Aerospace Diary

Posted by- Neelam Mathews         Monday, December 9, 2013 Add caption During the last three years and current year, 35 aircraft/helicopters including 3 MiG-29 aircraft of Indian Air Force have crashed as below: 2010-2011                   -           12 2011-2012                   -           13 (01 MiG-29) 2012-2013                   -           06 2013-2014                   -         ...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  DECEMBER 14, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Negotiations for the sale of 126 Rafale combat aircraft to India have run into obstacles related to offsets and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). (Photo: Dassault Aviation) December 14, 2012, 12:40 PM More than 10 months after India chose the French Rafale  to meet its $15 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ) requirement , contract negotiations are mired in issues related to offsets, the transfer of technology and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ). The Press Trust of India quoted industry sources as saying that Dassault has requested from the Indian Ministry of Defence the freedom to decide the proportion of work to be done by  HAL , versus private Indian companies. Last February, Dassault signed an MoU with Reliance Industry, India’s largest private-sector company, for collaboration in manufacturing. At a French pa...

AK Antony defense minister in parliament today Neelam Mathews March 19, 2012 On Basic Trainers and AJTs Following the grounding of HPT-32 aircraft due to flight safety concerns and shifting of basic flying training to Kiran Mk-I/IA aircraft, the syllabus for basic flying training has been reduced, keeping the available resources in mind. However, flying hours have been increased in other stages of flying to ensure wholesome training, said AK Antony defense minister in parliament today. “A proposal is being progressed for the procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland….….The delivery of the basic trainer aircraft from M/s Pilatus Aircraft Limited, Switzerland is scheduled to commence 15 months from signing of the contract. “There has been no delay in acquiring Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). The Hawk-132 Advanced Jet Trainer has been selected for the Indian Air Force. A total of 106 Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft are being inducted into the In...

Neelam Mathews May 10, 2011 Time: 9:pm IST Even as the MoD extended the validity of its Request for Proposal by two months –upto June 28- for 155 mm. towed artillery guns, BAE Systems has reconfirmed it will not participate in the RFP for the 1580 guns. BAE Systems says it has not reconsidered its position on the FH77 B05 howitzer towed 155 mm gun and contrary to a news report, the company denies having held a strategic meeting last week in Delhi, or anywhere else, to reconsider the decision.  "The decision not to bid for this program been made. That decision is not under review," says Guy Douglas, spokesman of BAE Systems to Aerospace Diary. Not many bidders are left in the fray with many blacklisted including Singapore Technology Kinetics (STK); Denel,  Soltam and Rheinmetall. Russia's Rosoboron is believed to have decided not to participate. Interestingly, Israel’s Elbit that bought over Soltam is participating alongwith Bharat Forge, Nexter alongwith Lar...