Does anybody know what the status of the Akash is? Is it going to be enetering service soon?

Kalyan as Per my conversations,

Akash is COMPLETED developement with new command and coded guidance, Upgraded Range etc etc. It has already recieved some orders albeit IAF wants to make some more trials.

Spinoffs have gone to various other projects.

IIRC DRDO has ordered Mirach to further test it 🙂

New Delhi, India – Leasing contract for Mirach 100/5
(WAPA) – The company acquires a leasing contract for Mirach 100/5 while the Precision Approach Radar is operating in the Indian Air Force

Galileo Avionica, a Finmeccanica company, has been conducing a successful commercial strategy in India, proven by two important results.

On one hand, Galileo Avionica has signed a service contract relating to the radiotarget Mirach 100/5 for the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The order representing a logistic support for Mirach 100/5, requires about 20 flights to be performed within one year for the qualification of arms systems. The contract has been won after a tight contest between some of the most important companies in the Defence field.
The order has more than a pure economic value. In fact, Galileo Avionica produced a starting-point for developing a long collaboration with India, setting up assumptions for the introduction of Mirach 100/5.

…………………..
http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1071572&pagina_chiamante=index.php

Video of Akash intercept

http://media.bharat-rakshak.com/aero/d/5925-2/akash-inttercept2_rv

[It is real media file]

Well nick problem with Brahmos is With these carrier groups I doubt these high cost AAW frigates would operate anywhere near enemy ships; so the requirement of stand off long range land strike capability.

Brahmos on Destroyers are fine, not on Specialised AAW frigates.

Joey: LCA WAS started off back in 82. Some say 81 but it really got started in 82. Im not sure why you would want to deny that.

So, if tomorrow by 2020 you see MCA You’ll say by the online articles it kicked off in 1998~2000? or It kicked off when it recieved proper and official funding?

Nick This isnt really leading up to a technical discussion, there is nothing we are going to benefit from knowing who made Babur, are we? It works and whats what matters.

I’ll wait for more concrete proof about sub-systems if it ever becomes available including the TEL, so called mini-cuclear warhead etc.

PeeD lol,

Whats the problem with believing that Pakistan can built a CM like the Babur ?

The only real problem is the mini-turbojet engine needed and the technologie for it can be easily provided by China. Iran is mass producing such a mini-turbo jet, Pakistan would only need a small production facility for the small numbers of Baburs needed as nuclear delivery system.

Pakistan is fully capabel to built the missile body on its own, the last problemwould be the navigation system, mainly the INS. This and other hardware high-tech parts can be easily imported and built into a capabel navigation system, an altimeter a computer coupled with a GPS system together with the INS and the Babur would be capabel to fly at a save 50 meters for more than 500km. The missile is big enough.

Iran has built its own 350km range turbojet AshM with a selfmade aerodynamic missile design all thanks to the cooperation with the Chinese which enabeld them to build their own independent designs.

If the story about the crashed Tomahawk is true, this could be the child of Chinese and Pakistani work on it, even if only the technologie for the missile-body could be rescued. Something like this would be a reason why Pakistan had such a kick start. The smaller numbers of Baburs built would also be a help, no need for complicated large mass-production.

Pakistan is one of those countrys which have a capabel elite of people who can work on strategic projects, this elite can’t be used on many projects but the Babur and the Shaheen series are some examples.

ray it is wrongly reported; IIRC it is 80 kms.

From The Hindu, on third test

Astra test fired again
Chandipur-on-sea (Orissa), March 29 (PTI): Indigenously developed air-to-air missile “Astra” was test fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR) here once again today, defence sources said.

This is the third test firing of the missile in the last five days, the sources said.

The sleek beyond visual range air-to-air misile (BVRAAM) soared into the clear sky at 11.33 am from a vertical position.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, Astra is an advanced missile capable of engaging targets over 80 km away.

Experimental flight tests of the missile were conducted from the ITR on March 25 last and again the next day.

The sources said today’s test firing’s thrust was to study the control and guidance system of the missile as part of its ongoing development programme.

There was a possibility of one more test firing of the missile during the day, they informed.

As a precautionary measures, a population of over 6,100 from six villages located within a radius of 2.5 km of the launch complex at ITR were evacuated temporarily and housed in four shelters with the assistance of the civil authorities.

this 1+6 is the P17-A design to follow the 3 x P17 nearing completion.

I read the IN was prepared to invest huge amts per ship for obtaining a truly
stealthy bleeding edge design departing widely if need be from P17
–> france/netherland/italy/spain can be considered front runners with South
korea and Russia as dark horses.

personally, I like the Dutch LCF & Fremm design in looks, kit it up
with MF-starv2 , Smart-L and barak2 (48 cells).

With India ready to spend 800 mn $ per frigate, I’d rather go for good firepower and extremely strong AAW; much like UK’s T45 design.

If the maitri project goes on; With DRDO making a new Radar for it; It would be used besides MF-STAR, Of even for columetric search upgraded 3D-CAR can be used.

but 48 Barak2 cells are needed with Barak/Maitri cells, and please no Brahmos, I want LRCM in this.

Astra test fired for third time in a week…..

However the lives of both the maritime Jags and the Shars are coming to an end, so maybe it would be better to soldier on with the sea eagle for now and save the money for something else?

umm no, The read up on the HAL upgraded Jaduar Darin II upgrade, all the internal systems are virtually changed.. They are rolling out the Jaguars it will serve for quite sometime!!

Is there anymore details on the test?

Not much Information is available in public domain of what exactly was the need for this IIRC 5th/6th or 6th/7th tests (2 tests happened); maybe pure ballistic performance, validating onboard guidance systems, ironing out glitches etc etc there are hell lot of things involved in making a succesful AAM; looks small though.