Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[sudhir007]

Tests on air launch version of BrahMos to be over by 2012

Experiments on the air launch version of the supersonic BrahMos missile will be completed by 2012, a top Defence Research and Development Organisation official said here on Friday.

Preparations are also on to launch the missile from submarines, Dr Sivathanupillai, Chief Controller, R and D, DRDO and also CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace, told reporters.

The sea and land-based versions of the 290 km range BrahMos, which have been successfully launched, have since been inducted into the Navy and Army respectively.

The missile has the capability to travel three times faster than the speed of sound, he said.

Tests on air launch version of BrahMos to be over by 2012 IDRW.ORG

 

[ejaz007]

Thales wins Indian Air Force low-level radar deal
November 20th, 2009 | Uncategorized | Posted by Pierre Tran

DUBAI – Thales has won a contract to supply the Indian Air Force 19 low-level transportable radar systems based on the Ground Smarter (GS) 100 sensor, the defense company announced at the air show here.

Thales will build six of the 19 radars at its Limours facility, southwest of Paris. Under a technology transfer agreement, its local partner Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) will build the remaining 13 units in India, the French defense company said Nov. 15.

Each low level transportable radar system comprises the GS 100 radar, operational and communications shelters, an energy subsystem, mobility subsystem and quarters for personnel.

“This contract reinforces our position in the Indian region as a major supplier of air defense radars,” said Richard Deakin, Thales senior vice president and head of the air systems division. “BEL is a leading supplier of defense electronics systems and subsystems and plays a leading role in a number of major Indian defense programmes.”

The GS 100, based on the SR3D radar platform, is a mobile, modular and multifunctional sensor designed to track complex target manoeuvres at very low altitudes, Thales said.

The sensor can detect and track targets up to a range of 180 km. The SR3D platform is also used in the Ground Master 400 long range radar, launched into the market in 2007.

No financial details were given. The international competition for the radar was launched in 2003.

– ptran@defensenews.com

Dubai Air Show 2009 Thales wins Indian Air Force low-level radar deal

 

[RPK]

Indigenous Development of Helicopters

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has designed & developed the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) in 5.5 ton category to suit the requirement of our Armed Forces. The Light combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) are both at the development stage.

HAL has so far delivered 22 ALHs to Indian Air Force (IAF) and 40 to Army. Contracts for supply of 159 ALHs to Army and IAF were signed in December 2007. These Helicopters are planned to be delivered during 2009-2016.

Around Rs. 6273 crores have been collected by HAL from Army and IAF against delivery of Helicopters, milestone payments for the Helicopters contracted and Design & Development of LCH, LUH & weaponization of ALH.

 

[RPK]

PIB Press Release

Steps to check rising accidents of MIG planes

In the last two decades (since April 1989 and upto November 26, 2009) 265 MiG fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed. A total of 96 service personnel and 44 civilians were killed in these cases.

Each aircraft accident in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is investigated through a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures are undertaken accordingly to check their recurrence in future. Besides, continuous and multifaceted efforts are always underway in the IAF to enhance and upgrade flight safety. These include measures to enhance the quality of training to improve the skills levels, ability to exercise sound judgement and situational awareness of pilots and constant interaction with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to overcome technical defects of aircraft. Anti-bird measures are also undertaken.

 

[RPK]

Violation of Indian Air-Space

The Indian air space was violated by foreign aircraft on 11 occasions during the last one year, the details of which are the follows:-

No.  Country  Date  No.& Type of Aircraft
 
1.  Pakistan 27.12.08 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
 
2. -do- 12/13.01.09 1 UAV
 
3. -do- 02.02.09 1 UAV
 
4. -do- 15.03.09 1 UAV
 
5. -do- 05.08.09 1 Fixed wing medium sized aircraft
 
6.-do- 23.09.09 1 UAV
 
7. China 13.05.09 1 slow moving aircraft 
 
8. -do- 21.06.09 2 helicopters 
 
9. -do- 24.06.09 2 helicopters
 
10. USA 19.06.09 1 Transport aircraft
 
11. -do- 18.10.09 1 cargo aircraft

All such cases are taken up with the concerned country through diplomatic channels, as per established procedure.

PIB Press Release

 

[sudhir007]

Political push from Paris for Mirage-2000 upgrade

Thales to bring down price by involving Indian industry.French President, Nikolas Sarkozy, has thrown his weight behind the Rs 10,000 crore bid by French company, Thales, to upgrade the Indian Air Force Mirage-2000 fighter fleet. Sarkozy’s defence minister, Hervé Morin, in New Delhi for a day, made his pitch this morning to Defence Minister AK Antony, telling him that President Sarkozy is keen on signing the deal when he visits India early next year.

Addressing a press conference after his meetings in South Block, Morin revealed that he discussed outstanding procurement cases, including the Mirage-2000 upgrade, with his indian counterpart. Morin said: “We are hoping that some of the procurement cases that are under way between India and France are finalised by the time Sarcozy visits.”

Through two years of negotiations, French aerospace major, Thales, and the IAF have been unable to agree on a price for outfitting India’s 51 Mirage-2000s with new radars, avionics, electronic warfare systems and onboard computers, which will make the aircraft battle worthy for another 15 years. From an initial offer of Rs 13,500 crores ($2.9 billion), Thales came down to Rs 10,000 crores ($2.1 billion). But even that is exorbitant; the IAF has let it be known that, instead of spending Rs 196 crores ($41 million) on each Mirage-2000, it would prefer to buy brand new fighters.

That hard bargaining, it seems, is working. Thales is looking to reduce its price by using Indian suppliers for a significant share of work and components for the upgrade. The IAF now believes that a deal could be close. A top IAF official, who is close to the negotiations, told Business Standard on condition of anonymity, “Thales is climbing down from its high horse and we will meet them halfway. The French President has given his officials a diktat that the Mirage-2000 upgrade deal must be buttoned up this year.”

That urgency is fully endorsed by French officials. One highly placed French industrial source asks rhetorically, “If the upgrade deal is not finalised, what else is there for Sarkozy to sign in Delhi?”

So far, during negotiations, Thales has argued that if India insisted on a cheaper upgrade for the Mirage-2000 fleet, it should be prepared to upgrade fewer systems. If, for example, the IAF was willing to upgrade only the weapons systems, the cost would be considerably cheaper. But the IAF insisted on a full upgrade.

Now, with Thales looking to source from India, there could be rich pickings for Indian avionics manufacturers like Samtel Thales Avionics, the joint venture that NCR-based Samtel Display Systems has set up with Thales. Components developed in France by Thales, will be manufactured cheaply in Samtel Thales Avionics’ high-tech facility near Ghaziabad, allowing Thales to lower its bid significantly.

Puneet Kaura, Executive Director, Samtel Display Systems, confirmed to Business Standard that, “Samtel Thales Avionics is going to be a major partner in the Mirage-2000 upgrade. We have negotiated with Thales for doing a number of work packages in the upgrade. This will also benefit Thales in meeting the offset liabilities that will arise out of this deal.”

For IAF planners the participation of Indian companies, including Samtel Thales Avionics, is a welcome prospect since they would be able to maintain and repair the upgraded avionics in India. The Indian companies would also handle “obsolescence management”, which involves redesigning avionics cards that need upgrading.

Thales was already on track to build avionics systems in Samtel Thales Avionics for a variety of Indian aircraft. These include the technologically advanced TopSight-I, the Helmet Mounted Sight Display (HMD) that Indian Navy MiG-29K pilots will use while operating from aircraft carriers.

Political push from Paris for Mirage-2000 upgrade IDRW.ORG

 

[Thomas]

PIB Press Release

Steps to check rising accidents of MIG planes

In the last two decades (since April 1989 and upto November 26, 2009) 265 MiG fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed. A total of 96 service personnel and 44 civilians were killed in these cases.

Each aircraft accident in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is investigated through a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures are undertaken accordingly to check their recurrence in future. Besides, continuous and multifaceted efforts are always underway in the IAF to enhance and upgrade flight safety. These include measures to enhance the quality of training to improve the skills levels, ability to exercise sound judgement and situational awareness of pilots and constant interaction with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to overcome technical defects of aircraft. Anti-bird measures are also undertaken.

That is a huge number of downed aircraft. That really should have been a signal long ago to not put so many of your eggs in one basket. in other words buying aircraft from other then Russia

 

[gogbot]

That is a huge number of downed aircraft. That really should have been a signal long ago to not put so many of your eggs in one basket. in other words buying aircraft from other then Russia

Oh yes, lets buy them from the Americans, wait they put sanctions on us

Lets get them form the Europeans. They cost to much

Who else makes aircraft he Russians

Lets make our own plane. Well there was an engine issue

 

[sudhir007]

PIB Press Release

The number of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft which crashed since January, 2009 till November 30th, 2009 and their make are as follows:-

Date of Accident


Aircraft Type


Number of IAF personnel killed

January 21, 2009


Kiran MK II


1

March 07, 2009


MiG 27 ML


-

April 30, 2009


SU-30 MKI


1

May 01, 2009


MI 8


-

May 15, 2009


MiG 27 UPG


-

May 27, 2009


MiG 21 Bison


-

June 09, 2009


AN 32


7

June 18, 2009


MiG 21 FL


-

July 31, 2009


HPT 32


2

September 10, 2009


MiG 21 M


1

October 23, 2009


MiG 27 ML


-

October 30, 2009


Mi 17


4

November 30, 2009


SU-30 MKI


-

This information cannot be divulged in the interest of national security. One civilian was killed in the accident on May 15, 2009. The compensation paid by the Government for loss of civilian lives and property was Rs. 8,04,480/-

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Varinder Singh Bajwa in Rajya Sabha today.

 

[Red Dwarf]

13 so far in this year. What was number last year ?.

 

[brahmastra]

101 IAF pilots have applied for early retirement:Indian Defence minister A K Antony

Call it the lure of the fast-growing private aviation sector or inadequate salaries, more than 100 pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have applied for premature retirement in the past one year. This high number comes less than year after the services were locked in a very bitter public spat with the bureaucracy on wages.

The IAF has some 1,500 pilots in total and it has projected shortfall of some 300 pilots in future as it expands its squadrons of fighters and adds more choppers. The IAF has already hiked the intake of pilots in its training academies and now they take around 260 trainees in each annual course, up from 190 trainees earlier. Defence Minister AK Antony gave out the fact that 101 pilots --- most of who are highly skilled in flying fighters, choppers and transport planes --- have applied for a premature retirement. Antony told Rajya Sabha that the broad reasons furnished by the applicants for grant of premature retirement are supersession, lack of career progression, medical/compassionate grounds etc.

Such applications are considered on a case-to-case basis in accordance with extant government policy and service exigencies. Antony said efforts were being made to carry out a proactive publicity campaign to reach the target group across the country. The number of retirement seekers has gone up despite the government having made claims that the sixth pay commission had addressed the needs and aspirations of defence personnel. Separately, the government today said IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal PK Barbora’s remarks that politics was impinging badly on the country’s military requirements were his “personal views”.

“The IAF Vice Chief had expressed his personal views during his talk at a seminar while referring to the delays that had occurred in the past in procurement of aircraft and systems,” Antony said in reply to a Rajya Sabha query. Meanwhile, replying to another query, the Defence Minister said the DRDO had entered into a joint venture with Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) to develop a long range and medium range surface-to-air missile systems.

He added that the IAF was taking several steps such as advertising in print and electronic media, motivational lectures in schools and participation career fairs to reach out to youth across the country. Replying to another query, the minister said IAF had lost 13 aircraft in different crashes during the year. The list includes an An-32 transport aircraft, three MIG 27s, three MiG 21s, two Su-30MKIs in Jaisalmer, one each Mi-17 and Mi-8 along with two trainer aircraft.

 

[brahmastra]

IAF goes hi-tech for pilot selection



The IAF is changing over to a new computerised system of selecting pilots that now does away with the earlier manual and subjective procedures for judging a candidate’s aptitude and reflexes. As a pilot project, the DRDO has installed three such systems at the IAF’s service selection boards located in Allahabad, Varanasi and Mysore.

According to Dr W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, DRDO, the IAF has placed an order worth about Rs 20 crore for additional such systems to be installed at its selection centres. These are expected to be in place within six months.

Each system has multiple nodes and can screen up to 100 individuals at a time. According to information released by the Ministry of Defence last month, the number of officers joining the IAF in the last three years was 463, 485 and 401, respectively.

“In today's environment, a fighter pilot is not just a flier, but a systems manager required to execute multiple tasks in an extremely short-time span, Dr Selvamurthy told The Tribune during a visit here. “The new system tests the time-sharing and workload management skills of candidates, whereas the older procedures were restricted to evaluating the coordination between the mind, limbs and eyes,” he added.

The system is based upon a simulated cockpit mock-up into which flight parameters and other information such as fuel state are fed. A candidate virtually flies an aircraft and his mental and physical responses and reflexes are recorded and analysed by specially developed software.

The system, according to experts, measures a wider spectrum of cognitive processes and is not only restricted to the measurement of reasoning as done by earlier intelligence assessments. It will measure different dimensions of cognitions like attention, memory, problem solving, decision-making, reasoning and concept formation.
It has taken the DRDO about six years to develop this system. The IAF was also closely associated with the project.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

DRDO to take up indigenous development of UAV | NetIndian | India News | Latest News from India | Breaking News from India | Latest Headlines

DRDO to take up indigenous development of UAV

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will take up the indigenous development of a medium altitude long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question today that the development would be undertaken against against confirmed Qualitative Requirements (QRs) to meet the requirements of the three Services.

Mr Antony said the UAV had been named Rustom-H. The Indian industry would be the development-cum-production partner for the project, which is expected to be completed in 78 months after formal sanction.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

78 months means about 6-7 years...

probably by 2015-17 it will be inducted , lot of private inc. involvement in dev an pro.,so pity gettable...

 

[Tejas-MkII]

PIB Press Release

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had proposed the procurement of six Flight Refueller Aircraft to meet the growing Air-to-air Refuelling tasks in the IAF and Indian Navy. The procurement proposal had been progressed in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure – 2006 and thereafter referred to the Ministry of Finance who has expressed certain reservations relating to the competitiveness of the bids and the reasonableness of the price. The Defence Procurement Procedure envisages a time line of up to two and a half years from the date of issue of Request for Proposal to signing of the contract in multi-vendor cases. Every effort is made to adhere to these time lines.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Asaduddin Owaisi in Lok Sabha today.