Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[DarK-LorD]

18 Oct, 2011, 02.54PM IST, IANS
India among C-130 plane operators at Lockheed meet

NEW DELHI: India, among the new operators of Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules cargo planes, is attending a three-day conference being hosted by the American major company in the US beginning Tuesday.

The meet has attracted about 800 representatives from 34 nations, including India and Qatar that are new among the nations operating the aircraft, along with 90 supplier companies for the cargo plane.

India, represented by Indian Air Force (IAF) officials at the conference, has bought six C-130J Super Hercules for its special military operations. The fleet operated by the IAF from the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, carried out its first humanitarian assistance mission during the Sikkim earthquake last month by carrying disaster relief material and rescue workers.

The 23rd Hercules Operators' Conference in Marietta, US, will focus on C-130 Hercules support, operations, upgrades and new fleet acquisition, a release from Lockheed Martin said here.

"This year's theme of 'Relevance and Affordability' provides insight into how the C-130 Hercules can meet the needs of multiple operators from a single baseline," the release said.

"As C-130 production continues at a high rate, Lockheed Martin seeks additional ways to keep all C-130 models viable through cost-effective modifications and upgrades," Lockheed Martin director of C-130 International Operations John Cottam said during the opening ceremony of the conference.

"We know that the C-130 will be here for decades to come and we want to make sure we support all airframes according to our operators' needs," Cottam said

"There is nothing like a Hercules and nothing that can replace a Hercules. Some have tried and some are still trying, but the reality is that the aircraft's concept, design and proven capabilities have been, and still are, the standard for airlift throughout modern history," he added.

The US Air Force has recently received HC-130J Personnel Recovery and MC-130J Special Operations aircraft.

At the end of this month, Lockheed Martin will roll out the 250th C-130J Super Hercules, destined for Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, which will be the world's largest C-130J feet operator with 28 aircraft.

India among C-130 plane operators at Lockheed meet - The Economic Times

 

[jha]

---------- Post added at 06:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 PM ----------

 

[SpArK]

 

[SpArK]

First flight of LCA NP-1 delayed

Oct 27, 2011


BANGALORE: It’s official� The undercarriage of the naval version (Naval Prototype NP-1) of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is bulky by 400-500 kg.� The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which are jointly developing NP-1, is burning the midnight oil to iron out what they call “nagging developmental issues”.


�NP-1 is a trainer with tandem seating and NP-2 will be a singleseat fighter


�Insiders associated with the programme attributed the delay in NP-1’s first flight to the undercarriage, built by HAL.� “In September 2010, we observed that the undercarriage was over-sized.� During traction-retraction and the undercarriage’s incorporation into the fuselage, there were many surprises awaiting us.

This is a very critical piece with the hitting impact on the ship going to be much higher,” an official with HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) said. The official said the issues related to the arrestor hook, landing gear and LEVCONs (control surfaces which allow better low-speed handling) were being addressed completely. With the Naval Project Team (NPT) monitoring every bit of the NP-I closely, the official told Express that all future aircraft in the naval programme would come with a new undercarriage.

�In September, NP-1 had successfully completed the engine ground run (EGR) and the taxi trials are set to begin soon� “We will fly the NP-I with the same undercarriage making some slight corrections.

�If a smaller undercarriage has to be integrated now, it will delay the programme further. Young boys are putting their hearts out and working seven days a week

�Making planes are not child’s play,” he added.� Sources at ADA say efforts are in full swing to make the NP-1 fly ahead of Navy Day (December 4). Captain Maolankar of National Flight Test Centre is likely to fly the NP-1 on its maiden flight.

�During the roll-out of the NP-1 on July 6, 2010, an excited Defence Minister A K Antony had announced that he was confident that the ADA-HAL-Navy team would make it fly by December end (2010). “It will be the best New Year gift to the nation,” Antony had said then. With yet another New Year throttling down for a landing, it is left to be seen whether Team NP-1 can gift Antony an X’mas gift in the form of a first flight.


First flight of LCA NP-1 delayed - southindia - Bangalore - ibnlive

 

[brahmastra]

IAF's Bhatinda base to become operational by next year

The Indian Air Force base at Bhatinda in Punjab, which is being modernised under the Modernisation of Air Force Infrastructure (MAFI) plan, will become operational by June 2012. "We are looking at making the Bhatinda air force station operational under MAFI by first quarter of the next year," Saranjit Aujla of Raytheon's Network Centric Systems told a delegation of Indian journalists here.

Tata Power SED has won the US 240 million dollar contract for modernising the air force station which includes new runways, new lighting system and Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems.

The ATC component is being provided by the US-based Raytheon Company, which will be installing Auto Trac III systems at the IAF stations.

Aujla said the company, as part of MAFI phase one, has undertaken work on 30 IAF stations while work on another 25 stations would be taken up in the second phase.

"The work on phase I began in July this year and would be completed in three years (2014)," he said.

The official of the leading supplier of defence and civil aviation communications equipment said the work on second phase would begin in 2013.

The US company, which has its foot prints already in the civil aviation sector of India, would impart maintenance and adaptation training to the personnel of the TATA power SED, which is the prime contractor for MAFI project.

"The Controller training of the personnel for operation of ATC systems will be imparted in India as there were some issues related to visa," Aujla said.

A team of TATA Power SED is already undergoing training at Raytheon's Network Centric System facility here in Massachusetts.

Asked about the security concerns that might arise out of Raytheon people visiting the Air Force Station in India, the official said they have already submitted the resume of engineers for clearance to avoid delays.

"We have visualised all possibilities in advance and have been working on them. We have submitted the resume of our engineers (who will be visiting the sites for installation of ATC systems)," Aujla said.

 

[WHITESMOKE]

Operational trials of ATC systems early next year

Indian Air Force ambitious plan to improve infrastructure of its airfields in the country is on course and a key component in integration of various systems for air traffic control should become operational for trials by early next year at the first site.

The first site of the project is being readied by U.S. major Raytheon to enable different radars of the IAF to integrate and provide data and is one of the crucial programmes of the Rs. 1,000 crore

Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) contract that Tata Power Strategic Electronic Division signed with the IAF during April this year.

“It is a large umbrella contract for modernisation of IAF airfields. In the first phase 30 airfields are covered and we are working to integrate and install air traffic control automatic systems. The operational trials at the first site is expected to be held by the first quarter of 2012'',Robert Meyer, Raytheon Business Development

Manager for Air Traffic Management told a group of visiting Indian correspondents here.

The MAFI project is split into two phases, with the first phase envisaging upgrading facilities in 30 air bases including testing, integration and sustenance of Instrument Landing System, Distance Measurement System, Tactical Air Navigation system, Air Traffic Management System and CAT-2 Airfield Lighting System.

The first phase is expected to be completed in 42 months. Under Phase-II, 20-odd airfields that include those with the IAF, the Army, Navy and the Coast Guard are to be taken up for modernisation.

The Defence Ministry feels that based on the experience gained during the implementation of the first phase, the requirement in respect of the second phase will be consolidated. The timelines for the second phase is also approximately 42 months.

With the completion of both the phases, a total of 59 airfields will have lighting system to facilitate night landing. Of these operational airbases, eight airfields do not have electrical airfield lighting facility while four of these are provided with solar powered/portable lighting system.

The upgrading of the existing air bases is also in line with the massive modernisation of the IAF inventory with the induction of C130J and the acquisition of heavy-lift C17 Globemaster transport aircraft and other platforms.

A team of Tata Power officials are currently undergoing training at the Raytheon facility here. ``The challenge is in working together'' Business Development Director Saranjit S. Aujla said adding that it includes working to ensure complying with security issues. The company, he said, is looking forward to strengthen the company' 50-odd years old relationship with India.

 

[Nirvana]

The 'Desi' Sukhoi

 

[angeldemon_007]

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/1...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[ptltejas]

Whats need of the LCA navy. its small and could not bring more heavy weapons. I think we need naval version of sukhoi (perhaps su-34 or 35) so which can bring the brahmos upto long range and cover more area. where as mig will be the sky superiority fighter. some sukhoi could also do role or air superiority to save sukhoi with Brahmos. Lca navy I dont think of more use. or just give more yr and make something like seaharier type vertical take of VTOL capacity into it.

The need is 24 hrs X 365 days real time observations on all sea area or 200km from border and some of neighbours sea, andaman etc. the U2 of USA like plane with SAR, AESA, Cameras, Long range Infrared can track lots of sea area and network sentric control on it. ships may have AESA of long range to track all planes and missiles. so no need LCA navy. I think so. however considering the country plane I Love more than any plane but I think SU-34,35 and Mig-29 could be better.

 

[sancho]

Whats need of the LCA navy. its small and could not bring more heavy weapons. I think we need naval version of sukhoi (perhaps su-34 or 35) so which can bring the brahmos upto long range and cover more area. where as mig will be the sky superiority fighter. some sukhoi could also do role or air superiority to save sukhoi with Brahmos. Lca navy I dont think of more use. or just give more yr and make something like seaharier type vertical take of VTOL capacity into it.

The need is 24 hrs X 365 days real time observations on all sea area or 200km from border and some of neighbours sea, andaman etc. the U2 of USA like plane with SAR, AESA, Cameras, Long range Infrared can track lots of sea area and network sentric control on it. ships may have AESA of long range to track all planes and missiles. so no need LCA navy. I think so. however considering the country plane I Love more than any plane but I think SU-34,35 and Mig-29 could be better.

The problem is that neither INS Vikramaditya, nor IAC 1 will be able to operate such heavy and big fighters, therefor light or medium class fighters has to be procured, but I agree on N-LCA beeing a bad choice.
A naval version of Pak Fa / FGFA could be on the list for IAC 2, since it will be way bigger and the Russian navy wants it for their future carriers too.

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
Actually because of bigger size IN is not interested in N-PakFa and thats the reason why IN is interested in AMCA project and they are willing to support the N-AMCA monetarily.

 

[ptltejas]

I beg pardon the plane was Su-33 and not su-34 or su-35. Sukhoi-33s are used as the plane on Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. The length or the Kuznetsov is 1,005.5 ft (306.5 m) where as the length of our Vikramaditya-Gorskov will be 283.1 m the beam is 237.2 ft (72.3 m) whereas 51.0 m only, The indian made Vikrant class will be of Length: 262 metres (860ft)
Beam:60 metres (197ft). The Kuznetsov has Displacement: * 43,000 tons (Standard-load) * 55,000 tons (Full-load) and
* 58,600 tons (Max-load), Vikrant class Indian made Project 71 has two different ship shall have:
Displacement: * CV-01 40,000 tonnes * CV-02 65,000 tonnes (conventionally powered carrier) .

Considering kutzesov have 58,600 tons and CV-02 65,000, that shall have capacity to have Sukhoi-33.

However it require length of runway I have no data of runway on kutzsov, gorskov or any of the project-71.

Hope we shall have these killers.

 

[truthseeker2010]

^^^ from where have u taken the image?

 

[ptltejas]

^^^ from where have u taken the image?

this is specially for you

 

[sancho]

^^^
Actually because of bigger size IN is not interested in N-PakFa and thats the reason why IN is interested in AMCA project and they are willing to support the N-AMCA monetarily.

No not because N-Pak Fa would be too big for an IAC2, but because they support any indigenous development, no matter if it's a good development or not and N-LCA is the proof for that.
N- Pak Fa / FGFA would be a great carrier fighter, especially with catapults, because it has very long range on internal fuel, can carry big payloads internally and there should be no doubt about the flight performance of it.