Indian Air-Force News

Dhruvs Perform Daring Missions In Flood-Hit Areas

(Source: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.; issued Aug. 17, 2006)

The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, has once again become the saviour of several lives in the face of a natural calamity.

Dhruvs, operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and ONGC, were instrumental in saving people from flood-affected areas in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

In areas like Bhadrachallam, Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh and Nanded, Nagpur in Maharashtra, three Dhruv helicopters flew 60 hours in three days, distributing around 20 tons of food and water to people who were stranded.

Around 320 people were rescued from floodwaters. This included seven people who were winched from the top of a stranded bus in Mahekar, close to Bidar.

In another case, 262 people were evacuated from two marooned villages close to Nagpur. The helicopters also did low hovering over flooded areas and rescued lying casualties and those who took shelter over treetops.

On its part, the ONGC operated one Dhruv copter for rescue operations in its Surat Hazira plant, apart from dropping food and water packages in Surat and surrounding areas.

The copters carried out the operations in extremely testing conditions. Low-cloud ceiling, poor visibility, strong winds and rain made the mission more challenging.

Wg Cdr C.D. Upadhyay, Chief Test Pilot, HAL, said that the latest operations proved the capabilities of ALH to carry out its mission in adverse climatic conditions. “We are proud that our machines played a key role in saving so many lives. We once again salute the spirit of IAF and its boys,” Upadhyay said.

Source:

Air force to induct BrahMos missiles by 2007

August 26, 2006 20:22 IST

The Indian Air Force will induct the air-to-ground version of the BrahMos cruise missile and integrate them with its Sukhoi-30MKI combat jets by December 2007, a top defence official said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchirapalli, BrahMos Aerospace CEO A Sivathanu Pillai said the production of the supersonic missile by his company had been completed and the procedure to fit them to the Su-30 jets was "under progress."

Static and dynamic test on the ground were in progress and various flight tests would have to be done subsequently, he said.

No structural changes would have to be made to the Su-30 to make it capable of carrying the BrahMos as the jet already had a hook and loader assembly in its belly.

A team of experts from the IAF, BrahMos Aerospace, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Sukhoi Design Bureau had been formed to evolve an integrated hook assembly in the jet so that it could carry two BrahMos missiles on its wings.

Apart from the mechanical assembly of hooks and straps to house the long and heavy version of the missile, a suitable electronic system or a fire control system linked to the cockpit avionics would have to be designed and engineered, he said.

Since the BrahMos has a longer range of up to 290 km, unlike other missiles with shorter ranges of 10 to 20 km, the electronic systems for controlling it were more complicated.

However, Pillai was confident that all procedural wrangles would be overcome soon and the BrahMos would be fitted on the Su-30 jets in a successful manner before the targeted date of December 2007.

He said the BrahMos version meant for the army had already gone into commercial production.

The army has placed a substantial order for the missiles that would be inducted in the force from 2007. The land-to-land version is designed to be mounted on a Tatra vehicle produced by Bharat Earth Movers Limited and the command post has been designed by Hyderabad-based Electronic Corproration of India Limited.

Similarly, the navy has begun deploying the ship-launched version of BrahMos in its warships in a phased manner.

.......

On the outsourcing of components by his firm, Pillai said 20 large and medium-scale industries had been promoted for supplying different components and auxiliaries. Besides, 40 small industries across the country were playing a role in the final assembly of the missile.

A consortium of industries has been lined up and stringent quality controls have been clamped on them.

Apart from Indian Industries, seven firms from Russia were supplying various components. There was strict adherence to the same quality specifications, as the inter-changeability of components was an important criteria.

.....

The assembly unit and outsourcing wings have been provided adequate cushioning so that expansion in production would be possible any time to keep pace with an increased demand.

The company's research and development department was engaged in developing hypersonic missiles. Currently, the BrahMos can cruise with a velocity of three times the speed of sound. Hypersonic versions would be capable of operating at five times the velocity of sound.

Source:

The Antenna Platform for the Light Combat Aircraft- Multi
Mode Radar (LCA-MMR) developed by ECIL & BARC for
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Bangalore was
handed over at ECIL on March 25 by Dr.Anil Kakodkar,
Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary,
Department of Atomic Energy to Shri M.Natarajan,
Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and
Secretary,Department of Defence R&D and DG, ADA .

Salient Features :
The primary function of the Antenna Platform (APL) is to
support scan the mode of operation of the LCA - MMR by
positioning the antenna at the commanded angles within
specified accuracy.

The APL is mounted in the aircraft nose cone on a bulkhead
and is enclosed by the radome. APL receives 3 phase
AC power and cool air supply from the aircraft.

APL is made up of three major sub-assemblies_650 mm
flat plate antenna (5.5. kg), gimbal box and pedestal.
The gimbal box and pedestal are die-cast, precisionmachined
aluminium structures.

Source:

HAL's LCA likely to have Lockheed participation

By ANI
Tuesday August 22, 02:02 PM

New Delhi, Aug 22 (ANI): The US based defence and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is likely to be one of the foreign companies short listed to collaborate with the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the making of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Lockheed representatives are in Bangalore to participate in a two-day aerospace and defence suppliers conference beginning Monday, where they are likely to have talks on various projects. According to the media spokesperson of Lockheed, discussions will cover the supply of F-16 aircrafts. The Lockheed has offered to collaborate with the HAL in the manufacture of the F-16 aircrafts in India.

About 15 associated U.S. and international companies would also be attending the conference, being held in Bangalore. They include BAE Systems of Britain, Elbit of Israel, General Electrics, Pratt and Whitney and Raytheon, besides 50 Indian companies.

As far as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is concerned Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has indicated that the aircraft is most likely to be ready by 2008-2010 and the government may consider collaboration with 'friendly countries' in this task.

The Chairperson of HAL Ashok Baweja had stated some time back that they were looking at possibility of foreign collaboration to meet the deadline for the induction of the aircraft in the Indian Air Force (IAF), by 2008-09.

The ageing Mig-21 fleet of the IAF is expected to be replaced by the LCA, but the delay in the aircraft taking off has become a cause of concern for the security apparatus of the country.

Defence sources say the pace at which the project is progressing shows Tejas entering combat service only around 2012. Even then the first two squadrons will be powered by GE-404 engines imported from the US owing to delays in developing the indigenous Kaveri engine. Estimated to cost almost Rs.4 billion when the project was sanctioned, the engine's development cost is now expected to be in the region of Rs.29 billion.

Technical problems like the multi-mode radar (MMR) to be fitted on the LCA's nose cone, could force our scientists to consider a similar radar from other countries like the Elta from the Israeli Aircraft Industries or the AN/APG-67 from Lockheed Martin, as per the Electronic Radar and Detection Establishment (LRDE) scientists.(ANI)

Source:

If you want stealth tech, then you have to have lots of computer power. The east dosnt have it. That is why the USA has Tech restrictions with China. How ever you can always try going threw a 3rd party like India.
I will say something that may get me a warning here. I dont mean to talk down to or (dist) any nation. The technology has gotten to the point where you need a super computer or several of them to design (anything).
Looking at some of the pics on this site of supposed advanced stealth AC of the east. They dont even meet the very basic concepts of stealth AC. The front wing and rear tail wing should be the exact same angle.
Go back and look at the F117, F35 and F22. You will see that the front fins are the exact angle to the rear. Then I look at some of the supposed stealth fighters of the East and thay dont even have that right??
You are worthy opponents- but very bad liers.

DennisDaMenace said:

Looking at some of the pics on this site of supposed advanced stealth AC of the east. They dont even meet the very basic concepts of stealth AC. The front wing and rear tail wing should be the exact same angle.
Go back and look at the F117, F35 and F22. You will see that the front fins are the exact angle to the rear. Then I look at some of the supposed stealth fighters of the East veand thay dont even have that right??

Click to expand...

The LCA is a tail-less delta-winged design. Thus, the problem of allignment of the rear-wing with the front wings, does not arise.

Besides, LCA is the world's smallest modern combat jet. It also does not possess canards and has 95% composites on its surface area.

Thus, the LCA must possess higher amount of stealth, that must be comparable to aircraft such as the F-16 Viper.

Other aircraft such as J-10, Eurofighter, Gripen and Rafale have canards that are termed as one of "the main culprits" in the increase of RCS (and hence compromise in stealth) of their respective jets.
The reason for the increase in the RCS is that in all of the above jets, the canards are not in the same plane as the main wings.

DennisDaMenace said:

After 20 years the east can now beat an F-15. Problem is 20 years have gone by. You are no longer looking at an F-15.

Click to expand...

Well if the above reference is to the Su-30MKI, then it must be mentioned that the RoEs in the concerned air-excercises were in favour of the aircraft of the IAF.

Anyway, the Su-30MKI is not an "eastern" aircraft as mentioned by you, but a Russian aircraft. Russia has vast experience in the manufacture of aircraft and space vehicles, that is close to comparison with the west.

Well here is a link for the MCA- the big brother to the LCA
which the Russians may be helping to build.

If the link works you may notice as you scroll down and see a pic of the AC- the angle of the front wing and rear tail do not align.(its the one with the red Soviet stars all over it).
This is what I am talking about fake stealth AC from the east. Yes, most of you call Russia a western power, so I will also to- lessen cofusion. Maybe I need a new map- one that is more PC and less acurate.

DennisDaMenace said:

If the link works you may notice as you scroll down and see a pic of the AC- the angle of the front wing and rear tail do not align.(its the one with the red Soviet stars all over it).

Click to expand...

The above aircraft may be the PAK-FA. The conceptual design of the MCA is on the following URL :



(Bharat-Rakshak.com is India's equivalent of sinodefence.com)

As it may be observed, the MCA is a tail-less, delta-wing design. But the most surprising feature of the MCA is the absence of a tail-fin.

Thus, the stealth feature of the MCA must be extremely high.

This is what I am talking about fake stealth AC from the east. Yes, most of you call Russia a western power, so I will also to- lessen cofusion. Maybe I need a new map- one that is more PC and less acurate.

Click to expand...

Well, Russia is also partly in Eastern Europe, and the earstwhile Soviet Union comprised of many nations from Eastern Europe, which is "western" for us (Chinese and Indians).

Nearly all the early Soviet technology for manufacturing engines and aircraft has origins from licenced manufacturers from UK and France. This was discontinued after World War 2, and the USSR continued indigenous development of (especially engines) and aircraft by modifying the licenced designs.

After many modifications were conducted over a few decades, the newer engines/aircraft had evolved from the original designs to a new generation altogether and thus were qualified as indigenous.

---------
Examples are the RD engine of the MiG-19s which was an unlicenced copy of the Rolls Royce engine. Rolls-Royce had installed a manufacturing facility after WW2 in the USSR, which was "taken-over" by USSR, and in disregard to licencing, the manufacture of the RD series of engines began, whose evolution continues to this day.

The company Saturn NPO was first setup in 1937 by Renault of France to manufacture Renault engines under licence. After WW2, the facility remained in USSR and the AL series of engines was continued to evolve to the present day.

The earlier versions of the Scud rockets were also copies of the German V-2 rockets, whose designs were obtained by Soviet forces in 1945. Later development was an evolution of the above and is regarded as being indigenous.

Thus, most of the present defence technology of Russia has origins from Europe.
Also, from racial perspective, Russians are of the western race, unlike Chinese or Indians. Thus, Russian developments may not be regarded as "eastern".

found this on DT.

In a move to save costs and speed up delivery of Sukhoi fighter aircraft to Indian Air Force from Russia three-years ahead of schedule, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has scrapped initial plans for full indigenisation of the warplane at its facilities in India, media reports said today.

An agreement signed recently between Russian arms firm Rosoboronexport and Indian Defence Ministry has changed the timeframe of the completion of USD 3.5 billion contract for the licensed production of 140Su-30MKI fighters by HAL, 'Kommersant' daily said.

The original Sukhoi license production deal signed in December 2000 ,the largest single Indo-Russian defence contract in 40 years, had provision for full indigenisation of the multi-role fighter planes at HAL facilities in India and last of the 140 Su-30MKI was to be delivered in 2017.

The amendments in the initial deal provide for the completion of delivery of 140 fighters in 2014 three years ahead of schedule with India declining to shift the whole production cycle to HAL facilities as the cost of the indigenously-produced fighter would have doubled, it said.

Russia, which has so far supplied 26 kits to HAL for the assembly of Su-30MKI, would earn an additional USD 350 million through the supply of components by its companies, which otherwise would have been produced by HAL.

Sources in Russian supplier of Su-30MKI fighters Irkut Corporation have said that the deal could be closed even by 2012.

Click to expand...

looks like there have been no more than 26 Indian assembled MKI so far.

tphuang said:

looks like there have been no more than 26 Indian assembled MKI so far.

Click to expand...

The above statement is accurate, according to the news report. There was a thread started earlier about the escalation of cost in the indigenous assembly of the Su-30 MKI. The decision to source the remaining 100 Su-30 MKI aircraft from Russia directly is the consequence of that outcome.

The amendments in the initial deal provide for the completion of delivery of 140 fighters in 2014 three years ahead of schedule with India declining to shift the whole production cycle to HAL facilities as the cost of the indigenously-produced fighter would have doubled, it said.

Click to expand...

Source: News report posted by tphuang.