International Aerospace Discussion

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 24 Nov 2013 04:56

Mig-29 airstrike in Syria on "rebels".

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 24 Nov 2013 05:04

Helicopter shoot-down by "rebels" in Syria (by Russian made Ilga SAM?)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Nov 2013 12:15

Russian heart for a US rocket

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 25 Nov 2013 11:04

A very interesting article:

Which way to space?

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 26 Nov 2013 01:53

How cool is the airplane of the future?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Nov 2013 18:22

http://rbth.ru/science_and_tech/2013/11 ... 31847.html

Will the PAK DA outstrip the American B-2?
November 19, 2013 Andrei Kislyakov, special to RBTH
Experts suggest Russia’s new, advanced long-range aviation complex won’t be as similar as predicted to the American stealth bomber.

Related

Work on PAK DA will be intensified - head of United Aircraft Corporation
State unmanned aircraft corporation may appear in Russia - source
Drones are the future of warfare

Will the PAK DA outstrip the American B-2?
The PAK DA will be equipped with all the precision weapons currently being developed, including hypersonic weapons, according to rocket producers. Source: www.tsagi.ru

The Russian armed forces continue to update their strategic arms. Next in line is the development and production of a new Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex (the PAK DA). Experts suggest that there may be nothing new in this project, and that it would become a copy of the American B-2 ‘stealth’ bomber.

But is that really the case?

According to reports in the Russian media the Tupolev aircraft production company will begin development work on a strategic bomber, which is due to replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 aircraft currently in service. It is suggested that the airframe of this aircraft will resemble a ‘flying wing,’ and that it would be subsonic and fitted with a system to reduce its radar target signature.

Drones are the future of warfare

Army General Valeriy Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, announced in the summer that development work on the PAK DA to replace the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers will begin in 2014. Along with this plan, the series production of the aircraft itself will begin in 2020.

An official representative of the Ministry of Defense then announced that the PAK DA would be equipped with all the precision weapons currently being developed, including hypersonic weapons.

Boris Obnosov, the General Director of Tekhnicheskoe Raketnoe Vooruzhenie, announced that a hypersonic missile for the new bomber “has already been produced, but flies for only a few seconds.” Series production of the missile itself is to begin in 2020.

Nevertheless the military wanted to make this a subsonic aircraft. Why was this decision made? Taking everything into consideration, all this relates to the aircraft’s future role in combat. It could either be a fairly compact, stealthy missile carrying aircraft, or a hypersonic aircraft with the potential to penetrate existing air defense systems by virtue of its speed.
Russian aviation
More about Russian aviation

However the appropriate technical solutions, which permit development of a relatively large stealth bomber able to fly at hypersonic speeds do not yet exist. A small, subsonic stealth aircraft, which can operate from medium sized airfields with the potential to carry hypersonic missiles, is able to patrol the launch area over long periods and strike the target with high-speed weaponry at very short notice. This was the reason the Americans chose not to use the B-1 supersonic bomber for this role in favor of the B-2.

How similar though are the PAK DA and the B-2? From a scientific-technical point of view ‘copying’ a similar aircraft is no more than an observation of the laws of aerodynamics and other fundamental laws, which define the operability of aviation and space technology.

When designers are faced with identical or similar tasks, their solution will follow more or less the same methodology. However, a huge number of differences lurk behind the external similarities, which define the level of sophistication of one combat system over another. As experience has shown, few would deny that the Tu-144 and ‘Concorde’ are alike. The aerodynamic configuration of the F-15 is similar to that of the Su-27, but the Russian designers—even though they started work a little later—produced an undeniably more successful aircraft from the point of view of the airframe.

U.S. cancels plans to buy Russian helicopters for Afghanistan

This being the case it is remarkable that the Americans owe a great deal to the Soviet scientist Pyotr Ufimtsev for actively introducing stealth technology into their own fighter-bomber aircraft.

In 1975 the Advanced Development Projects department of the Lockheed corporation received a translation of an article by Ufimtsev, in which he proposed a method that could be used to calculate the reflection of a radar beam from a two-dimensional body. This algorithm opened the way to developing an aircraft invisible on radar screens. It could be said that at that moment the history of stealth aircraft began. Later one of the authors of ‘invisible’ aircraft Alan Brown who led the U.S. Air Force’s first stealth program Senior Trend, which began in 1978 admitted that Ufimtsev’s contribution to creating a computer program for stealth technology could be estimated at between 30 percent to

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 01 Dec 2013 18:06

Philip wrote:http://rbth.ru/science_and_tech/2013/11 ... 31847.html

Will the PAK DA outstrip the American B-2?
November 19, 2013 Andrei Kislyakov, special to RBTH
Experts suggest Russia’s new, advanced long-range aviation complex won’t be as similar as predicted to the American stealth bomber.

Related

Work on PAK DA will be intensified - head of United Aircraft Corporation
State unmanned aircraft corporation may appear in Russia - source
Drones are the future of warfare

Will the PAK DA outstrip the American B-2?
The PAK DA will be equipped with all the precision weapons currently being developed, including hypersonic weapons, according to rocket producers. Source: http://www.tsagi.ru

The Russian armed forces continue to update their strategic arms. Next in line is the development and production of a new Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex (the PAK DA). Experts suggest that there may be nothing new in this project, and that it would become a copy of the American B-2 ‘stealth’ bomber.

But is that really the case?

According to reports in the Russian media the Tupolev aircraft production company will begin development work on a strategic bomber, which is due to replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 aircraft currently in service. It is suggested that the airframe of this aircraft will resemble a ‘flying wing,’ and that it would be subsonic and fitted with a system to reduce its radar target signature.

Drones are the future of warfare

Army General Valeriy Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, announced in the summer that development work on the PAK DA to replace the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers will begin in 2014. Along with this plan, the series production of the aircraft itself will begin in 2020.

An official representative of the Ministry of Defense then announced that the PAK DA would be equipped with all the precision weapons currently being developed, including hypersonic weapons.

Boris Obnosov, the General Director of Tekhnicheskoe Raketnoe Vooruzhenie, announced that a hypersonic missile for the new bomber “has already been produced, but flies for only a few seconds.” Series production of the missile itself is to begin in 2020.

Nevertheless the military wanted to make this a subsonic aircraft. Why was this decision made? Taking everything into consideration, all this relates to the aircraft’s future role in combat. It could either be a fairly compact, stealthy missile carrying aircraft, or a hypersonic aircraft with the potential to penetrate existing air defense systems by virtue of its speed.
Russian aviation
More about Russian aviation

However the appropriate technical solutions, which permit development of a relatively large stealth bomber able to fly at hypersonic speeds do not yet exist. A small, subsonic stealth aircraft, which can operate from medium sized airfields with the potential to carry hypersonic missiles, is able to patrol the launch area over long periods and strike the target with high-speed weaponry at very short notice. This was the reason the Americans chose not to use the B-1 supersonic bomber for this role in favor of the B-2.

How similar though are the PAK DA and the B-2? From a scientific-technical point of view ‘copying’ a similar aircraft is no more than an observation of the laws of aerodynamics and other fundamental laws, which define the operability of aviation and space technology.

When designers are faced with identical or similar tasks, their solution will follow more or less the same methodology. However, a huge number of differences lurk behind the external similarities, which define the level of sophistication of one combat system over another. As experience has shown, few would deny that the Tu-144 and ‘Concorde’ are alike. The aerodynamic configuration of the F-15 is similar to that of the Su-27, but the Russian designers—even though they started work a little later—produced an undeniably more successful aircraft from the point of view of the airframe.

U.S. cancels plans to buy Russian helicopters for Afghanistan

This being the case it is remarkable that the Americans owe a great deal to the Soviet scientist Pyotr Ufimtsev for actively introducing stealth technology into their own fighter-bomber aircraft.

In 1975 the Advanced Development Projects department of the Lockheed corporation received a translation of an article by Ufimtsev, in which he proposed a method that could be used to calculate the reflection of a radar beam from a two-dimensional body. This algorithm opened the way to developing an aircraft invisible on radar screens. It could be said that at that moment the history of stealth aircraft began. Later one of the authors of ‘invisible’ aircraft Alan Brown who led the U.S. Air Force’s first stealth program Senior Trend, which began in 1978 admitted that Ufimtsev’s contribution to creating a computer program for stealth technology could be estimated at between 30 percent to

Stealth technology goes back to Jack Northrop for the US and the Horten brothers for the Nazis in the late thirties and early forties. The CIA picked it up again in 1958.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stealth_technology

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 01 Dec 2013 20:32

While effort to reduce RCS was always tried at in the past but Soviet physicist Pyotr Ufimtsev theoretical work has been key to achieve breakthrough in stealth technology is full credit to him and that Americans were able to convert the theoretical work into engineering model is credit to Americans.

http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB443/

In addition to documents on F-117 operations, a number of documents focus on the development of stealth capability. One of those (Document 10), is the mathematical analysis by Russian physicist and engineer P. Ya. Ufimtsev that former Lockheed Skunk Works director Ben Rich called "the Rosetta Stone breakthrough for stealth technology."

member_23694 · Post by **member_23694** » 01 Dec 2013 22:56

Live: China launches Chang'e-3 lunar probe successfully

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/202936/8471536.html

Honestly the live launch video was much more spectacular compared to live ISRO launches. Even the probes main motor start was
also visible live. Can we too have something similar

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 04 Dec 2013 00:34

Amazon.com (Blue Origin) tests its new rocket engine. The first new American rocket engine in more than a decade:

http://spaceref.biz/2013/12/blue-origin ... ngine.html

There is nice video of its test on a test stand on the owner's, Jeff Bezos, ranch in west Texas. This is very unusual for Jeff to show stuff like this.
So far he has been fairly secretive about Blue Origin and not releasing much information. I do know that he has been testing his engine at NASA's Stennis Space facility in southern Mississippi but never gave any info about it until now.

Jeff is also in a bidding war with SpaceX over rights to an old shuttle launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.

Jeff also wants to deliver packages by helicopter drone to people's front yards for their Amazon purchases. So far the government is resisting giving permission for safety reasons. I hope he gets it.

PratikDas · Post by **PratikDas** » 04 Dec 2013 02:32

Regarding the commercial delivery of purchases to people's homes by drones, the credit for the first headlines in mainstream media belongs to Zookal in Australia, not my mate Jeff.

October 15, 2013: Zookal will deliver textbooks using drones in Australia next year

CNN covering the same on 18 October and then updating the article on 7 November: Zookal will deliver textbooks using drones in Australia next year

CNN also wrote in relation to the Amazon announcement:

And in Australia, Zookal, a textbook company, is already using drones for deliveries.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 04 Dec 2013 03:35

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Dec 2013 10:49

Modernised Il-76-MD90A completes initial flight tests

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 07 Dec 2013 05:14

Presenting the new RQ-180
Another Link

Aviation Week reports that this is currently undergoing flight tests.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 08 Dec 2013 01:00

listen to this
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3 ... 312061.mp3

dhiraj wrote:Live: China launches Chang'e-3 lunar probe successfully

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/202936/8471536.html

Honestly the live launch video was much more spectacular compared to live ISRO launches. Even the probes main motor start was
also visible live. Can we too have something similar

+10008.

fantastic camera positions and feedback

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 09 Dec 2013 09:58

Interesting that ATK Defense has modified Jordan's 2 CASA CN-235 transports into gunships..wasn't aware of this before..

ATK completes first flight of its light gunship for Jordan

..
In collaboration with KADDB, ATK developed and provided the system integration and aircraft modifications to turn a CASA-235 cargo plane into a multi-mission gunship. These modifications include installation of an electro-optical targeting systems, a laser designator, aircraft self-protection equipment, a synthetic aperture radar, and an armaments capability that can provide sustained and precise firepower in a variety of scenarios using Hellfire laser-guided missiles, 2.75-inch rockets, and a side-mounted M230 link-fed 30mm chain gun. The gun is automatically aligned to the target, cued by a camera in conjunction with the mission management and fire control solution. These capabilities are integrated with and controlled by ATK's Mission System, which provides both day and night reconnaissance and fire control capabilities, and the ability to acquire, monitor and track items of interest.

The gunship capability package is part of ATK's Special Mission Aircraft product portfolio, which provides affordable, responsive and advanced capabilities to customer-preferred platforms. ATK's expertise includes outfitting various aircraft – including the Alenia C-27J, CASA CN-235/295, Lockheed C-130, Bombardier Dash-8, Hawker Beechcraft King Air, Cessna Caravan and others – with integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and weapons employment capabilities.

..

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 09 Dec 2013 10:30

Boeing and Saab team up on T-X competition. Agreement covers a new design, development, production, support, sales and marketing of a new clean sheet design.

link to article

WASHINGTON — Boeing and Saab are teaming on a new design for the US Air Force’s trainer competition, the companies announced Friday.

The move creates a fourth entrant in the highly sought contract to replace the Air Force’s fleet of T-38 trainers. The service intends to purchase 350 new trainers, likely pushing the contract award into the billions of dollars.

Boeing will be the prime on the contract, while Saab will act as “primary partner.” The agreement covers design, development, production, support, sales and marketing of the new aircraft.
..
While the duo plans to offer a “clean-sheet” design, it would likely draw upon Saab’s years of engineering with the compact Gripen fighter airframe.

Both companies stand to benefit from the agreement.

For Saab, the announcement is proof of further incursion into the US. In October, the company consolidated its defense holdings, a move Saab Defense and Security USA CEO Lars Borgwing said was designed to grow their American market.

The deal also provides a potential new market for Boeing, as the trainer could be marketed globally with Saab’s assistance. More importantly, it provides the American aerospace giant with a new design without the financial risk of going it alone.

The duo joins a crowded field fighting for the right to train America’s next generation of Air Force fighter pilots. Other competitors include the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System, a joint program of BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, L-3 Link Simulation & Training and Rolls-Royce; Lockheed Martin’s offering of the Korean Aerospace Industries T-50; and the T-100, a collaboration between General Dynamics and Italy’s Alenia Aermacchi.

While the competitors are lining up, it remains unclear when the trainer competition may actually move forward.

The Air Force is targeting a request for proposals on its next trainer by fiscal 2016, with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh telling a May 8 Senate hearing that his office is looking at initial operational capability (IOC) in “fiscal year 2023 or 2024,” delayed from the previously announced 2020 IOC date.

That date may even end up optimistic. Acting Air Force Secretary Eric Fanning told a crowd in November that there is “little money” for new-start programs due to sequestration, and while Welsh has identified a new trainer as a “top five” priority, it is not one of the programs expected to be protected under the sequestered budget.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 10 Dec 2013 14:11

Boeing faces a March decision on whether to continue the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Growler assembly line or shut it down for a lack of orders.

AviationWeek article

F/A-18 E/F manufacturer Boeing has until roughly March to decide whether to put its own funding toward continuing production of the Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft without further U.S. Navy orders, says Mike Gibbons, the company’s Super Hornet vice president.

The last Super Hornet/Growlers on order are expected to roll off the production line in 2016; the supply chain has a roughly two-year cycle.

Though interested in considering more buys, the Navy thus far has been noncommittal. Company officials are hoping to see an indication in the fiscal year 2015 budget, expected to go to Congress in February, to avoid wasting company funds on the St. Louis production line.

“Boeing financially has the ability to keep this line going,” Gibbons told reporters following a Dec. 9 ceremony here celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Hornet, Super Hornet and Growler aircraft.

Boeing is currently producing 48 of the aircraft annually, with its portion at a flyaway cost of $37 million, Gibbons says. This excludes the price of two General Electric engines and electric warfare systems, both of which are government-furnished equipment. The total flyaway cost for a Super Hornet is roughly $50 million, he says. The Growler, which includes jammers and specialized avionics, costs about $9 million more per jet, he adds. The fiscal year 2014 budget request, yet to be enacted by Congress, requests enough aircraft to reduce that rate to 36 annually.

Boeing is responsible for roughly 80% of the cost of the Super Hornet and Growler.

Gibbons says the company has already studied how to further decrease production to 24 annually at a minimum rate while maintaining roughly the same price point. The program garnered lessons from the C-17, which reduced its production rate without increasing unit cost as demand decreased. That production line, located in Long Beach, Calif., will close in 2015.

There is still international interest among Malaysia, Denmark, Brazil, Canada, Kuwait and other, unnamed Middle Eastern countries. However, a decision from these possible customers is not expected in the near term.

The Navy has taken delivery of 490 of 563 planned Super Hornets and 90 of 135 planned Growlers, says Capt. Frank Morley, program director for the Navy, speaking at the anniversary ceremony. Noting Australia’s decision to buy another 12 Super Hornets on top of the 24 already ordered by Canberra as a gapfiller until the rival Lockheed Martin F-35 is ready, he said, “Hornet/Growler continues to be the no-drama option.”

The Navy is planning to declare initial operational capability for the F-35 in February 2019.

Meanwhile, the service is considering a purchase of conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) — part of Boeing’s “Advanced Super Hornet” menu of upgrade options — as a retrofit capability for a portion of its fleet. They have “certainly got our interest,” Morley said. He did not cite a potential timeline for purchase or an amount needed to initiate the buy.

..

$57 million fly-away costs for the Super Hornet for the USN..and $66 million for an EA-18G Growler..very competitive prices, truly.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 12 Dec 2013 10:02

Rhino..built strong!

FlightGlobal article

...
The navy notes it has decided to extend the service life of its F/A-18s to up to 9,900h, and fly the aircraft until at least 2030 or 2035. The aircraft's original design life was 6,000h.

In addition, the service is considering upgrading the fighters with conformal fuel tanks, which could boost fuel capacity by almost 1,600kg (3,500lb).

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 12 Dec 2013 10:07

Royal Australian Navy accepts first 2 MH-60R Romeos

Frontrunner for the IN's MRH competition.

Australia accepts first MH-60R helicopters

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 12 Dec 2013 10:09

Russia considers funding for a new Light Fighter to replace the MiG-29

Russia considers funding MiG-29 successor

Russia is to build a new lightweight fighter, deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin told parliamentary deputies on 11 December.

“There already is the task in our rearmament programme of creating a future light fighter, and it will be built,” Rogozin said in response to a question from a Duma deputy. “Light fighters are always in demand from the point of view of export potential. Look at the [RAC] MiG-29, for example; it outperforms heavy fighters.”
..
RAC MiG has not had a clear designated successor for the MiG-29 since the demise of the twin-engined Article 1.44 demonstrator in the 1990s. It revived the concept for such a light tactical fighter with initial interest from India around 2001, but New Delhi later opted for the developmental T-50.

Previous Russian air force commanders have referred to a single-engined light fighter sharing the same engine, radar and weapons as the T-50.

RAC MiG is likely to be out of production work once a current batch of MiG-29K naval fighters is completed for the Russian navy. The first four have already been delivered.
..

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 12 Dec 2013 10:49

^^ Likely they would make a single engine fighter based on PAK-FA engine part of LMFS program.

LMFS purchase is documented in RuAF 2021-2025 program as part of Purchase of Frontline Aircraft

http://www.aviaport.ru/news/2013/05/14/254804.html

srai · Post by **srai** » 12 Dec 2013 11:41

Kartik wrote:Russia considers funding for a new Light Fighter to replace the MiG-29

Russia considers funding MiG-29 successor

Russia is to build a new lightweight fighter, deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin told parliamentary deputies on 11 December.

“There already is the task in our rearmament programme of creating a future light fighter, and it will be built,” Rogozin said in response to a question from a Duma deputy. “Light fighters are always in demand from the point of view of export potential. Look at the [RAC] MiG-29, for example; it outperforms heavy fighters.”
..
RAC MiG has not had a clear designated successor for the MiG-29 since the demise of the twin-engined Article 1.44 demonstrator in the 1990s. It revived the concept for such a light tactical fighter with initial interest from India around 2001, but New Delhi later opted for the developmental T-50.

Previous Russian air force commanders have referred to a single-engined light fighter sharing the same engine, radar and weapons as the T-50.

RAC MiG is likely to be out of production work once a current batch of MiG-29K naval fighters is completed for the Russian navy. The first four have already been delivered.
..

Russians don't have the funds to do R&D of a new type anytime soon. Even to do T-50/PAK/FA, Russians needed India to foot half the development cost.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 12 Dec 2013 14:04

^^ They are spending $650 billion in defence budget till 2020 so funding is not an issue any more atleast far better compared to past 2 decades and just because they are developing FGFA does not mean they dont have fund just it makes the unit cost cheaper same goes for India. By that logic all the co-development project globally are done because there is no funds

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 12 Dec 2013 15:27

KAI notches up another export of the FA-50, with Iraq signing a $1.1 billion order for 24 FA-50s..these were markets that could have been tapped by the Tejas had it not been delayed.

Iraq signs deal with S.Korea for 24 FA-50s

BAGHDAD, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean aircraft maker Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a US$1.1 billion deal Thursday to export 24 FA-50 light attackers to Iraq, paving the way for tapping into the Middle East's arms market.

The FA-50 is a light attack variant of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer that was co-developed by KAI and U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin, which was designed to replace F-5 class aircraft operated by the South Korean Air Force.

The Iraqi version of the FA-50, named the T-50 IQ, is armed with air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles and machine guns, as well as precision-guided bombs, such as joint direct-attack munitions and censure-fused weapons.

In addition, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and KAI Chairman Ha Sung-yong agreed to sign a $1 billion contract later for support equipment and training over the next 20 years, a deal whose combined value would mark the largest ever arms export for South Korea.

"South Korea's aerospace industry has shown its competitiveness in the world market and its export potential," Ha told reporters after his meeting with the Iraqi premier at his office. "We will make utmost efforts to support Iraq to help it operate the aircraft without difficulties."

The FA-50 beat the Hawk-128 by British defense contractor BAE Systems, the Yak-130 by Yakovlev of Russia, and the L-159 by Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic.

The deal comes after Iraq last year signed a new contract to buy its second set of 18 F-16 fighters from Lockeed Martin, part of a deal to purchase 36 of the jets to rebuild its air force.

With the delivery scheduled between 2015 and 2016, the Iraqi air force aims to use the Korean-made aircraft to train its pilots and conduct light attack missions, KAI said.

While KAI has sold T-50 variants to Indonesia, Turkey and Peru, the sales of the FA-50 marks the first time for South Korea to export the light attack fighter overseas. ????? (when did Turkey and Peru sign up for the T-50?)

In October, the Philippine government signed a memorandum of understanding for 12 FA-50 fighters worth $450 million. While a final contract was expected within this year, it has been delayed, as the Southeast Asian nation is grappling with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

The deal in the Middle East is expected to pave the way for KAI tap into the in the lower-end fighter market, company officials said, as they seek to expand the global outreach beyond Southeast Asia, Europe and South America.

The South Korean aircraft maker is seeking to export T-50 family jets to the Philippines, Peru and Botswana, while eyeing on U.S. Air Force's T-38 replacement program next year.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 12 Dec 2013 15:39

Leo.Davidson wrote:I don't believe it is lack of trying, it is failing to failure to replicate success. What we are seeing is that Indian engineers are able to create or innovate based on the vast amount of freeware knowledge available. Where they are failing is the ability to build on what they've created, to sustain their effort. You can see it quite clearly in the HAL Marut, Deepak, INSAS, etc; unable to sustain and progress the technology at hand.
Future failures that we can expect are LCA, Dhruv, Arjun and the list can go on.
I honestly believe this is due to incompetence and regional bias.

man, your data is out of whack. ergo wrong conclusions.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 12 Dec 2013 22:08

U.S. seeks spy edge with stealth drone

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 13 Dec 2013 09:31

Another article on the T-50IQ sale to Iraq by South Korea..this trainer/fighter is doing quite well, with likely orders from Philippines and Chile.

Iraqi AF orders KAI T-50 for $1.1 billion with additional $1 billion support contract

..
The first aircraft will be delivered in April 2016, with all 24 to be transferred within a 12-month period. The deal also covers training for Iraqi pilots, while KAI will provide follow-on support for the fleet for 20 years, bringing the entire value of the contract to over $2 billion.

Iraq will use the designation T-50IQ for its aircraft. A source close to the deal, however, says the T-50IQ will actually be based on the most advanced version of the T-50, the FA-50, which can serve both as an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.

The FA-50 now being delivered to South Korea’s air force (below) is equipped with the Link 16 tactical data link, as well as a mechanically scanned array radar, radar warning receiver and a night vision imaging system. It is capable of carrying 4,500kg (9,910lb) of weapons, has a 20mm cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles. All T-50 variants are powered by the General Electric F404 engine.

..

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 13 Dec 2013 10:54

Russia must buy the LCA!!!!

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 13 Dec 2013 12:54

Austin wrote:^^ Likely they would make a single engine fighter based on PAK-FA engine part of LMFS program.

LMFS purchase is documented in RuAF 2021-2025 program as part of Purchase of Frontline Aircraft

http://www.aviaport.ru/news/2013/05/14/254804.html

India should look at the engine as a valid alternative for LCA engine.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 15 Dec 2013 10:56

'India to become 3rd largest aviation market in world by 2020'

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 15 Dec 2013 12:18

/Russians don't have the funds to do R&D of a new type anytime soon. Even to do T-50/PAK/FA, Russians needed India to foot half the development cost.

I think the Russians do the math for the entire cycle, then get India interested, get her hooked and get India to fund the entire program. It is not that they cannot fund, it is they have found a way to cheaply fund.

FGFA is one project I would like to follow. The IL-476 was another fiasco they wanted India to part monies with and have failed do far, let us see where that goes - they bettter fund it completely for it to fly. MTA? Does not seem very appetizing to me, but may fly. Hopefully India gets the knowledge transfer she seeks in such projects.

I would like to dump the FGFA, it is not worth it for that kind of money. Pour those funds into the AMCA and lca.

Also Russia has got a lot more cushy with Chicom. That is a bad sign although it is their prerogative.

On the billions they claim they want to spend so be it. Let them. India should shake their hands, wish them luck and move on. No time to spend on them.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 15 Dec 2013 20:07

In a partnership between independent countries, there could be issues but there could be ways to solve also.

Americans hired German engineers post WW2 so what did Germany get from that. That would invite much harsher critique perhaps. Or for that matter ignoring paki terror blackmail under nuclear umbrella by USA.

GeorgeWelch · Post by **GeorgeWelch** » 16 Dec 2013 23:42

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2013 ... /312150010

France will lose out in its bid to win a multi-billion-dollar fighter jet contract with Brazil, the Folha de Sao Paulo daily reported Saturday.

. . .

will be shot down for cost reason. It did not say who would be the likely winner of the highly prized contract.

. . .

Folha predicted a final decision would not come before 2015.

On one hand it's interesting that the Rafale is being eliminated on cost grounds, on the other, it's interesting that they can claim a plane has been eliminated when the final decision is over a year away.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 17 Dec 2013 19:36

TSJones, your story verbatim:

Mansfield, Ohio, air base’s fate reflects a larger battle between active duty, Guard

On second thought India should have offered to resolve some issues here by buying some of these birds - both the C-130s and the C-27s. Win-win. And, hopefully some goodwill too.

Some stats for teh record:

C-27

• Payload: 25,353 pounds
• Wingpsan: 94 feet, 2 inches
• Maximum passenger load: 60 troops
• According to the Ohio National Guard, it costs $2,100 an hour to fly the C-27J. Gen. Norton Schwartz, then Air Force chief of staff, told a Senate committee in 2012 that it cost $9,000 an hour

C-130

• Payload: 42,000 pounds
• Wingpsan: 132 feet, 7 inches
• Maximum passenger load: 92 troops
• Costs about $10,000 an hour to operate, depending on model. {Not cheap}

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 17 Dec 2013 22:38

Dec 16, 2013 :: Pace Of Russian Rearmament Quickens

AWST out of all the publications:

A massive modernization push is imminent for Russian aerospace defense: The air force alone could receive 4.5 trillion rubles ($136 billion) over 10 years, about one-quarter of the overall drive to upgrade Russia's Soviet-era weaponry.

So, that is around $13.6 billion a year.

The list includes accelerating replacement of old aircraft in the air force fleet. Putin has announced that the military will have received 86 new and, modernized fixed-wing aircraft and more than 100 new helicopters this year, and will take delivery of up to 120 fixed-wing aircraft and 90 helicopters in 2014. In 2011 and 2012, just 263 new aircraft were delivered to the military units.

By 2020, the air force aims to have a total of 1,600 new aircraft, renewing about 70% of its fleet.

Torrid clip. 86 planes in a year.

A lot more info in the article.

Defense experts are quite skeptical of the rearmament program's feasibility, however. “Even if the program is properly financed, it is unlikely to be fully implemented, as the required modernization of defense industry facilities and the respective regulatory environment lag behind,” says Konstantin Makienko, deputy director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow-based defense think tank.

GeorgeWelch · Post by **GeorgeWelch** » 19 Dec 2013 01:59

from post on airliners.net

From Swedish media:

"Media in Brazil indicate that the country has decided to buy Saab's Jas Gripen fighter aircraft. News about Brazil's decision is rendered by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo's online.

The announcement comes as the Brazilian newspaper that officially announced at a press conference 5 pm local time, at 20 GMT, by defense minister Celso Amorim and Air Force Commander Juniti Saito.

According to the editors, who claims to Istoé Independente have received acknowledgements from military and diplomatic sources, it will initially involve a purchase of 12 Gripen planes. According to the previous data is the order for 36 Gripen planes."

confirmed here:

http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/gov ... 0RCRD.html

10.5 Billion Brazilian Real (about 4.5 Billion USD) for the entire deal of 36 aircraft,

quite a change from 'no decision before 2015, but the choice itself isn't surprising given the need for frugality

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 19 Dec 2013 04:44

There were all indications of SH being selected. But the NSA allegations effectively torpedoed it.

Bet US never thought they will lose multi-billion dollar deals due to their highly intrusive NSA program!

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 19 Dec 2013 05:20

yes, but the boeing deal would have been farmore profitable.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Dec 2013 07:02

we have been hearing about the brazilian deal for ages now....nothing has moved on ground...which is surprising because their economy is doing well last decade and their resources and agri boom has helped. they are hosting a expensive show like fifa world cup. maybe there are rival lobbies in their govt that checkmate each move by the other party.

their procurement makes ours look as decisive and sure as TSPs