Aren't these made by HAL from India? I read an article a couple of months back stating LM was doing this as part of the industrial offsets for the MMRCA deal they have bid for the Indian's. Boeing did the same I believe with HAL making the gun bay door on the newest Hornets. Anyway back on track this is a wonderful albeit overdue value addition to the old bird. There's life in 'em yet!
Well L-M has released all the info and is doing the development work, so I doubt HAL has anything much to do with them. This capability is not in production yet and I haven't seen any orders for it, though I bet there WILL be...
I could be wrong, but the refuelling system is still in development so I can't see WHY HAL would be helping develop this. A potential customer for this capability is probably not a regular on HAL's books and all that...
If any non-US company is involved in this work, I'd suggest it would probably be IAI...
It's a bloody good idea. There are SO many countries that operate F-16's that can't afford to operate a boom equipped refueller...
ReplyDeleteA pair of hose and drogue refuelling pods can relatively easiky be put on a lot of different aircraft though.
Or you could just ask L-M nicely to build you a KC-130J or two...
Aren't these made by HAL from India? I read an article a couple of months back stating LM was doing this as part of the industrial offsets for the MMRCA deal they have bid for the Indian's. Boeing did the same I believe with HAL making the gun bay door on the newest Hornets. Anyway back on track this is a wonderful albeit overdue value addition to the old bird. There's life in 'em yet!
ReplyDeleteWell L-M has released all the info and is doing the development work, so I doubt HAL has anything much to do with them. This capability is not in production yet and I haven't seen any orders for it, though I bet there WILL be...
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong, but the refuelling system is still in development so I can't see WHY HAL would be helping develop this. A potential customer for this capability is probably not a regular on HAL's books and all that...
If any non-US company is involved in this work, I'd suggest it would probably be IAI...
Interesting Skunk Works patch.
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo