It is yet another combat plane competition that the world is keenly watching, after the 2007 126-plane contest that India had announced. But this time, there are only two contenders for bagging this $25-billion contract for a 'Make in India' combat plane of global standards. A Geopolitics report
India is all set to invite at least two global combat plane manufacturers to submit their expressions of interest to join hands with a major Indian aerospace company in the private sector to set up a plant in India for the manufacture of single-engine fighter jets that its Air Force is seeking to acquire.
With the Indian government finalising its Strategic Partners policy in May this year, it is only natural that this expectation has increased among those well-wishers of the Air Force wanting to see its combat fleet level growing to meet the threats from China and Pakistan, against whom India has fought four major wars in the 70 years since independence from British rule.
This development comes amidst reports that the Indian government is considering allowing for 76 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under the direct route to those foreign firms willing to make combat planes in India in collaboration with an Indian major. If done, this will be a great boost to the aerospace sector in India, and good news for the Indian Air Force. The renewed FDI proposal would make it easier for any of the two contending foreign aircraft makers to willingly offer their best to India.
As is already known, the two competing firms for the Indian Air Force's requirement of around 200 single-engine planes are the American Lockheed Martin and the Swedish Saab. While Lockheed Martin is offering its F-16 Block 70, the latest version of the 1960s technology aircraft, Saab is offering its Gripen E, also the latest version of its modern combat plane. The estimated $25-billion race is going to be close in view of the distinct advantages that both the offers bring to India.
Bu hikaye Geopolitics dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Geopolitics dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon
The ongoing war, loosely called the Gaza War, is actually being fought in two different loosely connected segments; against the Hamas with a spill off in the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas against Palestinian factions and against the Hezbollah in Lebanon with a spill off in Syria. Treating Israel-Hamas War and the Lebanon War as separate entities, RAJ MEHTA explains the lessons from these wars
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION
It has been a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for India recently. India participated in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO) summit that took place in Islamabad on October 15-16, and the 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 2224, 2024. These back-to-back summits within a short span of time underscore India's active role in shaping regional and global diplomacy, balancing national interests with multilateral cooperation
THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY
The Tejas Mk-II, featuring DRDO's GaN-based Uttam AESA radar, marks a major leap in India's defence, enhancing range, precision, and multi-target tracking capabilities, highlights GIRISH LINGANNA
PRIME MOVER
The indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) has received a boost with its first export order from the Kingdom of Morocco
TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION
The GA-ASI MQ-9B will dramatically enhance the ISR and precision strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces
TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Navigation systems have evolved significantly since the Viking era, with Tactical Air Navigation TACAN) now widely used for air and sea travel. Post-World War Il, reliable systems became essential for safety and efficiency, as highlighted by DR. SUJAN KUMAR SARASWATI, in this article on TACAN’s operational principles.
AIRBORNE TRACKER
Indigenous efforts towards AEW&C and AWACS platforms need to be stepped up even as international programmes extend the current state-of-the-art for such aircraft, highlights
AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA
India's defence dilemma is now being complicated by the lessons learnt in the Ukraine and Gaza wars because these conflicts are reshaping the way wars are fought in the modern world.
FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS
Self-reliance in Defence Production needs new ideas, new definitions _es and an appropriate methodology, argues AMIT COWSHISH
"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, Air Chief Marshal AMAR PREET SINGH PVSM AVSM took over as the 28th Air Chief of India on September 30, 2024.