After a fatal crash near Siliguri last week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its fleet of nearly 100 Russian-origin MiG- 27 fighters on suspicions of a major engine snag. All five squadrons of the ground attack fighter, deployed primarily in the western and eastern sectors, have been confined to the ground since the February 16 crash in which a Squadron Leader was killed.
Engine trouble is a known problem in the MiG-27 fleet with crashes in the past being attributed to defects in the R 29 engines of the aircraft. More worryingly, the initial probe has pointed to a major flaw in the engine that seems to have occurred during the overhauling of the aircraft by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The entire fleet had also completed an indigenous upgrade programme last year that was executed by HAL.
Raising a red flag on the serviceability of the fleet, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik said the initial probe hinted at a problem during the overhaul stage that went beyond the realm of day-to-day servicing.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
US dictating India's big defence deals?
Is the government under pressure from the United States to cancel fat defence orders to the European companies and go for purchases from the American firms?
The question is being raised after Union Defence Minister A K Antony recently struck down a $1.6 billion order bagged by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company for supply of the Airbus transport planes to the Indian Air Force.
This was yet another order legitimately won by an European defence company last year with IAF selecting the multi-role tanker transporter Airbus A330 after four years of labour to pick up the best suiting its needs, but arbitrarily cancelled by Antony without giving any reason.
Last year, a concluded deal for 197 helicopters from Eurocopter, a French-German conglomeration, was similarly cancelled by the defence ministry, which gave a very dodgy financial argument to explain why Boeing's P81 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft was preferred over Airbus in another deal.
Another decision to award a large tender for the secured defence communication to Motorola, an American firm, over EADS, is also mired in red tape and secrecy, with no explanation coming forward from the defence ministry for dumping the winner to oblige an American firm.
Those in the IAF who laboured for four years to finally pick up Airbus A330 are disturbed over the defence minister using his red pen to strike down the contract as their efforts, energy and money incurred went down the drain, leaving unfulfilled the critical requirement of having the best to meet the defence needs.
IAF sources say the choice of A330 over the Russian Ilyushin (IL86) was made on the basis of wanting a new generation product instead of going for an existing obsolete product. Though the price quoted by the Russian aircraft manufacturer was lower than that of A330, the IAF opted for the latter, the former rather cheaper on the ground of taking the totality of the life-cycle cost over 30 years.
Defence analysts say there may not be a great conspiracy but there is certainly something wrong in the way the defence ministry is cancelling deals with the European companies despite winning the tenders and standing up to quality requirements of the Indian forces.
They point out that concluded transactions between sovereign nations do not just get cancelled.
The pertinent questions are being raised as to whether the Manmohan Singh government is succumbing to the continued American pressure as quid-pro-quo for the civilian nuclear deal.
The question is being raised after Union Defence Minister A K Antony recently struck down a $1.6 billion order bagged by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company for supply of the Airbus transport planes to the Indian Air Force.
This was yet another order legitimately won by an European defence company last year with IAF selecting the multi-role tanker transporter Airbus A330 after four years of labour to pick up the best suiting its needs, but arbitrarily cancelled by Antony without giving any reason.
Last year, a concluded deal for 197 helicopters from Eurocopter, a French-German conglomeration, was similarly cancelled by the defence ministry, which gave a very dodgy financial argument to explain why Boeing's P81 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft was preferred over Airbus in another deal.
Another decision to award a large tender for the secured defence communication to Motorola, an American firm, over EADS, is also mired in red tape and secrecy, with no explanation coming forward from the defence ministry for dumping the winner to oblige an American firm.
Those in the IAF who laboured for four years to finally pick up Airbus A330 are disturbed over the defence minister using his red pen to strike down the contract as their efforts, energy and money incurred went down the drain, leaving unfulfilled the critical requirement of having the best to meet the defence needs.
IAF sources say the choice of A330 over the Russian Ilyushin (IL86) was made on the basis of wanting a new generation product instead of going for an existing obsolete product. Though the price quoted by the Russian aircraft manufacturer was lower than that of A330, the IAF opted for the latter, the former rather cheaper on the ground of taking the totality of the life-cycle cost over 30 years.
Defence analysts say there may not be a great conspiracy but there is certainly something wrong in the way the defence ministry is cancelling deals with the European companies despite winning the tenders and standing up to quality requirements of the Indian forces.
They point out that concluded transactions between sovereign nations do not just get cancelled.
The pertinent questions are being raised as to whether the Manmohan Singh government is succumbing to the continued American pressure as quid-pro-quo for the civilian nuclear deal.
Friday, February 19, 2010
One another MiG-21 Crashed
An Indian Air Force MiG-21 combat jet crashed soon after take-off from Bagdora in West Bengal on Friday but the pilot ejected to safety, an IAF spokesman said.
"The aircraft crashed around 3pm soon after take-off and the pilot, squadron leader Rahul Tiwari, ejected safely," the spokesman added.
"The pilot was picked up by an SAR (search and rescue) helicopter and has been taken to hospital," the spokesman said.
This is the second crash of an IAF fighter in three days. A MiG-27 had crashed near the Hashimara air base, also in West Bengal, on Tuesday.
"The aircraft crashed around 3pm soon after take-off and the pilot, squadron leader Rahul Tiwari, ejected safely," the spokesman added.
"The pilot was picked up by an SAR (search and rescue) helicopter and has been taken to hospital," the spokesman said.
This is the second crash of an IAF fighter in three days. A MiG-27 had crashed near the Hashimara air base, also in West Bengal, on Tuesday.
Indian Navy to induct 4 'lethal' MiG-29K into its fleet
The Indian Navy is all set to receive a shot in the arm with the induction of four MiG-29 K combat aircraft into its fleet here on Friday.
The formal ceremony to induct the MiG-29K ' Air Dominance Fighter' aircraft would take place at INS Hansa, the Indian Navy's premier naval station. With the induction of the advanced aircraft, the Indian Navy would join an elite club of navies across the world who have the MiG-29K aircraft in operation.
Talking to mediapersons on the eve of the induction ceremony, Commander Theo Phillis, the commanding officer (CO) of the newly formed squadron 303, which is also known as the 'Black Panthers', described it as a proud moment for the Indian Navy.
When asked about the difference between the Sea Harrier, which are currently in operation in the Navy, Phillis said the MiG-29K would offer a whole lot of other advantages to the navy.
"In MiG-29K, the range of target detention is more. Though the Sea Harrier is still a capable aircraft, the MiG-29K is newer and better," he said. "The MiG-29K is more easier and pleasant aircraft to fly," added Captain Surendra Ahuja, commanding officer of INS Hansa.
Captain Ahuja also explained that there are lot of differences between the MiG-29 B (Bravo) that the India Air Force (IAF) has been using and the MiG-29K , which is to be inducted into the Indian Navy.
The MiG 29K is among the latest and most potent fighters designed by the Mikoyan Gurevich bureau. The MiG-29K is equipped with the air-to-air refueling facility, while this is absent in the MiG-29B, Captain Ahuja said.
The IAF's old MiG-29 fighter, which was inducted in the mid eighties, is a third generation pure Air Defence figher, whereas the MiG-29K belongs to the fourth generation, and is capable of fulfilling multiple roles.
The new combat aircraft is more than 30 percent heavier than the old MiG-29.The MiG-29 is equipped with anti-aircraft 'Beyond Visaul Range Missiles, guided Anti-Ship Missiles, 'smart' guided-bombs and rockets that are more lethal and better than the old MiG-29 K's armaments.
It has a folding wing for close parking and reducing ground space, which is an important feature considering the fact that it would deployed on the air craft carrier INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) once it arrives in the later half of 2012.
The aircraft also boasts of state-of-the-art sensor suite that includes a very responsive and capable radar. The pilot's helmet is equipped with the 'Topsight-E' Helmet-mounted Display and Sight. This unique feature would enable the pilot to shoot a target, without turning the whole aircraft, by merely looking at it.
The India Navy is planning to induct a total of 45 MiG-29K's into its fleet, out of which four (16 of those bought from Russia) were delivered at the INS Hansa in December last year.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Akula nuclear submarine to be delivered to India by May
Indian Navy will regain its underwater warfare nuclear capability in the next 60-days with the Russians assuring that the Akula-II class attack submarine the Nerpa would be delivered by mid-May.
The assurance that the nuclear submarine would be delivered "strictly on schedule" was given by top Russian shipbuilding officials to the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is to visit New Delhi on a state visit next month.
Nerpa has been handed over to the Russian Navy for its sea trials.
"The 518th project, the Nerpa submarine is currently completing trials in the Pacific basin. We believe that we will be able to deliver it on time, according to agreed schedule," Chief of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Roman Trotsenko told Putin at today's meeting.
Source:The Hindu
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
20 Daksh Robot soon In Army
The Army has ordered 20 limited series production variants of the DAKSH remotely operated IED handling robot vehicle. The photos above show the Daksh during a demo at DefExpo 2010. A marked success for DRDO's Research & Development (Engineers) at Pune. An order of over 400 units is expected for the MK-II version. Spoke to officers who were part of the user trials of the bot, and they were thrilled with it. More on DRDO's military bots shortly...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
