Indian Air Force Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Competition v. 1.0 March 14, 2004 Vishal Kansagra [Mr.

Kansagra is Assistant Editor of Orbat.coms JAWAN, a new monthly edited by Duncan Maclean. This article will appear in JAWAN.]

Recently Government of India declared that IAF will purchase 125 aircraft to replace its 300 MiG-21 & 100 MiG-23 which will be retired within a decade. To maintain its current force levels, IAF will buy 125 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) to fill the void created after decommissioning of the aircrafts mentioned above. This will give some time to HAL, which is busy with its LCA Tejas program. LCA is expected to enter squadron service by 2009. Main contenders for MMRCA are MiG-29 M2 from MiG design bureau of Russia, F-16 Block 50/52 from Lockheed Martin of USA & Mirage-2000-5 from Dassault of France. Sukhoi design bureau was kept out of the race because IAF needs a fighter with a very high uptime & maximum take-off weight should not exceed 25,000 kg. So now Sukhoi is teaming up with MiG to push MiG-29 M2. Dassault and Lockheed Martin have shown interest in ToT (Transfer of Technology). Dassault has offered to set up a production line for their aircrafts that may include some Indian private companies as well. Government announced that the next government would sign the deal for this aircrafts after elections. It is expected that this deal would be signed in June-July, or it may concede with the Scorpene deal supposed to be signed in August. Given below is the background & history of all the three contenders for MMRCA.

MiG-29 M2 (MRCA) The Mig-29M2 (export name is Mig-29MRCA) is a two-seat multi-role combat aircraft. It is essentially same to MiG-29KUB, which Indian Navy will be getting as the part of Gorshkov deal. While Navy will use MiG-29KUB as twin-seat trainers, IAF will be using M2 to replace MiG-21 & MiG-23 in various roles. This aircraft is not operational yet and there is only one of its kinds. Its maiden flight was at the MAKS air show in Moscow on 26 September 2001. The MiG-29 M2 is powered by two Klimov RD-33 Series 3M turbofans which also power MiG-29K. This version has a smoke-free combustion chamber. Afterburner thrust can be briefly increased from 81.4kN to 86.3 kN for aircraft carrier launches. To accommodate more powerful engines, the air intake of the MiG-29 M2 has been enlarged. Klimov is aiming to achieve over 100kN thrust for the RD-33-10M. It retains the folding wing structure of MiG29K. Maximum take-off weight is 22,400 kg. The Ramenskoye PKB avionics design bureau is responsible for integration of the MiG-29 M2 avionics suite. This is based on a MIL-STD 1553-compliant data bus and the Z90 CPU. The radar is the Zhuk-M from Fasotron, which can track ten targets simultaneously and illuminate four. It also sports state of the art digital fly-by-wire system. It also has an air-to-ground operating mode. The nose-mounted electrooptical system is improved as well. Naturally the pilot has a helmet-mounted sight. The cockpit includes

two colour displays. As well as the Russian equipment, if the customer so wishes, Western systems can also be installed, for example INS or EW. MiG-29 M2 is designed for low-altitude operations against high- value targets under heavy electronic countermeasures. It is a major improvement of the basic Mig-29 with an in-flight refueling probe, 33% longer range, terrain-following radar, eight weapon pylons instead of 6 on the Mig-29 which can carry up to 9,920 pounds of bombs and it can carry the latest Russian Laser Guided bombs and BVR air to air missiles. The new equipment fit significantly enhances the fighting power of the existing MiG-29. Over 30 different weapons systems are available. All existing and future Russian air-to-air and tactical air-toground guided missiles can be integrated, according to RSK MiG. Enlarged fuselage back with 1,000 liters extra fuel capacity extends the range significantly. Then there are savings in the maintenance requirement thanks to new status monitoring systems. Costs per flying hour are expected to be down to $5,500. RSK MiG is also hoping to provide proof that the certificated useful life of the airframe should be increased from 2,500 to 6,000 hours. The Mig-29MRCA is also the cheapest option. Malaysia had shown some interest in this aircraft but later opted for Su-30MKM to meet its multi-role fighter requirement. IAF could have followed the same path, but its highly doubtful whether MiG bureau would be able to deliver this aircrafts on time since it already has its hands full building MiG29K for Indian Navy. Moreover this is an unproven aircraft. Another reason, which stops IAF from opting for Su-30MKI is the high level of maintenance necessary to keep such aircrafts operational. To overcome this shortcoming, IAF wants a fighter whose take-off weight is less than 25,000 kg. Advantages of using MiG-29 M2 are IAFs familiarity in operating this type of aircrafts. This is essentially an advanced version of MiG-29 that IAF has flying for close to two decades. Using this aircraft will achieve high level of commonality thus reducing the strain on logistics & simplifying the procurement procedure since Navy will be operating same aircraft. Itll also simplify the training procedure. If HAL manages to get the license for producing MiG-29 M2, then IAF can upgrade its existing fleet of MiG-29 quiet close to MiG-29 M2 standards. F-16 The original F-16 was designed as a lightweight air-to-air day fighter. Air-to-ground responsibilities transformed the first production F-16s into multi-role fighters. Block is an important term in tracing the F-16's evolution. Basically, a block is a numerical milestone. The block number increases whenever a new production configuration for the F-16 is established. Not all F-16s within a given block are the same. They fall into a number of block subsets called miniblocks. These sub-block sets are denoted by capital letters following the block number (Block 15S, for example). From Block 30/32 on, a major block designation ending in 0 signifies a General Electric engine; one ending in 2 signifies a Pratt & Whitney engine. Considering the space constraints, well only discuss Block 50/52 & Block 60, which are on offer from Lockheed Martin. The F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology. All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture that permit expansion of the multi-role flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack and beyond-visual-range interception missions. All active units and many Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units have converted to the F-16C/D, which is deployed in a number of Block variants. Block 50/52 Equipped with a Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)7 radar and a General Electric F110-GE129 Increased Performance Engine, the aircraft are also capable of using the Lockheed Martin (LANTIRN) system. Technology enhancements include color multifunctional displays and programmable display generator, a new Modular Mission Computer, a Digital Terrain System, a new color video camera and color triple-deck video recorder to record the pilot's head-up display view, and an upgraded data transfer unit. Like previous Block F-16s, Block 50/52 F-16s can carry AGM-45

Shrike, AGM-88A HARM, AGM-65 Maverick, AMRAAM. It also uses LANTIRN pods and more extensive air-to-ground loads, including the GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24 Paveway laser-guided bombs and the GBU-15. ALR-56M threat warning system, the ALE-47 advanced chaff/flare dispenser, an improved performance battery, and Falcon UP structural upgrade are some of the other features. By mid-1999 Block 50/52 F-16s carried the CBU-103/104/105 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, the AGM-154 J-SOW, and the GBU-31/32 JDAM. Block 50D/52D Wild Weasel F-16CJ (CJ means block 50) comes in C-Model (1 seat) and D-Model (2 seat) versions. It is best recognized for its ability to carry the AGM-88 HARM and the AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS) in the suppression of enemy air defenses [SEAD] mission. The HTS allows HARM to be employed in the range-known mode providing longer-range shots with greater target specificity. This specialized version of the F-16, which can also carry the ALQ-119 Electronic Jamming Pod for self protection, became the sole provider for Air Force SEAD missions when the F-4G Wild Weasel was retired from the Air Force inventory. The lethal SEAD mission now rests solely on the shoulders of the F-16 Harm Targeting System. Although F-18s and EA-6Bs are HARM capable, the F16 provides the ability to use the HARM in its most effective mode. The original concept called for teaming the F-15 Precision Direction Finding (PDF) and the F-16 HTS. Because this teaming concept is no longer feasible, the current approach calls for the improvement of the HTS capability. The improvement will come from the Joint Emitter Targeting System (JETS), which facilitates the use of HARM's most effective mode when launched from any JETS capable aircraft. Block 60 - In May 1998 the UAE announced selection of the Block 60 F-16 to be delivered between 2002-2004. The upgrade package consists of a range of modern systems including conformal fuel tanks for greater range, new cockpit displays, an internal sensor suite, a new mission computer and other advanced features including new agile beam radar. F-16s are very good aircrafts indeed with an enviable track record. They have participated in many conflicts and proved their worth. Around 4000 F-16s have been produced around the world. This aircrafts have a very high uptime & require very less maintenance, which is a plus point of any US equipment. Newer blocks of F-16 have very good AA capabilities along with its renowned strike capabilities. Lockheed Martin has offered a ToT to HAL for producing F-16s in India. This aircraft is definitely a very good aircraft, but due to its US origin, government may be bit skeptical due considering unpleasant experience of post-Pokhran embargoes. If US government wants to sell this aircrafts to India, then they need to make some big concessions in order to persuade India into buying this fine aircraft. Mirage-2000-5 IAF has been using Mirage-2000H for quite sometime now. Mirage fleet of IAF displayed its might during the 1999 Kargil conflict. IAF pilots flying Mirage-2000Hs at 30,000 ft. took out bunkers using PGMs. These bunkers were located at heights up to 15,000 ft. Those who are familiar with Himalayan terrain will know that how tough it is to fly let alone bomb bunkers. But IAF set an example in history of military aviation by executing this tough task. Part of the commendation should go to fine Mirage2000H from France. In its latest version named Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, the Mirage 2000 is capable of performing the whole array of missions that can be assigned to modern combat aircraft. Namely, air defense, air superiority, air-to-ground strike with conventional and precision-guided munitions, long-range strike with stand-off missiles, escort, SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses), ELINT/reconnaissance, maritime strike, CAS and battle area interdiction. Contrary to older generation aircraft, role change requires only routine ground operations lasting a fraction of an hour, such as fitting appropriate weapons and stores under the fuselage and wings.

The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 is flexible enough to carry out swing-role missions, i.e. missions involving more than one role during the flight. The swing-role capability hinges among other factors on the possibility of carrying a mix of air-to-air BVR missiles (Beyond Visual Range) and air-to-surface weapons. With over 600,000 flight hours logged by 8 air forces, the Mirage 2000 is combat proven. The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 retains the rugged airframe and the full fly-by-wire control system, which have made the reputation of the Mirage 2000. It can be built either as a new aircraft or retrofitted from currently operated Mirage 2000 Cs or 2000 Es. The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 fully qualifies as a 4th generation fighter, owing to a wealth of new features: o An integrated mission system with a glass cockpit, digital modular avionics and enhanced communications. o An all-aspect multi-shoot capability with the Mica missile in RF and IR versions and the RDY radar. o Extensive air-to-surface capabilities. o Additional growth potential and programming features to keep ahead of evolving threats. Dassault has also offered a ToT and also shown an interest in setting up production facility in India. Although their its share be limited to 26% at the most, it would be a good opportunity for Indian private sector companies to gain first hand experience in building such advanced systems as a modern fighter aircraft. Technical experience gained from building Mirage-2000-5 Mk2 will help HAL & other companies to come out with innovative solutions for MCA, which will be a 5+ generation aircraft. This offer is quiet lucrative since HAL will have its hands full building Su30MKI & LCA, so in order to build MMRCA on time, a new production line is required. GOI can also use this deal to acquire a couple of Rafale-M at lower cost since no other country has shown interest in buying Rafale. Rafale-M is a naval version of Rafale & may be operated by Indian Navy.