International Aerospace Discussion

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 18 Aug 2010 22:04

US Aviators Censured for Crude Nicknames/Callsigns

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 89,00.html

Do Indian aviators have callsigns? If so, like what?

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 19 Aug 2010 04:23

USA: 5-Years, $457M for APR-39 ECM Systems

APR-39B
AN/APR-39B set
(click to view full)

Northrop Grumman Corp. in Rolling Meadows, IL recently received a 5-year $457.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for its APR-39A/B/C Radar Signal Detection Set (RSDS) including upgrade kits; and repair, integration, interim software support and field support. Work is to be performed in Rolling Meadows, IL, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/14. One bid was solicited with one bid received by U.S. Army CECOM at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (W15P7T-10-D-R802).

APR-39s are used on an array of US Army and Navy helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, and serve to warn pilots when they’re targeted by radar. Platforms with the APR-39 range from C-130 and RC-7s, to attack helicopters like the AH-1 and AH-64, to transport rotaries from the MV-22 and CH-47 to MH-60S and even US Presidential helicopters.

The AN/APR-39Av2 is a basic threat warning system, which acts as a control for a survivability suite that includes a laser warning receiver and an infrared missile warner. The AN/APR-39Bv2 also acts as a full electronic warfare management system, serving as the heart of Northrop Grumman’s Suite of Integrated Sensors and Countermeasures (SISCM). Customers can add onboard sensors as SISCM input, or upgrade existing components. It will automatically detect and identify threat type, bearing and danger levels, then alert the crew to each threat with a graphical symbol in the cockpit multifunction display (MFD) or video display, accompanied by synthetic speech audio threat warnings. It also records what it finds for later analysis, if its aircraft returns.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 19 Aug 2010 16:01

Mig-29SMT Walkarounds

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 19 Aug 2010 16:28

Sanjay M wrote: Do Indian aviators have callsigns? If so, like what?

do read the IAF section !
most are twists on their names or surnames. rarely it's due to some other quality ACM 'kicha' Krishnaswamy's was due to his motorbike which sounded like that.

nits · Post by **nits** » 19 Aug 2010 19:11

Sikorsky Breaks Speed Record With X2 Helicopter;But Is It Really a Helicopter?

Sikorsky Aircraft’s quest to produce the world’s fastest helicopter raises one question above all: How fast?

As of Tuesday, the date of the X2 prototype’s most recent flight, the answer was 235 knots, the latest increase in a steady advance toward the avowed goal of 250 knots, or 287 mph. That’s nearly 100 knots faster than conventional modern helicopters’ top speed

Link

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 20 Aug 2010 04:13

Thailand to buy more Gripen fighters

Puea Thai MP Plengmanee Rengsomboon questioned the planned purchase of six Gripen fighter aircraft to add to the six already ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. That should be enough for now, she said.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 21 Aug 2010 22:37

APA: Chengdu J-10

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 22 Aug 2010 19:44

Iran unveils nation's first unmanned bomber

The 4-meter-long drone aircraft can carry up to four cruise missiles and will have a range of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), according to a state TV report

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 22 Aug 2010 21:00

Yay Iran has managed to re-engineer the V-1 flying bomb.

Seriously this thing is not even at the same level as the Tu-300 korshun.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 22 Aug 2010 21:13

Interesting idea, who's making the engines?

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 22 Aug 2010 21:28

hmm it looks like the Lakshya.

Taking all the PR values into account it is still not a bad piece of equipment to have in your arsenal

for a heavily sanctioned country pretty ok job.

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 22 Aug 2010 21:34

and also the Mirach. In fact I would say it resembles the Mirach more than our PTA.

But seriously tom tomming this as somekind of great achievement is exactly what makes the current mullah establishment the butt of jokes.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 22 Aug 2010 22:19

agreed but folks like us need to ignore the theatrics of the mullahs and their lackeys and see what the iranian defence establishment has been able to achieve under tough circumstances.

if this does half the job the mullahs tom tom consistently and cheaply - its good enough and better than the green pain jobs of the idiots across the western border

PS - did you see the video clip - it had some oomph to it (if all true )

VishalJ · Post by **VishalJ** » 23 Aug 2010 00:05

Never thought i'd see this but ► Canadian Mi-17

More from Afghanistan here ✈ http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26496

negi · Post by **negi** » 23 Aug 2010 01:04

That thing has a turbojet engine, it won't be long before we see IRAN come out with an air breathing cruise missile .

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 23 Aug 2010 06:49

I saw a RATO ZLL.

And i saw a centerline pylon with a pretty dumb looking bomb. nothing to suggest that this thing has any particluarly effective onboard target acqusition/ designation.

The chief use for such a craft is probably in the unconventional role. Flies low with WMD maal.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 23 Aug 2010 07:50

they seemed to have a nice little production line going

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0TIqBs ... r_embedded

its funny how they do not seem to need a million tests

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 23 Aug 2010 08:12

yes more like a DIY workshop building Rutan kits. Or if I were less charitable just a paint center for parade props.

I think Iran can be a great nation and one of the few Islamic countries that can compete in the modern world, industrially.

But not while this comic bookish mullah setup rules the country ...

(they are comic bookish, the way they unveiled the drone seemed just like out of a panel in some 70s DC comic)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 23 Aug 2010 08:44

The sucidean Drones looks quite good and considering they carry two small bombs they can be effectively used against ground targets who co-ordinates are known or can be acquired in real time , with GLONASS receiver it will get better.

They have already developed by any standards quality IRBM with MRV capability and this drone is another achievement , they are probably being covertly supported in this development by countries who would like to see Iran remain strong and do maximum damage to US and allies interest in the region probably Russia ( via CIS countries ) and China.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 23 Aug 2010 09:22

This looks like a medium size drone with good fuel capacity consequently good range. ( clicky )

Pics 1
Pics 2

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 23 Aug 2010 10:14

I see no SATCOM receiver on this drone and I don't think it can deliver a PGM. Nor will it have the necessary altitude capability.

Its just a radio controlled ist generation UAV. Hardly anything to go ra ra about.

As far as missiles are concerned they have tested both liquid and solid fuelled MRBMs. But given the new missiles that they keep testing for the same range shows that their next generation missile tech has hardly stabilized.

they still rely on reverse Scuds for the m,ost part.

And the less said about their MRV without any external aerodynamic controls the better.

This is a country which puts welded drums on paraded claiming to be S-300s.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 23 Aug 2010 10:41

These drones are like cruise missile they can hit fixed targets whose co-ordinates are known , they have jacked it up with additional under wing payload , they do not need satcom receiver just a GLONASS/GPS receiver , Do you see any satcom receiver on Tomahawk , Club or Babur ?

Iran BM capability is much more advanced then some Scud upgrade , for MRV they do not need any external aerodynamic control , the RV can be controlled with Reaction Control Jets much like Agni-3 or Shaheen 2 RV.

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 23 Aug 2010 10:49

Given the re-entry altitude for an MRBM jet thrusters are sub-optimal. And I don't think Iran has managed to get this tech in place, Far from it.

and that is precisely why I mentioned the lack of aerodynamic surfaces.

The reason why the Agni-3 RV does away with external controls is because its apogee is much higher than Iran's great new MRBMs.

I am well aware of the guidance packages for any number of LACMs.

We were talking in the context of how this "drone" may DELIVER "munitions". A simple civilian glonass receiver is hardly the solution. Of course one may then talk about Iran has been given access to the mil grade. Still does not count.

As far as the 'suicide" aspect is concerned in an earlier post I stated that its chief delivery role was probably that of WMD maal that do not require any great accuracy.

In any case this is not a 'standard' cruise missile given its obviously significant radar signature.

Its a propaganda drone that's all with hardly any utility beyond ack ack practice.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 23 Aug 2010 12:09

D Roy wrote:Given the re-entry altitude for an MRBM jet thrusters are sub-optimal. And I don't think Iran has managed to get this tech in place, Far from it.

and that is precisely why I mentioned the lack of aerodynamic surfaces.

Again the Lack of Aerodynamic Surfaces is due to use of Steering Rocket Nozzle as is widely known

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_396.shtml

So they do not need any kind of aerodynamic surfaces seen on older missile. There are references about Russian aid to their missile program

Even the 700 km Agni-1 does not have any kind of aerodynamic surfaces on the RV

In any case this is not a 'standard' cruise missile given its obviously significant radar signature.

Its a propaganda drone that's all with hardly any utility beyond ack ack practice.

As long as they can mass produce these drone and have many fixed military/strategic targets within its range , thats good enough to ram this drone on the target.

andy B · Post by **andy B** » 23 Aug 2010 14:27

Austin, Philip for you...

http://ifile.it/zk2u5or/RUSSIAN%20CHOPP ... 0TODAY.zip

Article in the latest AFM on Russian Chopper Aviation today....

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 23 Aug 2010 15:37

andy B wrote:Austin, Philip for you...

http://ifile.it/zk2u5or/RUSSIAN%20CHOPP ... 0TODAY.zip

Article in the latest AFM on Russian Chopper Aviation today....

Thank You , Though I am a subscriber of AFM ,I am just too lazy to scan . Thanks for all the trouble taken for putting this up for all of us.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 23 Aug 2010 20:24

the worlds most sinister manta ray - the avro vulcan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Hxty0s ... re=channel

equipped with modern engines and given some inlet shaping for rcs, those huge wet wings would make it a formidable long range medium bomber.

ravar · Post by **ravar** » 23 Aug 2010 22:53

AFRL reveals Astrox designs for future hypersonic vehicles

Astrox president Ajay Kothari confirms the combined-cycle design concepts - which include several options for a two-stage-to-orbit reusable space vehicle and a rocket-scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle...

Can't India get PIOs/NRIs like Sri Kothari to work for her on such crucial tech a la Amirkhan getting Indians? Maybe the US laws prevent this. IIRC, Khanate got an Indian scientist at IISc to work on advanced algorithms for UAVs/UCAVs (of which he is deemed to be an expert).

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 25 Aug 2010 05:32

Army improving helicopter protective measures

The Army is now crafting an integrated approach to aircraft survivability that combines input from multiple on-board sensors and uses that information to detect, track and defeat incoming enemy fire.

By combining input from a variety of different survivability systems now on-board rotary aircraft into a single system and display screen, the Army can streamline threat information delivery and at the same time reduce the size, weight and power requirements for its aircraft, said Col. John Leaphart, project manager for aircraft survivability equipment.
.....................
The CIRCM system is an improved, lighter-weight version of Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures -- a high-tech laser jammer that is able to thwart guided-missile attacks on helicopters by using an infrared sensor designed to track an approaching missile. The system fires a multiband heat laser to intercept the missile and throw it off course, Leaphart explained.

"Right now pilots are looking at multiple displays and we need to get to a common display," he said. "We are working on wrapping the acquisition strategy around this so that we achieve a gradual migration toward a more integrated approach."

A key example of this move toward integration is a new effort called the Hostile Fire Detection System. The HFDS combines ultraviolet and acoustic sensory input to thwart small arms fire.

"One of the big things we are facing right now in theater is small arms fire, so we are looking at developing this HFDS. We are getting ready to produce a quick reaction capability that involves a piece of software that will go into the processor for CMWS and give it the ability to detect tracer fire and other threats," Leaphart said.

HFDS works off of the UV sensor in the CMWS systems and adds an algorithm into the process which enables it to differentiate tracer fire from a missile launch.

"This is bringing a new capability into an existing system which makes that system more effective against a broader spectrum of threats," he explained.

The next step is to connect the UV sensor to an acoustic sensor so as to better detect multiple sources of incoming fire.

The CMWS has already proven itself in combat.

"The CMWS does reduce the immediate reaction workload of responding to a missile threat," said Chief Warrant Officer Pat Shores, Aviation Branch Tactical Operations Officer; Directorate of Training and Doctrine, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. "This also enables the crew to react faster to destroying the threat on the ground."

Shores said he thinks America's enemies find out too late just how effective system like CMWS actually are.

"Shooting a missile at Army aircraft is a lose-lose situation for them," Shores said. "They have an extremely low probability of a hit, and due to the CMWS and similar systems, they also have a high probability being detected and destroyed after the shot."
...........

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 26 Aug 2010 13:16

More on the UK's secret files on UFOs.Intriguing details.

UFO files: photographs of 'UFO next to RAF jet'
Photographs taken of a UFO hovering next to an RAF jet over Scotland were treated very seriously by military investigators, newly-released Ministry of Defence files showed today

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... F-jet.html

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 29 Aug 2010 21:49

Innovative EADS helicopter design used diesel-electric power to drive main rotors:

It's said to have upto 50% better fuel efficiency than a conventional helicopter.

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 30 Aug 2010 00:15

its about time, here is a scenario, a bridge over an inaccessible terrain is being supported by a hovering heli, then a power cable can be connected to the heli from a truck mounted kaveri based gas turbine generator stationed at one end point of the bridge

maybe we can catch up faster with diesel-electric engines than making a 'Shakti'

nits · Post by **nits** » 30 Aug 2010 12:31

Japan loses spy satellite

Japan's only working radar satellite has malfunctioned and officials say they may not be able to save it.

The intelligence-gathering satellite aimed at North Korea and China started acting up Monday, The Yomiuri Shimbun said Sunday.

Officials at Japan's Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center said the likelihood of the orbiter being saved is "extremely grim." A replacement satellite can't be launched until 2011.

Link

saip · Post by **saip** » 31 Aug 2010 05:07

Iranian fighters

http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/News/Ira ... h/2964/18/

Does the bottom fighter have a midair refueling probe?

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 01 Sep 2010 02:04

Big rocket booster in second test

Hiten · Post by **Hiten** » 01 Sep 2010 16:34

papers presented during a lecture series organised by NATO

Technologies for future precison strike missile systems
http://www.mediafire.com/?g0e1dh1k7735yr7

Sanjay M · Post by **Sanjay M** » 02 Sep 2010 00:45

^^^ Here's the video of the Ares-1 test:

This is the same rocket that was proposed under Bush's Constellation program, but which Obama's whitehouse is now trying to extend without admitting it.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Sep 2010 15:51

Pentagon Bomber Evolution Underway

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Sep 2010 10:53

USAF: Technology Horizons 2010-2030

Download

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Sep 2010 11:40

Pressured Aeroflot Eyes Sukhoi Superjet 100