dorai wrote:Any contact with Dassault at the show that was interesting? Photos of Rafale model ? I wouldn't mind more photos from the different halls if possible...
Check my previous post on the Dassault Rafale - 2 pages before I think.
Anway, coming to the rustom, Thanks a ton for putting up the info rakall... some more info:
1. The engines are specifically 2 Rotax 914 engines frm UK.
2. A 1:2 model of the Rustom has completed control surface tests and low speed taxi trials.
3. The older Rustom-1 (this one is Rustom-H) will be out, and was only meant as a TD.
4. When asked about Weaponized variants, the person at the Stall (and indeed, the ADE director at the Seminar) both skirted the question, which suggests that we are indeed working on the matter... it wasn't a all-out denial, but they tried to wriggle out of answering that directly. I wouldn't be surprised if we are pretty far ahead (given out reqts to take out pigs quietly) - rakall does make that point in his post, but I guess that wasn't meant for publication.
Coming to the Nishant:
The picture of the wheeled nishant was of the actual flyer... this will undergo taxi trials next month. In what points to sheer stupidity, the Army initially asked for a wheeled version (when the project was first mooted), then asked for a launched version (Resulting in redesigns) and now has asked for a wheeled version again... this has definitely exasperated ADE. The director gave a whole list of reasons why the launched version of the small nishant makes better sense for the Army.
Anyway, they aren't even sure about the landing and takeoff run for the wheeled version, but given the prop launch (~70 m/s takeoff speed IIRC), it will not be short, and will need a long semi-prepared runway. The braking also can't be done with a chute due to the pusher config, so they have incorporated an arrestor hook, and will use arrested recovery... they havent decided on any wheel brakes as of now.
UCAV:
Will be the old MCA config - tailless with 3-axis TVC. will fly by 2020. Design studies underway. Will have level 4 autonomy and novel control surfaces. It will be self defending (indicates A2A capable??)
Incidentally, the presentation mentioned that ADE has mastered 3 axis TVC technology.
Will post more info about the LCA, AEW&C also.
And P.S. - the SCAN stands for Scene Correlation and Navigation. The seeker was not new, and was the same seeker, but had a new algorithm block to allow for GPS navigation... for the Block 2 missile. The GPS was supposed to give the missile the order to tip over and attack (like top-attack) the target, but apparently, the satellite blinked (he said that it may not even have been deliberate, but it showed up the problems). Next versions will use GPS + GLONASS, and later the IRNSS also.
no problems with the army order at all, since this was anyway the Block 2 missile and not block 1.
DRDO's Rustam - It's huge.... Clicky for biggie
... or then, maybe not 
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