Indian Naval Aviation

[SHASH2K2]

I think Saab 2000 can be a good addition other than the P-8Is for medium range reconnaissance in the IN's fleet. But for ICG, we can go for the similar Embraers that we are buying for the IAF, though the Saab 340 is a also a good option.

I am also in favour of SAAB planes. USA will not be giving all latest technology even for P8I and diet P8 will not be a good option . We can get latest technology and at a cheaper price from Swedish .

 

[nrj]

Indian Navy Interested in Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft Systems

In the build up to Aero India 2011, officials from U.S. defense major Northrop Grumman revealed that they have received and responded to a Request for Information (RFI) from the Indian Ministry of Defence for MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (BAMS UAS) for the Indian Navy.

They have obtained necessary clearances from U.S. Government and have also briefed U.S. Navy on the same. Mr. Walter Kreitler, Director of BAMS UAS programme told India Defence (indiadefence.in) that he feels the U.S. Navy and Indian Navy have very similar operational roles and requirements. Since the Indian Navy will be operating Boeing P-8I aircrafts in a maritime surveillance role, MQ-4C will fit in very well to complement surveillance operations.

Northrop Grumman will offer MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV to the Indian Navy. MQ-8B is smaller than Chetak helicopter in service with Indian Navy. Fire Scout can be operated from any ship capable of handling a conventional helicopter thus fitting well with Indian Navy ships in service. In addition to conventional military roles, MQ-8B has potential for homeland security and law enforcement roles as well.

From NorthropGrumman.com

The United States Navy's MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program provides persistent maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data collection and dissemination capability to the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF). The MQ-4C BAMS UAS is a multi-mission system to support strike, signals intelligence, and communications relay as an adjunct to the MMA/P-3 community to enhance manpower, training and maintenance efficiencies worldwide.

The MQ-4C BAMS UAS, at full operational capability, will provide ISR persistence over large maritime distances for long periods of time for up to five simultaneous orbits worldwide. The MQ-4C BAMS UAS missions include, but are not limited to, maritime surveillance, collection of enemy order of battle information, battle damage assessment, port surveillance, communication relay, and support of the following missions - maritime interdiction, surface warfare, battlespace management, and targeting for maritime and littoral strike missions.

Source

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Hmm...........

 

[chex3009]

Northrop Grumman Confirms RFIs Issued for Naval Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

While briefing media personnel in Bangalore on the eve of Aero India 2011, (Retired) Commodore Gyanendra Sharma, Managing Director of Northrop Grumman India announced that the Ministry of Defence has sent a Request for Information (RFI) for E-2D Naval Airborne Early Warning aircraft to Northrop Grumman.

As per details given by Mr. Sharma, Indian Navy has shown interest in procuring at least four such aircrafts. He also mentioned that first E-2D aircraft was successfully launched from USS Harry S. Truman signifying end of the testing phase. Northrop Grumman is positive that a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the same would be issued by year end.

It should be noted that E-2 (C&D) family of aircrafts are the only AEW&C aircraft capable of operating from aircraft carriers. Although carrier capable, only USA and France use them in thatrole. Rest of the operators deploy E-2C as shore-based AEW&C platforms. Currently US Navy is the only E-2D operator. India and UAE are the only countries to have expressed interest in E-2D. Even if E-2D enters service with Indian Navy in near future, Navy does not have aircraft carriers capable of operating E-2D. Hence E-2D will be used in shore-based role till the time right carrier is commissioned.

When asked about possibility of upgrading existing E-2C aircrafts to E-2D, Mr. David Parsley, Programmed Manager for Electronic Systems replied that externally E-2D might look similar to E-2C, but in terms of electronics and radar, it is a totally different beast. E-2D was designed from scratch and it is so advanced and powerful compared to E-2C that upgrading E-2C aircrafts to E-2D standards is not possible.

From Wikipedia E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

Though once considered for replacement by the "Common Support Aircraft", this conception never went into production, and the Hawkeye will continue in its role as the Navy's primary AEW aircraft for years into the future in the E-2D version.

The latest version of the E-2, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, is currently under development and the first two aircraft, "Delta One" and "Delta Two" are in flight testing. The E-2D features an entirely new avionics suite, including the new APY-9 radar, radio suite, mission computer, integrated satellite communications capability, flight management system, improved turboprop engines, a new "glass cockpit", and the added capability for air-to-air refueling.

The APY-9 radar features an Active Electronically Scanned Array, which adds electronic scanning to the mechanical rotation of the radar in its radome. The E-2D will include provisions for either one of the pilots to act as a Tactical 4th Operator, who will have access to the full range of the mission's acquired data. The E-2D's first flight occurred on 3 August 2007. The E-2D will undergo Initial Operational Test and Evaluation in 2011.

Source : India Defence

 

[black eagle]

"The work required to navalise Typhoon is quite modest. Studies have been completed and computer simulations have proved the concept. The process involves some strengthening of the existing airframe and under carriage, but this produces a weight differential of only 500kg from the existing aircraft - which is minor for an aircraft of Typhoon's power. So it has little effect on the aircraft's performance".

BAE

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2011/02/sea-typhoon-on-offer-to-indian-navy-at.html

 

[charlie]

:lool:

no offence i know all that ...
what i meant was ...when they don't need mid air refueling then why so much pictures of them doing mid air refueling

Mig 29K will be fitted with PAZ-1MK refuelling unit so one mig 29K can refuel other mig 29K

Sourece http://migavia.ru/eng/military_e/MiG_29_K_KUB_e.htm

and where you guys heard that the naval jets don't operate very far from their ACs or coastal bases. That's the reason they don't require mid air refuellers ?

as you can see in this video of su33 the mid air refuelling is done, now su 33 was never a strike aircraft as far as i have known but the soul purpose of refuelling the naval aircraft was to achieve the deep strike objective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa2E6X-xnnw

there are times when the aircraft are used for deep strike mission and they keep their AC far away from the enemies territory because of the threat of mines and another ships

 

[charlie]

Forgive me for being naive and inexperienced in these matters, but from all reports that I have been able to sift through, Su-33 is described as a multi-role fighter. I am not sure under what mandate was it deployed on Kuznetsov, but to me it seems a waste of machinery to restrict the plane to an air-defense role when clearly it was designed to be much more versatile. As far as my understanding of the air-craft carrier doctrine goes, it is intended to provide the host nation with depth and range to mount effective attacks against both land and sea based (and of course air based) targets far away from its shores. So sending an aircraft carrier equipped with multi-role fighters just to attack other ships would be like using a fire hose to fill up a glass of water. Yes one of the functions may be to provide cover to the fleet from air and sea borne assaults but surely the primary mandate would be to mount an airborne attack on distant targets wouldn't it?

Gorshkov, our very own "well on it's way to being a white elephant" is ill equipped for most potent carrier functions. I hope we do not face the same problem with MiG29K spares as we do with their land based cousins.

Well the soviets already tried mig 29K a long time ago and they went ahead with su 33 because they found su 33 was better, then India funded the whole Mig 29K program and they came up with a multi role mig 29K. We could have funded for su 33 also and would have converted it as a multi role fighter, the main reason we didnt not go for su 33 was because it had large wing and it was not able to fit in the lift that is used for taking the aircraft down to the hanger

 

[Adux]

Have you seen the load out carried by an Su-33, it is almost laughable, that aircraft is too large, too underpowered to be used as Naval Carrier Aircraft

 

[black eagle]

India to go for open bidding for Navy deal, rejects US offer

India to go for open bidding for Navy deal, rejects US offer


India has turned down an American offer to supply 16 multirole helicopters (MRH) through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for its Navy and decided to go for open competitive bidding for the multi-billion dollar deal.

The US Navy had offered the MH-60 'Romeo' to meet Navy's requirement for 16 MRH through an inter-governmental agreement but the proposal was rejected, Defence Ministry sources told PTI on Thursday.

Under the FMS route, the procurement is done through inter-governmental agreements where the product is offered directly by the US government without any global tender being issued.

Following the Indian government's decision, only two contenders American S-70 Bravo and European NH-90 remain in the fray to take part in the field evaluation trials, the sources said. The trials are expected to start after March this year.

The tender was issued over two years ago in September 2008 and the two firms responded to the bids while the US Navy had offered its Romeo through the FMS route.

The Navy urgently requires the MRH to replace its aging SeaKing fleet inducted in 1970. It had 40-odd SeaKing choppers in its air wing, but the strength has come down to about 30 helicopters due to mishaps.

The MRH's primary role would be anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, while its secondary role would include search and rescue, cargo carrying and casualty evacuation.

The RFP for the 16 MRH was initially issued in early 2006, but the tenders were cancelled two years later and reissued in September 2008.

As per the tender, the winning bidder would be required to supply the first MRH within 46 months in three phases.

The Navy will also have the option of placing orders for another 44 helicopters, once the present contract is completed.

The contract also mandates fulfillment of the offset obligations by the winning bidder, which requires it to reinvest 30 percent of the contract amount back into the Indian defence industry.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...deal-rejects-us-offer/articleshow/7515569.cms

 

[Crusader53]

Hmm...........

Just a dream it will "never" happen.........IMHO

 

[Crusader53]

Have you seen the load out carried by an Su-33, it is almost laughable, that aircraft is too large, too underpowered to be used as Naval Carrier Aircraft

The Su-33 as a platform is better because of its larger size. Yet, in a case of smaller carriers. That advantage is lost because they can't operate in worthwhile numbers.

 

[Crusader53]

"The work required to navalise Typhoon is quite modest. Studies have been completed and computer simulations have proved the concept. The process involves some strengthening of the existing airframe and under carriage, but this produces a weight differential of only 500kg from the existing aircraft - which is minor for an aircraft of Typhoon's power. So it has little effect on the aircraft's performance".

BAE

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2011/02/sea-typhoon-on-offer-to-indian-navy-at.html

Nice pic but the Indian Navy needs to move onto 5th Generation Types and skip any 4.5G Types. IMO

 

[Crusader53]

Not going to happen. India already signed the papers for FGFA and is investing billions of dollars. There's absolutely no reason to join the already struggling JSF program.

Even if we don't get a naval FGFA until 2025-2030, it will be better than getting the F-35 by 2020 (which won't happen either, but assume it does). India will share copyright on the FGFA and thus we can produce all its components indigenously, which will be a huge boost for AMCA and other indigenous programs. F-35 would just handicap all those programs.

Read what Mr. Antony said recently about India's acqusition of technology via foreign suppliers.

Don't be surprised if India purchases F-35C's for the Indian Navy and spending Billions in doing so. So, you arguement hardly holds water. Really, the MMRCA should be dropped in favor of the F-35. Which, could be produced in both Land Based F-35A's for the IAF and F-35C's for the Indian Navy. (maybe even F-35B's for Amphibious Ships) These in turn would provide the "Low" in the Hi/Low Mix with the FGFA.


Further, it would give India access with both the Western (US) and Eastern (Russia) Advance Aerospace & Stealth Technology. Which, would greatly help India with the AMCA and future types.


Let's also not forget the F-35 is the only modern Stealthy 5th Generation Strike Fighter. Which, will be needed to penertrate enemy Air Defense Networks. Something that even 4.5 Gen Fighter will have problems doing so in the near future.

 

[neo29]

Navy keen on AMCA Project

Not to be left out of the countries 5th generation fighter program, Indian navy has asked for a briefing on the AMCA project which ADE is heading and they were briefed on AMCA project by the ADE which was attended by Navy's high ranked officers.

Navy earlier had shown interest in American made F-35 for their 5th gen platform requirements but it seems that Navy has decided to stick with Indigenous program. Navy will join the program once AMCA begins its Technological demonstration phase after its first flight somewhere near end of this decade.

Navy is keen that N-LCA program is successful so that they can move to N-AMCA project soon after its completion. N-LCA had some issues with its landing gear which needed to be redesigned to operate on an aircraft carrier and survive hard deck landing .N-LCA NP-1 is almost ready for its first flight and will have its first flight in mid or end or March if Ground and taxi trials are conducted in time.

Our sources have confirmed that Navy has received a Briefing and also a copy of ASR (Air Staff Requirements) issued by Indian air force on AMCA aircraft , Navy is also working out how N-AMCA will fit its doctrine and into its plans of operating larger aircraft carrier from IAC-2 onwards .

http://idrw.org/?p=641

 

[sandeepdg]

^ This is a nice development. So, the Navy is seriously considering a naval version of the AMCA as this news suggests.

 

[Atul]

Why is the "IN" going for such a variety, it already has the MIG-29K (in role of Fighter & Interceptor), they have already ordered the Naval version of the Tejas ( 6 ordered & paid for) & plans to operate two squadrons (40 aircraft) so why for a Naval Rafale or Eurofighter ??

 

[black eagle]

Bell Helicopter Expects To Be Asked To Submit India Defense Contract Proposals

Bell Helicopter expects to be asked to submit proposals over the next few months to supply aircraft to the navy and coast guard in India, a country at the center of the company's growth strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.
"We are constantly examining how we can better meet the needs of the Indian government, and we are expecting a couple of requests for proposals," Sameer Rehman, director for sales in charge of the Asia-Pacific, told Dow Jones Newswires in a recent interview at the Aero India 2011 show.
"We will submit the requests for proposals."
Bell, which makes models such as the 429 and 407, plans to double its aircraft sales and deliveries in India in 2011 by taking part in defense contracts, and by selling more civilian helicopters, Rehman said.
He declined to disclose the number of helicopters that the company plans to sell in India this year, but said that the country is among Bell's three fastest-growing Asia-Pacific markets.
Bell, Eurocopter and other global aerospace companies are chasing potential military as well as civilian contracts in India on hopes that rising need for military equipment and economic expansion will boost demand for helicopters and planes.
India plans to spend INR1.47 trillion ($32.15 billion) on defense in the fiscal year through March, up from INR1.42 trillion in the previous year.
Bell is looking to capitalize on potential demand in several untapped segments in India, such as emergency medical services and that for wealthy individuals.
"We recognize that Indian customers and their need for vertical lift are a very important part of our business," he said.
"The growth projections for India done by various agencies show that there is not only a need for charter operators, but for oil and gas platforms as well as border security."
Bell is showcasing products at Aero India such as the 429 light twin-engine helicopter that can be used for utility, VIP, medical, law enforcement as well as military purposes, Rehman said.
The company has sold more than 40 of the 407 light single-engine helicopters to corporate houses as well as for on-shore oil and gas exploration activities.
Rehman said Bell currently has more 100 helicopters operating in India in the government and private sectors.
India's state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corp. also uses Bell helicopters for its exploration activities.

http://research.tdameritrade.com/pu...211001465-2GT4BQEH0739Q8Q9S72S0HQHSB&clauses=

 

[sandeepdg]

Why is the "IN" going for such a variety, it already has the MIG-29K (in role of Fighter & Interceptor), they have already ordered the Naval version of the Tejas ( 6 ordered & paid for) & plans to operate two squadrons (40 aircraft) so why for a Naval Rafale or Eurofighter ??

The IN has plans to acquire nearly 300 combat aircraft as quoted by ex IN chief Sureesh Mehta. Hence the variety, I suppose.

 

[nrj]

Why is the "IN" going for such a variety, it already has the MIG-29K (in role of Fighter & Interceptor), they have already ordered the Naval version of the Tejas ( 6 ordered & paid for) & plans to operate two squadrons (40 aircraft) so why for a Naval Rafale or Eurofighter ??

Plan is to control everything from coast of East Africa to Australia. So we require heavy fighters which will be able to operate larger radius, carry maximum package, loaded with fairly advanced electronics & will remain operational even when rest fleet goes into MLU.

IN also intends to operate 100-150 shore based aircrafts besides carrier hooked fighters. Variety of fighters is not really good choice from logistical POV but current ambitions demands so.

 

[Koovie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWBYvb71CTk

hope there will be comming more vids like thisone!