quadbikeBecome risk-sharing partner in space field: Isro to industry
Bangalore: Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) K Radhakrishnan today advocated the need for Indian industry to become a risk-sharing partner for production of launch vehicles, satellites and ground equipment.
Delivering the convocation address at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), he said space-based applications should become part of the value chain of the user community, which should internalise them.
Radhakrishnan said, “Advanced research should be undertaken in tandem with academia on cutting-edge technologies, targeting to make India a technology leader in niche areas”.
“India is a role model to the world in space applications, one of the six (nations) in the world with capability to make satellites and launch them from her own soil, one of the four that demonstrated capability for re-entry of spacecraft from space, presumably the first one to orbit 10 satellites in one single mission and facilitator for a major discovery of water molecules and water ice on the lunar surface.”
“All these were achieved with a shoestring budget as low as 3% of Nasa’s expenditure on space programmes,” the Isro chairman said.
Radhakrishnan, an alumni of IIMB, recalled that he had the privilege to be a proud graduate when the first convocation was held 34 years ago.
quadbikeIndia plans to launch 10 satellites every year
BANGALORE: Indian space scientists and engineers are bracing up to launch an average of 10 satellites per year to meet the rising demand forvarious space applications, including communications and remote sensing, a top space scientist said.
“We are planning to launch 10 satellites per year, beginning fiscal 2010-11. We have a series of satellites and launch vehicles at various stages of preparation,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan told IANS.
Though the state-run space agency was to launch five satellites in this fiscal (2009-10), it could launch only three — Oceansat-2, Risat-2 (radar imaging satellite) in association with Israeli Aerospace Industries, and Anusat, a micro-satellite. Oceansat-2 also carried six nano-satellites of foreign countries as additional payloads.
The launch of two satellites — GSAT-4 and Cartosat-2B — got delayed due to unavoidable reasons, one of them being further flight duration tests of 800 seconds (13.3 minutes) conducted for the indigenous cryogenic engine to be used for the first time in the heavy rocket GSLV-D3 (geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle).
Hitherto, the space agency used Russian cryogenic engines in heavy rockets for launching above two-tonne class spacecraft.
“We have concluded our review meetings to launch satellites for communications and remote sensing. In the immediate, we are launching one satellite in April and another in May. Our target date for launch of GSAT-4 is mid-April and we are working towards it,” Radhakrishnan said.
The space agency is set to keep the window open April 15-19 for launching the 2.2-tonne GSAT-4 onboard GSLV-D3 from its Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 80 km north-east of Chennai.
The space centre is scheduled to move the 440-tonne rocket to the second launch pad at the spaceport April 7-8 with the technology demonstrator satellite (GSAT-4).
“Early May, we plan to launch the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C15) to carry Cartosat-2B, an Algerian satellite, and two micro satellites — Youthsat from Canada and Studsat built by college students from Karnataka,” the chairman said.
quadbikeQuadbike
PAF and China fully tested JF-17 for years before our first squadron beame operational. How is it “half cooked”?
We will have a Block 2 version, but thats a bit like saying the orginal F-16A Block 1 was “half cooked” as it did not have the capabilities of the Block 25s.
PAF finally gets a new, cheap plane we can put in widespread service and immune from US sanctions.
LCA may not enter widespread service and IAF is already pinning its hopes on LCA MK2.
I would say both projects are having varying degrees of success. To put it politely….
How many BVR weapons are tested on JF 17 ? Does all the production examples have a radar with BVR integration ?
It may well be ahead of LCA in terms of expanding its flight envelope etc. But this is required because the PAF wants it in service.
The LCA MK1 is more than capable of fullfilling its role as MIG 21 replacement., but spoilt with choices the IAF is raising the bar and HAL trying to catch up, the situation with IAF and PAF are totally different.
There is a reason why China havent committed to the JF 17, because it has an option of buying bigger. better fighters.
Calling this or that Block 1 or Block 2 won’t make PAC Lockheed Martin
quadbikeHAL makes record profits
KANPUR: The transport aircraft division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Kanpur, surpassing all its previous milestones clocked sales turnover of more than Rs 515 crore and profit before tax of more than Rs 111 crores for the financial year ending March 31, 2010.
The year witnessed execution of contract for supply of 12 Dornier-228 Executive Transport Aircraft to Indian Air Force ahead of contractual schedule by supply of last batch of seven aircraft as well as supply of four ship sets of Dornier-228-212 Aircraft Structural Assemblies to RUAG Aerospace Services, Germany against long term export agreement signed between the two companies in March 2008.
In addition to completion of repair, servicing and overhaul of more than 50 aircraft (Dornier-228, HPT-748 and AN-32) and around 4,150 aircraft rotables including engines of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles operated by Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy.
During the year, the Division has also signed new contracts worth Rs 7,600 crore for supply of IJT aircraft, Dornier-228 aircraft as well as integration of new mission equipment. These projects shall keep the Division’s workforce fully loaded for another six-seven years and also provide good opportunity for other industries and academic institutions to join hands with the Division for worksharing.
The Division’s continuous thrust on timely deliveries, customer satisfaction, quality consciousness and application of lean management tools, so vehemently pursued by the executive director, Jagdish Raj, has won several laurels from customers as well as accredition agencies. With upcoming projects like 100 seater multi-role transport aircraft, turbo prop trainer aircraft etc.
In pipeline, HAL Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur is sure to shortly turn into
a large aeronautical complex in Northern India.
quadbikeKarnik to head air force’s safety wing
Air Marshal Ajay Shriniwas Karnik will Thursday take over as director general of inspection and safety wing of the Indian Air Force (IAF), an official said Wednesday.
Karnik, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakvasla, is at present senior air staff officer (SASO) at the Western Air Command.
Karnik, in his latest appointment, would be in-charge of flight safety of the entire air force fleet.
He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1972 and is also an alumnus of the Air War College, University of United States Air Force (USAF), Montgomery.
Karnik has over 3,000 hours of experience flying fighter aircraft like MIG-21 Bis and MIG-29.
‘Air Marshal Karnik has vast experience in operational flying, training, command and staff appointments. He has served as head of training team (air) and senior instructor at the premier tri-services Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) and air officer commanding, maritime air operations, in Mumbai,’ an air force officer said here.
quadbikeWow Kramer. You seem to have the inside track on what JF-17 is capable of.
No BVR, no PGMs? Really?Then I guess the part you fall down on is when I ask for any sources for your claims?
Yes, JF-17 is dropping dumb bombs in the picture, I have seen pictures of F-15Es dropping dumb bombs. So?
JF-17 is working with the rest of PAF, AWACs, ordinating with Army and may even have seen combat in tribal areas.
I would say that is far ahead of LCA.
Its also a matter of necessity vs the lack of it.
PAF really needs the JF 17 more than the IAF needs the LCA.
They are more willing to put the half-cooked birds into squadron service and then upgrade them while the IAF wants LCA shining and up to latest spec before it enters squadrons ervice IAF has more money and hence more options (like the MRCA or simply more Sukhois).
Personally I think the PAF’s approach is better as it makes the Air Force more self-sufficient, but others disagree.
quadbikeUS Navy aircraft crashes into Arabian Sea
A US Navy aircraft with four crew members on board has crashed into the Arabian Sea, the US Fifth Fleet said.
It said in a statement that the E-2C Hawkeye jet experienced mechanical malfunctions, forcing the crew to perform a controlled bail-out.
Three of the four crew were later recovered and a search is now under way for the fourth crew member.
An investigation has been launched into the incident. The crew was stationed on the USS Dwight D Eisenhower.
The aircraft had crashed into the sea at about 1400 local time (1000 GMT) on Wednesday, the statement said.
It said the plane “was returning from conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan when the problems had occurred.
The identities of the crew are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.
quadbikeyou think so? to me she merely looks a little underpowered, with only four shallow chord blades without any special aerodynamic features at their tips.
Its the same as the new ALH Dhruv
Powerplant: 2× Shakti turboshafts, 900 kW (1,200 shp) is not bad. Its not a heavy attack helicopter of the Apache class.
quadbikeMiG-27 fighters to remain grounded for further checks
NEW DELHI: Over 100 MiG-27s are yet to take to the skies after being grounded following the crash of one of these `swing-wing’ strike fighters in West Bengal on February 16.
“The MiG-27 trainer variants are flying since they have a different engine. As far as the other engines are concerned, we are going in for more details before we decide if any more checks are required,” said IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik on Tuesday.
As earlier reported by TOI, the entire MiG-27 fleet had been grounded after preliminary reports indicated that the `failure of low-pressure turbine blades’, which is not in the realm of day-to-day servicing and maintenance, had led to the mishap on February 16.
Incidentally, the over 100 MiG-27MLs in the IAF fleet were hardly flown in 2005-2006 after it was found that their R-29 engines were causing a large number of accidents.
Ageing MiG variants, which constitute the bulk of India’s combat fleet, coupled with shoddy maintenance and inadequate training to rookie pilots, have all contributed to the high crash rate in IAF.
quadbikeReprioritising Defence Acquisitions
Amid reports of Pakistan pressurising the United States to give it an India-like nuclear deal and fulfil its wish list for modern armaments including the early release of the additional 18 F-16s and unspecified numbers of killer drones (Predator/Reaper) there is palpable disappointment and even anger in India about America’s South Asia policy. Hillary Clinton’s comments, “Pakistan is close to my heart and Pakistan’s struggles are my struggles”, and above all, “US acknowledges Pakistan’s role in promoting security in South Asia,” belie America’s earlier statements of it wanting to help India become a major power. Most Indians, of course, always knew that no country can make another a major power and that India would have to struggle hard if it wants to keep its head up in the world. Having said that it is time India began to take some real steps on the path of self-reliance or at least some autonomy in defence preparedness. It is not as if it can overnight reduce its current 70 per cent dependence on foreign suppliers, but if it gets its priorities right it can certainly do much better than in the past.
The famous description of the vested interests as the ‘military-industrial complex’ by former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower comes to mind when there is a chorus in the media and strategic community about the ‘urgent’ need of India’s military modernisation, forgetting that such an approach even when it is well meaning would not reduce India’s dependence on others. Twenty years from now we would once again be looking for another round of high-price arms purchases to keep up with the Joneses. In India too it appears to be the case of armed forces driving defence budgets rather than a cold calculation of the country’s desire for ‘adequate’ military capability and this is mainly because the national leadership has not laid down in clear terms the country’s defence strategy. Can anyone then blame the soldier if he prepares for the worst case scenario? A strategic defence review is long overdue. How else can one determine the exact number of tanks, guns, aircraft or ships that the country’s military needs?
The recent defence budget has allocated a whopping Rs. 60,000 crore (US$ 13.04 billion) for capital expenditure, of which nearly Rs. 25,251crore (US$ 5.48 billion) is for the air force, and about half that, Rs. 12,138 crore (US$ 2.63 billion), for the navy, and nearly two thirds, Rs. 17,255 crore (US$ 3.75 billion), for the army. By any reckoning these are huge sums of money to be spent in one year. Here, I must clarify that a sizeable portion of these amounts would go towards payments for earlier purchases and commitments as well as for other capital projects such as housing, construction of roads and the like.
Of the big ticket purchases on the anvil, the 126 MMRCA worth US$ 10 billion is decidedly the biggest, followed by the ten C-17 heavy lift transport worth US$ 2.4 billion and eight Boeing P8I LRMP (for the navy) worth US$ 2.1 billion. The Gorshkov worth, US$ 2.3 billion, will be another major purchase. There was also a proposal for the purchase of some six Airbus tanker aircraft, which has been rejected by the Ministry of Finance. The second of the three Phalcon AWACS has also been inducted recently. In addition, some 20 Tejas LCA fighters are on order from the HAL, and more Su-30 MKI continue to be inducted to fill the voids caused by the phasing out of older aircraft like the MiG-21 and MiG-23. The six Lockheed Martin C-130J worth US$ 962 million is not a mean buy either, but since these aircraft were contracted for earlier there is little one can do to change that decision. Further, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has also issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) for 75 basic trainers – the most urgent need of the day. It should be clear to even a lay person that the cost of aircraft and related equipment is astronomical and their life cycle costs are equally high and rising.
India’s leadership has categorically said that war is not an option to eliminate the ever rising threat of cross-border terrorism. Even punitive and surgical strikes have more or less been ruled out. For some time now, Indian and other strategic analysts have repeatedly been ruling out the possibility of a full scale conventional war in the region. In sum, while a high impact threat of conventional war has receded, that of a low impact threat of catastrophic terror attacks and border skirmishes loom high on the strategic horizon. At this time it is perhaps possible to make some bold suggestions to delay and, if possible, even rethink some of the proposed purchases.
Let us first take the case of the ten C-17, which the air force and, I suppose, the army too wants for strategic mobility. The IAF already has some 30 IL-76 heavy and 80 odd An-32 medium transports and will soon also have the six C-130J capable of operations from short runways at high altitude airfields in the mountains. In 1984 when these transports (IL-76 & An-32) began entering the service, the air force had only the antiquated An-12, C-119 Fairchild Packet and C-46/47 Dakota and sundry other aircraft. At that time the Indian commercial fleet consisted of a mere 35 or so Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Today that number is nearly 300 and it is possible to requisition most if not all of these to transport troops in an emergency. The emergency evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the First Gulf War in 1990 is a case in point when the IL-76 and commercial airliners were pressed into service. Why then do we need the additional C-17s in such a hurry?
With a steady if slow induction of the Su-30MKI and now the MiG-29K for the Navy and later the 20 Tejas LCA, the IAF should not be too badly off in the fighter department also. The 66 BAe Hawk AJT also have a limited strike capability and can be gainfully employed once air superiority is established. The proposed 126 MMRCA deal worth US$ 10 billion would translate roughly into each of these modern fighters costing a whopping US$ 80 million or Rs. 365 crore each, compared to around US$ 30 to 35 million for the Su-30MKI and perhaps even less for the Tejas. Some experts would immediately point out to the technology transfer that would accompany the purchase of the MMRCA, but one wonders if simply getting an advance Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar would make a difference between victory and defeat in a local, limited conventional war where numbers might prove more useful. The other and justifiably important reason for buying Western aircraft is that Russian technology is often dated and the maintenance problematic. But surely, after operating hundreds of Russian aircraft for nearly half a century, it should be possible to refine and fine tune their maintenance through even closer cooperation with the Russians for a fraction of the cost of new Western hi-tech equipment. This is not to suggest that India should not modernise its fighter fleet. The Fifth Generation PAK-FA and the gradually improving Tejas should at least meet some of these objectives.
The monies thus saved could well be invested into a joint venture with one or more Western Aviation Companies to manufacture a fighter, an intermediate and most importantly a basic trainer in India with suitable arrangements for exports. Given the right momentum and bold FDI policies, this type of project should be off the ground and running in less than a decade; the time it would in any case take to get all of the 126 MMRCA into the service. Similar arrangements are reportedly working in the joint development and manufacture project for various UAVs and Drones. We should also accelerate the pace of GTRE cooperation with an aero-engine manufacture to co-develop a series of turbofan engines as also others for use in cruise missiles. A clear signal that India is serious about building its indigenous capabilities and that it would not blindly spend large sums of money on mere imports would also go a long way in leveraging its larger foreign policy goals.
A recently unveiled project of Tata-Augusta Westland for the manufacture of AW-119 helicopters in India is yet another example of how bold and innovative thinking can put India on the world aviation map. Just as China has begun manufacturing large numbers of basic trainers of an American brand (Cessna), India too can do so. And once the country’s industrial capacity becomes more credible, orders would automatically follow both from home and abroad. As is well known, no defence industry can hope to build its reputation unless it satisfies the basic needs of its own defence services. HAL, DRDO and DPSUs have to go a long way to earn that trust. The defence forces, on the other hand, must also be ready to field equipment that is somewhat less than ‘top-of-the-line’. Perfection, as is said, is often the enemy of the good. Instead of solely depending on the Defence PSUs, India can also easily offer major industrial houses such as L&T, Mahindra, Tata and others that are already in the heavy vehicles field to design, develop and manufacture artillery guns, tanks and armoured vehicles by giving them major incentives.
It is often said that the nature of warfare is changing with sub-conventional and asymmetric threats coming to the fore. Some Western reports are already talking about utilising small, slow but capable and yet inexpensive turbo-prop powered machines for attacks on terror targets where an advanced and sophisticated fighter is extremely vulnerable and also less effective due to the high speeds at which it operates. The Super Tucano, Beechcraft AT-6B, T-6 Texan II, and the Air Tractor AT-802U all described in the March 3, 2010 issue of JDW are prime examples of this type and carry sizeable weapon loads. Some air power experts would object to sending such slow and vulnerable aircraft into a strong AD environment, but it should be relatively easy to launch a pair or two of SU-30MKI/MiG-29 variety of air superiority fighters to provide protection or ‘top cover’. Such operations would in all probability be confined to areas close to the border and hence the aircraft would be less vulnerable. The cheap turbo-prop can also double as a basic or intermediate trainer, both for civil and military use. The armament needed for such contingencies is Quick Reaction ‘Manpads’ or Man Portable Air Defence missiles like the US Stinger, anti-tank missiles, JDAM and SOW or Stand-off Weapons, small diameter bombs, Aerostat radars, UAV/UCAV which must be ordered in larger numbers so as to prepare our armed forces for instantaneous yet calibrated reaction to a future contingency. Simply focusing on fancy big-ticket items is not always the best way to use our scarce resources. You do not after all use a sledge hammer to swat a fly.
Coming back to the question of Pakistan military’s enhanced capabilities, the additional 18 F-16 fighters and a few Drones should not overly affect the conventional balance with India. In fact, India should get used to its Western neighbour getting its defence needs from the United States and China at a fraction of the cost of what India spends on its defence. In light of this, it becomes even more important for India to get the best value for money.
quadbikeIndia Will Expand Government Shipyard
NEW DELHI – India’s state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, is to double its capacity in the next 12 months at a cost of $87 million.
The funds for the expansion have been sanctioned by the Indian Finance Ministry.
The expansion will mainly focus on increasing the capacity of the Raja Bagan Dockyard acquired by GRSE in 2006 from the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation.
GRSE built the Indian Navy’s Godavari-class frigates; missile corvette, which is equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft guns; and a variety of patrol boats.
GRSE’s order book includes Landing Ship Tanks that the Indian Navy will use for littoral warfare and a modern oceanographic research-cum-hydrographic survey vessel, a shipyard official said.
On March 29, GRSE launched three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts built for the Indian Navy – INS Kabra, INS Koswari and INS Karuva. These ships can cut through the sea at a high speed of 35 knots (65 kilometers per hour), powered by three water jets absorbing 8,100 horsepower, a GRSE official said. The ships are also fitted with advanced main engine controls, electronics, and communication and navigation systems.
quadbikeIndia concerned over US military aid to Pak: Naik
Mar 30: Air Chief Marshal PV Naik on Tuesday, Mar 30 said that India has expressed its concern over the US military aid to Pakistan to the Obama administration.
“The aid being given to Pakistan is a matter of concern to us definitely and we have made it known. We have not hidden anything,” Naik said soon after taking over as the chairman, chiefs of staffs committee here.
US is scheduled to provide Pakistan with 18 of the Block 52 F-16s, Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigate by winter and Shadow Drones later this year, in addition to F-16 combat jets, air-to-air missiles and other equipment worth millions of dollars which Pakistan has been receiving as military aid.
Along with that Islamabad will also receive equipment which can convert 1,000 traditional munitions into “smart bombs” that can strike targets with precisions.
Earlier, India had asked US to ensure that the arms aid supplied to Pakistan is not used against India.
Asked whether the deal with the American companies to supply 126 combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force would be affected by the military aid, Naik said that the deal would happened as planned.
“As far as 126 multirole combat aircraft deal is concerned, it will be a fair and square assessment… presently, there is no connection between the two.”
He said that the IAF was all set to test the six companies, which were offering their aircraft and “after that, we will sit down to finalise it (the award of the contract.)”.
On whether India was sending a message to its enemies by testing test-firings of the Agni, Prithvi and Dhanush ballistic missiles, Naik said India does not resort to such tactics.
“Whenever we have to give a message to anybody, we give it loud and clear. Whenever there is a message to be given, we will let you know.”
Pakistan has received 14 F-16s, five fast patrol boats, 115 self-propelled howitzer field artillery cannons, more than 450 vehicles, hundreds of night-vision goggles, day and night scopes, radios, protective vests and first aid items to Pakistan’s security forces as a military aid from US in the last three years.
With the recent proposed arms aid, the US military aid to Pakistan will increase to $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 from $700 million in the current fiscal.
quadbikeEight vessels hijacked, navy cautious
New Delhi, March 30: Suspected Somali pirates have forcibly taken eight Indian vessels and their crew of about 100 hostage in the waters off the Seychelles and East African coasts but the Indian Navy is advising a wait-and-watch policy to secure their release.
The navy has told the director-general of shipping that despite several warnings from it over the last year, little has been done to restrain small Indian vessels, called dhows, mostly from Gujarat from plying in these waters.
The Indian vessels were said to be sailing from Mogadishu to Dubai and were anchored off the coast of Kismavo in Somalia, which is described as rebel-controlled territory. The small vessels do not afford the pirates lucrative ransom demands unlike bulk carriers.
An Indian naval frigate, the INS Betwa, is currently on an anti-piracy patrol near the Gulf of Aden.
Despite calls for action, the navy has said from its experience in patrolling the waters for more than a year now, that too many lives could be at risk. It would be better to contact the pirates to negotiate the release of the crew, but even that is difficult.
The dhows, of about 300 to 400 tonnes each, have been identified as the MSV (Merchat Sailing Vessel) Al Quadri, Al Ijaz, Faiz Usmani, Sea Queen, Nar Narayan, Krishnajyot, Vishwakalyan and “AKPCT”, all based out of Jamnagar, Veraval and Porbandar in Gujarat.
The dhows regularly ply the route along east Africa, carrying charcoal and small items of trade. A navy officer said if pirates board a dhow, the incident is rarely reported immediately and the information usually comes from the master of another dhow a few days later.
Pointing to the many warnings, that it has issued many warnings, the officer said that this January an Indian dhow, the Sultan Nadeem, was boarded by pirates who intended to use it as a “mother ship” to board a larger carrier. The Nadeem was spotted with a skiff (a smaller boat the pirates were said to have used) by a British navy vessel. They fired at the British warship with small arms.
The Indian Navy escorts Indian-flagged cargo vessels through the Gulf of Aden through a channel recognised as an international trade corridor. Since the patrolling mounted by the Indian Navy, a coalition task force and others, incidents of piracy off the Horn of Africa have come down. But Somali pirates have ventured further out to the Arabian Sea and have increased the number of attacks near Seychelles.
“We have told the DG Shipping that these waters are dangerous and the dhow owners should be advised accordingly,” said navy spokesperson Commander P.V.S Satish. “We understand the shipping authorities are waiting for more information from Gujarat”, he said.
Last year, marine commandos on board an Indian warship thwarted a pirate attack using helicopters. In 2008, an Indian naval ship fired at and sunk a Thai fishing trawler that was also boarded by the pirates. Thailand complained later that the innocent crew were also killed. Since then, there is a reluctance among the navies in anti-piracy drills to shoot at sight.
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