Bang Galore
ELITE MEMBER
Intense battle on for missile contract
Almost every aviation watcher is talking about the imminent multi-billion dollar Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal for the Indian Air Force.
But beyond the glare of this spotlight, weapon manufacturers are waging an equally intense battle to clinch the contract to supply the missiles that will be integrated into the eventual winner.
The heat of this competition was very evident at Aero India 2011, with the likes of MBDA and the American firm, Raytheon, aggressively marketing their versatile missile
range.
While MBDA showcased its Meteor, the Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile, which could be fitted onto the Eurofighter Typhoon, Grippen or the Rafale aircraft all competing for the MMRCA deal -- Raytheon was clear that it could deliver missile systems for five of the six platforms competing for the mega deal.
A top Raytheon officials remark was telling enough: We are aircraft-independent, combat-proven and reliable. For the record, the Raytheon range features five missile types, including the Amraan, Paveway, HARM, Maverick and AIM-9X for the F-16. Some of these could also be integrated into Grippen, Eurofighter and Rafale, besides the F/A-18, company officials said.
Israeli missile manufactures are also in the fray. While State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will eventually take a final call once the MMRCA aircraft is known, the missile makers would want to be seen reliable.
Nuclear sanctions
With the history of nuclear sanctions, the Americans have apparently not scored high on the reliability front. But Raytheon officials justified its reliability claim, citing the US Governments readiness to offer even its frontline fighter to India as a sign of a sea change in strategic relationships.
Having its missiles used in real conflict scenes in Afghanistan and Iraq, for instance, Raytheon emphasised on the combat-proven nature of its ware. That was obviously, a direct threat to MBDAs offer of the METEOR missile.
The METEOR is currently under development by the European missile maker, which has showcased it as a weapon of the future, with a capability three to four times stronger than the contemporary weapons. If India eventually goes for an European make MMRCA, the country would be one of the first in the world to get the missile integrated.
The British, Spanish, Italian, German and all other frontline European Air Forces would have the same capability, a top MBDA official told Deccan Herald. Yet, the missile is not combat-proven, and the Americans are harping on this factor to hard sell their produce.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the premier national missile maker, will also be a decisive factor. Existing partnerships between BDL and the competing foreign missile makers will have to be factored in too.
Intense battle on for missile contract
Almost every aviation watcher is talking about the imminent multi-billion dollar Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal for the Indian Air Force.
But beyond the glare of this spotlight, weapon manufacturers are waging an equally intense battle to clinch the contract to supply the missiles that will be integrated into the eventual winner.
The heat of this competition was very evident at Aero India 2011, with the likes of MBDA and the American firm, Raytheon, aggressively marketing their versatile missile
range.
While MBDA showcased its Meteor, the Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile, which could be fitted onto the Eurofighter Typhoon, Grippen or the Rafale aircraft all competing for the MMRCA deal -- Raytheon was clear that it could deliver missile systems for five of the six platforms competing for the mega deal.
A top Raytheon officials remark was telling enough: We are aircraft-independent, combat-proven and reliable. For the record, the Raytheon range features five missile types, including the Amraan, Paveway, HARM, Maverick and AIM-9X for the F-16. Some of these could also be integrated into Grippen, Eurofighter and Rafale, besides the F/A-18, company officials said.
Israeli missile manufactures are also in the fray. While State-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will eventually take a final call once the MMRCA aircraft is known, the missile makers would want to be seen reliable.
Nuclear sanctions
With the history of nuclear sanctions, the Americans have apparently not scored high on the reliability front. But Raytheon officials justified its reliability claim, citing the US Governments readiness to offer even its frontline fighter to India as a sign of a sea change in strategic relationships.
Having its missiles used in real conflict scenes in Afghanistan and Iraq, for instance, Raytheon emphasised on the combat-proven nature of its ware. That was obviously, a direct threat to MBDAs offer of the METEOR missile.
The METEOR is currently under development by the European missile maker, which has showcased it as a weapon of the future, with a capability three to four times stronger than the contemporary weapons. If India eventually goes for an European make MMRCA, the country would be one of the first in the world to get the missile integrated.
The British, Spanish, Italian, German and all other frontline European Air Forces would have the same capability, a top MBDA official told Deccan Herald. Yet, the missile is not combat-proven, and the Americans are harping on this factor to hard sell their produce.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the premier national missile maker, will also be a decisive factor. Existing partnerships between BDL and the competing foreign missile makers will have to be factored in too.
Intense battle on for missile contract
