"First bought Rafale, now they don't know how to refuel": India criticizes plans to buy six French Airbus A330s

India is commenting on the statements of the Indian Ministry of Defense about its readiness to purchase six Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft from France. The Indian military department replies that such a purchase "will allow the modernization of the fleet of a special aviation Indian Air Force ".

Such statements and plans are criticized by Indian military experts. In particular, it is indicated that with such plans the Ministry of Defense of the country actually confirms the problem that has arisen, which the experts spoke about initially. The problem is that the Rafale fighters previously purchased from France cannot be effectively refueled. With the re-equipment of the Il-78 for refueling in the air of the French "Raphael" suddenly there were problems.

As noted, now in India, the IL-78 is used with the Israeli system for pumping aviation fuel.

Of the complaints expressed:

When the Rafale contract was signed, why didn't you initially contract suitable aircraft refuelers or develop a new system for Russian-made refuelers? Now the Ministry of Defense is talking about "emerging plans" for the purchase of Airbus A330. Have you ever thought of such a need before? First bought Rafale, now they don't know how to refuel.

Opponents of the incumbent government believe that it may again be about a corrupt deal, or about strange negligence, when contracts are not properly thought out.

Senior Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Research in New Delhi Abhijit Ayer Mitra:

I believe that the acquisition of six French tankers will be a waste of money.

It is noted that in this case, India will have to fork out additionally for the maintenance of this equipment, as well as for the retraining of pilots and technicians.

Iyer Mitra:

And that's how we often do it. First we order, then we think. One gets the impression that these people do not understand anything about economics. They plan some costs, and as a result they get much more. If the Il-78 with re-equipment will cost 80 million dollars, then Airbus will cost 200 million.

It is also added that, according to the same logic, if the Indian Air Force suddenly decides to buy American-made fighters (and there are such plans), then it would "dream" to order American tankers.

Comments

[evgen1221]

Typical tsigans - the main thing is to look rich and shiny in the hangar, but no one cares how it will ride. It seems to me that the Indian economy is being artificially promoted and a bubble is blown out of it - well, no economy can be strong with such a widespread attitude of people.

[paul3390]

There are simply a lot of extremely poor people who are ready to work hard for a cup of rice .. Of course they will not do anything decent, but they can produce mountains of cheap junk .. China also started with this, but there everything happened under the most severe control of the Communist Party and according to a clear plan ... And here you are - already the first economy in the world and the West chokes about envy of Chinese technologies .. And if it were not for the collapse of the Union - you see, they would choke on ours ..

[evgen1221]

I agree with you. But the attitude of people in the state and their mentality largely rules in terms of raising the economy, the Chinese also do a lot, but if they still do half-time junk, they would become the first in the world in the economy.

[paul3390]

Experience shows that mentality is a profitable business. There would be a desire - but you can educate. Avon compare RI and the Soviet Union - completely different states in terms of capabilities and attitude. And in just 30 years, the Bolsheviks managed ...

[Alexander Kopychev]

And in just 30 years, the Bolsheviks managed ...

The main problem was solved in 10 years. Then 4 years of war with a natural result, and then the "partners" quieted down. It was possible to develop a peaceful atom and master space ... And today, without green papers, there is no way?

[Filxnumx]

And in just 30 years, the Bolsheviks managed ...

So the Bolsheviks. And here the mentality is such that even before the realization of "democratic values" there is "a huge distance."

[paul3390]

I agree - there would go and Ilyich and Comrade Stalin would have dropped their hands ... Painfully everything is neglected ..

[IC]

Naturally. There won't be enough cartridges, and they don't have Kolyma either.

[EvilLion]

What the fuck is the Communist Party? The Communist Party only managed to make a "big leap", the Americans gave them factories so that the Chinese could sew sneakers for the United States.

[svp67]

And this is just the beginning ... Now it turns out that their Arjun tanks cannot be refueled from the same tankers as the Russian T-90s ...

[evgen1221]

About how many wonderful discoveries the spending of the century is preparing for them.

[orionvitt]

Quote: evgen1221

How many wonderful discoveries they have in store for the ages

They were warned a thousand times and wrote everywhere, and every soldier in the General Staff should know that the unification of weapons is half the success in the combat capability of the Aria. But, apparently, gypsy roots are doing their job.

[Kurare]

Quote: svp67

Now it turns out that their Arjun tanks cannot be refueled from the same tankers as the Russian T-90s ...

No need Arjun, what kind of fueling systems does Tejas have? Here's what's interesting. Or is it not provided for at all?

[Revolver]

Quote: Kurare

what kind of fueling systems does Tejas have?

Probably with dances and songs.

[d4rkmesa]

"Regular" hose-cone from the Il-78 at Tezhasov.

[Kurare]

Quote: d4rkmesa

"Regular" hose-cone from the Il-78 at Tezhasov.

If so, then buying SIX Airbus A330 MRTTs is insane!

[d4rkmesa]

Yes, the French, as usual, warm the corrupt officials and blame others for their imperfections.

[UAZ 452]

No need Arjun, what kind of fueling systems does Tejas have? Here's what's interesting. Or is it not provided for at all?

Well, yes, it is quite possible to imagine that the Indians rivet the marketable quantity of their fighters, and then suddenly discover that for them they also need to create their own tankers from scratch, and before that they accept that import-substituted aircraft will not fly far from the airfield.

[Dart]

Well, this is already a national sport ...

[paul3390]

Have you tried to steal less? And to shoot for corruption, such as rivals in the PRC? It helps a lot in solving such problems.

[KCA]

They shoot for corruption not only in China, even in Singapore, but so far, somehow, the level of corruption is not decreasing either there or there, and the number of executions is not decreasing

[rocket757]

"normal", tambourine in hand and forward ... acha, acha

[Bshkaus]

With the Indians, everything is not unambiguous: they and our fighters bought through the same place: for our Su-30 they ordered Israeli DASH shlkma, and then adapted them to be compatible with our KM-35 masks. That was still a hassle. In principle, you can understand them, they want not to depend on any of the countries, but this can be achieved either by their own production, or by the crap mentioned in the article

[UAZ 452]

In my opinion, if you turn military equipment into a combined hodgepodge from different manufacturers from different countries, you do not reduce dependence in any way, rather you change dependence from one country to the same one, but from several, with a proportional increase in the risks of force majeure. And the issue of warranty obligations becomes more complicated: if problems arise, everyone will nod at the products of alternative suppliers.

[Reserve buildbat]

Hindus once again merrily and with dances sat in a puddle of elephant feces, which was to be expected.

[Director]

How the Hindus are armed, it can be read like a tragicomedy! It's a pity for the common people, because they mostly live in terrible poverty .. And the government buys expensive toys, how much they were offered a system of universal weapons cheaply and reliably!
No, everyone is wagging something, and so on. ..Well, Buddha is their judge

[tralflot1832]

It looks like Rafal will cost the Indians the price of a death star. The Indian responsible for the contract "exchanged the tusks of his elephants with the help of an elephant stamotologist for gold ones."

[Filxnumx]

Well, death or not, the court will decide. However, in terms of price, the frogs clearly surpassed even the F-35 flying gold bar:

But the biggest shock came later when opposition journalists brought out the true amounts of the French contract. Attention - 218 million 600 thousand euros for one plane, which took off for the first time back in 1986. Even the super-sophisticated F-35, as they say, quietly smokes on the sidelines. As India's current Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in an interview with The Times of India:
"With this money, we could buy three Su and have a guaranteed superiority. And now there is neither the technology promised by the French, nor a sufficient number of fighters. But eight years have passed."

[Lesorub]

It is also added that, according to the same logic, if the Indian Air Force suddenly decides to buy American-made fighters (and there are such plans), then it would "dream" to order American tankers.

The Indians, as always, beat everyone - and themselves in the first place.

[Andy]

one word - dancers

[Kerensky]

I did not comprehend ... Why is it terrible? Is the adapter wrong or is there only one fuel supply mode? Software not compatible? Well, dock the handles!

[d4rkmesa]

Unclear. There were videos of refueling the Rafale from the Il-78. Apparently, the cunning French after some incidents offer to buy other tankers.

[Tambov-there is god]

Some kind of airplane "Noah's Ark" - a pair of every creature.

[APASUS]

Now the dance with tambourines will begin, it turns out that the Airbus A330 can refuel not only Rafale, but also tanks and even passing UFOs. And the IL-78 is not capable of anything.

[Dzafdet]

A miser pays twice, and a corrupt person three times ...

[This is the main]

No need for Indians to buy refuellers from the French. First you need to get your own rafali. Plan to use them to support the pants. And to make a complete renewal with dryers or mines, cheaper, more reliable, more lethal and familiar. And the sky will be locked.

[IC]

Diversification of arms imports and unification are not compatible things. Conducting multi-year tenders. Plus an ardent desire for import substitution. Here is the result.

[Crabong]

Their level of competence is fighting elephants.