Aerospace Diary

ROTORHUB 22nd September 2015 - 18:12 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  India has cleared the procurement of 22  AH-64E Apache  attack helicopters and 15  CH-47F Chinook heavy lifters for the Indian Air Force.  The country’s Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) approved the deal on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to the US on 24 September and a contract is expected to be signed by November.  In June, India and the US signed a strategic ten-year defence framework pact envisaging joint development and manufacture of defence equipment and technology, including jet engines, and aircraft carrier design and construction. The $1.4 billion AH-64E proposal for India includes both a direct commercial sale (DCS) and a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) component. The FMS contract includes 50 In 2013, Boeing signed a MoU with..............Bangalore-based Dynamatic Technologies to manufacture aft pylon and .......Read more of Sh...

by  Neelam Mathews  - September 22, 2015, 8:47 AM Even as India’s airlines remain undecided on the adoption of Gagan, the country’s indigenous  GPS  Waas-like system, the general aviation industry is likely to embrace the system once modalities on validation and certification are sorted out. To address these issues, the Airports Authority of India ( AAI ), general aviation aircraft  OEM s and members of India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association ( BAOA ) held an initial meeting last week in New Delhi. An independent directorate within  AAI  for communication, navigation and surveillance ( CNS ) is being proposed to ensure Gagan be given “a focus and priority.”  AAI  is currently developing procedures for 63 medium and small airports to make them Gagan-enabled. “The business aviation industry will find this useful given that the new civil aviation policy focuses on regional and remote connectivity,” said...

LAND WARFARE India’s medium tank won’t clash with Arjun 27th August 2015 - 9:00 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  The Indian defence minister, Manhoar Parrikar, has stated that Indian Army requirements for a medium tank are not in conflict with the  Arjun  Main Battle Tank (MBT). He said on 4 August that the need for 2,545  FRCV medium tanks  are to meet futuristic requirements beyond 2027 and won’t affect orders for Arjun. Meanwhile, Shephard has learned that the date for submission for the Army’s Request for Information (RFI) for the FRCV design has been extended to 30 August. This is because industry was finding it difficult to respond to the initial six week deadline. According to the RFI, ‘the FRCV will form the base platform for the MBT which is planned to replace the existing T-72 tanks in the Armoured Corps.’ While the skimpy six-page RFI has been criticized on its sketchy details an official said that it is ‘just an attempt ...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 8, 2015, 11:33 AM This Ka-226T was displayed at the recent MAKS airshow in Moscow. India will acquire 200 in the country’s first major private helicopter venture (photo: Vladimir Karnozov) The inter-government deal between Russia and its client India for procurement of 40 locally-assembled flyaway and 160 locally-manufactured Kamov Ka-226T helicopters is gaining steam. India's Reliance Defence Ltd took possession last month of 86 acres to set up its helicopter assembly and components manufacturing facility at the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub at Nagpur Airport in Maharashtra state. The Indian government’s decision not to give this large order to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) is to ensure “all the eggs are not in one basket,” said an Indian defense ministry official. The contract is expected to be signed at the annual Russia-India summit meeting in December. Outline agreement  was reached at the last sum...