IAF CASE STUDY

ON DECISION MAKING
Ram Powru
FORCE PROJECTION

Aircraft (2009) India Pakistan China

4+G Multi-role Combat Aircrafts 220 43 416

(Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000)
2G, 3G Interceptors, Bombers 563 414 1460
(MiG-Bison, Jaguar, MiG-27, MiG-21)
783 457 1876

Aircraft (2015 estimate) India Pakistan China

4+G Multi-role Combat Aircrafts 380 250 600

(Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas)
3G Interceptors, Bombers 370 130 630
(MiG-Bison, Jaguar, MiG-27)
750 380 1230

Assumption: All 3 Air Forces retire their pre-1980 aircrafts by 2015

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE INITIATIVES
Development of an Indian fighter aircraft
Equipment Agency Status

Airframe ADA, Completed

design Bangalore

Turbofan GTRE, ‘Kaveri’ failed to meet thrust

Engine Bangalore requirements; imports from
GE or EuroJet considered

Radar LRDE, Co-developed with Elta, Israel

Bangalore • 7 aircrafts built
• Over 1000 test flights completed
Fly-by-wire NAL, Completed with help from • 40 aircrafts ordered by IAF, 6 by IN
FCS Bangalore Infosys and Airbus • Mk1 of ‘Tejas’ to be inducted 2010
• Mk2 development to continue.
Electronic DARE, ‘Mayavi’ EW co- developed
Warfare Bangalore with Elisra, Israel

Weapons DRDO, Astra BVR, Russian

Bangalore missiles
IAF INITIATIVES
➤ Upgrade existing aircrafts
➤ MiG-27 upgrade completed
by HAL
➤ MiG-29 fitted with new
PESA radar in Russia
➤ Mirage 2000 upgraded by
Thales and Dassault, France
➤ Su-30MKI to be converted
to Super Sukhoi with AESA
radar and BrahMos missile.
PLANNING BEYOND 2020
➤ 5th Gen Fighters
➤ 50:50 joint venture with UAC,
Russia.
➤ Stealth aircraft with advanced
features
➤ Flight test completed in 2010

➤ MMRCA Tender
➤ 6 global bids received
➤ $12 billion budget for 126 aircrafts
➤ Transfer of technology, AESA radar,
latest weapons and offset conditions
applied
➤ Technical evaluation done on 2010
THE 6 BIDS

Maker Engine Radar TWR Speed Cost Weapon

Eurofighter, 2xEJ200 Captor-E 1.18 Mach 2.3 $120mn 7tn

UK, Germany, (90 kN) (new)
Italy, Spain
Dassault, 2x M88 RBE-2AA 1.13 Mach 1.8 $80mn 9.5tn
France (75 kN) (u/d)

Boeing, USA 2x GE414 APG-79 0.93 Mach 1.8 $60mn 8tn

(98 kN) (mature)

UAC, Russia 2x RD33MK Zhuk-AE 1.10 Mach 2.2 $40mn 7tn

(88 kN) (u/d)

Lockheed- 1x GE110 APG-80 1.09 Mach 2.0 $50mn 6.5tn

Martin, USA (144 kN) (mature)

Saab, Sweden 1x GE414 Raven (u/d) 1.06 Mach 2.0 $50mn 6tn
(98 kN)
COMPETITIVE OFFERS

Year Users Value-addition

Tested
1994-2003 4 partners, Austria, Closest to 5G aircraft. Invitation to India for a
Saudi Arabia partnership in the EF program.
1986-2000 France Full ToT and help with ‘Kaveri’
engine. Involved in the Mirage
upgrades
1996-2001 USA, Australia Most advanced radar and weapons. Offers
only partial ToT. Local partnership with Tata,
BEL and L&T established.
2007- None. Built on the MiG-29 platform. Full ToT and co-
present development of AESA radar. Strategic partner.

1990s UAE Partial ToT. Last version of the F-16. Promise

to open MRO facility in India.

1990s Sweden, Czech, RSA, Similar to India’s own LCA.

Hungary, Thailand Dependency on foreign suppliers for engine
and radar.
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

➤ Strategic relationship
➤ Help in indigenous LCA project
➤ Reliability of imported supplies
➤ Benefits to local industry
➤ Transparency in the award of contract
➤ Opposition in the Parliament
➤ War and defence planning
➤ Total Cost of Operation
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
➤ Russia – old and reliable ally since the Soviet era, has supplied majority
of India’s aircrafts, warships, submarines, tanks and small arms. A
former super- power, now an emerging economy with veto power.
➤ USA – Strategic partnership with India post 9/11, has supplied
transport aircrafts, civilian nuclear reactor and helicopters. Global
power with allies in Europe and Asia.
➤ Europe – Increasing trade relations; has supplied trainer and fighter
aircrafts. Neutral stand on world affairs.