Monday, August 24, 2015

LCA-Tejas : Cleared for Export, DRDO and IAF to Work together in exploring possibilities



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 were briefed on the fighter’s unique features and abilities in combat role and lot of Interest as been seen on Trainer variant of Mark-1 version to be used as LIFT (lead-in fighter trainer aircraft.) aircraft .

DRDO is planning to use a Trainer and SP Aircraft to be used for exploring export potentials in next few years after enough jet has been delivered to Indian air force and FOC Certification is completed.

Single engine multi-role supersonic fighter, Tejas will replace the IAF’s ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet and with many friendly Countries who are still looking for replacing their Mig fleet will be first briefed about the jets capability.


                                                                SOURCE : SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK (INN)

J&K : IAF MiG-21 Aircraft Crashes in Budgam District



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

Combat Ready : PAK FA Gets Improved Highly Maneuverable Missiles



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 during the final approach trajectory. The transverse control engine is still without parallel in the world,” Military Analysis Network noted in their review of the R-73.
Not surprisingly then, the upgraded R-73E will be fitted on the stealthy Sukhoi PAK FA, also known as the T-50.Duks, who manufactures the R-73, is currently working on making the missile 25-30 percent better, company’s CEO Yuri Klishin told RIA Novosti.

The upgrades include better operating range, improved homing-head lock-on, greater protection, increased reliability, more autonomy, etc.The improved R-73E “is expected to enter service in the near future,” Klishin added. “PAK FA will surely be armed with [this missiles].”Melee aerial battles featured prominently in the 20th century warfare and are likely to take place in the future despite a popular belief (or a misconception?) that greater speeds and longer range weapons will make dogfighting obsolete.

he PAK FA is a single-seat, twin-engine jet fighter designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Its unique features make it the best in its class among other similar aircraft in the world, and it is the first operational aircraft in Russian service to use stealth technology.


                                                                            SOURCE: SPUTNIK

Fifth test of China's WU-14 hypersonic glide vehicle conducted



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 the US has is to speed up the development of its railgun technology.

Lora Saalman, another expert on hypersonic technology with experience studying in Beijing, said the two most recent WU-14 flights have been unprecedented in terms of pace and frequency and that the WU-14 is the latest in a qualitative arms race against the US. The hypersonic glide vehicle is very likely to be designed to extend the range and flexibility of China’s anti-access, area denial strategy beyond that of DF-21D anti-ship missiles, according to Saalman.

“If this conventional system is mounted to reach an intercontinental range, then it could represent an effort to catch up with or even beat the United States to the punch on its own Conventional Prompt Global Strike aspirations,” Saalman said. A WU-14 vehicle carrying a nuclear warhead would then become a direct threat to the US homeland.

Admiral Cecil Haney, commander of the US Strategic Command, also indicated that hypersonic glide vehicles are new weapons that pose an emerging threat, according to the report.


                                                                       SOURCE: WANTCHINA TIMES

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Why India should reconsider F-16IN option



On Contrary to popular beliefs, that production line of F-16 is closing down, Lockheed Martin Corp has enough orders to keep its F-16 fighter jet production line humming through the third quarter of 2017, with hopes of getting further orders from 26 Airforces around the world which operates them, Lockheed Martin is upbeat in keep the line running through 2020.

Lockheed has produced over 4,500 F-16s since the program began in 1975, making the F-16 the best-selling fighter jet in history after Legendary Mig-21 which had a production run for more then 8000 airframes.

With reduced orders at hand Lockheed has dramatically scaled back production of the F-16 at its sprawling facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to about one plane a month now – from a peak production rate of 30 planes a month in June 1987.

With Collapse of Orignal tender for MMRCA tender which involved purchase of 126 aircrafts,new renewed efforts have been made to refloat a new tender for 90 aircrafts under “Make In India” initiative which might see first of Private Indian companies participating in production of fighter jets in India .

Saab India was first to offer joint production of its latest Gripen NG fighter jet in India and last week United states officially offered Joint production of F16IN Super Viper, to keep the aircraft relevant for next two decades to come. Enhanced legacy jet has been offered with the maximum integration of the fifth-generation technologies borrowed from F35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter and the F22 Raptor.

According to Media buzz and Sources close to idrw.org , United states have offered F16IN at a mouthwatering price, Which might be hard for India to ignore due to sharp cost escalation seen in contemporary fighter jets like Rafale and Gripen NG . many see this as a US attempt to kill off attempts been made by other contenders and also promised to make India source of Spares for Global operators of the jet which will remain in Active Sevice till 2040-50.

F16IN powered by a General Electric F110-132A engine comes with the unprecedented safety record of reliability, maintainability, and durability. F16IN will be offered with Northrop Grumman developed APG 80 AESA radar along with latest in Net-centric Warfare Capability which will enhance its Strike Mission and Air warfare Capability which will fully equipped with Modern Full Colour All-Digital Glass Cockpit.

What might go against the American jet is that under Original MMRCA tender, F16IN had failed to clear Technical rounds Conducted by India air force Pilots and Pakistan air force which also operates 70 odd older F-16s also might force IAF to stay away from the jet.


                                                                 SOURCE : http://idrw.org/

Indian Air Force to buy 14 squadrons of LCA Tejas



India’s own fighter, the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is playing a growing role in protecting Indian airspace. On December 20, when the Tejas was cleared for operational service in the Indian Air Force(IAF), Defence Minister A K Antony declared 200 Tejas fighters would eventually enter combat service. Today, that figure quietly swelled to well above 300, with the government indicating the IAF would have at least 14 Tejas squadrons.
Each IAF combat squadron has 21 fighter aircraft; 14 squadrons add to 294 Tejas fighters. The 21 comprise 16 frontline, single-seat fighters, two twin-seat trainers and three reserve aircraft to make up losses in a war.
In a written statement tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Antony’s deputy, Jitendra Singh, stated, “The MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircrafts of the IAF have already been upgraded and currently equip 14 combat squadrons. These aircraft, however, are planned for being phased out over the next few years and will be replaced by the LCA.”
So far, the IAF has committed to inducting only six Tejas squadrons — two squadrons of the current Tejas Mark I, and four squadrons of the improved Tejas Mark II. In addition, the navy plans to buy 40-50 Tejas for its future aircraft carriers.
Since the programme began in 1985, about Rs 7,000 crore have been spent on the Tejas Mark I, which obtained Initial Operational Clearance in December, allowing regular IAF pilots to fly it. By the end of this year, when it obtains Final Operational Clearance, it would have consumed a Budget of Rs 7,965 crore.

                                                               SOURCE : http://www.defenceaviation.com/

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Top 5 Cancelled Fighter Plane Programs - defenceaviation



1. North American XF-108 Rapier

The XF-108 Rapier was designed by the North American Aviation Company in direct response to the ever increasing fleet of Soviet bombers. Though the North American Aviation Company had some very successful aircraft from its stable like the P-51, F-86, B-26 and the T-6, this revolutionary aircraft was to be the company’s last.
In the early 1950s, the USAF conducted studies and found that the greatest threat to Continental USA was from the new nuclear capable, high speed Soviet bombers. The USAF concluded that the only effective way to combat this threat was to use high speed interceptor aircraft to intercept these bombers before they could get close to the American mainland. Though the F-102 Delta Dagger was already in service with the USAF, it lacked the range to be able to intercept Soviet bombers far from the mainland.
The specifications put forward by the USAF on the 6th of October, 1955 included an interceptor capable of flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet, with a speed of Mach 1.7 and a range of 1,000 miles.
Though the industry’s giants lunged at the offer, North American Aviation’s proposal piqued the USAF’s interest the most. Their concept for the F 108’s design included a large “cranked delta” wing and a very large and heavy fuselage. This huge interceptor was powered by two massive General Electric YJ93-GE-3AR turbojet engines, each of which output an impressive 29,300 lbf of thrust. This meant that it could reach speeds of Mach 3and maintain a combat radius of well over 1,000 miles. It also carried 3 Hughes GAR 9A air to air missiles to intercept bombers.
Even though the aircraft sounded great on paper, it was simply too expensive for the USAF to procure and operate. The new budget coupled with the fact that the Soviets were changing their aerial attack strategy from bombers to ICBMs meant that the plug on the XF 108 Rapier had to be pulled quietly and unceremoniously. Thus like so many cold war projects, the XF 108 Rapier program died quietly.
Specifications
Crew: two
Length: 89.2 ft (27.2 m)
Wingspan: 57.4 ft (17.5 m)
Height: 22.1 ft (6.7 m)
Wing area: 1,865 ft² (173.4 m²)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric YJ93-GE-3AR afterburning turbojet
Dry thrust: 20,900 lbf (93.0 kN) each
Thrust with reheat: 29,300 lbf (130.3 kN) each
Maximum speed: Mach 3+, 1,980 mph (1,720 kn, 3,190 km/h)
Range: 1,271 mi (1,104 nmi, 2,033 km) combat
Armament
Guns: 4 x 20 mm cannon
Missiles: 3 × Hughes GAR-9A air-to-air missiles in a rotary weapons bay
Bombs: 4,000 lbs

2. Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow

Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow
A cause of both national pride and intrigue, the infamous Avro Arrow is probably the most controversial aircraft on the list. It is also the only aircraft on the list to have a dedicated TV miniseries.
The Avro Arrow was designed and built by the Avro Canada Company in the mid 1950s, based on studies done by the Canadian military. Like their American counterparts, the Canadian military concluded from their studies that the Soviets were most likely to attack the North American mainland by flying over the Arctic using high speed and high altitude bombers. The most effective way to combat this threat was to develop interceptors that could intercept Soviet bombers before they could get close to the North American mainland. Therefore, when it came to performance characteristics, speed, climb rate and range were of highest priority while maneuverability took a back seat.
During the initial stages of the Cold War, Canada emerged as a major player in the aerospace industry, capable of mass producing aircraft such as the Canadair F- 86 and the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck.
In the early 1950s, Canada found its Air Force without a supersonic interceptor. Meanwhile, the engineers at Avro Canada were fresh from the failed CF-103 program. Though the CF-103 program was a failure, Canadian scientists and engineers had gained valuable experience from it. This led to the design of the Avro Arrow. Like many interceptors of the time period, this aircraft had large, delta wings and two powerful engines. In this case, the powerplants were also supposed to be the Canadian built Orenda Iroquois Series II turbojet engines. The aircraft was almost one hundred percent Canadian and was seen as the epitome of the Canadian aerospace industry, until the sudden cancellation of the program on the 20th of February, 1959 by Prime Minister Diefenbaker. The sudden cancellation of an otherwise successful program sent shockwaves through the industry. The Prime Minister’s next move was even more outrageous. The six prototype aircraft and their blueprints were to be cut up and destroyed. Though official reports claim that all prototypes and related equipment were destroyed, unofficial reports say that one example of the Avro Arrow was secretly flown to the RAF Manston air base, in the UK.
So, why was a successful program suddenly terminated? According to one explanation, the entire Avro facility in Canada at that point of time was completely infiltrated by KGB agents and Prime Minister Diefenbaker made the call to destroy all traces of the Arrow program to prevent cutting edge technology from being compromised.
Conspiracy or fact? The Canadian government hasn’t really cleared the air since the Arrow program and it’s this intrigue that fascinates so many people to this day.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 77 ft 9 in (23.71 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Height: 21 ft 2 in (6.25 m)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J75-P-3turbojets
Dry thrust: 12,500 lbf (55.6 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 23,500 lbf (104.53 kN) each
Maximum speed: Mach 1.98 (1,307 mph, 2,104 km/h) at 50,000 ft (15,000 m) max. Recorded speed; Mach 2+ potential
Cruise speed: Mach 0.91 (607 mph, 977 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
Combat radius: 360 NM (410 mi, 660 km)
Armament
Rockets: 1–4× AIR-2 Genie unguided nuclear rockets (or)
Missiles: Up to 8× AIM-4 Falcon, Canadair Velvet Glove (cancelled in 1956) or 3 AIM-7 Sparrow II 2D active guidance missiles (cancelled)

 3. IAI Lavi

IAI Lavi
Until the six day war of 1967, the Israeli Air Force constituted of primarily French aircraft. However, after the war, France refused to deliver the new Mirage 5J aircraft that Israel had ordered and payed for. The Israelis were furious and felt betrayed by the French. They later outsmarted the French by secretly obtaining the blueprints of the Mirage 5 and built the IAI Nesher from these blueprints. Though the Israelis overcame the odds, they soon realized that the only people who they could depend on were themselves. Therefore they set upon a program to build a small and highly maneuverable aircraft that could be equipped with state of the art electronics.
When the first prototype was unveiled in 1985, the resemblance it bore to the F-16, which was already in service with the Israeli Air Force was striking. It almost seemed like the Lavi was a smaller and tubbier version of the F -16. The main difference between the F-16 and the Lavi was the wing layout. The Lavi had a canard-delta tailess wing layout which made it look like the love child of an F-16 and a Saab Gripen. This made the aircraft inherently unstable, but the presence of quadruplex fly by wire meant that most of the strain was taken off the pilot.
Though the IAI Lavi was initially fitted with the GE404 turbofan engine, pilots found the aircraft to be underpowered. The Israelis later swapped out the GE404 for the more powerful PW1120 turbofan engine, which output 20,600 lbf of thrust.
While the aerodynamics of the aircraft was impressive, what seemed to be the Lavi’s biggest asset was the state of the art software and electronics. Right from the cockpit layout, to the HUD, to the mission computer, in this regard the aircraft was cutting edge.
Though almost 40% of the Lavi program was funded by the USA, the Americans had started prohibiting the export of cutting edge technology to Israel because they feared that the IAI Lavi would be direct competition for American fighter aircraft such as the F-16, on the international market. To make matters worse, Israel suffered a massive economic depression in the spring of 1985, which ultimately sounded the death knell of the Lavi program.
Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 14.57 m (47 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 8.78 m (28 ft 10 in)
Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 33.0 m² (355 ft²)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PW1120 afterburning turbofan, 91.5 kN (20,600 lbf)
Maximum speed: 1,965 km/h / Mach 1.6 (1,220 mph)
Range: 3,700 km (2,300 mi)
Armament
1 × 30 mm DEFA cannon
7,260 kg (16,000 lb) of stores

4. Atlas Carver

Atlas Carver
The Atlas Carver program, sometimes referred to as the “CAVA program”, was a South African program led by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, in a bid to replace the South African Air Force’s fleet of obsolete, vintage aircraft. Like the Israelis, the South Africans used a large number of French aircraft during the 60s, and a number of efforts were taken to keep the existing aircraft in service with a number of upgrades. Though these upgrades were nothing short of impressive, the service life of the aircraft could only be stretched so much.
During the late 80s, the South African Air Force found their fleet strength to be falling rapidly both in terms of quality and quantity. The South African government’s firm stance on apartheidmeant that South African military planners knew that the UN arms embargo on the nation was there to stay and understood that the only way out, was through a more local solution.
Though the Atlas Cheetah program was considered to be a success, it was merely an elaborate up-gradation program and not an independent fighter program. Therefore, when the Atlas Aircraft Corporation was tasked with developing the new fighter, some serious problems became immediately apparent. South Africa’s access to advanced technology was severely limited by the UN arms embargo and their only option was to enlist foreign help to get the project off the ground.
The South Africans turned to the Israelis, who were ironing out the kinks in their very own “Lavi” program at the time. Some Israeli scientists and engineers did offer their services to the South Africans, who in turn payed top dollar for their efforts.
By early 1991, the South African government had spent nearly $2 billion on the Carver program. The South African economy wasn’t exactly sitting pretty and some leaders began questioning the feasibility of the entire program. This caused the program to be put on the back burner. Meanwhile, apartheid had been abolished, Mr. Mandela became the president and South Africa was experiencing a revolution. Now what this meant was that the UN arms embargo was lifted and South Africa was free to buy arms off the international market. Keeping this in mind, the new government felt that the need for an expensive fighter program wasn’t top priority for the recovering South African economy.
The Carver program was a rather interesting fighter program, born out of desperation and forced into oblivion, primarily because of political and economical reasons.
Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 15.06m (49ft 5 in)
Wingspan: N/A
Height: N/A
Wing Area: N/A
Powerplant: Powerplant: 1 × SNECMA Atar 09C turbojet
Dry thrust: 41.97 kN (9,436 lbf)
Thrust with afterburner: 60.80 kN (13,668 lbf)
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2,350 km/h, 1,268 knots, 1,460 mph) at 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
Armament: N/A

5. Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42

Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42
The 80s were a very interesting time for fighter aircraft because it saw the introduction of a lot of new technology. One such advancement that the Americans and the Soviets were working towards was stealth. Though stealth is a very commonly used word in the aerospace industry today, back in the 80s, it was all hush hush.
The Americans got a head-start on the new generation of stealthy aircraft, with the “Advanced Tactical Fighter” or the ATF. When the Soviets realized how much they lagged behind the Americans in this regard, they were eager to get back into the game and doubled their efforts on the new generation aircraft.
Some of the prerequisites of the program included super-maneuverability, super-cruise and stealth. In order to catch up with the west, the Soviets launched two programs simultaneously. A large, heavy fighter and a smaller, more maneuverable fighter were to be designed. The aircraft of both programs were to have a number of shared components to reduce costs, in typical Soviet fashion.
The Sukhoi Design Bureau went about designing the heavy SU-47 “Berkut”, the RAC-Mikoyan Bureau was tasked with designing the lighter MIG MFI (Multirole Frontline Fighter). The program was progressing at a steady pace, only to be shelved with the fall of the Soviet Union. The heavy economic burden carried by the Russian Federation post USSR breakup meant that the MIG MFI program didn’t have the funds necessary for its continued development.
The cold war had come back to claim it’s last victim.
However, this story has a silver lining. Though work on the project has stopped, the Russian government hasn’t cancelled the program yet. This means that the project is simply dormant and could be reactivated if needed. But with the introduction of the Sukhoi PAK FA, the reactivation of the MIG 1.44/1.42 seems rather unlikely.
Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 19 m (63 ft)
Wingspan: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 4.50 m (15 ft)
Powerplant: 2 × Lyulka AL-41F afterburning turbofans, 176 kN (39,680 lb) each
Maximum speed: Mach 2. (2,760 km/h, 1,725 mph)
Range: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 21,555 m (70,720 ft)
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm Izhmash GSh-301 cannon, 250 rounds
Missiles: R-77 (AA-12 Adder) medium-range radar-guided missiles, R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range IR-guided missiles, K-37 long-range radar-guided missiles, K-74 short-range IR-guided missiles
Payload: likely any AGM or small-diameter free fall bomb in the Russian inventory

Sikorsky S-97 Raider Specification & Technical Data



In mid-2008, Sikorsky unveiled a revolutionary technology demonstrator. They called it the X2. Just two years later, the very same aircraft was performing unbelievable maneuvers and had unofficially dethroned the Westland Lynx to become the world’s fastest rotorcraft.
The secret behind the X2’s speed and agility was the presence of a set of composite, four bladed, coaxial rotors. Though this area demanded a high level of expertise, Sikorsky had been working on this specific area for decades on different rotorcraft, starting with the X-69 followed by the UH-60 Black Hawk and the RAH-66 Comanche.
What the coaxial rotors meant was that a separate tail rotor was not required. This freed up some real estate on the tail for the addition of the pusher propeller. The pusher propeller produced a considerable amount of thrust and played a major role in increasing the top speed of the rotorcraft. A single LHTEC T800 LHT 801 turbo shaft engine powered both the coaxial rotor blades as well as the six bladed pusher propeller.
Sikorsky unveiled two S-97 prototypes at its facility in West Palm Beach, Florida on October 2nd. “Sikorsky will begin ground testing shortly and is on track for first flight this year,” Sikorsky’s Advanced Military Program Director Steve Engerbretson said. “The entire flight program will take about a year to complete."
There is good reason for Sikorsky to finish flight-testing of the S-97 as soon as possible. The Stratford based company and its partners have privately funded the entire S-97 program. Therefore, they intend on offering the S-97 to the US Army as a replacement for the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, a helicopter that dates back to the Vietnam War era, as part of the Armed Aerial Scout program (AAS). The OH-58 Kiowa Warrior was primarily an observation or “scout” helicopter, also capable of fulfilling the light attack role. Due to its small size and ability to get in and out of sticky situations without so much as breaking a sweat, Special Forces operators preferred it. The S-97 Raider seems to be ideally suited for this role, as it not only lives up to, but also improves upon the characteristics of the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.
With a top speed of almost 220 knots, heavy armament, high power to weight ratio and the ability to carry up to 6 personnel, the advantages of the S-97 are as clear as day. However, if the last couple of years have taught us anything, it is not to be over reliant on technology.
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it”. It will be interesting to see if the S-97 Raider will be able to achieve what the V-22 and the F-35 as of yet, have not.
Sikorsky S-97 Raider
RoleScout and attack helicopter
National originUnited States
ManufacturerSikorsky Aircraft
First flight
Introduction
Primary usersUnites States Army
Unit cost
Number built
Crew0-2 pilots
Capacity6 troops
Length35 ft (11 m)
Gross weight11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Max takeoff weight1 × General Electric YT706 , 2,600 shp (1,900 kW)
Powerplant1 (2 coaxial)× 34 ft (10 m)
Main rotor diameter1 (2 coaxial)× 34 ft (10 m)
Propellers6-bladed pusher propeller, Variable pitch, clutchable, 7 ft (2.1 m) diameter
Cruising speed253 mph; 407 km/h (220 kn) (with external weapons)
Range354 mi; 308 nmi (570 km)
Service ceiling10,000 ft (3,048 m) 95?
Guns50 cal gun w/500 rounds
Rockets7 shot rockets pod
                                                                SOURCE : http://www.defenceaviation.com/

China bans export of Chengdu J-20



The Chengdu J-20 is a stealth, twin – engine, fifth generation fighter aircraft which is being produced by the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20’s first appearance was made on 11 January 2011 after which six prototypes were produced with various modifications. The latest two prototypes of the J-20 are equipped with active electronically scanned array radar. Three of the six J-20 prototypes were delivered for test flights in the year 2014.
Chengdu Aircraft Company has produced J-10 and JF-17 for overseas markets, but China has made a decision not to export the J-20 overseas. This news is likely to disappoint the manufacturer of the fighter aircraft. The J-20 is expected to be operational during 2017-2019. China wants to keep the J-20’s high-end military equipment all to itself. The ban on export of the Chengdu J-20 was revealed in an interview with the China’s Phoenix TV news program.
“The export of advanced Chinese military technology is prohibited,” Song said. “This is in order to keep J-20’s fifth-generation technology out of hostile hands.”
The J-20 prototypes are said to be very similar to the Lockheed Martin’s F-22. While in shape, weight and engine power the J-20 resembles the McDonnell Douglas’s F-15C which was designed during the Cold War Era. The J-20’s maximum weight is estimated to be 36 tons.
“If one day the United States decides to export the F-22, China might consider lifting its ban, as well,” he said.
The reason for the ban according to Song is that if American allies possess F-22s, China’s allies need the J-20s to balance it out.
The J-20’s disadvantage is that China is still not able to build a powerful engine for it. The power of the engine is the same as the F-15C. The engine approaches the thrust of the F-22 only when the afterburner is turned on, but the afterburner can be turned on only for a few minutes because of excess fuel consumption. The J-20 is able to super cruise without an afterburner just like the F-22, Eurofighter and the Gripen.
China has been trying to develop a more powerful WS-15 engine for almost two decades but the date has not been set as to when it’ll be fitted to the J-20 fighter.
On the other hand China plans to export the J-31 fighter to global customers who cannot afford the Lockheed Martin F-35. The J-31 was revealed at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China Exhibition hall on Nov 10 during a pre-show of that week’s airshow China in Zhuhai.
The aircraft is designated with “J” for fighters and “FC” for export. The J-31 was referred to as the FC-31, which meant the FC-31 was ready for export.

                                                                SOURCE : http://www.defenceaviation.com/

France refuses to budge on IAF specifications for Rafale




The ongoing negotiations with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets has hit an air-pocket with the French negotiators refusing to accept changed technical specifications from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for integrating the indigenous Astra missile to the French platform.

The IAF wants certain changes in the platform configuration to integrate the DRDO-made air-to-air, beyond-visual-range Astra missile, which was successfully test-fired from a Su-30 MKI aircraft. The missile was tested twice on consecutive days in March.

Following the success, IAF wants modification and reconfiguration of some of the avionics and weapon systems to keep an window open for integration of Astra at a later date.

The French side objected to the idea because a change in the configuration means going through the aircraft certification process once again, which would lead to an increase in cost. Instead, Paris wants to supply its own air-to-air missiles, which New Delhi will have to purchase additionally.

Another sticky point in the negotiation is the offset clause, under which Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation would have to reinvest a part of the money it would earn from India after selling the Rafale jets, in Indian military industry.

The defence ministry constituted a committee headed by Air Marshal SBP Sinha to negotiate with the French team that offered the jets almost at the same price as was being discussed in the previous global tender process, which has been scrapped by the Narendra Modi government.

During his April visit to Paris, Modi made an announcement to buy 36 Rafale aircraft from France in a government-to-government contract. The previous process to buy 126 fighter jets to replace the ageing MiG-21s, was abandoned.

French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in Delhi in May to work out the details of the acquisition plan in a time bound manner. The two sides decided to complete the price negotiation by July 31, but then the deal encountered rough weather. There was no meeting between the two sides in the recent past, which may be an indication of the stalemate.

“The benchmark for the prices are already there since the (French) deal with Egypt and Qatar has been struck. The price of the aircraft to India cannot be less than what the other two countries have bought it for,” sources said.

Defence Ministry officials still hope to conclude the deal at a price, which could be just 2-3 per cent per cent more that what was being discussed between the two sides in the earlier process.


                                                                            SOURCE: DHNS

Russian T-50 aircraft struggling to take flight, but older Su-35 surging



The Indian Air Force has halved its demand for a new Russian-built advanced stealth fighter jet in a move to cut costs and reduce imports, India’s Tribune News Service reported Tuesday, citing unidentified Indian military sources.

With about 18 planes in each Indian fighter squadron, New Delhi’s purchase of the developmental Sukhoi T-50 aircraft has been downgraded from a promised 127 aircraft to just 65, plus a handful of additional T-50s for training pilots to fly them, according to Tribune.

The new Sukhoi stealth fighter was co-developed by Russia and India, and has a reported price tag of $100 million per unit, according to Tribune. India and Russia finished development of a two-seat version specifically for the Indian Air Force in 2013, but have yet to finalize a contract for manufacturing and delivery of the new planes.

The T-50 fighter is Russia’s answer to the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter jet, and is the first new Russian fighter aircraft designed since the fall of the Soviet Union. It sports advanced electronics and sensors, can be used as a fighter jet or a ground attack plane, and is highly maneuverable.

While single-pilot versions of the T-50 are expected to enter service with Russia’s Air Force next year, Sukhoi’s new jet has been dogged by diminished interest from the Russian government as well.

In March, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said the Defense Ministry was curtailing its initial order of the T-50, which is scheduled to enter serial production next year, from 52 fighters to a mere 12.

The Air Force will evaluate the performance of the first 12 fighters, and then decide how many the Defense Ministry can afford, Borisov said, promising that the military will continue to procure highly capable Su-35 multirole fighters for the next several years.

The Su-35 is a post-Soviet modernization of the Soviet-designed Su-27 Flanker fighter jet and is Russia’s current top of the line aircraft, noted for its extreme maneuverability. The Su-35 and other members of the Flanker family of jets derived from the older Su-27 are Russia’s most popular military export items, according to newspaper Vedomosti.

Vedomosti on Tuesday reported that the Defense Ministry will make good on its promise to Sukhoi to buy more Su-35 fighters at the upcoming MAKS airshow outside of Moscow at the end of August.

Citing unidentified defense industry sources, Vedomosti said the Defense Ministry will sign a 100 billion ruble ($1.5 billion) contract for 48 brand new Su-35 fighters, which will keep Sukhoi’s production lines busy for several years — the largest Russian fighter contract since 2012.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, which owns Sukhoi, declined to comment on the Vedomosti report. All details will be announced at the MAKS signing ceremony, the company’s press service said in an e-mail on Tuesday.

Sukhoi is expected this year to complete deliveries of Su-35 airplanes ordered by the Defense Ministry under a 66 billion ruble ($1 billion) contract for 48 planes signed in 2009, when the aircraft were cheaper.


                                                          SOURCE : THE MOSCOW TIMES

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