21AnkushThat’s the one I could see being axed the easiest. With the MiG-29K already on the books, a larger order could replace the LCA-N.
ain’t gonna happen. the IN is the most indigenous friendly of all the three services, since they’re always hampered by lower budgets and in most cases, indigenous products are much cheaper and as good as foreign imports within a few iterations. it would be interesting to see the PAK-FA’s naval variant- apparently the IN may be the driver for a carrier capable PAK-FA. a 3 aircraft fighter fleet for the IN seems to be not quite so streamlined.
21AnkushApologies if my commenting offends or irritates anyone, but:
Dumping the LCA may be a sensible idea at this juncture from a few standpoints, but I’d question whether India would be willing to basically throw away all the development money.
it is’nt sensible from any standpoint- the money invested, the technologies developed, the infrastructure for developing a new fighter, everything would be thrown away. if anything was hopefully learnt from the Marut experience, it was that fighter development programs cannot be perfected at one go- and that just because it was’nt perfect at the start, does not mean that it should be thrown away- its an industry that needs to be nurtured through a couple of programs and experience gained through such development is crucial. India needs the technical knowhow, as well as the managerial skills to be able to handle aerospace programs and the Tejas provides both. being far more indigenous than most other developing nations’ fighter programs worldwide means that a lot of crucial technolgies take time to be perfected.
if the Tejas were to be dumped now, India will never have a credible aerospace industry, except for making parts for major aerospace companies here and there. And that is not what India wants. the goal would be self-reliance in the fighter/UCAV sphere and Regional jets designed and produced in India and that is not going to happen if all the knowhow gained is thrown away because of some design issues with an otherwise sound aircraft.
21AnkushAs oil price increases so does the ability of the Russia executive to consolidate his power politically and militarily. You eliminate the high price of oil and you sink Russia. Unfortunately you also elevate China all that much more. So we are caught between two unalike arch enemies to the west, both vying for their share of the world. A united europe and north america is the only hope of keeping the world out of another widespread war.
I don’t see oil losing much value. Expect big ticket items to continue in Russian circles as they swim in the cash.
the only war being heaped upon the world is the one the US started in Iraq on false pretexts. the whole BS about Saddam having killed people stands exposed as nothing is done about Darfur..its all about the oil, so dont talk about US and Europe keeping the world out of another widespread war.
21AnkushKaveri engine core undergoes testing
http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/19/stories/2007111960551200.htm
BANGALORE: Kabini, the core of the much-delayed Kaveri engine, is undergoing high altitude testing at the Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM) in Moscow.
It has been taken by a team from the Bangalore-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment.
Kabini primarily makes up Kaveri’s high pressure compressor, high pressure turbine and high pressure combustor.
This is the second time that Kabini is taken to Moscow.
The team is headed by GTRE director T. Mohan Rao. It is hoped that the tests will generate sufficient data to allow a study of the characteristics of the components.
The GTRE had made a number of modifications to the Kabini since its last test in Moscow.
While the tests in Moscow are a necessary step, as India does not have such high altitude testing facilities, the process to identify a partner who will co-develop and co-produce the Kaveri along with the GTRE has been further delayed.
http://frontierindia.net/kaveri-engine-gathers-momentum/
K9 + Program
This program has been conceptualized with a view to prove the concept of complete design and gain hand-on experience of aircraft engine integration and flight trials to cover a defined truncated flight envelope prior to the launch of production version of K10 Std. engine. This exercise would generate a great deal of confidence in the minds of entire scientific community of GTRE and associated work centers. The PDC for K9+ is June 2008. As compared to final Kaveri Engine, K9+ engine has more weight, slightly lower After Burner thrust as compared to the design intent. At the moment, GTRE has been able to achieve and demonstrate the required dry thrust at Bangalore condition consistently. The various prototypes of the engine are undergoing various engine level tests, safety related tests, component level tests, endurance tests which are mandatory before first flight of the K9 + engine with PV1 of LCA. The core engine (Kabini engine) has been planned to be sent to CIAM Russia for altitude tests by end Aug 2007. The official Altitude Test and Flying Test Bed for K9+ engines is planned for Nov 2007. All this will culminate in integrating the Kaveri K9 + engine with PV1 followed by first interim flight by June 2008.
so, they’re meeting deadlines for the K9+ engine..hopefully, if everything goes well, they’ll be able to get the K9+ on the PV-1 Tejas by mid-2008.
21AnkushWith regard to the price of PAK-FA, you stated JSF would be 2-3 times more expensive. How could one say this, when price estimates for JSF are based on production of around 2000 (?) units, no one knows how many PAK-FA units will be produced, and current inflation rate in Russia is 9-11%?
price estimates for the F-35 are now around the $140 million mark..
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003799.html
“The first Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to be ordered by the Netherlands, an F-35A to be used in the Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) program for the type, will cost approximately $142 million, the Netherlands defense ministry said October 17”
I personally doubt that the PAK-FA will be that expensive. At this price for the F-35, I feel that the USAF should cut its F-35 purchase and buy more of the F-22s which cost just a little more.
21Ankushthis is a very significant event for the IAF.. by mid-next year, the IAF can stop sending its pilots to the UK for training..
21Ankushwow ! looks really nice !
21AnkushThe first two Hawk advanced jet trainers destined to train the next generation of Indian Air Force (IAF) fast jet pilots have departed from the UK to their new home at AFS Bidar in India.
The two jets are the first of 66 Hawk aircraft to be delivered to the IAF as of part of a total training package required to meet their fast jet pilot training needs. The programme includes 24 aircraft being built in the UK by BAE Systems and 42 aircraft being manufactured under licence in India by Bangalore’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
A senior Indian Air Force official said: “The induction of the Hawk aircraft marks the fulfilment of a long pending requirement in the Indian Air Force for an Advanced Jet Trainer. The Hawk aircraft, with a proven design and advanced avionics, would bridge the gap between the performance spectrum of the Intermediate trainer and front line fighter aircraft which trainee pilots would finally fly in operational squadrons. As a dedicated trainer, the aircraft would greatly enhance flight safety and have a beneficial impact on the quality of training being imparted to fighter pilots.”
Mark Parkinson, Managing Director Training Solutions at BAE Systems said: “This is a proud day for everyone involved on the Indian Hawk programme. Delivering the first Indian Hawks, on time and budget, marks a significant milestone on the project. We are also particularly pleased to be delivering these exciting new aircraft to the IAF in their 75th Anniversary Year.”
Since the contract was signed in March 2004, the Indian Hawk programme has moved at a tremendous pace. Over the past three years, in addition to manufacturing the IAF Hawks, BAE Systems, in partnership with the RAF, has delivered a training programme that will see on its completion, over 75 IAF pilots trained on the current RAF Hawk fleet at RAF Valley. Many of those who have completed the course have returned to India and gone directly onto the IAF’s most sophisticated frontline aircraft – a testament to the skill of the pilots and the training they received during their time at RAF Valley.
In addition, a number of the Hawks that will be supplied to the IAF have also been used to train around 100 IAF engineering officers and technicians in BAE Systems’ Technical Training Academy at Warton who will support the aircraft when it enters service.
Mark Parkinson continued: “We have also completed conversion training of experienced IAF Flying Instructors to become instructor pilots on the Indian Hawk – these instructors are returning to India to train the Indian Air Force’s next generation of frontline pilots.
“The delivery of these first aircraft is a major milestone on this contract which sees BAE Systems deliver a total training solution geared to the specific requirements of the Indian Air Force. The successful delivery of this programme, on schedule, is a prime example of BAE Systems’ capabilities in developing and managing major programmes. “
The two IAF Hawks will arrive in India after a number of days and refuelling stops. The process of ferrying the aircraft will continue over the coming months until all UK built aircraft are delivered.
[END OF PRESS RELEASE]
21Ankush21Ankushthe interesting thing about the SKAT is that for certification purposes due to Russian laws, they will be making an manned SKAT variant, and one of the side views in the figure posted above, shows that..thereafter, all SKATs will be unmanned.
21AnkushI’d look like this:
😀
actually an Eagle wing cracked recently..:diablo:
21Ankushthe Rafale indeed is the most gorgeous fighter out there today ! what curves !!!
21Ankushso were these the MiG-29s built for the cancelled Iraqi order that were upgraded to SMT standards and passed on to Algeria? if so, they should have had almost none to very low hours on the airframe..so, hardly a concern at all unless the poor condition meant that they were not stored properly by MiG and the airframe and avionics suffered due to that..even so, refurbishment should’ve allowed for most things to be taken care of. MiG could’ve sold these at a lower price to get them off their storage instead of trying to pass them off as new builds and getting the entire order screwed up in the process.
21Ankushhttp://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/SB029.jpg.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/MKI-Canopy.jpg.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/Su-30a1.jpg.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Fighters/Su30MKI/Su-30b1.jpg.html
21AnkushI personally don’t like the black anti glare paint.. reminds me of what the US did decades ago. If it’s not too much, do you have pictures of an MKI with out the anti glare paint? 🙂
sure Ryukyu..here you go..
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