October 4, 2018 | International, Aerospace

Indian Air Force chief defends Rafale fighter deal against claims of crony capitalism

NEW DELHI and PARIS — Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa defended the decision of India's ruling National Democratic Alliance to buy 36 Rafale fightersfrom France, calling it “a game changer" even as the opposition party criticizes the deal.

Addressing annual news conference, Dhanoha said: "At the appropriate level, the Indian Air Force was consulted, but it is for the government to choose. It was decided to buy two squadrons through a government to-government deal, to meet up emergency requirements.”

India and France signed the €7.8 billion (U.S. $8.99 billion) inter-governmental agreement Sept. 23, under which 36 Rafale fighter aircraft will be procured from Dassault Aviation for Indian Air Force (IAF) in fly away condition. France will invest 30 percent of the total contract value in India's military aeronautics-related research programs and 20 percent into local production of Rafale components to fulfil the mandatory offsets under the deal. The deliveries of Rafale fighters will start this month.

India's main opposition party, Indian National Congress, has claimed on several occasions that the Rafale deal is grossly overvalued and tainted by crony capitalism. The Congress said the Modi government had failed to answer several questions on why public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had lost the manufacting deal to industrialist Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd.

“The earlier deal for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft reached an impasse during negotiations," Dhanoa said,, referring to a $12 billion medium, multi-role combat aircraft program that was launchced in 2007 but scrapped 10 years later. "We had three options: wait for something good to happen, withdraw the global tender and start over again, or do an emergency purchase. We did an emergency purchase.”

Dhanoa called the cost of 36 Rafale was “reasonable and adequate."

The latest comments from Dhanoa come after Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman called baseless congressional allegations of a reduction in the number of Rafale jets being purchased from France. Congress has demanded the government explain why instead of 126 Rafale fighter jets, only 36 are being purchased if they were cheaper under the NDA deal than the prior deal.

Sitharaman is expected to hold the first annual defence ministers dialogue with her counterpart Florence Parly in Paris Oct. 12-13, as the two countries seek to expand bilateral defense and strategic ties.

In France, Dassault said the company had picked Reliance as its Indian partner to meet requirements for local offset established by the Indian Defense Procurement Procedure and Make in India policy. The statement followed controversy sparked by remarks by former French president François Hollande, who said the Indian government selected Reliance as the local partner and that the company "had nothing to say on the subject, we had no choice, we took the partner which was presented.”

Dassault put out its statement on the deal for 36 Rafale to India Sept, 21 statement, stating that, in accordance with the policy of Make in India, Dassault Aviation decided to make a partnership with India's Reliance Group.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2018/10/03/indian-air-force-chief-defends-rafale-fighter-deal-against-claims-of-crony-capitalism

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February 5, 2020 | International, Naval, C4ISR

BAE Systems Wins Two Awards to Support the U.S. Navy with Enhanced Radio Communications and C5ISR Capabilities
February 3, 2020 - The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded BAE Systems, Inc. a prime position on a $212 million contract to integrate and sustain its critical communication systems. The company will design, acquire, integrate, and test radio systems for newly constructed Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) and other U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200203005039/en/ Additionally, the company was awarded a separate $104.7 million contract by NAWCAD to provide engineering and technical services to support production, lifetime-support, and in-service engineering for the radio communications C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems aboard U.S. Navy surface combatants and at associated shore sites. The work will be focused primarily on the CG 47 Class and DDG 51 Class AEGIS ships. “Maintaining reliable lines of communication and situational awareness for those at the forefront of national security is a mission-critical priority for BAE Systems and our customers,” said Mark Keeler, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems' Integrated Defense Solutions business. “We're proud to continue supporting the integration of combat systems and solutions for the U.S. Navy as they defend against advanced air, surface, and subsurface threats.” BAE Systems has been a trusted partner to the U.S. Navy for over 45 years, with decades of experience working to develop next-generation solutions for critical shipboard systems. The company's electronics experts have experience providing custom, tailor-made solutions to help close communications capability gaps for the U.S. military, including existing work with U.S. Navy C5ISR capability modernization. BAE Systems delivers a broad range of services and solutions enabling militaries and governments to successfully carry out their respective missions. The company provides large-scale systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. BAE Systems takes pride in its support of national security and those who serve. NAVAIR Public Release 2020-79. Distribution Statement A – “Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited” View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200203005039/en/
June 13, 2024 | International, Aerospace

Romania launches expansion of air base near Ukraine
The project to extend the military base, which has housed U.S. capabilities and forces since 1999, was approved prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
August 28, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Japan requests foreign help with F-X as programme moves into next phase: reports
By Garrett Reim Japan's ministry of defence is inviting foreign suppliers to help develop the country's next-generation fighter aircraft, known as the Future Fighter programme, or F-X. The solicitation was made via a public notice and a press briefing by Japanese defence minister Taro Kono on 25 August, according to reports. The Japanese ministry of defence wants components that are at high-technology readiness levels, in areas such as stealth unmanned air vehicles, airborne missile systems, radar, sensors, electronic warfare and communications equipment, according to media outlet Janes. The notice reportedly adds that this next phase will continue discussions related to development of F-X with the USA and UK. “We are inviting companies to [support] the integration of the fighter aircraft,” Kono says. “We are currently exchanging information with the US and UK to deepen our consideration of international co-operation in this development project.” In July, the ministry of defence said it would choose a single Japanese company to serve as prime contractor and lead systems integrator for the jet, according to Janes. That company is thought likely be Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds the Mitsubishi F-15J and runs a final assembly and check-out facility for the F-35 Lightning II in Nagoya, Japan. The Future Fighter is to replace Tokyo's Mitsubishi F-2 fleet in the 2030s. The F-2 is a fighter derived from Lockheed Martin's F-16. Mass production of the F-X is reportedly planned to start in 2031. The next-generation aircraft would be deployed in 2035. https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/japan-requests-foreign-help-with-f-x-as-programme-moves-into-next-phase-reports/139927.article?referrer=RSS

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Indian Air Force chief defends Rafale fighter deal against claims of crony capitalism

On the same subject

Romania launches expansion of air base near Ukraine The project to extend the military base, which has housed U.S. capabilities and forces since 1999, was approved prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Romania launches expansion of air base near Ukraine
The project to extend the military base, which has housed U.S. capabilities and forces since 1999, was approved prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.