Aerospace Diary

ROTORHUB 04th October 2014 - 20:16 by  Neelam Mathews  in New Delhi  The saga of India’s  cancelled VVIP AW101 helicopter  procurement rumbles on, with Indian Air Force (IAF) now looking at upgrading around nine Mi-17 V5s for VVIP use.  Some of the helicopters will be ready for VVIP operations in six months, said Chief of Air Staff ACM Arup Raha, while addressing the media on the 82nd anniversary of the IAF. India cancelled the AW101 deal with AgustaWestland in January following allegations of wrongdoing and has since recovered the 45% advance it paid. The three AW101s already delivered were until a few months ago flying sparingly due to lack of rotables but are now fully grounded............................................ While the IAF will upgrade the Mi-17V5s at its .............................Read more on Shephardmedia

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Dassault has brought its Rafale fighter to the Aero India show but the company is still working hard to resolve complex offset arrangements that underpin last year's Indian government decision to select the jet as the country's new medium multi-role combat aircraft. [Photo: Rakesh Mangaraj, Indian MoD] February 4, 2013, 10:55 AM Defense contractors gathering for this week’s Aero India show in Bangalore will be coming to terms with the realization that military procurement plans could well be diminished for next year’s fiscal budget, which begins in April 2013. Further depreciation of the rupee on currency markets and a worsening public deficit have forced the Indian government to further reduce spending, with $1.8 billion having been stripped from the current fiscal year’s defense budget and procurement plans scaled back. There now seems little prospect of next year’s def...

Neelam Mathews Jan 7, 2012 In a  ceremony held on 07 Jan 13 at Air Force Station Phalodi, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, the Chief of the Air Staff, inaugurated the new Medium Lift Helicopter (MLH) Complex for raising the new Mi-17 V 5 helicopter unit at Phalodi, located between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. The airbase is strategically located and equi-distance between the two airbases.  Inauguration of these Pre-engineered hangars, biggest of their type in the IAF, would add to the operational capabilities of this new air base. The Air Chief was briefed about the operational activities undertaken by the Station. The base would be utilized during the forthcoming exercises – Iron Fist on 22 February 2013 and Live Wire in mid- March 2013, according to  Col SD Goswami,  Defense spokesperson(MOD). Browne is also scheduled to visit Bhuj airbase during the two day visit to south-western air command Sector. As also the Commodore Commandant of 16 Squadron called ‘ Th...

Neelam Mathews Oct 10, 2012 The twelfth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation was held in New Delhi today led by the Defense Minister AK Antony and AE Serdyukov, Defense Minister of the Russian Federation.  It may recalled the minister who was scheduled to visit India on Oct 4, deferred it by 6 days as the dates are reported by the media to have coincided with the visit of the Pakistan   Army chief General   to Moscow. This seems strange as official visits of dignitaries are generally planned in advance. "We have handed over the revised overhaul and transfer schedule to the Indian side and we believe that transfer of the ship will take place in the 4th quarter of the 2013," Serdyukov told reporters at the joint press conference after the meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (IR-IGMTC). "The ship encountered big malfunction with the main power plan...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Oct 6, 2012 The Indian Air Force celebrates its 80th anniversary on Oct 8. An air display by various aircraft will form part of the Air Force Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony at Air Force Station at Hindon.   The air display will start with Para Motor and powered Hang Glider performance, followed by flag bearing sky divers of Akash Ganga Team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft. The start of the Parade will be marked by fly past of three Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Vic formation trooping the Air Force Ensign at a height of  40m and speed of 80 Km. A Chakra formation comprising three Mi-35 attack helicopters will follow. This will be followed by a Hercules formation with one C-130 J flanked by two AN- 32s followed by Spectrum formation comprising one C-130 J in the lead with two AVRO and two AN-32 aircraft in Echelon position on either side. The fighter flypast will be led by three Jaguars in Vic formation closely followed by Vic formatio...