Re: Highlights Of Aero India 2013 Expo
UPDATE~
5) The IAF's procurement contracts inked since 2005 have todate generated US$3 billion in terms of direct/indirect industrial offsets, a figure that is set to rise further after the outstanding 14 contracts are inked in future.
6) Preliminary design phase of the FGFA/PMF will be completed nextmonth, and now the product development phase is commencing. During this phase, three airworthy FGFAs will be shipped from Russia to HAL between 2015 and2018 to enable theDRDO and HAL to commence mission avionics/sensors installation and their integration. Following this, the three FGFAs will be flight-tested by the IAF to determine the aircraft's performance parameters and itsoptimum weapons load. If all this works out as planned, series-production of the FGFA/PMF will commence in India by 2022.
7) Despite the IAF's snub, HAL continues to claim that there is a role to be played by its proposed HTT-40 BTT, stating that since the PC-7 Mk2s cannot be armed (as per Swiss regulations, although countrieslike Myanmar havesuccessfully skirted such rules),the HTT-40 can be employed for light attack-related flying training. TheIAF and the IN on the other hand have asserted that their respective flying training curriculums have no room for such a flying training regimen.
8) The HJT-36 IJT has completed its sea-level and night-flying trials. Thus far, it has completed 647 developmental test-flights, inclusive of 180 being completed last year and 25 last month.
9) The two LCH technology demonstrators have each logged in more than 85 test-flights. TD-3 will feature a shorter crew cabin and fuselage, while the THL-20 gun-turret will be relocated slightly backwards. All three TDs feature imported glass cockpit avionics and automatic flight-control systems, but the projected two LSP models of the LCH will have indigenous substitutes.
10) Textron Systems has lent afew demonstration units of its Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) to both the BSF and CRPF for field trials.
11) Hyderabad-based TATA-Lockheed Martin Aerostructures had begun fabricating C-130 empennage structures and centre-wing box structures as part of Lockheed Martin's 30% offsets obligations that are related to the IAF's acquisition ofits first six C-130J-30 Super Hercules transports.
12) The Indian Navy had last Junerequested information from Bell Boeing about the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor's ability to fly non-stop from shore-based establishments to the Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar island chains with aerial refuelling. The V-22 is capable of flying out to 1,600km while cruising at a speedof 282 Knots.
13) The first prototype of the Rudra helicopter-gunship meant for the IA's Aviation Corps, which was formally handed over to the Indian Army today, will now be used for weapons qualification and certification over the next two years, following which CEMILAC will grant it an airworthiness certificate. Between now and 2015 the Indian Army will provide valuable feedback to HAL to further fine-tune the Rudra's performance while cruising at high altitude. Interestingly, the Rudra incorporates a pintle-mounted 7.62mm medium-machine gun. The Indian Army will use the Rudras forthe following 10 years in order to acquire the necessary skills, expertise and ground-based support infrastructure thatare required for acquiring integral and effective attack helicopter capabilities. Only after this will the IAF-owned attack helicopters be handed over to the Army. The Indian Army presently owns and operates about 270 helicopters, and is staffed by 280 officers and other ranks.
14) Annual production of the Dhruv ALH is now stabilised at 24 units per annum, with this figure setto rise to 30 in future.
15) Although the IAF had planned for a 12-unit AEW &C fleet by the end of the 12 th Plan (1012-2017), it will receive only eight units (five A-50I PHALCON AEW & CS and three EMB-145Is) by 2017.
16) The IAF is in the process of installing a Su-30MKI fixed-base full-mission simulator at each of its existing and projected air bases that house/will house the Su-30MKIs.
17) By next moth the 512 Sensor-Fuzed Munitions built by Textron Systems will begin arriving in India. Raytheon meanwhile has already begun installing 126 Munitions Control Units on the IAF's Jaguar IS interdictors. The MCU is a small interface device that easily fits into an aircraft's avionics bay and utilises the existing weapons-related wiring to communicate with the SFWs.
18) The six Airbus A330-200 MRTTs will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 turbofans.
19) All 80 Mi-17V-5s on order for theIAF will be delivered by the year's end, while deliveries of an additional 71 Mi-17V-5s (orderedin December 2012) will commence in April 2014.
20) Both the first of eight P-8I LRMR/ASW aircraftand 10 C-17A Globemaster III strategic transporters will be delivered to theIndian Navy and IAF by the first quarter of this year.
has range of 500 km ferrying means 1000 km one way :thumb:
