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Lockheed Martins India-developed aerial refueling device to be displayed at Farnborough Air Show 2010
Lockheed Martin will display an aerial refueling device at the forthcoming Farnborough Air Show in July which was developed under contract by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), an Indian company. This makes it the first time an Indian company was involved in a high-technology sub-system development of the F-16 fighter aircraft.
The refueling device, called probe-and-drogue refueling employs a flexible hose that trails from the tanker aircraft. The drogue at the end of the hose connects to the receiving aircrafts probe.
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and the air forces of many other countries which deploy the F-16 use the probe/drogue system.
The successful development will open a global market for the India-developed probe and drogue system.
According to Mike Griswold, Director, Advanced Development Programmes, Lockheed Martin, the probe-and-drogue refueling system was developed by HALs Aeronautical Research and Development Centre (ARDC) under a two year research contract.
We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HAL-ARDC two year ago and the development took over an year, said Mike during a briefing in New Delhi.
The intention to display at the Farnborough Air Show was to show the high tech capabilities of its Indian partner and expose the world market for F-16 aircraft to the possibility of buying F-16 sub-systems from India. The prototype probe-and-drogue system developed by HAL-ARDC will likely be on display at the Lockheed Martin stall at Farnborough.
With over 500 F-16 fighters in service with 22 countries, the Indian probe-and-drogue refueling system could find a wide market provided it was tested and certified by the military aviation authorities in the buyer countries.
The F-22 fighter, widely regarded as the fifth generation fighter replacement for the F-16, also uses a similar aerial refueling system.
Lockheed Martins India-developed aerial refueling device to be displayed at Farnborough Air Show 2010 : Defense news
Lockheed Martin will display an aerial refueling device at the forthcoming Farnborough Air Show in July which was developed under contract by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), an Indian company. This makes it the first time an Indian company was involved in a high-technology sub-system development of the F-16 fighter aircraft.
The refueling device, called probe-and-drogue refueling employs a flexible hose that trails from the tanker aircraft. The drogue at the end of the hose connects to the receiving aircrafts probe.
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and the air forces of many other countries which deploy the F-16 use the probe/drogue system.
The successful development will open a global market for the India-developed probe and drogue system.
According to Mike Griswold, Director, Advanced Development Programmes, Lockheed Martin, the probe-and-drogue refueling system was developed by HALs Aeronautical Research and Development Centre (ARDC) under a two year research contract.
We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HAL-ARDC two year ago and the development took over an year, said Mike during a briefing in New Delhi.
The intention to display at the Farnborough Air Show was to show the high tech capabilities of its Indian partner and expose the world market for F-16 aircraft to the possibility of buying F-16 sub-systems from India. The prototype probe-and-drogue system developed by HAL-ARDC will likely be on display at the Lockheed Martin stall at Farnborough.
With over 500 F-16 fighters in service with 22 countries, the Indian probe-and-drogue refueling system could find a wide market provided it was tested and certified by the military aviation authorities in the buyer countries.
The F-22 fighter, widely regarded as the fifth generation fighter replacement for the F-16, also uses a similar aerial refueling system.
Lockheed Martins India-developed aerial refueling device to be displayed at Farnborough Air Show 2010 : Defense news
- Jai hind
