quadbikeAir Force Eyes US KC-130J Tankers
The Indian Air Force appears to have shifted into overdrive to expand the reach of its fighter planes, enabling them to deploy swiftly to distant theatres of operations. It is toying with the idea of buying tankers from the US to reinforce its aerial refuelling capabilities.
The air force’s interest in US military contractor Lockheed Martin’s KC-130J tanker, used by the Marines, follows the cancellation of a proposed $2 billion (Rs 9,000 crore) deal for importing six Airbus 330 tankers manufactured by European aerospace major EADS.
The IAF, which currently operates the Ilyushin-78 tankers, is leaning on an existing contract to place orders for KC-130J tankers. It had ordered six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, configured for special operations and airborne assault, three years back in a deal worth $1.2 billion (Rs 5,400 crore) under the US government’s foreign military sales programme. Military contracts usually have a provision for placing follow on orders.
Jack Crisler, who heads Lockheed Martin’s International Air Mobility Programs, told Hindustan Times, “The IAF has sought details about the capabilities of the KC-130J tanker (a variant of the C-130J). There’s a strong indication that it may place a follow on order for six tankers.” The first C-130J will be delivered to the IAF early next year. Indian Pilots will Kick Off Conversion Training on the C-130Js at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility where the plane is manufactured and Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.
The finance ministry has put the air force on rocky ground by refusing to support the proposed acquisition of Airbus 330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) arguing that they were overpriced. The IAF had chosen the Airbus platform over Il-78 tankers after exhaustive trials.
The hunt for new tankers will not end with the KC-130J as the defence ministry is likely to float a fresh international tender for longer range tankers.
The KC-130J can tank up not only fighter planes but also helicopters, enabling them to remain airborne longer.
The air force’s existing helicopter fleet cannot be aerially refuelled.
But the New Class of Attack and Heavy-lift Choppers that India Proposes to Acquire are Configured for Mid-Air Refuelling, a Senior IAF Officer said.
quadbikeGo to your control panel and select “Edit ignore list”.
Here is the exact link: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/profile.php?do=ignorelist
And a screenshot:
http://i43.tinypic.com/zloymx.jpg
Yes, same problem here. Plus, it doesn’t intercept BS in quotations by other members. Still it’s better than nothing because a) it makes the threads a lot easier to read and b) it removes some 90% of the BS occupying valuable screen space.
Thank You. 🙂
quadbikeNic, feel free to use the “ignore option” of this forum.
Where exactly is the Ignore option in this forum ?
quadbikeASTOR should work very well on the Indo-Bangladesh border. It is almost impossible to fence or fortify that part of India. We don’t want to be overrun by Bangladeshis.
😮 The only way Bangladeshis will over-run is through illegal immigration. As India becomes more prosperous it will be a big issue, and effective BSF is the key to this not ASTOR.
This is the Positive aspect of India-Pakistan enmity, you don’t have hoards of migrants coming over looking for better life.
Abhimanyu, I respect your views on needs for making things at home but no country not even United States make every weapon system they need. ASTOR as swerve pointed out is going to be very effective if selected, its a question of whether buying it or something else which does it job. Developing every nut and bolt is not going to happen. I think you need to have a balanced view.
quadbikeDoes key objective of any exercise with any Asean nation necessarily be oriented towards countering China? There are many more issues we need to tackle and if we are conducting such exercises with the sole purpose of countering China, then I don’t think it will bring any valuable dividends to us. Since many of this nations themselves are the clear supporters of China, recent case being Singapores’s latest support to China on Arunachal issue. We need to adpot forward looking policy which will enable us to gain our footprint to safegaurd our interest in both trade and commerce around this regions.
China is the biggest bully in the region and it does have considerable political weight to make people vote with it. But in the long term interests of India and many nations in the region are convergent while those of them and china are divergent.
By the way we do not really need ADB loans to develop A.P if we want to, we can for example allot more govt funds to A.P and submit proposals for ADB for another state.
quadbikeAs i see it the PAK FA need not be as good at RCS reduction or outright air superiority as the F 22. It only needs to be better than the F 35 and the Eurocanards, which I think is and achievable target for the Russians.
And as far as India is concerned it would be much better than anything her neighbours would have for sometime to come.
quadbikeSingapore brings high-tech mechanised forces to India for wargames
NEW DELHI: Being a city-state, Singapore is finding India to be a `happy hunting ground’ to train its small but high-tech armed forces. After F-16 fighters, it has now deployed its Bionix armoured personnel carriers and Bronco all-terrain tracked vehicles for an intensive month-long training in India.
As many as 38 armoured vehicles from the 46th armoured regiment of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), along with Spike anti-tank guided missiles and other sophisticated weaponry, are currently engaged in intensive combat manoeuvres at the Babina field firing ranges in Madhya Pradesh.
The three-phase training exercises will culminate in the joint `Bold Kurukshetra’ wargames with Indian mechanised forces towards the end of this month to `boost interoperability’ between the two armies, said defence ministry officials on Tuesday.
India has steadily emerged as a regular host for the training of SAF, providing facilities for exercises for mechanised forces at Babina and artillery at Deolali ranges as well as for fighters at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal.
Tiny Singapore, in fact, ranks virtually as second only to the US in terms of ground-level military exercises with India. While India and Singapore inked a bilateral agreement on defence cooperation in October 2003, subsequent military pacts like the one signed in 2008 have paved the way for India to regularly host the SAF.
With land and airspace being scarce in Singapore, given that a fighter jet can zip across it in just a few minutes, the country has always been in the hunt for large military training facilities. In addition to India, Singapore has similar agreements with countries like US, France, Australia, Thailand and Brunei.
Singapore, of course, pays for access to the training facilities and has even stationed some of its military equipment and small personnel detachments in India on a permanent basis.
India also gets to witness sophisticated weaponry at close quarters. IAF pilots, for instance, got to size up the F-16 fighter jets, which Pakistan continues to get from the US, for the first time only after SAF brought them to India for a joint exercise.
“It’s a win-win situation for both sides. As per the agreements, the armies and air forces of India and Singapore can even hold joint exercises twice a year,” said an MoD official.
The `Sindex’ air combat exercise between India and Singapore, for one, has become a regular feature at the Kalaikunda airbase over the last few years. Similarly, the `Simbex’ exercises between the two navies are also conducted every year.
The ever-expanding defence cooperation with Singapore dovetails perfectly with India’s `Look East’ policy and the strategy to build stronger military linkages in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China.
quadbikeNavy outlines plan for N-sub
The Indian Navy is hoping to have individual say in running the nuclear submarine INS Chakra, which will be under the strategic forces command.
The strategic forces command is jointly run by the army, air force and the navy.
The Akula class nuclear sub, to be acquired from Russia on a 10- year lease, is expected to be delivered to India in six to eight months.
Sources say the submarine will be based on a coast that has the best logistical infrastructure such as maintenance facilities for a sea-based nuclear asset.
Besides, the waters near the coast would have to be sufficiently deep for the sub.
One of the key operational elements of Chakra would be to train nuclear submariners of the Indian forces, as the pool of trained navy men of the 1980s has retired by now. They were those who had cut their teeth on the first INS Chakra, a Charlie class nuclear submarine that had been leased by the Rajiv Gandhi government from Russia. That submarine was returned at the end of its lease period in 1992.
The sources say once the submarine is delivered, the strategic force would develop tactics about how best to technically exploit it. The two key roles for the sub would be to escort warships such as aircraft carriers through the seas and to counter ‘ enemy’ ships and submarine.
Though it will be based at one of the three coasts of the country, the operational area of Chakra will be the whole of the two million square nautical miles of the Indian Ocean region.
“Its high speed of 25 knots would come into play in that kind of coverage,” a source said.
The Russian origin submarine would not carry its complement of anti- ship nuclear tipped cruise missiles, Klub, because of international restrictions, but India can on its own introduce the Klubs into the sub as the country owns the missile.
The Chakra does not have vertical missile launch capacity but has the tube launch capability.
Sources say the submarine would provide valuable knowledge and training on fleet tactics of a nuclear submarine and its running that would become useful once the country’s own indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant gets commissioned soon.
quadbikeIndian, Indonesian navies coordinate patrols
The Indian Navy is carrying out coordinated patrolling with the Indonesian Navy as part of the 15th round of Ind-Indo CORPAT.
According to a statement issued by the Indian Navy, it has deployed INS Guldar [Landing Ship Tank (Medium)] under the command of Commander TV Sunil and INS Trinkat (Fast Attack Craft), captained by Lieutenant Commander Pushkar Kumar, to coordinate patrolling with an Indonesian Navy corvette. Both navies are also deploying a Dornier aircraft each.
The fortnight-long operation is under the overall control of Vice Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) and the Commander of the Indonesian Western Fleet Command (PANGARMABAR). The Indian Navy says the units in question will be under the tactical command of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andaman and Nicobar) at Port Blair and the Indonesian Navy’s DANGUSKAMLABAR (Commander of Sea Security Group of the Western Fleet), located at Tanjung Pinang.
The two countries share a 300 nautical mile-long maritime boundary and the two navies conduct coordinated patrols of the International Maritime Boundary Line to prevent piracy, armed robbery, poaching, illegal immigration, drug trafficking etc.
The last Ind-Indo CORPAT was held in October-November last year. The last time the two navies met was during the 13-nation exercise, MILAN, held last month around the Andaman and Nicobar island group.
quadbikeWho wants to bet that she would be ready before the ex-Gorshkov.
quadbikeImportant to note that there is still some indecision on the platform of choice for the next batch of Phalcons. IAI is offering the Gulfstream jet in place of the IL-76.
Which would make more sense as they would be cheaper to operate. Important to note that although IAF has been using IL 76 platforms for Transport, Refueling and now AWACS, it does not seem that impressed with it.
They Chose the Airbus 330 MRTT (thrown out by MOF) and C 17 for new air refueling and heavy transport, I guess after the intial 3 we may see Gulfstream or Embarer jets.
There was also some reports about Wedgetail competing with the Phalcon for the follow on orders. 😉
quadbikeThat was my point. Additionally, even with 3, when one undergoes overhaul 2 cannot provide seamless coverage….
Thats why there are an additional Six Phalcons planned. Complemented by DRDO AWACS. 😉
quadbikeI dont doubt that Ratheyeon or Lockheed would love to sell them, just like the makers of the F-22 would love to sell it abroad. These will not be cleared. especially not in the current geo-political envoironment.
They are already approved. In the case of U.S wepaons are not offered unless and untill they are approved. These are all cleared if we want to buy we would go via FMS route and they will notify the congress approve it (like they did with C17 P 8 and C 130J) and sell it. Usual procedure :). India has already signed EUM agreement that applies to all future purchases.
As for Americans being a bit restrictive on Tejas while giving Pakistan Block 52 F 16s, You are comparing apples to oranges. Let us see if America will offer anything for the JF 17.
see the part in bold
PAC-3 – Lockheed Martin is working with the USG and Indian Ministry of Defence to supply the PAC-3 system. Begun as part of the Next Steps for Strategic Partnership (NSSP) process between the two governments, the PAC-3 system is viewed as a contender for both tactical and theater missile defense requirements.
As for Israel and India our strategic interests always converge same with India and Russia so they are very reliable allies and weapon suppliers.
quadbikeLockheed Martin India site. Check the Long-Term Oppurtunities Section.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/asia_pacific/india/
PAC-3 – Lockheed Martin is working with the USG and Indian Ministry of Defence to supply the PAC-3 system. Begun as part of the Next Steps for Strategic Partnership (NSSP) process between the two governments, the PAC-3 system is viewed as a contender for both tactical and theater missile defense requirements.
Hellfire / Longbow – Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, an Indian Defense Public Sector Undertaking, requires large quantities of Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) systems to be installed on its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) for the Indian Army requirement. This opportunity is being developed in consultation with the USG and GOI.
Miscellaneous – In addition to the above, Lockheed Martin is in the process of developing opportunities in the Indian Navy for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), VLS Mk 41 launchers, Aegis weapon system, Census, and civilian air traffic control upgrade programs.
Straight from the goats mouth. Now let us put the matter to rest.
PS: Look at the India Map on Lockheed site 🙂
Next is ASTOR and here you can hear from Raytheon itself.
quadbikeQuadbike
Several countries were at IDEX offering Pakistan all sorts of equipment, much of which can never be cleared. Likewise for India.
Lets not get into “my one is bigger” and “we can get better stuff from the US”
Also, link for when India has been recently offered ASTOR and F-35?
Again, do you posts ever bear any semblence to reality?
We can go one with that discussion for a looooong time. US has denied many things to India in the past. Its ironic that US help on the LCA still faces restrictions yet in 3 months Block 52 F-16s with AMRAAM and JDAMS will be in Pakistan.
Anyway, we digress.
SPYDER is good “on paper” as are many systems, how does that back up your claim its a world beater?
If it is so great how is India the only customer for this?
Why has it not been ordered by IDF?
Ever get the feeling you may have been sold a lame duck?
ASTOR
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2475910/posts
F 35
Again for your cheap dig against SPYDER, it is like saying because the USAF operates early block F 16s the Block 60 desert eagle is not good. Israel may not have a current need to procure it.
And no Israel is one of our unconditional allies they flew in LGB kits and Litening Pods and helped integrate them with our Mirages during Kargil war time. Now not many friends would do that for you ;). And with a lot to gain there is no chance of them selling us a ‘lame duck’.
Rimmer the AEGIS and Patriot are a given You can write to to Raytheon and Lockheed PR to confirm it yourself.
1. They were offering it at Def Expo this year
2. I gave you links straight from Raytheon’s website about Patriot and dated this year.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn10_defexpo/news8/index.html <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
3. As for AEGIS R Adm Catherine Page was Program Director Aegis Missile De-fence system, I doubt she and Lockheed would write gibberish offering it if it was not on offer.
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