Indian Defence Library

[Rajaraja Chola]

Rafale Multirole Combat Fighter

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks, reconnaissance, high-accuracy strikes and nuclear strike deterrence.
The aircraft were developed for the French Air Force and Navy. France's Air Force and Navy ordered 180 (132 for the air force and 48 for the navy), 100 aircraft had been delivered by the end of 2010.
The Rafale entered into service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. Ten aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
Rafale fighter aircraft development

Rafale B and C entered service with the French Air Force in June 2006, when the first squadron was established. The second air force squadron was set up in 2008. A €3.1bn ($3.89bn) contract to develop the fully capable F3 standard aircraft was awarded to Dassault Aviation (€1.5bn), Snecma (€600m), Thales (€500m) and other French contractors by the French Ministry of Defence in February 2004.
"The Rafale entered into service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. Ten aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier."
An order for 59 F3 aircraft, 47 for the air force (11 two-seat and 36 single-seat) and 12 (single-seat) for the navy, was placed in December 2004. The Rafale F3 was certified in July 2008. The contract also includes upgrades of the Rafale F2 aircraft.
The first Rafale F3 was delivered to the French Air Force in 2008. In March 2007, three French Air Force and three navy Rafale fighters were deployed in Tajikistan in support of the Nato International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
The French Government ordered 60 additional Rafale aircraft in November 2009. Brazil's Government awarded a $4bn contract to Dassault Aviation in January 2010 to supply 36 Rafale multirole aircraft.
The UAE was expected to acquire the Rafale under a $10bn contract to replace its 60 ageing Mirage fighters. In November 2011, however, the deal came to a standstill when the UAE termed Dassault's price and terms as "uncompetitive". The country is also considering Eurofighter's Typhoon to replace its ageing Mirage fighters.
In February 2012, the Indian Ministry of Defence selected Rafale for the Indian Air Force's MMRCA (medium multirole combat aircraft) programme. The contract is worth approximately $20bn.
Rafale emerged as the preferred aircraft from among various contenders for what is being called the biggest military aviation contract in the world. Its closest contender was Eurofighter's Typhoon.
Under the contract, Dassault will supply 126 Rafale fighters. The first 18 fighters will be supplied by 2015 and the rest will be manufactured in India under a technology transfer to Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). This contract will be the first international supply for Rafale.

Cockpit of Dassault's Rafale

The cockpit has hands-on throttle and stick control (HOTAS). The cockpit is equipped with a heads-up, wide-angle holographic display from Thales Avionique, which provides aircraft control data, mission data and firing cues.
A collimated, multi-image head-level display presents tactical situation and sensor data, while two touch-screen lateral displays show the aircraft system parameters and mission data.
The pilot also has a helmet-mounted sight and display. A CCD camera and on-board recorder records the image of the head-up display throughout the mission.
Rafale fighter weapons

Rafale can carry payloads of more than 9t on 14 hardpoints for the air force version, with 13 for the naval version. The range of weapons includes: Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick and PGM100 air-to-ground missiles and Exocet / AM39, Penguin 3 and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
For a strategic mission the Rafale can deliver the MBDA (formerly Aerospatiale) ASMP stand-off nuclear missile. In December 2004, the MBDA Storm Shadow / Scalp EG stand-off cruise missile was qualified on the Rafale.
In September 2005, the first flight of the MBDA Meteor BVRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile was conducted on a Rafale fighter. In December 2005, successful flight trials were carried out from the Charles de Gaulle of the range of Rafale's weapon systems - Exocet, Scalp-EG, Mica, ASMP-A (to replace the ASMP) and Meteor missiles.
In April 2007, the Rafale carried out the first firing of the Sagem AASM precision-guided bomb, which has both GPS / inertial guidance and, optionally, imaging infrared terminal guidance. Rafale have been equipped with the AASM from 2008. Rafale can carry six AASM misssiles, with each aiming to hit the target with 10m accuracy.
The Rafale has a twin gun pod and a Nexter (formerly Giat) 30mm DEFA 791B cannon, which can fire 2,500 rounds a minute. The Rafale is equipped with laser designation pods for laser guidance of air-to-ground missiles.
Countermeasure and sensor technology on the twin-jet combat aircraft

Rafale's electronic warfare system is the Spectra from Thales. Spectra incorporates solid state transmitter technology, a DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detection systems and jammers.
The Rafale is equipped with an RBE2 passive electronically scanned radar developed by Thales which has look down and shoot down capabilities. The radar can track up to eight targets simultaneously and provides threat identification and prioritisation.
Thales developed an active electronically scanned version of the RBE2 which equipped the Rafale in February 2011. Flight tests of the radar onboard the Rafale took place in 2008.
RUAG Aviation has been awarded a $5m contract by Thales in May 2009 to produce sub assemblies for the RBE2 radar to be equipped on the Rafale fighter jet.
Optronic systems include the Thales / SAGEM OSF infrared search and track system, installed in the nose of the aircraft. The optronic suite carries out search, target identification, telemetry and automatic target discrimination and tracking.
In January 2012, the French Ministry of Defence awarded a ten-year contract to Thales to maintain the electronic systems and warfare of the aircraft.
Navigation and communications of Dassault Aviation's Rafale

The communications suite on the Rafale uses the Saturn on-board V/UHF radio, which is a second-generation, anti-jam tactical UHF radio for Nato. Saturn provides voice encryption in fast-frequency hopping mode.
"In February 2012, the Indian Ministry of Defence selected Rafale for the Indian Air Force's MMRCA (medium multirole combat aircraft) programme."
The aircraft is also equipped with fixed-frequency VHF / UHF radio for communications with civil air traffic control. A multifunction information distribution system (MIDS) terminal provides secure, high-data-rate tactical data exchange with Nato C2 stations, AWACS aircraft or naval ships.
The Rafale is powered by two M88-2 engines, each providing a thrust of 75kN.
Rafale is equipped with a Thales TLS 2000 navigation receiver, which is used for the approach phase of flight. TLS 2000 integrates the instrument landing system (ILS), microwave landing system (MLS) and VHF omni-directional radio-ranger (VOR) and marker functions.
The radar altimeter is the AHV 17 altimeter from Thales, which is suitable for very low flight. The Rafale has a TACAN tactical air navigation receiver for en-route navigation and as a landing aid.
The Rafale has an SB25A combined interrogator-transponder developed by Thales. The SB25A is the first IFF using electronic scanning technology.
Rafale engines

The Rafale is powered by two M88-2 engines from SNECMA, each providing a thrust of 75kN. The aircraft is equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling with a flight refuelling hose reel and drogue pack. The first M88 engine was delivered in 1996. It is a twin-shaft bypass turbofan engine principally suitable for low-altitude penetration and high-altitude interception missions.
The M88 incorporates the latest technologies such as single-piece bladed compressor disks (blisks), an on-polluting combustion chamber, single-crystal high-pressure turbine blades, powder metallurgy disks, ceramic coatings and composite materials.
The M88 engine comprises a three-stage LP compressor with inlet guide vane, an annular combustion chamber, single-stage cooled HP turbine, single-stage cooled LP turbine, radial A/B chamber, variable-section convergent flap-type nozzle and full authority digital engine control (FADEC).
Messier-Dowty provides 'jumper' landing gear, designed to spring out when the aircraft is catapulted by the nose gear strut.

Rafale Cockpit

 

[Koovie]

INS Chakra (Akula class) Nuclear Attack Submarine

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

APACHE LONGBOW ATTACK HELICOPTER

The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). It entered service with the US Army in 1984 and has been exported to Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UK.
The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service, and more than 1,000 have been exported. The Apache was first used in combat in 1989 in the US military action in Panama. It was used in Operation Desert Storm and has supported low intensity and peacekeeping operations worldwide including Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo.
The AH-64D Longbow was deployed by the US Army in Afghanistan as part of Operation Anaconda, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and, from June 2003, in South Korea.
The AH-64D Longbow is fitted with the Longbow millimetre wave fire control radar and the Longbow Hellfire missile. 501 AH-64A Apaches upgraded to AH-64D standard have been delivered to the US Army. Deliveries completed in August 2006.
An additional 13 new-build Apaches were initially ordered, along with another 11 in November 2006. The US Army ordered 96 additional remanufactured helicopters in January 2007 and 18 new-build helicopters in April 2007.
"The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing)."
During the same year, 30 AH-64Ds were ordered by the UAE. The first new-build AH-64D was delivered to the US Army in June 2007 and the first of the additional remanufactured helicopters in October 2007.
International Apache orders

The Longbow has also been ordered by the Netherlands (30, deliveries complete), Singapore (20, first delivered in May 2002, deliveries complete), Israel (designated "Seraph" nine new, nine remanufactured, first delivered April 2005) and Egypt (35, remanufactured, deliveries completed in January 2007) AND LASTLY IN INDIA(2012).
A number of AH-64A helicopters have been upgraded to AH-64D standard for South Korea. 30 UAE Apaches are being upgraded to AH-64D Longbow standard, and deliveries began in May 2008. In June 2006, Saudi Arabia requested the upgrade of 12 Apaches to standard and, in September 2008, the sale of 12 new AH-64Ds. In October 2008, Taiwan requested the sale of 30 AH-64D Block III Apaches.
In August 2001, the AH-64D was selected by the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force with a requirement for 55 helicopters. The Apache for Japan is designated AH-64DJP and is armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles.
In September 2002, Kuwait ordered 16 AH-64D helicopters. The first was delivered in February 2007. The Kuwaiti Apaches are equipped with BAE Systems HIDAS defensive aids system. In September 2003, Greece signed a contract for 12 (plus four options) AH-64D Longbow, also to be fitted with HIDAS. The first was delivered in January 2007.
In June 2011, Taiwan placed a $2.5bn order for 30 AH-64D Apache block III helicopters. The helicopters are scheduled to be delivered between 2012 and 2013.
AH-64A/D Apache upgrades

The first of the upgraded block II Apaches was delivered to the US Army in February 2003. Block II included upgrades to the digital communications systems of 96 A-model Apaches to improve communications within the "tactical internet". In October 2007, Boeing delivered the first extended block II to the US Army.
In July 2005, the US Army awarded Boeing a development contract for block III improvements, to enter service from 2011. In December 2009, the maiden flight test of AH-64D Apache with block III structures were completed.
"Block III improvements, slated for 2008 onwards, include increasing digitisation."
Block III includes increasing digitisation, the joint tactical radio system, enhanced engines and drive systems, capability to control UAVs and new composite rotor blade. The new blades, which successfully completed flight testing in May 2004, increase the Apache's cruise speed, climb rate and payload capability.
The block III system development and demonstration (SDD) contract was awarded to Boeing in July 2006. First flight of the Apache Block III was in July 2008. The US Army plans to upgrade all its Apache fleet to block III standard.
Science Engineering Services Inc, (SES) is a partner to Boeing in upgrading the AH-64D helicopters to the block III configuration. It will perform disassembly, inspection and repair of the AH-64D Apache helicopters.
The disassembly, inspection and repair works will take place at the SES West Aviation and Integration Facility in Huntsville. The helicopters will then be shipped to Boeing in Mesa, Arizona, for incorporating the AH-64D Apache block III.
WAH-64 Longbow Apache

A consortium of GKN Westland (now AgustaWestland), Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Shorts bid a version of the Longbow Apache for the UK Army attack helicopter requirement which was selected in July 1995. Assembly of the WAH-64 Longbow Apache was carried out in the UK by AgustaWestland.
The first helicopter entered service in January 2001 designated as the AH mk1. 67 helicopters have been delivered; the last was formally handed over at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2004.
Initial operating capability was achieved in October 2004 and, in May 2005, the first of three Army Air Corps regiments of 18 helicopters was declared fully operational. The other two regiments are expected were fully operational by 2010. The AH mk1 helicopter has also been operated successfully on HMS Ocean helicopter carrier and, in November 2006, made a first landing on Invincible Class aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal.
In March 2007, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that, by September 2007, all UK Army Apache helicopters would be based at Wattisham Airbase in Suffolk.
Apache weapons

A 30mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun is located under the fuselage. It provides a rate of fire of 625 rounds a minute. The helicopter has capacity for up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition.
The AH-64D is armed with the Lockheed Martin / Boeing AGM-114D Longbow Hellfire air-to-surface missile which has a millimetre wave seeker which allows the missile to perform in full fire and forget mode. Range is 8km to 12km.
"The Apache's 30mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun fires 625 rounds a minute."
The Apache can be equipped with air-to-air missiles (Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mistral and Sidearm) and the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS), formerly known as Hydra, family of guided and unguided 70mm rockets. Plans to arm the Apache with the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) II, a laser-guided version of the Hydra were shelved in the FY2008 budget. The US Army awarded BAE Systems a development contract for the APKWS II in April 2006.
British Army AH mk1 helicopters are armed with the CRV7 70mm rocket system from Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Longbow Apache carries the combination of armaments chosen for the particular mission. In the close support role, the helicopter carries 16 Hellfire missiles on four four-rail launchers and four air-to-air missiles.
Sensors

The AH-64D Longbow Apache is equipped with the Northrop Grumman millimetre-wave Longbow radar. The Longbow fire control radar incorporates an integrated radar frequency interferometer for passive location and identification of radar-emitting threats. An advantage of millimetre wave is that it performs under poor-visibility conditions and is less sensitive to ground clutter. The short wavelength allows a very narrow beamwidth, which is resistant to countermeasures.
The Longbow Apache can effect an attack in 30 seconds. The radar dome is unmasked for a single radar scan and then remasked. The processors determine the location, speed and direction of travel of a maximum of 256 targets.
The target acquisition designation sight, TADS (AN/ASQ-170), and the pilot night vision sensor, PNVS (AN/AAQ-11), were developed by Lockheed Martin. The turret-mounted TADS provides direct-view optics, television and three-fields-of-view forward-looking infrared (FLIR) to carry out search, detection and recognition, and Litton laser rangefinder / designator. PNVS consists of a FLIR in a rotating turret located on the nose above the TADS. The image from the PNVS is displayed in the monocular eyepiece of the Honeywell integrated helmet And display sighting system, IHADSS, worn by the pilot and copilot / gunner.
"The AH-64D Longbow Apache is equipped with the Northrop Grumman millimetre-wave Longbow radar."
Lockheed Martin has developed a new targeting and night vision system for the Apache, using second-generation long-wave infrared sensors with improved range and resolution. The new system is called Arrowhead and has a targeting FLIR with three fields of view, a dual field-of-view pilotage FLIR, a CCD TV camera, electronic zoom, target tracker and auto-boresight. Arrowhead entered production in December 2003 and the first unit was delivered to the US Army in May 2005. 704 US Army Apaches are to be equipped with Arrowhead by 2011.
A contract to equip the UK AH Mk1 helicopters with Arrowhead was placed in May 2005. The first two were delivered in November 2008 and deliveries concluded in 2010.
Countermeasures

The Apache is equipped with an electronic warfare suite consisting of: AN/APR-39A(V) radar warning receiver from Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) and Lockheed Martin; Lockheed Martin AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer Electronic Support target acquisition system; AN/ALQ-144 infra-red countermeasures set from BAE Systems IEWS (formerly Sanders, a Lockheed Martin company); AN/AVR-2 laser warning receiver from Goodrich (formerly Hughes Danbury Optical Systems then Raytheon); AN/ALQ-136(V) radar jammer developed by ITT; and chaff dispensers.
US Army Longbow Apaches were to be fitted with the ITT AN/ALQ-211 SIRCM (suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures) suite, however the availability of funding for this project is uncertain.
UK AH mk1 Apaches are fitted with BAE Systems helicopter integrated defensive aids suite (HIDAS), also chosen by Kuwait and Greece. HIDAS, which includes the Sky Guardian 2000 radar warning receiver, entered service on the AH mk1 in July 2003.
Israeli AH-64D helicopters are fitted with the Elisra Seraph self-protection system, including SPS-65 missile warner and SPJ-40 radar jammer.
Dutch AH-64D helicopters are being fitted with the Northrop Grumman directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) pod.
Engines

The Apache is equipped with two turboshaft engines, each providing 1,265kW. The American AH-64D has General Electric T700-GE-701 engines and the UK Apache is fitted with RTM322 engines from Rolls-Royce / Turbomeca.
Performance

The AH-64 Apache can climb at a rate of 889m/min. The maximum and cruise speeds of the helicopter are 279km/h and 260km/h respectively. The ferry range and service ceiling of the helicopter are 1,900km and 6,400m respectively. The endurance is 3 hours 9 minutes. The helicopter weighs around 5,165kg, while the maximum take-off weight is 10,433kg

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/apache/

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Agni-V Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM), India

Agni-V is a long range ballistic missile (LRBM) being developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. It is the first long-range intercontinental ballistic missile of India and is said to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The missile has a range of 5,000km.
Agni-V was successfully test-fired from a test range at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Orissa in eastern India, in April 2012. It was launched from Launch Complex 4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) using a rail mobile launcher.
With the successful launch of Agni-V, India has joined the elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, China, France and the UK which possess LRBM capability. Though the official range of the missile is 5,000km, China has claimed that the Indian missile has a range of 8,000km.
Agni-V is expected to enter service with the Indian Army by 2014-15. Agni-V belongs to the Agni (meaning 'fire' in Hindi) class of missiles.
Development of India's Agni long range missile programme

"With the successful launch of Agni-V, India has joined the elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, China, France and the UK which possess LRBM capability."
Development of Agni-V LRBM began in 2008. Although developed as an extension to the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile, Agni-V is an entirely new design developed using inputs from Agni-III.
Agni-V is a three-stage solid-propellant missile. The first stage was adapted from Agni-III. Two stages of this missile were made of composite material. About 60% of the sub-systems used in Agni-V are similar to those of Agni-III.
Remaining systems, including the Ring Laser Gyro based inertial navigation system (INS) and accelerometer, were developed using advanced technologies. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a wing of DRDO, supplied gyroscope technology which was proved successful with Agni-III and Shourya missiles.
The three solid-propellant composite rocket motor stages of the missile were independently tested by mid-2011. During the first launch, Agni-V's flight time lasted 20 minutes and the third stage fired the re-entry vehicle. The re-entry vehicle hit the pre-designated target located more than 5,000km away from the launch site. The ships deployed at midrange and target point tracked the missile's trajectory.
The intercontinental missile has a length of 17.5m and a diameter of two metres. The launch weight of the missile is 50t. It can carry a payload of more than 1,000kg. The missile has a range of 5,000km, which can be further increased by reducing the payload.
Multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) and warhead details

Agni-V is attached with multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). MIRVs can carry three to ten independent nuclear warheads.
"Agni-V is a canister-launched, road-mobile missile similar to the Dongfeng-31A of China."
Each warhead can be assigned to engage different targets located hundreds of kilometres away from each other.
Two or more warheads can also be assigned to a single target for better strike impact.
MIRVs provide a second strike capability against hard targets. MIRV warheads are also equipped with electronic equipment for jamming hostile radars. The interception of multiple warheads is much harder than killing a single warhead.
Propulsion of the Agni-V LRBM

Agni-V is powered by three solid fuelled engines. It uses a composite case solid rocket motor for the third stage. The first stage engine propels the missile up to 40km height. The second and third stages take it into 150km and 300km of height respectively. The missile finally reaches 800km and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere to fly towards the target.
Launch platform used for the DRDO's long range ballistic missile

Agni-V is a canister-launched, road-mobile missile similar to the Dongfeng-31A of China. The launch platform is the 8 x 8 Tatra TELAR (transporter erector launcher) rail mobile launcher.
The canister is made of maraging steel and provides a completely airtight atmosphere to preserve the missile for years. The canister is designed to withstand 300 to 400t of thrust generated at the time of missile launch.
Navigation systems aboard the Indian Agni-V missile

Agni-V is equipped with a Ring Laser Gyro based inertial navigation system (INS) and the modern micro navigation system (MINS). The navigation system, the onboard high speed computer and the fault tolerant software were all developed indigenously.

Agni-V Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) - Army Technology

 

[arp2041]

NDTV Video Collection:

Ladakh Scouts:

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Indian Special Forces:

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NSG:

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INS Teg:

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Mi-17V-5:

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C-130J:

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[arp2041]

From One of my Earlier Threads:

Military use of Space by India

Like the other big players in the space technology, India of late have been actively engaging itself to the use of space for it's armed forces, here is the list of applications of space which India is utilizing for it's military:

Satellites:

TES (Technology Experiment Satellite) – Launched in 2001, this 1108kg satellite has a pan chromatic camera for remote sensing. The camera is capable of producing image of 1 mt. resolution. Imagery from the TES has been used by the Indian military, it also helped the US army with high-resolution images during the 9/11 counter against the Taliban.

CartoSat 1 – It was launched in 2005 & weighed around 1560 kg. CartoSat 1 carries two state-of-the-art panchromatic (PAN) cameras that take black and white stereoscopic pictures of the earth in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The swath covered by these high resolution PAN cameras is 30 km and their spatial resolution is 2.5 metres (It may or may not have been used for military purpose). Since the mission life was for 5 years, it is no longer active.


CartoSat 2 – Launched in early 2007 (weight – 680kg). Cartosat-2 carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic (PAN) camera that take black and white pictures of the earth in the visible region of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The swath covered by these high resolution PAN cameras is 9.6 km and their spatial resolution is less than 1 metre. The satellite can be steered up to 45 degrees along as well as across the track. Cartosat-2 can produce images of up to 80 cm in resolution (black and white only).

CartoSat 2A – Launched in 2008 (weight – 690kg). The spatial resolution of this camera is better than 1m and swath of 9.6 km.

RISAT 2 – Radar Imaging Satellite was launched in 2009 after the 26/11 mumbai attacks since there was an urgent need for remote sensing satellites that can work in bad weather conditions, cloud cover or in night. RISAT-2's main sensor is an X-band synthetic aperture radar from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed to monitor India's borders and as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. The satellite has a mass of 300 kilograms

CartoSat 2B – Launched in 2010 (694 kg) CartoSat 2B carries a Panchromatic camera (PAN) similar to those of its predecessors - CartoSat 2 and 2A.

RISAT 1 – It is the Indian version of the Israeli SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite. It is the first Indian satellite with capability to work in any weather conditions day or night. Weighing around 1850kg in was launched in April 2012.

Future Satellites with military applications:

Navy Satellite (GSAT-7)

A dedicated satellite to facilitating Naval communication and network centric warfare will be launched into geostationary orbit by ISRO in FY 2012-13. Defense Minister, AK Antony announced the project during Senior Naval Officers Conference in New Delhi on October 22, 2009. The satellite was initially planned to be launched in 2010, but the project has been delayed.The satellite will facilitate networking of IN warships, submarines and aircraft among themselves as well as with operational centres ashore through high-speed data-links, allowing Maritime threats to be detected and shared in real-time to ensure swift reaction.The multi-band satellite will weigh 2,330 kg. (5,137 lb.).The satellite will provide coverage over a 600 x 1,000 nm area of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which India considers to be its primary area of responsibility in terms of maritime security.The project cost is Rs 950 crore.

IAF Satellite (GSAT-7A)

The first dedicated IAF communication satellite is scheduled for launch in FY 2013-14, after the Navy satellite due to be launched in 2012-13. The satellite was initially scheduled to be launched in July 2009, according to a PTI report on November 18, 2008. In early January 2009, the IAF Chief said the IAF satellite will be launched in 2010. Later, it was reported that the satellite would be launched in 2011-12, The launch schedule of both the Navy and IAF satellites got disrupted due to back-to-back failures of the GSLV in 2010.According to IAF Chief Fali H. Major, the satellite will serve as the air force's eye in the skies. It will link up the six AWACS that the IAF is acquiring with each other as well as other ground and airbased radars.

Communication-Centric Intelligence Satellite (CCI-Sat)

Communication-Centric Intelligence Satellite is an Indian Advanced Reconnaissance Spy Satellite, being developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It will be India's first officially declared spy satelliteand according to ISRO it should be in the sky by 2014. This satellite will help Indian intelligence agencies to significantly boost surveillance of terror camps in neighboring countries.The CCI-Sat will be able to capture images, eaves drop on communication (for example, a conversation between twosatellite phones) and surveillance. It will be equipped with synthetic aperture radar to take high resolution images of the target region. The cost of the satellite is expected to be around INR 100 crore (around USD 25 million). ISRO will contribute towards the satellite's design and development and DERL will be responsible for the payload.

Optsat 3000 - Presently, ISRO and IAI are believed to be cooperating to develop an India-specific variant of the Optsat 3000 three-axis stabilised, autonomous overhead reconnaissance satellite for the NTRO. The Optsat 3000 satellite will offer simultaneous PAN and multi-spectral imaging capability, plus very high-resolution photo-imagery. The satellite’s low weight and compact dimensions will result in low inertia, thereby allowing for high agility, which in turn will enable achieving a very high number of images, widely spread, in one satellite pass. The satellite, to be deployed in low-earth orbit, is being designed for a mission life of more than six years.

Satellite Defense Capability

India is developing capabilities to defend its satellites against attempts to disable them using kill vehicles, laser or other electronic weapons. At a press conference during DefExpo 2012 on March 31, 2012, DRDO chief VK Saraswat said technologies are being built to protect our satellites from attempts to cause damage, both, electronically and physically. For the later, the capability to destroy hostile missile in space had been demonstrated by the successful ‘ballistic missile defense program’.

ASAT Development

At a press conference during DefExpo 2012 on March 31, 2012, DRDO chief VK Saraswat announced that DRDO was acquiring the capability to take out enemy satellites in orbit.“We are also having anti-satellite capability in terms of technologies that we have developed in ‘ballistic missile defence’ system” Saraswat said. “Engagement of a satellite is a much easier task as compared to the task of engaging a ballistic missile because of the fact that trajectories, timings and altitudes of the satellites are very well defined. What you need is the capability to reach those altitudes and those velocities. After the launch of Agni 4, we have built those capabilities. After the launch of ballistic missile defence, we have the kill vehicles that can take the payload to within few meters of the target. This gives us great advantage”During a press conference in New Delhi on April 20, 2012, a day after the successful maiden test launch of the Agni-V missile, DRDO Chief VK Saraswat reiterated that the Agni missiles have anti-satellite capabilities.He said that Agni-V has provided India the necessary velocity and range to reach the needed altitudes. DRDO also had the guidance capability to direct the warhead towards the intended target in space, to destroy the satellite using a 'kill vehicle' or just disrupt the satellite's functioning.In an interview with India Today in April 2012, the DRDO Chief elaborated on the Indian ASAT program.

"There are a few essential parameters in intercepting satellites. You should have the ability to track an orbiting satellite in space, launch a missile towards it and finally have a kill vehicle that actually homes in to physically destroy it.

We have a Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR) used in the Ballistic Missile Defence Programme that has a range of over 600 km. We will increase the range to 1,400 km allowing us to track satellites in orbit.

It is far more difficult to intercept ballistic missiles than it is to intercept satellites. Satellites follow a predictive path. Once you track a satellite, you will know its path.

In the BMD project, we track and intercept a 0.1 square meter target over 1,000 km away. A satellite is ten times larger-over 1 meter wide.

We have the communication systems in place, again developed for the BMD project. The first-stage booster developed for the Agni-V can inject a warhead 600 km into space. We also have a kill vehicle developed for the BMD project. The kill vehicle actually homes in onto an incoming missile. We have the Infra-Red and Radar frequency seekers on the kill vehicle that accurately guide it to its target."

Integrated Space Cell - The Integrated Space Cell is the nodal agency within the Government of India which oversees the security of its space based military and civilian hardware systems. It will be jointly operated by all the three services of the Indian Armed Forces, the civilian Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been set up to utilize more effectively the country's space-based assets for military purposes and to look into threats to these assets. It functions under the Integrated Defense Services headquarters of the Indian Ministry of Defense.This command will leverage space technology including satellites. Plans are to upgrade it into a full scale tri-service aerospace command in the future.

Satellite Launch on Demand

DRDO first announced that it is building a capability to launch small satellites on demand to support the armed forces at a press conference during DefExpo 2012 on March 31, 2012.

The capability will provide communication, navigation and guidance support to the armed forces during crises.

"This capability will be based on Agni 4 and Agni 5 missiles and give us capability to launch mini- and micro- satellites within few hours of demand," said DRDO Chief VK Saraswat.

During a press conference in New Delhi on April 20, 2012, a day after the successful maiden launch of the Agni-V missile, DRDO Chief VK Saraswat reiterated his organization's intent to develop on-demand small satellite launch capability using Agni missiles.

The capability would help India to place mini- and micro-satellites in orbit as replacements for any critical navigation or communication satellite disabled by the enemy.

The micro-satellites would have a short life span of between 6 months to a year life.

(Source:Wikipedia, IDP sentinel, http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2...s-on-rise.html)

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian-defence/183791-military-use-space-india.html

 

[arp2041]

Use Of Composites In India's Aircraft Programs - SARAS & LCA Tejas

Building India's indigenously developed aircrafts with advanced, high-strength, lightweight composite materials.

A little over a week back, the Press Trust of India/Deccan Herald, perhaps accidentally, pushed up an old bit of news, again 5. It referred to the Indian Air Force's [IAF] announcement to committing to initially acquire 15 of the National Aerospace Laboratory's [NAL] SARAS Light Transport Aircraft. The IAF is expected to use the base version of this pusher-propeller aircraft, primarily, as a short haul troop carrier and trainer aircraft. Subsequently, it also is expected to induct variants of the SARAS for performing tasks of transporting cargo, as well as variants with emphasis on aesthetics & comfort for the movement of General-rank officers & higher-ups. The total number of this subsequent order is expected to be in the vicinity of 30. Thus, if all goes well, 45-50 of these aircrafts would find service with the IAF, at the very least. NAL has decided to first pursue a CEMILAC-issued 7 military-specification airworthiness certification for the aircraft, the process for which is expected to be completed by 2013 4.

The SARAS, however, remains primarily an aircraft for civilian application, operating between airports located in emerging cities with commensurate demand for air travel, along with air ambulance, aerial surveillance applications. At the time of conception of this project in pre-liberalised India, the requirement of aircraft of this type was pegged at 150-200. Higher per capita income in post-partially-liberalised India, today, would mean the number would have risen significantly higher. While the second prototype was lost in an accident, the cause for which has subsequently been diagnosed, build of a third prototype [SARAS 3, PT3], a production variant as NAL states, is currently underway. This particular aircraft would exhibit the needed weight reduction, along with a more advanced, digital cockpit controls. The first prototype is being modified to accomplish the test objective the lost prototype was to carry out. A more powerful engine too is under active consideration. An inevitability, as the current engine [Turboprop Pratt & Whitney (Canada) PT6A] is found to be underpowered.

A conventional airplane to be considered modern is judged, among other parameters, by the amount of composite materials used to build it. One of their biggest advantage is that they exhibit directional strength 2 comparable or exceeding traditional metals used, while weighing only a fraction of the said metal. Take, for example, the Two-Dimensionally Reinforced Carbon Matrix Composite [2D-C-C] cured to a temperature of 2273o K. For density of around 1.52 gm/cm3 it has an Ultimate Tensile Strength [UTS] of around 572 MPa 10. On the other hand, 7075-T651 Aluminium Alloy, used in aircraft manufacture, which has a UTS of 572 MPa 6, has a density of 2.8 gm/cm3. Thus, broadly speaking, for a component built with the composite material, it would weigh only half [~54%] as much as the metallic part yet be as strong 9. It needs no elaboration to state what benefits low weight would have on the aircraft's fuel efficiency & range. Not surprisingly, composites are one of the wonder materials in the Aerospace industry, finding increasing uses for building Aero-structures of increasingly larger sizes.

When one comes to think of it, with increasing use of these materials, aircraft building has come a full circle - early aircrafts were nearly all wood - a natural composite material. In fact when Howard Hughes got down to the task of building his huge Hughes H-4 Hercules, the world's largest flying boat ever built, & with the widest wingspan of all aircrafts till date, he had to build it using wood, due to weight considerations and restriction on consumption of Aluminium during World War II.

Judged by their use of composites, India's indigenous programs - ADA's LCA Tejas & NAL's SARAS, shares the podium with the very best in the industry. 45% of the Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] Tejas' body is made using composites, while the NAL would eventually be building 35% of the SARS' body with these. In India, CSIR 8 has had a traditional upper hand in this domain. A myriad of laboratories it oversees have been working on polymers, in general, & composite solids, in particular, for a significant time, with a large number of patented technology & materials in its portfolio. Recent work include efforts to blend in metal with composite3 to produce materials known as Fibre Metal Laminates [FML], possessing better properties. Not surprisingly, CSIR-run NAL's Advanced Composites Division is one of the best in the country. The institute has working relationships with companies like General Electric [G.E], Israel Aircraft Industries [I.A.I], Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, amongst many others for work in the area of composites. A simple, yet fair indicator of NAL's prowess in composites can be judged from the fact that this CSIR lab was the lead organisation in the CFC wing team to design, develop, fabricate & test the composite wing of the LCA-Tejas, despite the aircraft being a DRDO project. Technology for making the Carbon fibre polymer matrix composites has, subsequently, been transferred to the Gujarat-based Kemrock Industries & Exports Limited [KIEL], for mass production to meet the needs of Indian programmes, and export the surplus. As part of the technology denial regime, sale of carbon fibre technology to India was/is an "international crime". So India developed means to make its own.

Dr A.R. Upadhya, then Director,NAL, had participated at the International Council for the Aeronautical Sciences' [ICAS] workshop on 'Advance Materials & Manufacturing - Certification & Operational Challenges', in 2011, where he gave the following presentation highlighting work done at NAL's with composite materials - 'Manufacturing & Certification of Composite Primary Structures for Civil and Military Aircrafts'.

Manufacturing And Certification Of Composite Primary Structures For Civil And Military Aircrafts

Notes:

2 = While it is undeniable that many composite materials demonstrate strength comparable to metals, these properties, unlike in case of Isotropic metals, are Anisotropic in nature. It means that, while the material may display metal-like strength when the force acts on it along a particular direction, it may fail on application of lower load, if acting along a different direction. Therefore, in order to ensure non-failure of bodies built with composites due to multi-axes forces induced during flight, manufacturers build the structure by arranging the raw material along calculated path of varied orientations. ADA had, in fact, developed a software called AUTOLAY for this very purpose. It calculates and simulates the orientation of layers of fibre [laminate] that would develop the required strength upon curing [controlled heating under specific pressure], with the ability to interface it with the fibre tape laying machine to transfer the motion of lay. The tape laying process used to build composite structures for the prototype aircrafts are being done manually in India, currently. Automation would become viable through economies of scale.

In fact, the Airbus Corporation bought licenses to use this software for the design and development of the world's largest commercial airliner, the 'Superjumbo' Airbus A380.

3 = Polymer Matrix Composites

4 = It may appear strange, on first reading, that designers of a civilian aircraft are courting the military to become its first customer, instead of a civilian operator. This approach is of considerable merit. NAL is on virgin territory as far as marketing aircrafts of such size and utility is concerned. Being a programme of a Government-run organisation, IAF would require, rightly or otherwise, less convincing on part of NAL to buy these aircrafts. It is somewhat obligated to support the programme, within reasonable limits. Subsequent positive quotable quote from the IAF of their experience with the aircraft and additional time to further improve on the SARAS would, thereafter, position its designers favourably when approaching its actual intended private-sector market.

5 = "IAF to induct 15 indigenously-built Saras aircraft". It was indeed an old news from 2009, since Dr. Upadhya was referred to as NAL's director, even though he had retired last year [September 2011] and the news of the IAF deciding to take in 15 of the aircrafts had been announced in 2009 itself.

6 = 7075 [AlZn5.5MgCu] Aluminum

7 = CEMILAC - Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification

8 = CSIR - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

9 = It would, naturally, vary, depending on the type of composite material & control parameters.

10 =

Use Of Composites In India's Aircraft Programs - SARAS & LCA Tejas - AA Me, IN

 

[Koovie]

Heckler & Koch MP 5

The legendary SMG of German origin made by H&K in 1966
In use with all SOFs, the Army, central police forces, paramilitary forces and many state police forces



General information:
Calibre 9 mm x 19
Operating principle Delayed roller locked bolt
Magazine capacity 15/30 rounds
Modes of fire 0-1-D
Rate of fire approx. 800/min


NSG Commandos with the MP5

 

[arp2041]

From my Earlier Thread:

Two magazine articles on Rafale

Summary:

1. Indian MMRCA contract has given a boost to the Dassault after number of setbacks.

2. Recent leaked trial report of Swiss air force reached to the conclusion that Rafale was the number one aircraft in the trials leaving behind Gripen NG & even Typhoon.

3. Rafale was assessed as the best aircraft in all five roles - Air policing, DCA, OCA, Recce & Strike, leaving behind it's competitor Typhoon.

4. Even though Rafale was clearly the winner of the trials, Swiss air force & authorities gave the contract to the Gripen NG.

5. There were certain weak points of Rafale - In performance & pilot workload, Typhoon was assessed as best, Helmet mounted sight was judged as the actual weak point.

6. UAE is again negotiating for a contract of Rafale & there are speculation that Swiss AF can also buy Rafales.

 

[arp2041]

Summary:

1. Myth of Typhoon's total domination over Rafale in air-to-air combat has been shattered.

2. Even the second report of swiss authorities on the aircrafts as they will be in 2015, when they will be inducted gave Typhoon less points than Rafale & concluded Rafale is more mature aircraft currently.

3. Rafale has more air-to-ground weapon integrated. Though Typhoon is complimented on it's ability to super cruise at mach 1.44.

4. Rafale will be sooner having an AESA (RBE 2) radar than Typhoon.

5. Though denied, Rafale actually failed IAF's 'hot & high' trials in Leh.

6. IAF concluded that both the direct acquisition cost & life cycle cost of Rafale are cheaper than Typhoon which ultimately favored the decision towards Rafale.

7. Politics of the deal - France offered full TOT, nuclear coop. etc. also France is the most reliable partner of India eg. being Pokhran tests & kargil war, on the other hand typhoon consists of consortium of four nations each with different foreign policies towards India, they can be unreliable as in case of spares for sea king helicopters from UK, they have various sanctions in place & can be a threat at the time of war.

"it was the Dassault Rafale's apparently clear superiority over rival Eurofighter Typhoon that came as the biggest surprise to most observers & analysts" - AA Me, IN

http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian-defence/191641-two-magazine-articles-rafale.html

 

[arp2041]

GSAT-7 [INSAT-4F] - India's military communication satellite [Indian Navy]

Recent articles, last month, reported of an Indian-built satellite, the GSAT-7 [INSAT-4F] being prepared for launch later this year. GSAT-series satellites being India's communication satellites, the first of which [GSAT-1] was launched in 2001, what made this news especially noteworthy was its end-user - the Indian Navy 1. With the launch of this satellite, it would become the first branch of India's Armed Forces to have its own dedicated satellite. This development, when successfully executed, would mark a significant, step towards Indian military planners broad-based vision of leveraging the powers & benefits of space-based assets for military operations.

Original plans included its launch using the Indian Space Research Organisation's [ISRO] own, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle [GSLV], currently under development. However, owing to slip-ups in GSLV's development schedule, the task would now be performed by Arianespace's launch service from Kourou in the French Guyana - a longstanding partner for launching ISRO's heavy communication satellites. This launch is tentatively scheduled for the end of this year, or the first month of the next.

Network-Centric Warfare [NCW]

Network-centricity has come to become the Holy Grail of military planning & operations worldwide, and justifiably so. Access to relevant information from various quarters of the battlefield, in real-time, in hands of the Commanders would make their job that much more effective, enabling them to take precise decisions that could turn or maintain course of the battle in ones own favour, thanks to superior situational awareness.

Towards implementation of such a communication network for seamless flow of information, the Indian Armed Forces have been at the job, in consort with their industry partners, for developing & putting in place software protocols & hardware for dedicated systems, isolated from the World Wide Web [WWW]. Through this, decision-makers can tap into the information infrastructure, to access data generated from multiple sources & assets such as reconnaissance satellites, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle [UAV], ones own soldiers carrying communication & surveillance equipment, radar networks [both, ground-based & AEW&CS], among others, linking every aspect of military operation to a single point of confluence, giving them a wide, accurate & holistic overview of the battlefield scenario.

In fact, one of the largest such test of the Indian Army's NCW doctrine & capability, at the level of a Brigade formation, was conducted during Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, held in December 2011, by the Indian Army's Southern Command with the 21 Corps [Sudarshan Chakra Corps] playing the lead2. Analysis of the results of this exercise would help in fine-tuning its evolving Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs] & implementation of its doctrine, addressing shortcomings & helping put in place a robust network that not only provides timely information but is also able to sustain & recover from attacks - both of the physical kind [through redundancies & easily replaceable elements], as well as digital intrusions, and continue performing as designed.

As of today, however, major portions of the network relies primarily on wired [optical fibre, copper] & terrestrial troposcatter radio communication for voice & non-voice data transfer over longer ranges. Such an arrangement imposes a range limitation up to which these networks can operate [wired & non-wired] & amount of data transmitted [wireless]. With the use of satellite-based communication systems, this drawback can be satisfactorily addressed. Presently, however, the Indian military makes use of a limited amount of the satellite bandwidth, as allocated to it on ISRO's civilian communication satellites. Project 'Mercury Flash' 3 carried out by the Corps of Signals in 2005 on the Army Static Switched Communication Network [ASCON]4, as part of a strategic broadband satellite network, imparted limited amount of satellite-based communication capability to the system, whose utilisation has to be rationed & prioritised.

A similar communication network, linked using using hi-speed fibre optic cables, known as the AFNet, has been setup for the Indian Air Force, too. As part of the Network of Network structure, the Army, Navy & Air Force's individual network would be linked up to form the Defence Communication Network [DCN]5 architecture being worked on through public-private partnership in the country.

However, owing to the present limitation of satellite resource, the military is unable to explore the entire gamut of possibilities that can be exploited through satellite communication.

Naval Requirement

The Indian Navy is in a unique position as far as its communication requirements are concerned. In keeping with the Nation's policy, as followed presently, it is the only branch of the country's Armed Forces that regularly embarks on prolonged deployments that can be described as expeditionary in nature, while still being under Indian command. Activities carried out in accordance with this mandate, though not restricted to these, include,

visiting foreign ports

engaging with the host nation's Navy & taking part in joint Naval exercises, multinational in many cases stationing itself in waters of foreign nations to protect the host nation's maritime interests. Carrying out Hydrographic surveys on their behalf.

With increasing Indian investments being made in countries far off from India, and its citizens moving there in economic pursuits, it would not be unforeseeable to envisage a situation whereupon the Navy is called in to act in a manner that would protect the well-being of its people & investment, during conditions of instability in the overseas country. A situation similar, to that just described arose during the 2011 military campaign to ouster Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddaffi, when around 18000 Indians6. who were working in that country had to be safely exfiltrated. Undertaking 'Operation Blossom', the Indian Navy played a stellar role in ensuring a smooth execution of the task7. In such situations, it is critical for an effective line of communication to be maintained between the overseas Naval deployment and leadership back home, least miscommunication lead to further worsening of the situation in an already hostile environment. With progressive growth of the country's economy, it is only natural for the scale & quantum of such overseas deployments to be commensurate with the growth. Correspondingly, the numerical strength of the country's Naval fleet, too, is expanding to keep up with requirements. This would call for a demand for requirement of an effective, uninterruptible, voice & non-voice line of communication, not only between the combatant fleets & mainland, but also amongst the numerous other combat vessels themselves, in order to co-ordinate & execute an effective plan of action.

Thus it is only natural that the Indian Navy be the first to have at its disposal, a dedicated communication satellite. Satellite-based communication has been carried out in the Indian Navy, in a somewhat patchy & piecemeal manner so far. Many of its warships, like the Rajput-class Destroyers, Brahmaputra-class Frigates, Sukanya-class Patrol Vessels, are known to carry INMARSAT-C 8 communication equipment on board, implementation for which was carried by the Tata Communications Ltd & Bharat Electronics Ltd. [BEL]9. However, slow data transfer speeds, foreign ownership of the satellite fleet, raising security concerns being major impediments, its use is restricted to specific narrow applications, like during anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Africa. Many of them also use Ku-band VSAT terminals, built by BEL & the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. [ECIL], using which warships can communicate by bouncing the signals off ISRO's fleet of GSAT-series civilian satellites, a stop-gap practice, capability for which was put in place as part of the on-going 'Project Rukmani' 10. However, as mentioned earlier, owing to the primarily civilian nature of the end-use of these satellites, transponder allocation to the Armed Forces is limited - shortage of required number of transponders being a problem faced in the civilian domain itself, in India.

Enter the GSAT-7 Satellite

Therefore, to broaden the scope of the Navy's communication and data sharing capabilities, ISRO should soon be putting up in orbit the GSAT-7 Communication satellite, also identified as INSAT-4F. The satellite was originally planned to be launched in the year 2010 [GSLV-F05]. However, owing to delays arising out of the GSLV programme, and other possible challenges faced in building this satellite for as sensitive an application as this, it is only now said to be ready for launch. The satellite is tentatively scheduled to be launched aboard the Ariane-5 rocket along with the ABS 2 [ST 3, Koreasat 8] satellite in January 201311.

The satellite was reported to be undergoing Thermal Vacuum testing in the Comprehensive Assembly, Test and Thermo-Vacuum Chamber [CATVAC] facility1 at ISRO Satellite Centre's [ISACs] ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Establishment [ISITE], situated in Bengaluru [formerly, Bangalore]. This test simulates extreme temperature conditions in the vacuums of Space beyond what the satellite would likely encounter during operation & evaluate the satellite's ability to sustain it and perform its designed operation12.

Built around ISRO'S INSAT-2000 bus [also known as I-2000 or I-2K]13, the satellite is said to have a mass of 2330 kgs. It would carry 4 transponders than can transmit in the Ku-band, along with transponders for transmitting in the S-Band [1 transponder], UHF & C-Band [3 transponders]14 of the electromagnetic spectrum. The GSAT-7 has been designed with a service life of 9 years. With the Indian Navy's present mandate being protection of Indian interests extending from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait, where its warships are expected to spend most of their deployment time, the satellite would be positioned in the 74o East longitude Geostationary Earth Orbit [GEO]A. It would be equipped with liquid thrust apogee kick motors capable of imparting a thrust of up to 4.4 kN, to position the satellite from the Geostationary Transfer orbit [GTO] where the Launch Vehicle would place it, to the GEO. Nickel-Hydrogen storage cell batteries capable of providing 2 kWe would provide power to the on-board systems15. The batteries would be recharged with the help of 2 solar panels, attached to the satellite. Though built specifically for the Navy, the GSAT-7's capability can be tapped into by the Army & Air force too, as required1. The IAF would, after the GSAT-7 launch, get its own dedicated communication satellite, the GSAT-7A 16.

Automatic Level Control [ALC] Driver Amplifier for the Ku-Band being used in the GSAT-7 has been designed & developed at ISRO'S Space Applications Centre [SAC] in Ahmedabad17. According to a paper published some years back, the antilog mesh-processor for the satellite is being specially developed for the satellite,

"This paper describes the design and development of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters proposed to be used in the analog mesh-processor payload of GSAT-7 satellite. Four high performance SAW filters with center frequencies in the range of 176 MHz to 183 MHz and band widths in the range of 0.78 MHz to 2.28 MHz are being developed for the payload. Delta-function Model is used in the first order design of these filters followed by the rigorous estimation and compensation of various important second-order effects, namely, Diffraction, Bulk waves and electromagnetic feed through. Further, the effect of inter-electrode capacitance of the filterspsila IDT (Inter Digital Transducer) which contributes to a tilt in the pass band frequency response of the filterspsila has also been explained by using Crossed-field Model. Simulated and measured results at various stages of development of the 176.57 MHz filter are presented. The paper also discusses the qualification plan for these devices, for space use."

source - http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/logi....ieee.org/xpls/abs_ all.jsp?arnumber=4763143

India's private sector industry participation in building this satellite, too, has been noted. A long time supplier for the country's Defence-Aerospace programmes, Astra Microwave Products Limited [AMPL] has reported to have supplied UHF-VHF Payload Subsystems to be carried by the satellite. They have also reported to be working on Ku-Band receivers & outdoor unit for ISRO's GSAT program, the band at which the GSAT-7 would be communicating in18. Coaxial resonators used in the GSAT-7's receivers are reported to have been procured from Haryana-based SM Creative Electronics Limited19.

The process of upgrading the communication equipment on-board the entire fleet of the Indian Navy's warship, to get them ready for satellite communication, has already begun. Israel-based Orbit Communication Systems Ltd. is reported to be providing the transceiver system to be used. Equipped with an 1.15m double-offset Orsat AL-7103 Mk II antennae20, satellite link-up would occur over the Ku-band. 2011 was the year by which all IN ships would be equipped with these antennas. The awarded contract was in the vicinity of around $296 million USD21.

Once the satellite is operational, it would be possible to link-up every Indian naval submarine, aircraft, & warships to each other along with their shore-based command, as long as they remain under the shadow of the satellite's footprint. This satellite link-up, built on an IT-powered communication system, would be enabled with the help of a secure Data Link - II 22, developed by BEL. This would make possible end-to-end seamless shore-to-ship and vice-versa connectivity. It would result in higher-speed, secure transmission of data, SITREP, intelligence, GIS in real-time, in most cases. This would help the leadership generate an accurate battle space overview of the fleet formation, building up a maritime domain awareness, as accurate to the one on the ground. Such, on-the-fly communication becomes even more critical when one takes in to account the fact that a Naval platform is considered to be the most credible of practical Nuclear deterrence available so far. With India working towards developing its own sea-based Nuclear deterrence, it is, therefore, critical to have a secure, non disruptive line of uninterruptible communication with the country's strategic command authority, to ensure prevention of catastrophe due to lack of clear communication.

Such a datalink would make it possible to interlink sea-based strategic missile with radars & sensors. This synergy of sensor-weapon fusion would, thereafter, make it possible to engage the enemy target in manners earlier not feasible, exploiting the individual capabilities of the platforms to the optimal level. From a platform-centric force ['I shoot what I see'], the Indian Navy would have the opportunity to transition to becoming a network-centric force ['I can shoot what you can see'], leading to a significant jump in the quality of missions that can be undertaken.

This footprint of India's satellite-based communication can be increased by placing a constellation of communication satellites in orbit, then bouncing the signal off them to reach its destination further off. In fact, SAC is reported to be working on developing such Intersatellite links as part of its Technology Development initiatives [TDI]23, in all likelihood, for this purpose.

In conclusion, it can be said that the Indian Armed Forces stands on the threshold of entering a new phase of warfare capability, in which access to knowledge & information is as lethal a weapon as possession of deliverable Nuclear warheads. Concerted efforts to strengthen this communication network would provide the military with a distinct & tangible advantage in their efforts to keep the nation secure from external military challenges.

Note: Owing to the military application of the satellite, as being reported, there is insufficient information about the GSAT-7 in the public domain. A fair amount of what has been said involves some amount of informed speculation. Therefore, this post must be considered to be a work in progress, that will be periodically revised & updated as and when newer information is made available in the public domain.

A - As per the International Telecommunication Union's Radiocommunication Bureau's [BR] 2008 Annual Space Report on the use of the geostationary-satellite orbit [GSO], ISRO had seemed to notify the position of the GSAT-7 & [possibly] GSAT-7A as 86o & 89o East longitudes.

References - https://docs.google.com/document/d/12h9Q0cgO24OacE9Uf3kKDkZ1dLZqzZvKz24rdsdZrXc/edit?pli=1

GSAT-7 [INSAT-4F] - India's military communication satellite [Indian Navy] - AA Me, IN

 

[arp2041]

NDTV Video Collection 2.0:

Videos on Rafale:

The story of the Rafale Video: NDTV.com

Flying the Dassault Rafale Video: NDTV.com

What does the Rafale deal mean for the Indian Air Force? Video: NDTV.com

Mig 21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uJwaPpup-Q

Kargil war

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSeJmlGOsbA

INS Satpura

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-india-documentary/ins/235328

INS sindhuraj

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-india-documentary/video-story/251543

Indian Army on LOC

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-india-documentary/loc/242829

HAL LCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3HVDBqLGRg

Dhruv

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-india-documentary/video-story/237739

Debate on Indo-China war of 1962:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/th...-is-india-now-better-placed-militarily/251537

Documentary on 1962 war:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/nd...remembering-the-heroes-of-the-1962-war/251488

J&K:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-special-ndtv-24x7/jammu-and-kashmir-the-endless-war/207885

IAF Former Chief Interview:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/nd...major-transformation-air-chief-to-ndtv/203564

IAF Current Chief Interview:

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/pilatus-and-hawks-will-train-iaf-pilots-air-chief/249482

Su-30mki:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SedRxnDFBk

 

[arp2041]

Tejas Mk1’s Future Prospects

It has cost India Rs140.47 billion—spent over a period of 29 years—to acquire the core technological and industrial competencies required for producing a home-grown medium multi-role combat aircraft (M-MRCA) like the ‘Tejas’. In the process a total of 40 laboratories owned by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), 25 academic institutions, 300 public-/private-sector companies, and a combined design/engineering team made up of 600 personnel had to be roped in to realise the national dream of developing a fourth-generation M-MRCA for both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy (IN). The entire R & D programme was divided into 1,200 packages, while for flight certification purposes, the aircraft was categorised into 17 major systems with 346 line-replaceable units (LRU) and 33 software-embedded systems. Additionally, in order to bridge the technological and infrastructure gaps of two generations, critical ground-based facilities like the National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) were built over the past decade.

Yet, despite all these, the ‘Tejas’—designed by the DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)-- still incorporates a substantial amount of systems, sub-systems and components of foreign origin, notable the turbofan and key components of the navigation-and-attack system and the airborne multi-mode radar (this being the Israel Aerospace Industries-built EL/M-2032 for the ‘Tejas’ Mk1). Principal foreign vendors associated with the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 and its Mk2 variant include Intertechnique SA and IN-LHC ZODIAC of France; US-based GE Aero Engines, Hamilton Sunstrand, EATON Aerospace, MOOG, and Goodrich Aerospace; UK-based CHELTON Avionics, Penny + Giles, and Martin Baker (supplier of Mk 16LG zero-zero ejection seats); Italy’s Secondo Mona; and Germany’s Cassidian and Faure Herman. UK-based Cobham is in discussions with IAF HQ about retrofitting a retractable refuelling probe. Indian companies involved include Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Tata's Advanced Materials Ltd (TAML), Data Patterns Pvt Ltd, Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GT & TC), and SLN Technologies Pvt Ltd.

The programme for indigenously developing the ‘Tejas’ light combat aircraft (LCA) was initiated in August 1983, when India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) sanctioned an interim development cost of Rs5.6 billion for carrying out the project definition phase (PDP). After completing the PDP, the report was submitted to the MoD and a proposal to build seven LCA prototypes was made. The MoD consequently split the programme into the Technical Development Phase and Operational Vehicle Development Phase. The Full-Scale Engineering Development Programme Phase-I (LCA FSED Phase-I) was sanctioned in April 1993 at a cost of Rs21.88 billion (including the interim sanction of Rs5.6 billion given in 1983). The scope of FSED Phase-I was to demonstrate the core technology competencies in areas such as airframe design and development, digital fly-by-wire flight control system and the navigation-and-attack system, so that a decision could be taken to build operational prototypes at a later stage. Under FSED Phase-1, two ‘technology demonstrator’ aircraft were built without any adjustments for inflation or foreign exchange appreciation, even though the US$ had shot up from Rs26 to Rs47 during that period. The forex component of Rs8.73 billion should have been adjusted to Rs16.42 billion. LCA FSED Phase-I was completed on March 31, 2004. While Phase-I was in progress, the MoD decided to concurrently go ahead with the building of operational prototypes. The scope of FSED Phase-2 was to build five IAF-specific prototypes, including a tandem-seat operational conversion trainer, and two naval prototypes (a single-seater and a tandem-seater) and also to build the industrial infrastructure required for producing eight LCAs per year and build eight limited series production (LSP) aircraft. The MoD sanctioned FSED Phase-2 of the programme at a total cost of Rs 33.02 billion on November 20, 2001. Phase-2 was consequently split into two phases, namely, initial operational clearance (IOC) and final operational clearance (FOC). The design and performance parameters of ‘Tejas Mk1’ LCA’s operational version were finalised in 2004 to meet the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirements and overcome obsolescence, since the original design was of early 1990s vintage). This in turn contributed to additional time and revised cost schedules for Phase-II. The governing body of ADA in its 41st meeting held on November 22, 2007 made a detailed review of the R & D programme and deliberated on achievements vis-à-vis objectives of the FSED Phase-2 programme, and recommended the extension of FSED Phase-2’s likely date of completion till December 31, 2012 (IOC by December 2010 and FOC by December 2012), with GE-F404-IN20 turbofans being used to power the Tejas Mk1 LCA, and to develop and productionise the aircraft’s Mk2 variant, and also recommended the constitution of a cost revision committee (CRC) to assess additional requirements for R & D funds.

The need for extending the PDC for FSED Phase-2 was due to:
· Complexity of the systems design and very high safety standards, which required extensive testing to ensure flight safety.
· Incorporation of configuration changes (for example the Vympel R-60 close-combat air-to-air missile was replaced by the R-73E, which required design modifications) to keep the aircraft contemporary.
· Non-availability of the indigenous Kaveri turbofan, due to which design changes were carried out to accommodate the GE-F404-IN20.
· Change in the development strategy of the airborne multi-mode radar (which was then being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) and associated changes on the aircraft.
· Major development activities concerning the mission management avionics suite and defensive aids suite had to be undertaken in order to make aircraft contemporary, which took time but yielded results (for example, the development of an obsolescence-free open architecture avionics system).
· US sanctions imposed in May 1998 also led to delays in importing certain items and developing alternate equipment, since vendor identification and development to production-cycle took time.

The need for revised FSED Phase-2 funds sanction was mainly due to:
· Neutralising the effect of inflation/delivery point cost against the sanctioned level at 2001 and the increase in manpower cost of HAL.
· To meet the programme management expenditure due to extended timeline till December 2012.
· Maintain and operate 10-15 prototype vehicles and LSP aircraft for four years up to 2012.
· To maintain and upgrade the design, development and test facilities up to 2012.
· To complete the activities, which were not costed in the original estimates.

The CRC, after careful consideration of the projections made and taking into account the increase in the cost of raw materials, manpower, additional activities to complete the IOC and FOC, maintenance of industrial facilities and expanded scope of the R & D programme, recommended an additional fund of Rs24.75 billion for completing FSED Phase-2 activities for the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 with a projected date of completion (PDC) of December 2012, Rs24.32 billion for developing the IAF-specific ‘Tejas’ Mk2 with an alternate, more powerful F414-GE-400 turbofan (under the LCA FSED Phase-3 programme) and Rs3.95 billion for its technology development programme (all totaling at Rs53.02 billion), plus Rs19.21 billion for developing trhe Navy-specific Tejas Mk2. The recommendations of the CRC were accepted by the MoD and in November 2009, sanction was accorded for continuing full-scale engineering development of the ‘Tejas’ Mk2 till December 2018. FSED Phase-3 has since been launched concurrently with the on-going FSED Phase-2 programme. Thus far, ADA has spent Rs60.51 billion on developing the IAF-specific ‘Tejas’, out of the Rs79.65 billion allocated thus far. Additionally, Rs7.46 billion (of the sanctioned Rs17.29 billion) has been spent on developing the the naval, aircraft carrier-based variant of the ‘Tejas’. Both the IAF and Indian Navy are respectively funding 40% of the Tejas Mk2’s R & D expenditure, with ADA picking up the rest of the tab. Thus, by 2012, the total development cost for the IAF-specific and Navy-specific ‘Tejas’ variants will total Rs96.90 billion, another Rs43.53 billion will be spent on developing the Tejas Mk2, bringing the total cost to Rs140.47 billion.

Presently, the IAF is gearing up to form the first ‘Tejas’ Mk1 squadron--No45 ‘Flying Daggers’ Sqn—which will initially be first raised in Bengaluru before relocating to Sulur in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in 2013. Two LSP aircraft—LSP-7 and LSP-8—will be used for flight evaluations (for achieving full operational capability, or FOC) by the IAF’s Bengaluru-based Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) starting June last year and led by the IAF’s Wg Cdr Paranjal Singh (experimental test pilot) and Wg Cdr Manish Kumar (flight-test engineer). Two other LSP aircraft—LSP-4 and LSP-5—built to comply with the IAF’s specifications for the ‘Tejas’ Mk1—have been located at the NFTC for realising the flight certification/weapons qualification objectives. For achieving FOC, LSPs 7 and 8 will both be subjected to a tedious certification-cum-flight envelope extension process that will involve field-tests for each and every component and validation of their performance parameters, such as drop-tank ejection, stores integration and ejection, airframe flutter, pitot tube performance, airborne fire-control radar’s modes of operation, and robustness of the digital, quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control system, navigation-and-attack system, stores management system, and the defensive aids suite. Also explored will be the aircraft’s ability to sustain increased g-force levels, higher angles of attack, and improved instantaneous and sustained turn rates. Logically, ADA should have been able to achieve all these objectives prior to handing over the first two ‘Tejas’ Mk1s (LSP-2 and the tandem-seat PV-5) to the IAF on January 10 last year. However, ADA’s inability to complete the flight certification process on time, coupled with the ‘Tejas’ Mk1’s (unforeseen) increased takeoff weight has resulted in the IAF now shouldering the burden of completing the aircraft’s flight certification/weapons qualification processes. The issue of overweight has also resulted in the aircraft’s earlier GE-built F404F2J3 turbofans (11 of which were acquired for powering the TDs and PVs) now being superceded by the 85kN-thrust F404-GE-IN20 turbofans on board the IAF-specific LSPs and the 40 production-standard ‘Tejas’ Mk1s on order, and the consequent redesigning of the production-standard ‘Tejas’ Mk1’s fuselage to accommodate the engine, as well as incorporate larger air-intakes for catering to increased air-flow requirements.

The first two production-standard aircraft--SP-1 and SP-2--will be handed over to IAF by July, with SP-3 and SP-4 following by the year’s end. The first 20 of 40 SP models are now being assembled by HAL in four custom-built hangars that can presently handle an annual production run of eight aircraft. The airframes of these aircraft will incorporate 13 major composites-built structures fabricated by TAML, which was awarded the contract after the state-owned National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) expressed its failure to deliver the structures on time. Structures being produced by TAML for each aircraft include a rudder assembly, fin assembly, 60 carbon-fibre reinforced (CFC) wing spars, 38 wing fuselage fairing skins, 20 wing fuselage fairing blocks, 41 CFC centre fuselage components, two forward undercarriage doors and two aft undercarriage doors. Earlier, HAL on February 16 last year ordered an additional 24 F404-GE-IN20s worth US$100 million to power the first ‘Tejas’ Mk1 operational squadron. This follows an initial February 2004 purchase of 17 F404-GE-IN20s engines worth $105 million to power a limited series of LSP and production-standard aircraft, and two naval prototypes. The F404-IN-20 has to date completed more than 350 hours of accelerated mission testing, which is the equivalent of 1,000 hours of flight operation. Last year, HAL and ADA commenced weight reduction work on the flightworthy LSPs under a two-pronged approach. Firstly, the removal of on-board telemetry instrumentation has reduced the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 LSP-7’s weight by 400kg. Secondly, by re-engineering several of the cockpit-mounted AMLCDs and related sub-systems, another 300kg in weight savings will be achieved on LSP-8. These in turn will result in the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 having a total weight of 10.5 tonnes with full internal fuel tanks and two R-73E within-visual-range air combat missiles. The maximum projected weapons payload (distributed among seven pylons) is 3.5 tonnes, while the maximum takeoff weight is targetted by the IAF at 13 tonnes.

Systems integration work for the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 has been an area of both enormous challenge and missed opportunities. For instance, the indigenous X-band multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar (with a mechanical scanning antenna) remains highly overweight, and has still not been fully developed by HAL. Secondly, the IAF HQ mandated six years ago that the original Honeywell-built H-4524L ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system be replaced by the SIGMA-95N (built by SAFRAN of France), which was followed in 2008 by the selection of ELTA Systems of Israel’s EL/M-2032 multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar for the ‘Tejas’ Mk1. All this involved a total redesign of the aircraft’s fire-control and navigation-and-attack systems, and writing new software algorithms for the DRDO-developed open-architecture mission computer. Consequently, it was only on April 23, 2010 that LSP-3, equipped with the EL/M-2032, took to the skies. It was only after this milestone that work on full-scale weaponisation of the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 got underway. For air superiority missions, the ‘Tejas’ Mk1 will use the Vympel-built R-73E and the 50km-range Derby beyond-visual-range air combat missile, the latter coming from Israel’s missile RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. The IN’s ‘Tejas’ Mk1 variants, on the other hand, will use a combination of RAFAEL-built Derby and Python-5 air combat missiles. However, both the IAF and IN have decided to use RAFAEL’s Litening-3 laser designator pod for all-weather air-to-ground precision strikes, and Elbit Systems of Israel’s TARGO helmet-mounted display/cueing system.—Prasun K. Sengupta

TRISHUL: Tejas Mk1’s Future Prospects

 

[arp2041]

Sukhoi PAK-FA a insight in the emerging future fighter designs

The Sukhoi PAK-FA (known to some as T-50-designation given to the prototype phase) is an emerging frontline, multi-role all weather combat aircraft under development in the Russian Federation. A successor to the venerable and now omnipresent Su-27 family, it is expected to be a standard bearer of the family into the battlefields of the 21st century for at least the coming half-decade. Touted by some as the best fighter under development, it carries the hopes of the Russian military aviation.

The Russian Air Force plans to replace its Su-27s and MiG-31s by at least 200 Su PAK FAs initially starting 2013 (final tally may be around 450 as per a COST assumption). The Indian Air Force will also receive some 200 birds of the Su/HAL FGFA design, a mod of the PAK FA a la Su-30MKI. Also many more would be built for sales to allied third world air forces like Vietnam, Iran or even Venezuela.

The Tekhnokompleks Scientific and Production Center, Ramenskoye Instrument Building Design Bureau, the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design, the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant (Yekaterinburg), the Polet firm (Nizhniy Novgorod) and the Central Scientific Research Radio Engineering Institute (Moscow) are responsible for the development of the avionics suite for the fifth-generation airplane. NPO Saturn has been determined the lead executor for work on the engines for this airplane. The Novosibirsk Chkalov Aviation Production Association (NAPO Chkalov) has begun construction of the fifth-generation multirole fighter. This work is being performed at Komsomol’sk-on-Amur together with Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association.

This represents the best set of aerospace firms in Russia and one of the best in the world. No doubt they intend to build the Sukhoi PAK FA as one of the best aerial platforms in the world.
Fifth generation fighters have advanced capabilities of stealth, super-maneuverability, sustained supersonic cruise and over-the-horizon radar visibility. They also have integrated weapons and navigation systems managed by artificial intelligence, and high-performance frames made from space-age materials. Though most of the specifications of the PAK FA are classified but experts believe that it will no doubt emerge potent on all above parameters. It is the world’s first fifth generation fighter incorporating 3-d thrust vectoring and a radar with artificial intellect. Composites are used excessively in its construction and provide high structural stability.

As the earlier fighters from the Sukhoi stable, the design will be both highly-maneuverable and agile. The sensor suite comprises of an Optical locating system located just in front of the cockpit, an additional IRST for ground attack, a large 1500 element AESA radar with artificial intelligence and additional L-band radars in the leading wing slats. The weapons designers have used a lifting body design with a large space between the engines. These accommodate two tandem weapon bays (4.5m*1m) that can accommodate a wide range of armaments suite as per the mission. Two auxiliary triangular weapon bays located at the sides of the main carriage and six external hard points supplement the main weapon bays. The design incorporates a few stealthy features like clean and faceted sides and internal weapons bays but is altogether not very stealthy.

In the days that followed its first test flight, a few experts claimed that the Sukhoi PAKFA was nothing more than a scaled up variant of the Su-27 family with little innovation included. They also said that since the fighter belonged to a family developed in 1980s, its relevance in the modern era is negligible. The design was not a true fifth generation fighter, rather it was a scooped up fourth generation fighter. This is certainly not true. The design incorporates many technical innovations that were previously not present in the Su-27 family like the stealth shaping, lifting body design and multiple sensors. The design fulfills all criteria that are essential for fifth generation fighters.

Many experts are also quick to claim that with an inferior sensor suite and a not-so stealthy design are evidences that it is not a fifth generation fighter. It will be easily shot down in battle by other fifth generation fighters before even opening fire or even detecting them. This too, is not true. The sensor suite, still under development, is the most potent on offer by the venerable Russian Defense Industry. The OLS, the IRST and the AESA will no doubt allow the Sukhoi to complete its missions with pin point accuracy. Coming to its additional radar suite, the L-band radars reflect the design principle of the Sukhoi PAK-FA. With the L-bands, agility,3-d vectors, twin 30mm cannons and R-74 missiles, the PAKFA is built to do just one thing-“To look-down, run-down, gun-down other 5-G designs in close quarters battle.” Since most of current 5-G designs are aimed at fooling X-band radars, the L-bands come both as logical and literal next move for future air combat. It is unlikely that the F-35 Lightening II would even come close to that performance spectrum that the Sukhoi intends to offer. In a few critical aspects such as range and internal weapons load, it outguns even the doyen of today’s skies, the F-22 RAPTOR.

Stealth, it appears was the secondary objective the designers of the PAKFA. All over the plane, preferences have been given to aspects like maneuverability and lift devices over stealth. Some credit it to the plasma stealth generating device which was allegedly flight tested by a Su-27 in early 2000s. They say that since the device will surround the aircraft with a layer of plasma creating a effect similar to stealth shaping and decrease RCS, the shaping is rendered irrelevant, thus the preference to the other aspects. Others simply claim that it is Russian tendency to give stealth a second priority other combat. However the truth is yet to come out.

The fighter punches far above its own weight, but it remains to be seem if the Russian Industry and Air Force are able to deliver the platform on time, in quality and in quantity. Years of neglect have helped hone this design but it remains to be observed if the Russian Industry can produce the lots of it in time.

As stated above, the Sukhoi PAKFA is a competent aerial platform capable of standing toe-to-toe with the other designs with carving a niche of its own. Whatever problems may befall on it, it is rugged, reliable and Russian.

Sukhoi PAK-FA a insight in the emerging future fighter designs | Defence Aviation

 

[Frank Martin]

P-8I Aircraft: 21st Century Maritime Security for the Indian Navy

Description and Purpose

The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy. This military derivative of the Next- Generation 737-800 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space. The Indian navy is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing signed a contract Jan. 1, 2009, to deliver eight long- range maritime reconnaissance and anti- submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015. India's immediate need is for eight aircraft, but Boeing believes there is long-term potential for additional aircraft sales.

General Characteristics Propulsion

Two CFM56-7 engines providing 27,300 pounds thrust each
Length: 39.47 meters
Wing Span: 37.64 meters
Height: 12.83 meters
Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight: 85,139 kilograms
Speed: 490 knots (789 km/h)
Range: 1,200+ nautical miles, with 4 hours on station (2,222 kilometers) Ceiling: 12,496 meters
Crew: 9
Boeing will build the P-8I at its production facility in Renton, Wash. The 737 fuselage will be built by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kan., and then sent to Renton where all aircraft structural features unique to the P-8 will be incorporated in sequence during fabrication and assembly. Aircraft quality and performance acceptance flight testing will be conducted from Boeing Field in Seattle.

July 17, 2012 Major milestones for the P-8I program have been achieved since the contract was signed in 2009. The first P-8I will be delivered to India in early 2013. On a sunny September day in 2011, representatives from the Indian Navy and Boeing proudly watched as the P-8I took off on its first flight from Renton Field at around noon Pacific time and landed two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet prior to landing. Following mission systems installation and checkout, in July 2012 the aircraft began its official flight test program. Boeing test pilots are putting the P-8I through its paces testing the aircraft’s mission systems and communication systems as well as conducting “stores” testing. As part of the stores testing, the P-8I is carrying inert weaons shapes under its wings to demonstrate the aircraft is capable of carrying all the weapons the Indian Navy will use during regular missions. To date flight testing is going well and is on schedule. The second P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its initial flight on July 12, 2012, taking off from Renton Field at 3:29 p.m. and landing two hours and 14 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. Boeing is presently completing mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company facility near Boeing Field. Boeing also is completing final assembly of the third P-8I aircraft and it will make its first flight in the coming months.” Boeing teams use best-in-industry in-line production process and Boeing’s existing Next-Generation 737 production system to efficiently design the P-8I for India as well as the P-8A for the U.S. Navy.

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/p8/p8i/docs/P-8I_overview.pdf