WELCOME INDIAN FIRMS TO BE PART OF INAC
INTERVIEW WITH MATS PALMBERG, HEAD OF GRIPEN INDIA CAMPAIGN
Can you please elaborate on Saab’s concept for the Indian National Aircraft Company or INAC that you are proposing as part of the Multi-role Combat Aircraft programme?
INAC will perform final assembly and delivery of the 96 aircraft to be produced in India out of the total order for 114 aircraft, as well as having the capability to do Maintenance Repair and Overhaul
We will also to set up a Design Centre in India which will become the hub of all design related activities including test rigs for various purposes. This would be used to secure self-reliant upgrade capabilities within India, to keep the Gripen operationally relevant over time.
In combination, INAC and the design centre will have full capability for design, development and upgradation of software and hardware, and integration of new sensors and weapons.
INAC will manage the extensive supply chain we establish in India for assemblies, structures and systems enabling us a much higher ratio of indigenous content and industrial benefits than any and all of our competitors; through INAC, the Indian supply chain and our international partners with operations in and outside of India. We are welcoming Indian partners to be part of the set-up and operation of INAC
Through the Gripen program and the industrial system we establish here, we will be able to act as a true partner to the ADA and the DRDO in the development as well as in the production of future fighter aircraft
As in Brazil you are offering design capability but there is one difference to Brazil that is evident, the aircraft is besides Indian unique requirements already fully developed, how do you then focus your efforts in that area?
Firstly, the objectives and intentions laid down by the two countries are alike in many areas, but the time and place for the involvement of each of them in the Gripen program is different. Due to their early selection of Gripen E and Gripen F, Brazil has been able to play a major role in especially the airframe development of the twin-seat version: the Gripen F.
Secondly, like all countries, the defence needs of India are unique and based on its threat perceptions. The future threats will be different than today’s threat and will require abilities to quickly upgrade the aircraft capabilities to immediately counter the new threat. Those upgrades will not be related the airframe itself, rather on the tactical systems on the platform.
This means that the tactical systems, including weapon and sensors on the aircraft need to be able to be rapidly updated over time to be operational relevant. This will require:
a platform that has an inherent, quick upgrade capability i.e. Gripen
design capabilities within country, to rapidly upgrade or modify the tactical systems
For India we have therefore taken an approach focusing on providing indigenous capabilities to sustain and further develop and adapt the total aircraft system with focusing the tactical system, including weapon and sensors on the aircraft.
Through INAC, the design center and our local supply chain all future work on the platform therefore will therefore be done locally in India, catering for a true self-reliant solution
Through the Gripen program and the industrial system we establish we will be able to act as a true partner to ADA and DRDO in the development as well as in production of future fighters.
India has high requirements on Indigenous content, how do you foresee to manage that aspect?
We are working extensively internally and with our international suppliers to prepare for an indigenous content solution that meets or even I certain cases exceeds the Indian requirements on content as well as technology/capability transfer.
The diversified Indian ecosystem supplying to INAC will consist of small and medium enterprises that provide structural parts, structural assemblies as well as perform development and production of hardware and software for flight critical and tactical systems such as engine, radar, avionics etc. We will, thanks to our industrial efforts, secure a high percentage of indigenous content in the products we deliver to India and, also, plan to export out of India.