Arms sales record in Russia in 2012

Exports of military equipment from Russia, second arms supplier in the world after the United States reached a record level of $ 15.2 billion (11.4 billion euros) in 2012, announced Monday, January 21 a senior official quoted by Russian news agencies.

This figure must be further refined at the end of January or beginning of February, more than 12% of the government's goals, said Alexander Fomin, the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. It is, moreover, an increase of 15% compared to the year 2011, during which Moscow had delivered $ 13.2 billion for weapons.

AMONG ITS BIGGEST CLIENTS OF INDIA AND CHINA

Russia has more than doubled its sales abroad compared to the early 2000s. The country has among its largest customers in India and China. He continues to sell equipment to Syria, but says it is mainly air defense weapons and not itself. Mr. Fomin said that Afghanistan, Ghana, Tanzania and Oman were among the new customers of Russian industry in 2012.

Dassault Pushes India To Up Rafale Order, India Says 'Good Wine Takes Time'

Wire agency reports today suggest Dassault Aviation and the French government are looking to persuade the Indian government to immediately exercise options for 63 additional Rafale fighters over and above the 126 it looks to contract as part of the MMRCA acquisition.

A proposal of sorts was raised by the French when India's foreign minister Salman Khurshid visited Paris last week.

"Presently the contract under negotiation is for 126 aircraft but we are talking about the follow-up," AFP quoted a source as saying. It also quoted the Indian foreign minister as saying, when asked about when a contract would be signed, "We know good French wine takes time to mature and so do good contracts. The contract details are being worked out. A decision has

India: Contract on French Rafale Jets Being Fine-Tuned

India is fine-tuning a contract to buy 126 French-made Rafale fighter jets, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said Jan. 10, adding that Paris would have to “wait a little” to pop the bubbly.

India last year selected Dassault Aviation as its preferred bidder in a $10 billion (7.6 billion euro) contract to equip its air force with new fighter jets.

“We know good French wine takes time to mature, and so do good contracts,” Khurshid said after a meeting with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. “The contract details are being worked out,” he said. “A decision has already been taken; just wait a little for the cork to pop and you’ll have some good wine to taste.”

France is keen to make its first foreign sale of the Rafale, which has struggled to find buyers to support a project that has cost tens of billions of euros. If the contract is finalized, the first 18 aircraft will be supplied directly by Dassault, and the remainder will be produced under license by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-run Indian firm, in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

The sale of Rafale again postponed in India?

A source close to the Indian Ministry of Defence ensures that the MRCA contract between Dassault Aviation and India will not be signed before the end of the fiscal year in India, after the end of March 2013.

Could be expected for March 2013, the sale of French Rafale in India is likely to occur later ... After assuring wish to conclude exclusive negotiations conducted with the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation before the end of its fiscal year, which ends on March 31, India would be forced to wait several more months before finalizing the contract MRCA .

"At this rate negotiations, the chances of reaching agreement during this fiscal year is highly unlikely," said a source in the Indian Defense Ministry to AFP. "But we can expect some very positive movement after March," she added.

"The Rafale contract is in its final stages and we hope to be concluded within three to four months," had yet told Rakesh Sood, the Indian ambassador in France, Indian journalists gathered at the Indian House in London on November 6.

IAF Raises New Helicopter Unit Near Pak Border

IAF Statement: Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, the Chief of the Air Staff, inaugurated the new Medium Lift Helicopter (MLH) Complex for raising the new Mi-17 V 5 helicopter unit at Phalodi today. Inauguration of these Pre-engineered hangars, biggest of their type in the IAF, would add to the operational capabilities of this new air base. The Air Chief was briefed about the operational activities undertaken by the Station. The base would be utilized during the forthcoming exercises – Iron Fist on 22 Feb 2013 and Live Wire in March 2013.

LCA Tejas LSP-8 Revs Up On Ground

On December 12, the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) conducted the initial engine ground run (EGR) on the long awaited eighth limited series production (LSP-8) airframe of the LCA Tejas, according to HAL literature. The LSP-8 is the airframe that is to be handed over to the IAF for user trials. The LSP-8 is likely to make its first flight early 2013, delayed by over a year.

HAL to unveil armed Rudra helicopter at Aero India 2013

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is planning to unveil an armed variant of its Rudra advanced light helicopter (ALH) at the forthcoming Aero India Exhibition, which is scheduled to be held in February 2013 in Bangalore, India.

Fully designed and manufactured by HAL, the latest version features an array of new weapon systems, such as 20mm turreted gun, 70mm rocket pods and air-to-air combat missiles.

Commenting on the helicopter, HAL chairman RK Tyagi was quoted by The Times of India as saying that the helicopter’s combat capability has been augmented through integration of electronic warfare suite and counter-measure devices, such as flares and chaffs dispensers.

“Sighting systems, such as electro-optical pod and helmet-pointing systems, have been integrated to augment target aiming capabilities,” Tyagi added.

Also known as ALH-WSI, the helicopter has already proven its performance and firing capabilities during extensive flight trials, and is currently awaiting initial operational clearance (IOC), which is expected to be awarded shortly.

“Initial deliveries of Rudra to the army are planned in this fiscal year,” Tyagi said.

Indian Navy For New Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile

The Indian Navy has announced its interest in acquiring an unspecified number of medium range (at least 120-km) ship-launched anti-ship missiles for new and existing platforms.

India opts for A330MRTT

January 7 Aerobuzz.fr

The contract for six copies of the A330 MRTT Airbus should be signed between the Indian government and the current 2013.

The Indian government has finally decided to offer multi-role tanker plane (transport, cargo and medical evacuation) made by Airbus Military to equip its air force. The decision came after a long process of evaluation and competition. The A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) including demonstrated during flight testing its ability to supply all types of hunters IAF (Indian Air Force). Operational tests were also carried out at high altitude, on the basis of Leh.

It's Official: Airbus Wins Indian Tanker Competition

by Shiv Aroor - Livefist

We've known about this since November last year, but now it's official. Airbus has beaten out the Russians to win the Indian Air Force's new generation mid-air tanker bid. The Airbus A330 MRTT has been found to be the lowest bidder in a two-horse race against the Ilyushin Il-78M, six of which the IAF already operates.

Wire services quoted an Airbus Military spokesperson today as saying, "We are pleased to confirm that we were selected

Airbus Military well positioned to deliver six refueling aircraft to India

                                                                    

The aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced it has been selected by India to provide six A330 tankers. A contract could be between 1.25 and 1.38 billion dollars (between 954 million and 1.05 billion euros) if it refers to the list price of these devices.

2013 started strong for Airbus. After the announcement this Monday, January 7 an order of 16 A321 neo by Hawaiian Airlines, the aircraft manufacturer announced that its military division was well placed to win a contract in India for six A330 MRTT tanker aircraft.

"We are pleased to confirm that we have been selected by the Indian government as the highest bidder at the end of a call for tenders for tanker aircraft," said a spokesman for Airbus Military. At list prices, the contract could be between $ 1.25 and $ 1.38 billion (between 954 million and 1.05 billion euros). Launched in late 2010 by the Indian government tender opposes Airbus Military Russian Ilyushin. The India could become the sixth A330 MRTT customer

  By Julien Bonnet - Factory new

Selecting the best deal, however, is only the first step in a long process of negotiation before the conclusion of a contract, it says Airbus. Dassault Aviation, selected by India in January 2012 to provide 126 combat aircraft Rafale, and is still negotiating with New Delhi to confirm the contract.