F-35 - India 'rejects' US offer

India has no plans as of now to either join the US-led joint strike fighter (JSF) programme or buy the F-35 `Lightning-II' fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) when it finally becomes operational.

"We cannot have two types of FGFA. We have already launched preliminary work for our FGFA after inking the $295 million preliminary design contract (PDC) with Russia last month,'' said a top defence ministry official on Friday.

This comes in the wake of comments made by a top Pentagon official, undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Ashton Carter, in Washington that the US was open to Indian participation in its JSF project. 

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MMRCA Updates

The BAE Systems-developed Eurofighter Typhoon Helmet Mounted Symbology System.

The European Eurofighter Typhoon consortium is offering its almost science fiction-evoking helmet to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of its bid to win the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender, according to company sources. The helmet can enable a pilot to lock-on target and shoot by voice command, merely after looking at the target.

Company sources confirmed to StratPost that the Eurofighter Typhoon Helmet Mounted Symbology System, developed by BAE Systems and released last July, was part of its offering to the IAF. BAE Systems had issued a press release on the helmet earlier this month, calling it something out of Star Wars, in a reference to its seemingly filmy capabilities, where it said the helmet lets the pilot see through the body of the aircraft

Using the new helmet system, the pilot can now look at multiple targets, lock-on to them, and then, by voice-command, prioritize them. Its a lightning-fast system to let the pilot look, lock-on, and fire, said BAE Systems of the system, which also brings to mind the thought-controlled weapons system onboard the fictional MiG-31 in the Clint Eastwood-starring Firefox.

The helmet has a number of fixed sensors, which move in relation to the sensors on the aircraft as the pilot moves his head, ensuring the aircraft knows exactly where and what he is looking. Apparently, the pilot can zero-in on targets even if they’re out of line of sight or nowhere in the range of the aircraft vector.

Pilots of British Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoons are expected to be become the first users of this helmet sometime this year.

Israel and the F-35: A look beyond costs and politics

 

Do the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) really need the F-35, its high cost notwithstanding? To tackle this question, the essay below first identifies the F-35’s unique features as a fifth generation fighter jet. It then examines the operational need for the F-35 through the prism of the Israel Air Force (IAF), specifically, the aircraft’s ability to complete missions successfully in today’s reality. The premise is that the ability to achieve aerial superiority is a key to effective use of the airpower: the discussion clarifies what precisely is necessary to achieve in order to enjoy aerial superiority and the effect that superiority has on how the force is used. Although a full discussion of the radical change in today’s threat and its effect on achieving aerial superiority lies beyond the scope of this essay, the growing strength of Israel’s enemies, both in theory and in practice, poses a central challenge to what once seemed assured: the IAF’s achievement of aerial superiority. The essay clarifies whether the F-35 can provide a solution to the problem and whether a sufficient response might be provided by other alternatives.

The discussion of alternatives to the F-35 is limited to options that will be available in the near future, and does not examine alternatives in the initial planning stages, whose capabilities and costs are impossible to predict. This focus is essential for an informed, concrete discussion of IAF force buildup in the IDF’s five year plan. Future alternatives cannot play a role in fighter jet contracts signed today. However, a discussion of advanced (and distant future) alternatives to the traditional understanding of aerial superiority as a key to the effective deployment of the air force is not irrelevant and may, in fact, be essential. However, it requires separate and comprehensive deliberations and should not influence present force buildup; the defense establishment would do well to engage in that debate regarding future force buildup.

The F-35 is a fifth generation fighter jet. Its unique advantages include:

a. Stealth technology / low signature, which allows the jet to deal with airborne and land-based radar and perform even in areas defended with surface-to-air missiles or advanced planes. Its edge lies in the capability to handle threats independently while flying through the operational spheres, as opposed to fourth generation planes, which are dependent on a system-wide response.

b. Network capability: The plane has information sharing and shared operational capabilities with other planes and means of combat, thereby allowing greater operational output.

c. Sensor fusion: The plane allows the pilot to deal with a large amount of information gathered by the plane itself that arrives through the network, thereby allowing for full utilization of the plane’s and the system’s capabilities.

d. The plane is built with economic considerations in mind, i.e., operation at reasonable costs (compared to advanced technologies and capabilities).

The need for the F-35 is derived from the Air Force’s missions, which are driven by the need to deter Israel’s enemies from embarking on a war and to serve as a central means of victory in the event that a war nevertheless breaks out.

THE STRATEGIC EFFECT OF THE AERIAL BALANCE OF POWER

The decision on whether or not to go to war is affected primarily by a comparison of power between the sides, with airpower being a primary factor in this equation. For example, Sadat was prepared to launch the Yom Kippur War only after he was guaranteed aerial superiority that could protect Egyptian forces on the east bank of the Suez Canal. The understanding that he would not have aerial superiority outside the range of the surface-to-air missiles was what made him curtail his goals for the war. Similarly, the absolute superiority displayed by the Israel Air Force in the First Lebanon War in attacking the surface-to-air missile batteries on the Syrian-Lebanese border and the aerial battles that followed was a significant factor in Syria’s decision not to open a second front on the Golan Heights. The fact that the Syrians managed to delay the IDF’s advance on the eastern front of Lebanon might perhaps have encouraged them to think they could deal with the IDF on the Golan Heights as well, yet they remained deterred. 

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RQ-170 Secret Project

Source : Youngster

The Secret Projects forum has leaked a new series of images of the US Air Force's Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel. One of the images for the first time offers the clearest view yet of the RQ-170's nose, which reveals inlet shape as an isosceles trapezoid. The basic shape is not uncommon for such flying-wing, stealthy aircraft. The inlet aperture of the MiG Skat, for example, is very similar. But it differs greatly from the inverted-W shaping of the Boeing Phantom Ray and Northrop Grumman X-47B.

DRDO plans another K-15 missile launch

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans another test-firing of the K-15 missile from a pontoon off the coast of Visakhapatnam. 

Developed under the Sagarika project, the K-15 has been test-fired several times from submerged pontoons off Visakhapatnam. 

The pontoon, simulating the conditions of a submarine, will be positioned about 10 to 20 metres below the sea surface. A gas-charged booster will erupt into life, driving the two-stage missile to the surface. The missile's first stage will then ignite and it will climb 20 km in the air before cutting a parabolic path and travelling over a range of 700 km. 

The missile, which is under production, can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. It will form part of the lethal arsenal of the country's first nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant, which is undergoing sea trials. India is building two more such submarines.

The DRDO is developing a K-4 underwater-launched missile, which will have a range of 3,000 km. Developmental tests of the missile's gas-booster have taken place from a pontoon. 

The sixth launch of the interceptor missile, developed by the DRDO, is scheduled for the first fortnight of February. A modified Prithvi missile, taking off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on the Orissa coast, will act as an “enemy” missile.

Read More on The Hindu

India’s first C-130J starts delivery flight

IDRW

SOURCE: Flightglobal.com

The Indian air force’s first of six C-130J tactical transports has left Lockheed Martin’s Marietta manufacturing site in Georgia, at the start of its delivery flight to Hindon air base.To make its public debut at the Aero India show near Bangalore in early February, the aircraft is the nation’s second production example, registered as KC-3802. It was formally handed over to the service in Marietta in mid-December, and Lockheed published images of its departure on 28 January.

LCH Updates

IDRW

India,s first indigenous attack helicopter, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) developed by HAL and due for induction into the Indian Air Force by 2012-13, will make its first flight during Aero India from February 9 to 13. Its first test flight was in March last year.

The second and third flights were in April and May 2010 and as of now, over 20 test flights have checked various parameters. These have paved the way for testing with weapons.

While the first prototype could fly at the air show, the second prototype, which will be weaponized, is expected to be unveiled too. Two more prototypes are under construction. HAL commenced work on the LCH in 2006.

The copter is an attack variant of the HAL Dhruv, which has been inducted into the armed forces. The copter was designed using a successful and proven helicopter as the base platform. HAL has tentative orders to deliver 65 LCHs to the  IAF and over 100 to the Army.

HAL will also showcase the mock-up of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) which is being developed indigenously and the Multirole Transport Aircraft ( MTA) being done in collaboration with Russia.

Two Chetak helicopters are expected to be handed over to a Third World country. While export orders are nothing to write home about, there have been occasional purchases by other countries. Chile signed a contract with HAL for about seven Dhruv ALHs.

Chopper features

* Powered by HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft engine

* Has helmet-mounted targeting systems, electronic warfare systems and advanced weapons systems

* Has glass cockpit with multifunction displays, a target acquisition and designation system with laser range-finder and laser designator

* Fitted with data link for network-centric operations facilitating transfer of mission data to other airborne platforms and ground stations

* Two pilots sit one behind the other, compared to side-by-side in the Dhruv

Indian AWACS in next month

Tehelka

The indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AWACS), integrated on board a Brazilian aircraft, which will give the Indian Air Force (IAF) a capability beyond conventional ground-based radars and tethered electromagnetic radars, will roll out next month.

The system, being developed by Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation would give the IAF the capability to “see” beyond enemy lines and detect incoming, airborne threats.

A senior defence official said: “The AWACS has been integrated with the Brazilian aircraft Embraer according to IAF’s specifications. The first indigenous system would roll out in February and the flight trials would begin by this year-end.”

India and Brazil had inked a deal in 2008 under which aircraft manufacturer Embraer had to modify its EMB145 aircraft to carry an active array antenna unit on its fuselage. Termed to be “very cost-effective” and “probably the cheapest in the world,” the system is expected to be a potent force-multiplier for the IAF.

The home-grown AWACS, beyond its ability to detect aircraft, cruise missiles and other flying objects at ranges far greater than what is possible through existing systems, can also collate surface information about troop movements and missile launches even while “listening in” to highly confidential communications between the enemy’s front line units.

When inducted in the IAF, it would supplement the fleet of three AWACS purchased from Israel. The current AWACS operational in the IAF is a Phalcon airborne radar integrated with the Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft.

India is in a select club of nations — along with the US, Russia, Britain, Japan, Australia and Turkey — that operate such a sophisticated system. Other countries — notably Pakistan, Brazil and Greece — too operate AWACS but at a much lower end of the scale in terms of capability.

HAL says We will give all what nation wants

Source : IDRW

News by : TNN

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will go by national consensus on the type of aircraft to be produced and manufactured by it and will meet all targets set for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). HAL chairman Ashok Nayak had said on Monday that HAL would fulfil orders for 48 pieces of the LCA and was expecting a further order for 100 more from the IAF-Navy. “As we go along, new concepts and technologies will be absorbed and incorporated in the production of the aircraft. We are proud that the project has achieved its initial target.”

A day after the LCA was described as a medium to low-end aircraft and not as being an air-superiority fighter by Air Chief Marshal P V NaIk, aviation experts said an aircraft that is nationally decided is the one suitable for national security.

HAL top brass told TOI that the LCA project was “a nationally decided project” and “would be delivered in accordance with national requirements”. A top HAL official said: “The issue is not whether the LCA is an air superiority fighter or not. The LCA has been conceived, designed and developed for a particular role and purpose by national consensus. As producers, we will deliver that aircraft.”

HAL top brass said it was well aware that the LCA project was nationally initiated for a particular purpose with the aircraft set to have a particular form, role and capability. “That requirement is being met. Our capability was limited earlier, it is better now. So even while LCA may have been conceived in the past, it will be contemporary and get better as it goes along. The LCA will certainly fulfill its mandate,” a top official said.

“If you ask whether HAL has a suggestion on the type of aircraft India should have in the future, we certainly do, although it is a suggestion that will be in tandem with the consensus of all actors concerned. Now that we have better capabilities and have understood our shortcomings from previous experiences, we have suggested advanced fighters like the fifth generation fighter aircraft, which again is a national consensus project. HAL will be playing a role in the manufacture of this advanced aircraft along with Russia.”

HAL top brass was careful to point out that suggestion for advanced fighters did not mean that there was no role for aircraft like LCA. They said the advanced fighters and the LCA would serve respective purposes.

On 100% compliance that  IAF has sought for the aircraft, the official said it is natural for any user (IAF) to seek the same. “Compliance is a continuous process. Compliance concerns other organisations. Once completed, we would then be producing an aircraft that has been fully compliant. If at the inaugural of the IOC, an aircraft is 70% to 80% compliant, it will be 100% compliant at the time of delivery to the user. In that time, agencies would have effected improvements on all suggestions.”

MMRCA Updates - Eurofighter ahead in $10-billion Indian Air Force deal

SOURCE : Tribune India

The buzz has started about which new ‘fighter bird’ will rule the Indian skies as well as those of enemy. The Eurofighter aircraft, it seems, has emerged the winner after a long ‘dogfight’ among six foreign 4.5th generation jet planes to clinch over $10-billion Indian Air Force deal for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). The second runner-up is said to be the French fighter Rafale.

Despite the aggressive business-oriented visit of US President Barack Obama recently, two major competing American military aircraft makers, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have lost their pitch.

Growing Indo-US strategic relations have not helped the American diplomatic and arms lobbies to get either of the two planes touch the winning mark. India had shortlisted six aircraft: American Lockheed Martin’s F-16IN ‘Super Viper’, US Boeing’s ‘Super Hornet’ F/A-18IN, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV (EADS)’ Eurofighter Typhoon – EADS is a consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italy firms French D’assault’s Rafale, Swedish Saab’s Gripen, and Russian MiG-35. The MMRCAs induction is likely to start by 2015.

When the file related to the final evaluation of rival aircraft was shown to Defence Minister AK Antony, highly reliable sources told The Tribune that he said that if this was the case, let it be. The Prime Minister’s Office has been made aware about this. Now, a ‘political decision’ is awaited on this mega deal.

Interestingly, on the New Year eve, an important file relating to the deal was found on the roadside in the Khel Gaon area. The file was supposed to be in the custody of an IAS officer of the rank of director in the defence production wing of the Ministry of Defence. An inquiry has been ordered.

The IAF intends to purchase the MMRCA combat jets to replace its aging Russian-made MiG-21 fleet in phases and help in curbing the recent trend of the depleting squadron strength.

India had floated tenders for this deal in August 2007. The exhaustive technical evaluation of the six global manufacturers’ bids was completed last year. Starting from Bangalore, the trials took the competing fighters and their weapons to the hot desert region of Jaisalmer as well as high-altitude Leh.

Incidentally, the IAF ‘top guns’ – after trials at home and abroad – were said to be in favour of Swedish Saab’s Gripen fighters. Boeing’s ‘Super Hornet’ also reportedly gave a tough fight to be among the top four. The Eurofighter is said to be the costliest jet among the competitors.

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 lost mainly as the Air Force pilots’ community raised a critical question: why should India go for the same fighter aircraft that is with our main regional adversary – Pakistan?

The arrival of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 fighter plane for trials had made many in the IAF apprehensive, and they feared that its ‘selection’ – because of over-pitched American lobbying – might become a ‘combat disadvantage’ for India. Pakistan has been operating F-16 aircraft since the mid-eighties and is currently flying the F-16 Block 50.

The Russian MiG-35 was ‘not touched’ by the evaluators as New Delhi and Moscow were busy signing a deal for a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).

J-20 makes its first maiden flight

Source-PTI

China’s radder evasive stealth fighter made its maiden test flight on Tuesday, making the country only the second nation after US to test such cutting edge technology.

The aircraft called J-20 took off from an airstrip at Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute just before 1300 hours and flew for about 20 minutes, the Wall Street Journal reported quoting eye witnesses.

The test flight came as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates started the second day of his official visit to the country and was scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao. Gates has been dismissive of the Chinese arms build up and has said that development of stealth technology by China poses no threat to Washington.

Images and witness accounts were posted online of the twin engine plane making its epic maiden flight and on the ground surrounded by men in army overcoats, the paper said, adding that normally secretive People’s Army made no attempt to hide or remove the photos from the internet.

But the test flight was not immediately confirmed by the Chinese Defence Ministry or by the Air force.

The images of the J-20 inflight, WSJ said suggest Chins is making faster than expected progress in developing a potential rival to the US F-22 (Raptor), currently the world’s only fully operational stealth fighter.

The US is also using the stealth technology in production of the F-35 joint strike fighter. While the Indians and Russians have also carried out test flights of their stealth fighter based on Sukhoi T-50 jet.

Images of the apparent test flight were also reproduced by the website of the state-run Xinhua news agency and Global Times newspaper.

The Photos showed the new fighter taking off from an airbase with the older J-10 fighters giving it a chase.

While acknowledging that Chinese have made rapid strides in military technology, US experts say the fighter is many years away from actual deployment.

The experts said the Chinese military aviation still relied heavily on imported Russian technology and the new fighter could be efforts to upgrade the Russian Su-27 fighters of the Chinese Air Force.

They said that Beijing has developed two prototypes with one using Russian engine and the other indigenous one. It was not clear which version of the fighter took to the air today.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas clears last hurdle

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)Tejas on Thursday cleared its last hurdle before attaining the January 10-scheduled Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) with the aircraft’s integrated flight control system receiving the necessary documentation from the certifying authorities.

The Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness (RCMA) handed over the certification for the LCA’s integrated flight control system (IFCS) – the pilot-friendly flight controls.

The three teams involved in the LCA programme responsible for the IFCS were Control Law (CLAW), Flight Simulation team and the Parameter Identification team. “Over the years we have developed flight controls that have made the aircraft user-friendly for the pilots to do up to 8 or 9 G’s (eight to nine times the gravitation force). All the 14 test pilots who have flown the LCA over the last 10 years have said we have done a great job and there is nothing more satisfying than this,” Shyam Chetty, project director, CLAW, and the overall head of the three teams, said.

The three groups were formed separately in 1992 by former President APJ Abdul Kalam when he was the scientific advisor to the defence minister, and have been working closely since then.
Team members recalled the negative publicity the programme received in the initial years and the demands to wind it down as it was considered “more trouble than its worth”.

Chinese J-20 first flight today

 

Today the prototype of the first Chinese Fifth Generation Jet Fighter, the J-20 powered by Al-31F variant engine will fly today for the first time. All the Chengdu air space will be closed from 1300-1500 Local (0500-0800 UTC).

Will be posting more updates on the same. 

Stay tuned....

LCA Tejas IOC

 

Indian first indigenous Light Combat Aircraft "TEJAS" ready for

Antony to lay foundation stone of India's first defence ship building institute

To enhance self reliance in warship production capabilities of India, Defence Minister AK Antony will lay the foundation stone of the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) on Tuesday in Calicut.

NIRDESH would concentrate on enhancing self-reliance in production capabilities relating to all kinds of warships, submarines and other related platforms required by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to safeguard our long coastline and protect maritime interests of India.

The Government of Kerala has agreed to provide more than 40 acres of land with requisite sea front for this prestigious institute.

The institute would pave the way for achieving enhanced self reliance and also augment the efforts of the Department of Defence Production in developing a robust defence industrial base by providing technology support and promote ancillary industry participation in the defence shipbuilding sector.


It would support the defence shipbuilding industry by addressing their emerging needs relating to design and construction of state of the art defence platforms including specific R and D projects to provide turnkey solutions.

Sify News

The Franco-Russian Warship Deal

 Resuming our daily work after these days of festivity, an important event that one or another reader may have lost amidst the turbulent ending of the year, should be picked up at this point. A nice Christmas present for the French naval sector, the Russian President Dimitri Medvedev informed his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy that the Russian Defence Ministry decided to order two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. The purchase of these French-built ships by Russia has been negotiated since Russia expressed its interest in August 2009. As defpro.com reported in September 2010, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that the negotiations were becoming increasingly specific.

To meet the requirements of Russian law, and answering protests from the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Russia had to open a formal tender for the procurement of amphibious assault ships. However, no side wanted to leave the impression that this would compromise the “exclusive negotiations.” According to a Kommersant report last year, the USC has offered to build the ship for $500 to $700 million, which is higher than France’s price of some $430 to $580 million. The French offer was submitted by a consortium comprising the French naval defence company DCNS, which has already built and launched three Mistral-class vessels, and the USC.

As yet, there is no specific information about the contract value and a possible option for additional ships. However, Russia has been negotiating the option to build to additional ships under license. The first two ships will be built at the STX shipyard at Saint-Nazaire, France, with work on the first vessel scheduled to begin in 2011. DCNS is planning to complete construction of the two ships within 36 months, according to DCNS Director Pierre Legros.

Read more on DefPro

Wish you all a very Happy New Year

We would like to wish all iDi blog readers the whole world Happy New Year

May all good things come to each and everyone of you.

Chinese Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter J-20 Black Eagle

The J-20 #2001 prototype was photographed when it was preparing for high-speed taxi trial at the CAC airfield in late December 2010, wearing a distinctive dark green color scheme (RAM coating applied?). The prototype features a pair of all-moving tailfins and Russian 1.44 style ventral stabilizing fins, which shield the engine nozzles but might increase RCS.

It also features an F-22 style forward fuselage, including Caret intakes but with DSI bumps installed at the upper inner corners, as well as a one-piece frameless canopy. However the canards appear to extend slightly above the plane of the main wings and there are four large underwing actuator fairings which might not be stealth optimized. First disclosed by US Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) in 1997 as XXJ, J-20 is the 4th generation multi-role fighter to enter the service between 2015 and 2018. Since 90s both CAC/611 Institute and SAC/601 Institute had been working their own designs for a twin-engine multi-role heavy fighter with stealth capability and maneuverability comparable to American F-22.

India's first C-130 heads for base in 2011

India's first two Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft will be flown from the United States to their home base at Hindon early next year.



Lockheed Martin handed over the first C-130J to the Indian air force earlier this month as part of an order for six aircraft. The $1.2 billion U.S. Foreign Military Sale -- India's first -- was signed in late 2008 at the DefExpo exhibition in New Delhi.

It was a breakthrough at the time for Lockheed Martin into India's military transport market.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian air force, which is 'Touch the Sky with Glory'," Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programs, said during the handover of the first aircraft. "Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family."

The first aircraft ran its four Rolls-Royce AE2100 engines equipped with Dowty six-blade propellers in September ahead of its maiden flight in October at Lockheed's hangar in Marietta, Ga.

The contract stipulates 80 percent availability of the C-130J fleet at any given time. To ensure this, Lockheed must supply an extensive support package to India because no infrastructure exists to maintain and repair the aircraft.

Support functions and programs include crew training and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles and cargo pallets.

Sachin Tendulkar is Indian Air Force’s poster boy

Sachin Tendulkar, an inspiration for millions of Indians because of his feats in cricket, can now be seen in IAF fatigues along with the Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the force’s 2011 calendar. The cricket icon, who was recently conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain, features in the calendar wearing a green flying suit with helmet tucked under his left arm.

Sachin appears on the ‘January’ page of the calendar with an air superiority fighter Su-30MKI in the background, the aircraft which he is likely to be flying in after returning from the ongoing cricket series in South Africa.

Interestingly, Sachin is the only person appearing in the calendar which otherwise carries the pictures of various fighter planes and transport aircraft of the IAF.

The IAF said Sachin had been featured in the calendar to spread awareness about the force among the youth.

“He is a national hero and youth relate with him. Sachin’s association with the IAF will also help in spreading awareness about the force,” an IAF official said.

On September 3, the IAF conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain on Sachin for his cricketing achievements and contribution to the nation.

Sachin is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour.

“It’s a great pleasure and honour to be honoured by IAF. It was a wishful thinking and it has come true today. I’m extremely proud to be a part of IAF. I want to urge the youth to join air force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true,” he had said after receiving the honour.

Quicker Induction of jets is Key in MMRCA Tender : IAF Official

SOURCE : IDRW NEWS NETWROK

A high ranked serving officer in Indian air force have told (idrw.org), IAF is looking at quicker induction of the jets into air force, and without any further delays once the winner of the MMRCA Tender competition is out by Mid of next year .

IAF has made a detail study of all the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Production capability of this jets and also how fast they can get their government approval for Transfer of Core Technology to India, and also ground tools and other spare supplies of the jet to HAL, so that local production of the 108 jets can start in India, first 18 aircraft will be directly sourced from the manufacturer.

Officer also admitted that aircrafts like Gripen NG, MiG-35 and F-16IN which are in the race are more of Built for India jets and Manufactures might face some minor or serious issues with this jets, since most of this jet are still in prototype stage and Avionics and other changes to the aircraft might suffer delays, which might delay whole Production line of the jets or HAL might have issues in doing local production of this jets which might result in to slow induction in IAF fleet.

IAF is already retiring more jets then inducting them and Mig-23 fleet has been already been retired and MMRCA aircraft will fill the gap of this jets, IAF will also be retiring Half of Mig-27 fleet by 2015, so this is a major concern for IAF, since this will also be the period where jets like Mig-29 and Mirage-2000 will be going through major Mid-life up gradation and pulling of this jets for up gradation will leave further void in IAF’s operational capability.

Key will be faster induction of MMRCA jets, and also take care that Sukhoi Su 30 MKI and Tejas MK-1 induction have smooth induction into IAF.