WASHINGTON: The Bush administration announced plans to sell India six Lockheed Martin Corp. C-130J cargo planes and related gear worth up to $1.1 billion in what would be the first major U.S. military aircraft deal with India.The sale would bolster a “U.S.-Indian strategic relationship that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in South Asia,” the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress made public this week.The C-130J Super Hercules would give India “a credible special operations capability that will deter aggression in the region, provide humanitarian airlift capability and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces in coalition operations,” said the memo to lawmakers, dated Friday.The four-engine turboprop is a U.S. workhorse in Afghanistan and Iraq. India has requested as many as six of them along with four Rolls-Royce Plc rr.l spare engines, eight AAR-47 missile warning systems and communications equipment, the security agency said.The arms package’s estimated cost was $1.1 billion, it said, including personnel training and U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support.During the Cold War, India relied largely on the Soviet Union for arms but it is increasingly eyeing advanced equipment from the United States. In June 2005, India and the United States signed a 10-year defense framework agreement that called for expanded joint military exercises and increased defense-related trade.The Bush administration has sought closer ties with India partly as a hedge against China’s growing military might.Arms sales typically bind military establishments more closely as they train together, build contacts in the chain of command and ease the way for potential coalition operations.Richard Aboulafia of the Fairfax, Virginia-based Teal Group, an aerospace consultancy, said if the C-130J deal went through, it would be a breakthrough in a market that U.S. defense contractors and policymakers have been eager to enter.India’s interest in the C-130J shows that, among other things “the Indian military can act to acquire hardware faster than anyone here expected,” Aboulafia said. Boeing Co. ba.n and Lockheed are jockeying with foreign suppliers to sell India advanced fighter jets worth as much as $8 billion.Lisa Curtis, an India expert at the private Heritage Foundation who has worked on South Asia on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and at the State Department, said the proposed sale showed U.S.-Indian ties were moving into a new era of strategic cooperation.”In the past, the Indian military establishment has been suspicious of getting involved in any major military deals because of past U.S. sanctions tied to Indian nuclear tests,” she said in a telephone interview.Another obstacle to cementing strategic ties has been the U.S. relationship with Pakistan. New Delhi has been concerned about U.S. willingness to sell military hardware to Pakistan, including advanced F-16 fighters.Last year, the United States approved the transfer to India of six UH-3H Sea King helicopters from its excess inventory as part of growing military-to-military ties, the security agency’s records show. It also transferred to New Delhi the Trenton, an amphibious transport ship.The agency said the proposed C-130J sale was expected to be accompanied by offset agreements to be defined in negotiations between India and U.S. contractors. Such quid-pro-quos can involve everything from technology transfer to resale pacts for local produce.The announcement of a proposed arms sale is required by U.S. law. It does not mean a deal has been concluded. Congress retains the power to block government-to-government arms sales but rarely does so.
Archive for May, 2007
US plans breakthrough military plane sale to India
Future Offensive Air System (FOAS)
The 1998 Strategic Defense Review [SDR], in recognising that the UK faces a very different security environment from that of the Cold War, emphasised that risks still remain to UK security. International instability is likely to become more prevalent. The combat power of dangerous regimes assumes more significance as democratic countries reduce their armaments and there is an increasing risk from the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical technologies.br /If UK forces are to be effective in this uncertain future, they must be structured and equipped to conduct force projection and expeditionary warfare. The SDR recognised that UK forces will normally be involved in multi-national operations based on NATO, UN, WEU or ad hoc coalitions. As different coalition partners will have varying capabilities, and US involvement cannot be assumed, the UK will require balanced, coherent forces, inherently flexible and deployable, and capable of operating effectively alongside forces from other countries. This balanced capability will also be required to fulfil the requirements of those exceptional circumstances when the UK will operate independently.br /Part of the SDR process was the study of future offensive air power requirements, balancing the need for FOAS with that for future aircraft carriers and carrier-borne aircraft. Long-range air attack was found to remain important both as an integral part of war-fighting and as a coercive instrument to support political objectives.br /The system must be flexible, and capable of all-weather, day/night operation at all levels. It must also be survivable in a high-threat environment. The trend towards more and more out-of-area operations make it essential that the system is easily supported, without the need for significant deployment of support equipment and personnel into theatre.br /The FOAS requirement might not necessarily be satisfied in full by a single concept. Studies to define the most cost-effective solution are continuing. Possible solutions include a “force mix” approach of manned aircraft, UAVs and CALCMs although the exact nature, numbers and costs of these systems has not yet been decided.br /Major milestones in the future are:br /completion of the concept feasibility studies and launch of the Assessment phase for technology risk reduction and further system definition – 2001;br /solution selection – in about 10 years;br /entry to service – in about 20 years. The FOAS programme aims to provide the UK with a long-range offensive air capability to replace that currently provided by Tornado GR4. The FOAS solution should provide operational flexibility and utility across the range of military tasks outlined in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR). FOAS is predicted to enter service in about 20 years, at which point the Tornado GR4 airframes will have been in service for nearly 40 years and flown more than twice as many hours as their original design life.br /Following a number of minor study programmes for generic future combat aircraft dating back to the late 1980s, the current FOAS Feasibility Studies were launched in October 1997. Since then four major activity streams have been undertaken:br /Requirements development – following the SDR work continues to develop the concepts for future offensive operations;br /Solution studies – DERA and Industry teams have been examining the feasibility and cost effectiveness of a wide range of solutions within the various categories identified so far – manned combat aircraft (new and derivative designs and off-the-shelf solutions), Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) and Conventionally-armed Air Launched Cruise Missiles (CALCMs);br /Technology Demonstration Programme (TDP) – a joint approach to the acquisition of technologies for future combat aircraft with the French Government and UK and French industry has resulted in a set of joint and separate technology programme proposals with a wide range of UK and French suppliers;br /Business Systems – reflecting MOD’s Smart Procurement Initiative, the project is beginning to implement novel practices and technologies in the areas of systems engineering, electronic commerce, data sharing and synthetic environments. FOAS is one of the pilot Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) within MOD’s Smart Procurement Initiative. This IPT includes representatives from all areas of MOD involved in the project as well as DERA and Industry – by mid 1999 there should be half a dozen full-time DERA and Industry team members and more part-time support.br /Within the Concept Studies there is a loosely-formed FOAS Alliance representing British Aerospace Military Aircraft and Aerostructures, Marconi Electronic Systems, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Industries. These companies have teamed strategically to ensure a consistent approach to the studies and, at working level, have formed IPTs to perform the study work. The largest of these IPT structures is at British Aerospace’s Warton site, where more than 100 engineers are studying a wide range of both UAV and manned aircraft concepts along with MOD staff. Additionally there are other contractor teams led by Logica, Aerosystems International and Matra-BAe Dynamics who are primarily studying UAV and CALCM concepts. All of the teams, in conjunction with MOD and DERA staff, are looking into the balance and capabilities of these individual concepts when they are brought together into a mixed force.br /Within the proposed Technology Demonstration Programme there will be a series of contractor groupings, with a different make-up for each TDP. The members of these groups range from the large airframe suppliers, through engine and avionics manufacturers to specialist materials and components suppliers with proportional representation from UK and French industry.
MiG-35 Demonstration in RIAT 2006
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EL/M-2075 Phalcon
a href=”http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/RlriiHh84MI/AAAAAAAAAP8/YaOS8xrUK6A/s1600-h/Phalcon.jpg”img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069613406323794114″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”" src=”http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/RlriiHh84MI/AAAAAAAAAP8/YaOS8xrUK6A/s320/Phalcon.jpg” border=”0″ //abr /divThe IAI EL/M-2075 Phalcon is an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) radar system in use by a number of countries to give intelligence to maintain air superiority and conduct surveillance. It was developed with a partnership between Israeli Aircraft Industries and Elta Electronics Industries, of Israel. The Phalcon was considered the most advanced AEWamp;C system in the world, before the introduction of American made Wedgetail for Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF).br /Instead of using a rotodome, a moving radar found on AWACS planes, the Phalcon uses the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), an active phased array radar. This radar consists of transmit/receive (T/R) modules that each scan a small fixed area, making a rotodome unnecessary. AESA radars have very short to instantaneous scanning rates and that make them difficult to detect.br /Phalcon radars can be mounted on the an aircraft’s fuselage or on the top inside a small dome. Either position gives the radar 360 degree coverage. This allows it to track high maneuvering targets and low flying objects from hundreds of kilometers away, under all weather conditions, in both day and night.br /The radars can be fitted to a number of aircraft, including the Boeing 707, Boeing 767, Boeing 747, and the Ilyushin Il-76. The first Phalcon system to be installed was fitted to a Boeing 707 and first flown in 1993. In May 1994, it was sold to Chile, where it is known as the Condor.br /China’s purchase of the Phalcon system in 2000 was denied due to pressure from the United States. India bought three Phalcon systems in 2004 for a cost of $1.1 billion. At the same time, Russia agreed to supply IL-76s to India for fitting of the Phalcon.br /The Israeli Air Force has purchased 5 Gulfstream G550 aircraft to serve as the new IDF platform for the Phalcon system. Extensive modifications made to the Gulfstream’s fuselage, such as the addition of protruding composite radomes, are intended to allow for the housing of the radar arrays./div
HAL Hones UAV Skills With Partners
India’s sole aircraft manufacturer, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), is gaining expertise in building UAVs through partnerships with overseas companies.HAL has established, on an equity-sharing basis, a joint partnership with Elbit to manufacture simulators and avionics for the Israeli firm’s Skylark mini UAVs. The venture will help HAL develop a mini UAV of its own, a company official said.Bangalore-based HAL holds 50 percent of the joint venture — HALBIT Avionics — with Elbit holding 26 percent and Merlinhawk, a Bangalore consultancy, holding 24 percent, a HAL executive said. An order for unspecified numbers of simulators and avionics has been placed with the new company, the executive said, but further details about the deal were not disclosed. The Skylark mini UAVs have been ordered for the Israeli defense forces, but details were not available.The Skylark could even see action with the defense forces here. A Ministry of Defense official said the Army may buy an unspecified number of mini UAVs, and a request for proposals is likely by the end of this year or in early 2008.The HAL executive said HALBIT will develop training and simulation systems such as “full mission systems, computer-based trainers, maintenance simulators, virtual training and other airborne avionics.” The executive also said the company has begun work on the structure of its own mini UAV, with full UAV integration expected by mid-2008. Each UAV will cost between $25,000 and $30,000, he said. An Army official said that a Skylark-type UAV is required for surveillance in the north of Kashmir to fight Muslim terrorists. It can be assembled quickly before a mission and is launched by hand, which the official said is suitable for the rugged terrain in Jammu and Kashmir.Partnerships are KeyHAL is counting on partnerships like the one with Elbit to increase its annual sales from the current level of more than $1.75 billion to $3 billion in the next five years. Several overseas companies have partnered with HAL to tap the growing defense offset market in India, estimated by the Defence Ministry at about $1.5 billion each year.Last year, Pratt amp; Whitney and HAL agreed to set up an engine component manufacturing facility in India, which is currently being constructed. In November, HAL and Bell Helicopter inked a memorandum of understanding to explore possible cooperation on airframe subassemblies and product support for the civil helicopter market.In September 2006, HAL and EADS agreed to cooperate on defense aerospace products and are formulating business plans. The Indian company also signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries to do aero structure assembly, including tooling, design and manufacture in Bangalore
Malaysia Takes Delivery of First Batch of Russian Jets
Malaysia’s air force said May 24 it had received its first batch of Russian-built Sukhoi jets, which have come after a four-year wait.”We have received two Sukhois today, which will be delivered within two weeks,” a spokesman for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff, told AFP from Russia.He said the Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets would be sent to an air force base in northern Kelantan state.Delivery of the jets is part of a billion-dollar deal made in 2003, in which Russia agreed to send a Malaysian astronaut to the international space station in return for the purchase of 18 Sukhois.”They will be delivered in stages according to the contract,” said Zulkiflee.The state Bernama news agency reported that RMAF chief Azizan Ariffin and the defense ministry’s secretary general Ahmad Latffi Hashim received the aircraft at the Irkut Aircraft Corporation manufacturing plant in Russia.
Russia says suspect sold China rocket technology
The chief executive of a Russian space technology firm sold China secret technology for the creation of missile delivery systems, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday.br /The FSB said in November they had arrested Igor Reshetin, general director of the TsNIIMASH-Export firm, for selling technology that could have been converted to military use and for failing to obtain government approval.br /An FSB spokesman said in a statement on Thursday Reshetin was accused of “the illegal export and sale to the All China Import-Export Company of Precision Machine Building controlled technology … which could be used in the creation of missile delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction”.br /China is spending the equivalent of billions of dollars on developing its military and civilian space programmes, a source of friction with the United States.br /Beijing’s space capability aroused concern in January when, it destroyed one of its ageing satellites by launching a missile from earth.br /In 2003, China became only the third country — after the United States and the former Soviet Union — to launch a man into space aboard one of its own rockets. In October 2005, it sent two men into orbit and plans a space walk by 2008.br /Russia, resurgent from a decade of economic decline, and China, emerging as a new global power, are both seeking to boost their influence in the post-Cold War world.br /Russian President Vladimir Putin said during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Moscow in March that Moscow’s relations with Beijing were exemplary.br /But senior Russian officials view China’s growing military and economic might with concern.br /The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet Union’s KGB, has enjoyed increased influence since Vladimir Putin, a former spy, was elected president in 2000.
What is Scramjet?
a href=”http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/RlbIV3h84LI/AAAAAAAAAP0/n7t_iL-AFRU/s1600-h/fluid_dynamic.jpg”img id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068458708661231794″ style=”FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand” alt=”" src=”http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRbP6fpJWAc/RlbIV3h84LI/AAAAAAAAAP0/n7t_iL-AFRU/s320/fluid_dynamic.jpg” border=”0″ //a A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a variation of a ramjet with the key difference being that the flow in the combustor is supersonic. At higher speeds it is necessary to combust supersonically to maximize the efficiency of the combustion process. Projections for the top speed of a scramjet engine (without additional oxidiser input) vary between Mach 12 and Mach 24 (orbital velocity), but the X-30 research gave Mach 17 due to combustion rate issues. By way of contrast, the fastest conventional air-breathing, manned vehicles, such as the U.S. Air Force SR-71, achieve slightly more than Mach 3.2 and rockets achieved Mach 30+ during Apollo.br /Like a ramjet, a scramjet essentially consists of a constricted tube through which inlet air is compressed by the high speed of the vehicle, a combustion chamber where fuel is combusted, and a nozzle through which the exhaust jet leaves at higher speed than the inlet air. Also like a ramjet, there are few or no moving parts. In particular there is no high speed turbine as in a turbofan or turbojet engine that can be a major point of failure.br /A scramjet requires supersonic airflow through the engine, thus, similar to a ramjet, scramjets have a minimum functional speed. This speed is uncertain due to the low number of working scramjets, relative youth of the field, and the largely classified nature of research using complete scramjet engines. However it is likely to be at least Mach 5 for a pure scramjet, with higher Mach numbers 7-9 more likely. Thus scramjets require acceleration to hypersonic speed via other means. A hybrid ramjet/scramjet would have a lower minimum functional Mach number, and some sources indicate the NASA X-43A research vehicle is a hybrid design. Recent tests of prototypes have used a booster rocket to obtain the necessary velocity. Air breathing engines should have significantly better specific impulse while within the atmosphere than rocket engines.br /However scramjets have weight and complexity issues that must be considered. While very short suborbital scramjet test flights have been successfully performed, perhaps significantly no flown scramjet has ever been successfully designed to survive a flight test. The viability of scramjet vehicles is hotly contested in aerospace and space vehicle circles, in part because many of the parameters which would eventually define the efficiency of such a vehicle remain uncertain. This has led to grandiose claims from both sides, which have been intensified by the large amount of funding involved in any hypersonic testing. Some notable aerospace gurus such as Henry Spencer and Jim Oberg have gone so far as calling orbital scramjets ‘the hardest way to reach orbit’, or even ‘scamjets’ due to the extreme technical challenges involved. Major, well funded projects, like the X-30 were cancelled before producing any working hardware.br /br /object width=”425″ height=”350″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/jPNJJTU2VGg”/paramparam name=”wmode” value=”transparent”/paramembed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/jPNJJTU2VGg” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” width=”425″ height=”350″/embed/object
Su-35
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Tankers provide key air bridge
SOUTHWEST ASIA: Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations May 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.br /In Afghanistan, Navy F/A-18C Hornets dropped guided bomb unit-38s on insurgent targets in Shurakian. The joint terminal attack controller, or JTAC, confirmed the bombs impacted their targets.br /JTACs are highly trained Air Force and coalition personnel who advise ground commanders on appropriate air power support, relay the ground commander’s intent to air power assets overhead and communicate with aircrews for precision engagement.br /Other F-18s dropped GBU-38s on insurgents in Oruzgan. The JTAC reported the drops as successful.br /Over Ghazni, F-18s dropped multiple GBU-12s and a GBU-38 on insurgent buildings after coalition forces received small-arms fire. The JTAC reported no more gunfire after the bombs impacted the buildings.br /An MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle supporting the F-18s in Ghazni fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile at insurgents fleeing the area previously fired upon by other coalition aircraft. The missile impacted its intended target.br /F-18s dropped a GBU-38 and performed successful shows of force with flares in support of coalition ground forces in Gereshk.br /br / An Air Force B-1B Lancer performed multiple shows of presence over coalition routes near Gorestani Nawer. No incidents were reported while the bomber was in the area.br /A Royal Air Force GR-7 Harrier monitored ground forces raiding a building near Gereshk. The pilots also watched for possible improvised explosive device placement in the area.br /Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles monitored suspected enemy personnel near Ghazni and Garmsir.br /In total, 64 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.br /Ten Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, two Navy aircraft provided tactical reconnaissance.br /br /In Iraq, a B-1 dropped GBU-38s on a building used to manufacture IEDs in Baghdad. A JTAC observing the attack reported the drop as successful. After the strike, the bomber continued to show force over the area for coalition forces hit by an IED.br /Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided armed overwatch for ground forces after a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle was hit by an IED near Baghdad. Afterward, the jet followed a suspicious vehicle and passed on the information to the JTAC in the area.br /An F-16 released a GBU-12 on a truck leaving a weapons cache near Fallujah. The JTAC confirmed the bomb hit its target.br /In Al Musayyib, other F-16s searched for insurgents suspected of attacking coalition forces. The pilots monitored personnel near the attack site and other IED locations and passed the information to the JTAC.br /Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornados provided shows of force to assist a medical evacuation in Muqdadiyah. The Tornados also searched for snipers and provided overwatch for coalition forces.br /In total, coalition aircraft flew 47 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions supported coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.br /Fifteen Air Force, Navy and Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Additionally, two RAF fighter aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.br /Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.br /Approximately 156 airlift sorties were flown; more than 435 tons of cargo were delivered, and approximately 2,745 passengers were transported. This included approximately 21,010 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan.br /Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and Korea flew in support of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.br /On May 18, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, French Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 48 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.9 million pounds of fuel to 234 receiving aircraft.
