Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 15, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Russo-Indian cooperation to develop the Brahmos cruise missile will be extended. But integration onto India’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters has been delayed. (Photo: Chris Pocock) November 15, 2013, 12:56 PM The contract between India and Russia to cooperate on the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile expires in February next year but is likely “to be renewed indefinitely by the end of [this] year,” an Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) official, who did not wish to be identified, told  AIN . “We’re partners. It’s not for us to divulge,” Shivathnu Pillai,  CEO  and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, told  AIN . Earlier this year, the Indian Navy tested a highly maneuverable, warship-based version of the Brahmos. The surface-to-surface version has a top speed of Mach 2.8, and 290 km range with  GPS /Glonass mid-course guidance. It is being prep...

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Russia and India have agreed to develop a hypersonic version of the BrahMos missile, which would achieve speeds of Mach 5-7. February 6, 2013, 6:35 AM The integration of the new BrahMos missile on to Sukhoi’s Su- 30MKI  long-range fighter is due to reach a key milestone this year with integration of the weapon on test aircraft, ahead of planned first deliveries to the Indian Air Force ( IAF ) next year. Shivathnu Pillai,  CEO  and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, told  AIN , “We faced many challenges…it has already gone to the Navy and the Army, and the Indian Air Force will get it next year.” Earlier this year, the Indian Navy successfully tested a highly maneuverable version of a sea-based BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. The  IAF  is planning to arm 40 Su- 30MKI  Flanker-H fighters with BrahMos missiles, which a...

IJT Problems Add to Indian Air Force Training Woes AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  OCTOBER 5, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS The first prototype of HAL’s HJT-36 intermediate jet trainer (IJT) crashed on a routine flight, the third loss for the program in four years. (Photo: HAL) October 5, 2012, 11:55 AM The delay in development of India’s intermediate jet trainer ( IJT ) by government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has the Indian Air Force ( IAF ) worried, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K.  Browne told  AIN  in an exclusive interview. The  HAL   HJT -36 is intended to replace the aging fleet of Kiran Mk  II  jet trainers in the  IAF  by 2015. S ince the start of design work in 1997, the   IJT   program has suffered three accidents, delaying its initial operational capability ( IOC ). When   HAL   displayed the first two  IJT...