Mach 8, 1400km range BrahMos

Mach 8, 1400km range BrahMos

While national media have reported a hypersonic Mach 8 variant of BrahMos to be developed in future, the Western defence media circles are anticipating a sub-sonic or transonic (near the speed of sound) Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) variant with an estimated range of 800-km to 1,400-km. In any case a Mach 8 variant of BrahMos will indicate a major technological breakthrough by the Russians in the context of the propulsion components of solid booster and liquid kerosene ramjet engine.

For their part, Indian scientists have for at least a decade, been working on solid-state lasers for use as super-high-speed ignition systems to arm missiles, although their present status is a closely guarded secret

A Mach 8 passive radiation homing BrahMos-2 if developed, will fulfil an Indian Navy requirement of a formidable Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) LACM and also pose a deadly threat to enemy warships sporting elaborate air defence radar systems like the “AEGIS type” vessels under construction for the Chinese People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

source

India ready to test new cryogenic upper-stage engine

India ready to test new cryogenic upper-stage engine

Preparations are under way for the first ground test of the Indian-designed restartable cryogenic upper-stage engine for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), writes Radhakrishna Rao.

The indigenous liquid-oxygen/liquid-hydrogen engine will increase the payload of the GSLV from 2,000kg (4,400lb) to 2,500kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The cryogenic engine, which has logged more than 7,000s of accumulated rig test time, will replace the Russian-supplied upper stage of the 414t, three-stage GSLV.

Integration of the Indian engine with the GSLV is under way and a successful ground test will be followed by a flight of the vehicle, says B N Suresh, director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

http://www.flightinternational.com/Article…new+engine.html

New Jane’s Article >>

http://www.janes.com/defence/naval_forces/news/jdw/jdw050812_1_n.shtml

[u]Is China building a carrier? [/u]

By Yihong Chang JDW Correspondent &
Andrew Koch JDW Bureau Chief
Hong Kong & Washington, DC

Chinese shipyard workers have been repairing a badly damaged ex-Russian aircraft carrier and have repainted it with the country’s military markings, raising the question once again of whether China is pursuing longer-term plans to field its first carrier.

In the latest developments, images show that workers at the Chinese Dalian Shipyard have repainted the ex-Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag with the markings and colour scheme of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN). Additional new photographs show that other work, the specifics of which could not be determined, appears to be continuing and that the condition of the vessel is being improved.

JDW believes that PLAN technicians have also conducted thorough studies of the basic structure of the Varyag during the past few years to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the carrier’s structural design. Former PLAN commander General Liu Huaqing stated in his memoirs that China had purchased blueprints for the carrier – a fact that Russian sources confirmed to JDW. Moreover, Gen Huaqing added: “The competent departments of the defence industry employed Russian aircraft carrier designers to come to China and give lectures.”

Still, China’s ultimate intentions for the Varyag remain unclear. One possibility is that Beijing intends to eventually have it enter into some level of service. A military strategist from a Chinese military university has commented publicly that the Varyag “would be China’s first aircraft carrier”.

IAF to have joint air exercises with US, Britain

Srinagar, Aug. 5 (PTI): The Indian Air Force will be conducting joint air exercises with its US and British counterparts in November and early next year, Air Chief Marshall S P Tyagi, said today.

The United States Air Force will come here for joint exercises in November this year while the Royal Air Force of Britain will be coming next year,” Tyagi, who is on a maiden visit as air chief to Kashmir, said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200508051653.htm

🙂

NEW JAGUAR ENGINE FACILITY
AMBALA, AUG 5 (PTI)
Any minor fault in Jaguar fighter jets could be detected at the newest engine testing facility installed at the air force station here.

The test bed, installed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at a cost of Rs 20 crore, has been certified in co-ordination with Rolls-Royce after extensive calibration runs, Air Marshal A K Singh, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command said.

The test bed comprises computerised data acquisition and analysis system which acquires data from the engine on test, carries out several tests and display the result on line V P Mustafa of HAL said.

The indigenoulsy built test bed and equipment costs less than half of a similar imported test bed.

Earlier, the Jaguars had to be flown to Bangalore for minor repairs.

Similar facilities are also available at Gorakhpur and Pune.

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=315182

I ahve heard about TVC being offered to india on M2 but not sure. or maybe its just my wishfull thinking

a pic of a Mig-29OVT with 3D TVC

….. but it although the Indian Mig offer including that is in question, i would’nt be surprised if that comes through.

It seems to be in development…..i rember reading in an interview in an Indian Express suppliment on Indian aviation during Aero India that the Mig company’s chief (chief of Sukhoi as well) whose name i have forgotten saying that when this development is finished, it will be possible to upgrade the Mig-29’s to have this 3D TVC from the mig-29 OVT (and this provision will be made in the contract), going the extra mile to press fot the Mig-29 in the MRCA tender.