Indian Naval Aviation

[bhramos]

INS Vikrant

 

[bhramos]

 

[Neil]

A US Navy F-14 'Tomcat' pays a visit to check up an Indian Navy Tu 142 'Bear' somewhere over the open seas in 1989

 

[Sridhar]

HAL Delivers Home-Made Hawk to Indian Navy

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the first home-made Hawk Mk-132 aircraft to Indian Navy at a function on September 23. "We built this aircraft in time and this is the first of the five aircraft to be delivered to the Indian Navy. The remaining four will be delivered soon," said R.K. Tyagi, chairman, HAL. He handed over the related documents to Vice Admiral Pradeep K. Chatterjee, AVSM, NM, deputy chief of Naval Staff.

Tyagi said it is matter of pride that all the training aircraft of the Indian Navy have been supplied by HAL. "We are carrying forward this legacy and will ensure that the navy gets all the support from HAL on all parameters," he added. Hawk Mk-132 is the latest entry into HAL's made and maintained aircraft and helicopters of Indian Navy which include Kiran and Do-228 aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. In addition, HAL also worked with the navy in the upgrade of Sea Harrier.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Chatterjee said Navy has a long-standing unique partnership with HAL. "We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder for all our current and future programmes. Hawk delivered today will have a pride of place in navy's fleet. Given the fruitful association with HAL, we will even think of reviving past projects," he said.

Against the contract for supplying 17 Hawk aircraft, HAL plans to deliver five aircraft in the current fiscal and balance in next three years to Indian Navy.

HAL Delivers Home-Made Hawk to Indian Navy

 

[ladder]

Indian Navy emerging as a major air force

The new MIG-29K squadron, launch of INS Vikrant, entry of INS Vikramaditya have strengthened the force

Ajai Shukla | New Delhi November 6, 2013 Last Updated at 19:40 IST

The Indian Navy is on its way to becoming a major air force, with the fleet air arm having achieved several landmarks this year. In May, the first MiG-29K squadron was commissioned at INS Hansa in Goa, with twenty world-class Russian fighters. In August, the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant was launched at Kochi. Later this month, Russia will hand over the INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Admiral Gorshkov, which will supplement the INS Viraat to become the navy's second aircraft carrier.

Today the navy received its first Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), on which it will train the pilots that fly its MiG-29Ks and, when cleared to join the fleet, the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is building 17 Hawk AJTs for the navy.

The navy is on track to operate more than 300 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. These including 45 MiG-29K/KUBs; over 50 Tejas LCAs; 8-12 Boeing P8 multi-mission aircraft; 36 Dornier 228 utility aircraft; 36 medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft; 5-10 long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft; 90 medium helicopters; 59 naval utility helicopters; and more than 30 airborne early warning helicopters.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently gives naval pilots basic training on the Pilatus PC-7 Mark II, along with air force trainee pilots. After that, naval flyers branch off, doing Stage-2 training on the Kiran Mark I; and will now do Stage-3 training on the navy's own Hawk fleet. Far-sighted naval planners say the day will come when the navy, emerging as a major operator of aircraft, will train all its pilots in-house.

"The induction of this highly capable (Hawk-132) aircraft will provide the much needed fillip to the training of combat pilots in the Navy by bridging the gap between basic flying training and advanced fighter flying," said the navy today.

While Stage-1 and Stage-2 training mainly hone a pilot's flying skills, Stage-3 training on the Hawk involves combat flying, which includes advanced navigation and the use of airborne weapons.

The Hawk 132 has an advanced navigation system and can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground rockets, bombs and guns. The trainee pilot learns how to use a HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) system that allows him to select weapons without removing his hands from the flying controls.

Capable of carrying two extra fuel tanks under its wings to extend its operating range, the Hawk can even be used in a combat role as a light strike aircraft.

HAL will deliver five Hawks to the navy this fiscal year, with the remaining 12 delivered over three years. While naval pilots train on these 17 AJTs, the IAF will fly 106 Hawk AJTs, making India the largest operator of Hawks in the world. Currently 18 countries operate almost 1000 Hawk trainers. The US Air Force could soon buy several hundred more under its so-called T-X trainer acquisition programme.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems, which is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Hawk, has bid to supply 20 more Hawks for the IAF's aerobatics team, Surya Kiran. This contract, which should have been a simple "follow on" procurement from the large earlier tenders, has been delayed by the ministry of defence (MoD) which argues that the smoke generators that are fitted on aerobatics aircraft (actually this is merely an external attachment) make these a different aircraft that must go through the whole evaluation procedure afresh. In the case of the Hawk-132, that process took 18 years.

BAE Systems is putting a brave face on this, with a company release today quoting Guy Griffiths, Group Managing Director --- International as saying, "We have also submitted our response to HAL's Request for Proposal for a potential order to supply products and services for the manufacture of 20 additional Hawk aircraft to the IAF, and are now looking forward to partnering with HAL in providing the Indian Air Force's display team this fantastic aircraft."

Indian Navy emerging as a major air force | Business Standard

 

[arnabmit]

MiG 29K squadron base at Vizag soon, says Navy chief Joshi | idrw.org
SOURCE: TNN

In a major boost for Vizag's naval air power, the Indian Navy is planning to set up a MiG 29K base at Naval Air Station INS Dega in the Port City, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi said here on Wednesday.

"The intention is to have air capabilities on both the Western and Eastern seaboards due to the growing security needs of the country. The first MiG 29K squadron has already been positioned on the Western seaboard at Goa and the next squadron will be based at INS Dega soon," the Naval chief told newspersons after the induction of the Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer aircraft here on Wednesday, adding that some of the aircraft from the Goa squadron were last month sent to Vizag for training.

While the frontline fighter MiG 29K will be operated from the deck of INS Vikramaditya, which is to be commissioned on November 16 and will be based on the West Coast, the Naval chief pointed out that the vessel would operate on the Eastern seaboard as well as and when required.

However, the Navy plans to set up the base of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is expected to be inducted into the Navy by 2017, at Visakhapatnam, he added.

According to Admiral Joshi, naval aviation is poised for a major leap thanks to the new carriers that the Navy inducting. "The high performance supersonic jets of the future would require a trainer that qualifies a trainee pilot suitably and therefore the Hawk AJT has been inducted here. The first four aircraft have been inducted and remaining will be joining the present lot soon. All the 17 Hawk Mk 132 fighters will be based at INS Dega," he said.

Elaborating on the Navy's acquisition of supersonic jets to cater to future needs, the Admiral said, the future generation trainer fleet would comprise high performance supersonic jets alongside MiG 29K. "We have urged HAL to expertise the productionization of light combat aircraft for Navy. The Navy is very anxiously and eagerly looking forward to operate indigenous fighters on the decks of our vessels," he said.

Admiral Joshi said that another significant air capability that has been added to the Navy is the Boeing P-8I, a long range multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft, that has again been vested with ENC. "The first aircraft is here and the induction trials are in progress. Another two P-8I aircraft will hopefully be inducted by the end of this year. The remaining aircraft will join the fleet next year. The censor and weapon fit on the board is comparable to the best. The P-8I has been inducted concurrently in the Indian Navy and the US Navy. The country now has the most contemporary of weapons and equipment fits," he said.

Replying to a question about India's first nuclear submarine INS Arihant, the Navy chief said it was launched in 2010 and subsequent activities like outfitting, installation of various systems and sub systems were being presently carried out at the Port City.

"The most important is the installation of the nuclear reactor for its propulsion plant and the nuclear power plant of the submarine attained criticality on August 10 this year. That was a significant milestone in the country's naval history as for the first time ever a nuclear propelled submarine plant attained criticality. Between the time it attains criticality and commences operations, a set of activities are in progress. A majority of the submarine's harbor trials have been completed successfully and we hope to commence sea trials soon, after which it will be commissioned," Admiral Joshi explained.

While refusing to divulge the cause of the blaze at INS Sindhurakshak in Mumbai earlier this year, the Navy chief said that specific lessons to be learnt would only become apparent once the Navy has been able to complete the board of inquiry, which is still underway. He pointed out that subsequent to the tragedy, the Navy had put all its units through a thorough process of `safety standout' for a few days.

"None of the assets were operated and a very thorough safety audit was carried out in all the submarines. There are no outstanding issues. Once the Indian Navy comes to know what specifically went wrong with INS Sindhurakshak, it will decide on what measures to be taken specifically after the completion of the board of inquiry," he explained.

 

[abingdonboy]

My latest vid:

 

[rvjpheonix]

My latest vid:

Amazing video!!!

 

[bhramos]

MiG 29K squadron base at Vizag soon, says Navy chief Joshi | idrw.org
SOURCE: TNN

In a major boost for Vizag's naval air power, the Indian Navy is planning to set up a MiG 29K base at Naval Air Station INS Dega in the Port City, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi said here on Wednesday.

"The intention is to have air capabilities on both the Western and Eastern seaboards due to the growing security needs of the country. The first MiG 29K squadron has already been positioned on the Western seaboard at Goa and the next squadron will be based at INS Dega soon," the Naval chief told newspersons after the induction of the Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer aircraft here on Wednesday, adding that some of the aircraft from the Goa squadron were last month sent to Vizag for training.

While the frontline fighter MiG 29K will be operated from the deck of INS Vikramaditya, which is to be commissioned on November 16 and will be based on the West Coast, the Naval chief pointed out that the vessel would operate on the Eastern seaboard as well as and when required.

However, the Navy plans to set up the base of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is expected to be inducted into the Navy by 2017, at Visakhapatnam, he added.

According to Admiral Joshi, naval aviation is poised for a major leap thanks to the new carriers that the Navy inducting. "The high performance supersonic jets of the future would require a trainer that qualifies a trainee pilot suitably and therefore the Hawk AJT has been inducted here. The first four aircraft have been inducted and remaining will be joining the present lot soon. All the 17 Hawk Mk 132 fighters will be based at INS Dega," he said.

Elaborating on the Navy's acquisition of supersonic jets to cater to future needs, the Admiral said, the future generation trainer fleet would comprise high performance supersonic jets alongside MiG 29K. "We have urged HAL to expertise the productionization of light combat aircraft for Navy. The Navy is very anxiously and eagerly looking forward to operate indigenous fighters on the decks of our vessels," he said.

Admiral Joshi said that another significant air capability that has been added to the Navy is the Boeing P-8I, a long range multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft, that has again been vested with ENC. "The first aircraft is here and the induction trials are in progress. Another two P-8I aircraft will hopefully be inducted by the end of this year. The remaining aircraft will join the fleet next year. The censor and weapon fit on the board is comparable to the best. The P-8I has been inducted concurrently in the Indian Navy and the US Navy. The country now has the most contemporary of weapons and equipment fits," he said.

Replying to a question about India's first nuclear submarine INS Arihant, the Navy chief said it was launched in 2010 and subsequent activities like outfitting, installation of various systems and sub systems were being presently carried out at the Port City.

"The most important is the installation of the nuclear reactor for its propulsion plant and the nuclear power plant of the submarine attained criticality on August 10 this year. That was a significant milestone in the country's naval history as for the first time ever a nuclear propelled submarine plant attained criticality. Between the time it attains criticality and commences operations, a set of activities are in progress. A majority of the submarine's harbor trials have been completed successfully and we hope to commence sea trials soon, after which it will be commissioned," Admiral Joshi explained.

While refusing to divulge the cause of the blaze at INS Sindhurakshak in Mumbai earlier this year, the Navy chief said that specific lessons to be learnt would only become apparent once the Navy has been able to complete the board of inquiry, which is still underway. He pointed out that subsequent to the tragedy, the Navy had put all its units through a thorough process of `safety standout' for a few days.

"None of the assets were operated and a very thorough safety audit was carried out in all the submarines. There are no outstanding issues. Once the Indian Navy comes to know what specifically went wrong with INS Sindhurakshak, it will decide on what measures to be taken specifically after the completion of the board of inquiry," he explained.

already 3 MiG-29 K operate from here, also posted pics of them earlier....

 

[ladder]

Snooping aircraft celebrates 25 yrs service with Indian Navy

The Tu-142M maritime snooping aircraft, which on several occasions picked up Chinese and Pakistani submarines operating close to Indian waters, today celebrated 25 years of service with the Indian Navy.

Set to be replaced by the American-origin P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the Russian origin Tupolev142M has done 28,000 hours of accident-free flying with the INAS 312 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron of the Eastern Naval Command based at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.

The squadron is also inducting the Boeing P-8I and two of these have also been received.

On the occasion, Eastern Naval Commander Vice Admiral Anil Chopra unveiled the Silver Jubilee Plaque and released a Coffee Table Book recounting the glorious journey of the Squadron.

The eight aircraft of the squadron have been upgraded in the last decade in Russia to plug the gaps till the time the American aircraft arrive in India and join the operational service, Navy officials said here.

The Navy has also taken a decision to continue using them for another 2-3 years after which they will be phased out and all the eight P-8I aircraft would have arrived in India from the US.

The aircraft were inducted in 1988 after the Navy especially created the INS Rajali naval air base with a 4-km air strip for it.

Snooping aircraft celebrates 25 yrs service with Indian Navy | Business Standard

 

[arnabmit]

Is there a naval version of MiG-35 being developed?

 

[Singh]

Is there a naval version of MiG-35 being developed?

No


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[arnabmit]

But reading some of the reports, seems that MiG-35 was built on a MiG-29K airframe.

So eventually, could MiG-29K be upgraded to Mig-35 standards, including the Zhuk-AE AESA, RD-33OVT TVC Engines, upgraded sensors and jammers?

No


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Neil]

Indian Navy Ka-28 lands on the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer, USS McCampbell

 

[bhramos]

Rare Pic of three diffrent origin helicopter at same place over Viraat`s deck, Dhruv is about to land / takeoff, Kamov is behind dhruv and Sea king at far left

 

[bhramos]

 

[Neeraj Mathur]

random question

indian navy was interested in acquiring 6-8 global hawks(RQ-4) any idea where that went?

 

[bhramos]

random question

indian navy was interested in acquiring 6-8 global hawks(RQ-4) any idea where that went?

currently signing any deal corruptionmatters are comings out, so no with percentage between no deal major deals will be signed before 2014 elections,may not be Rafale too....

 

[bhramos]

Coming head on with the 'Bear'.The Tupolev Tu-142MK-E of the Indian Navy taxies on nice and slow , with two Air India A320s following at a safe distance behind.The Tu-142 is used by the Indian Navy in Anti-Submarine and Maritime Recce roles.INAS 312 'Albatross' operates 8 Tu-142s out of INS Rajali at Arakkonam.2 of these aircraft are being fitted with the BrahMos cruise missile.

Photo: IN312 (CN: 7609686) India - Navy Tupolev Tu-142M3 by FoxbatOne - JetPhotos.Net

 

[Neil]