Indian Air Force Receives First Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules

Lockheed Martin delivered the first of six C-130Js for the Indian Air Force at ceremonies at Marietta today. The new fleet was ordered under a $1.2 billion U.S. Foreign Military Sale (India's first) in late 2008.

"There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian Air Force, which is Touch the Sky With Glory," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president for C-130 Programs, during today's ceremony. "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."

This is India's first experience with the C-130 so the package being provided by the U.S. government is comprehensive. The contract includes six aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during a three-year initial support period. Also included in the package is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities. The first two C-130Js will be flown to India early next year, followed by the remaining four aircraft deliveries later in 2011. India's new airlift fleet will be based at Hindon Air Force Station.

The Indian Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules is a highly integrated and sophisticated configuration primarily designed to support India's special operations requirement. Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft can 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 defense environments. The aircraft also is equipped with air-to-air receiver refueling capability for extended range operations.

The C-130J is ideally suited to India's mission environment, which often involves operating out of austere, high-elevation airstrips in hot conditions. The C-130J is powered by four Rolls Royce AE2100 engines and Dowty six bladed props which provide the aircraft with tremendous power. The C-130J has been operated for the past several years in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan in conditions similar to India and performed exceptionally well.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.0 billion.

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Navy Submarines Deal - Rosoboronexport Offers Amur-1650 Class Submarines

The Indian Navy, which is planning to acquire six non-nuclear submarines in a deal expected to be in the range of USD 10-12 billion, has been offer the fourth generation Amur-1650 class submarines by Russia. The proposal from Russia may include transfer-of-technology and localized production in Indian shipyards.

Facing mounting challenges posed by the modernization of Chinese and Pakistani naval capabilities, the Indian Navy is keen to boost up its undersea warfare capability.

• Project 751, Indian Navy proposes an undersea force of 24 submarines by 2015. India already has 10 Kilo-class submarines and has set up a line to manufacture French Scorpene Submarines at Mazagoan docks in Mumbai, the first of these submarines are expected to roll out by 2012.
• Rosoboronexport said it would bid for the tender by offering the Amur class submarines, which are an upgraded version of Indian Navy's Kilo-class submarines.
• With the speed of 20 knots, the Amur is designed for both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Its armaments include 16 tube launched torpedoes and also has a capability of launching cruise missiles.
• Rosoboronexport officials were quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying that the submarine could be fitted with AIP fuel cells to considerably improve its submergence endurance and range. "The company will surely take part in the tender, and it will bid with its Amur 1650 non-nuclear submarine," an official said.
• The Amur 1650 submarine has been developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Technology on the basis of the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines, the most low-noise submarines in the world. The sonar signature level of the submarines of this class is several times lower in comparison with Kilo-class submarines. These submarines are equipped with radio-electronic weapons of the newer generation created on the basis of the latest achievements in the field of radio-electronics.
• The submarine is equipped with 6 torpedo tubes and can take a crew of 35 people. Its depth of submergence is 300 metres, and its endurance is 45 days.
• The Indian Navy has already sent requests for technical specifications to a number of countries including Russia, Germany, Spain and France who have already shown interest in the deal.

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Zhuk AESA Radars for Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Fighters

Speculations are abound that India is fitting its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters with Russian Zhuk-AE active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The X-band radar can track 30 aerial targets in the track-while-scan mode and engage six targets simultaneously in attack mode. By 2018, the Indian air force inventory is expected to comprise around 300 Su-30MKIs.

India's Sukhoi Su-30MKIs currently use N011M passive array technology, which delivers less peak power than an AESA. The N011M also has limitations in its back-end processing and requires more maintenance. Defense Minister A.K. Antony recently told the Indian parliament about a proposal to upgrade the Indian air force's Su-30 fleet.

The upgrade is be carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Russia's Irkut, the original equipment manufacturer, starting in 2012. It is likely that the order for the AESA also will be made simultaneously, as the radar will have to be integrated into most parts of the aircraft, including the navigation systems and engines.

The Su-30 entered service in India in 2000 -- the purchase was approved in 1997 -- and the aircraft have not been upgraded since.

AESA technology offers improved performance and reliability compared with traditional mechanically scanned array radars. India also has made it clear that having an AESA will be critical in the competition for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA). For instance, the F-16IN is being proposed with the Northrop Grumman APG-80, while the F/A-18E/F is being bid with the Raytheon APG-78. All the other contenders have offered an AESA road map,

During the April trials for the MiG-35, the Zhuk AE test radar had a slightly smaller array than the production version would feature. The MiG-35 also is a contender in the MRCA competition.

India would also expect to field an AESA on the fifth-generation fighter -- the co-development and production effort with Russia built around the Sukhoi T-50.

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HAL a Major Contributor in Development of Indo-Russia Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)

In a series of media interviews, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)chairman Mr. Ashok Nayak reveals that HAL will play a major role in the design and development of the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). The USD $30-billion joint development agreement is expected to be launched with the signing of USD $295 million preliminary design contract during Russian president Dimitry Medvedev's visit to India in December 2010.

Quoting Mr. Ashok Nayak:

We will be a part of the team designing the IAF variant of the aircraft, and will be manufacturing it in India as well. While we have had certain amount of experience designing aircraft, playing a role in the design and development of next generation combat features, such as stealth and super cruise, will add to our knowledge

...
We will be working on the single-seater combat aircraft to a certain extent. That is because we have to understand the entire design process of the aircraft and then move on to the twin-seater version
...
Design, development and production of the aircraft will be shared between the two countries. Our pilots will be flying the aircraft. Whether this will be done in Bangalore or Nasik, is yet to be decided. We could build it in Nasik and fly it in Bangalore
...
The company will have to expand. We have to ensure that we have that much more capacity to handle these (the Sukhoi and FGFA production lines). We need to achieve our timescales, and be slightly ahead of schedules. We also have to decide, how much work can be retained in-house, and the amount that can be done by outside industries
...
Once the full design contract is signed, we will talk about the development and manufacturing aspect of the FGFA. Whether everything can be done in India, or some elements will have to be sourced from there, will be decided then. Sticking to the timescale will be critical

Notes
While the Indian Air Force is more interested in the twin seater version of the air craft -- HAL will play a key role in the development of both the single seater and twin seater versions of the air craft

The Russian Air Force has a preference for the single seater variant

The final design contract for the FGFA programme is expected to be signed in the middle of 2010

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DRDO Conducts Test Flight of Rustom Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV

RUSTOM -- medium altitude long endurance Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment, a premier Defence Research and Development Organization lab specializing in UAVs and flight control systems, was successfully flown in its maiden flight on Saturday. The aircraft was flown exactly as planned, up to a height of 3000 feet and remained airborne for 30 minutes and completed all mission requirements.

It taxied, took off and landed (among the most challenging maneuvers for a UAV), using a runway at an air field owned by Taneja Aerospace, Bangalore, like a normal aircraft with the ground based pilot in full control monitoring every maneuver of the aircraft and auto mode remaining on. Ruston, with a designed endurance of 12-15 hour, 25000 ft. altitude and 75 kg payload, is the forerunner to the more advanced Rustom H and unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

The data link for this aircraft has been developed by DEAL, another DRDO laboratory and the airframe has been built by Zephyr Aerospace, Coimbatore. The subsequent flights will test and demonstrate these capabilities such as way point navigation, altitude and endurance parameters, the systems for which have been already incorporated in the aircraft. Dr. Prahlada, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller R and D (Aeronautics and Services Interaction) who was present there briefed the mission details.

Dr. G. Elangovan, distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller Research and Development (R and M), P.S. Krishnan, distinguished Scientist and Director Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), G. Natarajan, Program Director, G. Sreenivasamurthy, Project Director, and Ajoy Raman, Chairman FRR, witnessed the flight.

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