SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Recovered Nirbhay Cruise Missile which had plunged into the sea in recent missile trial, has helped Program Team to identify the snag which happened 8 minutes into the flight and has been tagged as a minor one, coming as a major relief to the Top Management of the DRDO, which has seen multiple missile system trials amid a standoff with Chinese forces in the LAC.

Nirbhay for the first time was fitted with the indigenously developed, Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) and it was reported earlier, that it was STFE which had developed a Snag, but it has been now told, that it was the booster snag prevented clean separation due to which the missile plunged into the sea.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India’s first locally developed, Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile has gone operational in Indian Air Force (IAF) in limited numbers was confirmed by Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, after months of media speculation about IAF getting the first batch of 50 Limited Serial produced Astra Mk1 that was ordered by IAF, has now confirmed it and also it now operational which clears it to be equipped to be carried by the frontline Sukhoi-30MKI jets.

IAF and Indian Navy have recently, also placed orders for 250 more Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs. Production constraints is been addressed at a rapid pace as more and more jets will be enabled to be equipped with Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs in near future. Tejas Mk1A and Mig-29K/Mig-29UPG are next in line with the later Mirage-2000 fleet also to get Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed next-generation fighter trainer Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SpORT) which will act as India’s first lead-in-fighter trainer (LIFT) built on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Trainer platform, is set to become reality as HAL plans to build one in 2023-24 for the IAF which has fully backed the program after Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft was first proposed for the first time in Aero India 2019.

SpORT is a fighter trainer which will help pilots train to fly modern aircraft including the Rafale and SU-30 MKI and also be used as a Large Force Engagement training for pilots since it can emulate any fighter jet one that is in the fleet and also that are with rivals for actual combat training.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indigenous gas turbine based Air Producer Engine for Jaguar (AP-J) an engine starter was trial tested on test bed successfully by HAL. AP-J has been developed indigenously by HAL’s Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), Bangalore.

The engine will be used to start main Adour Mk811 engines of the Jaguar after HAL and IAF started facing delays in spares supplies and was incurring high import cost resulting in AOGs (Aircraft on Ground) for the IAF.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

State owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered the 175th gun bay door for the F/A-18 Super Hornet of Boeing Company. The delivery document was handed over to A K Sahoo, Boeing Supplier Quality by Ms Jayakrishnan S AGM (Assy & Exports). Since January 2018, HAL has been maintaining ‘Gold’ rating for 100% quality and on-time delivery

Earlier, HAL shipped new configuration FAI Door four months ahead of schedule. Owing to high performance, Boeing has awarded purchase contract for additional 74 Doors in May 2020 for a business volume of Rs. 21.5 crores.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The first developmental trial of a Nirbhay cruise missile fitted with an indigenous Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) is expected, to take place this month. Nirbhay cruise missiles presently are powered by Russian-made NPO Saturn 36MT mini turbofan engines and DRDO plans to validate the STFE propulsion system in the upcoming test so that it enters full-scale production from 2021.

Indigenous 110 kg Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) has undergone 90 minutes of continuous operation at max power setting at Bangalore and was also tested at Leh at -15 degree Celsius. Nirbhay Cruise Missile has been inducted, in limited numbers due to heighten border tensions with the Chinese Army in Ladhak Standoff but, the numbers are limited and are mostly pre-production models.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India has issued yet another, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a launch of an experimental flight vehicle in the Bay of Bengal for the period from 16-17 October 2020 as per information provided by Twitter user @detresfa_. Previous NOTAM for the test of India’s Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile with a strike range of 1,000 km has been kept for the period from 12-14 October 2020.

Indian Military watchers are counting on that it will be the first developmental test flight of most anticipated but long-delayed China-Centric ” Pralay” short-range. solid-fueled, surface-to-surface guided ballistic missile specifically designed and developed as a tactical missile system to be used in theater level conflicts like the Russian 9K720 Iskander and Chinese DF-12 M20 short-range surface-to-surface tactical missile.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has selected Pratt & Whitney developed PW127M turboprop engine to power its corporate, Avro Hawker Siddeley HS748 aircraft ‘Subroto’ which is used by the company to ferry its Top Management along with it, the aircraft will also get a new ‘glass cockpit’ that will replace all analog systems so the aircraft could be in service for another 20 years.

Present Rolls-Royce RDa.7 Dart Mk 536-2 turboprop engines used on the AVRO HS 748 are out of production now and spares are getting harder to come by, but the aircraft, which was designed to be used as a Commercial airliner even after being in service with HAL for 40 years, utilization of the airframe life was just 30%, with plenty of airframe life remaining and condition still being in top-notch, it was decided to be upgraded with newer engine and Avionics.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, has confirmed that the deal for 83 Indigenously made Tejas Mk1A fighter jet is now just a formality and inking of contracts between IAF and HAL will be done by December 2020, with deliveries to begin from 2023 onwards, which is likely to be completed by 2028.

IAF has asked HAL to maintain an Annual production Capacity of 20 aircraft per year from 2024-25 onwards so that by early 2028 all aircrafts contracted are delivered. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is already in talks with GE Aviation for fresh orders of 100+ F404-GE-IN20 Engines and a final contract is to be inked soon in 2021. HAL already has placed orders for Israeli developed ELM-2052 AESA Radar for the same.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), which is being pitched as a one-stop replacement for Mi-17, Kamov, and Sea King fleets of the Indian Air Force and Navy was recently seen pictured going though Wind Tunnel Testing with major Design changes after Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has submitted a Preliminary Project Report (PPR) for sanction of Government funds for the development earlier this year.

The wind Tunnel mode of IMRH features New Engine Casing along with different positioning of the engine exhaust ducts now equipped with infrared suppression exhaust mixer boxes for a low infrared signature. Design changes are significant from what was shown in the full-scale Mockup of the IMRH in Aero India a few years back. 

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is satisfied at the rate of progress of the Indigenous Uttam Aesa Fire Control Radar (FCR) which is under development for the Tejas Mk2 program and even likely to be used for Tejas Mk1A Block-II Batches and have backed a proposal to develop a Scaled-up UTTAM Aesa Radar to be used for other fighter jets.

Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, for the first time, has confirmed that IAF is keen that a Scaled-up UTTAM Aesa Radar is developed particularly for the Su-30MKI fleet.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a launch of an experimental flight vehicle in the Bay of Bengal for the period from 12-14 October 2020 as per information provided by Twitter user @detresfa_. Previous media reports indicate that this will be last developmental trials of the India’s Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile with a strike range of 1,000 km.

Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile  was test launched from a specially-designed launcher last year. Sources tell idrw.org that a limited number of pre-production missiles have already been moved to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid tension with China which could be its test by fire if present stand off escalates into major war in coming weeks.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Bengaluru based-Dynamatic Technologies Ltd (DTL) has confirmed that the first Front Fuselage Assembly for the LCA-Tejas aircraft has been handed over to the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after acceptance from HAL. In 2017, Dynamatic Technologies Limited was chosen as the supplier for the Front Fuselage assembly from HAL – Light Combat Aircraft Division.

In 2019, Dynamatic Technologies Limited had launched,‘TEJAS MAIN FUSELAGE ASSEMBLY’ for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the first Front Fuselage Assembly for the LCA-Tejas was delivered in 2020.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

An official from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has confirmed that the first flight of the second Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) block—SP-22 was successfully carried out on 24-September of this month after resumption of flight activities that were halted for a while after completion of the first FOC SP-21 back in March this year. -SP-22 was piloted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chief Test Flying (Fixed Wing) KA Muthana (retired) for approx 43 minutes.

A six-month lull due to pandemic and shutdown of the supply chain was used to get all FOC and IOC-II jets updated with software to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). SP-23 has completed low- and high-speed taxi trials and will be ready for its first flight test by end of this month.

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a launch of an experimental flight vehicle in the Bay of Bengal for the period from 24 Sept – 01 Oct 2020 as per information provided by Twitter user @detresfa_. Speculations are that Two Sukhoi-30MKI will be involved in carrying out trials of newly acquired long-range BVRAAMs against Target drones.

Last month Su-30 MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) operating from Kalaikunda (KKD) Air Force Base, test-fired a newly integrated French MICA Infrared seeker equipped beyond visual range air to air missile for the first time and also newly acquired RVV-SD BVRAAMs from Russia. IAF plans to test again RVV-SD and R-27ET1 BVRAAMs to validate upgraded missiles systems for the first time.