Indian Air Force: News and Discussions - III

[Zebra]

IAF Flays HAL Delays.

Monday, May 14, 2012

The Indian Air Force has provided a laundry list of delays by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in the delivery of flagship products. IAF disenchantment with HAL has been well known for years, but now specifics have been listed by the Defence Minister in Parliament. Today, he said:

"The government has taken cognizance of the complaints of Indian Air Force regarding the delayed delivery of equipment by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). IAF has expressed concerns over the deliveries of some of the products of HAL. There have been delays in some projects in current range of production by HAL due to rework of Jigs supplied by the OEM in respect of Hawk; delay in establishing the facilities for complex engine components and radar software in respect of Su-30 MKI aircraft; delay in certification of Shakti engine by the OEM in respect of ALH; changes in Standard of Preparation (SOP) in respect of LCA and delay in engine development by the OEM in respect of IJT. The government continuously monitors the performance of the company and takes steps to address the issues. In respect of Hawk, Su-30 MKI aircraft and ALH, the issues have been addressed. In respect of LCA and IJT development efforts have been intensified."

Livefist

 

[bhramos]

Broken arrows: Lack of aircraft for training forces, drop in pilot intake and delay in delivery of Sukhois and jet trainers hits Air Force | Mail Online

 

[Ganesh2691]

Weapon and Technology: PAF : PAF to take over IAF

 

[Air]

IAF launches search operation to trace 'deserter' wings ....!

AMBALA: The Indian Air Force has launched a search operation to trace wing commander Shashank Sheikh, who has been on the run after escaping from the Air Force station in Ambala on May 13. Shashank, according to a spokesperson of administration, is emotionally upset following his divorce last year.

Continue Reading :-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Indian-Air-Force

 

[alphacharlie]

All services have Bhogade...Lets not waste time on such cases.

 

[SPIEZ]

Belarus to buy Indian Sukhois

Belarus may buy outdated Su-30 fighters from Russia | Defense | RIA Novosti

Moscow, Feb 03: In an estimated USD 300 million deal, Belarus is to buy 18 second-hand Sukhoi SU-30k fighters from India for the modernisation of the aging Air Force of this former Soviet Republic.

According to influential financial daily "Vedomosti", 18 SU-30k fighters with limited capabilities were supplied to the Indian Air Force in 1997-98 at the initial stage of USD 4.9 billion Sukhoi deal for the development of a multi-role warbird SU-30MKI specially tailored for its specific requirements.

Cash-strapped Belarus would modernise the SU-30k jets to the su-30kn at its facilities with the help of "Russkaya Avionika" (Russian Avionics) company, a subsidiary of original manufacturer "Irkut" corporation. Sources in the aviation industry and Russian air force have confirmed the report, according to "Vedomosti".

Belarus is expected to field jets acquired from India against F-16s received by neighbouring Poland after it joined Nato, the sources say.

Under the deal for the supply of 50 SU-30 multi-role fighters signed in 1996, Russia had initially supplied 18 su-30k fighters with the limited capabilities, which were mainly used by the Indian Air Force as air defence platforms and were to be flown to Russia for upgradation to MKI standard capable of using sophisticated weapons against land and sea targets.

In 2004 Irkut Corporation had completed the deliveries of remaining 32 SU-30mki fighters and licensed production of 140 fighters has commenced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

 

[Yusuf]

Belarus

Does it have oil? Its a landlocked country. Does it have any defence needs?

Ok I am trolling this sunday eve

 

[mikhail]

yusuf sir belarus is a land locked country but its air force is pretty much obsolete.they have got some mig-29A/B variants passed to them after the dissolution of the former USSR.so they need to modernise their air force upto a certain extent so that they can maintain a minimum detterence credibility.and though it doesn't have an enemy many of its neighbours are signing in the NATO organisation(while belarus has a strong pro-Russian govt.).

 

[Sabir]

Isn't it a very old news. I heard it several years ago that India would sell first batch of Sukhois to Belarus...

 

[spikey360]

Why don't buy from the Russians? No doubt Indian products would be at par with the Russian models, however, it seems odd to buy something 'second-hand' when you can buy it from the old stocks of the manufacturer.

 

[Zebra]

A quiet change .

New Delhi, May 21, 2012 | UPDATED 14:37 IST

The command of India's air defence is going through a quiet change. Air Marshal Arup Raha, who is in line to be the next chief of air staff after NAK Browne, will move to the operationally crucial western air command.

Air Marshal D.C. Kumaria, who has been heading the western command so far, will take over as the next vice chief of air staff.

The movement at the top follows the retirement of vice chief Krishan Kumar Nohwar.


A quiet change : North News - India Today

 

[fulcrum]

People must be really bored to post a 6 year old news. Not much interesting happening I guess. I hope another JF-17 crashes soon, or better yet shot down after entering Indian airspace. It really is getting boring!

BTW, this news is outdated. India didn't technically sell those jets to Belarus but rather to Russia. Russia inturn sold it to Belarus. These Su-30s were priced ONLY $10 million, plus another 5 million to upgrade it to Su-30KN version. It was initially thought that these Su-30Ks would be upgraded to Su-30MKI and returned back to India, but it turned out that such an upgrade was not possible.

These 18 Su-30K was bought by India at $28 million a piece. And these 18 were replaced by Su-30MKI by paying $15 million more a piece.
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/fighterplanes/texts/articles/su-30mkicost.html

 

[fulcrum]

Ok. Seems like there is an update to this news, and it came just 5 days back. Looks like Belarus didn't buy the jets in the end, so Russia is putting it up for sale again.

Russia to Sell Off 18 'Indian' Su-30 Fighters
12:11 16/05/2012

Russia is to put up for sale a batch of 18 Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft, rejected by India on concerns about their engines and returned to Russia in 2003, a defense official said on Wednesday.

"The 18 Su-30s previously used by India and then returned, are in an aviation repair plant in Belarus and are on sale to potential buyers," said Alexander Fomin, deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. He added that the aircraft could be modernized before being sold on.

The Su-30MKI is India's lead fighter aircraft, and around 140 have been produced under license by HAL Aeronautics in India. The Indian Air Force is expected to buy a total of around 280 during the next decade.

Development of the Su-30 began in the 1980s for the Soviet Armed Forces, based on the Su-27UB conversion trainer.

The first batch of 18 Su-30s delivered to India were Su-30MK and Su-30K standard, and were built to a lower specification than the later Su-30MKI. This meant that they did not have thrust-vectoring engine nozzles or canard foreplanes, enabling extra maneuverability.

Their avionics systems were also built to a lower specification than the later Su-30MKIs built by HAL, which included a high level of Israeli and French-built systems.

Russia to Sell Off 18 'Indian' Su-30 Fighters | Defense | RIA Novosti

 

[kaustav2001]

IAF To Go With Honeywell Engine For Jaguar?

Livefist: IAF To Go With Honeywell Engine For Jaguar?

Last year, the Indian government scrapped the Jaguar re-engine effort after Rolls-Royce pulled out, leaving a single-vendor situation -- an unviable position in competitive contracting. While HAL has been known to jump the gun before, it is possible that the government is negotiating a foreign military sales (FMS) contract for the new Honeywell engines, and sidestepping another competition.

 

[SPIEZ]

Isn't it a very old news. I heard it several years ago that India would sell first batch of Sukhois to Belarus...

India ain't selling anything, in order to sell a foreign coutry's aircraft first we need the permission.

These were Sukhoi's Su30 that were used until the MKI's arrived.


Why the hell would Russia give us license production for their aircraft and ask us to sell it ???????????

 

[kaustav2001]

IAF signs Rs. 2,800 cr deal with Pilatus for acquisition trainer aircraft

The Indian Air Force's long pending requirement of basic trainer aircraft can now be met with the acquisition of 75 Pilatus planes starting later this year. The IAF signed a Rs. 2,800 crore deal with the Swiss company on Thursday.
"Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to commence in fourth quarter this year," it said.

The IAF is procuring the aircraft together with an integrated ground based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package.

"The contract also contains an option clause for extending the scope of this contract within three years from initial signature

More - IAF signs Rs 2,800 cr deal with Pilatus for acquisition trainer aircraft

 

[Kunal Biswas]

IAF Statement: In yet another accomplishment, the C-130J super Hercules aircraft touched down at Air Force Station, Car Nicobar on 28 May 2012 on its maiden flight to the island airbase. After almost 6 hours flight from AF Stn Hindan, Group Captain Tejbir Singh, Commanding Officer of the Hercules Squadron accomplished the task of landing at Car Nicobar Air base. The crew was received by the Chief Operations Officer Wing Commander Sanjay M Nijai. The staff from HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command, Air Commodore TK Sinha were also present on the occasion. For some, it was just yet another landing, infact it marked a big leap for the Indian Air Force in projecting its strategic reach even at this remote and far-flung island base of the Indian Air Force. C – 130 J is one of the latest warbird with state of art avionics and defensive suites. This aircraft has the ability to execute special operations which shall involve not only the Air Force elements but also Army and Naval forces to achieve the assigned task by displaying a great synergy between them. This also show cases our ability and operational infrastructure to induct variety of forces & technology. This endorses the vision of our planners to induct this magnificent machine into tech – savvy Indian Air Force. It is indeed a proud and historic moment which will go down the annals of Indian Air Force's only island base rightfully known as 'Commendable Carnic'.

Livefist

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Air Marshal DC Kumaria to take over as Vice Chief of Air Staff

New Delhi, May 30 (ANI): Air Marshal DC Kumaria, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, the most vital Operational Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF), will assume charge as the new Vice Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters here on June 1.

Having done his early schooling from Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, Air Marshal Kumaria went on to join the Khadakwasla located National Defence Academy (NDA), and was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 2, 1973.

Early in his career, Air Marshal Kumaria flew all variants of the MiG-21 aircraft, and was among the first batch of fighter pilots chosen to convert on the Jaguar aircraft in the United Kingdom.

He also underwent the Qualified Weapon Instructor (QWI) course in UK, as well as the Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner (IRIE) and the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) Course, with a tenure as a Directing Staff at Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) at Gwalior.

A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Air Marshal Kumaria has held various important field and staff appointments.

He has commanded a front-line Jaguar Squadron specialising in Maritime Strike role and a major Fighter Base, where he was responsible for the operationalisation of air-to-air refuelling on IAF's fighter aircraft, Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff and Air I at Headquarters, Western Air Command, Principle Director of Concept Studies at Air Headquarters where he had been especially selected to write the Air Power Doctrine of the Indian Air Force.

Air Marshal Kumaria was the first Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Operations (Space) at Air Headquarters, and on elevation to the rank of Air Marshal he was appointed as the first Director General Air (Operations) at Air Headquarters. He was the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at South Western Air Command prior to taking over command of the New Delhi based Western Air Command.

His foreign assignments include serving as the Assistant Defence Advisor (Air) at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh and as the Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Rome (Italy) with concurrent accreditation to Iberian countries.

He was awarded Vayu Sena Medal in 1983, Vishisht Seva Medal in 1996, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2007 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2012 .

Air Marshal Kumaria was appointed as Honorary Aide De Camp (Air) to the President of India on September 1, 2011. (ANI)

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[bhramos]

What exactly happen to this plane???

 

[Singh]

I am closing this thread. Please make individual threads for discussions.