JaiHindustan Aeronautics Ltd gets a new chief
BANGALORE: Fitness freak and task-master Ashok K. Baweja (55) has been appointed chairman of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Baweja will assume office on December 1. His predecessor N.R. Mohanty retired on November 30.
Baweja, who was the Director (Design and Development), takes over as the 14th chairman of HAL at a time when a series of sensitive national projects are being undertaken by the company. Known for his no-nonsense and aggressive approach, Baweja will have his hands full with the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) programme, Sukhoi (Su-30 MKI) indigenous production, induction of Hawk trainers from UK, marketing of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, launching of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), planning for the Aero India 2005 and propelling the much-delayed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. This apart, HAL also undertakes many upgradation programmes of India’s lead strike aircraft like MiGs and Jaguars.
He conceptualised the industrial and marine gas turbine business at HAL.
Under his leadership, Dhruv was certified and delivered to the Services; the first prototype of IJT flew in record time, the LCA programme was accelerated and upgrades of many fighters were also taken up.
He also conceptualised programmes like the LCH and the twin-engine combat trainer that are awaiting nod from the Services, while his team of pilots from Bangalore created a world record by landing in a Cheetal copter at Saser Kangri (Ladak) —south-west of Siachen Glacier at 25,150 feet.
Jai8 Su-30K + 10 Su-30MK-1 + 10 Su-30MKI + 12 Su-30MKI + 10 Su-30MKI ( the article talks of this batch ) + 1(*) Su-30MKI ( HAL assembled ). Unconfirmed reports also suggest that as of now about three kits have been delivered by IAPO to HAL for assembly. Out of these kits, atleast one HAL assembled MKI has been flown officially during the previous week.
* = by open source information
Jai10 countries waiting to grab BrahMos missile
NEW DELHI: The Indo-Russian joint venture big-ticket supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, is all set to make its impact in the international market, with nearly 10 countries eying to grab it for their armed forces. This development gains significance with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to the BrahMos Aerospace HQ in New Delhi on Saturday.
BrahMos MD & CEO Sivathanu Pillai told TNN that the international keenness proves the success of the first ever high-tech joint venture India has undertaken in the defence sector with Russia. “After eight successive successful flight trials with precise hits on ship targets, development of the anti-ship missile version of BrahMos is complete and is now under production. The Indian Navy has given the Letter Of Intent and advanced funds for production of the missiles for several platforms,” Pillai said.
With Indian and Russian forces gearing up to induct BrahMos in 2005, the missile-makers are now being approached by several countries for acquiring the strike machine. BrahMos project was started with $250 million capital with India contributing 50.5 per cent.
JaiA naval helicopter performs a mock rescue manoeuvre during a rehearsal of the Beating The Retreat ceremony at the Gateway of India on Friday
Image Credit : Times of India
JaiRussia begins delivery of last batch of Sukhoi fighter
Russia on Saturday began the deliveries of the last batch of 10 multi-role Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters for the Indian Air Force.
Four more sorties are to be made by the jumbo cargo to deliver remaining eight planes by the end of this month, according to corporate sources.
JaiSome additional information regarding the Glonass-M/K system
Russian Space Agency Plans Cooperation With India
GLONASS satellites will be sent into space on both Russian and Indian carrier rockets, Perminov said. India will become Russia’s main partner in GLONASS’ development, he added. The two countries plan to use new space devices GLONASS-M and GLONASS-K with an increased term of active existence up to 12-15 years.
Russia also plans cooperation with India to create an oxygen-hydrogen booster for space rockets. Perminov said the two countries have already cooperated to create an analogous booster for an Indian JSVL rocket. The new booster will be made for the Russian Angara rocket.
JaiPUTIN PRAISES RUSSIA-INDIA AGREEMENTS ON OUTER SPACE
NEW-DELHI, December 3 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin praised the signing of a new framework inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of outer space research and use for peaceful purposes.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi after the end of the negotiations, the Russian President said the following: “Actually, a real mechanism of effective interaction between our states in outer space has been created, including the implementation of large-scale programs and projects.”
Within the framework of the Russian President’s visit to India, the parties also signed an agreement in the field of joint development and operation of the GLONASS Russian global navigation satellite system.
As head of Russia’s Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov told RIA Novosti and some leading Indian mass media sources, “this is very important for us because the space sector of this navigation system is in its uncompleted form in Russia and is missing in India,” Mr. Perminov stressed.
“We agreed both to restore this system by joint efforts and organize its transition to new GLONASS-M and GLONASS-K space devices,” the head of Russia’s space agency specified.
As Anatoly Perminov told RIA Novosti, by 2007 Russia intended to increase, with the participation of India, the grouping of GLONASS global navigation system to 18 satellites. Today 11 GLONASS satellites are operational in orbits.
GLONASS global system navigation satellites will be delivered into outer space both by Russian and Indian boosters. “We shall launch these space devices both from Russian space centers and from the Indian space center with the use of Indian boosters,” he said. For this purpose, we shall have to create jointly a ground component,” the head of Russia’s space agency added.
JaiOK, this is probably slightly off-topic.
Nashik revels in its Russian connection
Nashik: The Russians came to Nashik in 1964 along with India’s MiG fighter programme. Today, four decades of Russian presence has left an impact on the daily lives of many Nashikites. To many, the Russian language is just one more addition to their linguistic skills. It is a hit among shopkeepers, vegetable vendors and paanwallas.
There are thousands of Russians associated with India’s fighter programmes in HAL’s MiG complex in this pilgrim town. All the MiG-series production, overhaul and upgradation are done here, Su-30 MKI being the latest entrant. “Technical documents in Russian come to us as part of transfer of technology and it became a necessity to learn the language,’’ T Sudhakar Rao, additional GM, personneland administration, HAL, told the TOI.
The Russians respond with Namaste and Alvida and don’t miss a single event in the township. Be it Durga Puja, Ganesha, Navaratras, Diwali — the entire Russian force will be present. Even for local marriages, you will find Russians as guests, Rao added.
Among the most popular Indo- Russian bonding stories are the one of a Russian woman, who learned Bharatanatyam and turned the most-sought-after for performances, while a Marathi woman, who runs a grocery shop in the township, prefers to speak in Russian, if given a choice.
The Kino theatre (Kino in Russian means cinema) in the township has over the years screened several Russian movies, while the Indo-Russian Friendship Park, separate houses built for Russians, are among HAL’s return gifts. During birthday parties, community gatherings and other social events, Russians come out with their favourite Raj Kapoor numbers Mera joota hai Japani and Jeena yahan, marna yahan. 😀
With the Su-30 project bringing in more Russian engineers, specialists, pilots and technicians in Nashik, the Indo- Russian bonding is cemented further.
JaiRRJ :
India Bids $100M for Jet Stake
India offered Tuesday to invest $100 million in the Russian Regional Jet project, giving a major boost to the Sukhoi-led drive to develop a new short-haul passenger liner.
India’s state-owned aerospace champion, Hindustan Aeronautics, or HAL, is ready to commit $100 million if it gets a 10 percent stake in the RRJ project, The Associated Press quoted outgoing HAL chairman N.R. Mohanty as saying in Bangalore.
The civil aviation division of Sukhoi, best known for its fighter jets, which will seat between 60 and 95 passengers, has signed up nearly a dozen subcontractors for the project, including U.S. aerospace giant Boeing. It expects to have the jet ready to test fly in 2006 and start mass production a year later. Sukhoi plans to sell 750 RRJs by 2022.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft spokeswoman Olga Kayukova confirmed Tuesday that the company had received the offer from Hindustan Aeronautics, also known as HAL, but that “nothing has been firmed up yet.”
“One hundred million is an adequate sum. If it happens I will applaud this development,” said Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
“It will help turn the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft from the sandbox it is now into an international consortium that will make the RRJ Russia’s breakthrough into the global aviation market,” Makiyenko said.
Yelena Sakhnova, a transportation analyst at United Financial Group, said getting India involved would open up a vast new market.
JaiIndia, Russia to pump in fresh investment in BrahMos project
PAK-FA
After the Russians made a presentation on its new fifth generation multi-role fighter aircraft, the two Minsters said the two countries had agreed to discuss further Moscow’s proposal of India’s investment in the project.
MTA
Announcing that the two countries had decided to extend the duration of the Joint Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation till 2010, the Russian Defence Minister said New Delhi and Moscow had decided to take the relationship from buyer-seller to joint research and development of futuristic weapon system and marketing them to third countries.
Along with inviting investments on the Sukhoi design-based fifth generation aircraft, the Russians have also offered similar terms on the co-development of the heavy duty, multi-functional transport aircraft.
Smerch
Though the two sides were tight-lipped, in the three days of hectic talks, the two countries have almost finalised plans for India’s acquisition of the 60-km range Smerch multi-rocket system.
Under the proposed plan, India is seeking to buy 36 of the multi-barrel rocket systems at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,500 crores. The Russian manufacturers have already held a number of field trials for the system, both in the desert as well as in high-altitude areas.
JaiIndia, Russia to pump in fresh investment in BrahMos project
New Delhi, Dec. 2 (PTI): Buoyed by hitch-free trials and growing international interest, India and Russia today agreed to pump in fresh investments in the joint BrahMos supersonic cruise missile project, paving the way for its commercial production.
The boost in investment was announced by the Defence Ministers of the two countries, Pranab Mukherjee and Sergei Ivanov, after they signed three defence protocols for framing of intellectual property rights on jointly developed weapon systems, upgrades of Russian frontline war equipment used by the Indian armed forces and technology transfer of armaments like T-90 tanks.
With the decision to step up investments in the BrahMos project, Ivanov said the Russian stake in the joint venture company would go up from 50 to 60 per cent. According to Russian officials, it is proposed to produce 360-370 missiles per year and also market it together in third countries.
JaiThere is presently no proposal to revise the on-going contracts for the procurement of Mirage aircraft. The delivery of the Mirage aircraft is expected between November 2004 and January 2005. There is no cost escalation linked to the delivery of the aircraft between November 2004 and January 2005.
No case has been filed by any company against the Government of India in a court in Paris in regard to the procurement of Mirage aircraft.
Enquiries with the Embassy of India in Paris revealed that the case filed by one M/s Keyser against M/s Dassault Aviation, France before the Tribunal was rejected by the Commercial Court on 11th Sept 2002. An appeal filed by M/s Keyser against the order of the Commercial Court of Paris was subsequently withdrawn by them and the withdrawal was confirmed by the French Appellate Court on 24th Sept 2004. M/s Dassault Aviation had also confirmed compliance with Government of India’s requirement regarding non-engagement of agents.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee ….
JaiMilitary talks to focus on lifetime support
NEW DELHI, NOV 30: Ahead of Russian President Vladmir Putin’s visit to New Delhi, naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash has said the Indo-Russian military talks will focus on lifetime support from Russian weapon platforms, weapon system and sensors.
At a press conference on the eve of Naval Week the chief said, “Indian Navy had unfolded moves to install the 290 km range ship-to-shore Indo-Russian supersonic missile BrahMos in all its new battleships and then go in for retrofitting the older warships to be armed with weapon system.”
JaiRussia plans to increase its share in the authorised capital of JV BrahMos
Mr. Ivanov said that Russia plans to increase its share in the authorised capital of the joint venture, BrahMos, set up to finance, co-ordinate design, produce and sell Brahmos anti-ship missile systems. “We will increase the authorised capital in BrahMos,” the minister said. “I hope that a government resolution to this effect will be signed tomorrow.”
BrahMos shareholders are the Mashinostroyeniye research and production machine building association (49.5%) and the Indian Defence Ministry’s agency of defence research and design (50.5%).
Anatoly Mazurkevich, head of the Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of International Military Co-operation, said Moscow is pondering the possibility of joint research into new-generation missiles on the basis of the Brahmos.
“Project Brahmos is going on,” he said. “But we have ideas about creating a better system on the basis of this missile.” Mr. Mazurkevich stressed that new research can be launched only if the two countries sign an agreement on the protection of intellectual property.
JaiIndia, Russia to jointly launch 18 navigation satellites
Moscow, December 2. KAZINFORM. Taking their strategic partnership to space, India and Russia are set to enter into an agreement to jointly launch 18 navigation satellites to restore, develop and commercialise the ex-Soviet global navigation system GLONASS, a top Russian space official said, Kazinform writes citing PTI.
The Indo-Russian GLONASS global navigation system is an alternative to the Pentagon-controlled Global Positioning System.
It will have the accuracy of 1 metre resolution and would have civilian as well as military applications, Chief of Russian Federal Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) Gen Anatoly N Perminov here said ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s India visit on December 3-5.
“Given the level of mutual trust and confidence between the two nations, India will be Russia’s only foreign partner in GLONASS, and an agreement is ready for signing during President Putin’s visit,” Gen Perminov said.
“The GLONASS project is a very important agreement, a breakthrough in bilateral space cooperation. Russia has incomplete system as instead of 24 satellites on orbit, we now have only 11, while India has no such system,” Gen Perminov said.
According to him, the project involves launching of Russian satellites from Indian launch pads onboard Indian rockets and vice-versa, setting up of ground control systems in both countries and its global marketing.
Leaving behind the sour chapter of cryogenic deal partially scuttled by Boris Yeltsin’s Russia in 1993 under the US pressure, Moscow is looking forward to closest space cooperation with India.
Gen Perminov said modified cryogenic deal (engines without know-how transfer) is being implemented very successfully by India.
“The Indian partners have gone much ahead of Russia in the use of cryogenic technology and we are going to use their experience of using booster stage working on liquid hydrogen and oxygen in our new generation Angara SLV”, he said.
Russia is willing to closely cooperate in India’s manned space flight programme and if invited, in Lunar mission, he said.
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