Boeing Delivers Indian Air Force’s 1st C-17 to Flight Test

Number of Rafales for India to increase by 63? The article mentions the extra 63 would be in a supplementary contract to the 126 under negotiation.

In French:

http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2013/01/17/l-inde-pourrait-commander-jusqu-a-189-rafale_1818618_3234.html

There has to be a separate contract for those 63 units.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Europe/India-increases-Rafale-fighter-jets-order/Article1-992390.aspx
But it seems that that contract might be taken up right away.

http://instapinch.com/?p=2094

[
Getting around the old fashioned red tape during war.

And it arrives at the destination chilled 🙂

Yep it seems like an inert or concrete bomb.

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Mi-17V5 at newly inagurated Medium Lift Helicopter Complex, Phalodi Airforce Station, Jodhpur. January 7, 2013.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/After-20-years-R-amp-AW-upgrades-to-super-spy-jets/Article1-849802.aspx

After 20 years, R&AW upgrades to super spy jets
Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, May 03, 2012
First Published: 00:59 IST(3/5/2012)
Last Updated: 01:45 IST(3/5/2012)

After 20 years, India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is set to spread its wings — deep into enemy territory.
The agency is to acquire two Bombardier jets packed with Israeli multi-mission airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems that will multiply its capability along Pakistan and China borders.

The Bombardier 5000 aircraft, which will replace two 21-year-old Gulfstream jets, will daily collect electronic and ground intelligence 180 km inside the neighbours’ territories.
The jets are being uploaded with electronic intelligence collection packages in Israel and flight trials begin in July.

Fitted with synthetic aperture and electro-optical radars, the jets, expected to be pressed into service in the next two years, will be able to monitor strategic and military activity across the borders.

Last June, the cabinet committee on security quietly approved the $300m ( Rs. 1,500 crore) deal with Israel’s ELTA, a leading defence electronics firm.
R&AW’s Aviation Research Centre has some 30 airborne intelligence collection platforms but they’re dated, with Boeing 707 and Gulfstream jets fitted with antique analogue radars.

While both Pakistan and China have airborne platforms fitted with electronic and communication collection capability, the new spy jets will be unmatched in the sub-continent.

The agency will be able to collect day-to-day ground intelligence as the jets will be provide real time data such as troop or armour movements for prompt reaction.

A Global 5000 can fly close to 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) non-stop at Mach 0.85 (907kmph) and can climb to 43,000 feet in 23 minutes.

With both China and Pakistan deploying missiles and building logistics aimed at India, the spy jets will help make the battlefield — from low intensity conflict in Kashmir to all out hostilities — more transparent with strategic (missile) alert capability.

Hi Twinblade

Are these used for training or Are these in operational service or are just sitting somewhere as hangar queens?

Till now the MiG-29K were joining the squadron INAS 303 ‘Black Panthers’ which had 12K + 4KUB. These 4 (single seater or UB?) will take the numbers to 20. The shore based test facility at INS Hansa, should be operational now, as the arresting gear was cleared OK after tests last month.
http://frontierindia.net/arrester-gear-of-shore-based-test-facility-for-naval-lca-passes-test

MoD orders additional Phalcons, Dhruvs, recce and targeting pods

MoD clears mega deals for radars, missiles, Navy vessels, AWACS
Manu Pubby : New Delhi, Mon Dec 31 2012, 02:23 hrs

In the past few weeks, the defence ministry has cleared proposals to buy several thousand crore worth of military hardware, including four hydrographic survey vessels for the Navy for Rs 2,324 crore and two Phalcon airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) for the Air Force for Rs 3,306 crore.

Israel, which has emerged as a leading arms supplier to India, will rake in a major chunk of these contracts.

The go-ahead by the ministry, which had not signed new deals in the past few months because of the week economic situation — the exceptions being contracts for Basic Trainer Aircraft, additional Su-30 MKI fighters and Mi-17 V5 helicopters — basically empowers the armed forces to start the procurement process, which can take more than three years to get finalised, for the weapons systems.

In another significant decision, the ministry has given an exception to Israeli firm ELTA to reduce its offset obligations to just 10 per cent of the contract, down from the mandated 30 per cent. ELTA is in for a major deal for new generation air and missile defence radars — the armed forces have proposed to buy six of these for Rs 3,310 crore — that can detect and track incoming missiles and aircraft as well as direct defence systems. The firm is also set to bag a Rs 950 crore contract for additional Recce and Imaging Pods and ground exploitation stations for Su-30 MKI fighters of the Air Force.

Israel Aerospace Industries, which manufactures missile defence systems for Indian warships, too is set to get a major contract — valued at Rs 700 crore — to fit the Navy’s under-construction indigenous aircraft carrier with long range surface-to-air missile systems, sources said.

There is something for the Indian defence industry as well: the ministry has cleared four new hydrographic port survey vessels for the Navy and wants them built indigenously, much to the cheer of Indian shipyards eying the Rs 2,324-crore contract.

Besides private firms, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which recently signed a deal with Russia to manufacture 42 Su-30 fighters, is likely to get an order for 45 Advanced Light Helicopters. The helicopters, estimated to cost Rs 3,310 crore, will come in three variants — utility, armed, special operations.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mod-clears-mega-deals-for-radars-missiles-navy-vessels-awacs/1052309/0