black eagleBANGALORE, FEB. 12. Faced with continuing problems in test-firing the nuclear-capable Agni-III missile, scientists in the Defence Research & Development Organisation are planning a gradual step-up in the range of Agni-II missile, said an engineer associated with the project.
Agni-II, which has been successfully test-fired since 1999, can hit targets 2,500 km away but strategic experts do not think it would be able to threaten certain major cities in the neighbourhood. However, the project to make Agni-III with a range of 3,500 km has been encountering technical difficulties for the past two years. This necessitated a rethink in DRDO circles and it has been decided to first increase the range of Agni-II by 300 km in the first phase. Subsequent range enhancements will depend on the success of the test of the special Agni-II missile.
The DRDO, along with its private sector partners, has already begun work on reconfiguring the various components of the 2,500-km range Agni-II including the propulsion and various software systems, said the engineer. “Work is underway,” he said but declined to state how much of it remained to be completed.
Other circles would not comment on the development particularly in view of the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee’s reluctance to speak on the subject while inaugurating the Bangalore air show earlier this week. “Don’t expect me to speak on it,” he said when asked about the likely date on which Agni-III missile would be launched. In the past, Union Cabinet Ministers and DRDO top brass have been proved wrong about the likely launch date of the missile which is planned to be developed into a “true” intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 km, thus giving considerable flexibility in locating it deep inside India.
Defence circles claim to have begun the process of equipping an Army regiment with the Agni-I version with a range of 700 to 800 km after it met all technical parameters in a test on July 4 last year. Sources said the Army missile groups 334 and 335 would take care of the missile while the missile groups 222 and 333 have already been equipped with the much shorter-range Prithvi surface-to-surface missile. There is no official confirmation about these missile groups or the fact that Agni missiles will vest with the Army or some other service or department. ๐
black eagledoes anybody have any information wheather the LCA performed in AERO INDIA 05 ( I’m not talking about the flypast ) & if it did does anyone have a video link of that? ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
black eagleTrial of Akash & Nag missile soon
User trials of the indigenously-developed surface-to-air missiles Akash and anti-tank missiles Nag will be taken up this year while the tests on Agni-I and II missles have been completed, Dr M Natrajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister said on Friday.
Talking to newspersons at the Aero India show, he, however declined comment on the Agni III programme stating strategic reasons.
Director of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Dr Dipankar Banerji, said that ADE was working on major upgradation of unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles such as Nishant by upgrading their range.
Nishant, the pilotless remote controlled aircraft developed by ADE met various requirements of the Army and it had placed four firm and eight optional orders. Indian Air Force had also shown interest for procuring Nishant.
Nishant is used for reconnaissance, target acquisition, target designation, damage assessment and electronic surveillance.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has developed Nishant, has designed comprehensive capabilities in all aspects of flight control, design and engineering for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) to meet the Army’s operational requirement of a Remotely Pilotted Vehicle (RPV).
It was decided in September 1988 that DRDO would undertake to develop an RPV. In October 1991 Government sanctioned the project covering the design and development of RPV at a cost of Rs 34 crore (FE Rs 8 crore).
The Nishant unmanned air vehicle has a range of at least 100 km. The 360 kg vehicle was designed for electronic intelligence and electro-optic reconnaissance for the Indian Army. Flying at 40 to 60 meters per second, Nishant is capable of battlefield surveillance with data sent in real time. ๐
black eagleindia to develop hypersonic missile soon
The country’s premier Defence and Research Organisation (DRDO) on Friday said that India is getting ready to enter next generation hypersonic missile technology zone.
Prahalada, director of missiles programme, said, that a pilot project has been started, adding the demonstrator vehicle would be ready within three to five years time.
“We have taken up Research and Development, pure R&D, that can we assimilate technologies for going hypersonic. It can be an unmanned vehicle, it can be a missile, it can be transporter aircraft. It can be a disaster management supporting system. Anything is possible. So that requires a lot of R&D. These are real fundamental R&D in combustion, in fuel dynamics, materials like that. So we have started a small you can say a pilot project for hypersonic technology demonstrator like we did in Agni technology demonstrator in early 1980s,” he said on the sidelines of the Aero India show in Bangalore.
The technology would require development of special engines and materials for the missile as well as use of a fuel that would sustain high speeds.
The DRDO is developing scramjet engines that would have the ability to sustain such conditions. There is also the ongoing development of a hyperplane system for the proposed hypersonic missile. (ANI)
black eagleUS F-15E has an indian connection
The American F-15 E that has been slotted out of the Aero India show has an Indian connection in the cockpit. Twenty seven-year-old Capt Raja Chari flying the fighter is an Indo-American.
Chari, whose father is Indian and mother American, is among the few Indian-origin citizens who make it to the American services. โโMy father moved to the US many years ago, but he is originally from Hyderabad. Many of my relatives are still there,โโ Capt Chari said.
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Though he has been in the city only for the last few days, he has struck an instant rapport with Indian pilots here. โโWe interacted with MiG-29 and Sukhoi-30 pilots and I must say, I find a lot of similarities among us. I had a great time discussing flying techniques and manoeuvres with them. They are all extremely well-trained and highly skilled pilots,โโ he added.
Clad in a flying suit, Capt Chari first dreamt of flying when he was 13 and struggled all the way to climb into the cockpit. โโIt is not always easy. You have to make many sacrifices, give up some fun stuff. I have to stay away from my wife for long periods. But itโs worth all the effort. Flying this craft is an indescribable experience. Every day, I am glad that I am here, working for a higher cause.โโ
He has been flying the F-15 E for a little less than two years now, before which he flew trainers for three years.
The Indian Express caught up with him just as he was leaving to see relatives in Hyderabad. โโI would love to fly this craft there, itโs unfortunate I am taking a civilian flight,โโ he joked.
And his advice for aspiring pilots in the country: โโAlways keep your eyes on the goal and be prepared to put in plenty of hard work.โโ
โIAF Garuds to fight insurgents in J-Kโ
BANGALORE: The IAF special forces, Garuds, are all set to head for the Kashmir heights from next month. As part of its decision to add more teeth to anti-insurgency operations in the Valley, the Centre has cleared the deployment of Garud commandos in Jammu and Kashmir. The personnel, sources said, would be moved latest by March-end. โโGaruds will be deployed in J-K during March this year,โโ sources said. One unit of the highly trained special force is now in the city to counter any terrorist threat at the ongoing Aero at Yelahanka Air Force station.-ENS
black eagleJaguars to have second upgrade
The Indian Air Force’s newly-ordered Jaguar D-2 fighters will outshine predecessors with a quarter century of distinguished service, with a second major avionics upgradation.
After beginning replacement of the original first generation Marconi inertial navigation and attack system NAVWASS (leading technology at that time, but becoming outdated over the years) with the DARIN-I (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) upgrade, the IAF has asked for the DARIN-II upgrade on the new Jaguars it has ordered from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The further upgrade of the avionics suite will extend the operational life of the Jaguars by at least another two decades. DARIN-II involves a Sagem Ring-Laser-Gyro Inertial Navigation System (INS) with integrated Global Positioning System (GPS), the combination yielding a position accuracy within 100 metres, and not degrading with flight time, highly-placed defence sources said.
Twin mission computers for mission competency and planning, developed by DRDOs Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) have been installed, providing much better redundancy than in the original DARIN refit, they added.
Armed and dangerous
The new Jaguar D-2 will be armed with three different types of runway-denial bombs, four types of Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs), a sea engagement missile for the Maritime variant, and the MAGIC-II air-to-air missile.
The upgrade is in progress on the 17 two-seat Jaguars being manufactured by HAL, with at least eight of these already been delivered.
The Jaguars, the first supersonic fighter-bombers to be inducted by any South Asian country, were acquired in the late 1970s to meet the IAFs urgent requirement for deep penetration strike missions. Chosen over the Swedish Saab Viggen and the French Mirage F1, they replaced the vintage Canberras and Hunters employed in this role till then.
The Jaguars had performed very well in the multinational Cooperative Cope Thunder exercise held in Alaska in July 2004. ๐ก ๐ก
black eagleAir Chief Marshal S P Tyagi on Thursday announced the Indian Air Force (IAF) intention to buy 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
However, the IAF๏ฟฝs earlier decision to go in for 126 Medium Range Combat Aircraft will sound the death knell of the LCA programme in the long term.
Today the LCA program is at a stage where the IAF has to take charge of programme management. At this stage, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) tasked with development of the LCA has completed the technology demonstration (TD) phase.
The Prototype Vehicle-2, the fourth aircraft, is due to fly shortly. It will have the ๏ฟฝproduction standard๏ฟฝ airframe and avionics fit. Hence the industry needs to enter the scene and participate in the project with the IAF as the programme manager. This is the only way to take the programme forward and ensure that the ๏ฟฝInitial Operational Clearance๏ฟฝ is possible by 2007. Only then can product support be possible in the field for the next three to four decades.
Till now the IAF has been waiting on the sidelines for the successful demonstration of the three core technologies namely composite airframe, digital fly- by- wire and glass cockpit. Importantly, the IAF is yet to invest a single rupee in the LCA programme to date. The Indian Navy on the other hand has committed Rs 400 crore for the naval variant of the LCA. At the inception of the programme, the politics of military aeronautics began in the late 1980s because the IAF and the DRDO disagreed over the unrealistic timeframe of the LCA ๏ฟฝs induction into the IAF — 1995. Though the IAF proved correct about its misgivings, it is now high time that it takes a positive interest in the program.
Moreover, Air Chief Marshal (retd) S Krishnaswamy did not want the LCA to be powered by a US engine because of Washington๏ฟฝs track record of unreliability as a supplier of military hardware. He wanted the ๏ฟฝKaveri๏ฟฝ engine powered version of the LCA.
Unfortunately the ๏ฟฝKaveri๏ฟฝ programme is running two-three years behind schedule. In view of this the US engine will have to power the first batch of LCA.
The DRDO, besides the ADA are only R&D organisations that are not structured to provide product support over extended periods. Therefore, this transition is imperative for the LCA to successfully enter squadron service with the IAF.
Otherwise the LCA will end up as another TD programme and the IAF should take the programme to its logical conclusion.
black eagleindia will buy 20 aircrafts : lockheed
America’s biggest defence firm Lockheed Martin today said India is planning to buy about 12 P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft and about eight C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for its navy and the air force.
“Indian Navy is looking at acquiring anywhere between eight and 12 P-3C Orion and the IAF is planning a smaller number of C-130J Hercules, between six and eight,” Lockheed Martin Aerospace Company regional vice-president Dennys Plessas told reporters here at the Aero India air show.
He said the US government had issued export licenses for selling the two aircraft to India and US navy officials would visit New Delhi to discuss with its Indian counterpart about the P-3C Orion planes.
Lockheed yesterday said it would reveal the sensitive technology behind the P-3C Orion naval aircraft to state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
“We believe that the P-3C aircraft will become an important inventory in the Indian navy,” Plessas said, adding that Lockheed was in talks with HAL for sourcing components, training and having a service team ready here when the deal comes through.
Besides the Hercules C-130J, he said, Lockheed was also in talks with the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force to sell the C-27J, 10 tonne, multi-mission airlifter, that can carry about 63 troops.
Plessas said Lockheed is in the process of evaluating several Indian organisations for sourcing products, parts and maintenance.
He said the American military equipment major is looking at Indian IT firms to source software and avionics, both in the private and the public sector.
Plessas said the US could not display its F-16 falcon fighter, for which India has sought RFI (request for information) from Lockheed, as the enquiry came much later after US finalised its plan to send the F-15 eagles.
He, however, said the future airshows would definitely have the F-16 flying in the Indian skies.
black eagleAfter five years of negotiations India will be buying Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air ๏ฟฝDerby๏ฟฝ missiles from the Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, Rafael has won a deal worth $25 million to supply 20 Derby missiles to the Indian Navy. According to Rafael, the deal includes six practice missiles. The missiles are designated for the Indian Navy๏ฟฝs Sea Harrier planes, which are stationed on Viraat aircraft carriers.
The agreement between India and Rafael is slated for signing after the Aero India Show. India has been conducting a worldwide search for BVR missiles for its battle fleet since 2000. The contract for arming its Sea Harrier jets was then opened in 2003.
Under the draft agreement, Rafael will station specialists in India to train the Navy in maintenance and operation of missiles. An Indian defence ministry official said that Rafael would also supply racks and trailers for transferring and installing the missiles.
Delivery of the missiles will start 30 months after the contract is signed, and be completed a year after that. According to Rafael, the missiles have a maximum range of 20 kilometres, a flying speed of Mach 1.2, and can lock in on the target even before being launched, or shortly after launch.
Sources said that IAF also needed next-generation BVR missiles in order to upgrade its Mirage 2000H and Sukhoi Su-30 MKI.
The need for new missiles was revealed in early 2003, when the IAF๏ฟฝs weapon systems were unable to cope with those of French in the joint Indo-French military manoeuvres.
black eagleIsrael unveils tiny drone at aero india’ 05
Seeking to boost sales of sophisticated weapons, 14 of the country’s top defense firms are displaying their best at an arms fair to open near New Delhi Wednesday.
Known as Aero India, the four-day fair is one of the largest air shows in South Asia and a showcase for lucrative deals.
Israel will be joining some two dozen countries attempting to cash in on India’s modernization plans for its military.
Rafael, the Armaments Development Authority, is using the opportunity to unveil its newest, small UAV called the Skylite โ a miniature drone which is launched from a canister.
This is the fifth time that Israel has participated in the fair. The last time, Pakistan warned it not to sell India any weaponry that could be used against it. There were no reports of any warning this year.
The Defense Ministry, which repeatedly declines to comment on its lucrative arms trade with India, issued a rare statement on the defense relations.
It said that SIBAT, the Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization, was opening a pavilion in which 14 local defense industries would be offering items ranging from anti-tank rockets, electronic warfare and drones, to rocket motors, communications systems and armor.
Also on hand will be top defense officials, such as Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron and Yossi Ben-Hanan, head of SIBAT.
Other companies are expected to announce deals during the event that has attracted more than 350 companies. India is considered a great cash cow for Israeli defense products. Local defense industries are reluctant to reveal the extent of their deals with India, but the US-based Defense News reported this week that in 2003, India purchased $2.7 billion worth of arms and munitions from Israel, more than 30 percent of total orders for the defense industries.
India is seeking to modernize its military with high-tech weaponry. However, New Delhi wants to do with through joint ventures and not necessarily off-the-shelf purchases from abroad.
According to Defense News, Rafael will sign a $25 million contract to provide the Indian navy with 20 Derby missiles that can be fired beyond visual range. The missiles are designated to be used by Harriers stationed on India’s aircraft carrier. Officials from Rafael could not be reached for comment.
While senior Defense Ministry officials have visited India often in the past months, this week’s open display of Israeli defense industry capabilities marks a step up in the confidence in defense ties between the two countries.
Among the companies plying their wares in New Delhi are Elbit Systems, Elisra Group, EMIT Aviation Consult, RADA Electronic Industries, Orbit ACS, Israel Aircraft Industries and Aeronautics Defense Systems.
black eagleMiG-M2 , sea harrier to steal the show
Air Force Station Yelahanka, February 5
When MIG design bureau pilot Pavel Vlasov flew in his MIG-29 M2 from Bangalore airport to Air Force Station Yelahanka for the forthcoming Air Show, he found he had a little extra fuel on board which he had to burn off before landing. So he asked the Air Traffic Control for permission to practice his display profile, and was given the go ahead.
And for the lucky few who were witness to the next few minutes, he put up a breathtaking display of turns, tail slides, rolls and loops, not to mention a โkobra,โ at angles of attack exceeding 100 degrees. Clearly, he was pushing at the very edge of his planned profile, and as he threw the aircraft around the way one would have believed only a teenager with an MTB can do, he left no doubt that he was going to be one of the stars at Aero India 2005, scheduled to begin on February 9.
While the Sukhoi is normally associated with the โCobraโ manoeuvre, (where the aircraft is almost stalling in the air with the airfoils meeting the air at angles exceeding 100 degrees) the Sukhoi-30 MKI at this airshow is an IAF squadron line aircraft (to be flown by Sqd Ldr Sandeep).
The Indian Navy’s Sea Harrier, featured for the first time in the Aero India series, will be the other highlight. It wont show off its vertical take off capability, as the engines on full thrust blasting into the runway will burn off chunks of it. Notes Sqd Ldr A.D. Theophilus: โSo we will do a rolling take off, with nozzles at about 60 degrees, taking off under 400 feet. The landing will be a `creeping’ landing with hover and rearward moves, so we are not continuously over the runway at a single point.โ And of course, there will be the trademark bow – a courteous dip of the nose towards the crowd.
The much touted American presence with the F-15 and an Orion P3C might become a bit of a let down, as officials say that as of now, they are confirmed only for a `static display.’ They will not be flying – unless a change is made in the last minute. The Hawk 100 AJT from British Aerospace will be another aircraft to watch out for, apart from classic Indian Air Force attractions like the elegant Jaguars and the Surya Kiran display team. The Indian Navy will also be flying the Kamov-31 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopter. :diablo:
black eagleIAF to simpllify system release of phased out aircraft
Chandigarh, February 4
With a number of civilian institutions keen on procuring phased-out IAF aircraft, the Air Force is in the process of simplify procedures to release aircraft which it no longer requires.
Air Force sources said that the Maintenance Command has already written to Air Headquarters asking it to simplify procedures and delegate the powers to release “life-expired aircraft” to lower establishments.
In a shift in policy, the IAF had recently expressed its keenness to hand over life-expired aircraft to educational institutes and other civilian establishments where they are used for display purposes.
No.3 Base Repair Depot here had last year, handed over a Mi-8 helicopter along with an engine to the Punjab Engineering College. Though the aircraft had exhausted its stipulated service life and could no longer be used for flying, it was in working condition and still incorporated major components which could be studied by students.
Sources said that since then two engineering colleges in the region have approached the local Air Force authorities seeking life-expired aircraft to be placed in their premises. They added that Air Force establishments in other parts of the country could well be getting similar requests.
“Each case for release of life-expired aircraft requires individual clearance from Air Headquarters. The process initiating from local stations through the chain of command and back is long and cumbersome,” a senior IAF officer said. “It has been suggested that a blanket clearance for release be accorded and the decision to release such aircraft be delegated to lower establishments,” he added.
Older versions of MiG-21, Mi-8 helicopter and Canberra, which have exhausted their total technical life are available for civilian establishments who meet the stipulated criteria. Besides, other aircraft which get damaged in accidents and are no longer considered fit for flying are also released. Certain machinery and components are removed from aircraft before release.
With the older generation of aircraft in the IAF’s inventory is expected to be retired in the coming years, the IAF would have a large number of life-expired aircraft on its hands.
“It is seen that life expired-aircraft, after cannibalisation, are often left rotting in the open for years and sold as scrap,” an officer said. “Simplification of release procedures would ensure quick disposal and also preserve the airframe,” he added. :dev2:
black eagleUK lobbying for eurofighter sale to india
A delegation of cross-party MPs and businessmen from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce are currently on a visit to London.
FROM SHYAM BHATIA
DH NEWS SERVICE, LONDON:
The British government is โpushing hardโ for India to purchase the Eurofighter for the IAF, a visiting Indian MP has revealed.
Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is co-chair of a delegation of cross-party MPs and businessmen from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) currently visiting London, told Deccan Herald that the issue of selling the Eurofighter, developed jointly by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, was raised by British Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach last Monday.
Other MPs who were received by Lord Bach include Shiv Senaโs Suresh Prabhu, BJPโs Ananth Kumar, Anand Sharma and Ajay Maken of Congress, Samajwadiโs Akilesh Yadav and Rajya Sabha MP Lalit Puri.
India recently signed a $1 billion deal to purchase 66 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft from the UK and the idea of future defence deals involving other fighter aircraft has now been raised by British officials and defence exporters in London.
โAs you know the AJT deal has been finalised and thatโs close to a billion dollar deal for 66 jets, but thereโs also the issue of upgrading six squadrons of MiG 21s and the UK government is pushing hard for the Eurofighter,โ Mr Scindia told Deccan Herald in an exclusive interview.
โFrom an Indian standpoint what is interesting is the offset that should be given. That was also the subject of discussion with Lord Bach, who is the minister for defence procurement.โ Mr Scindia, who believes bilateral trade could be worth $12 billion by next year, stressed that defence technology was just one of many areas of future collaboration that was discussed by the delegation with their British hosts.
โIndia and the UK have shared a very long history and a long relationship over decades and over the last six to seven years we have seen the blooming of economic ties between the two countries,โ he explained.
โIn terms of trade that is now worth over $10 billion, hopefully reaching about $12 bn next year; also India happens to be the second most important investor in the UK and similarly the UK also happens to be the third most important investor in India.
โWe have seen close to 480 UK companies investing and taking positions in India and similarly a large number of transactions taking place from the Indian space in the UK, whether it is Relianceโs purchases of Flag Telecom, or the purchase of CO Pharmaceuticals.
More scholarships
Mr Scindia and the other MPs have also asked British officials about what can be done to increase the number of scholarships for Indian students who want to study in the UK.
โToday the number of students coming to the UK has risen exponentially from 1,500 to 15,000,โ Mr Scindia said. ๐ฎ ๐ฎ
black eagleHawk, MiG-21 arrives for aero india
The number of Indian companies participating in this yearโs show has gone up almost 100 per cent as compared to the previous show, when there were 76 participants.
BANGALORE, DHNS:
Hawks, MiG 21, Bell helicopter and KA-28 helicopter were among the first aircraft to land at the Air Force station in Yelahanka on Thursday to participate in the Aero India 2005 which is going to be held from February 9 to 13.
According to a senior officer in the Ministry of Defence, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the Meteorologic Monitoring officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have already set up their advanced systems to monitor the air traffic and the weather during the Aero India show.
The IAF has setup their MESO weather monitoring system which will send weather data up to three days in advance using mathematical module, to the pilots flying the aircraft. The weather monitoring system uses weather data from weather satellites, the officer said. The air traffic over Yelahanka will be monitored in co-ordination with the ATC HAL Airport, the officer added. The airspace 30 nautical miles to the north of Yelahanka Air Force Station in 300 to 360 radial at level 150 (15,000 ft) will be available for the participating aircraft, to fly during the show, the officer added.
The inner security of the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, will be maintained by the IAF and the external security and traffic will be maintained by the State police, the officer said.
Higher numbers
According to Joint Director, Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO), Rajesh Dhingra, โThe number of Indian companies participating in this yearโs show has gone up almost 100 per cent as compared to the previous show, when there were just 76 participants.โ Among the Indian companies to participate are Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Samtel, BAe-HAL Software Ltd, Titan Industries, Saras Technologies Pvt Ltd, Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Barracuda Camouflage (P) Ltd and Bijal Petroleum Equipment Corporation.
Aircraft of Lockheed Martin such as the PC3 Orion and the C130 Hercules will be on display and will take part in the flying demonstrations, he said.
According to the sources, F-15 fighters belonging to the US Department of Defence which will be on display will be pitted against the Russian MiG-29 MRCA, the latest version of the MiG-29, the SAAB Grippen and the Mirage-2000 for a share of the estimated $9 billion order to buy 126 fighter planes for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Meanwhile, nearly 300 rooms in the two-star category for exhibitors who are unable to find accommodation in regular hotels has been made. According to the Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO), the rooms will have all basic facilities. They have been organised with help from the state government.
black eaglechetan success on maiden flight
Chetan, the re-engined Chetak helicopter, successfully made its first flight on Tuesday. State-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) also sought to upgrade nearly 200 Chetak helicopters used by the armed forces and the civilian sector.
Chetan has been fitted with a powerful Snecma TM 333 2b2 engine that powers Dhruv, the advanced light helicopter, and is an upgraded version of HALโs workhorse Chetak, the company chairman, A.K. Baweja told reporters after the 20-minute sortie.
Chetan was flown over Bangalore by project test pilot, wing commander P.S. Rao, and test engineer, squadron leader S. Jain, he said.
Union defence secretary (defence production) Shekar Dutt said the helicopter offered better fuel efficiency and could be flown at higher altitude for rescue and evacuation purposes.
HAL began the Chetan project six months ago by investing Rs 9 crore and it received impetus after the Cheetal helicopter (the re-engined Cheetah) created a world record by landing at an altitude of 25,150 feet on Saser Kangi peak, next to Siachen glacier, Baweja said.
Chetan will be displayed at the Aero India Air Show later this month, he added. ๐ ๐http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050202/asp/nation/story_4326995.asp
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