warfare suites, no air fueling capability and very low combat radius. Due to this backlogs IAF is not ready to use the Tejas, since concerns raised by IAF, ADA and DRDO offered a modified Tejas under MK 1 A program, since Mark 2 program is long way ahead.

Under the MK 1A, Tejas comes with much sophisticated suites like, BVR missile firing capability, Modern Israeli AESA, advanced internal EW suits and much needed aerial refueling capability. IAF and Ministry of Defense set timeline of 2018 to produce those aircraft, and IAF plans to order some 100 MK1 A units.

HAL and DRDO tried to work with the imported missiles, radars and interface systems to modify the Tejas. However they failed to achieve it in scheduled time, and they faced huge cap in technology, So they looking for a foreign partner to help to overcome from the issue.

Saab is the one who is a world leader in aerospace and defense, who tries to push the Gripen to IAF many times, since IAF and ADA fears bringing Gripen can end the Indian development of Tejas. and IAF also rejected Gripen many times.

Now again ADA and DRDO looks into Saab to assist in the Tejas development. by this means Saab will try to modify the entire Tejas air frame to accommodate modern systems and sensors. and help the Israeli missiles and radars to interface with the Tejas computers made by India.

Sources close to Economic times said that, First level of talks with ADA/HAL and Saab has been completed, and another high level expertise committee from Sweden will arrive India next week to carry forward the discussion.

Ministry plans to reissue the MANPAD Tender

Ministry plans to reissue the MANPAD Tender

   The Defense ministry plans to re issues a tender to procure man portable air defense systems for the Indian Army. As first the RFI issued in early 2010. Following with weapon system trails in Indian conditions which include high altitude winters and hot weather trails in Mahajan Range. Indian Army almost short listed the Russian Igla S system and forced to perform some tough trials include live air interception. The Results are varied since it failed to hit the target Multiple times.

    It's back in 2012, Indian Army invited the Russian Igla S demonstration team to perform live interception. The firing trails started in Mahajan range, The Igla S failed to perform to meet Army criteria. The Igla S Scored only one shot out of four firings. Then Army plans to start the sea trails. where two shots fired only one hits the target. Army told the Russians to repeat the trails giving a chance to Russians to perform better in next time.

    During the next trials, Igla S Managed to hit all targets, four targets set for interceptions, and all of them destroyed, However Army find issues in the sights in cold trails, And the Army evaluation team suggested the Russians to modify the Sight lens, Receiver metrics and it's software's. Army gives another chance to Russians to prove the capability of Igla S later 2013.

    During 2012, USA offered it's Stinger missiles to Indian MANPAD tender. This forced the Indians to re evaluate the entire contract. India asked the US firm to provide know how technology and asks co producing those units in India. US denied the Indian offer and that's the closure of 2010 RFI.

Stinger MANPAD

    After pressures from the armed forces, Ministry once again floated the MANPAD tender, This time too the same companies who participated earlier comes again. The new tender added one more condition that's the Transfer of Technology and most of the Firing units could be produced in Indian private companies only.

    The trails once again conducted in the same place and results also same, However Army didn't published the actual test results. However the companies who offered the MANPAD systems find difficulty's in the tender. The contenders like Russian Rosboronexport who offered the Igla S, France MBDA who offered the Mistral and the Sweden SAAB who offered RBS 70 NG found there is a lack of transparency in the procurement process. As clearly Indian government wants the technology of the MANPAD's. While the foreigners are not ready to share with Indian Companies.

    The above Reason makes the Second RFI also withdrawn, due to the above known issues. Earlier the French MBDA teamed up with Larson and Tubro, and the SAAB joined with state owned PSU Bharath  Electronics. They were ready to produce those systems in Indian companies while they didn't provide critical technologies like seekers and firing guidance systems.

    This time government stricken the procurement plans under Indian vendors only, Which means 100% of Make in India. This also pave the way to compete new private defense companies like Punj Lloyd and Bharath Forge. Under this new RFI the Armed forces buy entire missiles systems from an Indian company.

    Foreign companies who makes the MANPAD's teamed up with Indian vendors may compete in the RFI. The government short list the low price vendor as L1 bidder, and start negotiate for procurement. Indian government ink contract with only Indian companies who also have stakes in foreign companies who offered the MANPAD's. As simply MBDA and L&T jointly proposes the Mistral missile and Army impressed with the performance and price tag. The contract goes to L&T and L&T makes those Missiles in Indian plants.

Mistral MANPAD

   Indian Army currently using decade old early model of Russian Igla MANPAD systems. Those systems are running behind the schedule. Army wants a man-portable system weighing less than 25 kilograms with fire-and-forget capability. Other Army requirements include a capability of engaging aerial targets day or night with an effective range of 6 kilometers.

   As per the RFI of MANPADs in 2010, Of the 5,175 missiles and associated equipment sought under the 2010 tender, 2,315 missiles were to be delivered fully assembled and 1,260 partially assembled, with 1,000 missiles to be assembled entirely in India and 600 to be made at Indian facilities.  Associated equipment includes launchers, sensors, thermal imaging sights, and command-and-control units.

India Sweden Renew Ties

 India Sweden Renew Ties  ! On the path to co-develop highly capable fighter jets. 

   

   In the process of delivering its promise of a resurgent India the NDA government has taken a stand to boost its bilateral ties with countries which will be a boost to its economy and infrastructure. Several high level visits have been made by Indian delegates to boost the ties and develop the country mainly through co-developing advanced technologies. The latest in the list to have shown interest is Sweden, over the course of a month the country has exchanged warm ties. 

    The honorable President of Republic of India Pranab Mukharjee visited Sweden last week signaling India’s newer approach to the country. The diplomatic ties between the countries were in troubled waters when Sweden raised its objection to extraditing Sweden nationals in the Puralia drop case. 

The President during his visit signed several MOU which will boost the ties between the counties in the field of education, bilateral trade, economics, infrastructure and defense. Sweden extending its support to India by sending its Defense minister Peter Hultqvist who has concluded several important deals after meeting his counterpart Manohar Parrikar. 

   The military ties between the countries dates back to the era when India acquired the Bofor guns. The deal even though then proved to be a major boost to the army returned to haunt the armed forces with several scandals emerging.

Sweden and Indian companies have been in agreement to supply India with state-of-the art sensor suites. Sweden’s SAAB has been a forerunner in the lucrative Indian defense market. SAAB had fielded its Gripen NG for the ambitious MMRCA deal but lost out in the initial phase of testing. SAAB has also participated in the MANPAD tender for which a winner is yet to be announced by the Ministry of Defence, India.

    The visiting Defense Minister of Sweden has confirmed that India was offered the Gripen as a replacement for the aging MiG-21 fleet. The home grown Tejas project has evolved overtime and will soon be materialized. The Tejas team is in a race to acquire FOC certificates and once done the jet may soon operate from FOB’s of IAF. 

  

  But with the active fighter squadron dipping at an alarming rate the operational capability of IAF has suffered greatly. Realizing this NDA government went for a G-G deal with the Dassault to supply 36 Rafale to India. Sweden is wishing the same agreement can be reflected in regard to their SAAB developed Gripen NG.

India is strongly stressing for strengthening the prospective India defense industry, ‘Make in India’ has been key feature for setting up a dynamic platform for the interested foreign firms. The government has also cleared the FDI for defense to be increased from 26% to 49% and has also made the procurement process more flexible. 

    Aerospace development has been a field Indian firms have failed to master, SAAB has shown interest to work with India to jointly develop a more lethal LCA platform. If conceived the nations can be working at making the under development Tejas MKII more lethal. IAF has for long been pitching for a more capable Tejas variant, even though the Tejas MK-I is one of the most advanced jets in India lacks in several key fields. IAF has really not been impressed by the performance but still believes is the best platform given its budgetary issues.

    With the Indian firms failing to master the technological hurdles faced in the designing of fighter jets any assistance is a welcome move. America has already entered into an agreement with India to help it improve an advanced jet. America will also be assisting India in developing the hot engines.

   

  

    The home grown Kaveri program failed to provide a reliable engine to the LCA program. The LCA program is now powered by the GE supplied F-404 engines. Several key technologies for the Tejas MK-II are to be finalized, America has already shown its interest in helping India develop the GE F-414. SAAB may also help India overcome these hurdles by providing advanced technologies which will enable India develop a more lethal aircraft.

     Notably the visiting Defense Minister also toured HAL’s primer facility in Bangalore. HAL, Bangalore is the hot bed for any developmental activities in the Tejas and other jet programs. During the visit the minister was given a glimpse of the home grown attack helicopters, 

    ALH Rudra and LCH, the defense system of these helicopters are designed by SAAB. With the minister touring the homeland of Tejas a deal for co-development is most likely but with SAAB strongly suffering in attracting foreign costumers for the Gripen it has to be seen how the program will evolve in the future. 


Editor - Karthik Kakoor

SAAB pushes Gripen for IAF Light Aircraft Platform

SAAB pushes Gripen for IAF Light Aircraft Platform

Shortage of fighter aircraft has been one of the long standing problems for IAF. The active fighter squadron have hit a record low, IAF is now just operating 34 squadrons against the sanctioned 44 squadrons which is considered the minimum operational strength. More and more squadrons will be retiring in the coming years, IAF plans to retire the aging MiG-21 and MiG-21 Bisons by 2017. IAF for long has been looking out for capable platforms to replace the aging MiG-21’s.

India came up with the ambitious LCA project under which India would operate home grown light attack fighter jet. To fill in the gap between the light fighters and the multi-role heavier air superiority jets, India drew up the MMRCA deal. These deals failed to bring any respite to IAF, the LCA project is lagging behind years but may soon be operated under IAF banner, on the other hand the MMRCA deal never finalized and is believed to be dead now.

   But the IAF did receive a good news with the Modi led NDA government going for a G-G deal with France to supply 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets off the shelve to India. This has come as a respite to the IAF which has been raising alarms owing to the dipping jet numbers.

The threat levels reached new heights with various think tanks raising concerns and reporting that the IAF had lost its superiority to the PAF which now operates some of the most advanced jets.  The new NDA government has been stressing on improving the nation’s security through fastened procurement and modernizing the forces.

     The replacement program for the MiG-21’s is running behind years, the IAF is now looking at other options. India recently signed an agreement with the American’s to co-develop hot engines based on the GE engines which are powering the Tejas. This will be an major boost to the program. With the Defence industry being opened up under the FDI scheme various leading foreign companies has come forward to offer India they’re priced products. The newest in the line is the Sweden based Saab which is approaching India with their Gripen NG to replace the MiG’s. 

    The Saab had fielded the same Gripen for the MMRCA tender. After a detailed technical and operational review India had selected Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon, among which the Rafale won the tender. The visiting Swedish Defence minister Peter Hultqvist will be offering India with an deal to procure these advanced jets. DRDO has sought the help of Saab in developing Tejas MK-II, a deal for co-development of a new fighter platform may also be option the government will opt for.   

     A single Gripen in fly away condition will be around $70 million as against the more costlier Dassault Rafale which costs somewhere around $108 million. But the Gripen had failed early in the tests IAF had conducted during the MMRCA deal, but faced with a depleting force IAF may still the Gripen as stop-gap measure until the more advanced Tejas MK-II will be rolled out by HAL.  

      IAF currently operates jets based mainly on Russian technologies, the Su-30 is the foremost aircraft of the IAF. IAF also operates MiG 29, MiG 27 and MiG 21 which will soon be retired. India also operates the advanced Dassault Mirage-2000 and the Britain manufactures Jaguar. India is now stressing on multi-role aircraft rather than operating various single mission oriented aircraft, this will help IAF save the operational costs. 

    The MMRCA deal set the tone for India’s western platform procurement as India set aside the Russian fielded MiG-35 in the very first rounds of testing. The operational costs run up to cores and with India facing a strong cut down in its defence expenditure it is extremely demanding of the IAF to operate single mission oriented aircraft. The Mirage 2000TI is one of the first multi-role aircraft to be operated by the IAF. The Mirage service availability is well above 80%.  With the LCA project running years behind schedule an replacement deal for the IAF is the need of the hour. 

   IAF  has constant issues with the operational capabilities of the aircraft but HAL has promised of refine the product. HAL has already started the designing of the Tejas MK-II which will be developed around the GE F-414 engine. The aircraft will be more capable and the powerful engine will be clubbed with advanced Avionics and stealth capability which will effectively classify the jet as a 4.5 generation jet. 

    The Tejas MK-I plans has also been delayed for almost a decade. But developing a fighter jet is something that can’t be mastered in a year or two. The F-22 Raptor project of the USAG evolved after almost 3 decades of dedicated R&D phases. Even though being developed in India, Tejas has been possible only because of foreign nation products. The main component of the project was acquiring a suitable engine which could be powerful at the same time highly efficient.

      The program had stalled with the DRDO developed Kaveri engines failing to prove their capability. DRDO and HAL then started looking out to foreign nations which were open to provide India with a engine that could perform well in the Indian conditions. Finally India selected GE developed F-404 for powering the jets. Several key avionics and the weapons package were procured from other nations. The procurement process ran into troubled waters with several delays. 

India a closes ally of Russia, who forces India to buy anything they designed, it's started since from the independence, Russia is not good for developing Multi role fighters,  they use huge models of Aircrafts for Missions, for Air combat they use Flankers, Fulcrums and Foxbat's , for Maritime attack they use Fencer, Blinder, for Ground Strike they use Badger and Frogfoot, for long range bombing they use the newest Fullbacks. But interesting IAF also went for the same for Air combat Fulcrum and Flankers, ground strike Badger, for deep strike Jaguar, something like other missions too. 

    IAF learned a lesson of Fighting with Pakistan need not only a good Air superiority fighter also need some good ground attack platform can also switches it's mission into Air combat roles too. in Kargil the IAF fighters all sitting in ducks due to no intrudes from PAF. but large number of Paki troops intruded, forced the IAF to carryout Ground strike role,  the MiG 27 and 23 is just a bomber they can't carry guided munitions, just amount unguided munitions, which makes no sense but billing the IAF in huge amount. 

But Multi role platform Mirage 2000 and Deep Striker Jaguar comes to the rescue and told the IAF to re think their strategy,

   Most of the western air forces operates one or two kind of Fighters for Better use, mostly a Multi role plus a Ground attack or Light Aircraft for recon mission. Just like the French using thier Mirages and Rafale for missions, both are good platforms and good multi roles.

   If Airforce have multiple variants they need multiple contracts, equipments, service engineers, Trainings, Spare parts, Missiles, ground supports, data links more and more, which makes huge money and problems in the inventory. also makes Half of the fleet siting in the Hangers and waiting for spares and maintenance  experts, 

    That's why IAF should look for reduced variants of  fighters, They can go for Su 30 as Air superiority, Rafale and Mirage for Multirole and Tejas series for Light combat missions, accelerate Future projects like AMCA and FGFA, Which makes IAF strict with five to six platforms with complete support within India, 

  The Su 30, FGFA, AMCA and Tejas is developed in India, we can make huge stockpiles of spare parts and Missiles for those Aircrafts, since all those made in India we have no problem in Technical expertise, where HAL easily can handle the issues very easily since HAL is the manufacturer. But again inducting fighters like F 18, F 35, Gripen, Rafale, MiG 35, Su 35, makes huge problems and service availability, also costs the IAF too much. So IAF sticks with Su 30, Rafale and Tejas variants, no need of More foreign aircraft.

Editor Karthik Kakoor 

Army VSHORAD Tender

Army VSHORAD Tender 

French UN peacekeepers with Mistral

     After years of evaluation the Army is all set to award the tender for VSHORAD systems valued at around $ 1 billion. VSHORAD( Very Short Range Air Defence ) system is basically an air defence system with a canister launchable missile system that is mounted on a stable platform. VSHORAD contains of a long range twin tubes equipped with ECCM suites. The VSHORAD is a Long awaited tender for which the army has completed an extensive battery of field trails and a final report drafted.

    The tests included putting the system to use under extreme climatic conditions, Coastal environmental Trails, High altitude Trails each of these trails proving the capabalities of the system.

    After extensive initial trails only three contenders of the five contenders remain in the race to supply the system Indian Army. Chiron and Starstrak were knocked out afer the initial evaluation.French Mistral, Swedish SAAB RBS 70NG and the Russian new generation Igla-S continue to be in extensive trials before the final contract is awarded. The VSHORADS requirements will be largely met by a local manufacturing line, and a mandatory offsets requirement will apply.

      The deal comprises supplying of a total of one thousand launchers along with six thousands missiles and support systems and training systems, also here the Mistral and Igla S uses the IR based homing for target lock while only the SAAB RBS 70 uses the Laser based homing for target lock, while compared to IR homing the Laser homing have disadvantages like Most of the Fighter jets have RWR (Radar warning Receivers ) and MAWS sensors which can easily alert the pilot if the aircraft has been lased by
any laser lights and can alert the pilot to put in use the counter measures. VSHORAD have a very short range which is about 10 or less kilometers.  Battlefield is a chaos filled area and the ability of laser guidance missile to find or lock on to targets is greatly compromised under various circumstances. Saab’s RBS-70 NG is a beam ridden system with a Hard 3D short range radar attached to it alongside a C2 system and battery commander terminal. It fires within an 8km range at an altitude of 5km, which very well exceeds the Indian requirements.
    




    Back in the end of 2013, the US offered it's stinger missiles under Foreign Military sales, but which but failed to pass the stringent standards set by the Indian Army Evaluation team.

Igla-S

Twin tube Igla-S VSHORAD

As of now the Indian Army uses the Igla-S the Russian MANPAD which is a battle proven system under the Indian condition earlier our MANPAD crew shot downed two Pakistani helicopters using the Igla-S. Igla is a cheap, easy to maintain and use system. It's a highly portable, very effective system compared to other contenders. During the trails in summer 2012 Igla failed to hit the targets where it shot down only one out of four targets, during the sea trails the system failed produce any impressive results, in the high altitude tests the Igla's failed to intercept any target.

 The Igla S can engage targets at the Altitude upto 20000 feet, where as it's operation range remains classified.

MBDA Mistral

Twin Tube Mistral Launcher

       Mistral is the latest generation Fire and Forget missile, It's a man portable, fully digital heat seeking missile. The Mistral has a 97% of kill probability compared to other systems in the range of low level air defence. The missile is having high kill probability as well as can maneuver upto 30 G ,  which can hit highly maneuverable Combat Jets and Helicopters. The system can be used in all rough weather conditions and be put to use under any condition. MBDA can also be deployed under stand alone mode.

SAAB RBS 70 NG

SAAB RBS 70 NG, surveillance radar in the foreground

        The SAAB offered the RBS 70 next generation variant which is claimed to be unjammable. It uses the Laser beam for Target acquire and Lock function. During the SAAB evaluation in Sweden which exhibited to seventeen country's defence officials the system scored a hundred percent kill probability. Unlike the IR guided missiles which are easily jammable, the RBS 70 uses the Laser beam riding which can't be jammed in open area's. The RBS 70 NG range is classified but according reliable sources the missile can engage a target up to 8 kilometers away flying at an altitude of 16000 feet . Unlike other systems the RBS 70 needs a surveillance radar where three to five stations can operate under one Radar.

      The RBS 70 NG can be used in any tough conditions, the system will work under stand alone mode too according to SAAB reports.


Editor Kathik Kakoor