This weekend I was away and a bunch of you have asked my thoughts on:
1.About first batch of Tejas accepted with “concessions”
2.The reduced MRFA numbers
3.License manufacture
My thoughts ...
1.About first batch of Tejas accepted with “concessions”
2.The reduced MRFA numbers
3.License manufacture
My thoughts ...
1.1 Tejas accepted with concessions: Can anybody here show me a modern fighter whose first few batches were accepted without any “concessions”? These are simple Google searches away. I will wait.
1.2Forget the rest of the world, let’s stick to IAF. What was the state of Jaguar when it was inducted? Read this EXCELLENT article by Kapil Bhargava: #gsc.tab=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener" onclick="event.stopPropagation()">bharat-rakshak.com
1.3 How about the first batches of Su-30s, Mig-29s, Mirage2000? Modern fighter jets are extremely complex. They are operationalized and deficiencies identified and removed over their entire lifetime.
1.4 Waiting for a perfect fighter on day 1 is “unobtanium”. US goes through “blocks” of aircrafts, Russia tends to rename MiG29-> Mig35, Su-27->Su-30->Su-35->Su-50. France goes through tranches. There is no exception to this rule.
1.5. It is interesting that the author invokes China. China did not get to J-20 just like that. They flew less capable aircraft than India, Pakistan, Russia and US for decades. Their goal and their resolve is clear and admirable.
1.6. Historically, in war, people build whatever they can at the fastest rate possible. Please read about the weapons of the World-War, the last war among equals. Nobody waits for the "perfect" or the imported.
Ironically, war-fighting tech develops fastest during such periods.
Ironically, war-fighting tech develops fastest during such periods.
1.7. There is a difference between the Kapil Bhargavas, @JA_Maolankar,@hvtiaf of the world and the writer of this article. The former try to solve problems when they find them. The latter JUST crib about them. The latter rarely build capability or capacity.
2.1 Reduced MRFA numbers: Sanity at last! Thank you decision makers. Please get the 57 as outright G2G deals. Please don’t spend money on the snake-oil which is “technology-transfer”.
2.2 Any technical manager of refute will tell you: For a successful project, its definition must be clearly understood and outlined at the beginning of the project.
How does one clearly define the technology that one is trying to acquire, i.e. know what (s)he doesn't know?
How does one clearly define the technology that one is trying to acquire, i.e. know what (s)he doesn't know?
2.3. On the other hand, why would I give you technology worth billions?
Consequently, every tech transfer deal to date shows how the OEMs circumvented the original intent because it is so easy to circumvent loosely written requirement specs.
Consequently, every tech transfer deal to date shows how the OEMs circumvented the original intent because it is so easy to circumvent loosely written requirement specs.
3.1 Technology transfer through license manufacture: Please stop this.
License manufacturing has many successes to show in both the public and private sector. The technology that rightly transfers is manufacturing tech.
License manufacturing has many successes to show in both the public and private sector. The technology that rightly transfers is manufacturing tech.
3.2 The technology that has never transferred in public or private is design know-how. Tatas, Ashok-Leyland, Kirloskars, BEML all build large diesel engines. For decades. Still none can design a world-class diesel engine above 450 HP
3.3. To my knowledge Bharat-Forge and L&T have shown some design know-how absorption capability. I would like to know what works for them. May be they have considerable domain knowledge already.
3.4 But in general, I really believe that “you don’t really understand something until you have built it”.
It will be rough around the edges, but you will know what are the edges and which edges to smoothen. Putting together perfectly shiny parts into a shiny product ...
It will be rough around the edges, but you will know what are the edges and which edges to smoothen. Putting together perfectly shiny parts into a shiny product ...
3.5. There will always be Ducati designers, mechanics and riders. The same for any other technology intensive product.
Indian policy makers need to understand which one India would like to be.
Indian policy makers need to understand which one India would like to be.
repute*
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