Indian Naval Aviation

[Crusader53]

Cross posting...

Eager to join hands with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its associates in the development of India's Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas-Mark II,' the Eurojet consortium is offering its engine that could be tweaked to work on its naval version.

"We are offering two variants of the EJ200, bidding for the India's LCA Mark-II which can be altered through a software change to suit the requirements for the naval version of the LCA," Eurojet Vice-President Sales Paul Hermann told a group of journalists here.

The Aeronautical Defence Agency (ADA), the nodal agency for the design and development of the LCA under the overall supervision of the DRDO, had sought a proposal from the EJ200 and the American GE414 engine. The order will be initially for 99 engines with 10 of these in ready-to-use condition. There is an option for additional 49 engines order.

Eurojet Chief Engineer Wolfgang Sterr said there were over 1,500 EJ200 engines for the 700-plus Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft under contract to six nations. He said the engine was suitable for the LCA and could be used for the naval variant that the ADA was working on.

The Eurofighter is in the race for the 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft that the IAF is acquiring.

The naval version requirement of greater thrust for take-off from an aircraft carrier can be met without altering the hardware of the engine. With a switch of software the EJ200 can be used for the naval variant and vice-versa.

While the company preferred not to make any direct comment on the price tag, EJ Sales Director Adrian Johnson, said it would be competitive in many aspects through low life cycle costs, transfer of technology and offering partnership to India for future development and enhancement of the engine and its systems.

The officials said, "If the Eurojet makes the grade, the organisation could also share its expertise in India's quest to develop indigenous Kaveri engine. We have experienced the challenge India is facing, At Rolls-Royce, it took us 100 years to get where we are"¦,"Mr. Johnson said.

The Eurojet consortium includes Rolls-Royce (England), MTU (German), ITP (Spain) and Avio (Italy).

Source

Its worth noting that the GE F414 is available in two more powerful versions. Its also likely cheaper.............

 

[AJSINGH]

Yes, they are all becoming obsolete.............Just as Piston Engined Fighters were at the close of the Second World War. With the advent of such fighters as the Me-262's, P-80's, and British Meteors.


Why do you think the Indian Navy is already interested in a New Fighter. When it just received brand new "Mig-29K's". HELLO

yeh they are acquiring new aircraft but who says that it will be 5th gen aircraft , as far as i know IN would like to acquire the naval variant of MMRCA winner , MMRCA aircraft are not 5th gen aircraft. After MMRCA aircraft gets inducted then IN will look for naval 5th gen aircraft

 

[Patriot]

Saab Puts Sea Gripen On India's Vikrant-class Carrier

Thursday, June 17, 2010

This impression of the conceptual Sea Gripen roaring off the deck of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (INS Vikant) is part of a recent presentation that Saab made. The ship impression is of course this one, released last year by Indian naval designers.




http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/06/saab-puts-sea-gripen-on-indias-next.html

 

[AJSINGH]

http://www.stratpost.com/french-naval-rafales-grounded-by-virus

The French Navy recently suffered the grounding of its Rafale fighter aircraft after a computer virus attack prevented pilots from downloading their flight plans according to French media reports. French newspaper Liberation reported the virus to have infected the French Navy's databases leaving the Rafales 'nailed to the ground' on January 15 and 16 this year.

The Dassault aircraft Rafale is one of the six contenders for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender issued by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Conficker virus, which spreads through the Windows operating system was warned of by Microsoft according to news sources in France. "It affected exchanges of information but no information was lost. It was a security problem we had already simulated. We cut the communication links that could have transmitted the virus and 99 per cent of the network is safe," Navy spokesman Jerome Erulin told Ouest France newspaper.

The virus, detected on January 21, reportedly attacked the non-secured internal French navy network called Intramar with the result that military staff were instructed not to switch on their computers. During the down time, the French Navy was forced to use more dated communication methods like telephone, fax and even the post. The infection was reportedly caused by an infected USB key.

But the French Navy clarified, "The computer virus problem had no effect on the availability of our forces." Liberation also reported that the chiefs of staff and the defense ministry had no idea how many computers or military information systems were vulnerable to having been contaminated by the virus. But Defense Tech military review has also reported a virus attack in early January 2009 to have struck the British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy infecting even the carrier HMS Ark Royal.

 

[mayfair]

Just a few quick questions..
Are the RD 33MK engines that power IN MiG29K equipped with Thrust vectoring nozzles?
If not, the next lot of 29 MiG29Ks ordered by the Navy, are they expected to be equipped with TVC nozzles and AESA radars?
What is the Navy's view on this? Are they in favour of these attributes? Are they pushing the Russians to equip future aircraft with these capabilities?

 

[nrj]

India To Roll Out Tejas Naval Variant Soon

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft's (LCA) naval prototype (NP-1) will be rolled out for the first time on July 6 here in Bengaluru, with Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Nirmal Verma on hand, sources tell AVIATION WEEK.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is in charge of the design and development of Tejas variants, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), ADA's principal partner and main manufacturer, are currently giving the aircraft a final structural fine-tuning at HAL's Aircraft Research and Development Center.

"The rollout of the aircraft signals that the platform is structurally complete, equipment installed, and plumbing and wiring completed," a source says. "It will be on its wheels and can be moved by assisted power. A rollout is also a precursor to the next phase of ground-based system integration testing, engine ground run, taxi trials and the first flight."

The NP-1 will have almost the same system architecture as the Tejas Indian air force trainer version.

The NP-1 trainer is scheduled to make its first flight by the end of this year and the NP-2 fighter one year after that. Both can operate from an aircraft carrier with the ski-jump takeoff and arrested recovery concept.

"The aircraft will get airborne in about 200 meters over the ski jump on the ship, [versus] a land-based takeoff run of about 800 meters," a source says. "Landing on the ship is with an arrester hook on the aircraft engaging an arrester wire on the ship. The aircraft then stops in 90 meters, which is about 1/10th of land-based stopping distance. This makes the Tejas naval program extremely challenging, and we are happy with what the Naval Project Team based out of Bangalore has done so far."

The 14-member NPT is headed by Cmd. C.D. Balaji (ret.), program director for LCA Navy, operating out of ADA.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanctioned development of LCA Navy in April 2003, and in December 2009 the CCS also approved a Mark-II version with a new engine. NP-1 will fly with a GE-404 power-plant, with 40% of the funding coming from the Indian navy and 60% from the Defense Research and Development Organization. The Tejas naval variant will replace the aging fleet of Sea Harriers, and the navy is said to have made an initial commitment to 50 Tejas after the platform proves its mettle.

Source

 

[vikramrana_1812]

Just a few quick questions..
Are the RD 33MK engines that power IN MiG29K equipped with Thrust vectoring nozzles?
If not, the next lot of 29 MiG29Ks ordered by the Navy, are they expected to be equipped with TVC nozzles and AESA radars?
What is the Navy's view on this? Are they in favour of these attributes? Are they pushing the Russians to equip future aircraft with these capabilities?

Mig29K's are equipped with ZhukMe (PESA) and Mig-35 (if chosen in MMRCA) will be equipped with ZhukAE (AESA) radar. It later one is better as it detects the enemy quickly than the first one whereas the range difference is not much.
Russia will not provide AESA radar to Mig29 k.......Russia has clearly stated that if Mig-35 is chosen then they will transfer the technology to develop AESA indegenously and also Mig-35's will be provided with AESA.


Yes Mig29k is equipd with TVN..
"A more powerful engine is used, which enabled the aircraft to carry over five tons of weapons (air-to-air and anti-ship missiles, smart bombs). "

The engine is the RD-33MK "Morskaya Osa" (Sea Wasp) developed for the MiG-29K/KUB and also for the thrust vectoring MiG-35.


FACTS

Unassisted takeoff of the MiG-29K fighter from the aircraft carrier deck is possible owing to the increased horsepower of the engine;
The engine contains systems that reduce its infrared and optical visibility;
The service life of the engine is a long 4,000 hours;
Installed on MiG-29K, MiG-29KUB and MiG-35 jet fighters

the MiG-29K is designed to carry 5 tonnes of weapons (5.5 tonnes according to Wikipedia) on 13 hardpoints. With smart bombs, this should be plenty for an attack role. For air superiority role, the Su-33 can also perform unassisted take-off; however, the model cannot carry bombs whilst on the carrier. Now let's attempt to compare a MiG-29K to a Harrier directly.

MiG-29K/KUB.

Powerplant thrust: 17,600 kg.
Payload: sources seem to vary from 5 to 6.5 tonnes
Range: 2000-3000 km.
(www.deagel.com)

AV-8B (I couldn't find any specs on the GR.9)

Powerplant thrust: 10,000 kg
Payload: 4 tonnes
Range: up to 1666 km (900 kts)
(www.fas.org)

As we can see here, the MiG-29K seems at first to be more suited to attack role than the Harrier. Factor in LO (according to Wikipedia, the anti-radar paint reduces RCS 4-5 times), a thrust vectoring powerplant, and the fact that the powerplant still has reserve in it so thrust can be increased even further, and we have a very capable carrier-based platform indeed.

 

[youngindian]

Goa Shipyard Ltd begins work on SBTF for Naval fighter aircrafts

After the steel cutting ceremony held by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) last month in its yard ,GSL has started work on INS HANSA Naval base also , Cmde A. S. Baghel, Chief Staff Officer (Air), Goa Naval Area who was present in steel cutting ceremony did the honors , The GSL has been appointed the main co-coordinator for this project and will also be purchasing ABA Ship building steel , shore-based test facility (SBTF) will be a exact replica of IAC (Indigenous aircraft carrier)-1 which has been under construction at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) , GSL is working in coordination with CSL and ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency), while civil work will be carried out by a pune based DRDO lab R&DE (E) .

SBTF will be used to simulate an aircraft carrier for full-fledged flight testing of ship-borne attack aircraft as well as for training pilots. development is mostly related to test Naval Tejas in development by ADA while Mig-29k and sea harrier pilots will also be doing practice on this runway when fully operational , SBTF will also be able to operate any aircraft which Indian navy may operate in future that includes Naval Pak-Fa .

shore-based test facility (SBTF) project will be first such facility in South Asia and the third in the world.Project will be completed by end of 2012 ,while first flight of Naval Tejas is expected by end of 2010 and roll out ceremony will be held in July , after initial testing Naval Tejas will be based in Goa for a long Haul .

MIG BUZZ AT INS HANSA

Our local contributor from Goa has informed us that Mig-29k has been carrying out routine flight from the base , and are mostly seen in pairs , as per our informant Mig-29k mostly have sorties on Tuesday and Wednesday and its a great sight to watch them taking off from the surrounding road to the INS HANSA , Base is also home to Sea harriers and Kiran mk2 trainer jet and the best view could be from Bogmallo beach which is very close to the base and also is home to India's only naval museum .

http://idrw.org/?p=2090#more-2090

 

[ironman]

 

[vikramrana_1812]

Russia launches second stealth warship for India

MOSCOW: Russia launched the second of three stealth frigates for the Indian Navy under USD 1.6 billion deal inked in July 2006.

The launching ceremony of the missile frigate Tarkash (Quiver) in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, was attended by senior Russian and Indian naval officials, state-owned Yantar shipyard said in a release.

The first of three Project 11356 (modified Krivak III) frigates, named the Teg (Sword), was launched in last November.

The third frigate, Trikand (Bow) is due to be delivered in 2011-12.

The new frigates, also known as Talwar class, will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

Earlier, Russia's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard had built three stealth frigates of the same class - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.

Continuing the tradition of the Indian Navy to name naval ships of the same class with same letter in the beginning, President Pratibha Patil during her Russia visit last September had christened the new frigates as the Teg, the Tarkash and the Trikand at various stages of completion at Yantar Shipyard.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...lth-warship-for-India/articleshow/6086668.cms

 

[nitesh]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...e=Second P-8A Moves To Pax River Testing Site
Second P-8A Moves To Pax River Testing Site

Next month Boeing and India plan to conduct the final design review. First-aircraft construction would begin in the fourth quarter, with deliveries to India to start in 2012. The Indian aircraft features a few differences from the P-8A, including a magnetic anomaly detector, second sea-search radar to provide 360 deg. coverage (Boeing has selected, but not identified the supplier), and air-to-air search capabilities.

 

[nandu]

Indian Navy wants to induct 200 aircraft's by 2020

Indian Navy wants to expand its Naval Air wing and have planned to induct 200 aircraft's in another decades time, as per Naval sources since Navy will operate three aircraft carrier by 2020 it also wants to expand its Naval Aircraft's ,major chuck of the aircraft's which will be inducted will be Fighter jets and navy will be inducting almost 150 of this 4+ generation jet into their inventory to be operated from INS VIKARAMADITYA and indigenously manufactured IAC-1 and IAC-2 .

Navy which has recently inducted Mig-29k has already ordered 30 more of this jets making final total to 46 , and already has committed it self to induct 50 aircraft's of Naval LCA which was recently rolled-out from HAL hangar and will have its first test flight by end of this year , Navy has also issued new RFI (Request for information) for further inducting 50+ jets for which Lockheed martin will offer its 5th gen fighter aircraft F-35B and C ,while European companies are offering Sea Gripen and Naval Euro-fighter ,while Rafale M is also in the race along with F-18 super hornet been offered by Boeing .

Interestingly most of this jets are also in race to provide 126 jet to Indian air force , further 50 aircraft which navy wants to induct can be broken down into IJT-36 sitara and possibly HAWK AJT for pilot training ,P-8i 2 to 4 new orders from existing 8 for which orders have been already been placed ,and also possible induction of DRDO developed AWACS based on Embraer aircraft platform ,Navy is also considering inducting American E-2C Hawkeye 2000 .

http://idrw.org/?p=2297

 

[RAM]

New Light Combat Aircraft to be custom made for NAVY


The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), now to be a part of the Indian Naval fleet India's first indigenous aircraft is all set to make its maiden flight this October.The aircraft was first developed for the Indian Air force, and reworked on to then be included in the naval fleet. A new structural design was required to better able the aircraft to land and take off a carrier. The aircraft has been designed to take off at a distance of 200 meters with a ski jump and land at a distance of 90 meters. The aircraft will use avionic systems, flight controls, and a GE-F404 engine similar Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircrafts. However, the flight control technology will be redesigned in order to provide a greater reduction in landing approach speeds.
The aircraft will be deployed in 2015 alongside the aircraft carrier being built in the Cochin shipyard. The aircraft is scheduled to take systems integration tests, ground runs, taxi trials and eventually flights before it is deemed ready for deployment. The aircraft has been developed under the Aeronautics program of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and will use a U. S. made machine. It has been designed to make "ski jump" take offs and arrested landings on aircraft carriers


Shore based test facility, at the naval air base in Goa, will rum simulated take offs and landing runs for the aircraft. Mr. Antony said that this facility is already being used to train pilots flying the MiG-29K fighter jets, bought from Russia, which are also to be deployed abroad aircraft carriers.
Defense Minister A. K. Antony described the milestone as "memorable". The chief of Naval Staff Admiral, Nirmal Verma, claims that this would give the navy a multidimensional force capability. Mr Antony also added "Using the Army for law and order is always the last resort." However, the Army would provide security personnel fighting the Maoists with logistics support and training.





http://www.stockwatch.in/new-light-combat-aircraft-be-custom-made-navy-27995

 

[RAM]

India rolls out indigenous naval combat aircraft

 

[RAM]

2 More Mig-29k joins Naval air wing at INS Hansa


As per source based near Ins Hansa ,has confirmed induction of two more single seater Mig-29k in Naval air wing which has been based in INS Hansa currently ,two aircraft's where delivered to Indian navy by Russia last month and further 10 aircraft's will be delivered by year end .
Source has also confirmed that regular flights of Mig-29k has been observed near the base and plane spotters might see them taking off from the base mostly on Wednesdays or Fridays around 10 to 12 when the adjourning Goa airport is closed for normal flights .
INS Hansa will also be home base for Naval LCA since most of the sea level testing and Shore based Aircraft carrier facility will be built in the base .


http://idrw.org/?p=2299

 

[Crusader53]

India rolls out indigenous naval combat aircraft

I have to say I am impressed with the Quality of the first (N) LCA. Makes me wonder the split between single and twin seat model when the Indian places its first major order???

 

[Crusader53]

2 More Mig-29k joins Naval air wing at INS Hansa


As per source based near Ins Hansa ,has confirmed induction of two more single seater Mig-29k in Naval air wing which has been based in INS Hansa currently ,two aircraft's where delivered to Indian navy by Russia last month and further 10 aircraft's will be delivered by year end .
Source has also confirmed that regular flights of Mig-29k has been observed near the base and plane spotters might see them taking off from the base mostly on Wednesdays or Fridays around 10 to 12 when the adjourning Goa airport is closed for normal flights .
INS Hansa will also be home base for Naval LCA since most of the sea level testing and Shore based Aircraft carrier facility will be built in the base .


http://idrw.org/?p=2299

If, and it sounds very much like India will purchase another Naval Fighter. I wonder if the Indian Navy will pass the current Mig-29K's onto the IAF.

Clearly, the IN won't need three types for its Carriers.

 

[JHA]

As reported INAF will eventually have 200 aircrafts in its kitty , it will be 4th best airforce in the region (in nos. ) and 3rd best AF in region( quality wise ). And going by this i guess we should be 3rd best naval AF in world...good going navy..

 

[Crusader53]

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft's (LCA) naval prototype (NP-1) will be rolled out for the first time on July 6 here in Bengaluru, with Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Nirmal Verma on hand, sources tell AVIATION WEEK.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is in charge of the design and development of Tejas variants, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), ADA's principal partner and main manufacturer, are currently giving the aircraft a final structural fine-tuning at HAL's Aircraft Research and Development Center.

"The rollout of the aircraft signals that the platform is structurally complete, equipment installed, and plumbing and wiring completed," a source says. "It will be on its wheels and can be moved by assisted power. A rollout is also a precursor to the next phase of ground-based system integration testing, engine ground run, taxi trials and the first flight."

The NP-1 will have almost the same system architecture as the Tejas Indian air force trainer version.

The NP-1 trainer is scheduled to make its first flight by the end of this year and the NP-2 fighter one year after that. Both can operate from an aircraft carrier with the ski-jump takeoff and arrested recovery concept.

"The aircraft will get airborne in about 200 meters over the ski jump on the ship, [versus] a land-based takeoff run of about 800 meters," a source says. "Landing on the ship is with an arrester hook on the aircraft engaging an arrester wire on the ship. The aircraft then stops in 90 meters, which is about 1/10th of land-based stopping distance. This makes the Tejas naval program extremely challenging, and we are happy with what the Naval Project Team based out of Bangalore has done so far."

The 14-member NPT is headed by Cmd. C.D. Balaji (ret.), program director for LCA Navy, operating out of ADA.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanctioned development of LCA Navy in April 2003, and in December 2009 the CCS also approved a Mark-II version with a new engine. NP-1 will fly with a GE-404 power-plant, with 40% of the funding coming from the Indian navy and 60% from the Defense Research and Development Organization. The Tejas naval variant will replace the aging fleet of Sea Harriers, and the navy is said to have made an initial commitment to 50 Tejas after the platform proves its mettle.

Source

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the (N) LCA isn't purchased mainly as twin seat models. As it would be ideal as a Advanced Naval Trainer.

 

[Crusader53]

As reported INAF will eventually have 200 aircrafts in its kitty , it will be 4th best airforce in the region (in nos. ) and 3rd best AF in region( quality wise ). And going by this i guess we should be 3rd best naval AF in world...good going navy..

Respectfully, the Indian Navy won't be #3 equipped with Mig-29K's. Especially, as several nations will have F-35B/C's and France with its outstanding Rafale. Of course that could change if India does indeed select another another Naval Fighter???