Agreement Finalized for US Engines for Indigenous Indian Fighter Jet

India has finalized an agreement for 99 GE 414 engines to power its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
This is the first, and significant, engine contract for GE Aviation to power fighter jets for India and the LCA will be the first combat aircraft in the inventory of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy with engines from the US. Both services have US-made transport aircraft though and all the three US engine majors, GE, Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney have supplied power units for them.
DRDO Director General (and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister) V.K. Saraswat told India Strategic (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview that the agreement with GE was signed recently, and that he expected the aircraft to be a success for both the IAF and the Indian Navy.
The IAF has used Fairchild Packets in the 1960s, has Lockheed Martin C 130Js now and is set to get Boeing C 17 Globemasters beginning this year. The Navy used the Lockheed Super Constellations for maritime reconnaissance. They are all transporters.
GE won the contract for its F414-GE-INS6 afterburner turbofan engine in September 2010 with a narrow margin against a competing bid by the European Eurojet EJ 200.
It has taken nearly two years for the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which had selected the engine, to work out details like how and how much of the engine will be produced in India. A production contract is now being worked our between GE Aviation and HAL, which will manufacture them, in this regard.
GE, which is already supplying its LM 2500 gas turbine engines for some newer Indian Navy ships, was given the necessary clearance by the US Government. It will supply an initial lot of 18 engines while the remaining will be progressively assembled/ made in India.

MI-26T2 and IL-78MK-90 will continue to fight for Indian order

Rosoboronexport expects to win the Indian Air Force tenders on the delivery of heavy-lift transport helicopters and refueller aircraft in which Russia is offering the Mi-26T2 helicopter and Il-78MK-90 aircraft respectively.

Rosoboronexport disproves media reports about Russia's losing the above mentioned tenders and informs that such publications are not true. The results have not been announced yet and any early announcements mislead general public and professional community both in Russia and India.

The Mi-26T2 heavy-lift transport helicopters and Il-78MK-90 tanker are worthy of winning both tenders not only because they are unique military air systems fully meeting specifications of the Indian side but also because they attract potential customers by cost-effectiveness.

The newest Mi-26T2 heavy-lift transport helicopter has the following obvious advantages:

Mi-26 type helicopters have been successfully operated for a long time in India which will not need to retrain pilots and technicians for them and has already the infrastructure required;

Mi-26T2s are the world’s biggest serially produced helicopters with 20-tonne lifting capacity comparable to that of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft: in one sortie the Mi-26T2 helicopter can transport 82 troops with their equipment, quickly transfer a wide range of heavy-weight combat vehicles suspended on the external cargo sling, and in general implement important transport missions by a small group of the helicopters;

in one flight the Mi-26 type helicopters can perform transport as well as assault, search-and-rescue and special-purpose tasks similar to successful operations it carried out in hot and high areas in Afghanistan and other regions, proving its vast combat experience gained in difficult conditions, and high flight safety standards;

Mi-26T2 is sturdy in operation thanks to the installation of protection devices which practically do not reduce service life of its engines and accessories when operating in sand formations; this Russian helicopter also has high field repairability characteristics which speak in its favour too;

India Air force Jaguar Crashes, Pilot Ejects

An IAF Jaguar strike aircraft crashed today in Sikkim in India's North-East, the third crash since April this year (the last was a MiG-21 in Western India last week). The Jaguar pilot Flt Lt Yogesh Kumar Yadav managed to eject and has only sustained minor injuries. A detachment of Jaguars is currently based at the IAF's base in Hashimara. A court of inquiry has been ordered into the crash.

Indian Air Force plans to acquire new Cheetal helicopters

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to purchase new Cheetal helicopters for deployment at the Siachen Glacier in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalaya Mountains, India.

Unidentified IAF officials were quoted by Press Trust of India saying the service has already sent a request for proposal (RFP) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the acquisition of 12 helicopters for conducting operations in high altitude areas in the country's northern borders.

The new helicopters are being purchased in the wake of persistent delays to the procurement of new Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs), which are scheduled to replace the Air Force and Army's existing Cheetah/Chetak helicopter fleet, the officials added.

The IAF currently operates squadrons of its Cheetah/Chetak helicopters to deliver close air support to the army troops in Leh and Thoise in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Manufactured by HAL, the Cheetal is an upgraded version of the Cheetah helicopter equipped with more powerful Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 turboshaft engines.

Indian Army to get its own attack helicopters

In a move that is likely to raise hackles within the Indian Air Force (IAF), the government has decided to allow the Indian Army to acquire its own fleet of attack helicopters.

The decision comes days after IAF chief Air Marshal N A K Browne told reporters on October 5 that it was not possible to have "little air forces". Days later, on October 9, Defence Minister A K Antony, had termed the fight between the IAF and Army over the attack helicopters as a 'family problem'.

National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon had to intervene on behalf of Defence Minister A K Antony in the three year row between the Air Force and the Army over who would own the attack helicopters. After talking to both Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne and Army Chief General Bikram Singh this week, Mr Menon advised the Government that Army should own and operate the medium lift attack helicopters. The first batch of Apache helicopters to be bought from USA programme may go the Indian Army. Currently, India has two squadrons of attack helicopters, Mi-25 and Mi-35, which are maintained and manned by the Indian Air Force but under the operational control of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has been for long making a case for having its own fleet of attack helicopters. The Army contends that having its own attack helicopters rather than depending on the IAF would give the land forces more power and reach in tactical situations.

It also argued that having its own attack helicopters is integral to the Cold Start Doctrine - designed to cut down the time taken to mobilise troops. Apart from the three strike Corps, Army has now designated its holding corps as the pivot which can launch offensive defence before strike corps take over. Concerned with enormous time taken to mobilise the strike corps after the 2001 terrorist strike on the Indian Parliament - after which India nearly went to war with Pakistan - the Army revised its deployment and operational plans.

$3.77 bn Super Sukhois deal to be signed during Putin’s visit

The aircraft would virtually be an insurance policy against aerial threats from such aircraft as the J-10s and the F-16s.

Defence ties have clearly been the engine of India-Russia bilateral relationship for over half a century now. The same engine is set to be roaring once again when Russian President Vladimir Putin undertakes a visit to India this month-end. The two countries are going to sign numerous agreements – at least half a dozen, according to knowledgeable sources – and one of these is going to be a $3.77 billion deal for the supply of 40 SU-30MKI Russian fighter aircraft to India.

The new Super Sukhois deal is going to be on the front burner when the India, Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation meets in New Delhi next week. The ultimate goal of the two defence ministers at the two-day meeting later this week would be to thrash out a text of which even a comma or a full stop does not have to be changed and the two ministers sign the deal in the presence of Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their delegation-level talks in New Delhi on November 1. This is going to be a major mission objective of the Indiana and Russian defence ministers in the coming days.

On 80th anniversary IAF gears up for inventory sans MiG-21s

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) turns 80 on October 8, it is gearing up for an inventory without Soviet-vintage MiG-21s often dubbed “Flying Coffins” for their dubious flight safety record – first it will stop training its young pilots on the fighter jet and thereafter retire it by 2015-16.

The present acquisition spree and the phase out of the obsolete platform will ensure that the air force gets younger even as it crosses 80th anniversary mark.

The IAF had taken the decision to stop training its pilots on MiG-21s in 2011, when IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal announced after a spate of crashes that the last batch of pilots was being trained on the fighter jets.

Confirming this, the Air Chief Marshal Browne said: “Last batch of pilots is being trained. Now these three squadrons’ batches will be the last batch and all the training will shift on Hawk (Advanced Jet Trainer) aircraft.”

After their first two levels of training, half the pilots used to go to British-built AJTs and the rest to MiG Operational Flight Training Units (MOFTU). However, the present batch of MiG-21s Type 77 – the oldest of the MiG-21s that were the force’s mainstay in 1971 Indo-Pak War – will finish its syllabus by January 2014 paving the way for their retirement. Whereas the two squadrons of Type-96 MiG-21s will revert back to operational role from training and will continue to serve the force.

“We need to keep force levels going. By 2015 they will continue to serve,” the IAF Chief added. In fact four squadrons of MiG-27s will be retired in a phased manner by 2016-17. “MiG-29s will be the last of the MiG series aircraft remaining,” Air Chief Marshal Browne said. MiG-29s are presently undergoing an upgrade and the programme will conclude in 2020.  

Initial Operational Clearnance for LCA slips further Top

It has-beens the aircraft in the making for over 25 years now. And the IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal on Friday Said the delivery dates of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas HAS slipped further Top. "Yes the IOC (Initial Operational Clearance) HAS slipped further Top. DRDO is now looking for the middle of third quarter next year," the Chief said.

The LCA, however, will be Participating in the Iron Fist Fire Power Demonstration Planned next year. It will be the first part of this domestic-built fighter jet.

IJT Problems Add to Indian Air Force Training Woes

The delay in development of India’s intermediate jet trainer (IJT) by government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has the Indian Air Force (IAF) worried, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne told AIN in an exclusive interview. The HAL HJT-36 is intended to replace the aging fleet of Kiran Mk II jet trainers in the IAF by 2015.

Since the start of design work in 1997, the IJT program has suffered three accidents, delaying its initial operational capability (IOC). When HAL displayed the first two IJT prototypes at the Paris Air Show in June 2005, it said that certification would follow in 2007. “We are concerned as we are not seeing significant progress on the IJT. HAL put in a dedicated design team, yet there are no results. This is a training aircraft and we cannot compromise on safety,” said Browne.

Issues remain on controls, engines and the aircraft’s weight, stall and spin characteristics, Browne said. This was confirmed to AIN by HAL design director T. Suvaranaraju, who said, “We have had a setback…four aircraft are in flight mode. We will recover the lost time.”

The IJT is supposed to be a stage-II trainer to be used before pilots graduate to the BAE Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer. The IAF ordered 123 of these under two contracts, and another 20 are likely to be acquired to replace the Kirans that are flown by the IAF’s aerobatic team.

IAF to Induct First Killer Drones

The Indian Air Force is planning to induct its first self-destructing combat drones from Israel by next year for enhancing its firepower.

The Israeli-made Harop unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) will give IAF the capability of hitting high value targets such as enemy missile and radar sites without sending its manned fighter aircraft.

"The UCAV are expected to join us by next year enhancing our firepower in both conventional and low intensity conflict," a senior IAF official told PTI here.

Harop will be IAF's first combat UAV for offensive strikes, though it already possesses a fleet of Searcher and Heron UAVs to perform surveillance and reconnaissance roles.

Unlike the Predator drones being used by the US against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan that can fire missiles and return after a mission, the Harop is self-destructing, making them a more expensive option.

Developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries, the Harop UCAVs were bought by India two years ago under a deal expected to be worth over Rs 500 crore.

Indian Air Force to induct second Akash squadron

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to induct the second Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) missile squadron at Lohegaon Air Force Station (AFS) in Pune, India, to help increase defence against enemy aerial threats.

Lohegaon-based 2 Wing air officer commanding air commodore Vivek Chaudhari was quoted by The Times of India as saying that the induction is expected to be completed in the next few months.

''Some of the equipment has already landed here while some more equipment is going through integration trials,'' Chaudhari added.

Pune AFS senior officer wing commander Piyush Gupta told the news agency that the first Akash squadron is currently under the final stages of installation at the Gwalior AFS, and will also be inducted at additional IAF bases in the north-eastern region.

''From the ground, the Akash weapon system can shoot down fighter aircraft, choppers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or cruise missiles up to a range of 30 km," Gupta said.

Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), as part of the integrated guided missile development programme, Akash is a 5.78m-long, medium-range missile designed to replace the IAF's ageing Russian Pechora SAM systems.

IAF planning to phase out MiG-27 combat planes by 2017

New Delhi - Concerned over recurring problems in MiG-27 combat aircraft engines, Indian Air Force is planning to phase out these Russian-origin planes by 2017.

IAF operates about 80 (four squadrons) of these aircraft in its fleet and due to the recurring problems in their engines, it had to ground all of them after a crash about two years ago.

"We are planning to phase out the MiG-27s, of which around 80 are still in service, by the year 2017," senior IAF officials said.

IAF has deployed two squadrons each of the aircraft in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Kalaikunda in West Bengal at present.

About two years, a study was conducted to check the problems in the engines of the aircraft and it was found that the R-29s engines have developed some defect which was very difficult to be corrected, they said.

After the report, IAF took a considered decision about retiring these aircraft from operational service in a phased manner, the officials said.

IAF to unveil radar plane, choppers

Asian Defence News India will showcase its latest Air Force acquisitions -- an indigenous airborne radar plane and a Russian-origin cargo helicopter -- at this year's Air Force Day parade that marks its 80th anniversary, a week from now.

"This year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) completes its 80 years. We will showcase our latest acquisitions such as the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and the Mi-17V5 cargo chopper at the Air Force Day parade, Oct 8," an IAF officer told a news agency on Sunday.

The Air Force Day parade will be held at Hindon air base in Ghaziabad district on the outskirts of the national capital. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne will take the salute of the air warriors and address them, he said.

Indian Air Force To Buy 22 Apache Helos

India’s air force has agreed to purchase 22 Apache AH-64D multirole combat helicopters from Boeing in a deal worth an estimated $1.4 billion.

“The financial bid for attack helos was opened some time last week, and since Russia had withdrawn its Mi-28N Night Hunter, Boeing emerged as the sole bidder,” a senior defense ministry official says.

The Apache deal includes both direct commercial sale (DCS) and foreign military sales (FMS) components. The agreement also includes offset elements and firm, fixed-cost pricing.

The FMS contract includes munitions, training, aircraft certification and components including engines, electro-optical sensors and the fire control radar, which is optional. The DCS contract primarily consists of the aircraft (less engines/sensors), logistic support, spares and services.

A person closely associated with the deal says talks with the U.S. government concerning the FMS, and with Boeing on the DCS, already have started. “We expect the contract to be signed before the end of this financial year [March 31, 2013],” the person says.

Unique multi-channel fiber solution is only module able to ingest high-bandwidth digitized I/O from multiple new sensors for critical advanced applications

India plans to base its indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control system on the western border, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said today.
"Yes, we have identified. Work is going to start (on where it would be based)", said the Air Chief Marshal, adding that "it will be in the western border to start with".

He was speaking at a press conference after a function to commemorate arrival of AEW&C India aircraft, which is the fully modified EMB-145 regional jet of Brazil's Embraer aircraft manufacturer. "This (AEW&C) will be used for surveillance and control".

According to DRDO officials, the system would detect, identify and classify threats in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air operations.

Potential Hawk order to expand India footprint

We have received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a potential order to supply products and services for the manufacture of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft. 

The aircraft, to be built by HAL in Bengaluru, will fulfill the Indian Air Force’s requirement for its prestigious aerobatic team.

Upon successful conclusion, this would be the third contract placed on us for the supply of materials and equipment for the Hawk Mk132, building upon previous orders of 66 aircraft in 2004, comprising supply of 24 Hawk aircrafts in fly-away condition and 42 aircraft built under license by HAL, and a further 57 aircraft in 2010. Under these contracts, we have worked closely with the Indian MOD and HAL to establish a production line in India where the aircraft are now assembled. Hawk trainers already in service with the Indian Air Force are performing well.

India's AMCA Shape Tweaked Again?

This new image from the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) depicts a so far unknown shape configuration of India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a step up from this configuration that was revealed in June this year, this configuration put out in February last year and this one the year before in 2010. The most notable change on the new configuration is clearly the Hornet-like leading edge extensions, absent on all of the earlier shape configurations. The

India to ink $11 bln MMRCA deal with Rafale by next month: IAF

 India plans to sign the $11 billion MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) deal with French Rafale by the end of this month-end or next month, a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) official said on Saturday.

"I find no reason why it shouldn't be signed by the end of this month or next month", Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF, Air Marshal Rajinder Singh told PTI here.

He indicated that negotiations are currently on with regard to pricing for the 126-aircraft deal. "There is money....this thing here and there (pricing being finalised)".

The Air Marshal admitted to "some problems" (on pricing) but asserted that it's not unusual in such big deals. "It should come through", he said, adding that the first aircraft under the MMRCA deal would start "flowing in" in 2017.

The Air Marshal dismissed reports quoting Russian and German officials who had claimed that the deal is not final yet and that it's still up in the air.

India’s M-MRCA Fighter Competition: Is the Deal In Trouble?

It’s the biggest fighter aircraft deal since the early 1990s,” said Boeing’s Mark Kronenberg, who runs the company’s Asia/Pacific business. India’s planned multi-billion dollar, 126+ plane jet fighter buy became a contest between Dassault, Saab, MiG, American competitors and EADS’ Eurofighter.
What began as a lightweight fighter competition to replace India’s shrinking MiG-21 interceptor fleet soon bifurcated into 2 categories now, and 2 expense tiers. What changed? In a word, lots. The participants

India’s Light Combat Aircraft Prepares For Operational Clearance

India’s indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is likely to win its final operational service clearance, following testing as part of an air exercise in February.
The single-seat, single-engine supersonic fighter will be put to the test during the “Iron Feast” exercise to be held in Pokhran in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.

“The Tejas will display its capabilities in the exercise, where its lethality, endurance and precision will be tested, and if the aircraft meets all parameters, its first squadron will be deployed in Bengaluru,” says Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, chief of Southwestern Air Command.
The Tejas is designed to carry air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided and standoff weaponry.
As of March, the LCA had undergone more than 1,816 test flights up to speeds of Mach 1.4. Initial Operational Clearance-1 (IOC-1) was achieved in January 2011. According to the Indian defense ministry, the Tejas has undertaken weapon trials, including flights with a laser-guided bomb. Various sensor trials also were conducted early this year. All told, the Tejas program has clocked 1,903 flights, totaling 1,120 hr.