VictorHere’s some stuff from Jane’s, which may or may not shed light on the subject 🙂
MiG-29SMTK (Factory index 9.17K):
Carrierborne variant combining MiG-29SMT features (see Upgrades) with landing gear, carrier landing system, folding wing, double-slotted flaps, arrester hook and enlarged tailplane of MiG-29K. Believed to have been offered to India and China in association with initial efforts to sell carrier Admiral Gorshkov. Latter built to operate STOVL Yak-38, but modifications proposed for STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) operation. Replaced by MiG-29K-2002 and MiG-29K-2008.
MiG-29K (Factory index 9.31; K for korabelnyy; ship-based):
Maritime version, used for ski-jump take-off and deck landing trials on carrier Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov (formerly Tbilisi), beginning 1 November 1989; two new-build prototypes, using MiG-29M structure; completely redesigned, mainly steel, wing using modified aerofoil section and of increased area (increased span, reduced leading-edge sweep) with double slotted flaps, drooping flaperons and more powerful leading-edge flaps; new spar in front of original wing box; new strengthened centre-section without overwing louvres (see MiG-29M); upward-folding outer wing panels; RD-33K turbofans with 92.2 kN (20,723 lb st) contingency rating for ski-jump take-offs. Fuel capacity reduced to 5,670 litres (1,498 US gallons; 1,247 Imp gallons). First flown (16188 ‘311’) 23 June 1988. (Preceded by MiG-29KVP, conversion of 07687 [preseries aircraft 918] with hook, strengthened landing gear and some carrier landing systems and used for trials at Saki from 1982.) Exhibited at Machulishche airfield, Minsk, February 1992, with typical anti-ship armament of four Kh-31A/P (AS-17 ‘Krypton’) ASMs and four R-73E (AA-11 ‘Archer’) AAMs. Production MiG-29K was intended to use same basic airframe, power plant, avionics and equipment as MiG-29M, with added wing folding, strengthened landing gear, ±90º nosewheel steering for deck-handling, arrester hook, fully retractable, permanently installed flight refuelling probe, and other naval requirements, including Uzel carrier beacon homing system, SN-K navigation suite with INS-84, Resistor Shoran/ILS, ACLS and new inertial platform and with radar upgraded to RLPK-29IM standards, giving better over-water performance. Ejection seat trajectory laterally inclined 30º so that a deck-level ejection would be into the sea, abeam the carrier, giving extra altitude for parachute to open. Beryoza RHAWS replaced by Pastel, which can function as ELS for Kh-31P ARMs.
State Acceptance Trials suspended due to funding difficulties, early 1992. Further development ended initially when not selected for deployment on Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov, but resumed at Zhukovsky in September 1996 in expectation of order from India. First prototype currently grounded; second (27579) returned to flight status in support of MiG-29M programme. Naval MiG-29KU (9.62) trainer derivative.
The Indian Navy reached agreement with MiG in January 2004 over a US$700 million contract for 16 MiG-29K ‘Fulcrum’ carrier-based fighters to equip the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Indian Navy will receive 12 single-seat and four two-seat fighters by 2008, and has options on a further 30 ‘Fulcrums’ before 2015. The deal on transferring the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to India was signed in Delhi on 20 January 2004 during Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov’s official visit.
MiG-29M2 (unveiled at MAKS 2001 and also referred to as the MRCA):
This is a two-seat strike variant of the ‘Fulcrum’, and is optimised for low-level operations against high-value, high-risk targets. The type made its maiden flight from Zhukovsky on 26 September 2001. The aircraft is a land-based version of the navalised MiG-29K and includes folding wings and a Phazotron-NIIR Zhuk-M multimode radar.
‘MiG-29K-2002’:
The original MiG-29SMTK (effectively a MiG-29SMT with the 9.31’s folding wing and landing gear), previously offered to India along with the former helicopter carrier Admiral Gorshkov, is understood to have been replaced by a new, multirole, carrierborne variant based more closely on the MiG-29K/M, albeit without the expensive Al-Li alloys. With a MIL-STD-1553B-type bus and open systems avionics architecture, the MiG-29K-2002 is compatible with a wide range of Russian and Western weapons, and may feature the colour displays and GPS-based navigation system of the MiG-29SMT. This variant, possibly designated MiG-29 MTK, is claimed to be able to perform 90 per cent of its missions with a 10 kt (18 km/h; 11 mph) wind-over-deck, even in tropical conditions using new autothrottle. One notable feature of the new aircraft is its much-reduced folded span of 5.80 m (19 ft 01/4 in), achieved by positioning the fold line much closer in to the wing-root, and by adding upward-folding tailplanes. The aircraft can also fold its radome (up and back), reducing overall length to 14.13 m (46 ft 41/4 in). Accordingly, Admiral Gorshkov can carry a full air wing of 24 MiG-29Ks (plus six helicopters), or (according to some sources) as many as 30. A projected MiG-29K-2008 upgrade configuration could add a computer upgrade and additional electro-optic, radar, IIR and recce pods, together with take-off performance improvements. In December 1999, it was reported that India had selected the MiG-29K for use aboard Admiral Gorshkov, and an initial order for 50 aircraft (against a total requirement for 60 to 70 aircraft) was expected, with an unknown quantity of Kh-35 anti-ship missiles and Kh-31P ARMs. A refuelling tanker fit has been proposed. Local manufacture by HAL is expected.
MiG-29KUB:
Revised carrier-borne two-seat trainer design offered to India, based on MiG-29K-2002 with reduced-span, inboard wing fold and folding tailplanes. Assumed to feature original stepped tandem cockpits of MiG-29KU. Some reports suggest enlarged tailfins with integral fuel tanks, possibly even single centreline tailfin.
Added later: Some more info on the hypothetical “MiG-29K-2008” variant
A projected MiG-29K-2008 upgrade configuration could add Zhuk-MF phased-array radar, RD-133 turbofans, a computer upgrade and additional electro-optic, radar, IIR and reconnaissance pods, together with take-off performance improvements. In December 1999, it was reported that India had selected the MiG-29K for use aboard Admiral Gorshkov, with a quantity of Kh-35 anti-ship missiles and Kh-31P ARMs. Proposed local manufacture by HAL appears no longer to be viable.
Maybe the first 16 of the Mig-29K(UB) will be of the “2002” variant and the next tranche will be of the “2008” variant. Then the “2002s” will be upgraded to the “2008” std?
VictorFrom AFP
Chinese Sub May Have Caught Fire in South China Sea
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TOKYOA Chinese Navy submarine apparently stalled after a fire broke out aboard the vessel while it was submerged in the South China Sea, a Japanese newspaper said May 31.
The submarine was being towed above the water May 30 by a Chinese vessel toward the Yulin Naval Port on China’s Hainan Island, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, citing Japanese and U.S. defense sources.
Japanese and U.S. authorities have been monitoring the vessel, a Ming-class diesel-powered hunter-killer submarine. It was not clear whether there were any casualties, said the top-selling newspaper.
The accident occurred May 26 in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and Hainan Island. It was not known if the submarine surfaced on its own accord.
Three or four Chinese warships were spotted around the site of the accident, and another Chinese submarine was detected, which suggests that the accident may have occurred during a military exercise, the daily said.
The Japanese and U.S. governments believe it will not have an adverse environmental impact on the area because the submarine was not nuclear-powered, the Yomiuri said.
A spokesman at the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force declined to comment.
VictorFrom Jane’s
JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – JUNE 01, 2005
——————————————————————————–
IAI and HAL pitch for US helicopter contract
ALON BEN-DAVID JDW Correspondent
Tel AvivKEY POINTS
· IAI and HAL’s Dhruv advanced light helicopter is in service with India and is being bid for a US requirement
·It is equipped with GPS, automatic flight control and electronic warfare suite
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are offering their Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) for the US Army’s light utility helicopter (LUH) requirement.
The two companies, which are jointly manufacturing the Dhruv, are negotiating the sale of the ALH with South American and Middle Eastern customers and plan a marketing effort in Asia and Africa.
The plan to offer the Dhruv for the US LUH requirement was announced during a visit to Israel by HAL Chairman Ashok Baweja.
“India’s armed forces will obtain at least 200 Dhruvs,” announced Baweja, during a visit to IAI when HAL delivered one recently acquired ALH. The Dhruv supplied to Israel will be operated by IAI, providing VIP transportation for Israel’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and as a demonstrator for potential customers.
According to an IAI official, the Dhruv “was designed to operate in harsh conditions in altitudes up to 21,000 ft and is capable of carrying 14 people or 1.5 tonnes of cargo”. Weighing 5.5 tonnes, the ALH is powered by France’s Snecma Turbomeca TM 333 2B2 engine and can cruise at 235 km/h at sea level.
It is equipped with a Marconi Doppler GPS navigation system; US-built weather radar and high-frequency transceivers; a French automatic flight-control system and a potential IAI’s avionics package, which includes an electronic warfare suite, day/night observation capability and targeting and flexible armament systems.
Currently, some 15 ALHs are in service with all three services of the Indian armed forces and the coast guard. Nepal’s Royal Air Service is operating two Dhruvs.
VictorHalo 2: Sean 1, Victor 0
You just did not go there!!! 😀
VictorHere’s a report from DN regarding the LUH. It will be a totally non-combat and fully commercial helo. And I am all for casting the net as wide as possible. Of course a US order would be the Moby **** of catches but the minnows are valuable as well.
Posted 05/10/05 10:13
Light Utility Helicopters Restricted to Use on U.S. Soil
By BRAD PENISTON, LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.The U.S. Army intends to fly its Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) only on U.S. territory, pulling back from an initial concept of operations that might have sent it overseas, said Paul Begosian, the service’s program officer for aviation.
The LUH is to be a relatively unmodified commercial aircraft to do the light lifting tasks now performed by Vietnam-era UH-1H and OH-58A/C aircraft, the helicopters that were to have been replaced by the cancelled Comanche helicopter.
Flying it in situations with even the possibility of combat is “not part of what this aircraft is intended to be used for,” Begosian said May 10 at the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual convention here.
The aircraft’s acquisition plan and strategy remain unchanged, he said.
The Army is moving quickly to buy the LUH. The service intends to release a request for proposals in coming weeks or months, select a winner this summer, and start acquiring aircraft by 2006, said Col. Coey Mahanna, the program officer for utility helicopters.
VictorAs part of the examination of market potential in the US, efforts are underway to cooperate with US industries, so as to try and penetrate the important LUH Light Utility Helicopter program for the US Army.
That’s really interesting. It is the most important opportunity for Dhruv but also the hardest market to crack… Maybe a barter: F-18/16 for Dhruv
VictorOK, next batch of pics…
Victorhow the answer is no when the statement on previous page clearly shows the latest batch Mirage BVR capable(and that is not the only batch). i can show you tons of statement from PAF officials saying having BVR technology.
Are you sure? Maybe only one PAF Mirage was upgrade to have BVR technology and the others weren’t. Afterall, that’s how things are in South Asia. 😀
VictorYeah, I am from that area. I try to make it every year. The worst one was in 2002, very little on the flight line and static displays. I guess, most of the assets were being used at that time 😉
Yeah, I do Halo 2 on Live but haven’t played with/against SOC… yet.
VictorNotorious_V1C 😀
I am an hour ahead of you. 6:30-7ish your time, I will try to get online but will have to get an approval from the real boss of the house…
VictorSorry to detract from this really important thread, but SOC, what’s your GamerTag? Also, you into Madden2k5?
VictorFrom Defense News
Israeli MoD Leases Indian Dhruv
By BARBARA OPALL-ROME, BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IsraelIsraeli military officers will begin flying in June on the Indian-made Dhruv helicopter under a special leasing arrangement that expands ongoing cooperation between government-owned Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).
The leasing arrangement, which currently involves only one indigenous Indian aircraft, obliges IAI to provide as many as 600 flight hours per year for the transport of Israel Defense Force officers and staff. Additional aircraft could be included in follow-on amendments to the leasing deal, depending on the level of satisfaction within the Israeli military, according to Ministry of Defense (MoD) and IAI officials here.
Yair Sagie, director of helicopter business development at IAI’s Lahav Division, said the specially equipped Dhruv arrived in Israel a few weeks ago, has undergone testing with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority and will be ready to fly in early June. Full certification of the Indian helicopter in Israel is expected shortly, Sagie said May 23.
“This is a power-by-the-hour outsourcing contract. We leased the aircraft from HAL, and MoD is leasing it from us,” Sagie said.
IAI’s Lahav Division and HAL began a strategic partnership two years ago to provide core avionics for Dhruv helicopters destined for the Indian armed services. Additionally, the two firms are working to market the helicopter worldwide.
Launch of Dhruv helicopter operations in Israel will be inaugurated May 25 in ceremonies at IAI headquarters here, attended by industry executives from both countries, including HAL Chairman Ashok Baweja, Shri Shekhar Dutt, India’s secretary for defense production, and Amos Yaron, director-general of Israel’s MoD.
VictorThe first pic (DC-10) is operated by the MDA. I have no idea what it does tho…
Also, I didn’t know that the DHS operated Fokker MPAs.
VictorSome pics came out suboptimal 🙁
VictorA CGI of the ADS
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