Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Dec 25, 2012 Even as India signs for 42 more Sukhoi 30-MKIs which will take the total in the IAF  inventory to 270  along with 100 Migs and    plans to add Fifth Gen fighters,  is raising eyebrows on whether the MMRCA will really take off in its present form. Maybe the French will sell us the 50 Rafales their air force cancelled? Who knows? And one wonders, who cares, except the military. Slowly but steadily, it seems pretty clear we are turning back to Russia for our arms procurement. At least it looks like that even as contracts like the MRTT and LUH lie in cold storage.  We are told the kitty is empty to pay for the first installment of the MMRCA. We are also told HAL needs to be clear what it can and cannot do. We are informed Dassault wants to deal with a private partner that in turn seems to have little inclination nor the resources to tap tier 2 and 3 business which may or may not be available as yet in the country. So where do...

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012   As we wrote yesterday, Boeing has confirmed it made an  on-site delivery of the first P-8I aircraft to the Indian Navy in Seattle, in accordance with the contract. India will receive this aircraft and two more of its eight contracted P-8Is in 2013. The program is progressing on schedule as Boeing assembles the fourth and fifth P-8Is, which are designed for long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. The photo (left to right) depicts the P-8I being used for weapons testing, the P-8I delivered on-site, and the third P-8I aircraft, which recently entered the company’s mission systems installation facility.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews June 28, 2011 The U.S. Embassy says it has welcomed news that U.S. Congress has been officially notified of the potential sale of Mk-54 Lightweight Torpedoes to the Indian Navy.  The Mk-54 is an advanced lightweight torpedo in the U.S. Navy inventory and is intended to be employed with the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, eight of which are currently under construction for India by the Boeing Corporation. The P-8I, equipped with Mk-54 torpedoes, will provide highly effective long-range anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the Indian Navy.  The final content and price for the deal will be determined during discussions with the Government of India.   "This sale reflects the mutual benefits of the U.S.-India security partnership. For India, the combined sale of the P-8I aircraft with the Mk-54 torpedoes will add to India’s anti-submarine capability as it expands its ability to protect India and the critical sea lanes of the In...

Maini Global Aerospace is about to sign an agreement with Marshall Aerospace to provide structural components for extended range fuel cells of the navy’s Boeing P-8I longrange maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The deal is to be signed here today. Maini is scheduled to make the first delivery of initial subsets in April. “This is a test of performance of Indian capability,” says Naresh Palta, Maini CEO. “Once we do that, it is clear that we can take on board [large] programs.” BAE Systems may also be placing an order related to precision engineering with Maini, Aviation Week has learned. Diversifying from precision engineering to aero structures and engine segments, the  engine-maker MTU, for precision components and subassemblies for a spectrum of civil and military programs. “Our base in precision engineering made this a natural choice,” Palta says. “We are looking at around a $5 million investment this year in machinery.” With approximately $30 billion set to flow into ...