HAL building more Su-30 MKI fighters

India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is building 42 more Russian Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft for the Indian military.
The deal between HAL, the Ministry of Defense and Russia's Rosoboronexport was signed just ahead of a visit to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"HAL's total responsibility for this supersonic multirole aircraft has now gone up to 222," said HAL Chairman R. K. Tyagi. "This will further boost our confidence and operations as we have already delivered 119 Su-30 aircraft to the air force.
"We will continue to contribute to the country's defense preparedness."
The twin-seat Su-30 MKI has a maximum speed of 1,320 miles per hour at altitude (839 mph near ground level) and a service ceiling of more than 58,000 feet. It is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30 and was specifically developed for India.
HAL said 157 Indian vendors are involved in providing 13,350 components of the aircraft and that HAL divisions produce another 19,450 components for the plane.
"The Su-30 MKI project provides solid platform to indigenous manufacturing and technical competence creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs," the company said. "HAL's hand-holding with private
entrepreneurs has also ensured creation of strong infrastructure and quality avionics products."

Define HAL's role in MMRCA project: Dassault to Defence Ministry

After bagging the multi-billion dollar deal for supplying 126 Rafale fighter aircraft to the IAF, French firm Dassault Aviation has asked the Defence Ministry to define the role of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in the project.

If the contract is finalised, the first 18 aircraft would be supplied by Dassault directly to the Indian Air Force and the remaining 108 would be licence-produced at HAL facilities in Bangalore.

The French Dassault has asked the Ministry to define the role of the premier Indian aerospace company in the final delivery of the 108 aircraft to be produced in India, industry sources told PTI here.

As per the IAF tender issue for the project, the primary role for integration and supply of these aircraft would be of the HAL, which is successfully working on several important fighter aircraft projects such as the Su-30MKI project.

The French company has told the Ministry that if it is given the overall responsibility for the project, it should be given the freedom to decide on the proportion of work to be done by the HAL and private companies in the programme, they said.

In that case, the firm would determine the role of the defence and security wing of a new Indian defence company in the project and a major share of work would be given to it, they said.

Soon after Dassault was declared as the lowest bidder for the MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) deal pipping EAD's Eurofighter, it signed an MoU with a Reliance Industries Limited company for working together in the security sector. It is currently negotiating the deal with the Defence Ministry and the IAF.

For completing the Indian project, Dassault has also opened an Indian subsidiary company here. The company named Dassault Aircraft Services India Private Limited (DASIPL) was set up recently and it is 100 per cent owned by its French parent company, they said.

HAL inaugurates factory for military aircraft avionics

Singapore - India has inaugurated a new Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) factory in the south Indian city of Kasaragod that will produce avionics for military aircraft and helicopters.

 

"Avionics plays a major role in functioning of modern aircraft and contributes significantly to the value of an aircraft/helicopter," says HAL chairman RK Tyagi.

"Considering the huge potential of avionics systems in the coming years, a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for a variety of avionics has been established at Kasaragod. This would result in better operational effectiveness and improved customer satisfaction."

The ground breaking of the factory occurred in August 2008. The total investment cost for the project was Indian rupees (Rs) 660 million ($12 million).

"Presently, the production of airborne special purpose computers like mission computer, display processor, radar computers, open architect mission computer, etc for the Sukhoi SU-30, HAL Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-27 upgrade have been taken up at this factory," says HAL.

In the future, the factory will expand to produce equipment for India's medium multirole combat aircraft such as active electronic scanned array radars, the electronic warfare suite and other equipment.

In future, the factory will undertake work for a number of other future types such as the fifth generation fighter aircraft, multirole transport aircraft, light utility helicopter, light combat helicopter, medium lift helicopter and unmanned air vehicles.

HAL and UAC-TA sign MTA preliminary design phase contract

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a preliminary design phase (PDP) contract with United Aircraft Corporation - Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA) and JV-Multirole Transport Aircraft Limited (MTAL) for a proposed Il-214 multirole transport aircraft (MTA) project.

The contract is a follow-on deal to a general contrac previously signed by the three companies in May 2012.

HAL chairman RK Tyagi said the companies will immediately commence the preliminary design work at Moscow, with 30 HAL designers will be based at UAC-TA.

A detail design phase (DDP) contract is expected to be signed to start work on the MTA, following the completion of HAL's PDP contract.

Design and development work is scheduled to be conducted at HAL's Aircraft R&D Centre (ARDC) at Bangalore, while the MTA prototype and subsequent serial production will be carried out at its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur, India.

Other HAL R&D centres and manufacturing divisions will be responsible for production of systems and line replaceable units (LRUs), components, sub-assemblies and composite structure.

An Inter Governmental Agreement was signed between HAL and UAC-TA in November 2007 for the production of 205 MTA, of which 100 are intended for the Russian Air Force, 45 for Indian Air Force (IAF), while the remaining 60 will be supplied to third-party nations.

Powered by Russian-made Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engines, the Il-214 MTA is a medium-lift military transport aircraft designed to conduct regular cargo and troop transport duties, such as emergency and rescue operations.

The aircraft's first test flight is expected in 2014, followed by entry into operational service by 2016.

Indian Navy helicopter crashes in Goa, three people including both pilots killed

Two co-pilots of an  Indian Navy Chetak helicopter have died after it crashed in Goa

A diver who was on board has also been killed.

The rotor of the helicopter, which had flown from Mumbai to Dabolim, broke off while landing, the PTI has reported quoting Navy sources. The chopper then caught fire, they said.

A press release issued by the Navy says ... The helicopter on transit from Mumbai to Bangalore was to make a scheduled re-fuelling halt at Goa. A Board of Inquiry to ascertain the cause has been ordered.

Potential Hawk order to expand India footprint

We have received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a potential order to supply products and services for the manufacture of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft. 

The aircraft, to be built by HAL in Bengaluru, will fulfill the Indian Air Force’s requirement for its prestigious aerobatic team.

Upon successful conclusion, this would be the third contract placed on us for the supply of materials and equipment for the Hawk Mk132, building upon previous orders of 66 aircraft in 2004, comprising supply of 24 Hawk aircrafts in fly-away condition and 42 aircraft built under license by HAL, and a further 57 aircraft in 2010. Under these contracts, we have worked closely with the Indian MOD and HAL to establish a production line in India where the aircraft are now assembled. Hawk trainers already in service with the Indian Air Force are performing well.

Guy Griffiths, Group MD, International, said, “This is a tremendous opportunity to build on the success of Hawk in India and demonstrates the progress we are making in capturing significant opportunities to address the defence modernization requirements of the Indian Government. Together with HAL, we look forward to giving the Indian Air Force’s display team a fantastic aircraft.”

Together with HAL we are committed to strengthen our relationship through ongoing discussions on exploring long-term sustainable business opportunities, globally.
The potential addition to the Indian fleet, one of the largest fleets of Hawk anywhere in the world, would take the number of Hawk aircraft ordered worldwide to over 1,000.  The Hawk aircraft has been widely exported. Customers include Australia, Canada, South Africa, Bahrain, India, the Royal Saudi Air Force and the UK Royal Air Force. The UK Royal Air Force aerobatics team Red Arrows has used the BAE Systems Hawk since 1979.

Indians Discuss Future Carrier Plans

With India’s first indigenous carrier (IAC-1) now under construction at the Cochin shipyard, there is speculation surrounding future aircraft carriers, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma told AIN that the design of the second carrier has not been decided. IAC-1 has a ski jump, but it has not been decided yet whether a planned second indigenous carrier (IAC-2) would be similarly equipped with a ski jump for short-takeoff but arrested recovery (Stobar) operations. Russia has proposed joint development of an advanced carrier design to India.

“[We] do not rule out the IAC-2 catapult or the F-35 [naval version] in the future…it will be years before we decide,” Verma said. “Some people are jumping to conclusions [on the design]. The training, maintenance and aircraft commonality issues we will face with the catapult design are entirely different. We have other priorities…We have to examine what would be a reasonable time-frame for introduction,” he added.

Should India opt for the catapult design, it would need Western aircraft. The navy has already shown interest in Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye AEW aircraft. Lockheed Martin, too, has proposed the naval version of the F-35 to the Indian navy.
The 260-meter-long IAC-1 is expected to carry 12 MiG-29Ks, eight light combat aircraft (LCA) and 10 anti-submarine and reconnaissance helicopters on its 2.5-acre flight deck and hangars. However, in the face of major technological challenges, the indigenously built naval version of the LCA made its maiden flight this year. But basic design changes are needed, such as a strengthened airframe and landing gear, arrester hook, improved engine, enhanced aerodynamic performance and incorporation of special metals/materials. “There is much work to be done. It will take time before it reaches the AOC,” cautioned Verma.
Meanwhile, 16 MiG-29K/KUBs will initially equip the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya (ex-Gorshkov) and the IAC-1. With 29 more ordered, deliveries of the MiGs will start at the end of this year. A ski-jump training facility is being prepared at the navy’s airbase in Goa, said Verma.
Italy-based Fincantieri’s Naval Vessel Business Unit is said to have been involved in the concept, design and implementation plans of IAC-1. It is still not clear if the Indian navy will accept Russia’s offer of cooperation on the design of IAC-2, but geo-political considerations are a factor. Verma declined to comment on whether IAC-2 would be nuclear powered.
Asian Defence News

Browne to review Su-30 MKI upgradation programme

Air Chief NAK Browne will review the upgradation programme of Su-30 MKI at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Nashik during his two-day visit to Maharashtra from today.
“The Air Chief will also be visiting the HAL’s Su-30 MKI production facilities at Ojhar (Nashik) to oversee the first two Su-30 aircraft which have been recently inducted for overhaul and would also be interacting with the HAL chairman,” IAF officials said in New Delhi today.
nder the upgradation programme, the first block of Su-30MKI fighter aircraft are being upgraded in a Rs 11,000 crore contract with the HAL, which will provide additional capabilities to the planes.
The Russian-origin Su-30 MKI are the backbone of IAF and have been deployed at Pune, Bareilly, Halwara in Punjab, Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Tezpur in Assam. The first block of these fighters were inducted into the force around a decade ago.

On 4 August, ACM Browne will also visit the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) at Pune to address the Undergraduate and Post Graduate medical students there.
The tri-services medical training institution is celebrating the golden jubilee of its undergraduate wing.
Today the Air Chief visited the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre at Kirkee in Pune.
Upon his arrival at the Air Force Station Pune, ACM Browne visited various administrative and operational installations of the station and interacted with the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Commodore VR Chaudhari and other key IAF officials there.

Asian Defence News

Indian MoD to decide fate of 197 chopper tender

The Indian Defence Ministry is expected to soon decide the fate of a deal to procure 197 light utility helicopters for the Army and Air Force after complaints were received about alleged deviations in tender norms during user trials of the participating companies.

Two companies including European Eurocopter and Russian Kamov are participating in the tender for supplying light helicopters to the two forces for replacing the fleet of vintage Cheetah/ Chetak choppers procured in the 1970s.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister A K Antony is expected to discuss the issue soon as a committee formed to look into the complaints of deviation from tender clauses has submitted its report with the Ministry, sources said here.

They said the Special Technical Oversight Committee (STOC) under Lt Gen was formed by the DAC to look into the complaints from one of the companies rejected at an earlier stage.

The STOC has now submitted its report and the DAC will examine in it in near future and will decide if the deviations can be accepted or not. If they are not acceptable, the tender can also be scrapped, they said.

"After going through everything, if anything goes wrong we will again cancel it," Antony said.

The induction of these 197 choppers, of which over 130 will go to the army and the remaining will be operated by the air force, has already been delayed by over four years as a previous tender in this regard had to be cancelled at the last stage after certain problems in the process.

One of the three companies to receive the RFP was Agusta Westland and was ejected out of the race by the army due to its non-compliance with service requirements.