Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[jha]

I wouldn't mind more German stuff too, but when you see that we have to induct these trainers as fast as possible, bigger vendors should be more capable, not to mention that they have more political assistance.

Yes..Its just that they are offering too much to resist..

 

[SpArK]

First C-130J Delivered To IAF Today In US

 

[angeldemon_007]

First C-130J Delivered To IAF Today In US

This giant plane is a beauty. Just check out this video of flight test.
YouTube - Lockheed Martin - C-130J Super Hercules In Action

 

[angeldemon_007]

First C-130J Delivered To IAF Today In US

This giant plane is a beauty. Just check out this video of flight test.
YouTube - Lockheed Martin - C-130J Super Hercules In Action

 

[SpArK]

YouTube - C-130J India Delivery Ceremony

 

[STAR SCREAM]

AWESOM PHOTOSHOPED

http://chaffandflare.blogspot.com

 

[SpArK]

 

[SpArK]

India's regional aircraft could be a jet​

India's first indigenous regional aircraft, the RTA-70, could be powered by turbofan engines, with the government viewing it as a stepping stone to larger aircraft.


Although the RTA-70 (regional transport aircraft-70) was originally envisaged as a 70- to 90-seat turboprop, the Indian government asked National Aerospace Laboratories to investigate the use of turbofans. NAL is studying the two options, and will report to the government in April 2011, after which a decision will be made.

"The government asked us to look at the turbofan option, and after we conduct a feasibility study, we will decide," says NAL director AR Upadhya. "Previously, we were focusing only on a high-wing turboprop design. If all goes well, by the end of 2011 we will have full go-ahead to create the aircraft."


NAL has been in talks with jet engine producers, including General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Snecma. It says all have shown interest in the project.

"Initially, we were looking only at the turboprop option because of the high price of fuel," says Upadhya. "Lifecycle costs were our key concern. The government then asked us to look at the turbofan option, because they see it as a stepping stone to the high end."

NAL foresees demand for regional aircraft in India reaching 250 by 2025. This is driven by India's increasingly wealthy middle class, and its demand for flights on low-cost carriers. In addition, industries are moving into India's smaller cities, increasing the viability of regional flights to those destinations.



NAL also sees possible demand for 150 military variants to replace the Indian air force's Antonov An-32 fleet.

Irrespective of the RTA-70's powerplant, it is likely to come in two variants - a shorter one with 70-90 seats and a longer one with 80-100 seats. Its range will be 1,350nm (2,500km), suitable for most long sectors in India. Avionics are likely to be produced locally, and include an indigenous fly-by-wire control system to save weight.

Upadhya estimates the aircraft could be in service as soon as 2017, and NAL is open to international and local partners. The aircraft would be produced by government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics.
If India were to produce the RTA-70 as a jet, it would find itself in the increasingly crowded field of 50- to 100-seat regional jets. Competitors would include the Bombardier CSeries, Comac ARJ21 Embraer's E-Jets and the Sukhoi Superjet.

Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 Aircraft News from Flightglobal

 

[ganimi kawa]

India's akashdeep is ready: DRDO's Agra lab tests critical surveillance technologies successfully on Aerostat

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)’s Agra-based lab -- the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE) – has successfully tested and flown some critical technologies on Aerostat(s) developed for various surveillance purposes.


ADRDE Director Balraj Gupta confirms to Aviation Week\Tarmak007 on December 27 that the scientists have completed successful testing of electro-optical payload and COMINT (communication intelligence) systems onboard the Aerostat, which carries the Indian name Akashdeep.


“We are planning to conduct a live trial of Akashdeep for a select-group of media and invitees tomorrow (December 28). We have a blanket clearance to go up to a maxim altitude of 100 m and above that we need special clearances from the local Indian Air Force station here,” Balraj said.



Over the last few years, ADRDE has diversified in the field of LTA technologies and developed small and medium size Aerostats.

“Recently, we have successfully test flown a medium-sized, helium-filled Aerostat up to one km at Agra. A number of state-of-the-art technologies have been developed for the platform, including aerodynamic design of balloon, fabrics, fabrication, hydraulic winch, electro optic tether, high pressure helium cylinder manifold and active pressure control system,” Balraj said.


Bangalore head-quartered Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and its Hyderabad division played a pivotal role in the development of Aerostat along with a multiple DRDO labs and large\medium-sized industrial partners in India.


A DRDO official attached to its HQ in New Delhi says that the payload for the Aerostat was taken from India’s Nishant UAV for technology demonstration. “We are working on independent systems and payloads for the Aerostat, but our mission was to prove the effectiveness of these platforms and our capabilities. We are now confident that the platforms can take the actual payload and beam output through various sensors,” the official said.


Aviation aficionadas will get an upclose of the home-grown Aerostat during the 2011 Aero India.

ADRDE is also in the process of exploiting this airborne platform with radar payloads, too. “In future, in addition to Indian armed forces, these platforms will also be used for civilian applications and disaster management,” says sources.

 

[rockstarIN]

DRDO develops Aerostat radar to strengthen air defence


NEW DELHI (PTI): Premier defence research organisation DRDO has indigenously developed an Aerostat radar which will help to strengthen the air defence network of the armed forces and boost the country's surveillance capabilities.

Developed by DRDO's Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) laboratory, the Aerostat is undergoing final trials with full payload and is expected to be delivered to the armed forces in the near future, DRDO officials told PTI here.

The Aerostat radars, which basically include sensors mounted on blimp-like large balloons tethered to the ground with long cables, are a long-standing requirement of the Air Force.

The DRDO-made aerostat radar has been designed to rise one km above the ground and its payload includes electro-optical sensors and equipment for communication intelligence, they said.

The armed forces have till now relied on Israeli aerostat radar systems, which have been deployed along the western frontiers and allow the defence forces to keep a watch on flying objects well outside its territory.

The radars on Aerostats can be operated either in a 360 degree search mode and can stay afloat round-the-clock for four to five weeks at one go. They are much cheaper and easier to operate than AWACS.

India has recently acquired three AWACS systems from Israel and has plans of acquiring two more similar systems in the near future.

Both AWACS and Aerostat radars act as 'eyes in the sky' and help in enhancing the situational awareness of the theatre commanders to detect hostile aircraft and can be decisive in aerial combat operations by effectively positioning air defence fighters against them.

DRDO develops Aerostat radar to strengthen air defence - Brahmand.com

 

[jha]

IAF to deploy fighter aircraft in South

Amid heightened threat perception, the Indian Air Force is planning to deploy fighter aircraft squadrons in southern parts of the country to tackle the threat from non-state actors and to secure the sealanes.

"This is in our plans. The first two squadrons of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would also be based in South India and squadrons of either the M-MRCA or the Su-30 MKI would also be based there," IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told reporters here on the sidelines of a function here.

He was responding to a question whether the air force had any plans of deploying its fighter assets in the southern peninsula in wake of increasing threat from non-state actors like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and sea pirates.

"The role of IAF would increase in South India and we are also thinking of increasing our presence in the Andaman Nicobar Islands also," Barbora said.

The IAF is planning to deploy the first two squadrons of the LCA in Sulur in Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu.

Asked about reports that Lashkar and other terror groups may try to use the sea route to launch attacks against India, he said, "As far as non-state actors are concerned, we can't say when, where and what they will do... If defence Services are called upon to contribute to efforts to put down the design of non-state actors, we are always available."

IAF has been strengthening its presence in the South to protect the country's interests in the Indian Ocean Region.

With the induction of force multipliers such as the mid-air refullers, the Air Force has expanded its strategic reach and is capable of carrying out long range operations.


IAF to deploy fighter aircraft in South - The Times of India

 

[SpArK]

C-130J To Touch Jamnagar On 31 Dec, To Fly National Media On 9th Jan To B'lore For LCA-IOC, To Be Inducted In IAF On 1st Feb, 2011 !!!

C-130J Super Hercules of the IAF to touch Indian soil on 31st Dec, 2010, in Jamnagar, and will remain in Delhi till 9th Jan, 2011, and will fly to Bangalore on 9th Jan with national media onboard, for LCA-IOC to be declared in Bangalore by Defence Minister A K Antony on Jan 10, 2011, and will be inducted into service on Feb 1, 2011 in Bangalore by the Minister. Year begins with a bang for IAF. Cheers!!

Chindits: *Flash* : C-130J To Touch Jamnagar On 31 Dec, To Fly National Media On 9th Jan To B'lore For LCA-IOC, To Be Inducted In IAF On 1st Feb, 2011 !!!

 

[marcos98]

GROB AIRCRAFT G 120TP
On the way back home after a long trip to India
YouTube - Enjoy the GROB AIRCRAFT G 120TP

 

[sancho]

This is even more interesting with a statement of Pushbindar Singh Chopra, president of the society of aerospace studies in India:

YouTube - GROB AIRCRAFT at the ILA Berlin 2010


But if I'm not wrong, the Grob is the only trainer in the competition that has a side by side seat config and so far I thought that was not what IAF wanted and why they rejected the NAL Hansa trainer.

 

[angeldemon_007]

Important points from an article in IDR :

India pays dearly for poorly negotiated arms deals
1. three AWACS aircraft from Israel in March 2004-
These aircraft were earlier being sold to China for US $358 million but the deal had to be aborted under US pressure.
Subsequently, India agreed to buy them for US $1.1 billion–a whopping US $742 million more than the price agreed to by the Chinese.

2.Recently, Russia demanded enhanced inflation index for the Sukhoi deal. It also demanded that the rouble be compared with the euro and not with the dollar as agreed to in the original contract.

3.In the case of Gorshkov aircraft carrier, Russia has sought massive upward price revision. Apparently, India had failed to negotiate fool-proof agreements with clearly defined provisions. How else can such lacunae be explained?

In almost all contracts, imprecise and flawed provisions lead to multiple interpretations during the implementation stage. Invariably it is India that suffers as vendors exploit ambiguities in the contract language, especially with respect to delivery schedules, warranties, after sales support and penalties for default.

There is no free flow of information between the three Services. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in his report has pointed out instances when different services paid different prices for the same item from the same vendor.