Bangalore - Mig-35 race leader?
The largest aerospace exhibition in Asia, Aero India 2011, completed its work at the Indian air base Yelahanka. 29 countries participated in the exhibition, 380 military and civilian exhibitors were demonstrated, most of the new products presented, 295 copies, were from Indian firms.
The tenders held by India traditionally show interest in the entire global defense industry. Experts estimate that at the beginning of the next decade, India will purchase military equipment and weapons for a total amount of 100 billions of dollars.
Russia also participates in a dozen contests held by the MoD of India. The total initial cost of these contests is estimated at three tens of billions, while the Indian side declares the possibility of increasing the number of purchased equipment.
The largest tender was aviation tender for the purchase of 126 multi-role fighters under the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program with a total value of 10-12 billion dollars.
For this tender, the Indian side put forward quite stringent requirements. Only one list of which counted 700 points. The winner of the tender is obliged to reinvest 50% of the contract value into the defense industry of India and deliver 18 aircraft to India Air Force. The remaining 108 aircraft under the terms of the tender will be manufactured under license at the facilities of the Indian corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Completion of all work on the implementation of the order is scheduled for 2020 year.
The Russian MiG-35, the US: F / A-18E / F Super Hornet by Boeing and F-16IN Super Viper from Lockheed Martin, French Rafale from Dassault Aviation, Swedish JAS-39 Gripen NG from Saab and EF-2000 Typhoon. European consortium Eurofighter.
F / A-18E / F Super Hornet
F-16IN Super Viper
Flurry
JAS-39 Gripen NG
EF-2000 Typhoon
All aircraft were presented for testing, which took place in different climatic conditions of India. Combat vehicles were rated at high altitude in the region of Ladakh and the Rajasthan desert. Comparisons were made at temperatures as low as minus thirty degrees, in winter. All competing airline complexes were based on an air base with an excess of 3.500 meters above sea level.
After conducting preliminary tests, the Indian Ministry of Defense issued a request for a proposal to increase the number of aircraft purchased to 189 copies. Accordingly, the issue price has grown. This proposal of the Indian Ministry in the ranks of applicants for victory has caused a serious struggle in the information field. The last exhibition Aero India 2011 became a field for the next such fights.
For example, a Boeing spokesperson expressed such a prediction that only two-engined fighter jets would remain in the list of bidders in the MMRCA.
In turn, representatives of Saab and Lockheed Martin, in response to an incorrect statement by Boeing, drew attention to the advantage of single-engine fighters from the standpoint of the cost of the entire life cycle.
Not far behind them, and experts from Eurofighter. Making a forecast of the export market of multi-purpose fighters for the next 20 years and evaluating it in 800 machines, they “modestly” stated that the niche of their offspring, the EF-2000 Typhoon aircraft, would be at least 250 aircraft.
Boeing was not limited to loud statements, the company also brought to the exhibition a model of its new development to create a new generation of the Hornet airline complex, made as part of the F / A-18 International Roadmap Platform program.
The demonstration of the layout was, to put it mildly, "ostentatious". After the first few hours of the air show, all the plastic covers were removed and the usual F / A-18 Super Hornet appeared to the public.
With the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Super Viper aircraft, an unpleasant confusion occurred during the demonstration flight. During the flight from the fighter, the hatch located in the area of the location of the gun blew off. At first glance, nothing extraordinary happened, one might say, a normal workflow. But, given the fact that before this incident, American experts placed special emphasis on the highest operational reliability of their aircraft, we can say that this incident was a “control shot” in this advertised myth.
Special attention and surprise of the specialists, participants and visitors of the exhibition was caused by the absence at the MIG-35 air show. Mikhail Pogosyan, acting head of the United Aircraft Corporation, commented on the reasons for the absence of the Russian bidder rather vaguely: “We have generally successfully tested the MiG-35 aircraft, are now working on its modernization and are awaiting the results of the tender”.
Mikhail Pogosyan
The real reason remained unknown. One thing is for sure, the MiG-35 with its non-presence aroused the greatest interest among all those present. This circumstance has generated a wave of gossip and conjectures. Someone hastened to conclude that Russia assesses its chances of winning as minimal and therefore did not spend money on the exhibition.
Although, according to the rules of all the same advertising and election campaigns, at the final stage, clear leaders are advised not to participate in the debate. At the last stage, it is usually given the opportunity to score points for those who lose the race.
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