yes but my question was.. that Merlin above is not the same merlin in that picture. There’s a giant dish under the Italian Merlin and I’m asking if that dish replaced that giant bulb that extends through the butt.

btw thanks for the picture of the Z-8 lowering its mini radar.

They’re two different AEWC systems on the same platform. The Italian Navy one uses a larger radar an underbelly radome whereas the proposal for the Merlin with the ‘bulb’ is for the British Merlins which will replace the Royal Navy’s AEWC Sea Kings.

where’s the radar?

That little cylinder sticking to the back is it.:D

Does it really matter that they did not have their armament for a year after initial delivery? Not like they were in any sort of combat role at the time. IDK, seems kinda inconsequential in the greater scheme of things.

Also, India had problems with crappy R-77s produced in middle of 90s. I don’t think today’s variants will have any problems.

EDIT: Also, how many Su-30’s does HAL produce yearly? Al-31s? Some recent numbers would be nice.

Last I read (years ago) it was 14 a year: the original 140 MKI production plan envisioned building 14 a year for 10 years or so; since then they’ve supposedly ramped it up a little, not sure of the numbers now.

That said what’s going on at HAL Koraput is something I’d call ‘limited series production’ at best, because numbers are still coming along slowly and the IAF has had to order additional MKIs directly from Irkut.

With the Su-33 upgrade programme, has the Russian Navy given any thought to the old proposal of putting a balance beam radome on the Su-33KUB trainer for an AEW role?

I’m not quite sure how useful it is for a state owned company with a monopoly to make huge profits if the customer for the goods / services sold is the state. Eg let’s imagine HAL makes huge monopoly-based profits assembling aircraft for the IAF. It follows that the Defence Ministry is paying a higher price than it needs to pay for the aircraft assembled by HAL. That is a bizarre way to run a defence contractor – there is zero incentive for the contractor to become more efficient.

Consequently why delays are the norm rather than the exception for Indian defence R&D/manufacturing/upgrade projects despite decades of experience with the same.:D

eg. Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory is the one and only tank manufacture/assembly plant in India. Which means it currently handles
-Manufacture of T-90 tanks
-Manufacture of Arjun tanks
-Upgrade of T-72 tanks

all on its own. Not surprisingly
-All 3 manufacturing/upgrade programmes are years behind schedule
-It nevertheless makes a profit, because, delays be damned, there are no penalties of any sort and the army is going to buy them anyway.

Likewise HAL manufactures/repairs/upgrades each and every aircraft in the IAF’s present and future inventory, ranging from gliders and trainer aircraft to helicopters, fighters and UAVs,

Ghana orders two Airbus Military C295 aircraft

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of two C295 aircraft.

The aircraft are to be delivered from the beginning of 2012. His Excellency Minister of Defence Lt Gen. JH Smith, said the C295 will enable the Air Force to move troops and other security agencies across the country and within the West African sub-region. The aircraft will also be used for medical evacuation, paratrooping, training and humanitarian operations including assistance to organizations such as National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the peace mission of the United Nations. The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana is a new Airbus Military customer.

read more –>>

How much does a C-295 cost? I’d have thought poorer buyers like Ghana would prefer something like the Ukraininan An-72/74 instead…

Kh-38, Kh-58USHK, new Kab-250, Item K047 in development….just for starters.

I’ve read about them. But they’re smaller or subsonic missiles with shorter range, less firepower and more susceptible to enemy air defences.:(

what are the chances that this aircraft is an attempt by China to build its own Il-76, like J-11 to Su-27?

Very likely, given not only the physical similarities but also the fact that it appeared and gained momentum only after the failure of the Chinese IL-76 contract.