APPEL D'OFFRE MMRCA INDIEN

The USA forced [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to withdraw a proposal to supply an advanced radar to Saab as part of the Swedish company's effort to win a fighter contest in India potentially worth $12 billion.
Sources in Israel said on 5 July that Saab had wanted to offer a radar from IAI subsidiary [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] as part of its Gripen NG proposal for the Indian air force's medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, as New Delhi is already familiar with systems supplied by the Israeli firm. The contract is for at least 126 aircraft

The Indian Air Force plans to more than double the size of its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fleet to 230 by 2015, according to the country's defence minister.
"By 2015, we plan to have a fleet of 230 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fighter aircraft," AK Antony told the Indian parliament's upper house. "The IAF feels that the Su-30 - one of the advanced fighter aircraft in the world - is best suited for Indian conditions. The IAF is very happy with these aircraft."

The service now has 98 Su-30s, says Antony. India signed a $1.46 billion contract with Russia to buy 40 Su-30s in 1996, and they also inked a technology transfer agreement allowing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to licence-produce the fighter in India. Some older Su-30s are also being upgraded to the Su-30MKI standard in India.

L'Inde et les Etats-Unis ont conclu un accord de défense pour doper les ventes d'armements américains à New Delhi , a annoncé aujourd'hui la secrétaire d'Etat Hillary Clinton.
Lors d'un point de presse à New Delhi aux côtés de son homologue indien S.M. Krishna, Mme Clinton a indiqué
que les deux pays s'étaient "entendus sur un accord de surveillance de l'utilisation finale" d'armes américaines sophistiquées et de leurs technologies qui seraient vendues à l'Inde. "Nous sommes convenus d'un accord de contrôle de l'utilisation finale (d'armements) qui va désormais contribuer (...) à ce que l'Inde acquiert des technologies de défense américaines", a confirmé M. Krishna
.
Selon les termes de cet accord, l'Inde doit s'engager à se conformer à la législation américaine en matière d'exportations d'armements.
Cette législation interdit à un Etat qui achète des équipements de défense aux Etats-Unis de les utiliser ou d'en transférer les technologies au profit d'un pays tiers. Ainsi une clause figurera dans les futurs contrats commerciaux entre l'Inde et des entreprises américaines d'armements, a précisé un responsable américain. Cette clause garantira à Washington que les armes et les technologies sensibles vendues à l'Inde serviront stricto sensu à sa défense nationale et ne seront pas transférées à un tiers, selon des experts.

Cet accord "ouvre la voie à une plus grande coopération en matière de défense entre nos deux pays", s'est félicitée Mme Clinton, au quatrième jour de sa visite en Inde.
Une perspective bienvenue pour les américains Boeing et Lockheed Martin qui concourent à un appel d'offres de 12 milliards de dollars que l'Inde a lancé en 2007 pour acheter 126 avions de combat.

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The Indian air force has launched a nine-month flight evaluation phase for the six competitors vying for the $11 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract.

Two Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets and an aerial refueller arrived at Bangalore airport to complete the first of three location trials.
"We're very happy to be invited to the trials and to showcase the F/A-18E/F's capabilities," says Boeing
The F/A-18Fs will be followed in the trials by the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16IN, Saab Gripen IN and RSK MiG MiG-35, although the order has not been released.

India issued the request for proposals for the MMRCA deal in August 2007. The highly valued order for 126 fighters includes an order for 18 fly-away aircraft, with the rest produced domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics.
Two more flight evaluations will reportedly be conducted at Jaisalmer and Leh for hot and cold weather testing, respectively.

New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Without mentioning China by name, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik Tuesday said India was against “militarisation” of space but the country should aim to be the front-runner in the field of space technology.
“We are against militarisation of space. In fact, the entire world is against this,” Naik told reporters when asked about China’s future plans to launch a space station.
“Our aim should be to be a front runner in everything, including in space,” he added.
Asked about field evaluation trials of the medium multi-role combat aircraft, Naik said: “We have finished the trials of F-16, F/A-18, Rafale and the MiG-35. All (aircraft) are going neck and neck”.
India is scheduled to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft for an estimated $11 billion to strengthen its depleting squadrons of fighter aircraft. Five companies, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Eurofighter, Gripen and RAC MiG are in the fray for this fourth generation fighter aircraft’s sales to India.

Here is a summary of whats happening: F-18 IN Block 2, F-16 IN, Mig-35, Rafale F-4, EF tranche 3 and Gripen IN are bidding for the massive contract where 126 jets will be ordered from the winning bidder. The IAF holds an option for 74 more aircraft and the whole deal could reach as far as 200 jets. However, due to recent break down in talks between India and France to upgrade the IAF 's mirage 2000 fleet due to high price quotes set by ze French and the delay of this upgrade program might push up the number of potential orders to over 220 or so. This is not clear as of yet. so far the F-18SH, F-16 Block 60, Rafale have been evaluated in India. IAF has asked LM and Boeing to do more development work on the APG-79 and APG-80 radars because both these radars do not have weather radar modes. Mig-35 has begun weapons trails in Russia in preparations for IAF's weapon trials next year and by now should be undergoing flight evals in India. The SH will undergo weapons trials in Feb. Gripen IN has just begun testing new AESA don't know if they will bring it for flight evals in India, Rafale apparently brought the RBE-2 AESA to India for evals as well. Questions remain about the EF's new AESA and whether they will bring it for evals to india. The Russian's say the mig-35 will begin full-scale production in late 2013 or early 2014 which means if it wins the first mrca. mig-35 wont arrive in India before 2015. IAF however wants the first mrca aircraft to land in India by late 2012 or mid-2013 at latest. This means the mig has little or no chance, the only reason it could win is for reasons of full-tot. but mig can be virtually ruled out. Boeing held a meeting last week in India and said that they are offering the GE F 414 EPE engine for the Indian SH which increases the thrust per engine from 98KN to 118KN+ or 196 KN per aircraft to 236KN+, the same engine is also being offered for the LCA's mk-2 engine contest where the EJ2000 and GE F414 EPE will go head to head. EJ2000 is offering MATV however the thrust is 90KN just enough for the LCA mk-2 while Ge's F 414 EPE has a lot more thrust, but is also slightly heavier. the new GE engine reduces the fuel burn of the SH by 1%. Engine change can be done in less than 30mins and engines are left and right interchangeable. EJ2000 on the other hand boasts engine change in 45 mins. The EJ is also much more expensive with the engine costing over 10 million while the GE 414 comes for around half that. Boeing is also offering a 9-G superhornet unlike the USN's 7.5 g aircraft, this will require changes to the flight control system. due to recent problems with Ze French and their un-willingness to budge on certain things the Rafale also can be virtually ruled out. f-16 with its age old existance can also be ruled out no matter how good it is, unless, the US offers full-tot, complete weapons and airframe customization including nuke. The f-18IN, Gripen IN and EF T-3 remain. the Gripen IN wont add much to our force levels when the LCA mk-2 will out perform it in every way by 2014, that puts the SH against the EF. SH on any given day is a more multirole option and its new engine holds more promise of much more improved aerial performance and the price is not too bad either. Now if US gives full-tot and cuts down on the strings a bit, SH wins, it has the highest price to pounding ratio.

L'Eurofighter Typhoon est "en tête" de la compétition portant sur un contrat de fourniture de 126 avions de combat lancé par le gouvernement indien, a annoncé vendredi l'ambassadeur d'Inde en Italie.

Le montant de ce contrat est estimé à 10,4 milliards de dollars. L'Inde a retenu quatre à cinq propositions, a-t-il
déclaré, "les essais et évaluations vont désormais avoir lieu. l'Eurofighter est l'une d'entre elles (...) et il est en tête de la course", a déclaré Arif Shahid Khan à Reuters au sortir d'une réunion avec
un proche conseiller du président du Conseil italien, Silvio Berlusconi.
Le F-18 Super Hornet de Boeing, le Rafale de Dassault, le F-16 de Lockheed Martin, le MiG-35 russe, le JAS-39 Gripen de Saab et l'Eurofighter, produit par un consortium européen formé par EADS, BAE Systems et Finmeccanica, sont en compétition pour ce marché.

(Valentina Rusconi, version française Gregory Schwartz)

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Vendors May Get To Revise Indian Fighter Bids

NEW DELHI — As field trials for India’s 126-aircraft Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) draw to a close, vendors vying for the program could get the opportunity to revise their pricing.
The Saab Gripen is completing its final field trials in Leh, while the Eurofighter is due to start weapons and other equipment tests as part of the third phase of trials in the U.K. and Germany next month. Those trials are scheduled to be completed on April 29.
However, this would mean that India will have officially missed the April 28 decision deadline set for the competition. Effectively, this means that vendors can now reprice and revise their bids, since the request for proposals says commercial offers are valid for two years from the date of submission (which was March 28, 2008), and after that date bidding can be reopened for those vendors shortlisted after technical trials and evaluation.
The six bidders are Sukhoi’s MiG-35, Dassault’s Rafale, Eurofighter, Saab’s Gripen, Boeing’s F/A-18E/F and Lockheed Martin’s F-16.
Once all trials are completed, it will take two months of tabulation and then submission to the Defense Ministry, an air force spokesman told Aviation Week. One original equipment manufacturer (OEM) says it is likely the procedure would take place only in September.
Some vendors have expressed concern that the MMRCA project will be dependent on the political and economical situation, and may take more time for clearance, barring unforeseen circumstances like a security challenge.
“We do hope the process moves faster,” one OEM executive said. “However, we feel it might take time until India’s economy starts on a growth track of approximately 10 percent [gross domestic product], so that politicians can justify the expenditure to their political counterparts.”
While the Ministry has not yet commented on the possibility of repricing, vendors’ opinions on the prospect vary.
“We will redefine our bid, which will be cheaper than the one we submitted two years ago, as we were not as smart then as we are now,” one vendor said, declining to be identified. “We are more competitive and stronger now.”
Another commented, “Technical evaluation is an air force matter. We will try and ensure we hit all wickets. We haven’t made a decision on repricing.” “This, of course, presupposes that the repricing will be called for,” another vendor noted.
And another OEM added that currency fluctuation over the past two years will be another factor to consider.

India Forces Fighter Rivals To Rebid

India has proved once again that it cannot push the pedal too hard for speedy procurement of a major weapon system. It has been forced to notify vendors seeking the coveted 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) award that they will need to rebid, prompting a schedule delay that might drive up costs.
The bidders represent the industry’s biggest fighter manufacturers—MiG Russian Aircraft Corp., Dassault, Eurofighter, Saab, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The vendors were expected to complete flight trials early last month, giving the Indian defense ministry time to complete its bid evaluation by April 28. Contract rules called for rebidding if that deadline was missed, pushing the start of the winnowing process to April 2011.
Downselect will probably name three finalists, although no specific number has been stated or schedule given. There also is no timeframe for when a winner will be chosen. Politics is partly responsible. The downselect will be reviewed by a parliamentary committee, and the possible lobbying could extend the selection process beyond next April.
As this year’s deadline approached, the Eurofighter Typhoon was still making its final flights and the Saab Gripen, the last candidate, was not even in India. Held up by other tasks for the Swedish air force, the aircraft is not expected until late May.
Ministry officials were not commenting last week about a re-bid. But the Indian air force does not see it as a setback. Its emphasis is on being able to evaluate all the contenders.
“Testing is done in various envelopes, and as long as the associated requirements are met, that is [what is] important to us,” says a senior air force official. “We’re hoping all tests will be over by May.” If so, the assessment process will take another two months to complete.
While this official acknowledges that delay-driven re-bids might drive costs up as much as 7%, he says that is not a prime issue for air force headquarters. Its focus is on aircraft capabilities. Pricing comes into play beyond the air force’s level.
Earlier this year, Defense Minister A.K. Antony acknowledged that India’s acquisition process has been notoriously slow. The Defense Procurement Procedures Act for 2010 is supposed to remedy this problem.
“The effort in this direction is already on,” he says. “We have to further reduce the delays.”
But the MMRCA program seems to contradict that assertion, since delays are likely to raise program costs and prevent the air force from putting the winner into service on schedule.
In extending bids by a year, the ministry is acting under 2006 procurement procedures, which allow bids to be revised up or down, says a spokesman. “It’s up to the [vendors] to decide. Besides, it shouldn’t matter [since] the bids will remain sealed, so nobody knows the other quotes.”
Some vendors are concerned that the delay will make bidding more volatile. They cite U.S. dollar fluctuations against the euro during the past year.
The final currency rate for the program will be frozen on the date bids are completed. Move that date ahead a year and the dollar might be considerably stronger, given the uncertainties that the euro is now facing with issues such as Greece’s debt crisis. If that is the case, bidders in euros may have an advantage, one financial analyst says.
Vendors are not commenting on what changes they might make to their bids.
As for the F/A-18E/F con­tender, Boeing Defense, Space & Security Vice President Vivek Lall’s diplomatic response is typical: “We are working to provide a compliant response in support of the deadline set,” he says.
Still, Antony says India is forging ahead with “refinement and evolution” of its bidding practices under the 2010 procurement act. “But at the same time we are spending money from the public exchequer. We have to make sure that every penny is spent judiciously.”

La lutte Fratricide entre Dassault et Thales en Inde

Nous vous parlons régulièrement d’un des plus gros appels d’offres du moment dans le domaine de l’aviation militaire, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] Pour l’Inde, il s’agit de renouveler une flotte de chasseurs hétéroclite vers des avions modernes.

Mais comme nous le savons, un autre appel d’offres, moins médiatique est aussi en cours. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

Nous verrons que la vente de Rafale commence à empiéter sur la mise à niveau des Mirage. Les stocks émiriens et qataris sont eux-aussi concernés par ces tractations.

Dans la vente des Rafale à l’Inde, c’est Dassault qui tente de vendre son appareil hors de nos frontières. De l’autre, c’est l’électronicien Thales qui concoure contre l’israélien Elbit Systems pour remporter le contrat de modernisation de la flotte de Mirage 2000 indiens. Si la guerre n’est pas ouverte, c’est un conflit larvé qui se trame actuellement dans le pays entre les deux entreprises françaises. Une situation qui ne nous rappelle que des mauvais souvenirs.

Résumer de l’appel d’offre sur les Mirage 2000.
Si pour ce contrat, Thales ne concours pas pour la vente 126 avions de type Rafale, il en va de la rénovation de la cinquantaine de Mirage 2000H en service dans les forces aériennes indiennes. Ces négociations sont en-cours depuis des années et l’électronicien pensait enfin voir le bout du tunnel.

En jeu, un contrat exclusif qui engagerait les industriels français, menés par Thales et la DGA, pendant quarante ans. Le montant de cet accord est évalué à 1,4 milliard d’euros. Mais une fois de plus, c’est le prix qui fait débat. Il serait en effet 30% plus cher que ce que souhaite débourser l’Indian Air Force.

Alors que l’Inde a souhaité un appel d’offres unique en direction de Thales et de ses alliés, les couacs entre Thales et Dassault invitent les entreprises israéliennes à entrer dans le jeu. Elbit Systems est actuellement en train de tenter de ravir cet alléchant contrat aux Français.

Pourquoi ça coince avec Dassault.
Si Thales vise le « retrofit » de la flotte de Mirage 2000 existante, Dassault souhaite écouler un maximum de Rafale. Ainsi, l’avionneur français aurait judicieusement orchestré une proposition faite par les armées de l’air des Emirats arabes unis et du Qatar. En effet, ces deux forces aériennes auraient officiellement proposé à New Delhi de se portée acquéreuse de leurs Mirage 2000.

Les Emirats arabes unis possèdent 68 appareils dont une grande majorité de Mirage 2000-9. La version la plus évoluée de la série ne vole actuellement que dans ce pays. Au Qatar, ce sont douze Mirage 2000-5 qui pourraient prendre la direction des cieux indiens.

Dans ces deux cas, Dassault compte sur la vente des Mirage d’occasions pour débloquer des ventes de Rafale. Depuis quelques mois nous savons que c’est un point crucial des négociations avec Abu Dhabi. Nous savons aussi que la Qatar souhaite calquer sa stratégie sur celle des Emirats. Ces Mirages sont d’ailleurs aussi pressentis pour aller voler au Brésil. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], Dassault pourrait fournir Brasilia en Mirage 2000 histoire de faire patienter les militaires.

Or, si l’Inde achète de nouveaux Mirage, elle ne remettra pas en état les anciens. D’où le conflit qui se trame entre les deux entreprises. A noter que maintenant, Dassault est l’actionnaire de référence chez Thales.

Dégager des priorités sans assombrir l’avenir.
Pour Thales qui négocie depuis des années ce contrat de « retrofit » des Mirage 2000H, ce serait évidement une perte de temps et d’argent magistrale si Dassault arrivait à ses fins. Cependant, l’électronicien qui fait parti du GIE Rafale (Groupement d’Intérêt Economique) va devoir faire face à des pressions internes liées à la position dominante de Dassault. Mais aussi à son intérêt à ce que le Rafale se vende. Dans les deux cas, les contrats sont exclusifs.

Chez Thales, on affirme ne pas vouloir baisser les bras. Mais ce bras de fer fratricide peut malheureusement tourner court. On se souvient de différentes affaires, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] où les équipes françaises avaient fait échouer des négociations pourtant exclusives avec les autorités du pays.

Au-delà des équipes privées, c’est la diplomatie française qui se retrouve en porte-à-faux. D’un côté, les services de l’ambassade de France à New Delhi se mobilisent depuis des années pour tenter de décrocher un contrat pour Thales. Une lutte qui se fait alors qu’Elbit Systems tente coute que coute de lui voler ce contrat de 1,4 milliard d’euros. D’un autre côté, Dassault tente aujourd’hui d’imposer ces Mirage 2000 émiriens et qataris au mépris des efforts déployés par Thales.

L’ambassadeur de France à New Delhi, Jérôme Bonnafont, s’était inquiété des contradictions de la politique commerciale française auprès de sa hiérarchie en août dernier. Des avis divergents qui pourraient nuire à tous les efforts français passés ou présents.

Enfin, il parait clair que New Delhi ne pourra pas lancer des procédures d’acquisition à la fois pour des Mirage 2000 d’occasion et pour un nouvel appareil dans le cadre du MMRCA. Ainsi, Dassault qui semble assez mal placé pour vendre 126 Rafale en Inde, tente de convaincre l’Indian Air Force que l’achat des Mirage émiriens et qataris serait une alternative bon marché à l’achat d’appareils neufs. Les Indiens qui ont budgétisé 10,5 milliards de dollars pour acquérir 126 avions de combat modernes s’en tireraient à bon compte avec une flotte toujours plus homogène et surtout très performante face à ses menaces.

Inutile de dire que le choix de Dassault parait judicieux pour conquérir au mieux un maximum de marchés. Cependant, la mise sous pression de Thales est regrettable. Il n’y a plus qu’à espérer que tout le monde arrivera à trouver un arrangement viable. Ceci sans que cette rivalité n’entrave tous les efforts fournis par les Français dans ce pays clé. Au-delà de ces deux appels d’offres, il faut garder à l’esprit que l’image de la diplomatie française sera déterminante dans tout un tas d’autres contrat d’armement à venir.

US wants India to 'favourably' consider IAF's MMRCA bid

As India seeks to modernise its air force, the US has pushed for greater share for American manufacturers of high-technology products and services like the Boeing and Lockheed in a bid to boost bilateral defence, commercial and trade relations.

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, during his meeting with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, argued that American manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed are dependable providers of high-technology products and services.

In the meeting early this week on the sidelines of the Indo-US CEOs Forum in Washington DC, the top Obama administration official urged India to favourably consider the aircraft bids by Boeing and Lockheed, who are seeking to sell their aircrafts and fighter aircraft to the Indian Air force.

Locke said the US is looking to India to set a trajectory for economic, trade and investment growth in the near-and medium-term.

"A clear plan would encourage expanded US-India commercial activity - the kind of activity that would make good on the potential it holds for both our peoples," he said.

"Locke took the opportunity to advocate for US fighter aircraft manufacturers, noting that the US government supports Boeing and Lockheed Martin bids because they have proven to be dependable providers of high-technology products and services - including aircraft - in the Indian defence sector," the US Commerce Department said.

Both Boeing and Lockheed have placed bids for aircrafts and fighter aircraft as the Indian forces seek to modernise the fleet of aircraft.

"The Indian government's medium, multi-role combat aircraft competition is tremendously important to the US with vital implications for our bilateral defence, commercial and trade relations," it said.

In 2009, the US exported approximately $ 16.5 billion in goods to India, making it our 17th-largest exporting partner.

The principal US exports to India are precious stones, metals, machinery, aircraft, spacecraft, electrical machinery and fertilisers.

As of 2008, India had invested $ 4.5 billion into the United States.

The Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration can help US companies increase their trade with India, offering such services as trade counselling, market intelligence, business matchmaking and commercial diplomacy

India Discussing Offsets With Fighter Bidders

Following the Indian air force’s flight evaluation of six Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) candidates, the Indian government is now considering technical offset proposals and beginning discussions with the prospective vendors.
The Lockheed Martin F-16IN, Boeing F/A-18, Dassault Rafale, EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen and Russian MiG-35 are in the running for the 126-aircraft program.
A European contender was invited to the Indian air force’s head office on Aug. 20 to discuss the flight evaluation and has been invited to the defense ministry to present its offset proposal.
The vendor’s team includes all partners associated with the bid, including the airframe manufacturer, weapons suppliers, avionics and engine makers.
The second part of the proposal — commercial offsets — is expected to be opened by April 2011.
“Those that make it to the downselect will be evaluated on the technical report, compliance with transfer of technology and with offsets,” a senior official said.
“Everything depends on the supply chain,” an official involved in the flight evaluations said. “The air force is also aware that it requires good management systems and an auto-diagnostic capability.”
“India needs to pit the lowest bidder against the second lowest bidder — a practice it tends not to follow — to get the best deal,” another official noted. “[There] is no point in deciding on a finalist and beating him further down to size.”
Given the challenges of life-cycle costs, India has made it clear that maintenance support will be essential to the offer.

Aero India: MMRCA must read

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A big thumbs up to Ashley J. Tellis of the Carnegie Endownment for International Peace. Over the last week I've been greatly enjoying his 133 page epic about the Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft competition.

Of particular interest were his in-depth comments about the AESA radars. While the Europeans all have development models, the US aircraft already have fully functional systems. The chart on page 115 also illustrates the respective costs of the aircraft in a flyaway state - and shows how massive US aircraft purchases over the years have driven down the costs of the F-16 and F-18.

A great warm-up read to the big show next week.

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