SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) will carry out the first flight of the scaled-down model of the High Altitude Platform (HAP) in May this year that will fly up to 3 km,(9842ft) and will act as a technology demonstrator for the bigger HAP the company plans to develop.
A fully-fledged HAP will be able to fly up to 18-20km (65616ft) which NAL claims can be used by the local civilian agency to establish emergency communication systems in disaster-hit areas, to check pollution, and to map development activities in the area. HAP can also be used by security agencies to keep a tight vigil at borders and prevent infiltrations and smuggling.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has increased the repair and overhaul (ROH) capability of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft from 16 to 20 every year and the earlier turnaround time which was 30 months has now been reduced to 15 months, which comes as a boost to Su-30MKI fleet often called as the backbone of fighter fleet with IAF.
HAL had set up the Su-30MKI ROH facility at its Nashik Plant where the facility provides full maintenance support and enhances the serviceability of the Su-30(MKI) fleet throughout its life cycle.
Continue readingSOURCE: DEEPAK HILORI/ FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
It seems Indian Air Force is again in the mood for the purchase of another Transport Aircraft that eventually will replace the ageing fleet of Soviet-Era An-32 Short-haul Transporter that was procured in the mid-’80s after recently concluding a deal for the purchase of Airbus C-295M Tactical Transport Aircraft that will be manufactured in the country.
IAF is looking to procure nearly 80 medium-lift military transport aircraft that will replace 118 An-32 Short-haul Transporter and seems to have dropped plans to procure more C-295 that are classified in the same class of aircraft but instead, it has decided to go for a plane with nearly double the cargo carrying capacity then An-32 it intends to replace.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 871 turbofans engine that is manufactured by Rolls-Royce in collaboration with Safran subsidiary Turbomeca has been having troubles with its turbine blade lifespan issue that lead to the grounding of the Royal Air Force’s Hawk T2 training aircraft after engine problems were identified.
Rolls-Royce has claimed that it is not a problem restricted to India alone and has provided an interim solution to the HAL but idrw.org has been told that a permanent fix to the issue of short-lived turbine blades will only come by end of 2025.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar told ABP Live that both Dassault Aviation’s Rafale M and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet have cleared technical trials held by the Indian Navy and both aircraft met its requirements for deck-based operations from two Indian aircraft carriers but it will be the decision of the government since the Navy has said yes to both.
Kumar acknowledged that IAF that operates Rafale will have a commonality for spare parts and support etc that might play a crucial role in its considerations.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) CMD CB Ananthakrishnan told the media that the scale model of the Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42) showcased at Aero India 2023 is fully a company initiative to offer Indian Air Force (IAF) a next-generation trainer aircraft platform that can be used to train pilots to fly next-generation fighter jets like AMCA.
HTT-40 and HJT-36 were based on the user (IAF) requirements but HLFT-42 is based on the possible requirements to meet evolving changes in the fighter pilot training curriculum and the lack of twin-seater aircraft being developed for future fighter jets like Tejas Mk2 and AMCA.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Indian Navy has initiated the process of starting a study for a larger carrier as informed by Admiral R Hari Kumar to the media. The 65000-tonne aircraft carrier that will use “catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery” (CATOBAR) will see the adaption of next-gen Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) systems.
General Atomics which has developed EMALS & AAG Systems for U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered, 100,000-tonne Supercarriers also has claimed to develop smaller EMALS & AAG Systems that can be used on smaller aircraft carriers like one Indian plan to develop.
Continue readingSOURCE: SATYAJEET KUMAR/ FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
On May 11, 1998, India leapt into the unknown world of nuclear weapon powers with the tests at Pokhran and soon after India became a global pariah. Even though India never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty after came next were economic sanctions on India for its series of underground nuclear tests by none other than the United States which lead to suppliers cancelling their agreements and European firms stopping cooperation which was a major setback for country’s LCA-Tejas program.
India has acquired 8 F404-F2J3 engines from GE Aviation to power initial batches of LCA-Tejas prototypes and 98 sanctions meant engine spares and other supplies had halted and by the time the first flight of TD-1 of LCA-Tejas was carried out in 2001, but it meant that India had to cannibalize perfectly working engines to be used as spares so that already delayed program doesn’t suffer more delays.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s leading shipbuilding company, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is boosting its research and Development activities in the development of many components and systems that will result in the development of a Truly Indigenous Conventional submarine for the Indian Navy as per Industrials sources close to idrw.org.
MDL that made French Scorpene Class submarines in India under Licensing agreements is developing Lithium-ion battery packs and Battery monitoring systems for current and for the proposed Indigenous Conventional submarine programs.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The long-overdue Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-produced Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) HJT-36 that has completed six turn spins on each side a key milestone in the program last year, has made HAL officials confident that the final certification of the aircraft will happen in the next 12 months as aircraft is set to clear final round of trials in coming months.
idrw.org was told that design issues on the HJT-36 have been fixed but it still requires recertification due to enhancements/ improvements of other systems and subsystems before the aircraft is ready for user trials.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will commence delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets from next February which will see the induction of four Mk1A fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) with peak production rate to hit 16 units per year from 2026 onwards but HAL is targeting to squeeze in more deliveries from 2026 onwards so that orders for 73 jets can be accomplished before 2029.
HAL already has informed Tier-I suppliers of the main airframe manufacturer that are being handled by Private sector companies to deliver 2-3 units more per year so that production can be ramped up for the possibility of additional orders before the end of 2028.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Indian Army has issued Two separate requests for proposal (RFP) for 100 each Logistic Drones in Light and Heavy Weight classes along with Accessories under emergency procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) under Buy (Indian) category.
In Light Logistic Drone requirements it is seeking drones that have all up the weight of 50kg with a payload carrying capacity of 15kg. Light Logistic Drone should be equipped with Day / Night Camera and has a range of 10km with the ability to operate in Fully Autonomous Mode, Manual Mode and Return to Home Mode in various contingencies.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Russian-origin fleet of Mi-17V5 helicopters in the Indian Air Force as part of their upgrade package will be getting Spike NLOS missile that can take out targets from long ranges and can prove to be very effective against enemy Armoured columns in times of conflict. Mi-17V5 Transport helicopters will soon be equipped with the Israeli Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile that has a range of 32km and as per media reports same will also be included in the ALH-Rudra and Prachand light attack helicopter soon.
Spike NLOS can take out targets from long ranges and can be very effective against enemy Armoured columns in times of conflict. Spike NLOS offers superior stand-off range over Air Launched ATGMs, but NLOS will be purchased in limited numbers as the focus remains to get Indian-made Air Launched ATGMs as main armaments of the Indian Attack Helicopters.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have agreed to explore defence cooperation between the two countries and are looking at the co-development and co-production of defence equipment in India.
In 2021, India formally lifted the ban on Italian firm AgustaWestland and its parent company Leonardo, paving the way for them to take part in multiple ongoing projects and bid for upcoming defence contracts.
Continue readingSOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In 2022, HAL officials have confirmed that it is exploring the possibility of setting up a Joint Venture for the manufacture of seats in India as IAF is looking to procure nearly 470 fighter jets and another 70-80 LIFT Trainer aircraft in the next 20 years. HAL to avoid any possible embargo on the export of Indian-made jets has taken up plans to develop them locally for the Indian and Export markets.
idrw.org was told by a HAL official at Aero India 2023 that talks with two companies are progressing well, one is an Indian private sector company and another is an International Ejection seat manufacturer with whom a three-way partnership might be forged.
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