mrfa
SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Airbus, in collaboration with the Federal Republic of Germany, is preparing to field the advanced Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender. This tender, anticipated to be issued by mid-2025, aims to procure 110 modern fighter jets to bolster India’s air combat capabilities.
The Eurofighter Typhoon proposal is a joint effort involving the Eurofighter consortium nations, with key industrial partners Leonardo and BAE Systems playing significant roles. During India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition in 2012, the Typhoon cleared all technical evaluation rounds but was ultimately outpriced by the Dassault Rafale, which emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) and secured the deal.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
As India ramps up its efforts to procure 114 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, Saab India has been aggressively promoting its Gripen-E fighter jet as a top contender. In a bid to enhance its appeal, Saab has announced that it is open to integrating Indian-made weapons into the Made in India Gripen-E fighter jets and is willing to collaborate with the IAF on software development to ensure a smooth integration process.
Saab India has reaffirmed its commitment to the Make in India initiative, promising to develop the Gripen-E fighter jet in India if selected for the MRFA contract. The company is also open to incorporating a wide array of Indian-made weapons, such as the Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile, the Rudram anti-radiation missile, and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In the race for India’s highly anticipated Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal, Swedish defense technology giant Saab has made significant strides by offering to establish full-scale production of its Gripen fighter jets in India. Kent-Ake Molin, Saab Campaign Director and Head of Gripen for India Programme (Business Area Aeronautics), recently emphasized the company’s commitment to indigenization and localization efforts in India. He stated, “We foresee that we can set up full-scale production in India, which will include everything; not just airframe, but also systems and software.”
Saab’s proposal goes beyond just delivering aircraft; it aims to create an entire ecosystem centered around the Gripen platform in India. The defense major has been in favorable discussions with multiple private partners, laying the groundwork for what Molin referred to as a “rapid indigenization” strategy. This move aligns with the Indian government’s Make in India initiative, aimed at boosting domestic defense manufacturing capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign imports.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium has quietly intensified its campaign to secure the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) lucrative tender for 114 fighter jets under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program. The consortium has reportedly raised concerns with the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding Dassault Aviation’s ability to meet India’s price expectations and delivery timelines for its Rafale jets, which are also competing in the MRFA program.
According to MoD sources cited by idrw.org, Dassault has been facing difficulties scaling up its production of Rafale jets at its facility in France. The French company is expected to reach a production rate of only 24 jets annually by 2025, leading to questions about whether Dassault can meet the stringent delivery schedule outlined by India. Furthermore, Dassault’s plans to produce Rafale jets at a new facility in India face complications. The company reportedly insists on full control over its Indian production plant, a condition that may not align with India’s expectations for technology transfer and local partnership under the “Make in India” initiative.
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