Indian Airforce A-50 EI Spotted

[nitesh]

Caribbean Net News: Suriname buys defence helicopters from India

Suriname buys defence helicopters from India

Published on Thursday, February 12, 2009

By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname; The Suriname government is buying three helicopters from India for its National Army, the Ministry of Defence here announced on Wednesday. Military sources indicate that the aircraft are mainly for transportation of army personnel, but if necessary they could also be used for combat activities.

During budget debates in parliament in January, Defence Minister, Ivan Fernald, had announced the decision of the government to purchase the military equipment but was relecutant to disclose details since negotiations with India were not yet completed. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will deliver the indigenously designed and developed advanced light helicopters (ALH) Dhruv.

The aircrafts will cost some 750 million rupees (US$15.3 million) and are being financed with a credit line from the Indian government. According to the Ministry of Defence, the aircraft are necessary since the Surinamese National Army currently is being furnished adequately in order to fully execute its constitutional tasks.

“With its presence at the national borders the army is executing its preventive duty,” said the ministry.

Currently, Defence Minister Fernald accompanied by his permanent secretary Dennis Kamperveen and lieutenant-colonel Jerry Slijngaard, head of the National Coordination Center for Disaster Management (NCCR) is in India to sign the contracts. The officials will also attend the seventh edition of the international air show, Aero India 2009, which opened Thursday, February 11, in Bangalore and hold talks to advance the defence relations between Suriname and India. Minister Fernald and his Indian counterpart Arackaparambil Kurian Antony will also engage in bilateral talks.

During the 80s and early 90s, the Suriname air force had a considerable number of helicopters and other aircraft but, due to losses during the internal armed conflict in the late 80s and poor maintenance, the fleet deteriorated.

 

[nitesh]

The Statesman

‘More than 39.5 squadrons by 2020’

Sri Krishna
BANGALORE, Feb. 12: The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, is confident of the air force having more than 39.5 squadrons by 2020 and reaching the strength by 2017. This time lag is because “acquiring aeroplanes, radars and other equipment take long as manufacturing starts after the order is placed”, he explained.
Addressing a press conference at the ongoing 7th edition of the AeroIndia Show organised by the ministry of defence and CII, Major said “without losing cutting edge we at the moment have 34 squadrons and by 2017 we will have reached the required strength of 39.5 squadrons and by 2020 we would have more.”
A day after the defence minister, Mr A K Antony, said the light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, would be inducted into the IAF, the air chief was even more specific saying that “we expect the first squadron of Tejas to be ready to join by 2010 or early 2011”.
“Every air force goes through phases in life when the strength of the authorised combat squadrons go up and down. The old platform fades out and new platforms need to be inducted. This cycle is common to every air force and there is none in the world which is 100 per cent fully technology efficient,” Air Chief Marshal Major said.
On the air force using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), he said, “We already have UAVs and we are increasing the strength. The payloads in these UAVs are improving and are getting better and better and the process of expanding the fleet is going on.”
On whether after the Mumbai terror attacks, the air force had put acquisition on fast track, he said, “I have put nothing on fast track after November 26 and I don’t need to. The IAF have the capabilities to fight all kinds of situations. My force strategy and weapons profile is for entire operation of conflict. We have our force deployment in a manner which caters for all our adversaries and low intensity.”
On purchasing equipment from those who also supply to Pakistan, he said, “It has been happening for generations and depends on the type of equipment and the common platform doesn’t bother me”. The air chief stressed on the need for indigenising the capability when it came to using these weapons.
On the large number of unused airfields likely to be used by terrorist groups, he said, “It is the responsibility of the respective state governments and these can pose a threat and can be used for not so proper purposes.”

Heavy weapon testing

The indigenously made light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) by next year or early 2011 would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after the ongoing 7th edition of AeroIndia show here .
“We would be carrying out heavy weapon testing immediately after this AeroIndia show and we would be carrying 1000 lb bombs,” Group Captain N Tiwari who has been flying these aircraft at the National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) told The Statesman.
The successful display of the LCA at the air show encouraged the defence minister, Mr AK Antony, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major, to be confident that the fighter aircraft would be inducted into the IAF at a time when it is planning to purchase 126 combat aircraft for which trials are to begin by April.
“We had started weapon testing two years back and we have just started air to ground tests,” said Group Captain Tiwari who is at the airshow with his team which had tested the Tejas fighter in both hot and cold weather conditions.
The hot weather trials were held at the Air Force Station (AFS) at Nagpur last year while the sea level trials were conducted at INS Rajali, Arakkonam and Close Combat Missile (CCM) firing at INS Hansa, Goa.
On the test flight of the Tejas at Leh which he had undertaken, Group Captain Tiwari said, “There was no major problem and everything looked better than planned. We were very worried whether the aircraft would start at the high altitude but there was no problem. We left it overnight in Leh and everything was fine though the temperature was between -14 degrees Celsius and -16 degrees Celsius and the altitude was 10,300 feet. It took us two days for acclimatisation and only on the third day could be carry out the test flight.”
Elaborating on the testing, he said, “All our performance targets were met easily. It was more an evaluation of the systems ~ that was the basic intent of the exercise.”
On the aircraft’s ability to cope with hot weather conditions, he said “there too we had no problems. Despite the heat with the temperature touching nearly 45 degrees Celsius, the cockpit remained cool.”
On night flying, he said the aircraft has completed the first phase which was done here and the final phase would be undertaken soon.

 

[nitesh]

'No worries over manufacturers selling same weaponry to Pak' :: SamayLive

'No worries over manufacturers selling same weaponry to Pak'

Bangalore, Feb 12 : India today said it was not worried over the global arms manufacturers selling the same weapon and platform to its neighbour Pakistan.

"This has been happening for generations. If it is a common platform, it does not bother me," Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major told reporters here on the sidelines of the Aero India show.

Major said there would be situations in the future when similar equipment and weapons would be with four different adversaries in a conflict. "What actually matters is the exploitation of the platform, your home-grown tactics and how you tweak that system to suit your requirements," he said.

On networking of platforms and weapon system, the IAF chief said the work on the Air Force Net and Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) was progressing well and the expected AFNET to be completed by June this year.

"All the 165 nodes of the AFNET would be linked by June. Three quarters of the work has been finished already. By June, we will complete this particular phase," he said.

On the Operational Data Link (ODL) for linking all fighter aircraft sensors, Major said the link would be in place by December 2010 or beginning of 2011.

The IAF, he said, was moving ahead with inductions and phase outs in a planned manner and therefore did not require to fast track acquisition post 26/11.

 

[nitesh]

LiveFist: Photos: Model of DRDO's Medium Combat Aircraft

from:
LiveFist: Photos: Model of DRDO's Medium Combat Aircraft

 

[LCA]

RIA Novosti - Russia - Russia to deliver first AWACS plane to India 'soon'

Russia to deliver first AWACS plane to India 'soon'
15:05 | 12/ 02/ 2009



BANGALORE (India), February 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will deliver the first A-50 AWACS aircraft developed on the basis of Il-76MD military transport plane in the near future, a Russian aircraft industry official said on Thursday.

India ordered three A-50EI variants fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system in 2001. The first aircraft was scheduled to arrive in 2007-08 but has been delayed.

"The AWACS version of Il-76 will be soon delivered to India," Viktor Livanov, vice-president of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, said at a news conference on the sidelines of the Aero India 2009 air show in India.

In many aspects, the A-50 is comparable to the E-3 Sentry of the U.S. Air Force. It is fitted with an aerial refueling system and electronic warfare equipment, and can detect targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away.


The existing Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation program until 2010 includes up to 200 projects worth about $18 billion.

In addition to the Russian A-50 aircraft, India has recently purchased eight Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from the United States, and signed a deal with Brazil to jointly integrate domestically developed AWACS systems onto three Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft to be later commissioned with the Indian air force.

 

[LCA]

Now one question ..???

Is it different from israel deal ?... because that was on 2004 and this article say 2001 deal?

any body have clarification?

 

[nitesh]

this was supposed to be delivered on march only in between a controversy stated that IAF has received it in January only.

 

[nitesh]

Now one question ..???

Is it different from israel deal ?... because that was on 2004 and this article say 2001 deal?

any body have clarification?

Nope IAF has shown interest deal was signed in 2004 supposed to get delivered in 2007 but got delayed
In a nutshell no separate deal

 

[LCA]

Nope IAF has shown interest deal was signed in 2004 supposed to get delivered in 2007 but got delayed
In a nutshell no separate deal

but here it also mention the A-50 , i think that it is radar.

And also i think we already have one phalcon isn't it ?

 

[nitesh]

but here it also mention the A-50 , i think that it is radar.

And also i think we already have one phalcon isn't it ?

A-50 is name of platform loaded with Russian hardware on IL 76 platform. India chosen to mount phalcon on IL 76. There were news that one phalcon got delivered in January and planning to flypast on republic day but nothing happened all we have seen is a model of phalcon. So it is supposed to be delivered in March only. (After 16 months of delay)

The major reason behind delay was that IAI has not got IL 76 on time to start the integration and then after integration IAF noticed some glitches then those got fixed. (IL 76 is made in Ukraine and Russia).

 

[LCA]

A-50 is name of platform loaded with Russian hardware on IL 76 platform. India chosen to mount phalcon on IL 76. There were news that one phalcon got delivered in January and planning to flypast on republic day but nothing happened all we have seen is a model of phalcon. So it is supposed to be delivered in March only. (After 16 months of delay)

The major reason behind delay was that IAI has not got IL 76 on time to start the integration and then after integration IAF noticed some glitches then those got fixed. (IL 76 is made in Ukraine and Russia).

yeah i got it .... i tried to delete but unable to do that.

 

[Neo]

Nice pictures, quite stealthy features indeed.

 

[nitesh]

AERO INDIA: MoD gives go-ahead to light utility helicopter project

AERO INDIA: MoD gives go-ahead to light utility helicopter project
By Siva Govindasamy

India's defence ministry has cleared Hindustan Aeronautics' proposal to manufacture 187 light utility helicopters, paving the way for the company to begin a design phase and possibly sound out potential foreign partners.

"We will now start working on the programme and we expect to begin deliveries in five to six years," says Ashok Baweja, HAL chairman.

The tender is part of a combined requirement by both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. New Delhi has issued a global request for proposals for 197 light utility helicopters, with Eurocopter, AgustaWestland and Russia's Rosoboronexport expected to respond. The defence ministry hopes to make a selection by early 2010 and induct the first helicopter in 2011.

There has been speculation that HAL could work with a foreign vendor to develop the aircraft from scratch, although Baweja says that it is too early too say if this would be the case.

Eurocopter, which allowed HAL to licence-produce several hundred Indian versions of the Alouette and Lama, is the likely company if a partner is sought. A possible model for the partnership is one that Eurocopter has with South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries. The company is a partner in the Korea Helicopter Programme, which aims to develop an 8t utility helicopter for the country's army. Eurocopter would also help KAI to market the design outside South Korea.

India requires a smaller single-engine helicopter in the 2.5-3t category, with a range of up to 500km (270nm) and a 500kg (1,100lb) payload. HAL, which will also be responsible for the maintenance of the Western-manufactured helicopters, is likely to create a new division to oversee the entire LUH programme. This will be separate from its existing Dhruv advanced light helicopter and light combat helicopter programmes.

 

[nitesh]

The Hindu : National : Full squadron strength in eight years: Air Chief


Full squadron strength in eight years: Air Chief

K.V. Prasad

By 2010, IAF will have integrated command

IAF will launch own satellite by 2010

Pakistan having F-16s not an issue: Air Chief

BANGALORE: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major on Thursday said the Indian Air Force would have its full sanctioned strength of 39 squadrons in eight years and asserted that operating at lesser strength did not compromise its fighting edge.

“The programme of phasing out, upgrading and induction is being carried out in a concerted manner without losing the combat edge. We should be able to reach 39 squadrons by 2017 and will have what we want and more by 2020,” the Air Chief said at a press conference here. All air forces in the world went through this process, he pointed out.

Emphasising that technology was at the core of any air force, he said there was a conscious move to reduce different kinds of aircraft from the present varied inventory so that ultimately, the IAF would have fewer kinds of combat and transport aircraft and helicopters. This was essential for better management of both the aircraft and weapon systems as it was a challenge to manage and maintain a varied inventory.

By this June, the IAF would connect all its 165 operational and other nodes through a secure fibre optic network while work on the voice and data net was also progressing well. By 2010, the IAF would have integrated command and control systems linking its entire operational data links to network platforms sensors, command and controls. The IAF would launch its own satellite by mid-2010.

Asked about the preparedness of the IAF in the wake of reports of China building infrastructure across the Indian borders, he said: “We have our force deployment in a manner which caters for all likely adversaries in a situation of low intensity conflict.”

To a question how the IAF looked at Pakistan having F-16, he said it was not an issue as he knew what Pakistan’s F-16 was capable of. It was not the aircraft but the type of equipment, including weapon systems, that was important and the capacity to tweak the system, exploit it and employ tactics.

Radars

He admitted there were gaps on low-level radars in the country but the IAF had them in key areas.

As for the threat perception from unused airfields in the country, he said it was for the respective State governments to keep surveillance.

On the Light Combat Aircraft, he said trials in cold weather and weapons firing were over and it should be operational by late 2010 or early 2011. The IAF had placed an order with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 40 indigenous LCA ‘Tejas.’

 

[nitesh]

Indian woman becomes world`s first to fly MiG-35 - Sify.com

Indian woman becomes world's first to fly MiG-35
Sunday, 15 February , 2009, 14:23
Last Updated: Sunday, 15 February , 2009, 14:43

Bangalore: Suman Sharma, daughter of a retired Indian naval officer and an army colonel's sister, became the world's first woman to fly the mighty Russian MiG-35 fighter jet at the Aero India international air show here.

The 30-year-old also became the first civilian woman to co-pilot the American-strike fighter F-16IN of Lockheed Martin two days before the biennial event took off at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Yelahanka, about 20 km from here.

"The Russians confirmed from Moscow that I was the world's first woman to fly the Mikoyan fourth generation twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft (MiG-35) on Friday (February 13) with MiG Corp test pilot Mikhail Belyaev for over 40 minutes cruising at 0.9 Mach speed and pulled 7G above 20,000 feet," an elated Suman said.

A qualified pilot with a stint in IAF as a commissioned officer and currently a flying instructor with the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun, Suman flew in the single-engine F-16 with Lockheed test pilot Paul Randall. They touched 6G while flying 90 miles southwards into interior Karnataka.

"I had the privilege of taking controls in both the fighters for a while to perform loops, barrel and side rolls, stalls, dives and 360 degree turns. Though I was alert and fit, breathing at such altitudes and speed is a bit difficult. Yoga practice came to my rescue," Suman recalled.

In the run up to her mid-air adventures onboard the supersonic fighters, Suman had flown to the US by a Boeing commercial jet (737) for 15 hours non-stop from New Delhi to Chicago in January 2008 on a familiarisation trip to the Lockheed factory where she got a feel of the Falcons in a simulator and a first-hand exposure to the latest aerospace technologies.

"During my IAF service, I co-piloted transport aircraft AN-32 and IL-76 and flew civilian jets subsequently. The experience came handy in conditioning to fly the fighters. In addition, yoga practice, jazz dance and diet control made me remain lean and fit to wear the G-suit and participate in aerobatics at different G force," Suman noted.

Unwilling to make a comparison between the American and Russian fighters and her preference, Suman said while F-16 was a lighter, lean and mean machine to super cruise, MiG-35 was certainly heavier with tremendous power and thrust to go full throttle.

"It is unfair to compare as both (fighters) are a class by themselves. It all depends on how they are used and by whom. Being fly-by-wire with latest avionics, flight controls, radars and other navigational aids, it is the level of our alertness and reflexes that makes the difference in flying them," Suman affirmed.

Asked whether she applied to the IAF to fly in one of its Sukhoi (Su-30MKI) fourth generation fighters, Suman said though she did to co-pilot a Su-30 and its latest Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Hawk, she was yet to get a clearance.

"As a rule, IAF does not allow women warriors to be taken as prisoners of war (POW) by the enemy though women pilots in the US and Israel fly combat aircraft. Though the Russian air force is not averse to the fair-gender flying fighters, there are no women fighter pilots yet," Suman pointed out.

Suman, however, is hopeful the IAF would change its rule sooner to allow women pilots to fly fighters in light of a recent proposal to recruit about 800 women commissioned officers in combat flying.

"The IAF recruits women through the service selection board for various positions, including piloting transport aircraft and choppers," she said.

The New Delhi-based Suman wants to inspire other women, especially girls, to take up flying as a profession and compete with men as there is nothing that one cannotunderstand in a magnificent flying machine.

"It is not a rocket science or so difficult to grasp. With good academic and science background, any girl or woman can take to flying even a combat aircraft," she said.