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

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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
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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
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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
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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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