Indian Air Force News & Discussions

[jha]

Jaguar Awaits Re-engine RFP As Bidders Spar

Rivals Honeywell and Rolls-Royce are trading public barbs as they await the delayed request for proposals to re-engine India’s fleet of 120 twin-engine Jaguar fighters, which have slowly become overweight and underpowered as a result of avionics and weapon systems upgrades.

Honeywell says its F125IN engine enables 23% shorter high-hot takeoffs, 17%-40% higher thrust and 36% greater fuel range than the Rolls-Royce engine currently powering the Jaguar. A fatigue analysis done by the Indian air force estimates the fleet could last another 25 years. Honeywell projects savings of $1.5 billion in lifecycle costs over the life of the program with its engine, according to Pritam Bhavnani, recently appointed president for Honeywell Aerospace India.

Comparing the F125 to the current Rolls-Royce Adour, Bhavnani says that Rolls-Royce “has yet to develop some aspects of the Adour Mk821… Our engine is a known one and been in production for awhile.”

“The Rolls-Royce Adour Mk821 will provide the proven … lowest-risk solution for certification, production, transition and operational phases,” a Rolls-Royce spokesman says. “It also provides economies of scale with the Hawk AJT [Advanced Jet Trainer] engine, already manufactured in India.”

Honeywell says certification will be required for the engine and once the Indian air force puts its program into place, the engine might need modifications “to resolve any issue” uncovered by flight testing. If there are no changes, Bhavnani anticipates 3-4 years from the order to the start of deliveries.

Rolls-Royce says the Adour Mk821 engine “requires no airframe development, therefore Rolls-Royce offers the fastest and most cost-effective solution… It is the only low-risk option.”

Both engines were tested in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) facility in Bengaluru.

Honeywell and HAL have been collaborating to produce the TPE331 engine that powers the HAL-built Dornier 228 aircraft, for which an agreement was signed in 2008 to have the engine produced by HAL, making it the first aerospace engine to be fully manufactured in India for the world market.

 

[jha]

Indian Top Gun Training Turns Towards China

July 13, 2010: India is replacing its MiG-27s with Su-30s at TACDE (Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment). TACDE develops new air combat tactics and trains pilots to deal with potential enemies. TACDE was established in 1971, to train the top one percent of fighter pilots, who would then spread what they learned from each other, to all the other pilots. Two years earlier, the U.S. Navy had established the original "Top Gun" training program. This used American aircraft for "aggressor (or dissimilar) training." This was in response to the poor performance of its pilots against North Vietnamese pilots flying Russian fighters. What made the Top Gun operation different was that the training emphasized how the enemy aircraft and pilots operated. This was called "dissimilar training". In the past, American pilots practiced against American pilots, with everyone flying American aircraft and using American tactics. It worked in World War II, because the enemy pilots were not getting a lot of practice and were using similar aircraft and tactics anyway. Most importantly, there was a lot of aerial combat going on, providing ample opportunity for on- the- job training. Not so in Vietnam, where the quite different Russian trained North Vietnamese were giving U.S. aviators an awful time. The four week Top Gun program solved the problem. The air force followed shortly with its similar Red Flag school.

In 1976, Pakistan established a similar school. TACDE was initially created to cope with Pakistani air power, which was why MiG-21s and 27s have long been used to represent foreign aircraft. But now the most troublesome foe in the air is seen as China, where the top aircraft are, as in India, Su-30s.

Over the last thirty years, the concept of "dissimilar training" has changed. The U.S. Navy kept Top Gun as a program to hone fighter pilot's combat skills, as has TACDE. But the U.S. Air Force made their Red Flag program more elaborate, bringing in the many different types of aircraft involved in combat missions (especially electronic warfare.)

After the Cold War ended, it became increasingly obvious that none of America's potential enemies was providing their fighter pilots with much training at all. In other words, the dissimilar training for U.S. fighter pilots was not as crucial as it had been during the Cold War. Actually, it had been noted that flying skills of Soviet pilots was declining in the 1980s, as economic problems in the USSR caused cuts in flying time. During that period, American pilots were actually increasing their flying time. Moreover, U.S. flight simulators were getting better. American pilots were finding that even the game oriented combat flight simulators had some training value.

So in the late 1990s, Top Gun and Red Flag found their budgets cut. But the programs remain, as does the memory of why they were set up in the first place. If it is found that, say, China is continuing to improve its combat aviation, giving it's fighter pilots more flying time and their politicians maintain a bellicose attitude towards the U.S., there will be a need to increase American Top Gun training, and that is happening at TACDE as well. Because of the new Chinese "dissimilar training" effort, the U.S. Top Gun and Red Flag schools are being restored to their former prominence, sort of. The Chinese move is certainly a very meaningful one, as it shows that they are serious about preparing their pilots to fight, and defeat Taiwanese and American pilots. Dissimilar training is how that is done.

 

[Sunny FOXGLOVE]

Better we talk about GTRE GTX-35VS before Tejas. Why its taking so time, at this time of emergency. I M SO CONCERN !!!

 

[jha]

IAF issues RFI for C 27J Spartan

New Delhi. The Indian Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 16 medium military transport aircraft.




According to Alenia Aeronautica’s India director Roberto Leva, his company was responding with information about C 27J Spartan, which he described as “the new generation medium military airlifter’s category” capable of taking off from unprepared strips “less than 500 metre long with maximum takeoff weight of 30,500 kg.”

He told newmen that the Spartan can be used both for civilian and military purposes and would be particularly suitable for India’s hilly northeastern states.

Paolo Girasole, head of Alenia parent company Finmeccanica in India, said that India could be a market for some 50 C 27Js, given the requirement to reach in difficult terrains with quick landings and getaways. The Border security force (BSF) had already issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) for two aircraft and trials were held last year in July in Bangalore and Leh.

Leva pointed out that an advantage of the aircraft was that it had the same Rolls Royce engines as the Lockheed martin C 130J which India is buying, and that the two aircraft complimented each other. Both of them are configured to carry pallets weighing up to 4,700 kg and high up to 2.2 metres.

So, he added, operationally and in terms of maintenance, the acquisition of this aircraft would be cost-effective.

Leva said that Alenia Aeronautica is excited about the prospects of entering the Indian defence and security market, and that the C 27J is capable of performing a range of missions – transport of troops, goods and medicines, logistic, re-supply, medical evacuation, airdrop operations, paratroopers launch, search and rescue, fire-fighting, humanitarian assistance and missions in support of homeland security.

The twin-engine turboprop has state-of-the-art avionics, propulsion and systems with three distinctive features – Self-deployment, Survivability and Interoperability.

Besides the BSF, the company is optimistic that the aircraft can be of use to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as well as the National Security Guard (NSG) as a potential customer.

For instance, Leva said the aircraft is designed to operate in remote areas like those in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East from gravel or sand. The aircraft has the ability to do so since besides the twin-engines it has an auxiliary power unit (APU) that provides electricity and maintains pressure without the need to keep the engines running when the aircraft is on ground.

The APU also gives the aircraft power to load mission kits.

The underlying philosophy is mission accomplishment and critical equipment is protected taking into account that the aircraft could come under attack while carrying out any of the multiple missions it can perform. The cockpit is armoured with ballistic proof ceramic that also protects critical equipment like oxygen tanks.

So much so, the design takes care to have two independent hydraulic systems, one on each side, so that if one side is damaged, the other can operate even with the help of the APU. A technology has been employed which prevents the fuel tanks from exploding even after being hit by bullets. The aircraft has the ability to manoeuvre up to 3G.

As for interoperability, Leva said the C-27J Spartan compliments the C 130J Super Hercules produced by the Lockheed Martin since both aircraft use the standard 436L pallets. The advantage being that these pallets can be down/ uploaded from either plane.

He said that US Air Force is among the seven air forces of the world that have ordered the C 27J. The US has awarded a $ 2.04 billion contract for 78 aircraft to be shipped to the US Army and Air Force within the bid for the Joint Cargo Aircraft programme.

The JCA is a key element for the transformation of the transport fleet of the US Army and the US Air Force to meet the new operational requirements with multirole and interoperable aircraft able to perform logistical re-supply troop and humanitarian assistance.

As an example, he said, pallets with relief or logistic material could be loaded on to the C130J Hercules and off-loaded and then re-loaded within a short period of time with the same pallets onto the Spartan, which can deliver it to areas where the bigger plane cannot land. The US realised it would require such an aircraft after hurricane Katrina when it could not reach some areas or evacuate people from there.

In its air ambulance role, the C 27J can accommodate up to 36 stretchers with each having its own oxygen point, a facility also available to the 46 paratroopers its can carry. It is capable of taking off from and landing on unprepared strips, less than 500 metres long, with maximum take-off weight of 30,500 kgs. It can carry 60 fully equipped soldiers.

It can transport fighter and transport aircraft engines such as for the C-130, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-16 and Mirage-2000 directly on their normal engine dollies without further special equipment.

At present, besides the US, the C-27 J has been ordered by the air forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco. Slovakia has also selected the aircraft.

Lithuania got its first aircraft in December 2006 and it has been put to extensive use to support the country’s troops in Afghanistan. Morocco is the first non-NATO customer and it ordered four aircraft for about Euro 130 million during September 2008.

According to Maj Jurius Jaksys, C-27J Pilot of the Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), the aircraft has been landing at a dusty, semi-prepared air strip, 6,000-feet long and at a height of 7,500 feet, at Chagcharan in Afghanistan routinely without any problem. There are clouds always and no navigation aids, but despite their absence, the mission computer helps in accurate landings and takeoffs.

He also says that the aircraft is highly manoeuverable due to its engine power. A significant factor is the C 27J’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), which allows it to operate in remote areas without any ground support equipment. “We can get all the necessary electrical and hydraulic power from the aircraft even with the engines off” and that means that the C 27J can stay on location for a longer time if required.

Alenia Aeronatica is a Finmeccanica Company that operates world-wide in design, development, production, maintenance and modification of commercial and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. It has collaborations with SuperJet of Russia, Boeing and L3 Communications of the US, and BAE Systems of Britain.

 

[soaringphnx]

MRCA Trials Over IAF moves on to Helicopter Trials​

The Indian Air Force has completed its field evaluation trials of all the six aircraft in the fray for its 126-plus Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) requirement and the final report is set to be submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by July-end.

The IAF has indeed stuck to its promise of completing the trials on time, and submitting the report even before the deadline it had initially set for itself. The exhaustive report has more than 600 parametres for each aircraft, and the report, in two sets, covers the performance of each contender, and how many of the 600-plus points the aircraft individually met during the trials.

Combat radars like AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) and FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radars), beyond-the-visual-range, all-weather precision engagement capability, engine power, and various parameters to ensure mission success and pilot survival are among the considerations. For the first time, life cycle costs in maintaining the aircraft for their estimated life of 40 years or 6000 flying hours, is also on the platter.

Significantly, as the acquisition of the MRCAs could take a few years, IAF is ordering another 42 SU MKI aircraft from Russia to add to its existing list of 230 of these formidable air dominance fighters, half of which are already operational with its combat squadrons. More than 100 of these are under production with components made both in Russia and India.

At the same time, IAF has completed the trials of utility helicopters and begun trials of combat helicopters. Boeing’s Apache Longbow AH 64D from the US and Mi 28 from Russia are in the fray.

In the utility category, Eurocopter Fennec 555 and Russia’s Kamov 226 are the two contenders.

The combat helicopter requirement specified tandem configuration, and of the three contenders initially, Augusta Westland is reported to have withdrawn its Mangusta.

Trials for the Heavy lift helicopters, also from the US and Russia, are due to begin within the next few weeks. Boeing is offering its twin-rotor Ch 47F Chinook and Russia, a reconfigured, newer version of its Mi 26 which IAF has been operating since the mid-1980s.

As for the SU 30 MKIs, it may be noted that their purchase of is a follow-on order, and also with a state-run company (Rososboronexport). Under the Indian laws, the acquisition process is much easier in this case than acquiring a system through commercial bids, for which global tenders or Request for Proposals (RfPs) have to be issued. Field Evaluation Trials have also to be carried out.

IAF’s request for 42 more Sukhois has already been accepted and cleared by the MoD. It is now awaiting the formal approval by the government’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by the Prime Minister.

IAF is short of combat and transport aircraft, combat and transport helicopters, utility helicopters, as well as various supporting systems and precision missiles. There is a need not only to replace the old Soviet vintage aircraft and systems but also to augment its strength with new, futuristic technologies.

To speed up the acquisition in some areas at least, IAF is following the government-to-government route, as in the case of C 17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifters. A request had been made to the Indian government in this regard in 2009 summer, and by now, the US government has accepted the Indian MoD’s Letter of Request (LoR) while IAF completed the validation trials in June 2010.

Discussions are on between the two governments now on what onboard equipment IAF wants, including spares, engines, training and support for the estimtated 40-year life of the 10 C 17s IAF wants, and then finally the price. Based on that, the US government will issue a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. There will be 3.8 per cent FMS administrative fee.

IAF had ordered 80 Mi 17 IV helicopters from Russia last year, and their first lot is also expected by year-end, possibly in November.

The Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, is keen for the modernization process to be over as soon as possible. IAF has been losing combat aircraft particularly due to the end of their Total Technical Life (TTL) over the last few years, and although the acquisition of SU 30 MKIs is helping make up, IAF needs to renew its inventory ASAP.

His views at the National Seminar on Aerospace Technologies (N-SAT) held by India Strategic in October 2009 should reflect the IAF thinking. He said:

"Aerospace operations have increasingly become the instrument of choice in conflict situations, as can be seen from the events of the past few years. They provide Reach, Speed of Response, Precision and a great deal of Flexibility options to our national leadership and it is therefore inevitable that there are ever-increasing expectations from aerospace power.

"I think you will all agree, that Military Aviation, more than any other activity, is highly dependent on technology. Superiority in the realm of aerospace is dictated by the employment of superior Technology coupled with Intelligent Tactics. There is simply no alternative to these two aspects.

I think you will all agree, that Military Aviation, more than any other activity, is highly dependent on technology. Superiority in the realm of aerospace is dictated by the employment of superior Technology coupled with Intelligent Tactics. There is simply no alternative to these two aspects.

There are though step-by-step plans to transform the IAF by 2022, by which time it should have some 45 combat squadrons of SU 30 MKIs, MRCAs, FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft), and LCAs (India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft).

Eventually, IAF could have some 300-plus SU 30 MKIs, an equal number of MRCAs – indigenously produced – and some 200 FGFAs besides 150 to 200 LCAs. IAF has already ordered two squadrons of LCAs with GE 404 engines, and five more squadrons will be acquired with uprated engines, either Eurojet 200 or GE 414. These two engines are in a competition now.

It may be noted that IAF’s MRCA tender is for 126 aircraft with an option for another 63. But in all likelihood, this figure should touch 300.

As for the transport aircraft, IAF’s IL 76 and An 32 are under upgradation, and although the two have completed 25 and 26 years respectively, they have given good backup to IAF’s combat edge by supporting and supplying men and materials. IAF is now looking at 10 or more C 17s, possibly more Lockheed Martin C130J Super Hercules, and even the Alenia Aernautica C 27J Spartan, for which an RFI has been issued. (The first of the six C 130Js is due for delivery early 2011).

India and Russia already have an agreement to jointly produce a medium Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA).

As for the FGFA, a formal agreement between New Delhi and Moscow is likely to be signed this year although cooperative measures have already been set in motion. IAF expects the two-seat version to be delivered by 2016 or 2017.

The Russian Air Force has already developed its single seat version for trials.

IAF is also looking for AWACs and mid-air refuelers, both of which use the old IL 76 airframes. The IL 76 is out or production and unavailable – China had bought 40 of its best available airframes – and IAF’s new AWACs should be on other airframes. The current AWACs on order are the Israeli Phalcons.

Source:

MRCA Trials Over IAF moves on to Helicopter Trials

 

[flanker143]

i simply loved the bolded part !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jha]

 

[soaringphnx]

Indian Air Force May Order Additional 57 Hawk Advanced Trainer​

India is in the process of finalising with the UK the terms of reference for buying an additional 57 Hawk advanced trainer for the Indian Air Force, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallamraju has said.

"The government has decided to exercise the option of buying an additional 57 Hawk trainer jets manufactured by the British Aerospace. Details of the contract and the terms of reference of the deal are being negotiated with the UK," Pallamraju, who is leading Indian delegation to the Farnborough Air Show, the biggest in the world, told PTI.

India, which had earlier signed a deal for purchase of the two-seater Hawk trainer planes, has already received 24 of the single-engine aircraft in a fly-away condition. Of the another 42 of the planes, which were to be produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, six have been supplied to the IAF.

The Hawk, which can also be used as a combat aircraft, provides advance stage three training to IAF pilots. The Minister, who is on a six-day visit to the UK, refused to give a time-frame for finalising the terms of reference of the multi-billion dollar deal.

The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force and 900 of them have supplied to 18 countries so far. Pallamraju, who has been interacting with top armament manufacturers here, said he told them that they stand a better chance of bagging orders from India if they agree to make the country self-reliant in weapon systems.

The Minister, who arrived in London on Saturday, had met top brass of Russian weapons manufacturers, British Aerospace, EADS, Saab, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. He has also had a meeting with Prince Andrew, who is Britain's Ambassador for Industry.

 

[soaringphnx]

 

[soaringphnx]

IAF begins Apache trials​

The Indian Air Force (IAF) began trials for the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter last week. IAF sources confirmed that the aircraft, which is competing with the Russian Mi-28 for the IAF’s tender for 22 attack helicopters, has already completed trials in Jaisalmer and is currently undergoing high altitude, flight and maneuverability demonstrations at Leh.

The trials are expected to continue till the end of next week, after which the Mi-28 is expected to be given a similar once-over. The maintenance and weapons trials of the former will be conducted in the United States in the coming weeks.

Dean Millsap of Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, told visiting Indian media in Philadelphia in May that the company had crash-tested the aircraft to a drop-speed of 40 feet per second. The company is pitching its ballistically-tolerant structure, which can withstand an impact up to 23 millimeters, to emphasize the survivablility of the aircraft. The aircraft also has self sealing, Kevlar armor-protected fuel cells under the pilot’s seat, as well as a system to deploy nitrogen gas to starve any outbreak of fire of oxygen, called nitrogen-inerting crash resistant fuel cells. Both, pilot as well as gunner, have the benefit of the night vision generated by FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) sensor. But Boeing expects the Longbow radar on the Apache to end the argument. The radar dome, which has a millimeter wave radar, is located on top of the main rotor allowing optimum detection capability. The aircraft can also digitally share information on targets with other aircraft and systems.

Interestingly, Boeing has developed a capability in the Apache to control Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). While so far this ability is restricted to control over a single UAV, the company is building systems to allow airborne control over multiple UAVs. So far this is not a capability that has been offered to or requested by the IAF.

The first of the Apache Block III are expected to be delivered in October next year and deployed with the first US Army units by June 2012.

The trials for the IAF’s requirement for 15 heavy lift helicopters are also expected to begin after the Apache, on July 27, with the Chinook being put through its paces at Chandigarh, where it has already arrived, and Leh. Both the Apache and the Chinook were brought to India by C-17 aircraft, possibly to quietly underline the capabilities of the strategic lifter, ten of which are also being considered for purchase by the IAF, after it underwent trials last month.

 

[CONNAN]

 

[soaringphnx]

Boeing says more India C-17 orders possible​

India could buy 10 to 12 more C-17 transport planes from Boeing Co (BA.N) beyond the 10 planes already planned, Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing military aircraft told Reuters on Monday.

Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, is forecasting strong demand for the C-17 planes, which have been used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Chadwick said at the Farnborough Airshow outside London.

Boeing had seen interest from multiple buyers in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, and NATO countries could also buy more of the cargo planes in coming years, Chadwick said in an interview.

On Sunday, Boeing officials said the company could sell 20 more C-17 transport planes to foreign buyers over the next five to ten years, in addition to the 10 already planned for India.

Chadwick said the number could rise even higher, given expectations that India could eventually more than double its planned purchase of 10 C-17s.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency in April announced approval of the sale of the 10 transport planes and related equipment, putting its value at up to $5.8 billion.

Chadwick said Boeing expected a slight increase in military aircraft revenues internationally over the next five to 10 years, bolstered by sales of transport planes and fighter aircraft.

Chadwick said delays in international fighter competitions should not jeopardize Boeing's forecast for moderate growth in defense revenues in 2011, given strong domestic sales.

Boeing is negotiating a third multi-year procurement deal for its F/A-18 fighters with the U.S. government, which would make that production line "rock solid out through the middle of the decade," he said.

India was also expected to pick a winner in its competition for 126 new fighter jets early next year, he said, while Japan is due to issue a request for proposals later this year.

Brazil's fighter competition was also nearing an end, and a final decision could come next year, he said.

Boeing had a good track record in winning international competitions, Chadwick said, but the company's revenue forecast factored in possible wins by other contractors as well.

"There are so many competitions in play right now," he said. "We never count on all of it."

 

[marcos98]

Cobham 754 Buddy Refuelling System for Su-30MKI

(c) Copyrights Cobham Systems

 

[CONNAN]

IAF C130J

 

[rajgoynar]

Officers of the Indian Air Force began a 16-day expedition from New Delhi to the Himalayan region on motorcycles on Friday.

Thirteen IAF officers on ten motorcycles began their journey 'Explore the Himalayas' from the India Gate.

Air marshal JN Burma, air officer-in-charge administration flagged off the event.

The expedition will travel through different Indian states and cover the distance of over 4,500 kilometres.

A team member spoke about the objective of the odyssey.

"Our motive behind this is to show the adventure part of the Air Force. So we intend to talk to people about the Air Force. We would talk to the school children, civil crowd during our over night stay. People should know what armed forces and the Air Force is all about," said VV Singh, wing commander, IAF.

The team would be travelling through 11 passes of the Himalayas, which would include high passes like Baralach La (17,645 feet) and Khardung La (20,212 feet).

The journey to the Himalayan region would cover Kasauli, Kaza, Siachen Base Camp and return through Kargil, Srinagar and Amritsar.



DNA: India - Indian Air Force officers begins an expedition to Himalayan region