Reports now emanating from Israel say the first of the three IAI-manufactured Phalcon AWACS aircraft systems, contracted for by the Indian Air Force, may be delivered sometime over the next few weeks. An Indian defence delegation currently in Israel may also be negotiating a $1.5 billion purchase of four similar early warning systems, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported Monday.
Negotiations over the new deal is said to have begun a few months ago.
An Indian defence delegation, headed by defence secretary, Vijay Singh, arrived in Israel this week to discuss purchase of planes and missiles from Israel Aerospace
India, for the first time on Wednesday, test-fired from a defence base in Orissa its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15 from a land-based launcher, defence sources said.
It was test-fired successfully from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in the district of Balasore, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
The missile has two stages fitted into its half-metre-wide body. It can carry a payload up to one tonne and has a highest range of 700 km.
To help its fighter pilots hone their skills ahead of more aircraft carriers joining the fleet, the Navy is setting up a shore-based training facility (SBTF) in Goa for MiG-29K and Naval LCA aircraft.
This will be the third such mock flight deck facility in the world, with only the US and Russia having the other two.
The work on the SBTF has already started at the Naval air base INS Hansa, which
India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft achieved an important milestone when it took to the skies in the night, meeting all its test objectives.
In its maiden flight by night, the Prototype Vehicle-3 aircraft took off at 8:05 pm from Bangalore airport on Friday and carried out a set of predetermined manoeuvres to demonstrate its night capability, a DRDO release said.
The aircraft was piloted by Gp Capt N Tiwari of the National Flight Test Centre. Wg Cdr R K Dash as the Test Director along with several senior officers of the Tejas Programme was at the telemetry station monitoring the progress of the flight. The
The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which is coordinating the indigenous Rs.1,800-crore airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) programme, is looking for a foreign partner.
The partner will help CABS integrate systems such as the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), other antennas, trans receiver modules and various sub systems being developed by Indian defence laboratories onto the three Brazil manufactured Embraer EMB-145 regional jets that India is using as the AEWC&S flying platform.
The CABS has sent a request for proposal for the multi-million dollar contract to six vendors — Israel’s Elta, the European consortium EADS, France’s Thales, Sweden’s
Kaveri engine will be installed into the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas by the end of 2009, said Director of Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Director, T Mohan Rao.
Briefing newspersons on the sidelines of a function organised to mark the Raising Day function of GTRE at its premises at C V Raman Nagar, Rao said, “Two more milestones are yet to be crossed by the engine, prior to its installation which is likely to be by Dec 2009.” It has cleared all the tests for airworthy certification, he said. The engine is yet
France [Images] has offered to upgrade India's 51 frontline Mirage 2000 fighters in a "compressed delivery time-frame", which could prove a boon to New Delhi [Images] in the backdrop of Indian Air Forces' force levels depleting to an alarming all time low of 32 Squadrons.
And as part of the upgradation deal almost at the final stages of conclusion, the new Mirages would come armed with longer range Air to Air Missiles to enhance the fighters capability in beyond visual range combat.
The Indian air force appears eager to conclude negotiations with Thales and Dassault Aviation on the offset package for the upgrade of India's 51 Mirage 2000s to the 2000-5 standard (M-2000H/TH upgrade), according to executives here.
It is likely that the contract will be signed before India's general elections in early 2009. But if it's delayed, there is concern there could be a delay of at least two years and an escalation in costs.
Thales is not willing to disclose the value of the contract, expected to finish price negotiations by mid-November. A military official says the aircraft fleet is running dangerously low, under 29 squadrons -- 10 less than the minimum required.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has mooted a proposal to set up a National Aeronautical Commission (NAC) for developing indigenous capabilities in the field of aviation.
"IAF has proposed setting up of a National Aeronautical Commission, an umbrella organisation, to oversee development of capabilities and niche technology in aviation," IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P V Naik said while addressing third International Conference on Energising Indian Aero Space Industry here today.
Air Marshal Naik said the Commission will be headed by National Security Advisor (NSA) and will include members from all the government departments concerned and public and private sector companies.
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