Indian1973the three Type42s are about 25 years old being from 1978-79.
two of the Type23s named are from 1990-91 , the third Grafton is from 1997 !!
a few are minesweepers, and the rest minehunters only 15-20 yrs old max.
Indian1973http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/07054top.xml
Superior Management Puts Best Companies Ahead of the Competition
By Anthony L. Velocci, Jr.
07/04/2004 09:18:26 PM
STAYING AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION
As airlines and aerospace/defense companies continue to struggle through uncertain times and battle powerful market forces, it may be comforting to know that those who have done a superior job of managing their resources stand out from their competition. For that matter, so do organizations that have built reputations for disciplined growth and strong operating cultures.
Case in point: carriers and aerospace contractors that rose to the top of Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Top-Performing Companies study for 2004. (Aviation Week’s resource partners in the project were CSFB HOLT, a division of Credit Suisse First Boston, and AirWatch Report, a unit of Aviation Forecasting & Economics Inc.)
Some of the names no doubt will resonate with many Aviation Week readers. Among large aerospace/defense companies, General Dynamics Corp. ranked No. 1–for the third time in three of the last four years. But the study, also known as the Index of Competitiveness, is the kind of rigorous analysis in which highly entrepreneurial names can emerge from relative obscurity, globally speaking.
Two such organizations came into sharp focus, backed by some impressive performance figures. Ranked at the top of the medium-size category of companies is Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), headquartered in India. The defense electronics designer and manufacturer is a perennial award-winner for research and development in a country that’s rapidly acquiring a worldwide reputation for engineering excellence. In the No. 1 position in the small-company category is Invision Technologies, whose explosive-detection systems are in high demand around the world.
As part of the study, Aviation Week and CSFB HOLT examined which ones improved their overall operating performances the most between 2002 and 2003, the last fiscal year for which data were available. Honeywell International and Raytheon Co.–two of the industry’s biggest names–ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in improvement over the two-year period. What’s noteworthy is that both have labored in recent years to regain momentum following setbacks of one kind or another. The question is whether they can sustain their improved performances.
Top-ranked airlines fit much the same profile as the best aerospace/defense contractors, with two of the three carriers illustrating that even in commercial air transportation–as treacherous a marketplace as exists–solid performances can be quantified and measured. Among large carriers, the No. 1 player is steady-as-she-goes Southwest Airlines, which makes the business of running a major carrier in good times and bad look deceptively easy. The top-ranked medium-size airline is Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, and top honors in the small-airline category go to none other than Ireland’s Ryanair Holdings plc–for the fifth time in the last six years. Among cargo airlines, United Parcel Service beat out FedEx for the top spot.
To learn what drove each of these aerospace and airline businesses to the top in this year’s study, see the stories beginning on p. 56.
There is no way to predict which companies will rank at the top in 2005, of course, but this much is certain: Growth per se is not synonymous with value creation, and execution–in good times and bad–is still the name of the game.
Indian1973you mean the KA31 radar picket ?
Indian1973Tejas-LCA Completed 248 Test Flights (21-Jul-04)
TEJAS – LCA has completed 248 test flights successfully TD1-89, TD2-103, PV1-55
Indian1973its ALWAYS short of 300, even if it means 299.9999 đ
Indian1973I suspect spotting heat plumes at OTH range could be a tad difficult in the tropics where the sea level temp is around 35C compared to the cold northern oceans ?
Indian1973so any specs on this engine and does it differ from RD-93 ?
Indian1973http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=071926
Pakistan setting up second military base near Karachi
Islamabad, July 18: Pakistan is building its second military base at Masroor near Karachi to house the multi-role C-130 planes and the base will be ready before the end of this year.
âAuthorities concerned are engaged day and night to complete it before December this year,â The News reported today.
At present, Chaklala is the only transport base of Pakistan Air Force. The Masroor air base will have hangers for wide-bodied planes and its airstrip will be strengthened and expanded further, the sources said.
Quoting well-placed defence sources, it said the base was being developed with assistance from the United States which would provide Pakistan the latest version of the C-130 planes.
The planes were being supplied under an agreement, signed by both the countries last year when Pakistanâs defence secretary Lieutenant General Hamid Nawaz Khan visited the United States.
The supply of the planes would start in December this year. At least six planes will become part of the Pakistan Air Forceâs (PAF) transport fleet within a year. With this the strength of paf fleet nearly double, it said.
The PAF had a dozen C-130 planes in the beginning but four has since crashed and one was damaged and still not in service. The C-130 is the most preferred plane in the world in the single configuration category, with as many as 1,530 of them in use with different air forces.
The PAF decided to go for another base as its fleet would not be operational in the event of any problem at Chaklala, the sources said.
The Masroor air base, previously known as Mauri Pur air base, is considered to be the forward base for provision of assistance for the naval operations. It is among the largest bases of southern air command that used to have bomber planes. It was named after a valiant fighter pilot Masroor, who died in the 1971 war.
Indian1973http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040718/asp/frontpage/story_3510996.asp
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040718/images/18plane1.jpg
Red & blue flash in Indo-US thunder
– Military ties leap to âjoggingâ stage with big-ticket war games
SUJAN DUTTA
New Delhi, July 17: Beginning tomorrow, fighters of the Indian Air Force will be on bombing missions in war games hosted by the US.
Six Jaguars of the IAF make up the offensive complement in âblueâ â friendly or allied â forces in the exercises that will simulate real life combat scenarios involving mid-air dogfights and electronic curtains. The aircraft will be tasked to penetrate through defences, fly low and bomb targets in the US Pacific Air Forceâs ranges near the Eielson and Elmendorf air bases in Alaska.
Forces from 11 countries are participating in the largest multilateral air combat exercise â âCooperative Cope Thunder 04-01â â in the Pacific region. The forces would be divided into âredâ (invading/attacking elements), âblueâ (friendly/allied elements) and âwhiteâ (neutral observers).
The exercise is a notch higher than the first fighter exercises with the US in Gwalior in February this year following which the US Air Force returned with a reappraisal of the IAFâs capabilities. âI would say that our military to military relations are on a crawl-walk-run course and at the moment we are jogging,â says air attache at the US embassy in New Delhi, Colonel John Albert Hill.
The Jaguars would be cast in the role that MiG-27 aircraft of the IAF played in the Gwalior exercise, âCope Indiaâ.
Earlier this month, a top US general who is the head of the US air combat command acknowledged that the American air force was given a tough time in Gwalior when Indiaâs MiG aircraft scored against American F-15Cs. In Alaska, the IAF will be engaged with air forces that are in Nato.
The British-origin twin-engine Jaguars, christened âShamsherâ in the IAF, are from the 14 and 15 squadrons based in the strategic Ambala airbase. They are deep penetration strike aircraft that have rich combat experience. The IAF has six squadrons of Jaguars, some of them armed with stealth capability — the ability to evade certain electronic detection signals — and are said to be in the process of being made nuclear capable.
An IAF contingent comprising 10 aircraft — apart from the Jaguars there are two IL76 heavy lift transporters and two recently acquired IL78 refuellers — reached Eielson airbase on July 9 flying over 19,000 km for the exercise. This week the IAF aircraft did two days of âfamiliarisationâ and practice flying that involved getting to know the airspace, coping with forest fires and getting a hold on US air force jargon. For instance, what the US air force calls a âtouch-and-goâ landing is referred to as a ârollerâ in the IAF.
The combat sorties begin tomorrow and will last through till July 30. The IL78 refuellers would be used in the Alaska exercise for the Jaguars to lengthen sorties. The average time for a sortie in the IAF is 30 minutes while that in the US air force is 90 minutes. Aircraft consume more fuel on operational missions when they also carry heavy payloads.
Exercise âCooperative Cope Thunder 04-01â is designed to reduce casualty rates of aircrews in the first eight to 10 missions during hostilities. The IAF contingent that comprises more than 200 personnel, a man-portable air defence team and a tactical air control party will be tasked for ground attack. Forces from the US, UK, Japan and other countries will be cast in âair superiorityâ and âair dominanceâ roles. Some elements will be the âescortsâ for the IAFâs Jaguars.
In the first few sorties, the IAF team led by Group Captain S. Nanodkar will fly with air defence cover provided by a Japanese air defence team and will coordinate with American E-3 (Awacs) that have been used by the US in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and during the war over Iraq. The IAF will be flying with the Awacs for the first time.
Indian1973I couldnt find a PAF news thread after going back 5 pages so posting it here for lack of a better place.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_21-7-2004_pg1_5
10 foreigners killed in Shakai
* Four troops die in attack
* Army spokesman says militants âflushed outâ from adjoining mountains
* Another jirga ends inconclusively
PESHAWAR: Pakistani troops using artillery and gunship helicopters on Tuesday morning pounded strongholds of suspected foreign terrorists in Shakai, killing 10 of them, AP quoted a senior security official as saying.
The official, who requested anonymity, said all the dead were foreigners, including two Uzbeks.
Pakistan Army spokesman, Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan, confirmed the attack on militantsâ hideouts, but did not give details on the number of suspects killed.
âI confirm that todayâs operation was successful, and our forces have captured two hide-outs of the foreign militants,â he said.
Maj Gen Sultan said militants had been âflushed outâ from the area, according to Reuters.
âFlushed out means that they have either been killed or pushed out,â the army spokesman said.
Iqbal Khattak adds from Peshawar: Pakistan Air Force F-7 fighter jets and gunship helicopters on Tuesday morning pounded strongholds of suspected foreign terrorists in Shakai, with the army claiming that it had secured all militantsâ hideouts around the Mantoi and Santoi valleys. âTroops are using whatever weapons they need,â Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said. But he was reluctant to confirm aerial bombardment âLet me say I am not confirming aerial bombardment,â was his reply when asked to confirm if the air force was being used along with artillery.
Sources in Wana and Tiarzah, close to Shakai, told Daily Times on the phone that they saw fighter jets and gunship helicopters pound strongholds in the mountains around the Santoi and Mantoi valleys.
âI am not sure if it was carpet bombing but I heard loud explosions and jets and gunship helicopters were continuously firing on the area,â said a Tiarzah resident. Asked if there were any civilian casualties or for that matter casualties on the army and terrorists, he said the army had sealed off the area and not much information was coming out. The military spokesman would not either speak about casualties.
Tribal sources said four Punjab Regiment soldiers died and three were injured when foreign terrorists attacked army positions in the area. The security forces fired 75 artillery shells within the space of two hours from the Zarinoor base in Wana and Tiarzah Fort last night to flush out terrorists, witnesses said. They said the army had advanced on the militantsâ hideouts but it was meeting with resistance. Maj Gen Sultan said a suspected foreign fighter carrying rockets and a rocket launcher was captured in Tuesdayâs operation. âHe appears to be a foreigner. I have no details about his nationality at the moment,â he said.
Meanwhile, a jirga of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe on Tuesday failed to decide the fate of two wanted tribesmen. âThe jirga was split over whether to demolish houses of the relatives of Muhammad Javed and Maulvi Abbas or hand over two of their relatives to the authorities,â a tribal elder told Daily Times. The jirga will meet again today in Wana, he added.
Indian1973http://www.123bharath.com/india-news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=2915
Sea King choppers’ test facility opened (With India-Defence-Navy) :
India News > Bangalore, July 17: A test facility for the Indian Navy’s Sea King helicopters was opened at the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) here Saturday.
The facility, located at HAL’s helicopter complex here, will undertake repair and overhaul of the Sea King’s transmission system and rotables.
As part of the repair and overhaul facility, a test rig has been set up to carry out acceptance tests on the gearboxes after repairs and servicing.
ZF Luftfahrttechnik of Germany supplied the test stand supplied by according to HAL specifications.
Indian1973http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_899776,0008.htm
Gorshkov aircraft carrier to be delivered in India by August 2008
Press Trust of India
New Delhi, July 21
The Russian-built aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Gorshkov’ is scheduled to be delivered by August 2008, the Rajya Sabha was told on Wednesday.
Contracts and Supplementary Agreements were signed with Russia on January 20, 2004 for the induction of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while replying to a question.
An amount of Rs 449.29 crore has been so far released for the aircraft carrier, he said.
Base : The first phase of the naval base in Kanwar is likely to become operational by October 2005, Mukherjee said, adding an amount of Rs 1457.58 crore has been spent so far.
Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 2459.20 crore to complete the first phase, he said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_899828,0008.htm
Govt to induct BrahMos missiles in armed forces
Press Trust of India
New Delhi, July 21
The Government propose to induct indigenous BrahMos missiles into the Indian Armed Forces, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Replying to a question, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after a series of successful flight trials from ships and land-based mobile launchers, the Navy is inducting this missile into some of their ships.
He said export potential of BrahMos was good and specific clearance will be sought from both the governments of India and Russia before it was exported.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040720/asp/nation/story_3518042.asp
Defence date with Israel today
SUJAN DUTTA
New Delhi, July 19: Senior officials of Israelâs military-industrial complex would be in a delegation expected to hold talks with the defence ministry tomorrow, official sources said today.
The visit comes close on the heels of visits by senior Indian military officials, including the vice chief of army staff Lt General Shantonu Choudhary and Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, who is due to take over as the navy chief on July 31.
India-Israel military ties continue to grow despite both sides being cagey about publicising the relationship. This is the first time that a senior Israeli defence delegation will be visiting New Delhi since the United Progressive Alliance government took over. The Congressâ major ally, the Left has been critical of the growing ties with Israel and has been steadfast in its support for the Palestine Liberation Organisation. But defence minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that Indiaâs security considerations were paramount and that its military relations would be guided by that token.
Talks with the Israeli defence team will focus on acquisition of Barak missiles for Indian warships and joint development in projects. Indiaâs premier defence firm, Hindustan Aeronautics, has already entered into an agreement with Israeli Aircraft Industry that is marketing the HAL-manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter.
New Delhi has bought unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel and is understood to be negotiating purchases of more surveillance systems such as sensors, night vision and remote sensing devices. Some of the IAF Russian-origin fighters are also being upgraded with Israeli avionics.
Israel is a distant second to Russia as a supplier of military equipment to India. About 70 per cent of Indian military hardware is sourced from Russia or from the former Soviet Union countries. But India is Israelâs largest buyer of military equipment. Israel packages its military trade with India into its diplomatic ties.
India-Israel military trade is now estimated to have crossed $ 10 billion. The latest acquisition signed was for five Phalcon airborne early warning and control systems in a $ 1.5 billion deal.
Last September, a major Israeli delegation that had come to Delhi, sought and got an assurance from the then defence minister George Fernandes that information on military ties and military technology would be kept confidential. The Israelis had asked for the assurance because it was not very comfortable with Indiaâs diplomatic relations with Iran. Israel accuses Tehran of backing Hizbollah militants in its territory.
Israel has proposed to India that it can consider participating in a development programme for a conventional submarine. India and Israel are also understood to have agreed to collaborate on developing a short-range missile.
Indian1973it sure has a different warhead section.
Indian1973taking bets on who’s going to buy it first….
Indian1973excellent…I hope IN can spare some cash next year…
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