Recce Pod Integration for South African Gripen Proceeding at Full Speed

DefPro News

 

A South African Gripen equipped with a reconnaissance pod. 

SAAB has successfully carried out an integration test flight of a South African Air Force (SAAF) Gripen C advanced light fighter aircraft fitted with a Thales Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP). The flight paired aircraft number 16 with one of four pods reportedly ordered at an undisclosed cost at the SAAB test and evaluation facility at Linköping in central Sweden.

The Swedish aircraftmaker in a statement says the DJRP completed its factory bench integration tests in June this year and is currently completing integration tests on the actual aircraft. The reconnaissance pod will be delivered to Armscor for the SAAF after the integration phase has been completed in the new year.

“We are at full speed ahead regarding our weapons’ and integration program for Gripen,” says Gripen test pilot Johan Sjöstrand. “The capabilities of Gripen and the ease of weapons and sensor integration are exceeding all our expectations. It is a truly remarkable platform to work with and fly. We see no boundaries and limitations for this aircraft and we look forward to continue our co-operation with our customers to keep Gripen at the cutting edge of technology”, he added. 

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First C130J for India to be officially released on December 16 at a ceremony in Marietta

SOURCE : PTI

The first of the six state-of-the art C-130J military transport aircraft would be delivered to India on December 16, its manufacturer Lockheed Martin said today. India has placed orders for six of these aircrafts.

“The first C-130J for India will be formally delivered on December 16 at a ceremony in Marietta,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement.

“Two will be flown to India in early 2011, while two more will arrive in early summer and the last two will be delivered in late summer of 2011,” it said.

Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said on Wednesday that in conjunction with the purchase of six C-130J transport aircraft in 2008 the recent USD 4.1 billion C-17 Indian deal with Boeing will double US-India defense trade and provide the Indian Air Force a strategic airlift and humanitarian response capability that is unique to the region and emblematic of India”s ambitions to play an increasingly global role.

“Once all the aircraft have been delivered, ladies and gentlemen, India will have the second largest C-17 fleet in the world behind the US – a highly visible manifestation of the US-India defense partnership,” Blake said.

Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules is the most advanced airlifter ever built.

The C-130J combines the latest in aerospace technology with a proven, rugged airframe design, resulting in an aircraft that gives an operator more capability with greater operational efficiency.

The Indian Air Force”s new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J, similar to those being delivered to the US Air Force.

With this India joins the growing number of nations with C-130J fleets including the US, Australia, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The C-130J carries eight 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops.

Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft will be able to perform precision low-level flying, airdrops, and landing in blackout conditions. Self protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environments.

In addition the aircraft is equipped with air-to-air receiver refueling capability for extended range operations.

Lockheed Martin will integrate this equipment and other capabilities into the Indian configuration as agreed between the governments.

Trial of Agni-II Prime missile fails

Source: PTI

India today test-fired an upgraded version of Agni-II nuclear-capable intermediate- range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast in inclement weather. However, the test-fire failed with the weapon system deviating from its trajectory immediately after lift off.

“Experimental launch of Agni-II missile experienced a trajectory deviation immediately after the lift off resulting in failure of the mission,” a DRDO spokesman said in New Delhi.

He said, “Detailed analysis is in progress”. DRDO sources said in Balasore, “The trial of the surface-to-surface missile, launched from a rail mobile launcher from the launch pad-4 of Integrated Test Range around 1000 hours, was not successful”.

Scientists and experts were trying to ascertain the cause of the outcome by analysing different aspects, they said, declining to share detailed information.

Though ITR officials were tight-lipped about the trial, eye-witnesses said the missile fell into the sea around 30 seconds after it took off in inclement weather marked by intermittent rains and chilly winds.

The indigenously developed upgraded and new variant of ‘Agni’ series missile was said to be the improved version of the country’s existing ‘Agni-II’ missile.