sudhir007
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Chindits: India to acquire special electronic mission business jets for strategic surveillance !!
India would acquire two business jets to function as Special Electronic Mission Aircraft, a deal worth 250 million dollars, with advanced sensors on board by next year for its strategic surveillance missions.
Right now in service are five aircraft, an assortment of G-3 from Gulfstream, and Boeing 707s. In the fray are Israeli IAI (Israeli Aircraft Industries), Elbit and the US giant Raytheon, who will provide the state of the art surveillance systems on board. The competing aircraft manufacturers are Falcon, Bombardier and Gulfstream, who will team up with the system providers. All three aircraft manufacturers and system providers would see and tie up to make one team in order to meet India's requirements of the special missions to be carried out, as per the bid.
Falling under the Director General (Security), the aircraft have civilian pilots as well as those from the Indian Air Force (IAF), who come on deputation, with the special aircraft being headed by an IAF Air Vice Marshal, called the Operations Manager, who reports to the DG (Security), who in turn is under the Cabinet Secretariat, with the entire apparatus coming under the National Security Advisor (NSA). Carrying out approximately two missions a month, these aircraft are for India's immediate neighbourhood for collection of data, pictures and other information. Missions like 'strip mode' and 'spot mode' are also part of these far-reaching aircraft.
The American Gulfstream Aerospace, which is bidding for G-V, which is one of the first "ultra-long range" business aircraft, capable to fly upto 6,500 nautical miles. Already in use in the US Air Force, the G-V is designated as C-37A and carries out government and defence related missions. The French Dassault Falcon 9X is a trijet engined aircraft and is considered safest in its class. A versatile aircraft, the 9X can land in small airports at high altitudes and can fly 4800 nautical miles non-stop.
The Canadian Bombadier Aerospace is the third largest aircraft company in the world and makes business as well as commercial jets, of which the most popular models are Dash 8, CRJ100/200/440, and CRJ700/900/1000 lines of regional carriers. The Bombardier 415 amphibious water-bomber and the Challenger business jet are also manufactured by Bombadier, while the Learjet continues to operate as a subsidiary of Bombardier and manufactures jets under the Learjet name.
These aircraft do not come under the charter of the DGCA, nor are they under the operational control of the IAF.
These special aircraft are configured with a flight management system comprising a worldwide satellite-based Global Positioning System. They can cruise at a particular altitude, and consist of a of an advanced weather radar, autopilot and head-up display for the pilot. Safety features include enhanced night vision/vision systems which increase visibility all kinds of environments. State of the art communication systems, data link, ensure a safe voice and data quality. The crew mainly comprises two pilots, one flight engineer, one communications systems operator, and one flight attendant.
New Delhi has also asked the systems providers to configure the electro optical payload for an increased surveillance range. These sensors would cover a larger area in the neighbourhood. A source told People's Post, "With a disturbed neighbourhood, it is important to have aviation assets seperate from the IAF, by the Cabinet which from time to time carry out missions of data collection. Sometimes they do get intercepted and the matter is taken up by the Governments of the two countries."
India would acquire two business jets to function as Special Electronic Mission Aircraft, a deal worth 250 million dollars, with advanced sensors on board by next year for its strategic surveillance missions.
Right now in service are five aircraft, an assortment of G-3 from Gulfstream, and Boeing 707s. In the fray are Israeli IAI (Israeli Aircraft Industries), Elbit and the US giant Raytheon, who will provide the state of the art surveillance systems on board. The competing aircraft manufacturers are Falcon, Bombardier and Gulfstream, who will team up with the system providers. All three aircraft manufacturers and system providers would see and tie up to make one team in order to meet India's requirements of the special missions to be carried out, as per the bid.
Falling under the Director General (Security), the aircraft have civilian pilots as well as those from the Indian Air Force (IAF), who come on deputation, with the special aircraft being headed by an IAF Air Vice Marshal, called the Operations Manager, who reports to the DG (Security), who in turn is under the Cabinet Secretariat, with the entire apparatus coming under the National Security Advisor (NSA). Carrying out approximately two missions a month, these aircraft are for India's immediate neighbourhood for collection of data, pictures and other information. Missions like 'strip mode' and 'spot mode' are also part of these far-reaching aircraft.
The American Gulfstream Aerospace, which is bidding for G-V, which is one of the first "ultra-long range" business aircraft, capable to fly upto 6,500 nautical miles. Already in use in the US Air Force, the G-V is designated as C-37A and carries out government and defence related missions. The French Dassault Falcon 9X is a trijet engined aircraft and is considered safest in its class. A versatile aircraft, the 9X can land in small airports at high altitudes and can fly 4800 nautical miles non-stop.
The Canadian Bombadier Aerospace is the third largest aircraft company in the world and makes business as well as commercial jets, of which the most popular models are Dash 8, CRJ100/200/440, and CRJ700/900/1000 lines of regional carriers. The Bombardier 415 amphibious water-bomber and the Challenger business jet are also manufactured by Bombadier, while the Learjet continues to operate as a subsidiary of Bombardier and manufactures jets under the Learjet name.
These aircraft do not come under the charter of the DGCA, nor are they under the operational control of the IAF.
These special aircraft are configured with a flight management system comprising a worldwide satellite-based Global Positioning System. They can cruise at a particular altitude, and consist of a of an advanced weather radar, autopilot and head-up display for the pilot. Safety features include enhanced night vision/vision systems which increase visibility all kinds of environments. State of the art communication systems, data link, ensure a safe voice and data quality. The crew mainly comprises two pilots, one flight engineer, one communications systems operator, and one flight attendant.
New Delhi has also asked the systems providers to configure the electro optical payload for an increased surveillance range. These sensors would cover a larger area in the neighbourhood. A source told People's Post, "With a disturbed neighbourhood, it is important to have aviation assets seperate from the IAF, by the Cabinet which from time to time carry out missions of data collection. Sometimes they do get intercepted and the matter is taken up by the Governments of the two countries."
