Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[RPK]

IAF lacks basic flight training aircraft: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is staring at a terrible truth. An entire batch of pilots has been commissioned into the force without proper critical and compulsory basic flight training.

Headlines Today has learnt that IAF, the world's fourth largest air force, lacks the most basic aircraft for stage 1 flight training.

The IAF employed the HPT 32 as a stage 1 trainer. But after a spate of accidents, the aircraft was grounded in 2009. No replacements have been provided so far.

This has led to rookie pilots being pushed into stage 2 of flight training without any basic flying experience. In the absence of a trainer aircraft, the IAF has also had to scrap two courses of flight training instructors.

As a stop-gap arrangement, the IAF has been taking 4-6 aircraft on loan from various flying clubs. But with these aircraft not matching up to military standards, the lives of young pilots are at stake.

In 2001, the IAF sought a replacement for the HPT 32 stage 1 trainer. Almost a decade has gone but the government is yet to act.

In 2008-09, as many as 27 crashes were reported in which 11 pilots lost their lives. Thereafter, the government decided to ground the HPT 32 and started considering a new trainer aircraft.

But that would take another five years whereas the aircraft should have been already made available. The blame for the delay has to be shared both by the government and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which built the HPT 32 but failed to deliver a replacement.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony has assured that the grievance of the IAF will be addressed

 

[pak-yes]

InAF should buy K-8 from PAC.

I am sure they will more than happy to process Indian order.lol

 

[saurabh]

If DRDO can make a supersonic FAC, why cant it make an AJT?
Can some one explain what is required for an AJT that HAL/DRDO has not used in LCA?
I know kaveri is under development, but AFAIK it was just underpowered, still powerful enough to take a AC supersonic.

 

[RPK]

South Asia Mail

President presents colours to air force units


Bhopal, Nov 10 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Tuesday conferred the Indian Air Force's 47th Squadron and the Tactics & Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) with the presidential standard and colours.

Addressing the function at the Maharajpur airbase at Gwalior, the president said that India was strongly in favour of peace but also committed to taking necessary steps to defend its sovereignty and independence, according to an official release.

The colours were received by 47th Squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Vikas Sharma and TACDE's chief Group Captain Surat Singh.

A flypast by MiG-21s, MiG-27s, MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s and Sukhoi-30s and an aerobatics display by the Sarang team of the Dhruv helicopters, was also held.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, IAF chief P.V. Naik and Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh were present on the occasion.

 

[RPK]

8ak - Indian Defence News: IAF tender for night vision training systems

IAF tender for night vision training systems
02 Feb 2010 8ak: Please check for Tenders India, The Indian Government Tenders Information System for RFP code AIRHQ/26369/1/NVTS/MED-2

 

[unicorn148]

If DRDO can make a supersonic FAC, why cant it make an AJT?
Can some one explain what is required for an AJT that HAL/DRDO has not used in LCA?
I know kaveri is under development, but AFAIK it was just underpowered, still powerful enough to take a AC supersonic.

the trainer version of the LCA is completer .its tested also

 

[sancho]

InAF should buy K-8 from PAC.

I am sure they will more than happy to process Indian order.lol

First of all, google a bit and you will understand that the proposed trainers are not jet trainers, so K8 makes no sense att all and secondly we have our own new jet trainer:

HAL HJT-36 Sitara - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I welcome it, but why we can't even make a good Trainer aircraft locally. im very disappoint in this issue

We are building trainers locally, this procurement is meant as an fast replacement + finding a partner for the development of a new basic trainer, the HTT-40.

HAL looking for global partner to design trainer aircraft

BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has decided to rope in an international partner for the design and development of the much needed ab initio turbo trainer for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Navy.

The public sector aerospace company has sent out a request for information (RFI) to a number of companies that have designed and manufactured basic turbo trainers, including Embraer (for their Tucano), Pilatus (PC-21), Raytheon (T-6 Texan), Finmeccanica (M-311), Grob Aircraft Company (G-120TP) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KT-1).

The RFI is for 200 aircraft, with HAL being the sole worldwide manufacturer. The trainer, which will be named Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), will replace the HAL-designed Hindustan Piston Trainer-32 (HPT-32) Deepak, an aircraft which has been used by the IAF and, in smaller numbers, the Navy for their primary pilot training since 1984. But the reliability of the HPT-32 has always been in question.

The basic piston-driven aircraft has faced a number of technical issues, including a sudden switching off of the engine in mid air. Since its induction, the HPT-32 has had over 70 incidents.

HAL’s efforts to make modifications have been thwarted by a design mismatch between the HAL-designed airframe and the trainer’s Lycoming AEO piston engine. After a series of accidents a few years ago, a worried IAF almost declared the aircraft “too dangerous to fly solo.”

The IAF is hopeful that HAL will come out with a replacement for the HPT-32 by 2013-14 and has indicated its qualitative requirements: a trainer with good spin characteristics, a reliable turboprop engine, an ejection seat, a glass cockpit, a retractable undercarriage, modern navigational equipment and global positioning system. The IAF would also like an interchanging of the trainer’s cockpit layout with the instructor seated on the left and the trainee pilot on the right.

Justifying the decision to rope in a partner, a senior HAL official explained that it could take four to five years if they were to develop a trainer on their own. “Roping in an established partner who has already designed a trainer of this sort will not only mean compressing timelines, but also offering the IAF a top-of-the-line product incorporating most of what the IAF wants. The RFI is the first cut in the process of finding a partner. We hope to finalise the trainer’s specs and our partner by March 2010.”

He said a collaborative effort would also allow HAL to use the global marketing reach and technical reputation of their partner to sell a HAL-designed product in the world market.

This would give HAL a footprint in the competitive global aviation market, something that the company was presently finding difficult to achieve.

The Hindu : National : HAL looking for global partner to design trainer aircraft

 

[sancho]

ndia's fleet of Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighters could be armed with BrahMos missiles by 2012, the vice president of the Irkut Corporation said at the Singapore Airshow 2010 on Thursday.

The Corporation is a prime contractor in manufacturing the Su-30MKI multi-role fighters for the Indian Air Force. Its share of Russia's arms exports is 15%.

"The modernization program includes re-equipping of some 100 Su-30MKI fighters, which are currently in service with the Indian Air Force," Vladimir Sautov said.

"It is being carried out by the Rosoboronexport, the Sukhoi Design Bureau and NPO Mashinostroyeniya. If things go well, we may offer modernized Su-30MKI fighters to our other foreign partners as soon as 2012," he added.

The BrahMos missile has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg (660 lbs). It can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 meters (30 feet) and has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the U.S.-made subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.

The Indian Air Force originally ordered 50 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia in 1996 and an additional 40 planes in 2007. India's Hindustani Aeronautics (HAL) was also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017 under a licensed production agreement.

Sautov also revealed that as the missile is "large, heavy and powerful," a lighter modification is currently under development, which will enable Su-30MKI fighters to carry not only one but three missiles.

Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace, a joint Indian-Russian venture, produces and markets BrahMos supersonic missiles. The sea-based and land-based versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy.

SINGAPORE, February 4 (RIA Novosti)

Indian fighters to be armed with BrahMos misiles | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire

 

[Kinshuk]

Good.. Thats very goood...

 

[booo]

Sautov also revealed that as the missile is "large, heavy and powerful," a lighter modification is currently under development, which will enable Su-30MKI fighters to carry not only one but three missiles.

WTF! 3 missiles

 

[yashraj]

Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Brhamos on single SU 30mki...................... that means only 10 out of our 100 su30mki can sunk entire pk navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH YAAAAA BABY

 

[RPK]

String of military airstrips to strengthen Andaman?s defence

Port Blair: Andaman and Nicobar islands will get its air defence infrastructure bolstered with the tri-service military command here working on a project to strengthen a string of airstrips for operating both transport and fighter aircraft.

Navy Chief Nirmal Verma told reporters, during on a visit to the Milan 13-nation naval exercise that began today at the strategically important archipelago on India's east, that a couple of airstrips in Shipur and Campbell were being extended to accommodate large sized transport aircraft.


Currently, these airstrips, with a length of about 1,000 metres, handle only helicopters.

Moreover, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, set up in 2001 as a joint services formation, would also add to its number of the existing 15 ships stationed here in the near future.

"Shipur airfield is with a short airstrip of about 1,000 metres. We hope to increase it slightly. At the moment, only smaller aircraft are being operated from here. We will also provide night vision facility in the course of time," Verma said.

Naval officers pointed out that the plan was to have a "string of airfields" in the archipelago with the capacity to operate all types of aircraft including fighters such as the potent Sukhois.

The airstrips would also be able to handle large transport aircraft like IL-76 and AN-32s in all of these airfields for better coverage of the region, which is close to the Indian Ocean choke point, the Malacca Straits.

 

[RPK]

The Hindu : News / National : Strategic reach of air power showcased


In a show of strength and reach of the country’s only joint services command, two Indian Air Force frontline Sukhoi MKI fighters roared across the skies at an impressive City Parade here on Sunday.

Witnessed by hundreds of people against the picturesque backdrop of the sea, the two air dominance fighters scorched the skies, flying some 1,400 km from the Kalaikunda airbase in the East.

After refuelling mid-air, the Sukhois made an appearance for the first time here at the parade held to coincide with the Indian Navy’s multi-country “Milan” exercise. The aim was to demonstrate the reach of the joint services which operate in these islands of strategic importance to the country.

“Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a vantage position across vital areas in the 800 km north-south (linear) axis… and is sitting at the entry/exit point of the western approach to the Straits of Malacca,” Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, Vice-Admiral D.K. Joshi said.

The command, with constant patrols by the tri-services and the Coast Guard, keeps a steady vigil and stops terrorists from setting up bases over the 572 islands with a 2,000-km coastline, of which only 36 are inhabited.
Challenges

The challenges in the region are centred around poaching and the Indian Navy held a table-top exercise with navies of other countries to undertake joint planning towards building mutual confidence and improving inter-operability in dealing with problems such as piracy, gun and drug running and illegal migration.
Upgrading airstrips

Efforts were on to expand the length of runways and upgrade the airstrips to facilitate night-landing, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma said here earlier.

Currently there are four airstrips that can operate Sukhois in the region. Sunday’s demonstration showed the reach of the IAF since the fighter aircraft equipped with Beyond Visual Range missiles and other lethal weapons, reached these skies.

In addition, the Landing Ship Tanker (Large) INS Kesri has been positioned here for amphibious operations since the command is being developed as a niche centre for such warfare.

At the parade, the Navy mounted an operation by its famed Marine Commandos, who slithered down a hovering helicopter at sea to carry out a simulated attack on a dummy oilrig platform.

Another team demonstrated water para jumps.
Precision drill

Besides the enthralling precision drill by Air Warriors, the viewers witnessed breathtaking performance by sky divers and a marchpast by contingents from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand. At sunset, the people were treated to fireworks as five ships at anchorage were illuminated.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

Indigenous attack copter ready for first flight - dnaindia.com

Indigenous attack copter ready for first flight
Josy Joseph / DNAMonday, February 8, 2010 0:45 IST Email

New Delhi: India’s first indigenous light combat helicopter (LCH) may embark on its first flight this month.


Being built at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bangalore, the LCH completed its first ground run on February 4.

Based on the LCH’s performance that day, its developers believe that the attack helicopter will be ready to fly soon.

“There are some minor issues to be taken care of. Its performance [during the first ground run] was more than satisfactory,” a senior HAL official said.

There have been enough indications that the LCH — to be armed with guns and different types of missiles and rockets — would be inducted in large numbers into the air force and the army by the end of 2011.

Almost 200 of them are expected to be in service with the Indian military.

The ground run, carried out for the first time on February 4, would be repeated regularly in the next few days. During these ground runs, the LCH would be fine-tuned for its first flight.

The LCH was announced in 2006 to meet the operational requirements of both the air force and the army for close air support and anti-infantry and anti-armour roles. It would also work in very high altitudes.

The twin-engine LCH is derived from the HAL’s Dhruv advance light helicopter, which is already in service. The LCH flies on the Shakti engine, which is jointly developed by HAL and Turbomeca of France.

Over the next two years, HAL officials are hopeful of obtaining the final operational clearance for the LCH and starting December 2011, it could be ready for induction.

According to the present design projections, the LCH would be heavily armed — it would carry a 20-mm cannon, four types of missiles (air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-radiation, and anti-tank), rocket pods, grenade launchers and cluster bombs.

 

[sancho]

According to the present design projections, the LCH would be heavily armed — it would carry a 20-mm cannon, four types of missiles (air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-radiation, and anti-tank), rocket pods, grenade launchers and cluster bombs.

On a helicopter?