+++ AERO India 2011 Blog +++
EF: Total Operational Availability at Aero India
Monday 14.02.2011
Two flights per day, for five days, plus the rehearsal flights. All were performed using one of the two Typhoon aircraft at the show. The Eurofighter, as usual when deployed, showed the spectators at Aero India its exceptional reliability. Not like some of the other aircraft at the show, mission availability of the two Italian Air Force at Bengaloru was total: total effectiveness, total reliability, total affordability, total partnership, total air power, total superiority. The "classical" Eurofighter slogans worked well also at Aero India.
The exhibition was not just an air show but a showcase for a deal that could be bigger than the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft order already envisaged. Sources during the show said that it will rise to 260 units to cover the future needs the Indian Air Force.
Already known as the world’s biggest defence fighter deal for a long time now, that it transpires to be even bigger than that is significant. That means, what has been talked about as a $10-12 billion deal could eventually become close to $25 billion.
The IAF recently issued a so-called Long-Term Integrated Perspective Plan that puts the number of medium fighter jets the IAF needs at 260. Ministry of defence officials, however, refused to confirm that there was any plan beyond the current 126.
We will have to see what will happen but it could potentially keep alive assembly lines for the chosen fighters for another 30 years, ensuring that some 20,000 people would find employment in India, plus keeping some of the jobs already busy on the production lines in the home countries. The sources also said that the eventual number of frontline air superiority Sukhoi-30 MKI’s from Russia in the IAF's fleet would also go up to 280 for an asset
that - depending on the choice made with the MMRCA programme - could be very powerful indeed, ensuring a strong deterrence for India in the future.
Waiting for the future Indian version of the PAK FA, the Su-30MKI, Eurofighter, Teja Mk. II would be a strong fleet mix able to cope with the most demanding requirement of the IAF.
Day 3 - Politics and Planes
Friday 11.02.11
Aero India 2011 confirmed itself more and more as "fighter time". Day 3 started with a flow of comments about the news coming from P V Naik, Indian Air Force Chief of Staff who said on Thursday that the 10 billion euro contract for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal would be signed by September. But he also remarked: "If nothing went wrong then the decision for the commercial negotiation would be taken in a few weeks". Naik's concerns are based on delays recently experienced with high profile upgrading programmes for the IAF as the aerial tanker (selected but then cancelled); the VIP helicopter (selected but contract not signed yet) and the transport aircraft for the Border Guard (same fate as the tanker). The figher contract MUST be signed soon if India doesn't want a strong degradation of its capability in its perceived weak geostrategic position in Central Asia. With China upgrading its air forces and Pakistan strongly investing in quality more than in quantity, IAF feels itself in the needs to keep its deterrence at pace. Also yesterday the Italian Thyphoons at the show played their role with a super flying programme and with the German Defence Minister and the British Minister for Defence Equipment Peter Luff both advocating the cause of the Eurofighter with high level political talks. "But politics is not the winning factor", said Indian Defence Minister A K Antony - concerned that the political pressures could bring the target of the IAF (to have the best multirole aircraft) and of India (to have the best technology transfer package for its national industry), out of scope. Anyway, Luff met Antony and his deputy Pallam Raju as German MoD Karl- Theodor zu Guttenberg did with Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. Luff was very clear with his counterparts: "I am proud to be representing the UK in our four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon consortium. Typhoon is the world's most advanced swing-role combat aircraft. It is ideal for India's current and future defence needs providing best-in- class combat effectiveness, operational flexibility and through-life cost". Pointing out that Typhoon is the only MMRCA weapon system that provides the IAF with air supremacy through life (in-service life of at least 40 years), the British minister said the offer envisages that the Air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain (Typhoon's co-developers) share with India their knowledge of operations, training, development and strategic analysis. Guttenberg, accompanied by the Deputy Defence Ministers from the UK, Italy and Spain highlighted the plans to make India its new industrial partner for production and further development of the 'Typhoon' aircraft, thereby plugging India into the global supply chain made by the three most important European industries. For India, effectively, would be opening the doors to a potential range of activity that span from the micro-unmanned vehicles to the largest passenger aircraft in the World.
Day Two – Combat Aircraft Paradise
Thuersday 10.02.11
Opening day at Aero India 2011, a sort of combat aircraft "paradise". Five of the six fighter on the Indian Air Force MMRCA tender shown their capabilities in front of Indian dignitaries, led by Defence Minister A K Antony and foreign delegations, of which the most senior was the German one with Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. Guttenbergs presence at the show marked an important aspect of Aero India 2011: the political factor. With the German MoD are at the show also the Secretaries of State for Defence of Italy, Guido Crosetto and of Spain, Costantino Mendez and the British Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Peter Luff. Four nations, a single target: 126 Eurofighter for the Indian Air Force. The Eurofighter did its part at the show. Two impressive air displays to show its power, agility and short take off and landing run. Not like the French Rafale - forced to use the spare aircraft after the first one failed the pre-take off checks and that cut its display short probably for some issue also with the second aircraft - the EF at Aero India was without any problems, confirming the "traditional" reliability of the system when deployed also so far from the main base. The F-16 (at the show are two Block 60 from the UAE Air Force to show the latest standard and 2 F-16C block 50 from the USAF in static display); the F/A-18F of US Navy; the Saab Gripen and the above mentioned Rafale flown yesterday at the show in line with the impressive Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the LCA Teja Mk.I of Indian Air Force - the latter just experiencing Initial Operational Capability activity - to complete the fighter parade at the Aero India 2011. But not just an air show was the day one at Aero India. An aspect also highlighted at the show is the need of industrial partnership with Indian companies as a key to get the MMRCA deal. The Eurofighter partner companies - totalling 120 B euro of revenues, more than Boeing and Lochkeed Martin - are the biggest of Europe and, most important for India, are the only one that experienced an high level of collaboration and shared experiences, technologies and capabilities. Just a simple example of that is the Eurofighter consortium itself. Italian, German, UK aerospace industries started to work together 40 years ago for the Tornado programme a very successful high tech one for its time with more than 1000 aircraft produced. When the Eurofighter was launched Spain was associated to the programme with no issues to share knowledge, technologies, industrial processes etc. In few years the Eurofighter became the lighthouse of Spanish aerospace industry leading to the healthy position now gained by the Hiberian country in the aerospace field. The same process could be done with India, invited to became the 5th partner of the Eurofighter programme to fully enjoy one of the main target of the MMRCA programme: the transfer of technology.
Day One – Aero India Kicks Off
Wednesday 09.02.11
The opening of Aero India 2011 is marked by the presence of examples of the combat jets competing for the modernisation programme of the Indian Air Force, a deal worth euro 10 billion, for 126 fighters.
Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault's Rafale, Lockheed Martin F-16, Russia's MiG-35, Saab's JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter, the most capable between them, are among those competing for India's fighter jets order.
Asia's third-largest economy is looking to spend more than euro 30 billion over the next five years to modernise its armed forces. Thanks by this huge requirements The 8th Aero India 2011 is the largest edition so far and the one with the biggest presence of international defence companies. The official statistics show that 675 exhibitors from 45 countries are at the Yelahanka Air Force Station, on the outskirts of Bengaloru, a town that represents the technological heart of India thanks to its IT industries, Defence Research and Development institutes and Aerospace production facilities. Bengaloru is a town of contrasts - as so common in India - where you can see the most advanced (and very cheap and efficient) electrical minicar, sharing the road with four and two wheels relic of the past, a three wheels tuk-tuk, cycles with a full load of cargo, horse- , a flow of pedestrians going in every direction and crossing every street in what looks as the most dangerous way and a sacred cow.
Back to show, between the 100 aircraft on the ramp and in the air display, are also the two Italian Air Force Eurofighter arrived in India few days ago after the long journey from Europe. The Eurofighter is commonly considered the most advanced between the fighters on the tender but is also the aircraft that fit most with the clear requirement re-assessed by the Indians just before the show. Indian defence minister, A. K. Antony - in a speech at the International Seminar held in Bengaloru ahead Aero India, urged Indian technology base development and to became self-reliant in critical defence technologies. Only the Eurofighter, free from the restrictions usually associated to US products and much more advanced than its European rivals in terms of technologies able to be applied to future defence and aviation programmes, can provide India with this capabilities. More from the show tomorrow to report the outcome of the opening of Aero India 2011.