“All Roadblocks Removed, 5th Gen Fighter Agreement Soon”: Defence Minister

The decks are cleared for a general agreement (GA) on the further joint development and production of the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). After years of bilateral discussions, the agreement is finally set to be signed, possibly with the Russian President visits Delhi later this year.

After the 10th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) today in Delhi, Indian defence minister AK Antony said, “All the roadblocks are over and soon the FGFA contract will be signed. We will get 250-300 fighter aircraft. Within the next few months, the agreement will be signed. We have sorted out all issues and have found satisfactory agreements.”

Russian defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov said, “We are looking forward to the joint creation of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with our Indian colleagues. We have the design and other details. The draft of the contract has been handed over to the Indian side and is now under their consideration. Once the contract is signed, Sukhoi and HAL will work together.”
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http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-roadblocks-removed-5th-gen-fighter.html

Enhanced Ilyushin IL-76MF to Compete for Indian Transport Aircraft Requirements

On September 30th 2010, the upgraded IL-76MF heavy lift transport aircraft made its first flight in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The IL-76MF aircraft is a modification of a mass manufactured IL-76MD military transport aircraft, and it is designed for the same transport and heavy lift purposes as the basic model of the aircraft.

This new generation plane is intended to make a strong case for sale to India as New Delhi has been acquiring U.S. C-17 and C130J Hercules aircrafts — which are more expensive than the Russian air lifter. India has an estimated requirement for over 25 military heavy lift planes over the next 10 years.

The IL-76MF the length of the aircraft fuselage was enlarged by 6.6m; more powerful and efficient PS-90A-76 engines replaced the previously installed models; the integrated piloting and navigation equipment and aircraft systems were modified and updated; a new auxiliary power unit replaced the originally installed unit.

Dimensions (external)
wing span (m) 50.5
length (overall) (m) 53.194
height (overall) (m) 14.306
wing area (m2) 300
fuselage diameter (m) 4.8

Engines
engine type PS-90A-76 by-pass turbojet engine
number of engines (pcs) 4
max take-off thrust (International Standard Atmosphere, Н=0) (kg) 4 х 16000
bypass ratio 4.4
ICAO standards compliance App.16, Ch.3

Weights and Volumes
max take-off weight (t) 210
max payload (t) 60
max fuel tanks capacity (liter) 109500

Performance
cruise speed (km/h) 830-850
range with payload (km) of 60t 4000
range with payload (km) of 40t 6200
flight altitude (m) 9000-12000
take-off run (m) 1600
landing run (m) 990

Seats
flight crew 5

http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4599

IAF to receive modernised planes from Ukraine

The Indian Air Force will receive two modernised An-32 light transport planes built by Ukraine this month under a $600 million deal, the biggest bilateral agreement between the two countries. The planes which were modernised by Ukraine’s Antonov state enterprise under the Ukrainian-Indian
contract for repairs will be delivered to India in October, Antonov’s President and Director-General Dmitry Kiva was quoted as saying by Russian newsagency Itar-Tass yesterday.

According to Kiva, the planes were modernised under the Ukranian-Indian contract for repairs, modernisation and extension of service life of 105 An-32 planes up to 40 years.

It is the biggest deal in the entire history of the Ukrainian-Indian relations as the sum of the contract signed in June 2009 stands at USD 600 million.

First five An-32 planes were delivered to Kiev in March 2010, followed by five more planes in June.

The first two planes were completely modernised in July, another one in September.

According to Kiva, the market capacity for the new An-32 is estimated at 45 planes.

The Antonov Kiev-based plant plans to manufacture seven An-32 planes till the year 2015, including three in 2010, three in 2011, and one in 2012.

One An-32 planes has already been manufactures, and the other two will be made till the year end, as provided in the production plan.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13517

“LCA Far Ahead Of JF-17 In Contemporary Technology”: IAF Western Commander

The Indian Air Force’s Western Air Commander, Air Marshal NAK Browne, whose area of responsibility includes the northern sector with Pakistan, indicated today that the PAF JF-17 was inferior to the yet to be inducted Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. “The LCA is ahead of the JF-17 in terms of contemporary technology. It will achieve final operational capability by the end of next year. The airplane is our design, uses our software, and is fully under our control. I’m not sure what in the JF-17 is under the PAF’s control. What do you do if you don’t have access to codes,” he said.

Air Marshal Browne, a seasoned SEPECAT Jaguar pilot who has extensive experience on virtually every variant of the MiG-21 as well, was asked today if he was apprehensive that the F-16 — a contender in the MMRCA competition — was the principal air defence platform of the Pakistan Air Force. He replied, “The configuration of the F-16 on offer to the IAF is substantially different from what has been made available to the Pakistanis”.

In an interaction with reporters ahead of India’s 78th Air Force Day, Air Marshal Brown — positioned to take over as Chief of Air Staff in July next year — said, “We are aware of the new F-16 inductions by the PAF. We have a sense of what’s happening. The new F-16s they have and are getting are certainly a challenge.”

“The assymetry between the capabilities of both air forces was a certain amount in the past. That has somewhat reduced now. The PAF is going in for a fast-track induction of beyond visual range air to air missiles (BVRAAMs) and precision guided munitions (PGMs). These are things that actually tend to reduce the gap,” the officer said.

“But they won’t catch us up,” he added.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/10/lca-far-ahead-of-jf-17-in-contemporary.html

India to get Russian nuclear submarine in March

BY: IANS
India’s undersea warfare will receive a major boost after Russia transfers its nuclear-powered K-152 Nerpa attack submarine on a 10-year lease in March next year.

The governor of the Far East Khabarovsk region told reporters in Russia on Friday that the vessel is ready.

“The boat has been handed over [to the fleet] now. According to the agreement, it will be transferred to India in March next year,” Vyacheslav Shport said, as quoted by the Ria Novosti.

The $900-million lease contract was drawn up after Moscow and New Delhi sealed a deal in January 2004, in which India agreed to fund part of the Nerpa’s construction.

The 12,000-ton K-152 Nerpa, an Akula II class nuclear-powered attack submarine, was originally scheduled to be introduced into the Indian Navy as INS Chakra by mid-2008.

A crew of Indian submariners last year took part in sea trials of the submarine.

The boat, damaged in a fatal accident during tests last November, resumed sea trials last year in the Sea of Japan after extensive repairs.

On Nov 8, 2008, while the Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan, its on-board fire suppression system activated, releasing a deadly gas into the sleeping quarters. Three crewmembers and 17 shipyard workers were killed.

Akula II class vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of all Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.

http://idrw.org/?p=615

IAF helicopters to return from UN mission by month end

BY: Press Trust Of India

The IAF helicopters currently serving in UN missions in Congo and Sudan will return to India beginning this month-end, primarily to augment the transport fleet and in support of the Army in desert terrains along the borders with Pakistan. “The IAF helicopters in United Nations mission will be

coming back by end of October,” Western Air Command Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal N A K Browne told a press conference.

On an IAF proposal citing its helicopter fleet being stretched to its limits, the Defence Ministry wrote to the External Affairs Ministry in June this year that the 17 Mi-17 medium lift helicopter, eight Mi-35 and Mi-25 attack in the UN missions in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan should be de-inducted and brought back for internal security duties.

While the Mi-17s are likely to augment the transport fleet of the IAF in view of four such helicopters busy serving in logistics role in the country’s anti-Naxal operations in central India, the attack helicopters would be used to provide support roles to the Army troops deployed in the deserts of Rajasthan along the Indo-Pak borders.

“The Mi-35s will get back to Suratgarh, its home base. These will be refurbished and re-painted (in IAF colours). Gradually there will be a build of the fleet in the Suratgarh unit,” Browne said.

Suratgarh will also become home for a Mi-17IV unit in May-June next year, as part of the IAF’s plans to strengthen the transport helicopter fleet in the deserts, he added.

Mi-17IVs will also be based in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir following the Suratgarh deployment.

“Our resources have been stretched to the limit, particularly the helicopter fleet. For six to seven years, they have been deployed in the UN peace-keeping missions. They have taken a huge amount of workload over the years. So the Air Maintenance headquarters felt we should get these back in time and use them within India itself,” Browne said on the justification for recalling the helicopters from Congo and Sudan.

He clarified that the attack helicopters, got back from UN, would not be used in the anti-Naxal operations. “These attack helicopters are not for use in the anti-Naxal operations. No,” he replied to a query in this regard, pointing out that these helicopters would be used only for supporting the troops in deserts.

Browne said the attack helicopter’s task had increased within India and there was “tremendous amount” of need to get more more helicopters for use by the IAF internally.

He said the 80 Mi-17 helicopters being bought from Russia was for supplementing the air force’s transport tasks and in aid of civilian authorities for flood relief and casualty evacuation.

http://idrw.org/?p=607

[QUOTE]

[/QUStrategic Long Range Bombers : Mission Accomplished .

BY: NJS security Editorial Panel For Security Magazine

The Long range aerospace power of today’s air force is a potent force deterrence of both conventional and nuclear conflict, long range bombers platforms are able to Conventionally destroy multiple target per sortie. Creating desired effects at the strategic operational and tactical levels simultaneously .

If we compare major super power’s in world like US and Russia has major role in it, for ex ., B-52 , B-1 and B-2 is considered to be backbone of US air force for Longer range strategic Operations , on other hand Russia the former Soviet union has large arsenal of long Range strategic bombers like Tu-95 bear , Tu-22 M3 Backfire ,Tu-160 Blackjack for its Nuclear and conventional role. The Tu-160 is also significantly larger and faster than the B-1B and has a greater combat range with 7,300 km along with service ceiling 49,200 ft and maximum speed of Mach 2.05 .

As per report Twenty B-2s are operated by the USAF . which is “low observable” stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses , B-2s were first used in combat to drop bombs on Serbia during the Kosovo War and US also continued in Iraq and Afghanistan wars .

As per India which has many powerful neighbors on boarder side ,which need decent volume of longer range bombers , but has only 4 nos Tu-22 M3 backfire for Land attack purpose , which has been rented from Russia in year 2004 from its instant stockpile . These bombers are totally different from normal fighter jets could be used for more longer range with better payload for guided /unguided weapons to strike deep inside enemy territory . Some official news also confirms

china is already manufacturing massive nos of Tu 22 m3 backfire version for its airforce / Naval purpose with 100 % Transfer of Technology from Russia .

India already ordered 8 nos of P8I Poseidon long range ship / Submarine attack Naval based Aircraft from Boeing to replace its old Russian Naval bombers , As for Airforce we Still Need more Land attack bombers like Tu-160 Blackjack which is considered to be superior to other Strategic Bombers . India should

Realize the need of Strategic bombers incase of war (period) against Red Giant .

http://idrw.org/?p=960

The deal to lease 4 TU-22M3 never materialized.So India doesn’t have these aircrafts. So this piece of info is wrong.