Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews May 7 2015 The U.S. has offered the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to India, for its second indigenous aircraft carrier. (Photo: General Atomics) The Indian Navy will present a report on the configuration options for the second indigenous   Indian aircraft carrier ( IAC -2)   to the Ministry of Defense next month. At a recent seminar on the country’s naval aviation, it became clear that the vessel will likely be in the 65,000-ton class. It could be equipped exclusively with American aircraft or with a combination that might include the naval version of the French Rafale fighter. “The fighters must be transformational. We must decide on the aircraft first, and this choice must determine the design of the carrier and its deck,” said an official. “ We must plan for the future blue water navy that will be dependent on air power,” said former Chief of Naval Staff Arun Prakash. “A focus is required…new hardware is important [or] it ...

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Feb 12, 2013 The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation   has been approved to enter full-rate production by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). This decision follows a report where the E-2D was declared operationally suitable and effective, following a successful 10-month initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) conducted by the U.S. Navy. "With the Navy's E-2D program of record at 75 aircraft, this decision by OSD enables the production of the remaining 55 aircraft over the next 10 years and provides the opportunity for a cost-effective, multiyear procurement," said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "The entire Northrop Grumman-led E-2D industry team remains focused on providing the most capable and cost-effective airborne early warning and command and control solution to our customer."

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Northop Grumman's E2-D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and communications platform is being considered for an Indian requirement that could total 18 aircraft. [Photo: Northrop Grumman]. February 5, 2013, 6:15 AM Northrop Grumman is at the Aero India show highlighting capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( ISR ) including airborne early warning and control ( AEW &C) systems and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for maritime reconnaissance and unmanned aerial vehicles. “There is a strong interest in the E2-D,” said Tom Trudell, manager, international business development,  AEW  and BMC2  programs. An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye crew workstation and flyable cockpit simulator are part of the  U.S.  defense group’s display at the show. The Indian Navy’s current requirement is for one squadron of four  AE...

Neelam Mathews December 3, 2012 A transparent sounding Chief of Indian Navy,   Admiral DK Joshi, minced no words at the Navy Day press conference, spiced with doses of subtle humor. Joshi informed Aerospace Diary that work on the Indian Aircraft Carrier-2 had started two years ago and ‘all options were being evaluated including arresting gear and it would take a “final shape” by mid- 2013. “We (then) hope to start requirement approvals.” This puts to rest all those critical of the IN saying no work had started on the IAC-2, a     sure recipe to another delayed program. An AEWC lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman   What is prime ofcourse, on everybody’s mind, is whether the carrier will opt for the catapult or ski-based design, which will determine the kind of aircraft that will be procured. Joshi was clear: “”if we are going in for big programs, we want a capability for operating that will have usage for the next 50 years...