Chinook outperformed its rival on price, which includes a matrix of not only the unit f lyaway cost of each platform, but also ownership costs comprising the operating and life cycle costs, as well as ToT

Boeing appears to have done it again. It was certainly a close fight but the US-built Boeing CH-47F Chinook emerged as the most competitive offering in a two-way race against Russia’s Mi-26T2 for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to meet its heavy-lift helicopter requirement. While both helicopters performed well in field evaluation trials, it is understood that the Chinook outperformed its rival on price, which includes a matrix of not only the unit flyaway cost of each platform, but also ownership costs comprising the operating and life cycle costs, as well as transfer of technology. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is likely open negotiations with Boeing for a contract that could top $1 billion ( Rs. 5,500 crore at current exchange rates). The Chinook win came literally on the heels of Boeing’s AH-64D Apache Block III being announced the winner of the IAF’s attack helicopter programme in a closely contested competition, interestingly once again with its Russian rival the Mi-28N Night Hunter. The $1.4 billion ( Rs. 7,700 crore) deal for 22 Apaches also includes the supply of 812 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow and 342 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire-II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars. Boeing is indeed turning out to be a big contributor towards the IAF’s ambitious modernisation programmes as it had earlier bagged the $4.1 billion ( Rs. 22,500 crore) deal to equip the IAF with 10 C-17 Globemaster III strategic heavy airlifters. That is not all. In yet another loss to Moscow in a big-ticket Indian military tender, EADS/Airbus Military has emerged as the winner in the IAF’s tender for six new generation flight refuelling aircraft (RFA).

That the IAF’s quest for its modernisation and metamorphic transformation is on track is reiterated by the IAF’s Chief, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne with this edition carrying Part II of his exclusive interview wherein, he explains how the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) has helped to streamline the procurement process and reduced the procurement timelines.

The issue of ‘Siachen Imbroglio’ resurfaced once again with the Atlantic Council of Ottawa breaking news of an agreement having been reached by the ‘Track-II’ teams of India and Pakistan to ‘demilitarise’ the Siachen Glacier. As expected, the news has caused a flutter among the defence and strategic community in India, which is strongly against such a move. This edition highlights the pros and cons of piecemeal demilitarisation of Siachen in the “In Focus” and “Forum” columns. While the debate continues, it is sincerely hoped India’s politico/defence establishment would eventually take the ‘correct’ decision.

This issue also carries a cover story on fifth generation fighters explaining how synergy of stealth, super-cruise and information fusion have made them into awesome fighting machines. And how, because of emerging rivals, the buzz is fast gaining ground in the US for a manned sixth generation fighter with more powerful capabilities. On the civil aviation front, Joseph Noronha highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using the ‘jaunty jets’ or ‘practical turboprops’, especially in India’s regional aviation scenario, while Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey comments on how snail-paced improvement of infrastructure in the civil aviation sector continues to severely impede growth of the airline industry in India. All this, and much more. Happy reading.