Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

At the airfield in Zhukovsky in September 2015 it was seen passing the test after completion of repairs modernized anti-IL-38SD aircraft of the Indian Navy (Indian Room IN303). Overhaul of machines on the basis of "EMZ VM name Myasishcheva "in Zhukovsky (now part of JSC" Ilyushin ", which act as the lead contractor for repairs) lasted 22 months. The plane arrived at the repair Zhukovsky November 7, 2013. Completed repair anti-IL-38SD (Indian side number IN303, serial number 081 011 010, serial number 110-10) aircraft to the Indian Navy. The plane was built in 1971 put India in 1977. Zhukovsky, 09/14/2015 (c) Alex (another) / AlexS / russianplanes.net


It is the first Indian refurbished IL-38SD five machines of this type, belonging to the aircraft of the Indian Navy and subject to major overhaul of the agreement concluded by the Russian side in 2012. It is known that one Indian Il-38SD entered the repair Zhukovsky in late 2014. Recall that the contract 2001, five anti-an airplane Il-38 aircraft of the Indian Navy were modernized in Russia to the level of IL-38SD with framing a new search-and-sighting system "Sea Serpent" (Sea Dragon) development holding company "Leninist" (including two aircraft IL-38 at the same time to modernize were transferred to India because of the presence of naval aviation of the Russian Navy to replace the Indian machines of this type, lost in a collision in 2002 ). The first work on upgrading the level of IL-38SD the end of 2005 were completed in the Indian aircraft, tail number IN305, IN303 and the plane was the second machine, to complete the modernization (2006). The third Indian aircraft (IN301) completed the modernization in 2008, and work on two vehicles passed India from the Russian Navy and received the Indian number IN306 and IN307, were completed only in 2010. In aviation, the Indian Navy five Il-38SD included of the 315 Squadron, based in Goa. Now all five modernized aviation aircraft of the Indian Navy to be scheduled overhaul in Russia. The renovation of anti-IL-38SD (Indian side number IN303, serial number 081 011 010, serial number 110-10) aircraft to the Indian Navy. Zhukovsky, September 2015 (c) Alexey / russianplanes.net

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Jaguar with proposed upgrade engine Honeywell F-125IN at Aero India 2013

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The Tribune reported on September 9, 2015 that certain issues "over offset clauses involving HAL" were holding up the contract with Honeywell for upgrade of Jaguar engines; these have now been resolved, paving the way for commercial and technical negotiations to start.
Need for Upgrade
The IAF currently operates around 110 (5 1/2 sqns) Jaguar strike fighters powered by Rolls-Royce Adour-811 turbofan engines. The aircraft, which first entered squadron service in the early 80s, is optimized for strike after low level penetration of contested airspace. At medium altitudes, the Jaguar's maneuverability and acceleration are poor. As a result, the fighter is not suitable for stand-off close air support using Precision Guided Munition (PGM).

The IAF is making a doctrinal shift from specialized aircraft to multi-role aircraft, Based on fatigue analysis, the IAF estimates that Jaguars could remain operational till 2030. As a result, the IAF is keen to upgrade the Jaguar with more powerful engine, fourth-generation cockpit and mission avionics, and self protection suite so that it better fits IAF doctrinal thinking.

Upgraded Jaguars will feature all weather precision attack capability with enhanced weapon load.

Upgrade Features

The planned upgrade includes

1. More powerful engines
2. Higher capacity alternators
3. Multi-mode radar
4. Glass cockpit with DARIN-3 navigation and attack avionics suite HOTAS controls and improved HUD
5. Auto Pilot
6. Helmet mounted Display

An Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) is being co-developed by the DRDO’s Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) and Cassidian (formerly EADS Defense Electronics). The suite includes DRDO developed Tarang radar warning receiver (RWR).

Engine Upgrade
The Honeywell F125IN has a max thrust of 43.8kN. In comparison, the existing Rolls-Royce Adour Mk811 engine has a thrust of 32.5kN.

The IAF is seeking a two phase contract with Honeywell. In Phase 1, Honeywell will modify two Jaguar aircraft to use its F-125IN engines.

During Phase 2, HAL will re-engine the remaining Jaguars using technology transferred by Honeywell.

The contract was estimated to be worth $700 million in 2011.

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India and the US are jointly drafting a letter of acceptance (LoA) to fast-track the long-delayed sale of 145 BAE Systems M777 155 mm/39 calibre lightweight howitzers for the Indian Army via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

Official sources told IHS Jane's that the LoA was in the process of being finalised following broad agreement on its content between India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Pentagon.

Other than the upwardly revised tender price of around USD700 million, the LoA includes delivery schedules, guarantees, and after-sales technical, materiel, and spares support.

Industry sources said the MoD had also instructed BAE Systems to submit by the end of October its offset agreements with local companies, which are valued at 30% of the overall contract value and estimated to be worth around USD200 million.

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India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the USD400 million purchase of 10 Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)-built Heron TP unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in early September, official sources said.

They said the IAF is expected to begin inducting the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs in 12-18 months.

An IAI delegation is in talks with the MoD to determine the possibility of locally building the Heron TPs under the government's 'Make in India' programme.

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IAI have had a collaborative venture since 2006 to develop the Barak-8 air defence missile system.

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India will carry out maiden tests of its air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from specially-modified Sukhoi-30 fighter planes from November, BrahMos Aerospace CEO Sudhir Mishra told HT.


Four flight tests will be conducted over a period of six months before the missile is declared ready for deployment on the fighter planes towards mid-2016. The actual missile will be tested in April 2016 following three dummy tests.

The Nasik division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has modified two Su-30 fighters to carry the 2.5-tonne missile, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile. The second aircraft is expected to be delivered to BrahMos Aerospace by September-end.

The BrahMos missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, provides India the capability to hit targets 290km away at nearly three times the speed of sound. The missile’s land and naval variants — 500kg heavier than the air version — are already in service.

“The missile will give the IAF extended range capability. No other Air Force has such a powerful cruise missile in its inventory,” Mishra said. The BrahMos missile has three existing variants: Block-I (anti-ship), Block-II (land to land) and Block-III (with steep dive capabilities for mountain warfare).

The BrahMos missile is also expected to be deployed on six high-tech submarines to be built in India under the Rs 65,000-crore Project P-75I. Mishra said the joint venture was also pressing the accelerator on the BrahMos NG (next generation) missile project. Once ready, the NG missile, weighing only 1.4 tonnes, can be deployed on smaller warships and medium-weight fighter planes.

“We are in the process of freezing the design and specifications of BrahMos-NG. We are also talking to users to give us an indication of their requirements,” Mishra said.

BrahMos Aerospace is also developing India’s first hypersonic missile. Capable of travelling at a speed of 8,575 kmph, the missile could be ready in five to seven years. BrahMos-II (K) will be capable of taking out hardened targets such as underground bunkers and weapon storage facilities at seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7). As first reported by HT on August 8, the K in it is for Kalam.

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India has expressed interest in carrying out a joint project to extensively modernize its SU-30MKI aircraft in collaboration with Russian companies, the Russian state technology corporation Rostec said in a statement Friday.

"In the long term, as recommended by the Russian Ministry of Defense, we plan a major upgrade of the SU-30SM [model] to increase its combat effectiveness. The Indian government has expressed interest in collaborating to modernize the SU-30MKI, which is an evolution of the SU-30SM," the statement reads.

According to the statement, both aircraft models will be given upgraded avionics and radars, as well as an improved engine. The SU-30SM and the SU-30MKI will also be equipped with additional weapons.
The SU-30 MKI, NATO reporting name Flanker-H, is the Indian Air Force’s elite fighter-bomber. It was developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation and built under license by India's Hindustan Aeronautics.

Russia and India have been close partners in military and technical cooperation for decades. In 2014, the total value of weapons and military hardware delivered by Russia to India reached $4.7 billion, according to Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation estimates.

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