The LCA-Navy desperately needs the services of a technological consultant to tweak the platform’s landing gear and arrestor hook design configuration and conduct an urgent audit of the work done so far — in addition to helping solve some critical airframe weight issues.
“There are some issues which need to be dealt with before we can progress. We are at an advanced stage of discussions with EADS and are hoping to stick to our timeline as much as possible,” an official said. As reported earlier on LiveFist, the LCA-Navy’s first prototype looks forward to a roll out in two months time, followed by three months of rigorous ground tests for confidence. Time is now absolutely critical, and the ADE has set the latter half of December as a window for a possible first flight.
This whole Lockheed Martin thing is crazy! Why was Lockheed Martin chosen in the first place ? What experience do they really have with arrestor hooks ? They have barely any experience with Naval aviation! Their forte is stealth aircraft.
I doubt the US state Department would believe that India needed "consulting" for arrester design configuration when the Russians and Boeing- both of whom were not consulted first. Besides, if ADE's true goal was as it claims landing gear and hook design- Boeing should have been the ONLY party that ADE contacted in the US. They are the largest and most experienced manufacturers/designers/engineers in Naval aviation.
This whole story about Lockheed MArtin being consulted for arrestor hook design and then the US State department not willing to grant them permission is a blatant "cover story" for something much more! Are we to really believe the the US is willing to give Boeing the okay to sell AESA radars and Aegis BMD systems to India but a simple arrestor hook consultancy-(technology that is readily available for nearly 50 years! ) is now somehow classified and not safe for India to have ??
Why not Dassult or even MIG but EADS(with no carrier-born fighter in kitty) is notoriously confusing and even more gets added to it when ADA says they want some one to help tweak 'Landing Gear' and 'Tail Hook'.
Thanks Shiv for the update. I dont understand why do they always go for US companies when they know the risk involved.
Screw Amerikanskis!
Now just think what will happen if we select F-18 or F-16!!!
ADA is never short of excuses. Can they get anything done without foreign help. This should be an eye opener to those who still trust their stated schedule. There is no precedence of them ever having met a deadline in more than 20 years and they will not meet any in the future.
Stop blaming others.
I agree with the last comment. The whole bunch of rip van Winkles iin charge of our defence "preparedness" and "indigenous efforts" have done more damage to our National pride, Indigenisation than any foreign agent or government. With the Americans at least we know where we are – money is all that they understand. What do you do when the real enemy is within?
US will never give TOT to india. They want to have monopoly in the market. US cheats india.
Shiv take some good HD videos and pics during your visit to HAL. Thanks. We are waiting….
Please No any business wiht Uncle SAM…
Wasn't it LM that failed to deliver last time around when US placed sanctions on India. Why is ADA again licking their boots? Why is MiG or Sukhoi not being asked for help?
Strange are the ways of ADA.
why EADS??… wouldn't Dassault be a better option ?
Stop posting childish comments. India is nothing to USA, nothing. This is not bollywood, it is real life. What leverage does India have with USA? NONE. Forget about the oh we are the biggest demoracy BS, because when it comes to US interests that doesn't mean s**t. USA simply wants to sell to india what it feels like selling not what india would like to have. Once you get over the shining india concept and see the gettos you will better understand the relationship india has with USA.
NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH AMERICAN FIRMS – BOTTOMLINE. The US GOVT. IMPOSES TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS
Marcus,
Simple..this means India will not buy from US. Not a big loss for India. As long as you have money people will sell.
If the Government of the United Trecherous States of America were to deny simple arrestor hooks technology to India then we must revisit , nay cancel the Boeing P8I , the C-17 and the C130J programmes also. The State Trecherous Department Goons have always been antiIndian so the naive Prime Minister should heed this early warning sign and take suitable action
And the american firms should kick out indian software guys. Guess what will happen to indian economy 🙂
Hi shiv
Reports of possible cancellation of the 197 light helicopter tender has come up in media recently. I just wanted to get some clarification on this.
See this game is simple. They want to give contract to the company who will pay more in bribe 😉
That is story of all Indian government departments. NASA has Indians from 70s and the Indians in INDIA are still struggling to make cryogenic engine ?
@ Marcus
India is nothing to USA, nothing.
India is much more when it comes to China. You need not to believe me you only need to check where your PC was manufactured….
It is well known and understood that USA needs someone who can check China's growth and they know there is no substitute other than India.
So its a game of mutual beneficiaries and India is equal partner which means USA sells what it feels like selling and India gets what it need to have.
Asking for LM's consultancy in Naval Aviation. That's one classic DUMB-ASS idea. ADA got what they deserved !
Instead of pulling out all stops and looking for answers within all they can do now is be a cry baby about it.
And these guys are being entrusted to deliver our FGFA ? Forget it !
@Rahul,
I understand your point of view. This is how a mistress tends to think of her master. One is cluthing at straws and justifing ones subservient behaviour. India doesn't have the balls or the solidity to check mate China, americans know that very well. Ever heard of the Maoists in India? Ever heard of G2? Anyway india is already check mated by Pakistan and that means its options are extermely limited wrt China and central asia. However if for example there was peace between India and Pakistan, then things could get interesting. This is why Pakistans position is so strategic.
Marcus,
I doubt you are an American. Your posting sounds a lot like a Paki.
Afraid to use your real name..Mohama..Marcus?
ITS OK ACCORDING TO AMERICAN POLICY IF SOME ONE CAN FURTHER DEVELOP THEIT TECHONOLY THEY WILL NOT GIVE IT TO THEM. ANY WHICH WAYS WE HAVE TO LEARN ON OUR OWN ITS LIKE LEARNING TO RIDE THE BICYCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE END IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE FALL BUT WE FORGET ALL THE PAIN WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE MASTERED IT PLANES IN US WERE NOT GIFTED BY ALEINS BUT WERE MADE AFTER RESEARCH AND THAT 2 BY PEOPLE WHO WERE QUITE NEW. SO ARE THERE ANY NEW ENGINEERS WHO CAN TAK UP THE CHALLENGE
It ain't 1962 and it will never be again if it was we would have spoken Cantonese get the picture right being quite does not mean coward or imcompetent just why do you think that any country is not attacking India there is lot of political straegic and financial risks in doing so Marcus or what ever your name is get the picture right
Why countries don't attack india…its easy, why doesn't india attack bangladesh. Reason is nobody wants to end up feeding 1.4billion starving indians. Oh these numbers are growing very fast.
You mean 1.2 billion Indians(growth rate less than both Bangladesh and Pakistan without draconian tactics imposed by China)…India does not import ANY food BTW. We take care of our 1.2 billion Indians very well…and with 8-9% growth every year,it will be even better in years to come.
You are confusing India with our starving aid dependent neighbors.
@Anonymous said…
Why countries don't attack india
I IS CAPITAL GET THAT RIGHT FIRST
Why don't China attack Taiwan? Why don't China annex Arunachal Pradesh or Sikkim? Surely they don't need to feed 1.2 billion people then.
Pakis talking about Indian people starving?….atleast we don't need to run around the world BEGGING for aid.
I haven't understood why the Indian navy bought Mig 29 for its carrier even though it is a ground based fighter and not a carrier based fighter.