Indian Air Force: News and Discussions - III

[Rage]

Honeywell's Re-Engining Offer For IAF Jaguars

February 14, 2009

The aforewith brochure is self-explanatory, except for the fact that this re-engining is only one component of the upgrade package for the Jaguar IS/IM, which is being proposed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), and which will include the third-generation DARIN-3 navigation-system system and an integrated defensive aids suite, both of which have been designed and integrated by the DRDO's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), using several avionics LRUs originally developed for the Tejas LCA. The cockpit, shown at the Aero India 2009 expo, will now feature the same HUD as that on the Tejas LCA, along with three large MFD-55 AMLCDs supplied by THALES-Samtel Display Systems, and HOTAS controls, all utilising a MIL-STD-1553B digital databus.

It remains to be seen whether these upgraded Jaguars (about 120 in all will be upgraded and will be in service till 2022) will also be equipped with the fly-by-wire flight control system, which was tested out by BAE Systems way back in the mid-1980s on the Jaguar. By the way, these upgraded Jaguars are also due to be fitted with multi-mode monopulse radars for which the EL/M-2052, Captor-E and Seaspray 5000e are being proposed.

--Prasun K. Sengupta

http://trishulgroup.blogspot.com/2009/02/honeywells-re-engining-offer-for-iaf.html

 

[rock45]

Layout

Sorry for asking such basic questions on the above articles and posts. I don't know the layout of bases between India and Pakistan like many of your do so these training exercise mean little to me.

For me the planning comes down to where Pakistan's F-16s are? What assets to they have that can reach or hurt key targets inside India? Can I assume India's Jaguar's are their best AG platform are they closer enough to key or important targets in Pakistan?

I know people look at the Flanker as a fighter/interceptor but to me it's basically India's best means to strike deeply into Pakistan or China. Not that I'm hoping there be used in war but you have to train for something. Your AF needs more of these platforms and fast, air power rules modern combat period. As strange as it sounds air power is needed to protect your SAM's and air defense systems/networks

I'll be honest this concept of a possible enemy on my border is something I don't live with. Mexico and Canada are on good terms with my government and have open border more or less. This must be very difficult for India's military to deal with on a big scale India is a large country.

Are these exercises geared to India's military needs?

 

[nitesh]

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903011633.htm .


Himalayan Eagles" celebrates 47th raising day

Chandigarh (PTI): The Himalayan Eagles, one of the prestigious Squadron of the Indian Air force, celebrated its 46th anniversary here on Sunday.

As part of the celebrations, various events were held, including an exhibition cricket match.

Several retired and serving personnel belonging to the Squadron spanning almost half a century attended the celebrations and reminisced on the glorious history of the Sqn with pride and nostalgia.

Group Captain JX Israel, Commanding Officer of the Squadron took this opportunity to convey good wishes to all on this occasion, a defence release said.

The highlight of the celebrations was the 'Bhangra' performed on this occasion by the Squadron's Officers and their wives.

If the courage, professionalism and undying espirit-de-corps displayed by Air Warriors of 25 Sqn for the last 46 years are any indication, it can be said that the Himalayan Eagles will continue to remain the 'Saviours of the North'.

 

[nitesh]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1235353

Thanks, but no thanks, US told

Josy Joseph
Monday, March 2, 2009 2:44 IST

New Delhi: India has rejected an American offer to train for free half-a-dozen air force (IAF) officer-cadets for a year at the US Air Force Academy.

The decision reflects extreme caution in the higher echelons of the defence ministry about rushing into an all-encompassing military relationship with the US at the cost of India's traditional ties with Russia and Europe and its tender peace with China.

While India is aware of the need to have strong ties and some level of commonality in platforms and doctrines with the US armed forces, New Delhi is "not accepting everything being offered to us", a source in the ministry said. "We won't take up everything offered free."

The Pentagon had offered to take half-a-dozen IAF cadets passing out of the National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla near Pune for the year-long training at the US academy in Colorado. Currently, all IAF cadets leave the NDA and move to the Air Force Academy near Hyderabad for specialised training before being commissioned as officers.

Had the defence ministry accepted the offer, "the six finest officers joining service every year would have had a year-long exposure in the US, alongside USAF cadets", an IAF officer said.

But the government appeared to be worried about a generation of Indian officers being moulded by American military ideology. "Look at what has happened to the Pakistani military," the officer said. "We cannot be stooges."

The defence ministry source admitted the government was concerned about the "long and sustained" exposure young Indian officers would have had in the US.

The Indian military has had training contacts with the US forces. For example, an IAF instructor pilot spends over six months in the US and a USAF pilot almost the same period in India under an instructor training programme.

The Indian Navy has a training programme at the Naval Air Training Command at Kingsville where naval pilots undergo training for carrier-based flying. This programme, which started in 2006, will continue till 2010.

The decision not to allow IAF cadets to train in the US comes at a time when the two sides are struggling to find a solution to an American legislative necessity: That India should sign an End User Verification Agreement for all military systems bought from the US.

The agreement would allow the US to carry out "on-site" physical verification of American systems in India annually to ensure that they have not been sold to a third party or compromised in other ways. India refuses to allow such inspection.

 

[Triton]

Air Marshal Naresh Verma takes over as IAF's first DG (Admin)

Mar 2 : Air Marshal Naresh Verma today took over as the Indian Air Force's first ever Director General (Administration) at the Vayu Sena Bhawan here.

As Director General (Administration), Air Marshal Verma will look after land and infrastructural development, organisation and ceremonials, sports and adventure as well as Air Force schools.

Commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the IAF in December 1972, Air Marshal Naresh Verma, AVSM, VSM is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and National Defence College, New Delhi and has specialised in Aerial Imagery Interpretation at Air Force Intelligence School, Pune.

He was also selected for training in the subject at Royal Air Force Wyton, United Kingdom.

Earlier, he was Chief Administrative Officer at bases in Bhuj, Jamnagar, Yelahanka and Air Force Station New Delhi. He was also Principal Director, Air Force Works at Air Headquarters here and Senior Officer-in-Charge (Administration) at Central Air Command and Western Air Command.

For his distinguished service he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2001 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2006.

 

[Triton]

IAF on stand-by, ready to help Bangladesh

With Bangladesh caught in a bloody turmoil after the two-day mutiny by a disgruntled border security force last week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been put on standby to render assistance to the neighbouring country, if required.

The IAF’s transport bases, equipped with IL-76 heavy-lift and AN-32 medium-lift aircraft, have been asked to stay prepared for any commitment to Bangladesh whose fragile civilian government is coming to terms with the rebellion by the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

A senior IAF official, who refused to be identified, told HT on Sunday the force was ready to provide logistics as well as humanitarian help.

“We follow some drills whenever there is any instability or calamity in neighbourhood. Bangladesh returned to democratic rule barely two months ago,” a source in the air headquarters said.

The IAF had flown relief supplies to Bangladesh in November 2007, under Operation Sahayta, after a devastating cyclone tore through the country’s western coast leaving thousands dead and millions homeless.

In a stand-by scenario, the air force prioritises its commitments to make sure that assets are available at any given time for speedy deployment. The focus was on conserving assets to deal with any eventuality, said another official. It could also entail curbing leave temporarily to ensure availability of air crews.

The IAF’s transport base at Jorhat in Assam is the closest to Bangladesh. It is also one of the biggest transport bases of the force.

The mutinous guards went on a shooting spree at BDR’s officer corps at an annual meeting where troops were supposed to discuss grievances with the seniors. The rebels wanted among other things better pay, change in the command and control structure and permission to be part of lucrative UN peacekeeping missions.

 

[Triton]

IAF draws plan for BrahMos induction

KOCHI: The Indian Air Force has set a schedule for induction of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile into its inventory and is expected to procure, counting reserve and replenishment requirements, nearly 200 missile units.

Chief Executive and Managing Director of BrahMos A. Sivathanu Pillai told The Hindu that the Air Force had assigned two Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft for evaluation of the missile and the demonstration of the air version’s capabilities would take place in 2011. If everything went as planned, it would be inducted in 2012.

In a landmark move, Russia inked an agreement to procure the missile to be mounted on two ships that would be constructed over the next 10 years.

“The Russian Air Force is keen to fly it on their Sukhoi. So, we will see to it that the air version is jointly validated on Sukhoi so that both countries can use it. The missile is ready to fly. Its launcher is being made at the BrahMos Aerospace facility in Thiruvananthapuram. Only some changes are to be made in the interface between the launcher and the aircraft. Once proven, it will be their main weapon. Of the 140 Sukhois that would be assembled at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., at least 40 to 50 would be fitted with BrahMos,” Mr. Pillai said.
Export plans

On export plans, he said: “Fourteen countries have been short-listed for sale of the missile. The issue is like, we have two governments that have jointly developed it. They have also inked a pact that they would sell it to friendly countries. The committee that was formed with top officials from both countries to work out a policy on that has come out with a report which clearly states the type of countries to which it could be sold. Now, both governments will screen the shortlist. It is a time-consuming process as it involves Foreign Ministries and the like, but a collective decision is taken in the end.”
Wait still on

As regards the submarine-launched version of the missile, he said the wait for a platform was still on.

“But merely testing the missile is not enough. The Navy has to have a plan to induct it as well,” Mr. Pillai said.

 

[A.V.]

Hindustan Jet Trainer to have Russian AL-55I

AL-55I engine has a higher thrust rating than French engine

225 HJT-36s are to be produced


BANGALORE: After almost a two-year delay, Russian turbofan engines that will power the indigenous intermediate jet trainer (IJT) are scheduled to arrive here on Sunday. With stability tests and acceptance test procedures completed, the three AL-55I engines, designed and developed by Russia’s NPO Saturn, were airlifted from Zhukovsky, near Moscow. These are to be fitted on the IJT’s Prototype Trainer One (PT1).

The custom-made AL-55I (‘I’ for Indian) engine has a higher thrust rating than the French-made Snecma Larzac 04H20 that is now flying the two IJT prototypes. Known as the Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 (HJT-36), the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-designed IJT will become the backbone of the Air Force’s stage II combat pilot training programme, replacing HJT-16 or Kiran. Around 225 HJT-36s are to be produced, for serving the Navy, the IAF and its Surya Kiran aerobatic team.

Official sources at HAL said the IJT’s first flight with the Russian engine could take place in mid-January. With integration using a prototype, yellow-banded engine completed, officials estimate that one week will be sufficient to fit the new engine on PT1. Flying is expected to start after two engine ground runs.

Though HAL has planned to do around 50 sorties for spin trails, spin chute, and documentation of the performance of the aircraft, to write performance manuals and graphs, the officials hope to finish the tasks with 28-30 sorties, by July 2009. Thereafter, the aircraft will go in for hot weather trails and fine-tuning and closing of all on-board systems.

The only blip is that AL-55I, at around 950 kg, is heavier by 200 kg than promised. The Russians have formulated a plan that could at best cut 100 kg.

PT1, which has not flown since it careened off the runway after its canopy inadvertently opened while the pilot was taking off in February 2007, will get airborne first. PT2, now the only flying IJT, will then be put down for a month to integrate AL-55I. The Air Force, which was originally scheduled to get HJT-36 by 2005-06, can now expect to get them in June 2010.

 

[Atul]

Some Snaps of HJT

Courtesy : bharat-rakshak.com:vehicle_plane:

 

[A.V.]

First woman co-pilot to fly largest aircraft of Indian Air Force

One more gender barrier fell to the determination of women as Squadron Leader Veena Saharan became the first woman co-pilot to fly one of the mightiest and heaviest aircraft of the Indian Air Force - the Russian-built Illyushin-76 (IL-76).

She will first co-pilot IL-76, renamed by the IAF as Gajraj (Elephant), and after 40 hours of flying she will become the pilot.

“It is a great achievement. I have just finished my solo flight of the IL-76 aircraft. Now I am looking forward to the second step of gaining expertise on this aircraft… It is good that the IAF is creating more opportunities for women officers,” an elated Saharan told IANS on Wednesday.

Saharan, 27, hails from Jaipur and is a second-generation defence officer. Her father, a colonel in the Indian Army, is also proud of her.


http://www.hindustantimes.com/Story...woman+co-pilot+to+fly+largest+aircraft+of+IAF

She completed her two-month ground training for the aircraft at the Agra air base last month and has now moved on to Nagpur for further training.

After flying IL-76 for 40 hours Saharan will complete her conversion from AN-32 transport aircraft to the largest transport aircraft of the force.

Saharan has done her graduation from Delhi University in Physics. "I had applied in the third year itself and got selected in the first attempt," she said.

The IAF operates 25 IL-76s for military transport duties such as tactical and strategic airlift, at all operational levels. The IL-76 is a strategic air-lifter with a payload of 95,000 pounds and a range of over 5,000 km.

“My parents are very happy for me. Even though I was in the army wing of the NCC (National Cadet Corps), I decided to join the IAF as I wanted to fly,” Saharan said with a smile.

Commissioned in the IAF in December 2002, Saharan's story is of hard work and sweat. The opportunity to fly IL-76 was always there for the women pilots since their induction into the IAF a decade and a half ago but it is only the best who get a chance. So far Saharan has flown four types of aircraft.

“I started with the two-seater HPT-32 aircraft and then moved on to Dornier transport aircraft. I have also flown AN-32 and now will be flying IL-76,” she explained.

Saharan has done sorties over Jammu and Kashmir, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the northeastern sector.

“This (the aircraft squadron) is the elite group of aircraft and is an asset for the IAF. For induction the pilot has to meet certain qualifications. And it feels good that I have met all the requirements,” she added.

The IAF, which has completed 75 years, currently has 784 women officers who work in all branches, barring the fighter stream.

In January this year, its first woman navigator Flying Officer Kavita Barala created history of sorts as she saluted Pratibha Patil, the first woman president of the country, at the Republic Day parade.

 

[nitesh]

sad news

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/03/saras-crashes-three-dead.html
Friday, March 06, 2009
Saras crashes, three dead

Word just in that a Saras prototype aircraft has crashed near
Bangalore. The three-member crew on board is reported to have been
killed in the crash. No more information so far. Heartfelt condolences
to the families of those who've lost their lives. More information on
this tragic accident soon.

 

[Triton]

It seems three Air force men died in the crash & they were on a routine sortie over the Bangalore sky. It crashed near Bidadi, near Bangalore while trying to make an emergency landing and reported no damages to any person or property in the ground. The cause of the crash is still unknown and the ground crew is investigating on it

Sad, really sad news.

 

[ZOOM]

Pretty tragic incident indeed, but NAL should sustain these crash and carry on the project since Saras is the only hope for our civialian aviation foray.:vehicle_plane:

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India's DRDO advances Astra missile test firings

http://www.flightglobal.com/article...drdo-advances-astra-missile-test-firings.html

India's DRDO advances Astra missile test firings
By Radhakrishna Rao

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation has conducted the first five test firings of the indigenously developed Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. The 154kg (340lb) weapon has a claimed range of 110km (59nm) and a cruise speed of up to Mach 2.2 carrying a 20kg fragmentation warhead.

The Astra missile is expected to be integrated with Indian air force types including the Aeronautical Development Agency Tejas light combat aircraft and Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and potentially also included in upgrades to the service's legacy Dassault Mirage 2000s and RSK MiG-29s.

The state-owned DRDO also plans to jointly develop a short-range air defence system with MBDA using a vertically launched variant of Astra.

 

[Payeng]

A 100 KM (appx.) rage BVRAAM when launched from land becomes short range system

 

[Supersallu]

A 100 KM (appx.) rage BVRAAM when launched from land becomes short range system

I think a vertical launched surface variant needs more power than an air one, so the range is reduced considerably. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[shiv]

a speed of only mach 2.2 is very less, i had earlier confirmed that it had a speed of mach 4.5....what happened??

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

a speed of only mach 2.2 is very less, i had earlier confirmed that it had a speed of mach 4.5....what happened??

Yep. Mach 2.2 is very low. I suspect most planes would be able to outrun the missile if it is so. But, I suspect the keyword there is "cruise" speed. I think they might mean it to be different from top speed.

Maybe it is similar to a jet. Cruise speed might not be the same as top speed.

Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[shiv]

i had read somewhere that the top speed of astra was mach 4.5 and that of akash was 2.2...maybe the reporter mixed the two...i mean even i get confused sometime which one is the sam and which one is the aam

 

[Sridhar]

IIRC , there is no official sources stating it above mach 2.2 , few speculative reports mention it around 4.

Can fighter aircrafts sustain mach 4 for longer durations , but Astra can and reach them with 2.2.And we are building our own first AA missile , so we can increase its capabilities in blocks.