VictorFrom Jane’s Defence Weekly
India evaluates air defence
Rahul Bedi JDW Correspondent
New DelhiThe Indian Air Force (IAF) has sent an evaluation report to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on two competing air-defence systems that it tested recently in France and Israel.
Military sources said the MoD would, over the next few weeks, evaluate the report on the trial firings by France’s MBDA VL-MICA and Israel’s Rafael Armament Development Authority/Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Spyder-SR low-level quick reaction missile (LLQRM) systems earlier this year before opening the rival commercial bids and constituting a price negotiation committee.
The IAF wants 12 LLQRM batteries configured around its deployment patterns and complementing terrain and weather conditions in a deal estimated at about Rs15 billion ($348 million).
Three systems are to be acquired in completed form with the remainder to be built locally under licence.
Both MBDA and Rafael-IAI are in talks with Bharat Dynamics Limited in Hyderabad, southern India, with regard to building their respective systems.
The request for proposals for the air-defence systems was sent out two years ago as a stop-gap arrangement until India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) indigenous system, facing technological problems and cost overruns, becomes operational. However, IAF sources said acquiring either of the two imported batteries was “crucial” to the DRDO developing its own LLQRM system.
VictorThe request was for 200km range A2G ordnance
VictorThanks for the updates. Will the IN ASW/ASUW Dhruvs be equipped with FLIR/CCD as well?
VictorFrom Jane’s, fair use and all that…
Crystal Maze loses its way during second test
Rahul Bedi JDW Correspondent
New DelhiThe Rafael Armament Development Authority¹s medium-range stand-off AGM-142 Raptor Have Nap/Popeye missile, specially configured for the Indian Air Force (IAF), has proved unsuccessful in its second ‘validation’ test, which took place in April in the western Rajasthan desert.
Fired from a Mirage 2000H fighter, the missile – codenamed Crystal Maze by the IAF – missed its target and exploded 50 m away.
In its first ‘validation’ firing, which took place in December 2004, the missile struck the reinforced concrete target accurately, piercing it to a depth of 2 m, but did not detonate due to an apparent problem with the fuze.
Under the December 2001 contract for 30 AGM-142s, worth around Rs2.70 billion ($62.7 million), two validation test firings were required by mid-2005. Thereafter, 15 missiles were to be delivered by June and the balance by December.
Ministry of Defence sources indicated that the penalty clause for delayed delivery would come into effect due to the two failed tests, with another round of launches likely before year-end.
The AGM-142/Crystal Maze missile is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor and has an inertial guidance system equipped with datalink and a TV/imaging infra-red homing device. The datalink provides for single aircraft operation but the munitions guidance system can be turned over to a second aircraft, allowing the first to leave the operational area. The missile is intended to arm the IAF’s Mirage 2000H fighters.
Meanwhile, the IAF has issued a request for information involving 100 advanced air-to-surface missiles with a 200 km range. The request has gone to Israel Military Industries, Boeing of the US, Denel of South Africa and France’s MBDA.
VictorWhat univ?
VictorFrom Janes
Chinese fighters to get Russian engines
Nikolai Novichkov JDW Correspondent
MoscowRussia’s Rosoboronexport has signed a contract with China to supply RD-93 engines for China’s new multirole fighter, the FC-1.
According to estimates by analysts, the contract value for the supply of the first 100 engines, spares parts and organisation of maintenance is $267 million. Talks are under way to purchase up to 500 extra RD-93 engines.
Since China plans to export up to 150 FC-1 aircraft to Pakistan under the designation JF-17 Thunder, the Sino-Russian contract rules out the re-exporting of engines both complete with aircraft and as separate power units. Russian sources have consistently told JDW that Moscow would not allow China to re-export the RD-93 engine to Pakistan. Sources in Islamabad responded by stating that any sensitivities would be sidestepped to allow the transfer to go through, perhaps by means of a licensed production deal with China. [u]With these options now closed, it is unclear which engine will power Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter.[/u]
The contract does not envisage licensed production of the RD-93 in China. The restrictions stipulated by the contract are to avoid disturbing the relationship between Russia and India should FC-1s be supplied to Pakistan.
The same stipulation applies to the Zhuk radar, which can be installed only on FC-1 fighters in service with the Chinese Air Force. The export variant of this aircraft will be fitted with a Western-made radar.
The RD-93 engine bound for China is an in-depth upgrade of the Russian RD-33 twin-gauge turbojet engine used in the MiG-29 fighter aircraft, with an accessory gearbox to drive the alternator for electric power positioned underneath. It provides a thrust of 81.4 kN (18,300 lb st) with reheat and ensures a speed of 2,000 km/h at a flight altitude of 16.5 km.
The RD-93 engine has been developed by the Klimov Plant in St Petersburg. The series production of the engine is assigned to the Chernyshev Machine Building Enterprise of Moscow.
In 2002-03 China took delivery of a pilot batch of RD-93s for flight tests on three experimental prototypes of the FC-1.
VictorAFAIK, no one died in the Red Square incident while all of the incidents you mentioned involves death. So, mentioning the Red Square incident in jest is a little bit more palatable than the ones you’ve mentioned.
VictorWon’t the IN Mig-29Ks get the TopSight helmet?
VictorF-16s
VictorI think it’s also meant to give a feel for the Rhinos.
Victorwhat is the missile with mid-body fins in the background ?
Nag
VictorPreview of things to come?
VictorPakistan Pins High Hopes on New Chinese Fighter Jet
By TAHIR IKRAM, REUTERS, KAMRA, Pakistan
Pakistan, which has been seeking high technology aircraft for the last two decades, said May 9 it hoped to start joint production with China from 2007 of multi-role fighter jets.
The first four JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft are expected to be introduced into the air force some time in 2006, said Air Vice Marshal Shahid Latif, project director for JF-17 planes.
The medium-technology aircraft matches the Mirage in performance but has better avionics and weapons, Latif told a news conference at the Kamra Aeronautical complex, 80 km (50 miles) west of Islamabad.
It would replace the aging fleet of Mirage 3 and 5, A-5 and F-7 aircraft, he said.
Latif said the JF-17 could achieve a speed of 1.6 Mach, altitude of 55,000 feet (16,760 meters) and carry weapons of modern warfare.
“The project is not only of strategic importance to the air force but it has far-reaching implications both for the national defense and economic prosperity of Pakistan,” he said.
Latif said the performance of prototypes of the JF-17 had far exceeded expectations and China wanted 250 aircraft to be added to its fleet while Pakistan was looking to acquire 150.
According to the agreement between China and Pakistan, once full production starts, half the plane would be produced in China and half in Pakistan, the officials added.
Chengu Aircraft Design Institute designed the aircraft, and the prototypes were manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Company — both based in China’s Sichuan province, officials said.
Pakistan was also equipping the manufacturing facility to cater for exports. “We already have some export orders,” Latif said, but did not give details.
Pakistan is also planning to introduce more state-of-the art F-16 fighter jets after the United States agreed to sell them to Islamabad in March after two decades of refusal.
Pakistan bought 40 F-16s in the early 1980s when the country was serving as a base for the U.S.-backed resistance against the former Soviet Union’s occupation of Afghanistan.
But another order for the purchase of 70 F-16s in the late 1980s failed to materialize because the United States imposed sanctions on the country for its clandestine nuclear program.
After almost a decade, Pakistan got its money back, having paid for the planes in advance.
VictorMay be Russia is sweetening the pot so that the IN buys another 3 Krivak III
VictorIsrael to help India develop three UAVs
Israel to help India develop three UAVs
April 11, 2005Tel Aviv and New Delhi have entered into a new partnership under which Israel will help India in its development of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
A formal deal was signed at the Aero India 2005 exposition Feb. 9-13 between senior officials of the respective defense ministries. Israel Aircraft Industries will assist state-owned Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), India’s leading UAV laboratory, to develop three new drones.
Moshe Keret, Israel Aircraft Industries’ chief executive, said Feb. 9 that UAVs are an important segment for collaboration, and the company will be working on defense research-and-development programs to benefit both countries. A senior ADE scientist on Feb. 10 said ADE and Israel Aircraft Industries will work to develop three UAVs: the medium-altitude, long-endurance Rustam, the short-range Pawan and the Gagan tactical UAV.
Currently, all of India’s UAV needs are met by Israel, and this partnership will ensure that will continue to be the case for at least the near future. The $100 million Rustam UAV development program will officially begin in June, although work already has begun on planned subsystems. The ADE scientist said this drone is the test case for the overall joint UAV development program. Israel Aircraft Industries and ADE have begun preparatory work that involves testing major subsystems on a manned aircraft in India.
The Rustam will be able to remain aloft for more than 24 hours and will have a range of up to 300 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 10,000 meters. It will be able to use satellite links to transmit data, thereby extending its surveillance range beyond 1,000 kilometers.
The 1,100-kilogram UAV also will be equipped with a maritime patrol radar and electro-optic sensors from Israel, and an engine still to be determined. The electronic warfare and communications system will be indigenous.
This UAV will be used by India’s three military services and will not be exported, the ADE scientist said.
The Rustam program is likely to be completed in 48 months, during which four prototypes will be produced. Development of the short-range, vehicle-mounted Pawan is expected to cost $33.2 million. Meant to equip Indian army divisions, the Pawan will be comparable in size and capabilities to Israel’s Eye View, Hermes 180 and Silver Arrow drones, the scientist said.
The 120-kilogram Pawan will have day and night surveillance capability, an endurance of five hours and a range of 150 kilometers. ADE plans to build four Pawan prototypes under this development program, with Israel Aircraft Industries electro-optic sensors for the payload and its own stabilizer platform. The engine will be purchased from outside India.
The ADE scientist said the Defence Ministry will approve the funding in April, and the four prototypes are likely to be completed within 24 months.
The $55.5 million Gagan UAV program will feature development of an advanced version of India’s Nishant UAV.
The Gagan UAV will have a range of 250 kilometers and an altitude of 6,000 meters. ADE will procure synthetic aperture radar and electro-optic sensors from Israel, and develop its own electronic countermeasures systems. ADE is likely to get the funding clearance in May, and four prototypes will be built within 42 months.
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