RayRIm just trying to express my fustration that we cannot have single decent discussion over Russian military without certain fanboys that uses all possible change they get to mock, bash, demonize or otherwise undermind the topic. Russian military still exist and finally we begun to see Russia to rise or atleast showing will to rise, and that brings intresting times to the military factor, but I think its sad and also infuriating that people dont let us discuss it in adult manner. Critics and challenging twist from People like you Lawrence, who at least knows something about military I can take and accept but baseless flaming and trolling about people who have little knowlidge or even enthustiasm towards the military issues…. 😡 😡
My sentiments exactly.
RayRRussia says bombers’ flyover of US aircraft carrier part of routine patrol
Associated Press – February 12, 2008 1:13 PM ET
MOSCOW (AP) – The Russian military says the flyover of a U.S. aircraft carrier by its bombers is nothing to get excited about.
A Russian air force spokesman calls the incident in the Pacific part of a routine patrol conducted in accordance with international rules. In a statement carried by Russian news wires, the spokesman says the Tu-95 bombers did not violate any rules of engagement when they flew over the Pacific on Saturday.
U.S. officials say 1 of the planes buzzed the USS Nimitz twice at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out.
U.S. fighters were scrambled from Nimitz to intercept the bombers.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over U.S. plans for a missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic.
RayRBoeing Targets $15 Billion Defense Orders in India in 10 Years
By Gautam Chakravorthy
Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) — Boeing Co., the Pentagon’s second- largest supplier, said it plans to bid for as much as $15 billion of military orders in India over the next 10 years to shore up sales at its defense unit.
The Integrated Defense Systems unit will offer its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, the P-8I patrol aircraft, the CH-47 Chinook and the AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, Vivek Lall, the India head for Boeing’s defense unit, said in a telephone interview from New Delhi today. The Harpoon, JDAM and SLAM-ER missiles will also be on sale in India, he said.
Chicago-based Boeing, which trails behind Lockheed Martin Corp. as a supplier to the U.S. military, is seeking overseas defense contracts after sales at its unit fell 1.1 percent to $32.1 billion last year. India’s military-equipment imports are expected to increase 12-fold to $30 billion by 2012, according to lobby group Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin will be among the 273 overseas exhibitors that will participate in a defense exhibition in New Delhi, organizer Confederation of Indian Industry said in a statement today. Almost 32,000 visitors are expected at the three- day DEFEXPO India 2008, which will start on Feb. 16.
India, which operates Russian MiG and Sukhoi planes in its air force, in August invited bids for 126 fighter jets worth $11 billion, the biggest order for combat planes in 15 years.
Lockheed Martin, which started a unit in India last month ahead of the government’s plan to purchase the fighter jets, will display the latest version of its F-16 jet fighter and the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, according to a company statement e-mailed today. The company’s missile and sensor systems will also be exhibited.
The nation bought 100.2 billion rupees ($2.6 billion) of defense equipment in the year ended March 31, becoming the world’s 10th-biggest military spender last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
RayRIf i am not wrong the design phase for AJT was completed before IAF pulled the rug. Are there any pictures of models in airshow or just sketches/drawings from briefing? Would appreciate it if someone could share em.
I think this was the one which got cancelled..kindof looks similar to Sitara from the front but CAT[Combat Attack trainer] is written on the nose.It was also to be two engined(iirc).
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3559/catstbdop0.jpg
CAT cockpit:
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6907/catcockpitsja0.jpg
RayRADVANCED JET TRAINER HAWK-132 TO BE INDUCTED INTO INDIAN AIR FORCE ON 23 FEB 08
16:4 IST
On 23 Feb 2008, when the Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri AK Antony formally inducts the Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) into service, an important milestone in the history of the IAF will be reached. This event will mark the fulfillment of a long-standing requirement of the IAF for an AJT that will effectively bridge the gap between the slow jet trainer such as the Kiran and the advanced fighter aircraft currently in IAF’s inventory.
The need for an AJT was first articulated by the IAF in 1982 and ever since has remained high on IAF’s agenda for procurement. The IAF felt that there existed a quantum difference in the skill and judgement levels required of a yong fighter pilot as he transited to state of the art fighters such as the Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29. The Hawk 132 would adequately serve as lead in trainer for these advanced aircraft.
The Hawk 132 is a variant of the highly successful BAE Systems Hawk It incorporates an open architecture mission computer, glass cockpit and a state of the art avionics suite including a new generation Inertial Navigation System with GPS (INGPS). It is also equipped with several Indian made components such as the communication sets, dentification Friend or Foe (IFF) system and the radio altimeter. In addition to being an advanced jet trainer, Hawk 132 is fully combat capable and can carry air to air missile and air to ground armament. It could also be used as a lightweight fighter.
The contract for supply of the Hawk AJT was signed between the IAF and BAE Systems in 2004. The deal envisaged a supply of 66 aircraft, 24 built in the UK and 42 license produced by HAL at Bangalore. IAF pilots and technicians were trained at BAE Systems facilities at Warton and Brough in UK. The initial four Hawk aircraft were flown from Warton to Bidar by a combined team of BAE Systems’ and IAF pilots.
Bidar airfield, located in the North West of Karnataka, approx 150 Km from Hyderabad, was chosen as the main operating base for the Hawk. This base has been a training establishment for budding fighter pilots of the IAF since 1963. To ensure the smooth induction of the Hawk, the Air Warriors under the command of Air Commodore Ramesh Rai have worked tirelessly to put the required infrastructure in place. They were, at all stages, assisted by the local civil authorities and population. The work services included extension of the two runways, improvement in landing facilities and creation of servicing facilities for the technology intensive Hawk aircraft.
The first two aircraft arrived at Bidar on 12 Nov 2007 and were welcomed to Indian skies by Air Marshal GS Chaudhry, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, IAF, Bangalore. Since then, IAF pilots and technicians have been hard at work coming up to operational status on this combat capable aircraft. The formal induction of the Hawk 132 on 23 Feb 2008 by the Honourable Raksh Mantri Shri AK Antony marks the operationalisation of the aircraft. It will be an important milestone in training of future fighter pilots.
RayRBeen there done that!
Would have been nice to have a poll though 😉
RayRWhat if it was a hijacked airliner piloted by suicidal terrorists?
RayRBut Rafale is a looser, even in our eyes, especially since Morocco… 😀
As they say ….it aint over until the fat lady sings;)
RayRI think that with this deployement we should see many other pictures and videos in the coming weeks.
Yup lets hope so.And dont forget to keep posting..although you might want to start Rafale thread no.3 cuz this is already at 20 pages.Was a thread with excellent pictures this one.
RayRLol arthuro you made my day!The pix at the center is awesome!Any bigger version?:) For that I award you a 100 points!!:D
RayRIndia eyes $2b defence deal with US
29 Jan 2008, 0002 hrs IST,Rajat Pandit,TNN
NEW DELHI: After joint combat exercises to develop “interoperability”, the Indo-US military tango is now firmly waltzing into the arms purchase arena as well. With the over $1-billion deal for six C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft in the bag, an even bigger defence contract is now headed the US way.
Sources on Monday said the defence ministry and Boeing have begun the “commercial price negotiations” for the purchase of eight P-8i long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) patrol aircraft, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities, for the Indian Navy. Unlike the Super Hercules deal, which as reported by TOI earlier is a direct ‘foreign military sale’ contract under a government-to-government arrangement, the P-8i has emerged the victor in the global LRMR sweepstakes held by India to plug operational gaps in its maritime snooping abilities.
The P-8i, based on the Boeing-737 commercial airliner, has out-performed the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company’s A-319 maritime patrol aircraft and other contenders in meeting ‘qualitative requirements’ in the technical trials held by the Navy. “The contract will be signed soon. The first P-8i will be delivered within 48 months, that is in mid-2012 and all the eight by mid-2015. They will replace the Navy’s eight aging Tupolev-142Ms,” said a source.
India, incidentally, had earlier rejected the US offer to lease two P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft under a $133-million contract. India, of course, remains unhappy over the American decision to sell eight more P-3C Orion aircraft to Pakistan, which already has two such planes in its inventory. Once it’s inked, the P-8i deal worth around $2 billion will be the biggest-ever defence contract with the US, a minor player in the lucrative Indian arms market so far.
While Russia notches up sales worth about $1.5 billion to India every year, Israel chalks up an annual tally of around $1 billion. America’s only big-ticket deal with India in recent years has been the $190 million contract in 2002 to supply 12 AN/TPQ-37 firefinder weapon-locating radars.
Then, of course, India last year acquired amphibious transport vessel USS Trenton for $48.23 million, with the six UH-3H helicopters to operate from it costing another $39 million. With India spending a whopping $25 billion on arms imports since the 1999 Kargil conflict, and planning another $30 billion worth in 2007-2012, the US is obviously desperate to grab a big piece of action. It has been particularly aggressive in marketing its F/A-18 “Super Hornets” (Boeing) and F-16 “Falcons” (Lockheed Martin) for the gigantic $10.4-billion project to supply 126 multi-role combat fighters to IAF.
Apart from the defence deals, with US secretary of defence Robert Gates slated to arrive in India on February 25-26, the two countries are getting ready to sign agreements like the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the end-use verification agreement of US defence equipment. The Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) — under which Indian and American militaries propose to provide each other with logistic support, refuelling and berthing facilities for each other’s warships and aircraft — has, however, been put on the backburner due to opposition of the Left. :rolleyes:
CPM leader Prakash Karat(ba$tard) has termed LSA “far more dangerous than the nuclear deal” in its implications. But despite Left opposition to military ties with the US, the two nations have already scheduled at least five joint combat exercises in 2008. “Procurements is just one facet in the overall robust defence engagement with the US. The American forces, for instance, now want to further scale up the level and complexity of exercises with Indian forces. Brigade-level exercises will be in place in four-five years,” said a source.
RayRHAL to test flight Light Combat Helicopter by year end
NEW DELHI, FEB 10 (PTI)
State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has completed the design for the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and it will be ready for first test flight by end of the year.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ashok Baweja said the design for the LCH, which will be able to operate at very high altitudes, has been finished in a record time and work on the project is going on as per schedule.
“We have already completed the design part and it should be ready for first test flight by end of the year,” Baweja told PTI here.
“We needed approximately five years to design the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, but for LCH, we have completed it within 16-17 months,” he said.
The helicopter, which is based on HAL’s existing Dhruv advanced light helicopter platform, will be equipped with helmet-mounted targeting systems, electronic warfare systems and advanced weapons systems.
It will be capable of operating at heights of up to 6,000 metres or 18,000 feet and will be powered by the Shakti engine developed by HAL and Turbomecca. The first eight to 10 LCA’s(LCH not LCA) are expected to be supplied to the IAF by 2010.
Baweja said the Russian and European platforms are not specifically designed for Indian terrain and LCH will be developed keeping in mind high altitude areas like Jammu and Kashmir and North-East.
He said HAL has already won orders for the supply of 240 Dhruv’s to the armed forces, including utility and armed variants.
“We have got very large orders. Orders for 240 machines are already with us. We have already delivered 80. It is going forward as a major programme in India,” he said.
The armed forces are in need of combat helicopters as most of the helicopters presently available with Army, Navy and Air Force are quite old.
The Indian Air Force has already decided to revamp its entire fleet of helicopters by planning to induct two more squadrons of attack gunships, capable of operating in high altitudes, and six heavy lift choppers.
Defence Minister A K Antony had last month said that government will soon float a mega tender for the purchase of 317 helicopters for Army and Air Force.
RayRWork on Saras aircraft moving as per schedule
BANGALORE, FEB 7 (PTI)
Work on the multi-purpose aircraft, Saras, was progressing significantly and was “moving as per schedule,” a senior Saras was in operation, Air Commodore M Matheswaran, Commandant, ATSE, told reporters here.
Speaking on the progress on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) front, P S Subramanayam, Director, Aeronautical Development Agency, said the development of LCA was progressing and about 15 to 20 per cent of the work remains.
“Performance wise we have been able to convince the users and should be able to push for the initial operation clearance which we target for 2010”, he said.
Work on Saras, the first Indian multipurpose civilian aircraft in the Light Transport Aircraft category and designed by National Aerospace Laboratory (NAC) in cooperation with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), began in 1991.
Saras first prototype completed its maiden flight at HAL airport on May 2004 with a flight duration of 20 minutes and an altitude of 2000 metres. However, the prototype was overweight by around 900 kgs.
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=543071
RayRIts not my problem if the Indians are being scammed thats there lookout. people will come back with the odd answer ‘but but the 117 was hidden for years’ yes yes it was hidden, but then so was the existance of the whole damn program, they didnt say ‘we have this super stealth thing but were not ready to show you’ did they?
What do you want to see anyway?A picture of workshop floor with people hard at work?
How many aircrafts have been revealed before even reaching prototype stage?
In any other situation in the world like this with a product that failed to come to appear people would ask questions, this is the Duke Nukem Forever of aircraft.
Who are these “people” who should be asking questions?Do Indians fall in those “people”?Or do you think its a joint scam by the Indians and Russians to take on the “west”?Does my grocer fall in that list?Or my barber?Do you think Indian MoD should ask those questions?What questions should they ask..why isnt the PAKFA flying and pictures being made available to internet fanboys who by the way doesnt need a real aircraft to make them soil their pants..only a few diagrams and some models are enough!WIll pictures suffice?They can be doctored?Do you want to see it firsthand?A mockup can be made!Will you believe it exists if somebody gave you a back seat ride?And all these even before the prototype is complete!
……………………..
My advice to you is to quit making a nuisance of yourself in every thread you come accross.
RayR1.I already said that the Mirage 2000 and Mig-27 were designed for different things. But in the end, the Mirage 2000 provided India its much needed ground attack abilities during Siachen.. something that should be the role of its MiG-27.
Or something that should be the role of the Jaguar??
Infact Jaguar and the Mig-27 are both low level high speed attack aircrafts not optimised for high level precision attack which is necessary for attack on mountainous region where even a minor displacement from target will render the munition ineffective due to the over-under effect.
Actually the majority of the strike missions using dumb munitions were carried out by the Mig27s Mig21s and mig23BNs.Jaguars were trialled with LGBs and used initially but deemed ineffective and removed from general strike ops.Although it countinued to fly recce missions along with Mig-25s till the end of the war and remained ready for deep strikes into pakistan should it be necessary.
Also its Kargil War NOT siachen.Siachen conflict happened in 1984.
And yes I even mentioned the Jaguar, India has been more serious in upgrading the Jaguar’s capabilites than the MiG-27.
Both the Mig 27s and the Jags are being upgraded.
MiG-29 maintenance issues
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060612/nation.htm
As far as the IAF goes,spares supply and service has been very poor with RSK Mig.Noone is denying the superior servicability of the mirages over not only Migs but also other western aircraft as well.That is a problem of the manufacturer not of the equipment.
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