tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post3736437625301899191..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Air force rookie pilots to train on Swiss aircraftBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-1811318441717499172012-05-08T01:28:04.099-07:002012-05-08T01:28:04.099-07:00Subho, this is not to say that IAF is not guilty.
...Subho, this is not to say that IAF is not guilty.<br /><br />IAF is also guilty of being an import freak.<br /><br />This is not the first time that it seeks imports, despite the fact that indigenous alternatives exist.<br /><br />For the ab-initio trainer, IAF could've gone with the NAL Hansa (similar jets have been used as ab-initio trainers even un RAF and USAF). <br /><br />For the IJT, IAF could've used the Sitara with low thrust engine (in place of Kiran Mk.1) and as the AJT, it could've used the Sitara with the higher thrust engine (in place of Kiran Mk.2).<br /><br />But it persevered for <b>a quarter century after the Hawk</b>, all the while styming the development of the Sitara.<br /><br />Strangely, Times of India and The Indian Express which are otherwise vociferous about "delays" by DRDO, did not even squeak upon IAF's tardy decision making while buying the Hawk.Abhimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-26798464692682776712012-05-07T10:32:59.078-07:002012-05-07T10:32:59.078-07:00I agree with Abhimaan & Rahul's observatio...I agree with Abhimaan & Rahul's observations that HAL has been a major hurdle in the path towards indigenization. There are a few ways we can approach this problem : <br />(i) Put all licensed production work up for competitive bids<br />(ii) HAL gets to have have right of first refusal for all indigenous projects<br />(iii) Milestone based payments and penalties for missed milestones on all suppliers and vendors through better project governance so that blame can be pinned on perpetrators and they can be penalized accordingly.Subhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10004604247421013343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-24033628655615223202012-05-07T10:26:13.242-07:002012-05-07T10:26:13.242-07:00@ Anon 7 May 2012 07:17
and what may I ask is the...@ Anon 7 May 2012 07:17<br /><br />and what may I ask is the price of young lives lost trying to grapple with rusty old, mid-century MIG-21s ?<br />Any way you do the math it will be far less expensive than the cost of basic trainers no matter their cost!Subhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10004604247421013343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-23306560462355307642012-05-06T18:47:19.754-07:002012-05-06T18:47:19.754-07:00Ajai ji,
Times of India (link below) reports the ...Ajai ji,<br /><br />Times of India (link below) reports the cost of the Pilatus aircraft's at Rs 2,900 crore while your blog and a couple of other reports post Rs 1800 crore.<br /><br />http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-set-to-clear-Rs-2900-crore-deal-for-trainer-jets/articleshow/13027319.cms <br /><br />Which is the correct figure?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-58172454949094497612012-05-05T22:27:35.101-07:002012-05-05T22:27:35.101-07:00Hello Sir,
Any update on FINSAS rifle?
ThanksHello Sir,<br /><br />Any update on FINSAS rifle?<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-88177267214916145782012-05-05T19:43:31.255-07:002012-05-05T19:43:31.255-07:00It is sad that HAL cannot undertake anything of it...It is sad that HAL cannot undertake anything of its own.It is an organisation which does only screwdriver technology.It is pathetic they could not design a basic trainer.The IJT project is going at snail's pace with an engine AL 55 which is totally dependent on Russia's mercy. They should change the engine to Honeywell. They better put up a decent IJT and stop blaming IAF for it. The mirage upgrade is costing 41 million $ a piece which is exorbitant and it a cost of a new LCA and for which HAL and ADA are to be blamed.These mirages would not fly after next few years and it a wasteful investment.I feel HAL is still living on the Mark II and Mark IV psyche where they change the grill and little bit of appearance and call that next model. If the LCA would have come on time we do not need MMRCA and how come the 10 billion bill now becomes 20 plus billion, someone is making huge money and instead of putting blame I feel IAF should take the responsibility as to what they want. I feel it would be good choice to have F=35 in same money and develop Tejas to its full potential with Mark 2 fully ready with IN 20 engine and replace it with F414 IN5S6 engine as when it comes so that everything is in place and fully computerized assembly line is ready so that mass production can begin. Rafale is extremely expensive and did not perform well in Libyan missions and french are known to exploit the situation and demand exorbitant money for everything.Scorpene deal signed with no mention of engine and then charging exorbitantly for it. Who would sell and sign a contract of submarine without engine. Enough is enough it is sheer waste to spend 41 million $ per plane for a upgrade that has a questionable engine that may not fly for evan a year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-79448274315276712872012-05-05T12:15:37.952-07:002012-05-05T12:15:37.952-07:00I fully agree with Rahul.
In my view, HAL (and No...I fully agree with Rahul.<br /><br />In my view, HAL (<b>and Not DRDO</b>) is the single biggest culprit in India being dependent on foreign arms.<br /><br />HAL is basically a mass-manufacturer. And it knows that if it's profit margins on DRDO's products like Tejas, ALH will be much lesser than imported goodies like Rafale and Pilatus.<br /><br /><b>ALLEGATION 1:</b><br />HAL deliberately killed its own HJT Sitara project (replacing Kiran Mk.2) so that it can accrue greater profits by license manufacturing the imported British Hawk. <br /><br />Now IAF's training is in 3 stages :- Basic, intermediate and advanced. Basic was handled with Deepak, intermediate with Kiran Mk.1 and advanced with Kiran Mk.2.<br /><br />The Sitara was meant to replace the advanced trainer i.e. Kiran Mk.2 and Not Kiran Mk.1, which was the intermediate trainer. <b>Once the prospects of xerox-copying the Hawk became bright, HAL killed IJT Sitara altogether.</b><br /><br />Talk about canniballism by HAL.<br /><br /><b>ALLEGATION 2:</b><br />HAL wantonly killed the HTT-40 project because once again it saw the government wanting to import a basic trainer (this time, the Swiss Pilatus).<br /><br /><b>ALLEGATION 3: HAL purposely pushed for the Russian FGFA, despite the DRDO literally begging it to have a look at its MCA design (now termed, AMCA). This is because the FGFA can be xeroxed faster, while the AMCA will probably take some more time. Its Chief even went to the extent of lying to the media to call it a "joint-development" between Russia and India, when it has emerged that its clearly not the case. The so-called FGFA is a fully Russian designed and developed jet, with HAL merely seeking to change some electronic sub-systems, just as it did for the Su-30 MKI. The MKI isn't Indian and similarly, the FGFA won't be either.</b><br /><br />Hence, in the scheme of things, HAL is the biggest culprit of all. Not DRDO. And not even MoD.<br /><br />Now we know why India is the biggest arms importer.Abhimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91679047255776625532012-05-05T01:43:12.601-07:002012-05-05T01:43:12.601-07:00How can they let HTT-40 start when they have inten...How can they let HTT-40 start when they have intentionally killed HTT-35 in past just for goodies that comes with any imported system? First intentionally create dire situation and then ask for immediate measures. God save India!Rahulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-16906926834227909122012-05-03T13:38:16.177-07:002012-05-03T13:38:16.177-07:00A rare and laudable decision by the authorities. H...A rare and laudable decision by the authorities. Hope they stick also to the Rafale.Mr. Ranoreply@blogger.com