Young SasMos team delivers mission-critical panel for Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets

By https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, Oct 6: Much before Prime Minister Narendra Modi readied the blueprint for his Make in India mission, a young team of aerospace engineers from SasMos were developing mission-critical electrical panels for F/A-18 Super Hornet, a fighter its makers Boeing says is the ‘most-advanced one’ that took part in the MMRCA race. While Rafale eventually won the race, Boeing says the Super Hornet didn’t lose either.

On Thursday, SasMos handed over the first electrical panel assembly for the Super Hornets to Boeing -- a high quality job, delivered on time. While often technology might and its mission capabilities eat up all the space when success stories in military aviation are celebrated, the passion behind men gets miniaturised.

This piece should beat that trend, because, more than technology, it is the passion of a young team that’s propelling this chapter of ‘Make in India' story.

Headquartered in Hoody Village, near Whitefield, SasMos HET Technologies Ltd, Managing Director Chandrashekar H G said he had no money when military aviation inspired him. The Mysorean fell in love with flying machines while pursuing his Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Engineering.

“It’s a real technology that stands out from the rest, because it files. We were just a handful of us who began this passionate journey, with only hope funding us,” says Chandrashekar, now 50 years old.

According to him Make in India is an inspiring concept. “Because a very strong thought is being communicated to look within the country. We are excited at the new opportunities offset has given us,” he says.

The average age of engineers at SasMos is 30 years and today the employee strength has gone up to 450 from the initial 20 in 2008. Interestingly, Chandrashekar’s love for his friends is visible in the name he gave to his company. SasMos stands for Shastri and Mosale – two of his close friends.

Having delivered cockpit panels of F-15s earlier, he says his team took on the challenges of Boeing and its work philosophies. 

“It needs a lot of hardwork to live to a Boeing mandate. We decoded their expectations. We motivated ourselves. And, we knew if we did it once, we could do it again and again,” says Chandrashekar.

While the rules of game didn’t permit him to share any technical details of the electrical panels, nor the numbers, all he could say was it plays a mission-critical role.

Read full report, here: http://bit.ly/2cWROuU

MMRCA RFP buried; Parrikar drops enough hints

Just under 48 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit a clean one-ball 36 by asking the French government to deliver Rafale frontline fighters from Dassault Aviation via the government to government (G2G) route, his key man in the union cabinet and India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar did a tail clean-up act on Monday, April 13. Addressing the media at the South Block, ahead of his four-day visit to South Korea on Tuesday, Parrikar gave enough indications that the government was in no mood to continue with RFP for the 126 MMRCAs, currently stuck in a price-negotiation muddle.

Full report here: http://bit.ly/1IXHfC0

Rafale story far from over; Govt to keep HAL in the loop

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, April 11: Thirty-six Rafale jets for the plane-deprived Indian Air Force (IAF) from Dassault Aviation! That’s news all around since last night after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprang yet another surprise. 

Finally, the much-hyped mother of all deals jettisoned out of the red-tape-trap, with even the number 36 surprising many. 

Plane pundits are already out with many theories, with some even wondering the ‘logic’ behind going for such a small order, which is just enough to fill only two Squadrons. 

But, those who saw the Rafale script from close quarters confirm to OneIndia that the story is far from over. Any more surprises on this front? “Can’t predict,” they say. 

Sources confirm that the Modi government is in no mood to push Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) away, despite a strong private lobby wanting it to be out of the Rafale frame. 

“Any additional orders for Rafales will have to be via the Make in India route and it will be HAL who will be manufacturing the same. The private sector too will be roped in subsequently,” an official in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. 

Reacting to the deal, Air Marshal M Matheswaran (Retd), former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Policy, Planning and Development), IAF and currently an Advisor to HAL, told OneIndia the government’s was keen to find a quick solution. 

“The PNCs are good if they find a logical solution. In my personal opinion the RFP is a closed chapter now. I am sure the government will take a fresh call. All the future moves will be linked to Make in India, ToT (Transfer of Technology), production standards, delivery schedules and HAL’s role,” says Matheswaran.

Full report on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1CGfjxB
Earlier report on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1aiYWQJ

Dassault likely to ink $100 m Falcon business jet deal

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Dassault Aviation is likely to ink separate deals worth $100 m, through possible sale of its long-range business jets Falcon at the show. In an interview to Express, Thierry de Poncins, International Sales Director, Falcon Business Jets, confirmed that talks with various Indian companies have reached 'fruitful stage.' Swearing by the confidential business clause with Falcon customers, Thierry, however refused to give out the names of the companies, including one from Bangalore.

At Aero India, Team Dassault flew in three jets (Falcon 2000-S, Falcon 900 LX and latest Falcon 7X) for customer demonstration. Thierry said that the recent MMRCA deal with India for delivering Rafale fighters, will help Dassault to make inroads in India. “The Rafale deal will help show the confidence Dassault has in India and our relationship will further strengthen for the next 50 years,” he said. In India, Dassault has so far sold 20 Falcons with the first being to the Tatas in 1995. Companies like Religare Aviation, Taj, GMR, GVK, Reliance, Ashok Leyland and Bajaj are some of Falcon's elite customers.

Thierry says Indian business tycoons are very cost-conscious and technology-savvy, making Falcons their popular choice. “We are sure that the Indian market has great potential for these jets and in the next five years we will have another 20 Falcons flying here. Our jets are priced between $27m-$52m and we can deliver a pre-owned (used) Falcon jet without any delays, and a new one within a year,” says Thierry.

He said Dassault is all set to invest more in India and also looking at opening new offices. “We are expanding in India and have plans to set our base in Bangalore as well. The Falcons are made in the same facility (Bordeaux) as that of Rafales. We have over 2000 Falcons flying all over the world,” he said.

When asked about the competition with other business jets, including Bombardier, Gulf Stream and Embraer, Thierry said: “Our business is growing and we have also left enough room for competition.”

Copyright@The New Indian Express

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An interesting Aviation Week perspective on MMRCA race

Video Courtesy: Aviation Week