Chennai/ Bangalore: Sukhoi, better known for its fighter jets in India, has this time brought its newly-developed medium-haul aircraft to the Aero India 2011 and has left the people looking at it in disbelief. can a fighter jet maker build a passenger aircraft?
With its eyes on India and South-East Asia, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 medium-haul aircraft has been brought to the Aero India. Made by Russia’s leading aircraft producer Sukhoi, which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation, UAC, has been brought in to give the potential customers a dekko at the new kid on the block.
The aircraft is now vying for marketshare in perhaps the most-happening segment. The Superjet 100 project is a family of medium-range passenger aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major American and European aviation corporations.
It is in direct competition with the Mitsubishi regional jet, the Embraer, Bombardier among others. India too is trying to develop an aircraft for the segment with its RTA.
12/02/11 Business Standard
Archive for February, 2011
Sukhoi’s passenger jet vies for space
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Passenger Jets, Russia, Sukhoi
Eurocopter vying for deals worth €10-15 billion
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, EADS, Eurocopter, Europe
Bangalore : Eurocopter, a division of aerospace and defence company EADS, is looking at projects worth €10-15 billion (around Rs60,000-90,000 crore) over the next five years, with India being the largest market for military helicopters in Asia.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to replace its entire fleet of over 600 Cheetah-Chetak helicopters, which Eurocopter had jointly produced with HAL.
The helicopter major is bidding for the order of 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters that Indian government plans to procure. For this, Eurocopter showcased the best in its breed of helicopter — the AS550 Fennec. The military-certified and combat-proven AS550 C3 Fennec has exceptional performance at high altitude and in hot weather conditions.
“The field trials with full mission equipment were completed flawlessly.It is a fully certified and a reference helicopter across the world that has been sold in many countries, underlining its capabilities. It is a huge order and we are sparing no resources in this campaign (reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters),†said Norbert Ducrot, senior VP, Eurocopter.
Eurocopter is also eyeing other major projects in India, including cooperation with HAL on co-developing and co-producing a 10-12 tonne helicopter specially designed to address the needs of all the armed forces.
Eurocopter will offer the AS365 naval Panther for the tender to the Navy and Coast Guard. Panther is the military version of the civilian Dauphin, which has been very well received in the Indian market.
12/02/11 Supriya Ghorpade/Daily News & Analysis
Vintage aircraft Pushpak is still making heads turn
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Pushpak, Vinatge
Bangalore: Old metal birds never die, they continue to turn heads forever. This is the case of the Indian Army Aviation Corps Pushpak aircraft.
Tucked between the latest fighters and the sleek business jets, this vintage aircraft which played an active role during the 1971 Indo-Pak War continues to draw attention at the ongoing Aero-India show.
As part of the Army Aviation Corps’ Silver Jubilee celebrations, this green bird will embark on an all-India expedition and touch down at bases and forward locations from where the flyboys (army aviators) of yesteryear operated.
Thelittle bird piloted by Brig NS Sidhu will take off from Air Force Station Yelahanka after the Aero India to revive the history of the Army Aviation Corps. The aircraft, which flew with the Air OP during the 1965 and 1971 wars, has been reconstructed and restored to flying standards.
It has been mustered from the Patiala Flying Club and reconstructed with the assistance of Punjab Government and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for this historic expedition, Brig Sidhu said.
12/02/11 Daily News & Analysis
Eurocopter sells five choppers in India
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: AS350 B3, EADS, Eurocopter, Europe, Eurupe, Global Vectra
Bangalore: European helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter on Friday announced it has sold five AS350 B3 passenger transport helicopters to three Indian customers .
Three were ordered by Global Vectra, whose fleet will grow to seven AS350 B3s, while Summit Aviation and SS Aviation purchased one each.
“All five are scheduled to be delivered during 2011,” said Eurocopter president and CEO Lutz Bertling here on the sidelines of Aero India-2011.
“Seeing this trend, we are confident the AS350 B3 will be instrumental in developing such segments as heli-tourism, passenger transportation, rescue, aerial work and law enforcement throughout the country,” Bertling said.
Capable of performing at extremely high altitudes, the AS350 B3 single-engine helicopter can carry more passengers in hot and high conditions than any other rotary-wing aircraft in its class.
The AS350 B3 has experienced major success in heli-skiing applications at such locations as the Alps in Europe, North America’s Rocky Mountains and Alaska, and the Andes in South America – with operations now extended to the Himalayas in India.
11/02/11 IANS/Times of India
The men who orchestrate Yelahanka aerial symphony
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Aircraft and System Testing Establishment
Bangalore: The Bangalore-based Aircraft and System Testing Establishment (ASTE) may not be as popular as the fighter jets or for that matter the men behind them. However, this team is the one, which orchestrates the numerous aerobatic stunts and scintillating manoeuvres that the audiences get to see at the Aero India show.
The ASTE team, apart from overseeing the flight display is also entrusted with the job of ensuring flight safety when the fighter jets perform their dog fights and other maneouvers in front of hundreds of spectators.
“We are the nerve centre of the Aero India all flight operations are monitored by us. We observe closely how the aircraft take-off and land in order to ensure that they not defy safety rules,†said Group Captain N Tiwari, the flight display director of Aero India 2011.
He said that, on an average, about 40 aircraft take-off and land during the show and that the team has been put up at the Air Force Station Yelahanka (AFSY) since February 7, the day the aircraft starting arriving at the air base.
12/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
India will fear no one from next year
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence
Bangalore: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief VK Saraswat said on Friday all sub-systems of the country’s first indigenous subsonic medium-range cruise missile Nirbhay (fearless) were almost in place and it would be ready by early next year.
Speaking at Aero India-2011, he said: “Integration of the engine is under way.â€
The missile with a range of 1,000 km can take to the skies from multiple launchers and will arm all the three services. Nirbhay is expected to supplement the 300-km-range supersonic BrahMos.
Saraswat said an advanced version of BrahMos would be ready by 2012. The technology of the hypersonic missile call-ed BrahMos Mark-2 or BrahMos-2 was successfully lab-tested in May 2008 at a speed of 6.5 mach. The hypersonic demonstrator vehicle will attain a level flight for a ground-to-ground test at a height of 30 km before it hits the target with a speed between seven and eight mach. The mach-8 Brahmos-2, an advanced version of the present air-launched missile, will be the country’s first hypersonic cruise missile. DRDO and Russian NPO-Mash are working on a sustained flight scramjet, which will be the core element of the Mark-2 version.About a ballistic missile defence shield, Saraswat said the next AAD (advanced air defence) test will take place this month.
12/02/11 Suman Sharma/Daily News & Analysis
Surya Kiran to fly Hawks
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Aerobatics, Hawk, Suryakiran
Bangalore: The famed Surya Kiran aerobatic team of Indian Air Force will fly Hawk advanced jet trainers, not Kirans, at next Aero India. Its Kiran aircraft will be sent to the Bidar air force station in Karnataka for training rookie pilots.
Commanding officer of the team wing commander Prajual Singh said on Friday with the air force in a transition mode, several new aircraft were entering its stables. Surya Kiran would also get modern planes, he said.
Hawks, however, would be a temporary replacement as the team will ultimately fly the indigenous intermediate jet trainers which are set to get initial operational clearance in June. Prajual Singh said with the new aircraft, Surya Kiran will not only perform existing maneuvers but also add a few new ones.
12/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
Goodrich Showcases Real-Time Technology at Aero India
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Goodrich, US
Bangalore: U.S.-based Goodrich Corporation showcased mission-critical defense technology that brings real-time information to air crews along and field proven safety systems at the 2011 Aero India air show being held in Bangalore, India, which began Feb. 9.
Mission-critical guidance, navigation and stabilization products on display includes the updated Terrain Profile Matching (TERPROM) software, designed to increase flight safety and tactical awareness for both fixed-wing and helicopter platforms, along with Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based inertial sensors and advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data collection and dissemination systems.
Goodrich also displayed its F-16 Advanced Concept Ejection Seats II (ACES II) advanced concept ejection seat. Credited with saving more than 600 lives to date, the ACES II are the only ejection seats in the world with active pitch stabilization providing consistent performance capability at airspeeds of zero to 600 knots and altitudes up to 60,000 feet.
Complementing the ACES II will be the Common Crash Resistant Troop Seat, designed for installation on multiple helicopter platforms.
11/02/11 Wendell Minnick/DefenseNews
Indian Army takes delivery of more powerful Dhruvs
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: ALH, Defence, Dhruv, HAL
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) officially handed over to the Indian Army Aviation Corps (AAC) the first Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) powered by Shakti engines at Aero India in Bangalore on 10 February.
At a handover ceremony, Maj Gen P. K. Bharali, the additional director general of army aviation, received the first five of the twin-engine craft.
The Dhruv Mk.III is different from its predecessors by being powered by the new Shakti turboshaft engine co-developed by Turbomeca and HAL.
However, this is not the only change in the ALH. Dr. Prasad Sampath, general manager of HAL’s Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre, traced the progression of the Dhruv: ‘The Mk.I, powered by Turbomeca TM 333 2B2 engines, featured a conventional cockpit and minimal vibration control, while the Mk.II that appeared in 2007 had a glass cockpit and first-generation active vibration control. The latest Mk.III features second-generation active vibration control, Shakti engines and additions to the cockpit displays.’
Shakti engines mate a HAL gearbox and 1,032kW Turbomeca engine. The latest Dhruv Mk.III can carry a 200kg payload at an altitude of 6,000m. This compares with a payload of just 50-100kg for the incumbent 825kW engine. A high-altitude capacity is a critical requirement for the Indian Army.
11/02/11 Shephard
MMRCA deal: EADS ups ante
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, Europe, MMRCA, Typhoon
Bengaluru: Defence minister A K Antony has announced his intentions to stave off political pressure from countries in race for the $11.5 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract, but one European consortium believes in flaunting its political connections along with technological superiority to clinch the deal.
The defence ministers of Germany and United Kingdom visited the pavilion of EADS at Aero India 2011 along with air force chiefs and diplomats, a move described by Yves Guillaume, Chief Executive Officer-EADS (India) as “show of unity†in support of Eurofighter Typhoon, one of the six contenders for the mega bucks acquisition. “We know it is always a combination of choice of technology and political decisions that guide such purchases, not only for Eurofighter but othersâ€, he told Deccan Chronicle.
11/02/11 Deccan Chronicle
The elan with which women pilots are showcasing their skills at the ongoing Aero India 2011 makes gender divide sound like fiction. These female pilots are not burdened by their gender. Flying is all that matters and conquering the deep blue sky and roaring into it is what they want to do. In most of their cases, flying is a childhood dream and as kids, these pilots had literally toyed around with a miniature aircraft. Fascination for planes in many cases is older than that for cars and bikes.
Metrolife interacted with a few women pilots and also those women who work in the other sectors of the aviation and asked them what drove them and kept their energy soaring.
These women pilots have actually trained long and hard before they actually began flying a plane. They had to go through rigorous, laborious and rather rough training sessions just to strengthen their emotional and mental faculties.
Kavitha Prabhu, a flying officer says, it took nothing less than a year and a half to train on ground before she took to the skies.
Preeth D Souza, another flying officer says it’s not as tough as it looks.
Andrea Swank, a senior loadmaster with the C-17 US Air Force, says her job entails lifting heavy stuff, calculating the centre of gravity for take off and making sure the flight is not overloaded with cargo.
Caporal chef Vanessa Dahmani, who manages the anti freezing liquid on a Rafale, a French aircraft, says she works under strenuous conditions.
12/02/11 Nina C George/Deccan Herald
American aggressive at the show
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, US
Bangalore: India’s new strategic relationship with the US following the nuclear deal is all too visible at Aero India. The US has had by far the most aggressive presence at the show.
Some 41 US companies are exhibitors, and many of those exhibits are on a significant scale. What’s more, a number of very senior officials from the US government and military participated in the show. Among these were commerce secretary Gary Locke, US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs Andrew Shapiro, vice admiral Bill Landay, commander of the Pacific air forces Gary North, rear admiral Joseph Rixey and Heidi Grant, deputy under secretary of the air force.
Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing India, noted the support extended by US officials, and said that India was far more open for defence than China was. Walter Doran, president-Asia of Raytheon, said the show of US commitment was incredible.
12/02/11 Times of India
Juhu lad may fly fighter plane
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence
Mumbai: For 21-year-old Juhu resident Shaival Rajiv Sheth, aviation has always been a passion, but he has never been anywhere close to even dreaming of flying a fighter jet.
This youth’s wildest dream might come true tomorrow at the Bangalore Aero India 2011, provided he is able to pass one last test today.
In the final test today before a panel of expert judges, Sheth will have to flawlessly fly a virtual plane in a simulation cockpit.
“Every button, every lever, every switch and even the experience will be exactly like the actual thing. It’s like flying the plane without ever taking off the ground,” he said.
Sheth is one of the five finalists from among over 5,000 contestants across India who entered the competition, by answering a set of questions and playing a flight simulation game online.
“I’m a diehard aviation fan and wanted to join the National Defence Academy when I was a boy, but was unable to do so.
12/02/11 Otiena Ellwand/MiD DAY
Cruise missile Nirbhay will be ready in 2012
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Cruise Missile, Defence, DRDO
Bangalore: The country’s first indigenous subsonic cruise missile, Nirbhay (Fearless), will be ready early next year.
“The integration of the engine is under way. All processes are on for the sub-sonic medium-range cruise missile,†said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief VK Saraswat at the air show.
The missile with a range of 1,000km can be launched from multiple launchers. It will arm all the three services.Nirbhay is expected to supplement the BrahMos cruise missile, which has a range of 300km.
About the hypersonic cruise missile, a more advanced version of the BrahMos, Dr Saraswat said it also would be ready by 2012. A successful test of the technology of the missile was carried out in a laboratory in May 2008 at a speed of 6.5 Mach. The hypersonic demonstrator vehicle will attain a level flight, for a ground-to-ground test, at a height of 30 km from the ground, before it hits the target with a speed between seven and eight Mach.
The hypersonic missile BrahMos-2 will be the Mach 8 version of the missile. It will be the country’s first hypersonic cruise missile. It is an advanced version of the present air-launched missile.
DRDO and NPO-Mash are working on a sustained flight scramjet, which will be the core element in the Mark-2 version of BrahMos.
12/02/11 Suman Sharma/Daily News & Analysis
Beware: Sun can play spoilsport
Published February 12, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: General
Be sure to lather on some sunscreen lotion before you head out to enjoy the aero show. The February heat is sharp, and the first three days of the show have seen at least 100 cases of sunburn besides some of dehydration on the ground.
The other worries of the medical staff are fractures and skin abrasions among civilians. A majority of them are reported to have occurred while watching the aerobatics. The medical staff also confirmed a head injury at the public air display viewing area (ADVA) on Thursday, when the person slipped unexpectedly while trying to watch the show. On Friday, there were two minor cases of fracture. One of those injured was a sergeant from the Air Chief’s Staff while the other was a civilian.
12/02/11 Times of India
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to give wing to 1,500 copters
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, HAL
Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be designing, developing and manufacturing 1,500 helicopters in the next decade.
HAL finance director D Shivamurti said on Thursday that of the 1,500 choppers to be developed by the Bangalore-headquartered public sector undertaking, 100 would be Advanced Light Helicopters, 300 would be Light Utility Helicopters and the remaining would be multi-role helicopters of the 10-12 tonne class.
Besides, HAL will be investing about Rs20,000 crore over the next 10 years to modernise and expand its capacity to execute orders valued at Rs1,00,000 crore.
Shivamurti added that HAL has Rs9,000 crore in reserves.
To a query, he said HAL is awaiting government approval to go public and raise funds. “Being a fully-owned state-run enterprise, it is for the government to decide,†he said. The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) would be given the Initial Operational Clearance by June enabling the Indian Air Force to test the aircraft. The IJT is expected to replace the HJT-16 Kiran in its role as a stage II trainer in the air force.
11/02/11 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
L&T, Cassdian joint venture finally takes off
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Cassidian, EADS, Europe, L&T
In view of the government altering its current foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the defence sector from 26% to a higher percentage, the joint venture (JV) between L&T and Cassidian – defence and security division of European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADS) – has included a provision that would automatically raise the foreign ownership as and when the new rule comes into force.
According to informed sources, who did not want to be named, it was on this assurance of subsequent relaxation of the FDI cap that Cassidian has agreed to invest in the JV.
Initially, the Franco-German defence and security company did not want to come in as a minority stakeholder in the JV.
“We are hoping things will change soon and the government will rethink on the 26% FDI cap in the defence sector. Also, when a foreign firm enters into a joint venture with a local company, the new entity automatically becomes an Indian company. So why put a cap of 26%,†K Sreekumar, who will be heading the L&T and Cassidian JV said.
11/02/11 Suparna Goswami Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis
Get your own plane for just Rs2.92 crore
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: GA8-TC, Mahindra Aerospace
Bangalore: Travelling in your own private aircraft is now within reach with Mahindra Aerospace Private Limited’s (MAPL) launching its GA8-TC Airvan.
The domestic aerospace company has started sale of this 5-seater turbo-charged aircraft at $6,50,000 (approximately Rs2.92 crore).
“It will cost you only 30%-40% more than travelling in a high-end AC car, and will cut down your travelling time significantly,†says Hemant Luthra, president, systech sector, Mahindra and Mahindra.
The basic version of the Airvan has got all the airworthiness certification in India.
Luthra said the company, which has begun manufacturing civil aircraft in Australia, will start its India operations in the next two years.
“We will set up our aircraft factory in India by 2014 after which our aircraft will be made here. It is a two-step process. We have bought the land where we will start making the aircraft components. Once that has begun, we can start getting certifications – We’re building planes with the highest standard of FAR23 safety,†he said.
Since MAPL has already got certifications for its aircraft in Australia, it will make it easier for it to get the green signal in India.
11/02/11 Supriya Ghorpade/Daily News & Analysis
U.S. most advanced stealth fighter F-22 likely to join final day’s air show in India
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, F22, US
Bangalore:Â The U.S. most sophisticated stealth fighter F-22 will arrive here to participate in the final day’s air show, said a U.S. aeronautical official on Friday.
The U.S. will only dispatch one F-22 to fly to India for the air show Aero India 2011 that began on Wednesday, and the F-22 will be only showcased as a static display instead of flying display, said the official, who was participating in the air show as a member of a U.S aeronautical team.
According to the report by the Indian newspaper Indian Express before the air show, two F-22s were set to make its debut during Aero India 2011 in Bangalore. An official from the Indian Defense Ministry confirmed F-22 was likely to appear at the air show.
F-22 is not only the U.S. most advanced stealth fighter with the radar cross section of merely a steel marble, also the most advanced stealth fighter in the world. It entered the U.S. Air Force service in Dec,2005, and it could carry out the tasks of air- to-air and air-to-ground attacks with the precision-guided weapons.
11/02/11 Xinhuanet.com
Dogfight over $10b fighter deal
Published February 11, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: Defence, Eurofighter, Eurofighter. Rafale, f16in, fA 18, France, Gripen, MMRCA, Sweden, US
It’s the biggest fighter jet import order in a long time, and for a long time. It’s the deal the world’s great military-industrial powers have been waiting to clinch — the Indian Air Force’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) purchase that could fetch the deal winner over $ 10 billion. And with Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik saying he expected India to have signed off on the deal by September, the dogfight between the contenders is intensifying.
Signs of that intensification were more than apparent during the Aero India show at the Yelahanka Air Force Station on Thursday, with some of the contenders — Lockheed Martin (F-16IN), Boeing (F/A-18), EADS (Eurofighter Typhoon), the French Dassault (Rafale), SAAB (Gripen) — making light or dismissing outright competitors.
Officials of the European contenders mocked Lockheed Martin’s apparently recent bid to let the F-35 Fifth Generation fighter among the contending Fourth Generation fighters, saying that it was a sign of the F-16IN losing altitude in the contest.
Lockheed Martin officials, in turn, seemed to be dismissing fellow US giant Boeing’s bid to win the contract for its F/A-18 Super Hornet by dangling a ‘roadmap of future development’ of the aircraft that would give it Fifth Generation characteristics and keep the jet relevant for the next several decades.
Asked about concerns over America’s willingness to transfer technology, Mr. Prins said, “The IAF’s request for proposal stipulated technology transfer in five categories in four phases. Our proposal is fully compliant.
11/02/11 Deccan Chroniclehte
