Update The Rafale Deal

Update The Rafale Deal

       

     New update on the Rafale deal, just after signing the Qatar Rafale deal the French defense minister Juan comes to Delhi and met his counterpart Manohar, both discussed about the possibility of Rafale deals, since most countries waiting to announce their decision due to the Indian MMRCA program, It's the Egypt who first announced the Rafale deal and within a days they signed the deal,

       Rafale manufacture Dassault also promised to deliver first two Rafales to Egypt this year, and the contract value available on the public domain, the deal valued $6 billions, but which include a $1.5 billions for Supplying a French built Fremm Frigate, by checking the Rafale Value Egypt gets the Rafale F 3 verison that's 4th Tranche of Rafale with AESA Radars. nothing but The Egypt deal is good, since they receive 24 Rafale's along with some Hundred MICA IR and EM missiles and ground support elements, and additional M88 Engines.

         After the Egypt deal India announced to scrap the existing MMRCA tender and goes for G-G deal for procure 36 Rafale, while initial reports mentioned the deal valued  $4.2 billions, seems it's also a Good deal, but no one knows the additional set of  supply, missiles and support, also PM promised in Paris that Government soon make the contract with Paris to supply Rafale fighters.

          Since no clear vision about the Rafale's actual value, last week Qatar announced and make an agreement with France to supply 24 Rafale F 3 fighters at the cost of some $7 billions, seems much high compared to other aircrafts, Qatar is the second foreign customer who buys the Rafale, also some insider report mentions the Deal include launching Qatari satellites from French Rockets, but no sources to confirm either deny it.

      In fighter Jet purchase, one should not buy just the Fighters, he also buys additional equipments,  that comes from missiles to spare engines, A Single Rafale Package includes A Fly away condition fighter with full F3 Standard, one spare Engine, upto 10 MICA IR and EM missile 5 METOR Missile, HUD, and support elements, while the country make an order of other Ground strike munitions like SCLAP EG, PGM later in huge numbers. a single MICA missile costs $2.5 millions, meteor also costs more than $2 millions, a single M 88 Spare engine costs approx $5 millions, and another millions of ground supports HUD's and maintenance. according to wiki single Flyaway F3 costs nearly $140 millions.

      So if we add all these above elements in a single F3 the cost tweaked over $180 millions, which means one F3 needs $180 millions to make sorties, so if we calculate Indian order with some factor of $180 million for a single package the total number 36 could reach $6.4 billions also with two or four simulators and some additional RBE 2 AESA, the deal value comes $7 billions.  where Economic times reported the deal valued nearly $8 billions, if their reports are correct India may add more number of Ground strike Munitions.

       Also it's the Economic times quoted that Juan offers 25% discount on Indian Rafale deal which can't be believable, since it's a huge amount could reach closely $2 billions,

      As per many news report France in talks with Indian Private companies to partner with Dassault  to make Rafale in India, which can decrease costs and also we get all available support of Rafale fleet whether it's mechanical or software issues/components.

          During the Mirage up gradation deal India almost spend nearly $1.2 billions to acquire  450 MICA IR and EM missile which can be fitted in the Mirage Aircraft, since it can't fire any other Russian or Indian Missiles due to OEM and IP. as per recent reports only some 40 Mirage 2000 TI are operational, and can do sorties, which means 450 is quite good numbers to arm the Mirages.

          The Rafale's primary BVR missile is the Metor missile, and it uses MICA EM for WVR and Mica IR for heat seeking all aspect missile, also it can't adopt any other Air to air missiles, But it can support some other Ground strike munitions such as Israeli American and French munitions, but yet again the Rafale can't fire Russian Ground strike missiles, so the dream of firing Brahmos missile always a dream, until if a Indian Private firm joined and build Rafale's in India with full Transfer of Technology.

Update June 2015 

The New Reports suggest that  French Defense Minister said in the Paris Airshow after talking with the HAL officials, that both government working closer to sign the Agreement, and said I will be there in India by coming months to sign the Rafale contract,

Once signed IAF will receive the First Rafale Aircrafts by 2017 Only. 

Project 15 Bravo Vishakpatnam Destroyer

Project 15 Bravo Visakhapatnam Destroyer

The Hull of P 15 B INS Vishakapatinam Destroyer

        Apart from the US Navy the Japenese become the second Biggest Navy, but the Chinese Sub merged platforms can give upper edge to the JMSDF, but no one can give good credits to Chinese Sub merged platforms, so the Japanese remains second, to fight against Chinese and Dominate the Indian Ocean Indian Navy need more powerful Destroyers, after the Delhi class and Rajput Class, Government plans to build more advanced Network centric Stealth guided Destroyers, hence the P 15 A the Kolkatha class ships born, by this project Navy would receive one Destroyer in each two years, after some delays the Navy getting those destroyers  now,

       The Indian Navy already receive first of the Kolkatha Class last year and get inducted and the second Ship Kochi is Expected to inducted in the Navy this year, and the final of P15 A the Chennai would be inducted in the coming Year,

    After that Indian Navy has another series more advanced Destroyers compared to the P15 Alpha, The P15 Bravo named Visakhapatnam class and it would be commissioned today, and can finish all trails and be deployed by 2018.

     In P15 B there were four ships planned each would be inducted into the navy with two years cap, Starts 2018 and end by 2024, compared to three ships in P 15.

    The P 15B Displacement mentioned at 7,300 tons lesser than 200 tons by P 15A, due to the more composite materials sleek design and Less Helicopter Facility, P15 A planned to carry two Helicopters but the P15 B will carry a Single SH 70 ASW, search and Rescue Multi role Helicopter.

  The Ships again to carry the More powerful Aegis alternate the Israeli MF STAR Fire Control Radar, which can guide the Ships Offensive and Defensive weapons and gives Target information's, the same MF STAR also the Main FCR in the P 15 A.

     The P 15 B comes with 32 VLS launch of Barak 8 and 16 VLS Launcher of Brahmos, as per Reports, but we can expect more numbers, that means additional 32 VLS Barak and 16 VLS Brahmos or the Nirbhay, and more Number for Maitri QR SAM expected to be 32 systems. also it have to be fitted with four AK 630 or SAM cum CIWS like Phalnx system, the information's not yet released.

   Also the Ship's main gun not yet to be Choose but the Finmccanica OTO Bereda  Naval Gun with Guided Shells may be win the deal, also no information about the RBU 6000 ASW launchers, some roumers also says the Ship can accommodate some Israeli Spike NLOS system for intercepting fast Attack Crafts and Speed Boats, a New method where most western countries are fitting the systems in their Ships.

  The Ship's Torpedo Launching capability is also unknown, but It's sure two or four Torpedo Launching Tubes would be Placed in the Ships, the same P15 A , Delhi class all equipped to launch four 533mm Torpedo's from the Deck.

    The Ships SONAR systems also not described which or what system would be selected the Indigenous Bow Mounted or Navy can import a foreign Bow Mounted SONAR. and no information about the crucial Towed Array SONAR, most of the Indian warships lacks this technology, even the P15 A yet to be receive the Towed Array SONAR. but as per SP's Article the TAS in P15 B comes without any delays, even they don't have the credible sources to prove it,

   The Entire Ship built with advanced Network Centric capabilities to fight in the Modern Battle field and can be work with more modern powerful Aircraft carriers, Nuclear Attack submarines and long range ASW planes like the P 8I.

    The sources also mentioned that the ship can sustain any kind of Nuclear Biological and Chemical Attacks, even most of the Ships designed to survive such attacks, but noting to say about this, but can these ships can survive when a Large scale EMP attack hit the Ships. Questions Remains.

      Also some sources said that Navy gets Help from Thales and IAI about the CMS (Combat Management Systems) Network centric Attack and co ordination also setting up the Radars to work even affected by the EMP.

  With long Questions yet to be answered which will be out in the Media's in coming Days. 

 

A Artistic Representation of Advanced Destroyer

A Delhi Class Destroyer

Rajput class Destroyer

INS Kolkatha a Kolkatha Class Destroyer

The Indian Air Force Mirage 2000

The Indian Air Force Mirage 2000

The First Flight of IAF  Mirage 2000-5 MK II during Nov 2013

       The Indian Air force Purchased the Mirage 2000 during the 1980's the initial deal comprised of 49 (42+7) Fighters. By 2004 IAF purchased another 10 Mirage 2000 fighter which were fitted out with slightly better avionics and weapons point. The aircraft proved its combat effectiveness during the Kargil operation. With the Mirage turning out to be a huge success the IAF were inclined towards inducting more Mirage’s to the force. An RFP for Mirage was sent out during the MRCA deal but the Dassault opted out the Mirage and fielded the more advanced Rafale which was performing the basic demand of ground attack which was the requirement of the IAF.

           The Mirage has enjoyed an impressive record from its induction; also the avionics is extremely pilot friendly. In 2006 the IAF came up with an proposal to upgrade the entire Mirage 2000 fleet to the latest Mirage 2000-5 MK II. The deal ran into turbulent waters and by 2011 to a formal contract was signed which mandated that the entire Mirage fleet would be upgraded. As part of the up gradation program the IAF planned to arm the Mirage with IR and EM missiles and in this regard a deal was signed to procure about 300 MICA IR and EM missiles. A final contract valued over $3 billion was signed for the up gradation process. IAF planned to keep the upgraded Mirage 2000s combat ready for a span of another 20 years until the FGFA project could take wings.  As part of the program two mirages would be upgraded in Dassault France and another 51 Mirages would be upgraded in India by HAL. The Mirage upgrade after upgrades would have a better avionics and radar package than the SU 30.

            The Mirage 2000 is an aircraft on of its. Mirage 2000 is considered to be the best of the ground attack aircraft under the IAF. What exactly sets it apart is it’s the ‘high drag and low wing’ loading clubbed with high percentage of thrust. The Mirage has a Delta wing design which is very helpful in greater Maneuverability. This factor can be a deciding factor in a dog fight.

     During the COPE, an IAF Mirage shot down a USAF F 16 in a mock combat exercise. During the Kargil operations the IAF faced huge problems with the MANPADS, in order to avoid this threat the fighters were required to fly at a very high altitude and dive steeply to 10000 ft to drop the munitions. The Jaguars and MiG 27 faced serious issues, but Mirage 2000 was the only capable fighter that could carry out successful runs throughout the operation. During the Kargil operation IAF dropped only nine 250 Kg Guided PGM's. Eight of them were dropped by Mirage 2000, the other hit was tagged to the Jaguar.

Radar RDY 3

RDY 3 Characteristic Presentation

     The upgrade package included the newest and advanced generation Thales RDY 3 Radar Doppler Multi Target Radar. Its major functions include Air to Air, Air to Surface and Air to Sea seeking. The Air to Air mode is multi capability radar it’s also effective for multi target fire control. The Air to ground mode includes high resolution terrain mapping and avoidance capabilities and ground target indication. The radar is easily switchable between Air to Air and Air to Surface Mode. The radar has a very good ECCM Capability. In the radar technology the Thales is considered generations ahead when compared to the Russian BARS radar which is still developing a AESA radar where as Thales have already delivered RBE 2 AESA to Armee de'l Air.

RF Jamming and Detection

   The Upgrade includes improving the capability of Detecting and Jamming enemy radio frequencies. The system should be in a position to warn the Pilot and also jam the signal, most of the Fighters have this as a Podded feature but here all of these are included into the Air frame.



MFD and HUD

Comparison of Old and New cockpits

      The upgrade includes upgrading the entire cockpit layout with transformation of legacy mechanical display into latest Multifunctional Display with glass cockpit. The Thales Topwl F would be the newest HUD for the pilot. The upgrade involves bettering the weapons package which includes arming the aircraft initially with 300 MICA IR and EM missiles. The Israeli spice missiles have also been offered to Indian for the Mirage upgrade. This can be outfitted with smart twin Bomb rack which holds two 250KG LGB/PGM. The Mirage has only three strong points each in one wing and one in the under carriage. Further the aircraft has three wet point. The hardpoints can be used to attach drop tanks, but there have been several instances when PGM's have been attached and used for operations. 

Smart Bomb Rack config in Mirage 2000

Editor Karthik Kakoor