What's new

Indian Air Force News & Discussions

By:www.airrecognition.com
Longbow to equip India's AH-64E Apache helicopters with Fire Control Radar Systems
The U.S. Army awarded Longbow LLC a $57.1 million foreign military sale contract to provide the Indian Air Force with Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems for their new Apache AH-64E helicopters. Longbow LLC is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Longbow to provide India s AH 64E Apache helicopters with Fire Control Radar System 640 001Longbow LLC's FCR is housed in a dome located above the main rotor
(Credit: Lockheed Martin)

Under this contract, $57.1 million is obligated to Longbow LLC with a total value not to exceed $116.7 million. The contract covers the production of 12 Longbow FCR systems and spares for India. Production will extend through early 2019 at Lockheed Martin’s Orlando and Ocala, Florida, facilities and at Northrop Grumman’s Baltimore facility.

“With Longbow FCR, the Indian Air Force will receive a rapid all-weather targeting capability,” said Jim Messina, Longbow LLC president and director of Longbow programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The FCR’s air over-watch mode provides aircrews with 360-degree situational awareness, improving survivability and mission success.”

“Our highly reliable Longbow FCR has been repeatedly proven in combat, protecting warfighters around the globe at an affordable cost,” said Ike Song, vice president, Mission Solutions, Northrop Grumman’s Land & Avionics C4ISR Division.

For more than a decade, the Longbow FCR has provided Apache aircrews with target detection, location, classification and prioritization. In all weather, over multiple terrains and through any battlefield obscurant, the radar allows automatic and rapid multi-target engagement. The Longbow FCR integrates with the Longbow HELLFIRE missile, enhancing the Apache’s lethality fourfold and increasing survivability sevenfold........See more
 
Usually I'm more related to CHinese Aviation, but maybe for those interested: my latest edition of the monthly column "Eye on the East" in the Combat Aircraft is this time not related to China, but to "India's Fighter Conundrum"

Deino
 
Red Flag exercise;

F-22, Su-30MKI, Jaguar, F-16, F-15 and F/A-18!

BAEoYfH.jpg
 
Fund Shortage and Depreciating Rupee Hit Key IAF Programs

NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a severe resource crunch as 11 key defense projects await signing despite their finalization, according to IAF officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The rising US dollar against the Indian rupee and lower budget allocations by the ruling Narendra Modi government are the main causes of the squeeze, the IAF officials say.

Indian Budget Shows 10% Drop in Dollar Terms

There is a shortage of $1.13 billion in the Capital Head account, which is reserved for buying new weapons, and $420 million in the Revenue Head account, which is used to pay for military salaries and day-to-day expenses, including ammunition and stores.

The IAF projects that await signing before they can be funded include procurement of 56 new aircraft to replace the aging Avro transporters, 48 medium-lift helicopters, six midair refueling tankers, 20 Hawk advance jet trainers and 38 Pilatus basic trainers.

In a first of its kind, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a private-sector domestic defense company, and Airbus of France have a deal to manufacture the C-295 transport aircraft that will replace the aging Avro aircraft in a $2 billion program.

These are the other purchases and programs that are on hold:

  • Joint production of the Russian Ka 226T
  • Surveillance helicopters
  • Long-range surface-to-air missiles
  • Engines for Jaguar aircraft
  • Electronic warfare suite for the MiG 29
  • Avionics upgrade for IL-76/78 aircraft
The only IAF programs which are likely to be signed this financial year — which runs from April 1 to March 31 — are two additional airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) from Israel and a replacement of the C-130 that crashed.

Military officials and analysts here say there is greater need than ever for increasing combat readiness.

"The threat for India has not shown any sign of diminishing, in fact, we can see that China has reportedly been reorganizing its command and control elements. It has elevated its Tibet Military Command under direct control of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). This would ensure faster allocation and induction of additional specialized forces by China and ensure surprise action/response which would require credible response from the Indian side," said Daljit Singh, defense analyst and retired IAF air marshal.

2016-17 Defense Budget

The defense budget for 2016-17 is $37.9 billion (calculated on current exchange rate of 68 rupees to one US dollar) compared to $42.1 billion in 2015-16 (calculated on last year's exchange rate, 60 rupees to the dollar).

Similarly Capital Head spending for new weapons for 2016-17 is $11.55 billion at today's exchange rate compared to $14.33 million at last year's exchange rate.

Though in rupees defense spending showed a hike of 2.3 percent, in dollar terms, it fell about 10 percent.

"Budget planning is a detailed process. It also depends on how much money was spent by IAF against the funds allocated for a two-year period. There is no shortage of funds. Hence the blame must be attributed to IAF commanders and not [Indian] government," said Raman Sopory, president of Defense Consultants Association of India.

E-mail: vraghuvanshi@defensenews.com

http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...eciating-rupee-hit-key-iaf-programs/84899486/
 
Indian Air Force is hiring, apply now for Commissioned Officer vacancy at careerairforce.nic.in
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a notification inviting applications from interested, eligible candidates for recruitment as commissioned officers in Flying, Technical and Ground duty branches.

Eligibility criteria:

Educational qualification:

The interested candidates must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognised university with minimum of 60 per cent marks or equivalent in Maths and Physics at 10+2 standard.

OR

They should have BE/ B.Tech degree or should have cleared section A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institute of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from any recognised university with a minimum of 60 per cent marks or equivalent.

Selection procedure:

Selection of the candidates will be made on the basis of their performance in the AFCAT 2016 and Engineering Knowledge Test scheduled to be conducted on August 28, 2016.

It shall be followed by CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System) and/ PABT for flying branches and SSB Interviews.

Age limit:

The candidate's age should be between 20 to 26 years as on July 1, 2017 i.e. they should be born between July 2, 1991, and July 2, 1997, both days inclusive.

How to apply:

Interested, eligible candidates have to apply online by logging on to the official website, the link for which is careerairforce.nic.in
 
Guys I just saw a low flying Jaguar above my village....to my surprise, engines were a bit smoky( not much but clearly there was visible smoke)....Is it normal? As we know old Mig-29s had smoky engines but Jaguars too?
 
Back
Top Bottom