LCA NOT UP TO MARK, SEARCH ON FOR ANOTHER FIGHTER JET - Navy chief

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Make-in-India-Defence-Minister-talks-tough/article17302799.ece

Parrikar’s statement comes in the backdrop of India intending to throw open big defence deals

Foreign companies wishing to partner Indian firms and set up facilities in India have to get clearance from their respective governments, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the backdrop of the dramatic policy turnaround by the Donald Trump administration on U.S. companies shifting production abroad. He was speaking at the Aero India 2017 exhibition, which began here on Tuesday.

The Minister’s statement is an important clarification from the government which intends to throw open several big ticket deals under the ‘Make in India’ drive. “In the Strategic Partnership model, one of the requirements is for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to get its Government’s approval,” Mr. Parrikar said.

‘Not my concern’
Observing that it was not for India to talk to other governments, he said: “It is not my concern.”

The policy unveiled by President Trump to bring back manufacturing jobs to America has raised concerns on the fate of the soon-to-be-launched multi-billion fighter aircraft deals in which U.S. defence majors Boeing and Lockheed Martin are vigorously pitching their products.

While Lockheed has offered its F-16 for the single engine jet deal, Boeing has offered its F-18 Super Hornet in response to the Navy’s Request For Information (RFI) for 57 carrier-based aircraft. Both have offered to set up assembly facilities in India with extensive technology transfer.

Boeing said it was not aware of any policy changes in the U.S. with respect to the offer but declined to elaborate.

Kaveri engine
Swedish defence major SAAB has offered its Gripen fighter but it flies with a U.S.-built engine in addition to some other components. While company officials say they do not foresee any issues, the concerns are yet to be fully addressed.


The indigenous Kaveri jet engine project which was shut down after repeated time and cost overruns will get a new lease of life. “Kaveri is being revived. DRDO is in discussions with Safran as part of offsets under Rafale jet deal,” Mr. Parrikar said.

 

[Asian.Century]

When LCA and Tejas be upto mark, judgement day would have arrived by then.

 

[Hindustani78]

India Joins Select Club of Deck Landing of Fighter Aircraft


India Joins Select Club of Deck Landing of Fighter Aircraft

Bengaluru, August 2, 2018: India has joined the select club of US, Europe, Russia and China having the capability of Deck Landing of fighter aircraft. The LCA Naval Prototype 2 (NP2), piloted by Capt Shivnath Dahiya safely executed the first contact of the arrestor hook system with Arresting wire at moderate taxi-in speeds on location at the Shore Based Test Facility, INS Hansa , Goa, today. The first successful Taxi-in engagement was monitored closely by the Landing Signal Officer Cmde J A Maolankar and Test director Gp Capt A Kabadwal (Retd).

This is the first of a series of engagement planned at proving the arrestor hook capability says Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, CMD-HAL.

The HAL’s design wing, Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) has designed and developed the Arrestor Hook System (AHS) for Ship Deck operations of LCA Naval version. The LCA Naval Prototype 2 (NP2), has been integrated with this AHS. Having verified in-air operation of Arrestor Hook System in Bengaluru on July 23, 2018, the aircraft has been operating at INS Hansa Goa, since July 28, 2018.

Carrier Compatibility trials (CCT) of Naval Aircraft are slated to be carried out at shore based test facilities, built at Indian Naval Base Goa. The CCT involves completion of extensive shore based trials before embarking on actual deck. This trial is the stepping stone towards completion of CCT trials of LCA Navy.

Teams of HAL, ADA, CEMILAC, RDAQA, Navy and NFTC have worked synergistically to achieve this flawless result.