Govt to shortly declare winner of mid-air refueler competition

[anup]

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EADS/Airbus will be waiting with baited breath for an impending decision on the winner of the Indian Air Force's mid-air refueler competition. The tender, a second iteration after the first was aborted in 2009, is a delicate one for EADS. It's Airbus A330 multirole tanker transport (MRTT), which emerged the winner in the last competition, lost out when the tender was scrapped citing the cost of the system. Airbus has fielded the same aircraft for the current competition, facing off against the Russian Ilyushin-78M, six of which are already operational with the IAF at its Agra air base.

The Finance Ministry's objections on cost in 2009 are not expected to hold up the same way this time around, considering the dynamics of cost of ownership and life-cycle expenses worked into procurement processes. Russia's pitch has of course been type commonality not just with the existing flight refueling aircraft, but also with its A-50 Phalcon jets and existing heavy transports, all of which are Ilyushin-76 platforms.

[arp2041]

FINALLY!!!!

it's better be EADS. are we buying only 6 of them or we will buy more?

[SpArK]

[Sergi]

Nice pics

In Second pic there are 3 refuelling points while others have only two.
Is it so ???

[SpArK]

Nice pics

In Second pic there are 3 refuelling points while others have only two.
Is it so ???

[Sergi]

Thank you

[OrionHunter]

Why so many windows on a midair refueler? Is it a passenger aircraft converted into a refueler? Proprietary tankers do not have any windows as far as I know.

Like this Stratotanker...

[peep]

Why so many windows on a midair refueler? Is it a passenger aircraft converted into a refueler? Proprietary tankers do not have any windows as far as I know.

Like this Stratotanker...

How will you know that oil inside is getting over ? obviously through the windows only

[-1o1-]

How will you know that oil inside is getting over ? obviously through the windows only

No without windows also you can know

[Roybot]

RAAF A330 MRTT

[Raje amar]

Its actually is a MRTT (Multy role Tanker & Transport) aircraft it can eork as refuler as well as for transport either for dedicated role or combined role at the same time.

[peep]

Its actually is a MRTT (Multy role Tanker & Transport) aircraft it can eork as refuler as well as for transport either for dedicated role or combined role at the same time.

Seems IAF has drank too much of omni role cool-aid

No without windows also you can know

PJ tha woh !!

[Abingdonboy]

Why so many windows on a midair refueler? Is it a passenger aircraft converted into a refueler? Proprietary tankers do not have any windows as far as I know.

Like this Stratotanker...

The point in the A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) is it can carry fuel AND/OR tranport passengers this is one of the major selling points to the IAF and one of the advantages of the A330 over IL-78- it is like having a IL-76 and 78 in one platform.


In IAF colours:

[rai_kamal]

Useless to buy a refueler at high cost, first training and maintenance will be higher comared to il-78..
Go for il-78, coz we already have it and france is very happy with MMRCA deal so no need to make them more happy. Ilyushin should also get some orders...

[Abingdonboy]

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Seems IAF has drank too much of omni role cool-aid

It is more cost-effective to have multi-role platforms in your inventory. The A330 MRTT would supplement the transport fleet of the IAF and add some considerable lift capacity to the IAF- the IL-78 wouldn't it would be a tanker nothing else.

Useless to buy a refueler at high cost, first training and maintenance will be higher comared to il-78..
Go for il-78, coz we already have it and france is very happy with MMRCA deal so no need to make them more happy. Ilyushin should also get some orders...

Like the article said- the life cycle costs of the A330 are significantly lower than the IL-78 as is the reliability. Additionally the A330 is multi-role and will be more useful to the IAF not to mention the Russians are extremely unreliable in delivering on budget and on time.