The proposed F-16IN Block 70 has gained parity. Like all fighters in the Indian MRCA competition, it is a Generation 4.5 fighter.
Posted on 09/17/2009 8:06:35 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
GE plans to source parts from India for F-16 engine
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore September 17, 2009, 0:22 IST
General Electric (GE), which is in contention as the engine supplier for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract of the IAF with three of its engines, is keen on sourcing components from Indian industry.
GE said, it will manufacture, assemble and test the engine, if any of its partner wins the contract, at the Hindusthan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The global engine manufacturing behemoth said it will get many of its engine components manufactured by local firms. GE’s F110-GE-132 turbofan engine powers the F-16 IN, which Lockheed Martin is seeking to sell to India.
The F-16 IN is one of the contenders for the MMRCA contract for the supply of 126 aircraft. The F110-GE-132 turbofan engine developed by the GE, and which will power the F-16 IN, was originally developed for the United Arab Emirates F-16E/F. The engine has a thrust of 32,000 pounds, which is considered as little on the higher side for a small aircraft like the F-16. This extra power makes it possible for the F-16 IN to carry more armaments.
More than 3,000 F110 engines have been ordered since the US Air Force first selected the engine in 1984. Till, now over 3,000 of these engines have been mounted on various airframes including the F14, F15 and F-16, since 1984.
“The firm will tailor the engine for Indian configurations,” said Philip G Woniger, program manager, F110-GE-132, GE Aviation. Customisations for the engines that will power the F-16 IN will include durability core.
The engine produces 170 reports that guide the engine maintainers.
Smart move.
The USAF isn’t buying the F-16 anymore, and it’s still a viable aircraft for many nations. Hope they win.
That is just great. We are now outsourcing our defense manufacturing. How far down we have become as a nation. Reminds me of the end of the Roman empire, when they outsourced their defense.
From what I’ve heard, the Super Hornet and the Eurofighter are the leading contenders. Funny thing for GE is that three of six aircraft use their engines!!
Wow, GE gives us Olberman, MSNBC, and now they are outsourcing our defense. If the GOP ever gets back into power we need to wipe out GE the way the Democrats went after Wall Street. Bankrupt the company, confiscate the stockholders assets, seize their manufacturing resources and above all devastate and permanently destroy their media empire.
Any nation that can’t build its own weapons won’t survive. At the rate we’re going, we won’t be able to assemble anything more complex than a Big Mac.
GE can’t lift a finger without the US government clearing it.
About offering incentives like this-well that’s the way the defense export markets works right now. The South Koreans license built a variant of the F-110 for their F-15Ks and had other technology transfer agreements with US firms, while the Saudis are said to be planning to assemble Eurofighters.
These are offset agreements. Every country spending hard cash ask for such deals.
"free" trade is killing us.
F-16 Ping.
“GE can’t lift a finger without the US government clearing it.”
These days, that’s not very reassuring, friend!
Militant
This is BS, we’re going down the tubes as a nation.
Maybe so, but it’s not because of India. In fact, India will be one of our most crucial allies for years to come.
Umm, you’re right, but GE’s biggest market is the US. And it will remain so for years.
Umm, you’re right, but GE’s biggest market is the US. And it will remain so for years.
hats why jeff is in bed with obammy
Yep.
I know AT&T got back together but the initial break up allowed for a great amount of innovation.
The Rafale may look attractive as a multirole jet, but its solely French and Paris has been pretty haughty when it comes to hawking its wares. The French have often been reluctant to allow for third-party systems. Not saying that Eurofighter consortium would be better, but they are making all the right noises. And lastly, the engines of both the EF and Super-Bug are in the running for the growth variant of the LCA. So the logistics would work out well if either of the two get selected.
BTW-I got this from an ex-colleague who currently works for one of the contending firms. He said the F-16 is the third most favoured.
The F-16 is still cheaper, but most of all - it uses only ONE engine. That’s a big advantage in the lightweight market.
Either way, all good aircraft although the EF is a half generation (or more) above the rest.
The Gripen-NG also uses a single engine, and is cheaper and newer than the F-16.
How’s its combat record?
The F-16 has been kept remarkably up-to-date over the years.
We’d (USA) be buying brand-new “E” versions if the F-35 weren’t such an important export project.
Not saying the Grippen isn’t a good aircraft, but the F-16 has bonafides.
It’s not seen combat, but that’s not the point. The F-16 may have been updated but it is going out of service with the USAF. It’s lifecycle costs will increase in that case compared to the other contenders in this contest (leaving out the non-existent Mig-35).
The Super Hornet offering will be carrier capable. Probablt have the AESA radar also and also the largest weapons load I believe.
This is the beginning of the end for union labor in U.S. Jet engine factories.I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pratt & Whitney and GE move their entire faclities overseas.Just to make more profits.
Afterall the Unions have just about killed the Goose that laid the golden egg.
Oh, I think the F/A-18E has it all over the F-16, and probably in this competition.
But the F-16 is a lot cheaper at the buy, and the single-engine makes it cheaper in annual maintenance. The F-16IN has AESA as well.
Its been working like that for years. Offsets are one of the main drivers of exports unless you a country flush with cash. I remember buying Yugoslavian hams every year at my company in the early 80s. The hams were one of the products my company imported as part of offset agreement. And they were DAM good.
The late, great Michael Crichton really laid into the aircraft machinist unions in “Airframe”. Nobody will miss them.
The Superbug should have the 2nd largest payload - Rafale’s tops it
Very interesting. The whole process is more convoluted than a contortionist’s intestine (huh lol). First, at the very beginning, the Mirage 2000-5/9 was supposed to win ...it HAD it in the bag. Then that was out, lines were closed, and all these fighters started popping up - including some like the Tiffy that were never meant to be there (per the original requirements, only the Viper and the Gripen should qualify if we really start splicing threads). Then, the MiG is a strong contender, then the Superbug, then a split between the MiG and the Superbug, then the Rafale, then we hear the Rafale is out - only to hear it is back again (and tgat it was LMartin spreading rumors), then back to the Superbug, then Rafale, now you tell me the Tiffy is a top contender. Most suprising, that the F16 is no 3 (when the fact that Pakistan uses an earlier block, plus the fact that Pakistani pilots fly the UAE block 60 AESA vipers that are quite clos to the Viper IN, was supposed to all but doom the Viper). Goodness, at one point or the other all planes have been the leading contender, including the Gripen NG, which were it not for the fact that it strays to close to the upgraded LCA, SHOULD BE the winner. Very interesting.
The Indian MRCA is projected to have a life span of approx. 30-40 years. That means 2040-50. Most of the main F-16 users (Europe/South Korea/Israel/Turkey) will start retiring the vast majority of their fleets by the middle of the next decade-when the IAF will be inducting it. Sure they are lots of packages around- but how many of the systems that you talk about will really get customer support??
The F-16IN will end up looking like Italy’s F-104S. That was meant to be latest and greatest of the Starfighter series- and the Italians had a hard time. Costs will increase big time with such purchases. India is already learnt that with the Mig-21/23s.
Good point.
I thought the project life-cycle would be much shorter, since the buy is relatively small. Especially in comparison to Western buys.
However, I think the F-16 would be better supported in the “out” years than the Saab. Whenever the user-base is that large, the logistics framework tends to last. I’d put money on the F/A-18E to have the best and longest-serving logistics chain. I think it’s going to be with the US Navy and USMC a lot longer than planned.
Whenever the user-base is that large, the logistics framework tends to last.
The Indian buy is initially 126 with a high probability of reaching 200. And maybe more, given the unreliability of domestic Indian projects and Russian suppliers. Which would probably make it the biggest post-cold war single export deal by weight of numbers.
I think your wrong about that.
I am not when it comes to what the Rafale can carry as compared to any of the competing airframes. Check it out. Currently I am posting using a combo of an E71 and an IPhone, under a mosquito net, in Nairobi ...thus it would probably be faster for you to check. But, the Rafale has the greater carry capacity
According to Janes they are comparable.
Spetznaz is right-the Rafale air force variants can carry a max payload of about 9.5 tonnes, while the Super Hornet can haul about 8.2t. The Rafale M naval variant can manage about 8 tonnes.
But all three carry plenty of fuel tanks so its not as awesome as it appears. However the French are offering an export variant with CFTs.
F-16s and Gripens have very short legs. Not suitable to cover the vast India,China,Pak air space. For deeper penetration over Chinese airspace, fighters with longer ranges and heavier payloads capacity are need. And most of India’s future buys are going to be China specific not Pakistan specific. Besides Pakistan already has tremendous experience with F-16s. Another reason why its not a good buy. Its has to be a Eurofighter, Rafael or maybe the Superhornet(depending on how much production and technology America is willing to share with India). This deal will be won by the side that’s willing to do the maximum amount of production and technology transfer cuz that’s what India is really looking for in this deal. India isn’t looking to buy a fighter jet, its really the technology that India wants to own.
The proposed F-16IN Block 70 has gained parity. Like all fighters in the Indian MRCA competition, it is a Generation 4.5 fighter.
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