Of Special Interest (to Indian eyes) at Le Bourget 2019

With imminent handover of the first Dassault Rafales to the Indian Air Force just some months away, the cynosure of all eyes, particularly Indian, were the graceful lines and thunderous visage of Dassault’s Rafale fighter which dominated the Company’s static display outside the main hall at the 53^rd Paris Air Show. Strategically positioned, the Rafale was visited by special invitees while the general public were treated to superb aerobatic displays by the Armée de l'Air every afternoon.

The first Indian Air Force pilots and engineers selected for Rafale conversion training have already been in France for several months even as other IAF pilots,on Su-30MKIs have cross-flown with French Air Force pilots at the recent Garuda Exercise (see separate article). The only evidence of an IAF Rafale at the Show was the model amongst a number displayed at the Dassault stand in Hall 2.

Model of the Rafale in IAF markings

New Generation Fighters

Even as this ‘next gen’ fighter will soon be in India, the Europeans have embarked on the ‘sixth’ gen with the full scale model of France and Germany’s New Generation Fighter (NGF), which has also been referred to as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) being unveiled in presence of French President Macron at Le Bourget. On the sidelines, DefenceMinisters of France, Germany and Spain had initialed a framework packed which was followed by joint industrial proposal formalised by Eric Trappier of Dassault and Dirk Hoke of Airbus Defence& Space.

The full scale mockup of the NGF at the Dassault static display

The NGF is the manned element of theSystème de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF), that aims to develop a “system of systems” to meet air power requirements from 2040, a “6th generation aircraft to replace the present Rafale (and Typhoon) in service. The programme is fairly ambitious, with the demonstrator phase (2019-2021) to be starting point for technology development and air combat cloud, with the prototype to fly by 2026. According to Eric Trappier “the progress we have achieved on the FCAS programme in recent months is remarkable. It will shape Europe’s most decisive military air combat programme for the decades to come and turn out a strong move in constructing Europe’s sovereignty”.

According to industrial sources, other companies involved in the FCAS programme are engine manufacturer Safran, working alongside MTU Aero Engines, MBDA and Thales, all of whom have been involved with Indian programmes

Indian eyes could not help but focus on the SPICE (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) 2000 which is an Israeli-developed, EO/GPS-guided guidance kit for converting air-droppable unguided bombs into precision guided bombs. A derivative of the "Popeye" (AGM-142 Have Nap) air-to-surface missile, the "Spice" is a product of Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It achieved initial operational capability during 2003, in Israeli Air Force F-16 squadrons and became a “household” word after the IAFs use of these on 26 February 2019 at Balakot.

Opportunities for HAL

Show after show the Swiss company RUAG have static displayed a Dornier 228, in some hope that this, essentially HAL-manufactured light transport aircraft would attract export orders. Relationship between the two companies has reportedly remained rocky, with various quality control aspects being flagged but the truth of the matter is that this relationship could never work, the essentially Swiss government organisation having gone off on a different tangent from its raison d'être,that of supporting Swiss Armed Forces. It is now open knowledge that RUAG is ‘pulling out’ of the Dornier 228 programme and is looking for buyers, 35 years after the programme was ‘sold’ by the erstwhile German parent company to the Indian Government.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited which have now for over 35 years been building the Dornier 228 in several variants at its Kanpur Division, have delivered well over hundred of this versatile aircraft but primarily to Indian defence operators and continue to do so. It is therefore sad commentary that HAL has made little or no impression on those looking for such cost effective aircraft particularly for maritime surveillance.

RUAG’s Dornier 228NG at Le Bourget

The RUAG-Dornier 228 NG was parked close to a Saab 340 maritime patrol version while the venerable Viking Twin Otter Guardian 400 is being marketed with great vigour to potential operators. In fact, being touted as a new intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, developed in association with Austrian company Airborne Technologies was seen mounted with a SCAR 15 pod, equipped with a Hensoldt ARGOS II electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) camera.

According to Viking, “the ability to change the aircraft’s role rapidly helps to provide potential users with a versatility in the platform that can cover multiple tasks and missions, with reduced operating costs that multiple aircraft would incur”. The Viking Twin Otter has been in service with Vietnam’s Navy which Service is likely to order additional aircraft including those with floats.

HAL and PAC : a study in contrast

Unfortunately, HAL’s presence at the Paris Air Show was restricted to their now customary double chalet, with a fleet of luxury sedans with VIP stickers parked outside. There was little to attempt to showcase HAL’s range of products, the Dornier 228 amongst them, with only some images of the type, along with those of the Tejas LCA, brandished on an outside wall.

In sharp contrast was the rather modest PAC chalet, just a little distance away with a small golf cart parked outside. However, there were scores of PAF personnel around, including numbers of pilots and maintenance personnel in support of the three PAC/CAC JF-17 Thunder fighters which took part at the Show. The example on static display also had a range of weaponry the type is equipped to carry, which attracted much public attention. These JF-17s were from No.2 Squadron “Minhas” based at Masroor (Karachi) and their pilots were amiable in discussions with visitors (including curious Indian journalists).

Young fighter pilots of No.2 (Multi Role) Squadron, PAF

In fact the JF-17 was only one of the two contemporary fighters carrying out flight displays and demonstrations over the skies of Le Bourget everyday, apart from theDassault Rafale. The JF-17 was displayed with confidence although one PAF pilot rued that the air space allotted was “too tight for the display to have been even more spectacular !”

The JF-17 is jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China, with about 100 such fighters now serving with the Pakistan Air Force in five frontline squadrons and the Combat Commanders School (CCS). These include, besides No.2 Squadron, Nos 14, 16, 26 and 28 Squadrons, the last providing aircraft for Exercise Anatolian Eaglewhich was taking place in Turkey almost at the same time as the Paris Air Show (see separate article).

Colourful insignia worn by an An array of weaponry carried by the Thunder

ex-No.20 squadron pilot.

The first tranche of aircraft were Block 1standard which gave way to Block 2 while production at PAC Kamra has progress to Block-3 which features further avionics advancements including helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S) system, a new single panel multi-functional display (MFD), an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar paired with an infrared search and track (IRST) system.

The two-seat version (JF-17B) has been developed for both type conversion training as also enhanced operational capability and first examples seen in No.16 Squadron markings. Development of the twin-seater was reportedly encouraged by potential export customers and according to authoritative sources, in new contracts signed recently, 26 JF-17Bs will be produced at Kamra in the coming years alongside 50 Block-3 JF-17s.

Chinese company executives follow the JF-17 flight demonstration

The JF-17 is now being operated by the Air Forces of Myanmar and Nigeria while sustained marketing efforts continue to interest countries such as Algeria, Argentina, Qatar, Malaysia, Morocco, Indonesia, Uruguay, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Gauged from the large numbers of delegations visiting the CAC chalet during JF-17 flight demonstrations as also being given detailed briefings around the aircraft on static display at Le Bourget, prospects for Thunders operating in different colours seems very high indeed.

Turkish delights

Mockup of the TF-X

Meanwhile, even while Pakistani and Turkish fighters were exercising, the ‘Red Crescent’ flag flew proudly at Le Bourget with several new Turkish aircraft programmes on display, with the fifth generation TF-X presented as a full scale mockup. According to Turkish Aerospace, its roll out is planned for 2023 and first flight expected in 2026. Turkey has also been developing a new advanced jet trainer, the Hurjet, to replace the current Northrop T-38s in service. Wind tunnel testing has been completed and first flight is expected in 2022. In a significant move, the Turkish authorities have reportedly issued a letter of intent to Eurojet for integration of the EJ-200 in the Hurjet which will clearly give this aircraft supersonic capability.

The Hurjet advanced jet trainer will have an EJ-200 power plant

Turkish Aerospace has meanwhile completed development of the Hurkush B turboprop trainer, with first deliveries to be made shortly. A light attack version Hurkush C is likely to follow. In the area of unmanned vehicles Turkish Aerospace have develop the Anka-Aksungur UAV can carry a 750-kg payload at altitude of upto 40,000 feet with various indigenously manufactured payloads. There are also several helicopter programmes including the T-625 Gokbey, this 6-tonne rotorcraft making its maiden flight in September 2018.

The NGF is the manned element of theSystème de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF), that aims to develop a “system of systems” to meet air power requirements from 2040, a “6th generation aircraft to replace the present Rafale (and Typhoon) in service.

SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 on static display

The PN ATR-72 MPA

Its nearest neighbour at the static display was a Pakistan Navy ATR-72 MPA which after conversion for a maritime role by Rheinland Air Service (RAS) has been transformed into the Sea Eagle(see separate article). This aircraft too was the object of curious Indian eyes !

Vayu Editorial Team at Paris