Indian Military Aviation
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
^^ It's possible, that they want the TECHNICAL DETAILS so that it can help cater and nurture their INDIGENIOUS AURA program...Get a feel of WHAT TECHNOLOGY is out there, and maybe they can design an ASR for AURA based on that!!! Then again THIS IS JUST A SPECULATION ON MY PART!!!
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Foliage penetrating radar is a force multiplier for jungle warfare to be expected in North East.So it should be a top priority for IAF and IA. It was US space based FPR that located the YSR helicopter crash site. Some 20,000 images were taken as reported in the old deleted thread.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
HAL might go solo on New 10-12 Ton Multi-Role Helicopter
http://idrw.org/?p=2265#more-2265HAL has studied both the proposal and asked MOD (Ministry of Defence) advice on whether to consider joint venture or to go solo on the project and built every thing in house , HAL has per source has already done preliminary work on design of the new 10-12 ton class helicopter ,which will be based on enlarged Dhruv design ,with seating capacity of 24 on board.
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
^^ The big question is WHAT ENGINE will HAL offer??? Shakti??? (might be underpowered for a 12 ton HELICOPTER!) and clearly HAL has no expertise in developing their OWN engine... Unless HAL develops THEIR OWN engine, this proposal is nothing but thick air!
Re: Indian Military Aviation
how about 3 shakti engines - EH101 style - would that be enough? how about the EC725 engine ?
HAL is not a engine shop and obviously cannot develop on its own even a light turboshaft engine, so a deal with turbomeca or allied-signal is sure.
HAL is not a engine shop and obviously cannot develop on its own even a light turboshaft engine, so a deal with turbomeca or allied-signal is sure.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
HAL might have had some back channel talks with European and Russian companies regarding engines , which ever works out well might be considered , but still HAL has done a good thing they have left ball in the court of MOD and its their decision will influence the outcome of the new 12 ton helicopter whether to go for jv to reduce development time line or go in house which means more development time line but more local development
Re: Indian Military Aviation
HAL cannot even integrate "a imported" engine (also called Shakti) to Light Helo, how can it design or develop any sort of engine or MLH? Development is not in the ethos of HAL. In fact, it proudly claims that they donot waste time developing any components, they just import. Then they outsource integration. Welcome to Sarkari raj!
Re: Indian Military Aviation
will be good to see Unkil enter the race on this one!johnny_m wrote:Now IAF wants UCAVs
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Errrr....something this abdul could not understand - why are Mi-26 and Chinook in the same competition? Shouldn't CH-53K (the latest avataar of CH-53) be the one under consideration if the idea is to have 12K+ lift capacity? Any ideas?Kailash wrote:US, Russia vie to sell choppers to IAF
IAF is starting trials for Chinook and MI-26 in 3 weeks
Re: Indian Military Aviation
I believe 220 are on order, but IOC is expected in 2018 onlee.even 1st proto flight is in 2013.
Mi26 should win this contest quite easily if its a honest contest and the Rus is able to ensure good uptime and engine/spares pipeline. our
mountain divs could use a lot of these provided high uptime.
latest page on Mi26T http://www.rostvertolplc.ru/ENG/index1.htm
Mi26 should win this contest quite easily if its a honest contest and the Rus is able to ensure good uptime and engine/spares pipeline. our
mountain divs could use a lot of these provided high uptime.
latest page on Mi26T http://www.rostvertolplc.ru/ENG/index1.htm
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1070
- Joined: 11 Mar 2007 19:16
- Location: Martyr Bhagat Singh Nagar District, Doaba, Punjab, Bharat. De Ghuma ke :)
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Balle Balle Hoo Joo Mitro
1962 War Hero Hercules to Make a Comeback
The Indian Express
1962 War Hero Hercules to Make a Comeback
The Indian Express
1962 War Hero Hercules to Make a Comeback
Manu Pubby
Posted online: Mon July 05 2010
New Delhi : Almost 50 years after an earlier version of the military transport aircraft provided a Crucial Air Bridge to Transport Troops and Equipment to the Chinese frontier during the Sino-Indian war, the Hardy ‘Hercules’ is making a Comeback to India.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to get the first of its six C 130 J Super Hercules on order from the US in February 2011, in time for the Aero India air show and two months ahead of the scheduled delivery.
While the New ‘Special Operations’ Super Hercules that the IAF is getting is Several Generations ahead of its Illustrious Predecessor that Airlifted Several Thousand Troops that were desperately needed along the entire Chinese border from Ladakh down to the North-East, the stubby-nosed aircraft holds a special place in the military history of the nation.
The year was 1962 and the Chinese invasion was on in full swing when the government realised that it was woefully short of transport aircraft that could carry troops and military equipment to difficult airstrips along the Chinese border. The ties with the US were on a historic high and a request for help by PM Jawaharlal Nehru to President John Kennedy yielded a 12 aircraft detachment of the Hercules for operations in Ladakh and the North-East.
The mainstay of the IAF transport fleet was the Russian AN 12 four-engined aircraft, a sturdier, faster aircraft than the Hercules. But the IAF was finding it difficult to transport heavy loads and personnel to the short Leh airfield located at an altitude of 10,500 feet. The unpressurised AN 12 was also unsuitable to fly in troops to the high- altitude airbase.
Over a nine-month period, the 12 aircraft Hercules detachment brought in thousands of troops to the Chinese frontier, flying regular missions to Ladakh as well as airstrips in the North-East on the Arunachal Pradesh border. In one mission, an aircraft flew out 104 Tibetan orphans whose parents had been killed during the border clash from Leh to South India.
While the lessons learnt during the war helped India in planning out its aircraft acquisition over the next few years, the Hercules never returned as ties with the US steadily deteriorated and India became dependant on Russian imports. Things changed after the new-found bonhomie between the nations that paved the way for a $ 1 billion contract that was inked in 2008 for Six ‘Special Operations’ Version of the New C 130 J ‘Super Hercules’.
The new aircraft is very different from its predecessor. It is equipped with a Forward Looking Infra Red, Heads Up Display and Navigational Aids, that Enables Operations in Low Visibility Conditions, through Fog, Clouds and Dust Storms. The aircraft on order are also Designed to Land and Take Off from an Airstrip in Pitch Dark Without Using External Lights.
The initial order is for six aircraft but Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, is in talks with the IAF for six more. “We have been in discussion (with the government) and hope to see a follow on order for another six aircraft,” said Orville Prins, Senior Vice President, Business Development, India for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Singha wrote:I believe 220 are on order, but IOC is expected in 2018 onlee.even 1st proto flight is in 2013.
Mi26 should win this contest quite easily if its a honest contest and the Rus is able to ensure good uptime and engine/spares pipeline. our
mountain divs could use a lot of these provided high uptime.
latest page on Mi26T http://www.rostvertolplc.ru/ENG/index1.htm
It is more likely to be Mi-416Vs Chinooks for 22 helo order.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
My question remains answered - why are Chinook and Mi-26 competing for same order? This is like IL-76 and AN-124 competing for airlift order....
Re: Indian Military Aviation
massa has obviously used its influence in dilli to worm into this contest. they must have made a == of chinook slinging loads below to cargo inside Mi26 heated and pressurized cabin - never mind how tough it might be to sling loads at windy high-alt, damage to fragile stuff or that afghan ops are at 10,000ft while we go to 18,000ft on a daily basis.
Ahuja sir had posted some details where the Mi26 was about the only thing alive able to still haul useful cargo at such levels.
the CH53mki will have 3 engines topping out at 21000hp, same as the 2 engines of Mi26 @ 22000hp. though the engines will likely be
more fuel efficient and modern, still the Mi26T is available today while atbest we can stay in line after USMC/USN and get a few in 2020 for Ch53mki.
I think we should go for Mi26T now and consider other options in 10 years time.
Ahuja sir had posted some details where the Mi26 was about the only thing alive able to still haul useful cargo at such levels.
the CH53mki will have 3 engines topping out at 21000hp, same as the 2 engines of Mi26 @ 22000hp. though the engines will likely be
more fuel efficient and modern, still the Mi26T is available today while atbest we can stay in line after USMC/USN and get a few in 2020 for Ch53mki.
I think we should go for Mi26T now and consider other options in 10 years time.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
I thought this was a one horse race, quite surprised to know that the Mil is still in production.
Rohitvats, the IAF wants to buy heavy lift helis, not 20tone or 12 tone lifting capability only helis. If you think about it there are only 3 such helicopters in service and two are in production and both are on offer. You might say that they are like apples and oranges but when you are out to buy fruits each has its merits. IAF will have to choose between sheer lifting power of one and sustainability, lower operating cost of another.
Rohitvats, the IAF wants to buy heavy lift helis, not 20tone or 12 tone lifting capability only helis. If you think about it there are only 3 such helicopters in service and two are in production and both are on offer. You might say that they are like apples and oranges but when you are out to buy fruits each has its merits. IAF will have to choose between sheer lifting power of one and sustainability, lower operating cost of another.
-
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 4297
- Joined: 01 Mar 2010 22:42
- Location: From Frontier India
- Contact:
Re: Indian Military Aviation
IAF officer wins marathon medal in France
On professional front, Wg Cdr Reddy is on ‘A’ category flying instructor and has earlier served in Botswana
On professional front, Wg Cdr Reddy is on ‘A’ category flying instructor and has earlier served in Botswana
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Well, Sir, to say that IAF is looking only for heavy-arilift chopper and not define the same is same as telling a Car Salesman that you need a big car - how big is left to imagination of the salesperson.abhik wrote:I<SNIP> Rohitvats, the IAF wants to buy heavy lift helis, not 20tone or 12 tone lifting capability only helis. If you think about it there are only 3 such helicopters in service and two are in production and both are on offer. You might say that they are like apples and oranges but when you are out to buy fruits each has its merits. IAF will have to choose between sheer lifting power of one and sustainability, lower operating cost of another.
There is more to payload question than lifr cycle cost and maintenance efficiencies - it has a bearing on the operational deployment of the said machine. Then there is the question of staggered airlift - there is a reason that both CH-53 and Ch-47 are in service with Western Air Forces.
If the idea is to have brute lifting power and carry heavy payload from location A to location B - then Mi-26 is your bird. But if the idea is to have 10tonnes+ airlift capacity and still be able to hover over a hill top and offload troops/supplies or carry under slung loads (say ULWH - Chinook can carry 3 at a go) from location in Valley A to location in Valley B - then CH-47 fits the bill. After all, size does matter.
So, let us not compare apples and oranges here. IMO, if IAF was looking for heavy airlift capacity, CH-53X and Mi-26 would have been in competition and not Chinook and Mi-26.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
I could be wrong, but what i heard is Mi-26 which India possessed is a maintenance headache.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
yes definitely Rus will have to offer cast iron engine and spares pipeline and setup a spares depot and medium repair depot in india to have any chance of matching the assurance levels the chinook can offer.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
I think it might be Mi-416 in contention and not Mi-26 as Mi-416 is half the size of Mi-26
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Interesting that u mention the point rohit; here is a peculiar incident mentioned in in wikipedia:rohitvats wrote:But if the idea is to have 10tonnes+ airlift capacity and still be able to hover over a hill top and offload troops/supplies or carry under slung loads (say ULWH - Chinook can carry 3 at a go) from location in Valley A to location in Valley B - then CH-47 fits the bill. After all, size does matter.
Wikipedia linkAfghanistan, Chinook recovery
In spring 2002 a civilian Mi-26 was leased to recover two U.S. Army MH-47E Chinook helicopters from a mountain in Afghanistan. The Chinooks were being operated by 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and had been employed in Operation Anaconda, an effort in early March to drive al Qaeda and Taliban fighters out of the Shahi-Kot Valley and surrounding mountains. The Chinooks ended up stranded on the slopes above Sirkhankel at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). The Chinook stranded at 3,100 meters was deemed too badly damaged to recover, but the other one at 2,600 meters was repairable. With all fuel, rotors and non-essential equipment removed the Chinook was estimated to weigh 12,000 kilograms (26,000 lb), too much for another Chinook (the CH-47 is the US Army's heavy-lift helicopter) at that altitude, which could only lift 9,100 kilograms (20,000 lb) at 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). An Mi-26 was located through Skylink Aviation in Toronto, which had connections with a Russian company called Sportsflite that operated three civilian versions of the Mi-26 called Heavycopters. One of the aircraft was in Tajikistan doing construction and firefighting work. The aircraft was leased for the recovery of the Chinook for $300,000. The Chinook was snatched with a hook and flown to Kabul, then later to Bagram Air Force Base in Parvan, Afghanistan for shipment to Fort Campbell in Kentucky for repairs.
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
It's Official: India's Regional Jet To Have Turboprop & Turbofan Variants , at the cost of SARAS?- Livefist!!!With the Saras programme in one right mess, it seems a little odd that NAL is proceeding quite rapidly on the RTA programme. Even the national auditor had suggested that NAL drop plans of initiating the project without first getting its house in order as far as the Saras was concerned. It said, "Keeping in view the problems faced by NAL in HANSA and SARAS, projects relating to marketing of the aircrafts, difficulties in finding an industrial partner and lack of specialised manpower, NAL may review initiation of the new project for development of a 70 seater aircraft." And this was before the Saras crash of March 2009.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
rsharma sahab, I'm aware of that incident. And as for comparing the payload capacity of Mi-26 and Chinook at that altitude - well, if the idea is to show the higher payload capacity of Mi-26 and how it is better than Chinook, then it is a non-starter. There is no disputing the Mi-26 paload>Chinook. The question is the intended usage.rsharma wrote:
<SNIP>
The Chinook stranded at 3,100 meters was deemed too badly damaged to recover, but the other one at 2,600 meters was repairable. With all fuel, rotors and non-essential equipment removed the Chinook was estimated to weigh 12,000 kilograms (26,000 lb), too much for another Chinook (the CH-47 is the US Army's heavy-lift helicopter) at that altitude, which could only lift 9,100 kilograms (20,000 lb) at 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). An Mi-26 was located through Skylink Aviation in Toronto, which had connections with a Russian company called Sportsflite that operated three civilian versions of the Mi-26 called Heavycopters.<SNIP>
And as for Mi-26 lifting that Chinook from a hilltop - you're talking about a controlled operation for which Mi-26 was hired because Chinook could not lift the parload. This operation is not same as dropping off troops on a hill-top or flying in the valleys - please see the pics below to get an idea of what I meant:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RHIB-helicopter.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch47- ... ietnam.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Inbou ... n_2008.jpg
Re: Indian Military Aviation
NAL had put in lot of proposals over time.Craig Alpert wrote:It's Official: India's Regional Jet To Have Turboprop & Turbofan Variants , at the cost of SARAS?- Livefist!!!With the Saras programme in one right mess, it seems a little odd that NAL is proceeding quite rapidly on the RTA programme. Even the national auditor had suggested that NAL drop plans of initiating the project without first getting its house in order as far as the Saras was concerned. It said, "Keeping in view the problems faced by NAL in HANSA and SARAS, projects relating to marketing of the aircrafts, difficulties in finding an industrial partner and lack of specialised manpower, NAL may review initiation of the new project for development of a 70 seater aircraft." And this was before the Saras crash of March 2009.
The first One was to develop a stretched 30 seater Saras which went nowhere. I think Saras is a reasonable programme which provides learning curve for developing passenger plane technology. Also it informs us about our short coming in absorbing screw driver technology from Dornier.
NAL launched the proposal for RTA as 50 seater turboprop around 1996. Thereafter it became 50-70-90 seater trubroprop around 2001-3. Thereafter it became 90-110 seater turbofan. Now I think two variants are being proposed both in Turboprop and Turbofan. I think that it would make better sense to go in for 70 seater basic as turboprop (with 50 & 90 seater variants as later follow ons) while for Turbofan variant we should go in for 110 seater variant (with 90 & 130 seater variants as later follow ons).
On a casual look it seems like a 70-90 seater in the above pics. Also high wing for a 90-110 seater turbofan is very uncommon and I wonder whether it is commanality being pushed tooo far.
-
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 6046
- Joined: 11 May 2005 06:56
- Location: Doing Nijikaran, Udharikaran and Baazarikaran to Commies and Assorted Leftists
Re: Indian Military Aviation
The fuselage can be common. The wings have to be different. The jet engined one will have a much higher (transonic) cruise speed. The wing has to be swept back for that. For the Turboprop, a straight conventional wing will be ideal.On a casual look it seems like a 70-90 seater in the above pics. Also high wing for a 90-110 seater turbofan is very uncommon and I wonder whether it is commanality being pushed tooo far.
Nothing wrong or unheard of in having a high winged turbofan. There are plenty of those around, especially if it is a regional jet.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
vina wrote:The fuselage can be common. The wings have to be different. The jet engined one will have a much higher (transonic) cruise speed. The wing has to be swept back for that. For the Turboprop, a straight conventional wing will be ideal.On a casual look it seems like a 70-90 seater in the above pics. Also high wing for a 90-110 seater turbofan is very uncommon and I wonder whether it is commanality being pushed tooo far.
Nothing wrong or unheard of in having a high winged turbofan. There are plenty of those around, especially if it is a regional jet.
Second page of this discussion is informative
http://www.pprune.org/flight-testing/33 ... ing-2.html
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
[url=Ihttp://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/07/iaf-announces-micro-air-vehicle.html]IAF Announces Micro Air Vehicle Requirement[/url]
HMMMM.. Wonder Why the Army despite all it's ANTI-Indianess went with A DESI version, while the Air-Force requires a FOREIGN MAAL???
The Indian Air Force has invited information from global vendors towards a potential purchase of (an unspecified number of) micro air vehicles (MAVs). According to the RFI, the MAV needs to weigh no more than 2-kgs with an endurance of anything over 30-minutes. The IAF has stipulated that the MAV needs to be a VTOL type, with payload requirements including day CCD camera and FLIR. Note: The Army is looking to induct the indigenous DRDO-ideaForge Netra MAV (see photo), made famous by the film 3 Idiots. Also, Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk was recently demonstrated to Indian forces in the forests of Bastar, Chattisgarh for potential use in anti-naxal operations. India's NAL is known to be developing a series of MAVS, but none are known to be VTOL platforms.
-
- BRFite -Trainee
- Posts: 50
- Joined: 30 Jun 2010 13:19
- Location: Netherlands
Re: Indian Military Aviation
I think it is not necessarily the commonality, but to fulfill the requirements to be able to handle ill-prepared airstrips.vic wrote:Craig Alpert wrote:
On a casual look it seems like a 70-90 seater in the above pics. Also high wing for a 90-110 seater turbofan is very uncommon and I wonder whether it is commanality being pushed tooo far.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Couple of questions -
1. How many NAL Hansa have been sold? does anyone have details on its performance.
2. What is the future of NAL Saras?
1. How many NAL Hansa have been sold? does anyone have details on its performance.
2. What is the future of NAL Saras?
Re: Indian Military Aviation
HMMMM.. Wonder Why the Army despite all it's ANTI-Indianess went with A DESI version, while the Air-Force requires a FOREIGN MAAL???[/quote]
perhaps Air force needs an MAV more advanced than the netra in terms of ability to operate in harsh weather and for longer duration , maybe they see this as a chance to Improve Netra furthur by using technologies from foreign MAV's
perhaps Air force needs an MAV more advanced than the netra in terms of ability to operate in harsh weather and for longer duration , maybe they see this as a chance to Improve Netra furthur by using technologies from foreign MAV's
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
But that brings back to the original question, why not send the RFI to IdeaForge to make it more ruggedize and provide more funding for an advance version??? Why BUY from a Foreign Vendor?? If what you say were the case, they'd go for a JV or a Contractual agreement not an RFI to BUY from a vendor...
If I were to speculate, (NOT knowing the resolution of the camera of home grown Netra, except looking at the youtube video) I think this is where a Foreign vendor excels because the resolution and weight or HOME grown is not on par with what's available in the market...
If I were to speculate, (NOT knowing the resolution of the camera of home grown Netra, except looking at the youtube video) I think this is where a Foreign vendor excels because the resolution and weight or HOME grown is not on par with what's available in the market...
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Mostly the vendors are finalised and then the RFI gets ready just to suit that vendor, and that vendor ALONE, NONE OTHER. That is the pure Indian istyle.Craig Alpert wrote:But that brings back to the original question, why not send the RFI to IdeaForge to make it more ruggedize and provide more funding for an advance version??? Why BUY from a Foreign Vendor?? If what you say were the case, they'd go for a JV or a Contractual agreement not an RFI to BUY from a vendor...
Re: Indian Military Aviation
X-post
Soon, inflight refreshments for Sukhoi pilots
Soon, inflight refreshments for Sukhoi pilots
Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots will soon get to relish delicious snacks like halwa and sip fruit juice inside the cockpits of their combat aircraft during long distance sorties. IAF has asked the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) to develop light food products in squeezable tubes that the pilots can consume even as they are strapped in their Sukhoi 30 MKIs, Mirage 2000s and the Jaguars. Dr A S Bawa, director of the Mysorebased DFRL told Express that they have taken up new projects for the IAF and have been developing food products like halwa, pulav and fruit juices that can be consumed from squeezable tubes.
“We have in the past supplied a few food items to the IAF, but they had some issues as the pilots found them difficult to consume while flying at supersonic speeds. But now, during a recent interaction, they asked us to develop a few food items for their pilots,” he said.
Bawa added that DFRL is developing a few food items for the IAF which will be similar to ones consumed by astronauts on space missions.
“Though the food items are similar to the ones consumed by astronauts, here the challenge is greater. The pilots are strapped in the G-suits and hence cannot move their hands freely, hence we have to identify a place where the tubes can be kept. Besides, they travel at much higher speeds and we also have to keep the ‘G’ factor (gravitational factor) in mind,” said Bawa.
The IAF requirement for these food products for their pilots comes as the air force is hoping to transform into a strategic force with its combat aircraft like the Sukhoi 30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar involved more long distance sorties.
-
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 4297
- Joined: 01 Mar 2010 22:42
- Location: From Frontier India
- Contact:
Re: Indian Military Aviation
The new one is sold. The old one crashed. I am not aware of more.ManjaM wrote:Couple of questions -
1. How many NAL Hansa have been sold? does anyone have details on its performance.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
There is 25% growth potential in shakti.Singha wrote:how about 3 shakti engines - EH101 style - would that be enough? how about the EC725 engine ?
HAL is not a engine shop and obviously cannot develop on its own even a light turboshaft engine, so a deal with turbomeca or allied-signal is sure.
An uprated 3 shakti system is what I have been asking for a long long time. It will be able to offer a 10.5 to 12 ton system quite easily.
An uprated shakti and new gear box will also allow both ALH and LAH to carry more weapons and armor. LUH will also be a different beast altogether.
That's what we need.
Or alternatively work the rtm322-Indian into a 2 engined and a 3 engined Medium and heavy weight program. That way shakti covers single and dual engined helicopters and rtm322 covers the medium and heavy weight options.
Last edited by Cybaru on 09 Jul 2010 23:02, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Russia to help modernize Indian Saras jets
Interfax-AVN
Interfax-AVN
The Indian Saras light transport aircraft will be upgraded at the Myasishchev Experimental Machine Building Plant in Moscow, a defense industry source told Interfax-AVN.
“A framework contract was signed last September to upgrade and certify the Saras plane and to develop plane modifications in 2010-2011,” he said.
India built two Saras planes and one of them crashed during a test flight. The second plane will be modernized with Russian help, he said.
“Saras test flights will start at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year,” he said.
-
- BRFite
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: 09 Oct 2009 17:36
- Location: Behind Enemy Lines
Re: Indian Military Aviation
Well look on the bright side, even if the plane would be outdated with 80's technolgy at least SARAS will be RUGGEDIZED!!! Knowing Russikies fascination with rough landing and take off's definately a good move by India! Hopefully they can learn a lot from this, and go on to build their 70/90/110 seater turbo prop and turbofan planes!!! (hope they make maximum use of advance composites)