Huge news, and it’s official. The DRDO/ADA announced earlier today in a statement that the GE F414 engine has been identified as the lowest bidder in the race against the Eurojet EJ200, to power the LCA Tejas Mk-II. This turns things completely around. In recent weeks, there had been a spate of source-based reports suggesting that the EJ200 had the more competitive tender, though there had been no confirmation.
But now, a formal statement from DRDO! Here it is in full:
The Price Negotiating Committee for the Alternate Engine for LCA Mk-2 has finalised the Comparative Statement of Tenders. The committee had its representations from Ministry of Defence, Defence Finance, ADA, DRDO, HAL, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. After evaluation and acceptance of the Technical offer provided by both Eurojet and GE Aviation, the commercial quotes were compared in detail and GE Aviation was declared as the lowest bidder. Further price negotiations and contract finalization will follow.
This is huge. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) says it will now proceed with price negotiations. Several questions. The general buzz about Eurojet putting forward a more competitive commercial offer was pretty much an open secret. Even the figures that had been quoted in some reports (first in this one by Ajai Shukla) appeared to be accurate, at least according to a couple of reliable sources. Either way, I was also informed by the same sources that nothing was final, both engines seemed equally compliant in every respect, and that the evaluations of the tender proposals were still very much on. So what happened then?
MMRCA implications shouting loud: a body blow to Eurofighter. And a resounding boost for the Boeing F/A-18 and Saab Gripen IN! Eurojet is expected to make an official statement shortly. Stay tuned for details.
i knew that……..these mod babus will act as us agents at the last moment……..wait n see even mmrca vl face this situation
India is now the 52nd state of the USA
Oh no!
Now we won't be able to use both f-18 and tejas against pakistan. Both these aircrafts will be strictly reserved for chinese front and that too if usa gives permission. 126+140 aircrafts will be on the mercy of uncle sam.
This is not fair…. we need more details on the inside… Eurojet should have been the winner
At least, we have an engine now!! so work on LCA MK2 can start.
This is a dangerous game the Indian top politicos are playing.
US is one of the most restrictive hegemonies and you're either a puppet or not with them unlike Russia…
Hopefully, they know it's not just about making money but a lot about India's next precious decades…
now its time for ej's price decrease
All you anti US folks do realize that US is the only country that has the resources and the will to stand up against China… our most important strategic adversary. And on what basis have u reached the conclusion that GE is not suitable and somehow eurofighter who have concluded their largest deal with the Saudis (largest Pakistan supporters) is angelic. This is defence… strategy plays a more important role as compared to hardware
Typical DRDO professionalism, the spell check is set with Eng(US), and they did not even bother to remove the red under-marking from their press release.
Good decision! The fear of US is ridiculous. Engines will be made locally anyway just like how Sweden made engines for their jets while being neutral country between NATO and Warzaw pact. Small Sweden managed to survive even when they banned weapon sales to the USA for going to war in Vietnam!
Low risk, cheaper decision. Let's get the Tejas going instead of worrying too much about mechanical products.
Or was that your mistake Mr. Aroor?
Don't be on DRDOs back people, they just went with the lowest bidder and the bids are a document open to legal critique if the time ever comes, DRDO or the GoI will not mess in such affairs.
If the GoI wanted a US engine, they would have gone for government to government deal.
Well, what's done is done. I was hoping for a Eurojet victory too, but now we will have to make do with GE F414. The best thing to do right now is a speedy integration of this engine with the LCA Mk2, meanwhile pushing Kaveri development into high gear. We have very little time before Uncle Sam starts arm twisting, and DRDO should use this whatever lil'time it has to its advantage.
Forget everything!!!!
WHAT ABOUT TOT????
IF YES>>>THEN GREAT DEAL
Then now which of the 2 planes planes will be chosen the Gripen or the Hornet???? Will India go with the sweeds who everybody associates with the bofors scandal or the Hornet which everyone thinks will have some device in the avionics that will send all the data and info of the mission at hand to the white house and also whose operation might be restricted by the US.
My god are defence officials are in such a pickle!!!
but i hope for the countries sake they make the right decision
india is worse than pakis,…
now you know why sonia did not want to be the PM.. she is the manchurian candidate…
wake you u slaves…and kiss some white ar se for the rest of ur f&^&% life.
i am ashamed to be a indian…
Not surprised seeing the recent developments (eg the tanker deal).
Antony comes back from US and the winner is decided. I guess he must have been given a list of what is to be selected from various indian trials. This is Sick.
Even after what the uncle's have done to the tejas (both naval and af) in terms of delays.
Add to that getting an engine with no growth potential (unless ofcourse ge changed their bid and included epe) and no tech transfer plus a lot of strings attached. The EJ engine with EADS consultancy would have provided a much faster tejas Mk2
But I guess the recent order of "124" hornets by US Navy should be a good indicator, perhaps.
But this MOD is showing no backbone in making any sort of gritty decisions.
Out of the two engines, GE engine is more powerful. I would have preferred the GE110 engine that powers F16 as it is even more powerful than GE414.
This decision can also mean that India wants the best of both US n EEC.It may also be a consolation to USA for losing out MMRCA competition to EF.EF have promised 100% ToT which means tech related to the engines. So guys it's a good decision as we will be getting the best of both worlds.
If things happen the way I am thinking, then India will have access to state of the art Jet engine tech of France (Kaveri), EEC (EF – Ej200), USA (GE414) and Russia (PAKFA).No other country in the world can claim access to such advanced technologies from so many different sources.
Why blame MOD and DRDO , if GE's bid is lower than Eurojet . Also commonality of engine cannot be a deciding factor for the MMRCA tender .
If GE and USA agrees for TOT , THEN ONE SHOUILDN'T COMPLAIN
if USA transferring the technoogy for GE-F414 then i can say this is the best deal
orelse useless
@Shiv,
Can you please post something about TOT ? What will be extent of TOT in this deal. That is the question all are asking.
But somewhere I think Antony sold Bharat mata to Obama. pretty cheap
The yanks are coming. The yanks are coming. And oh, they are killing the pukes under the guise of NATO. As an American Indian this pleases me. Go Superbugs. Europe sux.
How can one say it is a good deal. Its hopeless.. In other words Indian Air Force will seek permissions from US before attacking terrorist camps. THat foreigner has sold AirForce. This sucks.
I discounted as rumours the Eurojet EJ200 won the LCA engine competition. The US DOD buys GE414s for $4M each. The EJ200 is thought to be 50% more expensive. That should be reflected in the LCA engine competition.
In addition, development of a more efficient 27,000 pound thrust GE-414 (or 3X component life) is complete.
Only field where GE-414EDE lacks is TVC. LCA will not have TVC and thats a mattern of concern for me. In all other fields it scores over EJ.
Since majority of the engines will be made in GTRE itself we certainly can hope for learning new ways to tight the nuts and bolts.
In the Ajay Shukla article, it was mentioned that the EJ offer was substantially cheaper. It was also mentioned that the members of PNC had sought some clarifications from the bidders. So what could have happened (possibly) is that GE gave a price of engines plus spares plus support, but EJ price only included engines.
Moreover, IIRC the RFP did not mention anything about TOT and EJ was offering it as a deal sweetener. So, GE getting the deal does not mean India getting sensitive US Tech.
But, even after this, the deal will need a green light from US Gov. just like Tejas Consultancy cases.
Everyone is assuming that the MMRCA deal is linked to the LCA engine deal. Please do not underestimate these Indian decision makers. I will certainly not be surprised if they chose the GE engine and also went for Eurofighter in the MMRCA deal. Cost and the logic be damned!!
So, is it a contract negotiation time now?
interesting read:
"http://www.indiandefencereview.com/2010/07/india-pays-dearly-for-poorly-negotiated-arms-deals.html"
– nanovacuum (US)
so all you defence pundit will eat their own words.All were jumping with joy when Euro Enginee was selected. Wait till the fat lady sings,
It is defnitely shot in the arm for the US to sell its F-18 Super hornets in the upcoming MMRCA deal. US pressure is working just before Obama comes to India to ink this deal and various others in the pipe line. India out of panick is running into the lap of the US, which is the only country which can counter balance an aggressive… Chinese.We dont know what will be long term implication's of Indo-US strategic partnership,in short term US is going to benefit.India has made a string of defence purchases from US right from USS Trenton,P-8i orion, hercules, globemaster,artillery guns..etc.Europe will only stand to gain if it can only assure India to back its position on Kashmir, UN seat, Chinese aggression
I doubt there were politics involved with this deal. Those of you supporting the EJ2000 realize that it would have taken longer to modify the LCA if it was chosen. The EJ2000 is longer than the GE-414 which is a huge issue. Also the GE engine is the same size as the engine the LCA flies currently, it just weighs more so there would be less work involved in getting it integrated. Considering how far behind the LCA is it makes sense that the GE engine was chosen.
If Eurocopter is selected in the MMRCA tender , it will not go down weell with the American establishment , hence the engine order to GE, INTELLIGENT method for balancing political compulsions and selecting the best for the armed forces
Damn. I would have known the MoD would go for their 'lowest bidder' mentality again. I suppose MMRCA will end up selecting the F-16 as well. There is a gigantic scam behind all these US-friendly defence deals. AK Antony is 'Mr.Clean' only in name.
Can someone actually do a side – by -side comparison of the two engines and please publish it? If it is already out there, then someone please guide us to it. that would be really informative.