Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bangalore: Although more cautious than the all-out performances of the established fighters, Tejas, the Indian-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), went far beyond anything it had ever displayed before, surprising the spectators with steep climbs, an inverted pass, high-gravity turns and loops.
But even amidst success, the Tejas is struggling to overcome major development hurdles. Its maker, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken the crucial decision to bring in a design consultant, a global aerospace major that would assist Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to overcome persistent design glitches that dog the LCA, including fuel distribution, uneven braking, flight controls, environment controls and testing.
And while US-based Boeing has declined to supply such know-how, German-Spanish consortium, EADS, one of the makers of the Eurofighter, has aggressively pursued the consultancy as a way of flying into the Indian market.
In multiple interviews with senior Indian and EADS officials, who requested anonymity, Business Standard has pieced together the EADS strategy. The company has decided to supply India with high technology for Indian products that are not directly competing with an EADS product. The Tejas is not in the same category as the heavier Eurofighter.
Having established its presence in the Tejas programme, EADS is confident that it would be well positioned to get its Eurojet EJ200 engine accepted for the Tejas. India is currently deciding between the EJ200 and the GE-414 engine for powering future squadrons of the Tejas. And EADS believes that winning the contract for the EJ200 engine, and producing it in India, would position it perfectly for the lucrative medium fighter contract; twin EJ200 engines power the Eurofighter.
While willing to part with the technology assistance needed to get the LCA over its hump, EADS worries about the possibility of eventually being held responsible for a possible failure in the Tejas development.
“Let’s be clear that we are not underwriting the LCA programme," says a senior European official related with the contract. The contract with EADS is expected to be signed shortly.
The German and Spanish governments have already permitted EADS to part with the technology needed for the Tejas programme; the US government, in contrast, imposed stringent restrictions on Boeing.
12/02/09 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
But even amidst success, the Tejas is struggling to overcome major development hurdles. Its maker, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken the crucial decision to bring in a design consultant, a global aerospace major that would assist Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to overcome persistent design glitches that dog the LCA, including fuel distribution, uneven braking, flight controls, environment controls and testing.
And while US-based Boeing has declined to supply such know-how, German-Spanish consortium, EADS, one of the makers of the Eurofighter, has aggressively pursued the consultancy as a way of flying into the Indian market.
In multiple interviews with senior Indian and EADS officials, who requested anonymity, Business Standard has pieced together the EADS strategy. The company has decided to supply India with high technology for Indian products that are not directly competing with an EADS product. The Tejas is not in the same category as the heavier Eurofighter.
Having established its presence in the Tejas programme, EADS is confident that it would be well positioned to get its Eurojet EJ200 engine accepted for the Tejas. India is currently deciding between the EJ200 and the GE-414 engine for powering future squadrons of the Tejas. And EADS believes that winning the contract for the EJ200 engine, and producing it in India, would position it perfectly for the lucrative medium fighter contract; twin EJ200 engines power the Eurofighter.
While willing to part with the technology assistance needed to get the LCA over its hump, EADS worries about the possibility of eventually being held responsible for a possible failure in the Tejas development.
“Let’s be clear that we are not underwriting the LCA programme," says a senior European official related with the contract. The contract with EADS is expected to be signed shortly.
The German and Spanish governments have already permitted EADS to part with the technology needed for the Tejas programme; the US government, in contrast, imposed stringent restrictions on Boeing.
12/02/09 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
Labels: Defense, EADS, Eurofighter Typhoon, Europe, India, Tejas
To read the news in full | PermaLink
Waging a dramatic ‘Battle of Manoeuvrability’ in the air, four foreign aircraft competing for the multi-billion dollar Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft lent a decisive business edge to the opening Aero India 2009 flight displays at the Yelahanka air base here on Wednesday.
The seventh edition of the biennial aerospace exposition had just begun.
Designed to impress Defence Minister A K Antony and other key defence officials watching the show, the twists, rolls and breathtaking loops by the F-18 Super Hornet, the F-16, the Russian MiG-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon almost overshadowed the spectacular aerobatics by the Suryakiran and Sarang teams. Clinical business sense laced with entertainment couldn’t have been more potent.
Taking off with a deafening roar, the Eurofighter did an upside-down flypast, returned for a low-speed pass before treating the gathering to a neat vertical climb.
But before the motley crowd of VVIPs and defence officials, media and invitees, could take another breath, the F-18 Super Hornet invaded the sky. In the next few fleeting minutes, the American fighter flew past for an abrupt push upwards at a 1.8 Mk speed.
And then came the MiG-35. With its astounding split-air manoeuvre and 360 degree Hi-G turns, the two-seater was definitely built for some smart moves. The barrel roll and inverted flight with a half roll that followed, and the characteristic Cobra manoeuvre only boosted the MiG-35’s image. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 had something else up its sleeve, performing a nine-G turn at high speed.
Earlier, the IL-78 re-fuelling aircraft made a mark with fuel dispensers attached to two Mirage 2000s in tandem. This flypast was followed by a five-Hawk formation, a five-Jaguar arrow-head formation, and four light combat aircraft in close formation.
12/02/09 Rasheed Kappan/Deccan Herald
The seventh edition of the biennial aerospace exposition had just begun.
Designed to impress Defence Minister A K Antony and other key defence officials watching the show, the twists, rolls and breathtaking loops by the F-18 Super Hornet, the F-16, the Russian MiG-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon almost overshadowed the spectacular aerobatics by the Suryakiran and Sarang teams. Clinical business sense laced with entertainment couldn’t have been more potent.
Taking off with a deafening roar, the Eurofighter did an upside-down flypast, returned for a low-speed pass before treating the gathering to a neat vertical climb.
But before the motley crowd of VVIPs and defence officials, media and invitees, could take another breath, the F-18 Super Hornet invaded the sky. In the next few fleeting minutes, the American fighter flew past for an abrupt push upwards at a 1.8 Mk speed.
And then came the MiG-35. With its astounding split-air manoeuvre and 360 degree Hi-G turns, the two-seater was definitely built for some smart moves. The barrel roll and inverted flight with a half roll that followed, and the characteristic Cobra manoeuvre only boosted the MiG-35’s image. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 had something else up its sleeve, performing a nine-G turn at high speed.
Earlier, the IL-78 re-fuelling aircraft made a mark with fuel dispensers attached to two Mirage 2000s in tandem. This flypast was followed by a five-Hawk formation, a five-Jaguar arrow-head formation, and four light combat aircraft in close formation.
12/02/09 Rasheed Kappan/Deccan Herald
Labels: Defense, Eurofighter Typhoon, Europe, F16, F18, MiG-35, Russia, USA
To read the news in full | PermaLink
Bangalore: With the government stressing on transparency in defence deals, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said there would be "no favouritism" while awarding the USD 10 billion 126 fighter aircraft contract.
"I can assure you that we will not show favouritism to anybody. We will not neglect anybody. The procedure will be transparent and decision will ultimately be based on merits and quality and other conditions," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Aero India show here.
"No negative approach and no favouritism. All competitors will get a level playing field," he said.
Six global aerospace companies -- American Boeing's F/A-18 and Lockheed Martin's F-16, French D'assault's Rafale, Swede Saab's Gripen, European consortium EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russian MiG-35 -- are competing for the IAF's contracts for which the tenders were floated in 2007.
The Defence Ministry plans to conduct the flight trials of the competing aircraft in about a year's time.
On the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Antony said the most "exciting" moment for him at the show was the LCA performing different aerobatics.
12/02/09 PTI/Sify
"I can assure you that we will not show favouritism to anybody. We will not neglect anybody. The procedure will be transparent and decision will ultimately be based on merits and quality and other conditions," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Aero India show here.
"No negative approach and no favouritism. All competitors will get a level playing field," he said.
Six global aerospace companies -- American Boeing's F/A-18 and Lockheed Martin's F-16, French D'assault's Rafale, Swede Saab's Gripen, European consortium EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russian MiG-35 -- are competing for the IAF's contracts for which the tenders were floated in 2007.
The Defence Ministry plans to conduct the flight trials of the competing aircraft in about a year's time.
On the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Antony said the most "exciting" moment for him at the show was the LCA performing different aerobatics.
12/02/09 PTI/Sify
Labels: Defense, Eurofighter, Europe, F16, F18, MiG-25, Russia, Typhoon, USA
To read the news in full | PermaLink
Bangalore: Although more cautious than the all-out performances of the established fighters, Tejas, the Indian-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), went far beyond anything it had ever displayed before, surprising the spectators with steep climbs, an inverted pass, high-gravity turns and loops.
But even amidst success, the Tejas is struggling to overcome major development hurdles. Its maker, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken the crucial decision to bring in a design consultant, a global aerospace major that would assist Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to overcome persistent design glitches that dog the LCA, including fuel distribution, uneven braking, flight controls, environment controls and testing.
And while US-based Boeing has declined to supply such know-how, German-Spanish consortium, EADS, one of the makers of the Eurofighter, has aggressively pursued the consultancy as a way of flying into the Indian market.
In multiple interviews with senior Indian and EADS officials, who requested anonymity, Business Standard has pieced together the EADS strategy. The company has decided to supply India with high technology for Indian products that are not directly competing with an EADS product. The Tejas is not in the same category as the heavier Eurofighter.
Having established its presence in the Tejas programme, EADS is confident that it would be well positioned to get its Eurojet EJ200 engine accepted for the Tejas. India is currently deciding between the EJ200 and the GE-414 engine for powering future squadrons of the Tejas. And EADS believes that winning the contract for the EJ200 engine, and producing it in India, would position it perfectly for the lucrative medium fighter contract; twin EJ200 engines power the Eurofighter.
While willing to part with the technology assistance needed to get the LCA over its hump, EADS worries about the possibility of eventually being held responsible for a possible failure in the Tejas development.
“Let’s be clear that we are not underwriting the LCA programme," says a senior European official related with the contract. The contract with EADS is expected to be signed shortly.
The German and Spanish governments have already permitted EADS to part with the technology needed for the Tejas programme; the US government, in contrast, imposed stringent restrictions on Boeing.
12/02/09 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
But even amidst success, the Tejas is struggling to overcome major development hurdles. Its maker, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has taken the crucial decision to bring in a design consultant, a global aerospace major that would assist Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to overcome persistent design glitches that dog the LCA, including fuel distribution, uneven braking, flight controls, environment controls and testing.
And while US-based Boeing has declined to supply such know-how, German-Spanish consortium, EADS, one of the makers of the Eurofighter, has aggressively pursued the consultancy as a way of flying into the Indian market.
In multiple interviews with senior Indian and EADS officials, who requested anonymity, Business Standard has pieced together the EADS strategy. The company has decided to supply India with high technology for Indian products that are not directly competing with an EADS product. The Tejas is not in the same category as the heavier Eurofighter.
Having established its presence in the Tejas programme, EADS is confident that it would be well positioned to get its Eurojet EJ200 engine accepted for the Tejas. India is currently deciding between the EJ200 and the GE-414 engine for powering future squadrons of the Tejas. And EADS believes that winning the contract for the EJ200 engine, and producing it in India, would position it perfectly for the lucrative medium fighter contract; twin EJ200 engines power the Eurofighter.
While willing to part with the technology assistance needed to get the LCA over its hump, EADS worries about the possibility of eventually being held responsible for a possible failure in the Tejas development.
“Let’s be clear that we are not underwriting the LCA programme," says a senior European official related with the contract. The contract with EADS is expected to be signed shortly.
The German and Spanish governments have already permitted EADS to part with the technology needed for the Tejas programme; the US government, in contrast, imposed stringent restrictions on Boeing.
12/02/09 Ajai Shukla/Business Standard
Labels: Defense, Eurofighter, Europe, India, LCA, Tejas
To read the news in full | PermaLink
New Delhi: Safran SA, Europe’s largest aircraft engine maker by volume and revenues, will set up an aircraft training centre with an investment of up to $20 million, or Rs97.4 crore, at Hyderabad.
The centre to be set up by its engine making arm, CFM International, will train airline mechanics and engineers on its engines that power Airbus SAS-made A320 and Boeing Co.’s B737 planes, Safran group chief executive officer Jean-Paul Herteman, told Mint in an interview on the eve of Aero India show in Bangalore on Wednesday.
"I don’t believe there would be big announcements. (But) there are many business discussions going on. In civil aviation we are under way to set up a training centre in engineering that will be located in Hyderabad. That will open next year.
After that we have significant defence business, of course, so there is discussion about MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft). In helicopters we are very active, we have made specific engine for Dhruv with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd), the Shakti engine. This has been certified in Europe, which is the first time I think India has participated in development of an engine and had it certified under western (agencies).
Our total business in India today is $500 million—direct and indirect. We have been producing 120 million SIM cards (for mobile phones); we will be at the rate of 300 million end of this year. This is not serving only Indian market but export market—all of Asia, Africa and Middle East", said Jean-Paul Herteman.
11/02/09 Tarun Shukla/Livemint
The centre to be set up by its engine making arm, CFM International, will train airline mechanics and engineers on its engines that power Airbus SAS-made A320 and Boeing Co.’s B737 planes, Safran group chief executive officer Jean-Paul Herteman, told Mint in an interview on the eve of Aero India show in Bangalore on Wednesday.
"I don’t believe there would be big announcements. (But) there are many business discussions going on. In civil aviation we are under way to set up a training centre in engineering that will be located in Hyderabad. That will open next year.
After that we have significant defence business, of course, so there is discussion about MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft). In helicopters we are very active, we have made specific engine for Dhruv with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd), the Shakti engine. This has been certified in Europe, which is the first time I think India has participated in development of an engine and had it certified under western (agencies).
Our total business in India today is $500 million—direct and indirect. We have been producing 120 million SIM cards (for mobile phones); we will be at the rate of 300 million end of this year. This is not serving only Indian market but export market—all of Asia, Africa and Middle East", said Jean-Paul Herteman.
11/02/09 Tarun Shukla/Livemint
Labels: Defense, Engines, Europe, Safran
To read the news in full | PermaLink
Hallbergmoos and Bangalore: EUROJET Turbo GmbH, the leading European military engine consortium, will be exhibiting the EJ200 engine at the Aero India Air Show 2009. Visitors to the Eurofighter stand (Hall C, No. 7) will have the opportunity to view the advanced technology of the EJ200 engine, which powers the Eurofighter Typhoon, and take a look inside the engine through an interactive engine monitor.
EUROJET is contracted to produce more than 1,500 EJ200 engines to power a total of 707 Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft ordered by six nations. The fleet of over 400 engines in service with Eurofighter Typhoon fleets operated by the Air Forces of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Austria had amassed over 100,000 Engine Flying Hours at the end of 2008.
The EJ200 is also a potential alternative powerplant for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). An exhaustive feasibility study was conducted by the Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in 2008, in which the suitability of the EJ200 engine for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft was confirmed and EUROJET was selected to be a recipient of the respective Request for Proposal (RFP) for the LCA. EUROJET is now in anticipation of this RFP to offer the EJ200 for the LCA.
EUROJET industries represent over 40 years of successful multi-national collaboration in the aerospace defense business.
10/02/09 Antara News
EUROJET is contracted to produce more than 1,500 EJ200 engines to power a total of 707 Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft ordered by six nations. The fleet of over 400 engines in service with Eurofighter Typhoon fleets operated by the Air Forces of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Austria had amassed over 100,000 Engine Flying Hours at the end of 2008.
The EJ200 is also a potential alternative powerplant for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). An exhaustive feasibility study was conducted by the Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in 2008, in which the suitability of the EJ200 engine for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft was confirmed and EUROJET was selected to be a recipient of the respective Request for Proposal (RFP) for the LCA. EUROJET is now in anticipation of this RFP to offer the EJ200 for the LCA.
EUROJET industries represent over 40 years of successful multi-national collaboration in the aerospace defense business.
10/02/09 Antara News
Labels: Defense, EJ200 Engine, Engines, Europe
To read the news in full | PermaLink
