SpArK
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Indian Air Force News & Discussions
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SpArK
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SpArK
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Indigenous jet trainer to get initial clearance by July’
India’s indigenous intermediate jet trainer (IJT) is all set to obtain its initial clearance for air force pilots to start operational flying on the aircraft by July this year, 14 years after the government sanctioned the project, a top commander said Thursday.
The manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is ‘very sure’ about Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the IJT by July, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik told reporters at the Aero India trade show at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore.
HAL began designing of the IJT in 1997 and suffered two mishaps in 2007 and 2009. The jet will now be ready for induction into the IAF in another two more years.
The IJT’s two prototypes suffered minor crashes. The first took place in February 2007 when the Prototype-I suffered damage when its canopy flew off soon during take-off from Yelahanka. The aircraft veered to its right, burst a tire, damaged both its wings and finally collapsed in a heap of rubble. Fortunately, the pilot escaped without injury.
The second accident happened in February 2009 when the Prototype-II landed on its belly during a routine sortie. The aircraft suffered structural damage to its undercarriage and a wing.
“After the minor incidents, the project picked up speed with the flight trials finally getting over. We want its spin capability to improve and HAL is sure it can do it in a month or two. So more or less, IJT is ready for IOC,” the IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal R.K. Sharma, said.
The IJT is a stage-II trainer for rookie pilots before they graduate onto the Hawk advanced jet trainer (IJT), is a tandem seat, all metallic aircraft for general flying and training. It can also be used for formation flying, instrument and cloud flying, tactical flying, night flying and basic air-to-ground and air-to-air armament training.
With a maximum speed of 750 kmph, it has an altitude ceiling of 9 km and a maximum take-off weight of 5,100 kg, including 1,000 kg of armaments at five hard points. It can also carry drop tanks.
A conventional configuration aircraft incorporating manual flight controls, its cockpit is ergonomically designed, air conditioned and pressurized. It is equipped with lightweight ejection seats, with an avionics suite that introduces pilots to a cockpit environment of modern combat aircraft and cues for weapons delivery.
sudhir007
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IAF
British made Jaguars Strike aircrafts were inducted into Indian air force in 1979 ,since then it has seen many minor and major upgrades to the Jaguar fleet , under HAL’s DARIN upgrade program IAF’s jaguars have received many upgrades to its Avionics to keep it combat fit to fight new centuries war .
Jaguars which are equipped with two Adour Mk811s turbofan engines but after their induction Jaguars were always found to be low on thrust and was no longer up to task of new role air force had for them, India’s “hot and high conditions” only made matters worse for the Jaguar fleet, well the answer was simple get new high thrust engines for them, and the two contenders to provide new engines are Rolls-Royce Adour Mk821s current engine manufactures of Jaguars and US-based Honeywell with F125IN.
Honeywell with F125IN
Honeywell is offering its F125IN, a 43.8kN thrust (with afterburning) turbofan, Honeywell, which first showcased the F125IN at the Aero India 2009 expo in Bangalore last February, claims that its proposed solution boasts “improved pilot safety, lower maintenance costs and outstanding reliability”. Honeywell has also since stated that the F125IN’s modular construction and integral dual full-authority digital engine control system (FADEC) would save the IAF US$1.5billion in life-cycle costs as compared to its competitor. It was in 2007 that the F125IN was successfully demonstrated to the IAF in Bangalore on board an existing IAF Jaguar IS. Indian official who had witnessed the test had commented that “F125IN is technically superior to Rolls-Royce engines “, Honeywell has completed design of its Production standard engines with its own Jaguar airframe and have assured “Drop fit installation” to Jaguar airframe and the buzz at Aero India 2011 has been that IAF’s favorite is F125IN.
Rolls-Royce Adour Mk821s
Rolls-Royce claims that its Adour Mk821, which is built on the proven technology of the preceding Adour engines, “offers a low-risk route to the twin benefits of greater thrust and lower life-cycle costs”. According to the aero-engine manufacturer, choosing the Mk821 will also offer a high degree of commonality with the Adour Mk871 turbofan that currently powers the BAE Systems HAL Hawk Mk132 AJT currently supplied to IAF and 90% commonality with current Adour Mk811s turbofan engines which powers the Jaguars.
Expert’s conclusion
F125IN does provide better thrust to weight ratio, but can Jaguar airframe handle this higher thrust and will it able to use this thrust for its advantage? Well Jaguar manufactures have claimed in the past that extra thrust provided will be of no use to Jaguars due to airframe limitations.
While Adour Mk821 will give what Jaguars needs, nothing fancy nothing expensive, while Jaguars in IAF have been in service for more than 3 decades now and will last for another decade, IAF have to consider commonality with the Adour Mk871 which can be later used with HAL Hawk Mk132.
British made Jaguars Strike aircrafts were inducted into Indian air force in 1979 ,since then it has seen many minor and major upgrades to the Jaguar fleet , under HAL’s DARIN upgrade program IAF’s jaguars have received many upgrades to its Avionics to keep it combat fit to fight new centuries war .
Jaguars which are equipped with two Adour Mk811s turbofan engines but after their induction Jaguars were always found to be low on thrust and was no longer up to task of new role air force had for them, India’s “hot and high conditions” only made matters worse for the Jaguar fleet, well the answer was simple get new high thrust engines for them, and the two contenders to provide new engines are Rolls-Royce Adour Mk821s current engine manufactures of Jaguars and US-based Honeywell with F125IN.
Honeywell with F125IN
Honeywell is offering its F125IN, a 43.8kN thrust (with afterburning) turbofan, Honeywell, which first showcased the F125IN at the Aero India 2009 expo in Bangalore last February, claims that its proposed solution boasts “improved pilot safety, lower maintenance costs and outstanding reliability”. Honeywell has also since stated that the F125IN’s modular construction and integral dual full-authority digital engine control system (FADEC) would save the IAF US$1.5billion in life-cycle costs as compared to its competitor. It was in 2007 that the F125IN was successfully demonstrated to the IAF in Bangalore on board an existing IAF Jaguar IS. Indian official who had witnessed the test had commented that “F125IN is technically superior to Rolls-Royce engines “, Honeywell has completed design of its Production standard engines with its own Jaguar airframe and have assured “Drop fit installation” to Jaguar airframe and the buzz at Aero India 2011 has been that IAF’s favorite is F125IN.
Rolls-Royce Adour Mk821s
Rolls-Royce claims that its Adour Mk821, which is built on the proven technology of the preceding Adour engines, “offers a low-risk route to the twin benefits of greater thrust and lower life-cycle costs”. According to the aero-engine manufacturer, choosing the Mk821 will also offer a high degree of commonality with the Adour Mk871 turbofan that currently powers the BAE Systems HAL Hawk Mk132 AJT currently supplied to IAF and 90% commonality with current Adour Mk811s turbofan engines which powers the Jaguars.
Expert’s conclusion
F125IN does provide better thrust to weight ratio, but can Jaguar airframe handle this higher thrust and will it able to use this thrust for its advantage? Well Jaguar manufactures have claimed in the past that extra thrust provided will be of no use to Jaguars due to airframe limitations.
While Adour Mk821 will give what Jaguars needs, nothing fancy nothing expensive, while Jaguars in IAF have been in service for more than 3 decades now and will last for another decade, IAF have to consider commonality with the Adour Mk871 which can be later used with HAL Hawk Mk132.
sudhir007
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IAF to test 'smart pill' for long operations | Deccan Chronicle | 2011-02-13
Eyeing long haul operations in future, the Indian Air Force is exploring the use of a 'smart' pill for keeping its pilots awake and vigilant for over 37 hours.
Fatigue has been a problem among pilots involved in long duration flights which sometimes makes them commit errors that can be hazardous, more so during combat operations.
"Sleep deprivation and resultant fatigue have been attributed as the biggest danger to the success of any mission. That is why we opted to go for a drug named Modafinil which is popular as 'Go Pill'," Major General Mandeep Singh, ADG, Medical Research, Armed Forces Medical Services said.
The pill has already been tried by US pilots and it has proven to enhance their performance in long duration operations lasting for over 37 hours, he said.
The drug works on the central-nervous-system and promotes hyper-focus and alertness, he said, adding, "It has found to be efficacious in sustaining performance during periods of sleep deprivation.
Moreover, it has no side effects and it possesses potential military applications in sustained air operations." Elaborating on the need for such an intervention, Air Marshal Dipankar Ganguly, Director General Medical Services, AIR said, "What applies during peace time is not possible when there is an emergency.
"During routine operations, a pilot is well rested before he takes off. This luxury is not there during war time. They are required to fly without adequate rest, depending on the nature of operation."
Major General Singh said that the drug trial will be carried out on pilots of both transport and fighter aircraft. "If proven effective we will have the switch in our hands. The problem of irregular working hours having a cumulative effect on the ability of a pilot during important missions can be overcome," he said.
Eyeing long haul operations in future, the Indian Air Force is exploring the use of a 'smart' pill for keeping its pilots awake and vigilant for over 37 hours.
Fatigue has been a problem among pilots involved in long duration flights which sometimes makes them commit errors that can be hazardous, more so during combat operations.
"Sleep deprivation and resultant fatigue have been attributed as the biggest danger to the success of any mission. That is why we opted to go for a drug named Modafinil which is popular as 'Go Pill'," Major General Mandeep Singh, ADG, Medical Research, Armed Forces Medical Services said.
The pill has already been tried by US pilots and it has proven to enhance their performance in long duration operations lasting for over 37 hours, he said.
The drug works on the central-nervous-system and promotes hyper-focus and alertness, he said, adding, "It has found to be efficacious in sustaining performance during periods of sleep deprivation.
Moreover, it has no side effects and it possesses potential military applications in sustained air operations." Elaborating on the need for such an intervention, Air Marshal Dipankar Ganguly, Director General Medical Services, AIR said, "What applies during peace time is not possible when there is an emergency.
"During routine operations, a pilot is well rested before he takes off. This luxury is not there during war time. They are required to fly without adequate rest, depending on the nature of operation."
Major General Singh said that the drug trial will be carried out on pilots of both transport and fighter aircraft. "If proven effective we will have the switch in our hands. The problem of irregular working hours having a cumulative effect on the ability of a pilot during important missions can be overcome," he said.
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India to Sign Mirage Upgrade Deal
The deal was earlier expected to be signed during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit last year but was postponed as the issues had remained unresolved then.
Giving details of the upgrade, the IAF chief said the aircraft would have modern avionics, new electronic warfare equipment and would get a life extension of 20 years.
On the procurement of mid-air refueling aircraft, Naik said the cancellation of the procurement procedure last year had delayed the induction of more such aircraft in the force.
After a five-year process, the last tender was canceled after Finance Ministry objected over IAF's choice for buying Airbus 330 citing its high price.
As per the procurement procedure, if two aircraft are meeting the requirements specified in the tender, the one with lower price has to be selected. After the cancellation of the tender, the IAF has reissued the Request For Proposal (RFP) to global manufacturers.
On the indigenously developed Intermediate jet trainer aircraft, Naik said it was expected to get its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by July this year.
On the plans to re-engine the deep penetration fighter Jaguar, the IAF chief said it has issued RFPs to engine manufacturers Honeywell and Rolls Royce. "We are looking to re-engine 60-plus Jaguars and procure over 200 engines," he added.
The deal was earlier expected to be signed during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit last year but was postponed as the issues had remained unresolved then.
Giving details of the upgrade, the IAF chief said the aircraft would have modern avionics, new electronic warfare equipment and would get a life extension of 20 years.
On the procurement of mid-air refueling aircraft, Naik said the cancellation of the procurement procedure last year had delayed the induction of more such aircraft in the force.
After a five-year process, the last tender was canceled after Finance Ministry objected over IAF's choice for buying Airbus 330 citing its high price.
As per the procurement procedure, if two aircraft are meeting the requirements specified in the tender, the one with lower price has to be selected. After the cancellation of the tender, the IAF has reissued the Request For Proposal (RFP) to global manufacturers.
On the indigenously developed Intermediate jet trainer aircraft, Naik said it was expected to get its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by July this year.
On the plans to re-engine the deep penetration fighter Jaguar, the IAF chief said it has issued RFPs to engine manufacturers Honeywell and Rolls Royce. "We are looking to re-engine 60-plus Jaguars and procure over 200 engines," he added.
Abingdonboy
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Good vid of Surya Kiran:
IAF's aerobatic team set to perform at Aero India - Videos - India - IBNLive
Good bye guys, you will be sorley missed.
IAF's aerobatic team set to perform at Aero India - Videos - India - IBNLive
Good bye guys, you will be sorley missed.
sudhir007
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Rolls Royce drops out of IAF’s Jaguar race
The Indian Air Force’s plans to equip its Jaguar deep penetration strike fighters with a new and more powerful engine have hit a hurdle, with UK’s Rolls Royce dropping out of the race to re-engine the plane. Roll Royce’s withdrawal from the competition has left US firm Honeywell as the only one angling for the $670 million (Rs 3,015 crore) order for powering the twin engine fighter with new engines (re-engining in air force parlance).
The IAF had invited bids from the two firms for 200 engines.
The British firm’s last minute decision to stay clear of the tender has created a single vendor situation, one that could slow down the Jaguar’s re-engining programme.
The defence ministry may have to re-open the competition and invite fresh bids. Also, defence procurement rules lay down that if certain equipment being manufactured by only one vendor has to be bought, to gain an edge over India’s adversaries, the case would have to be debated by the defence acquisition council after a through technology scan.
Rolls Royce’s Adour Mk 811 engines currently power the Jaguars, inducted in late 1970s.
Former IAF vice chief Air Marshal PK Barbora (retd) said, “The thrust generated by the existing engines has dropped over the years. The underpowered engines impact the all up weight of the aircraft. The re-engining programme is a crucial one for the IAF.”
Rolls Royce, the second largest engine maker in the world, had offered the IAF its Adour Mk821 powerplant, an upgraded variant of the existing engine. Honeywell, on the other hand, had tossed its hat in the ring for the re-engining race with its F125 IN engine.
IAF deputy chief Air Marshal RK Sharma said, “This is a re-engining contract and not an engine upgrade programme. We expect the two bidders to respond by the month end.” Sources close to the bidding process have confirmed that Rolls Royce has informed the IAF that it would not be responding to the request for proposal and that the reasons behind the decision had been explained.
The Indian Air Force’s plans to equip its Jaguar deep penetration strike fighters with a new and more powerful engine have hit a hurdle, with UK’s Rolls Royce dropping out of the race to re-engine the plane. Roll Royce’s withdrawal from the competition has left US firm Honeywell as the only one angling for the $670 million (Rs 3,015 crore) order for powering the twin engine fighter with new engines (re-engining in air force parlance).
The IAF had invited bids from the two firms for 200 engines.
The British firm’s last minute decision to stay clear of the tender has created a single vendor situation, one that could slow down the Jaguar’s re-engining programme.
The defence ministry may have to re-open the competition and invite fresh bids. Also, defence procurement rules lay down that if certain equipment being manufactured by only one vendor has to be bought, to gain an edge over India’s adversaries, the case would have to be debated by the defence acquisition council after a through technology scan.
Rolls Royce’s Adour Mk 811 engines currently power the Jaguars, inducted in late 1970s.
Former IAF vice chief Air Marshal PK Barbora (retd) said, “The thrust generated by the existing engines has dropped over the years. The underpowered engines impact the all up weight of the aircraft. The re-engining programme is a crucial one for the IAF.”
Rolls Royce, the second largest engine maker in the world, had offered the IAF its Adour Mk821 powerplant, an upgraded variant of the existing engine. Honeywell, on the other hand, had tossed its hat in the ring for the re-engining race with its F125 IN engine.
IAF deputy chief Air Marshal RK Sharma said, “This is a re-engining contract and not an engine upgrade programme. We expect the two bidders to respond by the month end.” Sources close to the bidding process have confirmed that Rolls Royce has informed the IAF that it would not be responding to the request for proposal and that the reasons behind the decision had been explained.
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