Gripen offers India technology for multi-role fighter jets

September 18th, 2009 BRASILIA - Sweden is ready to sell fighter jets to Brazil for half the price of French- or US-made aircraft and will give the South American country the capability to upgrade the planes as needed, Stockholm's deputy defence minister has said here. Sweden's Saab is competing with Dassault and Boeing to sell 36 planes to the Brazilian air force.

September 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The race for an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 combat jets in a deal worth $10 billion just got more interesting with Swedish plane maker SAAB offering an advanced version of a state-of-the-art radar with its Gripen fighter and also the wherewithal to enable its programming here. What we are offering is a second generation AESA (advanced extended search array radar) that incorporates a swishplate that enables it to rotate and considerably enhances its capabilities over the existing radar, Gripen International's India director Eddy de la Motte told reporters Wednesday.

September 7th, 2009 PARIS - Brazil is planning to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, officials said Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is currently in Brazil to negotiate the aircraft deal.

September 7th, 2009 Brazil says negotiating for French fighter jetsBRASILIA — Brazil's president said Monday his country is negotiating with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale combat jets, a sign that Dassault SA is the clear favorite over U.S. and Swedish companies to win the $2 billion-plus contract.

August 2nd, 2009 JERUSALEM - The Israeli Air Force is planning to purchase South Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jets in a bid to replace its ageing Skyhawk fleet, the Ha'aretz daily reported Sunday. A three-member delegation of the Israeli Air Force is expected to visit Seoul next week to discuss the matter with their South Korean counterparts.

July 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Eyeing high-value deals with India, including the over $10 billion contract for 126 multi role fighter aircraft, the main business lobby for India said the agreement finalised in New Delhi duirng the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will enable defence and security trade between the countries "as never before". Welcoming the End Use Monitoring agreement between the two countries, the US India Business Council (USIBC) noted that "India has budgeted as much as $40 billion through 2012 to procure 'best technologies' for the upgrade of its defence establishment" and said the agreement "will enable defence and security trade between the US and India as never before." The agreement will also "facilitate the participation of US companies in supporting India in transforming its military and homeland security apparatus," it said.

June 21st, 2009 LONDON - European defence ministers are meeting in Spain Monday ahead of the start of Indian trials for a new generation of fighter aircraft in a multi-billion-pound deal eyed by major manufacturers across the world. Although the summit in Seville is expected to focus on the fate of the European A400M military transport aircraft, there is reported to be mounting interest in the Indian competition that is set to begin next month and expected to last a year.

June 15th, 2009 TEZPUR J - To strengthen its capability along the borders of China, the Indian Air force (IAF) today stationed four Sukhoi fighter jets at the Tezpur airbase in Assam. Air Marshal S.K.

April 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Flight trials are likely to begin in May of planes in the running for a $10 billion Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), a top commander said Wednesday. 'Hopefully, the flight trials shall commence by the end of May,' IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major told reporters on the sidelines of a book release here.

February 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Air Force (IAF), struggling to maintain its operational capabilities with an ageing and depleting strength of combat aircraft, will see its fighter squadrons rising from the current 32 to 42 by 2022, parliament was informed Wednesday. 'With the planned induction of Su-30, Jaguar, medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and the light combat aircraft (LCA) during 2007-22, the strength at the end of the 11th, 12th and 13th plan periods is expected to increase to 35.5, 35 and 42 squadrons respectively,' Defence Minister A.K.

February 14th, 2009 BANGALORE - Two rear tyres of the US fighter jet F-16IN Super Viper of global aerospace major Lockheed Martin burst Sunday afternoon while landing after a regular sortie at Aero India international air show, the company said, but added that no one was injured. 'Both the left and right rear tyres burst one after the other due to heat and friction.

February 7th, 2009 BANGALORE - Global aerospace majors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Dassault have flown in their metal birds to India's IT hub to showcase their air power at the seventh Aero India 2009 biannual trade expo that takes off Wednesday from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station at Yelahanka. Billed as Asia's premier event in the aviation sector, the five-day international trade expo-cum-conference will showcase an array of fighter jets, helicopters, transport and civil aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and a host of products/technologies that form the eco-system of the multi-billion dollar global aerospace industry.

February 5th, 2009 BANGALORE - Ace Indian shooter and the country's first Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra will fly aboard Lockheed Martin's fighter jet F-16IN at the Aero India international air show here Feb 12, it was announced Friday. With this, Bindra enters the exclusive club of personalities including Ratan Tata, who flew the F-16 in 2007, and former president A.P.J.

January 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A massive ground-to-air security apparatus, comprising fighter jets, anti-aircraft guns and thousands of security personnel, will be placed in and around Delhi during the Republic Day parade to thwart any untoward incident. 'Three fighter jets are being stationed at Air Force Station, Hindon (near Delhi), for the Republic Day parade.

January 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to conduct trials in April-May of six different medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMCA) being considered for its order of 126 fighters, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said Saturday. 'The technical evaluation of the MMCA is almost complete.