News Report: Airbus, Antonov in Race for $826 million Indian Deal for Surveillance Planes

A model of the An-148-300MP (Image: Wiki Commons)

After terrorists arrived from the sea to carry out the Mumbai attack in 2008, the Indian government has been intent on strengthening its coastal surveillance with top end radars and maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian government has decided to add six multi mission maritime aircraft to its coastal security guard. In a marathon meeting on Friday afternoon, sources say that Indian Defense Ministry gave its nod for the purchase of six aircraft at a cost of approximately $826 million. European major Airbus is the frontrunner for supplying aircraft to coastguard with its C-295 while Antonov of Ukrainian firm has also presented its An-148-300MP based on the An-32 platform for the deal.

Industry: Indonesia takes an Interest in Ukrainian Radar systems, Air-to-Air Missiles and Antonov aircraft

In the framework of international exhibition Indo Defence-2016 – held in Indonesian capital city Jakarta – the talks between UKROBORONPROM leadership and representatives of the Armed Forces of Indonesia were held.

During the meeting, Assistant Commander-in-Chief Bonar Hutagaol and Deputy Commander of the Air Force of Indonesia showed strong interest in new radar systems, manufactured by UOP enterprises-participants. Air-to-air missiles, produced by JSHC “Artem,” and military transport aircraft of “Antonov” production were also discussed among other UOP products during the talks.

At Indo Defence-2016 expo the State Concern represented 37 exhibits from 16 UOP enterprisers-participants. In addition to new partners search, UOP aims for active dialogue with representatives of other countries, experience and technology exchange, import substitution program speed up.

News Story: India To Attempt Local Overhaul of Troubled An-32 Fleet

by Neelam Mathews

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will issue a request for proposal (RFP) next month for the overhaul of 20 Antonov An-32 airlifters to independent Indian maintenance repair and overhaul providers. The move follows problems with an upgrade by the OEM in Ukraine, on the heels of deteriorating relations between that country and Russia. Meanwhile, a long-planned Indo-Russian project to eventually replace the IAF’s 105-strong fleet of An-32s has stalled.

The former IAF maintenance commander Air Marshall P. Kanakraj set the scene for the RFP two years ago when he said, “We are expecting the MRO Industry to partner for reclamation, refurbishment and re-equipping of our aviation assets…both fighter and transport aircraft.” AIN has learned that an RFI was issued a few months ago to Air India Engineering Services, Air Works India, Taneja Aerospace and GMR Aero Technic. The RFP will be for 11 packages, including repainting, wing structure modification and aging fleet and ultrasonic inspection.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: PRC Military Continues to Depend on Ukrainian Defense Technology

by Reuben F. Johnson

The recent signing of a contract for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to acquire 24 Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flankers highlights the continuing reliance that Beijing’s military has on Russian defense technology, despite more than two decades of steady cooperation in the defense industrial sphere. “The two main objectives for the Chinese in signing this deal with the Russians were to get their hands on the [Saturn] 117S jet engine and the [NIIP] Irbis-E radar,” said a Ukrainian defense industry head with many years of experience in working with both Russian fighter aircraft programs and the PRC’s defense sector.

Less noticed, however, is the extent to which PRC industry also relies on a list of technologies and programs that are developed and built in Ukraine. Russia has competencies in a number of areas, particularly in the production of finished, full-integrated weapon systems, said the Ukrainian director, “but many of the specialized systems that they are seeking for the advancement of their programs come from here in Ukraine and not from Russian defense firms.”

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: Ukraine Misses Deadline, Lone Bidder Remains for Indian Aircraft Competition

Antonov An-148 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — A blown deadline by Ukraine’s Antonov means that a joint venture between Airbus and Tata Group has emerged as the sole bidder in a $3 billion deal to sell 56 military transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force, according to an Indian Defence Ministry source.

Airbus Defence and Space has tied up with India’s Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. for the program to replace India’s fleet of Avro transport planes. The MoD refused to give Antonov an extension on its bid after it missed the Oct. 22 deadline.

The Avro replacement program is the MoD’s first attempt to involve only domestic private-sector companies — in the process sidestepping state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).

Airbus C-295 (File Photo)

The source added that the MoD is unsure whether to award the contract to Airbus, since it awards contracts to single vendors only in exceptional cases.

Airbus and Tata announced their joint bid on Oct. 28. They plan to offer the Airbus C-295 to the MoD, but neither company would comment.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: India's Tender for Private-Sector-Built Airlifter May Not Take Off

Avro transport aircraft

1 Potential Bidder So Far

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — India’s first attempt to operate a military aircraft-building program involving the domestic private sector appears to be a non-starter as only one potential foreign partner is likely to submit a bid, a Ministry of Defence source said.

With only Spain-based Airbus Defence and Space participating, the program would become a single-vendor contest, which MoD almost certainly would cancel.

On July 19, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), the MoD’s top weapons decision-making body, extended the deadline for filing bids to Aug. 28.

DAC reiterated that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), the state-owned company that has long held a monopoly on local military aircraft manufacturing, would not be given the tender or made the sole production partner.

The DAC initially approved the program in July 2012 and paved the way for floating a global tender.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: HAL's Exclusion Delays Effort To Replace India's Avro Fleet

IAF Avro aircraft to be replaced

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — A $3 billion Indian Air Force effort to acquire 56 transport aircraft from a foreign company has run into a roadblock after Minister for Heavy Industries Praful Patel asked why state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was excluded from consideration.

In response, Defence Minister A.K. Antony has asked officials to look into the complaint, which sources say could stall the program.

In May, a tender to procure 56 aircraft to replace the air force’s aging Avro fleet was sent to overseas companies: Casa (EADS) of Spain, Alenia Aeronautica of Italy, Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the United States, Antonov Design Bureau of Ukraine, Ilyushin Design Bureau of Russia and Embraer of Brazil. The tender was not sent to HAL, the state-owned military aircraft manufacturer, and for the first time the tender allowed the selected overseas company to choose an Indian private-sector company as the lead partner for the licensed production of the aircraft. Until now, HAL has been the lead partner for all military aircraft programs.

Read the full story at DefenseNews