BEA in talks to weaponise Indian Hawks

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in negotiations with BAE Systems to weaponise its fleet of Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers (AJTs) so they could be deployed on strike co-ordinated armed reconnaissance and close air support missions.

BAE Systems officials told IHS Jane's at Aero India 2015 that the IAF is evaluating the feasibility of integrating its largely licence-built Hawk Mk 132s with a range of weapon systems that are fitted onto its SEPECAT Jaguar fighters.

According to Dave Corfield, head of Hawk India, this included MBDA's Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Rafael Litening targeting pods, and a range of smart weapons.

He said the IAF was also assessing the possibility of equipping the Hawks with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, which turns an unguided 70 mm rocket into a precision laser-guided weapon.

The IAF issued a request for information for such a system in 2014 to which, in addition to BAE Systems, an Israeli and US vendor responded.

"We are in talks not only with the IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] [which has been licence building Hawks since 2007-08], but also the Ministry of Defence [MoD] on arming the AJTs," Corfield said.

By 2016-17 the IAF will operate 106 Hawks and the Indian Navy another 17, making India the largest operator of the type. The IAF plans to acquire another 20 Hawks for its aerobatics team, disbanded in February 2011 after its HAL-built Surya Kiran HJT-16 Mk I and Mk II aircraft were diverted to train fighter pilots.

Alongside, the IAF is examining an offer by BAE Systems and Israel's Elbit to equip the Hawks with virtual training systems of major combat aircraft.

BAE officials said these would simulate radar, weapons, and electronic warfare systems of MiG-29s, Mirage-2000Hs, and Su-30MKIs - the platforms to which trainee fighter pilots graduate.

IAF fighter pilots begin their instruction on Pilatus PC-7 Mk II tandem-seat basic turboprop trainers for 55 hours before moving onto the Kiran HJT-16 Mk I and Mk II intermediate jet trainers for another 70 hours. Thereafter, they graduate to Hawk Mk 132s for two 'semesters' of 135 hours before going on to operate fighters.

 IHS Jane's

MiG-35, the new Dogfight hero: Alternative to Rafale?

The MiG-35 is capable to fight air, land and maritime targets equally well. Known for its formidable air maneuverability, it could be a viable alternative to the French Rafale for India. 

A short run, a sharp, nearly vertical level off, and the fighter is spinning in an intricate air waltz. Straight run picking up speed, but instead of a spectacular exit from the visibility zone there comes almost full braking with the entire fuselage surface. The plane literally stands up on the tail, with its nose vertically in the air. Then drops down.
Previously, only Sukhoi jets with their variable thrust vector engines Su-30MKI ordered by India could perform such kind of tricks. Short runs, sharp braking and maneuvers unimaginable for an aircraft give the pilot tactical advantage in the aerial battle - the dogfight. Today this air superiority monopoly has been broken by another Russian fighter jet - MiG-35.
In March-April this year, the MiG Corporation is expected to sign a state contract to conduct R&D on the MiG-35, which will be designed according to technical specifications of the Russian Air Force, a source in the defense industry told Interfax agency.
Externally, MiG-35 is no different than a regular MiG-29. The mould lines are the same, but the cockpit cap is quite different - fully in glass, as in the latest American fifth-generation fighter F-22 Raptor and the Russian T-50. The cockpit of MiG-35 doesn't contain pointer-type equipment anymore. Only LCD panels that display the complete flight and combat information. It's the prototype of the fifth-generation fighter cockpit, says Givi Janjgava, head of Technocomplex, the company that develops modern avionics for Russian aviation. The second know-how is the newest engine RD-33OVT by Klimov construction bureau. Its nozzle can rotate in any direction, not only during the regular flight, but also in afterburner. This feature makes MiG-35 radically different from the aircrafts such as Su-30MKI or the American F-22. Simply put, MiG is more maneuverable and controllable in all modes, at high speed and at no speed.
The MiG-35 is capable to fight air, land and maritime targets equally well. The fighter jet is equipped with Zhuk-ME radar, with terrain mapping mode. The range of guided and unguided air armament used has been largely expanded. Unlike its earlier versions, the fighter is able to carry 6 tonnes of combat load instead of 4 tonnes, which brings its capacities closer to heavy fighters (up to 8 tonnes of combat load).Not long ago, MiG-35 participated in an Indian tender for the supply of 126 light fighter jets for $10 billion. The battle was won by French Rafale. The reason cited was its technological advantage over the competitors, coupled with the promise of Paris to transfer the aircraft's key production technologies to New Delhi.
However, the two sides have still not agreed  on the final cost of the machines or about New Delhi’s demands for production technology transfer. India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said recently that the Rafale deal was proving to be too costly for the country: the company Dassault Aviation has doubled the price per aircraft from $65 million to $120 million. This would bring the entire consignment of 126 machines to cost $28-30 billion, instead of $10 billion.
In addition to this, equipping the fighter with missile and bomb weapons also impose heavy financial burden. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh also noted the price attractiveness and reliability of Russian multi-role fighters Su-30, produced under license in India, in comparison with the French Rafale. As a result, Delhi may have to opt out of the Rafale deal. It is possible that the Indian military will now turn its attention again to the Russian light fighter MiG-35, which can be used not only from land aerodromes, but also from the aircraft carriers. It is in this form that the Russian military is going to purchase it.

 rbth

Russia to deliver Mango tank shells to India before the end of the year

Delivery of tank shells Mango for T-90S to India will be completed before the end of the year, - the deputy general director of concern Techmash Dmitriy Rytenkov told TASS on Monday.
«The delivery will be completed this year. The contract is being fulfilled now, there will be licensed production and supplies,» - he said.
Earlier it was reported that Rosoboronexport signed the contract with Ministry of Defence of India for supplying 66 thousand Mango tank shells for T-90S and setting up its licensed production in India

 rbth

‘Surface-to-air missile Akash to be operational soon’: Air Defence Brigade

AKASH, which is India’s medium range mobile surface-to-air missile, will soon be operational in the Army Air Defence units.
 

AKASH, which is India’s medium range mobile surface-to-air missile, will soon be operational in the Army Air Defence units. Officers at the Air Defence Brigade in Dehu Road said that this would further enhance security of the ‘Southern Skies.’
Brigadier Saif Ul Islam Khan, the Brigade Commander of the 787 (Independent) Air Defence Brigade, told reporters during a media visit that Akash had already been inducted into the Army and personnel were being trained on it. “The Army already has it. It will soon be operational,” he said. Army officers said that the missile would be fully operational for Air Defence in a few months’ time.
Akash has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ordnance Factories Board and Bharat Electronics (BEL), in India and can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m.
Brigadier Saif Ul Islam Khan highlighted the crucial role of the Air Defence Brigade and its units in the air defence of the Southern Skies. He said that various units of the Air Defence wing had been crucial in maintaining security at events like Republic Day Parade or Independence Day celebrations in Delhi from possible air attacks by enemies. He added that the units of Air Defence brigade around Delhi and Bangalore also provided cover during Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in Delhi and at the recent Air Defence Show in Bangalore.
In addition to its operational role, this Air Defence Brigade formation has been actively involved in nation building activities. As part of the outreach campaign to motivate the youth to join the armed forces, the units of the formation have conducted a number of lectures in various schools and colleges. Educational tours and equipment displays have been conducted for NCC cadets and students. In a recent effort, an orientation capsule was organised for the probationers of the Maharastra State Civil Services to give them a first hand feel of the Army way of life.
Among other achievements of the formation, Captain Divya Ajith Kumar was selected to lead the Women Officer Contingent of the Army at the 66th Republic Day Parade. Also, Captain Shraddha K Dabholkar, who served for two years in extreme climate conditions at High Altitude (Leh) at about 12000 feets, on successful completion of tenure was awarded with the High Altitude Medal and Sainya Seva Medal.

 indianexpress

Delivery of first Scorpene sub delayed: Govt to Rajya Sabha

 

Government has revised the delivery schedule of the first Scorpene submarine, which was originally to be inducted in December 2012, mainly due to the difficulties in procuring material from foreign vendors by Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, in his written reply to a question, said the shipyard has undertaken augmentation of the manpower, infrastructure and industrial means in a phased manner to meet the production target and the the production capabilities have also been augmented.

"The original schedule of delivery of the first submarine was December 2012, which has since been revised. The difficulties faced by the M/s MDL during the course of procurement of materials from foreign vendors had mainly let to the delay," Parrikar told the House.

DCNS of France is building six Scorpene submarines under Project 75 through their domestic partner Mazgaon Docks Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, he said.

The Minister also informed the House said that the DCNS deputes its personnel/consultants to guide the construction of the submarines as per the collaborative agreement.

The delivery of first of the six diesel-electric submarines, which are planned to be deployed on the western sea-board in Karwar, has already been delayed by over four years due to various factors.

In November last year, then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had reviewed the progress of the project and said that the construction of the submarines was progressing on schedule and the first vessel would be delivered by September 2016.

 .business-standard

MMRCA may get a push today

India and France are hoping for a major breakthrough on Tuesday on the proposed multi-billion dollar 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal when visiting French defence minister Jean Yves Le Drian will hold a 90-minute crucial meeting with defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
Talks are stuck on contract-negotiation with French firm Dassault — manufacturer of the Rafale aircraft — after certain problems allegedly cropped up regarding acceptance of complete responsibility by the French firm for the 108 aircraft (out of 126) that will be manufactured in India by the lead integrator—stae-run HAL.
Sources said France could agree to firmly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the manufacture of the 108 aircraft in India but French sources said it is up to HAL to stick to deadlines.
In the proposed deal, 18 aircraft will be supplied in “fly-away” condition by Dassault. Work had already begun earlier on the draft for the proposed deal amid speculation that the deal could be to the tune of about $20 billion when it is inked. Dassault was earlier selected as the “L-1” (lowest financial bidder) among the two firms selected after the completion of the technical trials.
The IAF is eagerly looking forward to clinching the deal to bolster the number of its fighter squadrons. It remains to be seen whether the French Government provides any guarantees to India to clinch the deal during the talks on Tuesday which is being seen as a make-or-break attempt to reach an agreement on the deal. If talks are successful, the proposed draft of the deal is expected to be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for clearance before the deal is formally inked with Dassault. The Modi Government is going all-out to ensure that crucial defence acquisitions are not delayed.

 asianage

Russia Lurking In India as Dassault Celebrates in Egypt

MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, PARIS AND WASHINGTON — When Egypt signed an agreement to purchase 24 Dassault Rafale fighters, it marked a milestone for the program: the first international sale of the jet, which has struggled to find a market outside of its home nation of France.

But what should be a celebratory attitude at the company's Paris headquarters has instead turned glum, as the crown jewel of its expansion plans — a $12 billion deal with India that has been in the works since 2012 — now appears in danger, with Russia hovering nearby in the hope of stealing the contract.

If Dassault can finally cement the Indian deal, it will add 126 fighters to a production facing domestic budget cuts. If Russia can come in and undercut Dassault, it would seriously harm the future of the French fighter, while exacting some measure of revenge on France's decision not to deliver to Russia a naval vessel following the crisis in Ukraine.

In 2012, the Indian Defence Ministry made Dassault its preferred vendor to fill its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft requirement. The Rafale beat out five other competitors — the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-16, Mikoyan MiG-35, Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, the latter which was the runner up in the competition.

What seemed like a major win for the Rafale quickly entered a stalemate, however, in large part due to India pressuring Dassault to guarantee work produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Indian firm that would produce the domestic models of the jet. (Under the contract, Dassault would produce only 18 of the jets before turning production over to HAL.)

Such a guarantee puts a burden on the family-controlled Dassault, which thus far has declined to accept that agreement.

Cost concerns also come into play, with the French saying the cost of integration at HAL facilities would be higher than the normal Rafale because the productivity of labor at HAL is low compared to the plants in France. And after visiting the HAL facilities, Dassault officials concluded there are no economies of scale at HAL to help drive down the cost of the platform.

No resolution appears in sight. Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, gives Dassault a 40 percent chance of landing the deal.

The obvious alternative to the Rafale is the Eurofighter Typhoon, which was the other finalist after the program downselection. Eurofighter has maintained a presence in Aero India both in 2013 and 2015, and would love to win the contract from its French rival. But another contender has emerged — one with strong ties to India and a desire to spite the French.


Red Dawn ::

Russia has begun a very public campaign to convince Indian officials that Moscow has a better solution on the table.

Sergei Goreslavsky, deputy director of Russia's arms export agency Rosoboronexport, told the RIA Novosti news agency on Feb. 16 that "if [India] needs additional Su-30MKI fighters, then we are ready to work out such an agreement," stressing that New Delhi need only ask.

Goreslavsky is the head of Russia's delegation to the Aero India 2015 air show, which was held last week in Bangalore.

India already operates a large fleet of Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, some of which have been locally produced by HAL. That argument was pushed by Yuri Slyusar, the recently appointed head of the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation, during a Feb. 19 appearance in Bangalore.

"Which aircraft would better suit the needs of the customer? Our obvious competitive advantage is that India is already making these aircraft right here, right now," Slyusar said. "The factories have been built, the technology debugged, the documents transferred, the pilots, engineers and technicians have been trained."

Russia's RSK MiG has also announced plans to throw its hat in the ring with an upgraded version of its developmental MiG-35 if India rejects the Rafale and reopens the tender.

"We have every chance to compete [for the contract]," RIA Novosti quoted MiG chief Sergei Korotkov as saying at Aero India on Feb. 18. "We have not lost hope that a future tender or competition will be announced."

Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow-based defense think tank, said Russia has been lobbying for some time for India to ax the Rafale contract.

"Russia has tried its best to explain to India, as the Eurofighter people have, that it is completely senseless to buy a platform designed in the 1980s for such a huge amount of money," Pukhov said, "especially since the full fleet won't be operational for, let's say, 10 years."

For the money India would spend on Rafale, it could buy from a mature product that they already know how to maintain and operate, Pukhov argued, adding that its combat capability surpasses that of any other aircraft in India's Air Force.

Pukhov, who is also a member of the Defense Ministry's public advisory board, didn't discount that Russia may be working further behind the scenes to influence the situation in Moscow's favor, but stressed the cause is Dassault's inexperience with exporting the Rafale.

"This is totally Russian," François Lureau of consultancy EuroFLconsult and former head of the French procurement office. Until a contract is signed, he said, the Indian deal is seen to be open to competition and the Russians will push the message of French unreliability.

Aboulafia noted that the Russian position is fairly strong, given its industrial presence in India.

"You're looking at two groups who could each decide to walk away," he said of Dassault and the Indian MoD. "India says it loves the Rafale, but has a production line for the cheaper Sukhoi already in India. And while it would be a transformative sale for Dassault, they are essentially telling India it is asking for the impossible."

The strength of Dassault's position depends on whether the Egyptian sale represents a major change in the fortunes of the jet — Aboulafia describes its history as "25 years of trying and multiple defeats snatched from the jaws of victory" — or if the sale was a very specific case.

The financing on the Egyptian sale, which may involve gulf nations and France providing very favorable terms to Egypt, could end up meaning the sale is a one off, rather than the start of a trend for the jet.

On the other hand, the Rafale is still alive in three major competitions in the gulf region. There is a potential agreement with Qatar, in discussion for as many as 36 jets, as well as a potential 60-ship sale to the United Arab Emirates and a smaller contest in Kuwait.

Landing any of those deals could boost Dassault's negotiating strength with India, or at least embolden the company to cut its losses.


Mistral Fallout?

Meanwhile, Russia's state-run media outlets last week were littered with statements from officials across Russia's defense industry boasting Russia's proven track record of technology transfer and product delivery.

These comments have been juxtaposed against France's refusal to deliver the first of two French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault carriers to the Russian Navy last year.

Under international pressure, France decided not to hand over the ship as a result of Russia's role in the crisis in Ukraine. The move greatly angered Russia, which has derided France as an unreliable business partner since.

Dmitry Shugaev, deputy director for international affairs at state defense holding Rostec, also pinned the Rafale's troubles on France's reluctance to guarantee the jets in comments carried by the state-run TASS news agency on Feb. 16.

Shugaev said France's failure to deliver the Mistral could also be one of the reasons India has expressed concerns over the deal.

The sentiment in Russia is that snatching the contract, or at least getting India to commit to more Su-30s while it works through its problems with Dassault, would provide some measure of solace in the wake of the scorned Mistral delivery.

Russian officials and pundits have gone out of their way in recent months to cast France as an unreliable trading partner, a supplier that may cancel deals at the last minute in accordance with the political whims of its puppet masters in DC, and have promised to pursue legal damages if Paris does not go through with the delivery.

The fact that Russia is pushing the Mistral issue as a marketing tool does not come as a surprise in Paris.

But a Russian message of the risk of a potential French embargo does not stand up to scrutiny because there would be a technology transfer to India that would deliver "industrial autonomy" on the Rafale, Lureau said.

French Senator Daniel Rainer, who sits on the defense committee, said Russia is using the Mistral as a "commercial argument of circumstance." The circumstance is the suspension of the warship and the commercial interest is the Indian fighter contest.

Dassault, the Direction Générale de l'Armement procurement office and Defense Ministry are well aware of the Russian lobbying effort in India, he said.

Dassault's talks with its prospective Indian partner, HAL, "are on the right track", he said.

While the message of French unreliability may not be a major concern at the political level, public opinion about the Mistral suspension shows a different story.

An opinion poll commissioned by La Tribune business news website showed 64 percent in favor of handing over the two Mistral helicopter ships, with 77 percent concerned about a hit on French jobs. DCNS is prime contractor and STX France builder of the hulls.

Some 69 percent saw the Mistral suspension as helping foreign competitors, such as the UK, US and Russia. The poll found 56 percent saw the French reputation hurt by the decision to withhold delivery, La Tribune reported. IFOP polled 1,001 respondents Jan. 9 to 12 for La Tribune.

In comments made Oct. 29, procurement chief Laurent Collet-Billon told the French Senate defense committee that the Russians tell the Indians that the French are unreliable. "The English, too" say the same, he said.

The message does not appear to be working in New Delhi — yet.

An Indian MoD official said the government has full faith in France as a friend, and its surety to transfer technology as promised. That said, Delhi is also not going to turn its back on Russia. India-Russia defense and strategic ties remain intact with the current government under Narendra Modi as well.

"Russia remains a trusted, well-tried weapon supplier to India," the MoD official said.

By Aaron Mehta in Washington, Matthew Bodner in Moscow, Pierre Tran in Paris and Vivek Raghuvanshi in New Delhi. Andrew Chuter in London also contributed.

defencenews

India now puts aircraft carrier plan on fast track

India is trying to fast-track finalization of its long-pending ambitious plan to launch indigenous construction of its largest-ever aircraft carrier. Though the propulsion system for the proposed 65,000-tonne warship is yet to be decided, the plan is veering towards nuclear power for greater operational endurance.

The ongoing "detailed" naval study for this indigenous aircraft carrier-II (IAC-II) project has gained urgency since the ageing 56-year-old INS Viraat -- quite toothless now with just 11 Sea Harrier jump-jets left to operate from its deck -- will be retired next year.

India has to plan ahead since it will take at least 10-12 years to construct IAC-II, which will be christened INS Vishal, if it wants to systematically build military capabilities to counter China's expanding long-range naval deployments in the Indian Ocean Region, say officials.

China, after inducting its first 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier Liaoning in September 2012, already has a second one under construction and two more are in the pipeline to further bolster its expanding maritime power. Aircraft carriers, with their accompanying warships and aircraft, after all, are the ultimate symbols of military power projection around the globe.

"INS Viraat will be decommissioned after the International Fleet Review in Vizag in February 2016. It will not be cost-effective to go in for another major refit of INS Viraat, which was inducted from the UK in May 1987," said an officer.

This will leave the Navy with just one aircraft carrier, the 44,400-tonne INS Vikramaditya, the refurbished Admiral Gorshkov inducted from Russia at a cost of $2.33 billion in November 2013. The 40,000-tonne IAC-I or INS Vikrant being built at Cochin Shipyard will be ready for induction only by 2018-2019 after a long delay.

The construction of INS Vishal will also not be an easy task. It will take a few more months to "finalize the exact tonnage and the type of propulsion, aircraft and other parameters" for IAC-II. "The government will then have to take the final call," said another officer.



But the carrier will definitely have CATOBAR (catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery) configuration for launching fighters as well as heavier aircraft from its deck. Towards this end, India has already asked the US to share technology for EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch systems), developed by General Atomics, under the bilateral Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, as reported by TOI earlier.

INS Viraat, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant all have angled ski-jumps for fighters to take off under their own power in STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) operations. "This limits the carrier operations to only fighters like MiG-29Ks. With CATOBAR, IAC-II will also be able handle more as well as heavier aircraft for surveillance, early-warning, electronic warfare and other operations," he said.

The importance of carrier battle-groups can be gauged from the fact that one such task-force can "control" around 200,000 square nautical miles of ocean area, and is capable of moving over 600 nautical miles a day. "The self-contained CBGs are the most versatile platforms of military power available," he said.

 -  timesofindia

French Defence minister to visit India, push Rafale deal

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive here today to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in what is seen as a fresh attempt to firm up the faltering multi-billion dollar Rafale deal.
Defence sources said that Drian will be in India as part of an official visit to a few other countries including UAE. He will hold a fresh round of talks with Parrikar just two months after they met and decided to “fast-track” the contract negotiations for the nearly USD 10-billion deal for Rafale fighter jets.
Sources said the French Minister will focus on firming up the deal ahead of an expected visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France a couple of months from now. Parrikar had recently said that he would not comment on the Rafale deal as the Contract Negotiations Committee was discussing it. However, he has asked the CNC to fasten the process.
The Indian Air Force Chief has stressed on the need to have a Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, for which Rafale was shortlisted.
Confident of signing the much delayed contract with India “soon”, French Defence major Dassault had last week said its pricing remains the same from day one and it has not wavered from the request for proposal (RPF).
It had also said an empowered team has already arrived in India and carried forward the talks as decided by the Defence Ministers of the two countries in December.
“The pricing issue is very clear. Our pricing remains the same from day one of LI (Lowest bidder). So there has been no change on that front,” Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier had said.
Asked about claims that Dassault is not willing to stand guarantee for the 108 jets to be made by state-run HAL here, Trappier denied there was any deviation from what the RFP said.
“We are exactly in line with our answer to (Request for Proposal (RFP). This answer led the government of India to select L1 which was Rafale. And we have stuck to the same commitment which is totally in line and compliant with the RFP,” he had told PTI at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru.
Back in January, Indian defence sources had said that contract with France has run into rough weather over a guarantee clause and steep rise in price. “The ball is in France’s court,” the sources had said adding that if the “RFP is adhered to, the deal can be wrapped up soon”.
Sources had said that life cycle costs are high. Dassault had this last week signed a USD 5.9 billion deal with? Egypt for 24 Rafale jets. India had selected Rafale in 2012 but the final contract is yet to be signed. While 18 jets are to be bought off the shelf, 108 are supposed to be manufactured here by HAL. (PTI)

theshillongtimes

AERO INDIA: Upgraded T-50 PAK-FA powerplant in rig tests

 

The Izdeliye 30 engine for Russia’s T-50 fighter is undergoing rig testing, and will enter flight trials in 2017.
United Aircraft Corporation chief Yuri Slusar says the Saturn 117S (AL-41) is already a “very deep modernisation” of the AL-31 that powers the Su-27 and Su-30 fighters, and is “sufficient” for the current stage of the T-50 test campaign.
He adds that the company has six T-50 test aircraft, two for ground tests and four for flight testing. Three additional aircraft will join the fleet in 2015.
“Everything is on track,” he says. “We are moving on as per the schedule agreed with our customers.”
He adds that it was always the plan to operate the T-50 test campaign in two phases, the first using the Saturn 117S and the second with the Izdeliye 30.
Slusar also expressed confidence that the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer is poised to receive a follow on order from the Russian air force, and add to its customer base overseas.
Russia has reportedly commited to 60 addition Yak-130s. Slusar would not confirm this number, but said discussions are ongoing.
He adds that the company is indiscussion with countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia for the type, and that potential buyers include Mongolia and Vietnam.
The type has already scored two overseas buyers: Algeria and Bangladesh.

 flightglobal

Sikorsky committed to manufacturing in India if deals materialize

US helicopter maker Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is committed to making the aircraft locally in India, as part of the large deals it is bidding for, company officials said. Sikorsky will manufacture helicopters in India together with its existing partner, the Tata Group, or through new tie-ups. Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp. of the US, now manufactures helicopters in Connecticut. It has a tie-up with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, a Tata Group company, to make S-92 helicopter cabins at a facility in Hyderabad for the global market. In December, Sikorsky was selected to supply 16 choppers to the Indian Navy with an option to deliver eight additional helicopters. Sikorsky, among the world’s largest helicopter makers, is expected to bid for the Indian Navy’s tender for 120 multi-role helicopters valued at over $1 billion. It has already bid for 14 shore-based choppers for India’s Coast Guard. 
“The RFQ (request for qualification) for 120 helicopters is not yet published. We are very keen to participate in this. If we get the order, we will be manufacturing these helicopters either through Tata Group or new partners,” said Samir Mehta, president, defence systems and services, Sikorsky Military Systems. Arvind Jeet Singh Walia, Sikorsky’s executive vice-president for India and South Asia, said that the company would make these choppers locally if the firm gets the orders. Mehta said that the helicopter maker is also contemplating building helicopters for Indian Navy through partnerships, including with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, in India. “We are currently under negotiations,” said Mehta, without elaborating. On 2 March 2011, Mint reported that Sikorsky has plans to design and manufacture civilian and military helicopters in India for the local and other Asia-Pacific markets over the next four years—the first time a foreign aircraft company will use the country’s aerospace know-how to make choppers for the overseas market. 
Sikorsky’s comments on Friday comes at a time when India’s armed forces are struggling to replace the vintage Cheetah and Chetak fleet, both from overseas and from Hindustan Aeronautics, India’s public sector aircraft maker. A decision to buy 197 light utility choppers has been hanging for nearly a decade. Sikorsky lost an order to sell 12 luxury helicopters to India to AgustaWestland Ltd, which is mired in a bribery scandal. India’s national auditor—the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)—said the country may have overpaid in a €560 million deal for the choppers. Both Mehta and Walia did not offer any comments on potential investments. 
With 64 companies, the US is the leading participant in the Aero India 2015 show, which comes amid a warming of relations between the two countries. US President Barack Obama had visited India last month and was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, the first US president to do so. Asked whether closer ties between India and the US will help US companies to win more deals, Mehta said he is upbeat. “The warmer relation has created momentum not only with Indian government but also extended to various Indian companies,” Mehta said.


livemint

Rafael Unveils an Upgraded I-DERBY Missile at Aero-India 2015

RAFAEL is unveiling at Aero India 2015 a new version of the Derby missile. Designated I-Derby, the new missile is equipped with a new seeker, employing an advanced Software Defined Radar (SDR) based on combat proven technology derived from the Tamir interceptor, the interceptor used in RAFAEL’s Iron Dome system.

RAFAEL is unveiling at Aero India 2015 a new version of the Derby missile, a first step in a major revamp of the Israeli medium range BVR missile that has been in service since the mid 1990s. India is already operating hundreds of Derby missiles with its Spyder Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM) and Sea Harrier fleet. Given their improved capabilities advanced versions of the Derby are also likely to be considered to equip the Indian Air Force Tejas LCA and improved Su-30MKI.
Rafael developed the Derby missile in the late 1980s as ‘Beyond Visual Range’ missile. Initially developed as an air/air missile, Derby proved as a highly capable weapon for medium and short range engagements as well, offering an alternative guidance technique to traditional heat seeking or imaging infra-red. In the mid 2000s Derby become part of the Spyder Short Range Air Defense System (SHORAD). The missiles have been fielded by a number of air forces, including India, Brazil, Singapore and Chile.
The Derby is equipped with an active radar seeker to provide the missile a ‘fire and forget’ engagement capability, beyond visual range and under all weather conditions. The new version modernizes one of the weapon’s key elements – the active radar seeker – which represents 1990s technology. For the I-Derby RAFAEL utilized a new, Software Defined Active Radar seeker, based on combat-proven seeker developed by RAFAEL for the Tamir missile, used with the company’s Iron Dome counter Rocket, Artillery and Missile (C-RAM) system.
Using an active radar for target seeking, the missiles enables multi-shot engagement from surface or air-launched platforms. With this sensor and its signal processing algorithms the missile enables look-down/shoot-down capability, and advanced operating modes, adding to the ‘fire and forget’. Further improvements are enabled for the missile’s ECCM capability, tailoring the weapon’s behaviour to the customer’s operational requirements.
The new version retains the same dimensions and maintains the kinematic performance of the original missile, while offering improved capabilities and flexibility to implement new operating modes, rendered by the new seeker.
 defense-update