Defence Aviation News

Rafale-M F-18 Super Hornets US aerospace giant Boeing seems confident about F-18 Super Hornets winning the Indian Navy’s carrier-borne fighter jet contract, outpacing the French Dassault Rafale fighter jets, according to the latest reports. In January 2017, the Indian Navy issued an RFI (Request for Interest) to acquire 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighters, after long delays and technical glitches in building the indigenous HAL-Tejas for the Navy. Among the four contenders in the race, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale navy-variant are head-to-head in winning the ₹24,000 crore deal, given the Indian Navy’s twin-engine preference. The other two are Sweden’s SAAB and Rosoboronexport of Russia. Both Dassault and Boeing are marketing their fighters as suitable for the Indian Navy, claiming their respective aircraft can be easily integrated with India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1), named Vikrant, set to be commissioned in 2022-23.         ...

  Indian Army on Tuesday confirmed that India and Russia will jointly conduct a 13-day mega military exercise 'Indra 21' emphasizing on counter-terror operations  in the Russian city of Volgograd from August 1. They also mentioned that successful completion of the 12th edition of the exercise will be nothing short of touching another "milestone" in intensifying the bilateral security cooperation and will also serve to reinforce the longstanding bond of friendship between India and Russia. The Army said 250 personnel from each side will participate in the 12th edition of the joint military exercise. "The 12th edition of Indo-Russia joint military exercise Indra-21 will be held at Volgograd, Russia from August 1 to 13," the Army said. It said the exercise will entail the conduct of counter-terror operations mandated under the UN's framework of joint forces against international terror groups. "Exercise Indra-21 will further strengthen mutual confidenc...

After been Cleared for Export by Ministry of Defence with firm backing of Indian air force which too has given its blessing, DRDO is working on exploring possibilities to hard sell its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to prospective buyers from overseas in 2016 on wards. Sources close to the programme told idrw.org that after formal list of defence items which can be exported has been endorsed by the ministry of defence, which also included LCA-Tejas, DRDO and IAF are working on plans to work together in exploring potential buyers for the aircraft. DRDO believes that long-delayed LCA-Tejas project which is finally inching towards its final FOC Certification and at the price point of around 30 $ million equipped with Modern Radar, digital fly-by-wire system, flight control systems and open architecture computer, LCA-Tejas can be easily termed among best aircraft currently in its type. Earlier in Aero India 20015  held in India many Prospective buyers...

SRINAGAR:  A MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in the fields in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, with the pilot managing to eject safely. The aircraft had taken off from Srinagar airfield and was on a "routine" training sortie. Defence Spokesman Colonel S D Goswami told PTI that "A MiG-21 Bison of IAF crashed in Soibugh area of Budgam district at around 10.59 AM but there was no loss of life reported in the incident." The pilot managed to eject from the plane "just in time" and he was retrieved from the crash scene by an army helicopter. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash, the spokesman added.                                                                        SOURCE : www.ndtv.com

Undoubtedly, the PAK FA fifth-generation fighter will be armed to the teeth with the latest weapons Russia has to offer. One of these is a modernized version of Russia’s best highly maneuverable short-range missile crucial for winning quick-action close-range aerial battles. The Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name: AA-11 Archer) is an infrared heat-seeking air-to-air missile with an operational range of up to 19 miles. It was designed to engage virtually any type of aircraft – from cutting-edge jet fighters to drones and cruise missiles. What makes the R-73 so deadly is a unique targeting and guidance system. The missile has a passive infrared homing head capable of locking the missile on a target before launch. It is capable of tracking and hitting targets at large off boresight angles even if the enemy is using electronic warfare systems. “Their exceptionally high accuracy is ensured by the missile’s main secret, the so-called transverse control engine, which rules out misses...

China successfully carried out the fifth test of its WU-14 hypersonic glide vehicle from the Wuzhai missile test range in northern China’s Shanxi province on Aug. 19, reports the Washington Free Beacon. Pentagon officials said the WU-14 — as it has been designated by the Pentagon — not only traveled along the edge of the atmosphere but also demonstrated evasive maneuvers during the latest test, the report said. This information indicates that the hypersonic glide vehicle was designed particularly for a potential war with the United States, the report said. US missile defense systems are developed to intercept missiles that follow predictable flight paths. They are unable to counter maneuvering warheads and glide vehicles, said the report. A defense official said the WU-14 is viewed as a serious emerging strategic threat that could complicate US nuclear deterrent efforts. Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center said that the best defensive response ...