TeerIt’s a shame that the Kaveri program as not managed and monitored better. It must have been clear years ago that the Kaveri engine was not on target to make the grade yet steps were not taken to pull in foreign expertise.
Had a foreign manufacturer been brought in on a consultative “no strings” basis to get the engine up to scratch, the cost of an all-Indian Tejas would have been much lower, making it much cheaper than any alternative Mig-21 replacement. India could have more or less achieved a world monopoly on light fighters where cost was a decisive factor in selection. To modify a Eurofighter marketing slogan, nothing would have come close on price.
Still, that’s history now.
Its all about money. Check the funding available pre 1998-99 and whats available now. It takes a lot of money for any “consultative no strings” basis sort of agreement. Besides which India’s atomic tests in 1998 meant sanctions till 2002-03, limiting India’s options further. Even today, the money situation is not ideal, but its far better than what it was..
TeerBusiness Standard
Kaveri engine comes alive; will power Indian fighters
The Kaveri on a test bed at GTRE, Bangalore, readying for its despatch to Russia for altitude and flight tests. The testing, near Moscow, is going well, say GTRE officials.
by Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 12th Dec 09In what was nominated in 1976 as the Fight of the Year, boxing legend, George Foreman, staggered to his feet after being twice knocked down by Ron Lyle, to flatten Lyle with a stunning knockout punch. If the Ministry of Defence has its way, India’s Kaveri engine, bitterly criticised as underpowered even after two decades of development, could recover to do a Foreman on its two world-class rivals.
Meant to power the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Kaveri was heading for a quiet burial after completing flight tests that are underway in Russia. In its place, two alternatives were short-listed: the Eurojet EJ200, and the General Electric F-414 engines. A final choice was expected within weeks.
But, unexpectedly, the Kaveri has gotten off the floor. Business Standard has learned that the MoD — apprehending that Eurojet and GE would hang back from providing India with critical engine technologies, even if Transfer of Technology (ToT) was mandated in a purchase contract — now wants to co-develop an engine in India rather than manufacturing one under licence. The DRDO’s Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (GTRE), which has a design partnership with French engine-maker, Snecma, has been asked to design a more powerful Kaveri successor.
A Snecma-GTRE joint venture to develop the upgraded Kaveri is likely to be announced during President Nikolas Sarkozy’s visit to India in early 2010.
Minister of State for Defence, Dr Pallam Raju, has confirmed to Business Standard, “It is important for India to have indigenous capabilities in engine design. And having invested so many man-hours of work into the design of the Kaveri engine, it would be a national waste to fritter away or dilute those capabilities…. (Snecma) is willing to co-develop an engine with us; they are willing to go beyond just transfer of technology. It is a value-added offer that gives us better technology than what we would get from ToT from Eurojet or GE.”
Amongst the key engine technologies that India needs is that for Single Crystal Blades, which significantly enhance turbine performance within the incandescent confines of a jet engine combustion chamber. The MoD suspects that this technology, worth billions of dollars, will not be fully transferred by Eurojet or by GE.
An MoD official, who is closely involved in deciding between the EJ200 and the F-414, explains this apprehension: “The tender stipulates that 50% of the technology must be transferred to India. But the vendor will lump together a bunch of low-end technologies that might add up to 50%. What we want is one or two high-end technologies.”
GTRE designers say that it would take about 4 years to co-develop an engine with Snecma, somewhat longer than the 3-year time frame in which the EJ200 or F-414 would start being delivered. Based upon the performance of the Kaveri flight in the ongoing flight tests in Russia, GTRE sources are confident that, “Snecma-GTRE is fully capable of producing an engine as good as the F-414 and the EJ-200.”
That will involve improving from the current Kaveri’s maximum thrust of 65 Kilo Newtons (KN), to the 95 KN that the EJ200 and F-414 develop.
While Snecma remains tight-lipped, it is aware of the challenges in such a project. Business Standard has learned that Snecma had conducted a Technical Audit of the Kaveri programme in 1998, identifying design challenges that included developing materials that could withstand the combustion chamber temperatures of around 2000 degrees centigrade.
While the MoD is trusting Snecma to help GTRE in overcoming these challenges, it is also aware of the Kaveri’s unenviable record of time and cost overruns. The MoD is still considering whether to put all its eggs in the GTRE-Snecma basket or to go ahead on a parallel track, choosing either the EJ200, or the GE F-414, as insurance against further delays.
The MOD should put its money where its mouth is & proceed with a parallel program with EJ200s in the interim while developing the Kaveri for the future (MCA et al).
TeerDRDO’s focus: Deep penetration radars
Shubhadeep Choudhury
The TribuneThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has directed its focus on developing radars useful for fighting low intensity conflicts (LICs). S Varadarajan, director of Electronic and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) – a DRDO affiliate – said they were working on developing radars that would capture images penetrating obstacles such as foliage and concrete walls. “These radars are urgently required by our security forces,” he said.
The LRDE director, while talking to this reporter on the sidelines of the International Radar Symposium, India (IRSI), that began here yesterday, said the foliage penetration radar would be operated from an airborne platform and would be able to detect man and manmade objects hidden below foliage.
He said the wall penetration radar would be kept in a horizontal position on the ground and detect targets – both moving and stationary – hidden behind concrete walls. Varadarajan said they were also working on a radar with the capability to penetrate the ground to search for hidden mines. This radar would be operated by remote control since direct manual control could put the life of its handler in danger. All these radars would be ready in “two to three years time”.
He said work was on to develop synthetic aperture radar (SAR) of X-band frequency. An SAR having X-band frequency is considered ideal for military purposes since such radars pick up metallic objects well and give accurate images. The radar could be used by fitting it with a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Varadarajan said it would take another three years time for the X-band SAR to be ready.
The LRDE director also revealed that work on manufacturing an indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array radar (AESA radar) had made significant progress. AESAs allow ships and aircrafts to broadcast powerful radar signals to detect targets while remaining hidden. He said the AESA radars would be fitted with LCA Mark 2 – an upgraded version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft – slated to be rolled out in 2014.
Two new programs revealed so far.
UWB – Ultra Wideband systems for wall penetration & FOPEN systems for looking through foliage. Clearly, the prohibitive costs of relying on imports alone have led the Armed Forces to ask for an indigenous alternative which can be manufactured in numbers.
Reiteration of the Arudra ~300 km AESA multifunction system (Medium Power Radar) for the Air Force, the lightweight SAR for UAVs & the X Band AESAs for the LCA MK2.
The AESA systems for the strategic BMD program, namely the Multi Function Fire Control radar. and the LRTR round out the long range radar segment as well. The LRTR is being extended even further, with its range doubled.
With the completion of these programs, LRDE/DRDO/India will have a well balanced portfolio of systems across the land & air to build on.
These will also be modified for naval use in turn – I’d wager that the the MF MPR program, is the first candidate.
TeerIndia developing deep penetration radar to track ultras
STAFF WRITER 16:43 HRS IST
Bangalore, Dec 7 (PTI) India is developing a deep penetration radar to locate objects hidden under foliage up to 30 km which could come in handy while dealing with low intensity conflicts and tracking insurgents.
The proposed airborne radar would have the ability to locate hidden objects under foliage about 20 km to 30 km, a top defence research official said today.
“It can locate any vehicle, a group of men hiding, any bunker (hidden under forest cover),” Director of Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) lab, S Varadarajan, told PTI here.
“It can penetrate foliage and detect,” he said.
It would take 2-3 years to develop the radar. We will “quick-start” the project as “requirement is urgent”, LRDE, which already has core technology, would like to forge a collaboration, Varadarajan said.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/411724_India-developing-deep-penetration-radar-to-track-ultras
BEL bullish on radar biz; Rs 4,600 crore order on hand
7 Dec 2009, 1708 hrs IST, PTIBANGALORE: Bharat Electronics Limited is bullish on its radar business, saying it has Rs 4,600 crore worth of orders to be executed in the next
two to two-and-a-half years.Currently, the Bangalore-headquartered defence PSU is the only Indian company manufacturing radars, which form on an average 25 per cent of its total business annually.
“Radar business in India (overall in the country; not BEL’s business) is expected to be about Rs 40,000 crore in the next ten years”, BEL’s director(R&D), IV Sarma, told reporters in Bangalore.
Asked how BEL arrived at this figure (Rs 40,000 crore market in India), Sarma said it is the company’s “approximate estimate” based on inputs it had received. “It could be 20 per cent more or less”.
In the last financial year, BEL has manufactured radars worth Rs 900 crore and it is expected to go up to Rs 1,000 crore in the current fiscal.
“It’s going to go up in a big way”, Sarma said. “We are fully geared up to address this huge potential”.
BEL has established facilities at three different strategic business units for manufacturing radars. It has also established a Chair at Indian Institute of Science Bangalore for radar studies.
Indian Army set to upgrade its weapon locating radar systems
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore December 08, 2009, 0:20 ISTThe Indian Army is in the final stages of accepting for induction a newly developed weapon locating radar (WLR), designed and developed by Bangalore-based Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a senior defence research official said today.
“We have a long border. The product has been developed and is ready for acceptance. Bharat Electronics is ready to roll out the systems in bulk. The radar can look at objects from 30 kms. It can locate rockets and even give the trajectory and give an early warning,” S Varadarajan, director of LRDE, a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab, told reporters.
The Army is likely to place an order for the delivery of 29 WLRs worth Rs 1,500 crore, he said.
The foliage radar is also under development and the LRDE is looking for a collaboration. It is an airborne radar which can detect objects 20-30 kms away and can be deployed for internal security and help in low-intensity conflicts such as those resorted to by terrorists and insurgents, he said.
The radar will be ready for production in 2012, he added.
Varadarajan expects the Army to place orders with the Bharat Electronics Limited for a large number of WLRs.
LRDE is also in the advanced stages of developing a 300-km range radar for air defence applications.
“Gone are the days when radars are for specific purposes. Today a radar has got the capability for multiple functions. By 2012, the radars will be ready for commercial production,” Varadarajan said.
These technologies will be on display at the 7th international radar symposium India (IRSI) 2009 being held here during December 8-11.
The objective of the seminar is to provide a common platform for practicing radar scientists, engineers, manufacturers and users to share their experiences, issues and knowledge to carve out the technology path for better future, he said. Bharat Electronics, LRDE, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Bangalore Centre, ISRO, HAL among others are sponsoring the symposium.
I V Sarma, director-R&D, BEL said the company is gearing up to manufacture a wide range of radars for both civilian and defence applications. The company presently has orders worth Rs 4,600 crore in hand and for this fiscal, and it plans to deliver radars worth Rs 1,000 crore, a growth of 10 per cent over the last fiscal. He said the country is likely to capture about 10 per cent of the world market for radars in the next 10 years, worth about Rs 40,000 crore. BEL has dedicated three out of 17 strategic business units to manuacture various radars, he said.
Bharat Electronics has Rs 4,694-cr radar orders
fe Bureau
Posted: Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 2220 hrs IST
Updated: Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 2220 hrs ISTFont Size
Feedback
Discuss
Related Articles
L&T infrastructure bags Rs 844 cr order from NPCILGammon India bags two orders worth Rs 459 crGovt would reach its infra investment target by 20…Steel prices may rise in coming months: IraniBangalore: Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), a navaratna defense PSU, said it has Rs 4,694 crore worth of orders in hand in the radar segment.
Currently BEL owns orders to supply 152 radar systems for various applications, said IV Sarma, director (R&D) of BEL. He said “The current orders will be executed in the next two to two-and-a-half years period.”
BEL in the only company in India that manufactures radar for defence and civil purposes, he said while announcing the four-day event “International Radar Symposium India”, which will be held in Bangalore from December 8-11.
He said the company generated around Rs 900 crore in the last financial year in radar segment, accounting for around 20% of its total turnover of Rs 4,618 crore.
With healthy orders in hand, he said the company will increase its radar business by Rs 100 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in the current financial year.
He said radar business in India is expected to be about Rs 40,000 crore in the next 10 years. “Being the only player in the segment, the company will try to bag all these business,” he added.
However he has not ruled out the possibilities of any other public or private sector companies foraying into the radar business. He said, “There could be competition coming in the near future to share the business, but I did not want to comment on it. As of now BEL is the only company in India making radars.”
He said some private companies are manufacturing sub systems of radar but again those systems are being supplied to radars manufactured by BEL, he added.
So far the company has manufactured Rs 9,044 crore worth 2,635 radar systems under several categories including surveillance, navigation, tracking / fire control and civilian.
He said the world-wide radar business is expected to touch around $ 52 billion in the next 10 years.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Bharat-Electronics-has-Rs-4-694-cr-radar-orders/551067/
152 Radars over 2-2.5 years. Quite a modernization for the IAF & IA.
TeerIndia, Israel to ramp up military ties
The focus now is on having joint R&D projects in fields like high-endurance and rotary UAVs, submarine-launched cruise missiles, anti-ballistic missile systems, network-centric operations, micro-satellite surveillance systems, advanced precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and third-generation night-vision devices.
This is quite encouraging.
TeerIts quoting the head of the National Test Flight Center and is an official report from PTI, which is as official as it gets.
“The aircraft went past its ultimate speed of 1,350 kmph on December 7 in Goan skies when it took off from Indian Navy?s INS Hansa base,” Cmdr Rohit Varma, project director (flight test), National Flight Test Centre, told reporters here.
He said that this is the fastest speed ever achieved by an Indian made fighter aircraft.
The aircraft also passed flight flutter test after diving from four kilometres height and later taking off at 900 metres close to sea level.
This is fairly creditable, as the pre-production series aircraft, with excess weight (including instrumentation) is achieving this with the GE404IN20 engine. Another testimony to the basic soundness of the design & why the IAF is looking to add another squadron of the type.
TeerUsing the Mica’s Seeker as an IRST ?
That is also a definite possibility if we see how the French AF uses its wingtip mounted Mica IRs on its Rafales. And the Mirage 2000-V MK2 uses a lot of Rafale derived technology including its Modular Data Processing Unit, which unit’s Rafale version is what does the sensor fusion.
The Mica-IR – if the IAF purchases it, is a very potent weapon.
On another note, I have always been baffled why, the Russians never bothered to upgrade the R-27ET (IR version, long burn) with an onboard INS and midcourse guidance. They have lost out on the chance to make a true passive BVR weapon which could give fighters like the MiG-3x and Su-3X a good weapon.
TeerAspis,
You got exactly what I was stating.
TeerTeer, how do you fire a Mica-IR at long range? What silent method would you use to search/track/detect the opponent to take the full advantage of a silent Mica IR?
The IAF’s recent modernisation dwells a lot on net centricity. Surveillance radars have become more and more advanced as well & can provide reasonably accurate FC info to get a missile into an acquisition box.
My take would be using off board sensors – or even a long range scan from a RDY-2 using Mirage far off (the Gripen approach) and have a closer Mirage conduct a Mica attack from nearby, trying to get it firmly into the NEZ. The other thing is that the RDY-2 itself claims limited LPI capability since it does not change waveforms from TWS to lock on and hence avoids triggering RWRs. This enabled RDY-2 and Mica equipped Mirage 2000-5s to rack up impressive scores against F-16MLUs in Europe.
My point is that these sort of things give flexibility, which is not readily recognisable since most of the time we tend to talk on about maximum, stronger, faster etc.
TeerTeer , PBU work on Future Fulcrum covers in broad aspect on IN Mig-29K ,Mig-35 ,Mig-29UPG , Russian Mig-29 grounding incident and Mig Finances.
Nothing that we do not know of and nothing much in detail , it covers some good details on Klub Missile.
IMO, the MiG-29 SMT version for India might have some new additions apart from Indian VOR/ILS/TACAN fits, INCOM radio etc.
The additions could include the new high throughput DARE Open Arch Mission Computer apart from the R118 RWR & a new DARE jammer.
A new HMDS could be likely – otherwise we might stick to the SURA-K HMCS. Theres a fair bit on what MiG advertises about the basic upgrade package here:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_44d3OT-xI3U/SwFxb6fGclI/AAAAAAAABOU/14m-kkF-5aw/s1600/Upgraded+MiG-29UPG-1.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_44d3OT-xI3U/SwFwE_w50bI/AAAAAAAABOM/MkslXvY3zZU/s1600/Upgraded+MiG-29UPG-2.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_44d3OT-xI3U/Sv8x3pbM8jI/AAAAAAAABOE/5_XJHV0mKvA/s1600-h/MiG-29UPG-3.jpg
But I bet it’ll be customized further, for instance the Navigation fit wont be the TOTEM3000 but the Sagem Sigma95N which is the defacto fit on the MKI, the MiG-27 and Jaguar upgrades as well. The Mission Computer is behind what India’s already making for the MKI etc, let alone the 2 newer versions developed by DARE/HAL and ADA respectively.
Cockpit layout here is of the Algerian MiG-29 SMT – quite neat actually.
http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/showthread.php?p=131416
Ours is likely to be based on the K:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pLcgtL4pTTQ/SOVKUbloPhI/AAAAAAAAAJo/MqJ_rDSYmGc/s1600-h/IMG_7056_sm.jpg
Reason I asked about SOAR and SOLO is because R118 has datafusion capability via its DSP.
TeerYou are right. India should immediately disband its air force. Its really useless.
And it should seek out a “really smart opponent”..as Insig apparently feels the IAF has not had one of that sort apparently so far ..quite surprising considering the 30K’s did do a useful A2A role in a certain mountain conflict…!
TeerThe Mirage2K will perform superb aircover if based near the border. With Awacs you do not get much vision into China. China is behind amazing mountains. The mountains itself would be a good cover for the M2K if they would go that far. But if with a2g then you do not have the range unless you go with IFR and then you give away everything (speed, rcs etc). And flying low in that area is not only inefficient but also risky.
Uh….Tom Clancy apart, you have not countered anything I wrote..+ marks for imaginative scenario building though..
About doing research. I think you should refrain from personal remarks. It is degrading you opponent while we should use respect.
Asking you to understand what is written by doing some research is degrading?
Your passive Mica will be seen at max range by the JF17 passive sensors. What makes you so sure that Chinese are not using that system if they added it on the JF17/FC1? WE can see it on J10A/B. That will start ECM or active reply automaticly. And that max range is probably when flying up high and towards eachother. Do you think that Chinese do not have radar cover, AWACS or other means to intercept? Do remember that a research concluded that USA would have to retreat even when using F22 cause of the numbers. You can have many MKI or upgraded X but that doesn’t make you come near to Chinese numbers. When numbers rise you lose an expensive high tech plane as easy as the old one.
Pakistan’s J-7s, its F-16s and Mirage -3/5’s – which together make up almost all its fighter fleet, none of them have MAWS. Same goes for the vast majority of China’s Russian supplied Su’s, its own J-7s, J-8s etc. The point remains relevant. Besides which optical MAWS have their own range/coverage limitations.
And besides which, do some research – an IIR missile remains very credible against any fighter when used optimally & only DIRCM is a proper counter so far.
So I do respect you national pride in everything but it has some shortcomings.
Unfortunately – its your national pride in JF whatever (even there, why? – Its a Chengdu product through and through) coming to the fore seeing the response above. I am just pointing out that an IIR MICA is a very potent threat against ANY fighter out there, eastern, western, polynesian..
I can always say that MKI or latest upgrade X is untested in real war scenario with real smart opponent…
Quite right, so the IAF has only fought “real dumb opponents” so far as you imply.. interesting thought.
Teer-I am curious how the upgrade (if ever happens) will have impact on PLAAF-IAF contest. In case of war the PLAAF has bigger numbers and I doubt the MK2 will go deep into China.
-Guided by awacs almost any fighterjet can carry out near silent interception… In this decade that is not that new anymore.
#1.
Rahul answered the first. And the Mirage 2000 M2K-9/5-Mk2 have very potent stand off A2G capabilities if chosen.
In early July 2007, Dassault, Thales and HAL signed a partnership deal, submitting an offer to the Indian air force covering a Mirage 2000 upgrade immediately afterward. The proposed upgrade is based on the RDY-2 radar and is an adaptation of the existing 2000-5 Mk 2 and 2000-9 configurations, albeit with provisions to integrate existing and planned Indian equipment.
http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/hal-teams-with-dassault-in-deal-to-upgrade-indian-mirage-2000s/?no_cache=1
#2. Do some research before posting and you’d understand what I wrote. The Mica-IR is a passive long range missile as compared to an active radar homer, which makes a Mica IR shot very hard to detect & counter – making it a near silent interception, only “advance detection” would be if the RHAWS gear can pick up the missile datalinks.
In contrast, an ARH announces its arrival at a full 15-20 km once it goes active, giving that much time for the pilot/system to begin countermeasures.
A Mirage 2000 upgrade with passive Mica’s would give the IAF a very valuable tool in the kitbox.
TeerAs per Pitor write up on Mig-29 upgrade on AFM November Issue , he says that IAF Mig-29 upgrade will be more advanced then SMT and he cites that the aircraft will receive new weapons aiming system , using Zhuk-M2E radar as well as an OLS-UE EO sight the same on Mig-29K.
The Zhuk-M2E has several additional modes compared with the Zhuk-ME , for eg it can determine the type of target while it is scanning , other elements includes equipment from Israel , French and Indian manuf.
A service life extension program will enable the aircraft to be in service for 40 years or 3,500 flight hours rather than present 25 years , oncondition maintenance procedure will be implemented and all Mig-29 procurred in 3 batches will be brought to same standards
Can you post more on the Upgrade? Any further details about weaponry, fuel capacity etc. Also, will the aircraft receive MAWS and LWS (MiG-35 has SOAR and SOLO)?
Great to see Piotr B confirming the IAF & IN MiG-29s have the MiG-35’s OLS-UEM.
Googling – credit John Cool:
OLS-UEM can detect & track air targets automatically. It consists of IR camera with matrix 320×256 and TV camera 640×480. Their cover is made from leucosapphire. The mirror scan the air space of +/-90 degrees horizontally and -15/+60 deg vertically. Target can be detected from 45 km (rear hemispere) and 15km (front). Laser rangefinder work in two modes. Training (safe for eyes) and combat, in a range from 200 m up to 15 km. The station weigths 78 kg and is mounted in the same bay as the old OLS-29 was. Indian MiG-29KUB will receive a bit simplier OLS-UE version.
Aviapedia: “Range for MiG-29 class fighter targets, non afterburning is 45 km”.
With afterburner & larger aircraft, range should go up substantially. Even 45 km is a very respectable range.
Heres more on the ZHUK M2E. The new modes mentioned are raid assessment, NCTR, and classification by type.
And the MiG-29 Upg will have a new DARE jammer as well. Based on what DARE noted earlier this year about the base programs from which this should be derived, this system should be a very capable one. Multi-channel architecture for several threats.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3896
This is a very comprehensive upgrade, especially with the new RD-33 Series 3 engines included.
TeerIn Indian service the Jaguar has been a fine aircraft. It suffers in hot and high conditions due to thrust limitations but then, many aircraft of its generation would suffer correspondingly.
In the plains, Jaguar pilots have routinely demonstrated superb performance once fully ops on the aircraft. Well sited and prepared Air Defenses have been taken by surprise by Jaguars “appearing out of the ground”, conducting an accurate weapons delivery and then disappearing before weapon systems could be brought to bear.
The Indian Air Force also deployed its Jaguars to the US, as part of Exercise Cope Thunder. They did sufficiently well, for the IAF to be awarded mission commander status in a (relatively) short period of time & succeeded in penetrating intense AD zones & completing their missions.
Overall, the design is sound, and works well when used as it is designed for – low level strike. Of late, the increasing proliferation of cheap MANPADS has made this hazardous, but the quick strike and get out approach is still sound, provided adequate care is taken in mission planning and loiter is not done.
In the IAF, which has around 120+ Jaguars of which some 77 are in DARIN2 config, ie upgrade. These include new HOTAS controls, Litening fit, new glass’ed cockpit + new HUD, new RWR + SPJ, upgraded environmental controls (vital for India – as pilots would sweat like anything at low level in the heat), new nav-attack system built around RLG-INS (Sagem) and new mission computers (for new weapons). A new autopilot helps for PGM attacks. Furthermore, around 10 earlier IMs (Maritime) recieved new Elta 2032 radars and similar avionics. New recce kit includes newer variants of the Vicon pod series.
The Jaguars have also reportedly been made IFR capable. Buddy refuelling is likely, from Cobham pod equipped aircraft in the IAF, including Jaguars.
Currently, the remaining Jaguars are to be brought upto DARIN3 standards – details are not available on the exact fit, but have posted what seems reasonable in the IAF thread.
At the same time, competitions are ongoing for re-engining the Jaguar fleet. Competitors are an upgraded Adour and a brand new Honeywell F125 turbofan which claims remarkable lifecycle advantages plus improved thrust over the Adour. Adour’s advantage is its similarity and hence easier integration (claimed) with the airframe.
New weaponry is being sought to replace earlier Magic-1/2 series AAMs carried overwing by Jaguar pilots for self defence. ASRAAM and Python5 are competing. The IM’s having dropped the Sea Eagle (or will), the IAF is looking for new AShM – Harpoon is a possible there.
With these improvements – the Jaguars earlier limitations seem gone. With spares readily available at HAL for most airframe components, new engines and avionics, the Jaguar should be good to go for the next two decades, with its most obvious vulnerability (thrust issues) having been resolved, allowing it to operate at higher altitudes and even act as a precision strike platform.
I daresay, this testifies to the design of the aircraft which is quite reasonable and lends it versatility provided necessary improvements are made, with advances in technology.
Sign In
