Aerospace Diary

07th April 2017 - 7:14 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  India approved an approximately $650 million procurement of 100 tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPH) of 155mm 52-calibre, with an option for 50 more, on 29 March. More on shephardmedia 

by  Neelam Mathews  -  February 15, 2017, 7:47 AM This BAE Systems development aircraft ZJ100 has been upgraded to Advanced Hawk configuration, with combat training potential. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) At the Aero India show in Bangalore, in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ),  BAE  Systems has unveiled the Advanced Hawk  that it first described in the  UK  last June . Painted in Anglo-Indian colors, the British company’s development aircraft  ZJ100  is on display at  HAL ’s stand, and there is also a simulator displaying the aircraft’s new capabilities. These include active leading-edge slats and combat flaps on the wings, and a large-area display in the cockpit. “ Together with  HAL , we are looking forward to showing this industry-funded demonstrator to the Indian and other air forces and seeking their feedback on the combination of features that will better prepare...

Land Warfare 28th November 2016 - 16:31 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  The governments of India and the US have finally agreed on a  Foreign Military Sale of 145 M777  ultra-lightweight howitzers ........ more  on Shephardmedia

LAND WARFARE 07th March 2016 - 11:05 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  India's Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme has moved a step closer to the starting blocks with industry putting forward an expression of interest (EoI). The US$10 billion  Future Infantry Combat Vehicle  programme has attracted formal EoIs from eight of the initial ten vendors. Shephard  has learned that Rolta and Punj Lloyd have decided not to submit proposals. The government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has already been down-selected as one manufacturer and the MoD will provide 80% of prototype development costs for two other vendors that will be shortlisted by year’s end. Bets are on Tata Motors to be a frontrunner...more in Shephardmedia

19th February 2016 - 9:54 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  BAE Systems has  down-selected Mahindra Defence & Aerospace  as its business partner for a proposed in-country Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) facility for ultra-lightweight howitzers for the Indian Army.  Discussions are ongoing between the US and India for a foreign military sale (FMS) of 145  M777A2 howitzers. ‘It is logical for the two companies to partner because of historical proximity and significant investments that both have made over time in an effort to work with each other,’ Rahul Gangal, a partner at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, told  Shephard . Although a 2008  joint venture for mine-protected vehicles  between BAE Systems and Mahindra was later reversed, the former had capitalised resources within Mahindra. These processes ‘are as valuable as work share’, a vendor said. Furthermore, ...Read more ...subscription ShephardMedia

Dubai Air Show By Neelam Mathews  - November 4, 2015, 8:30 AM With a focus on India and Dubai–the latter thanks to a strategic investment it made in Dubai’s Empire Aviation Group–Air Works India Engineering is looking at a new business model with a focus on line maintenance, an area that was until recently a domain handled by airlines. The move follows Airbus India signing comprehensive maintenance-support agreement with full-service startup airline Vistara, the first such agreement in the country. Air Works and Air India Engineering Services will honor the so-called Flight Hour Services Tailored Support Package (FHS-TSP) for Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tata Group. Vistara started operations in October last year, and with a current fleet of nine A320s, expects the fleet size to grow to 20 by 2017. The support package will enable Vistara to benefit from the expertise offered by Airbus in airframe maintenance, engineering, reliability and c...

By Neelam Mathews DELHI: India’s refusal to revoke its rule – at least for the moment – to permit live inflight connectivity over Indian airspace forced SIA-Tata owned startup Vistara to seek interim solutions, says the carrier. A Vistara spokesperson tells RGN that while Indian carriers are collectively trying to convince the government to permit Internet on board, clearances are still required from the country’s ministries of civil aviation and telecom. To ensure passengers get value-add on the full-service carrier and as government clearances do not come easy, Vistara tapped defense contractor – and IFE newcomer – BAE Systems to install its IntelliCabin wireless IFE solution on its Airbus A320s. This is not a live connectivity system. Wireless IFE systems stream content from an onboard server via wireless access points on board the aircraft. The content is pre-loaded and cached. The system will be installed on the nine-strong fleet of aircraft th...

LAND WARFARE 05th September 2014 - 9:41 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi After deciding to spend $135 million on 40  Catapult artillery  systems and $1.1 billion on 118 Arjun MkII MBTs, the Indian Army still has further to go. A much-awaited decision on anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for which the Israeli Spike missile and Raytheon’s Javelin are contenders, was deferred. Even as the Indian Army prepares to raise over 90,000 new Mountain Strike Corps along the 4,000 km border with China by 2019, the fate of the ultra-light howitzers also continues to hang in the air.......Read more on Shephard Media (subscription free for two weeks)

A INONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Hawk trainer engines are at the heart of an inquiry that is being held into Rolls-Royce dealings in India. (Photo: BAE Systems) March 6, 2014, 8:00 AM India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into Rolls-Royce military deals. The investigation began just a day before the announcement of forthcoming elections and the beginning of the “model code of conduct” that disallows announcement of new projects. The probe follows a voluntary disclosure last December by Rolls-Royce to its partner Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) that it had used a consultant, Singapore-based Aashmore, for sales and logistics support in its business in the energy sector. While civil and military projects generally do not overlap, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has nevertheless put on hold the repair, overhaul and supply of Adour Mk 871 engines for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy  BAE  Syst...

Posted by-Neelam Mathews Jan 31. 2014 BAE Systems has named John Brosnan Managing Director of the Company’s India operations with effect from January 2014. He replaces Dean McCumiskey who will be taking on a new assignment within BAE Systems. Previously, as a Senior Vice President for Offset and Operations for BAE Systems, John managed the delivery of the Company’s multi-billion dollar industrial partnership programmes in 20 countries across the globe. Having joined the Company in 2008 as Director for Corporate Development, John focused on identifying key international markets such as India and developing the Company’s strategic approach to growth markets. Further, Mark Simpkins has been appointed Vice President & General Manager for India and will lead the Company’s business development activities in the country.   Brosnan joined BAE Systems from the UK Government where he worked in a variety of roles, including over ten years in the UK Ministry of Defe...

                                                                                           Posted by- Neelam Mathews              Aug 5, 2013 (Nb- Check out what's missing) MoD Release- The details of joint ventures by the private players in defense manufacturing is enclosed. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting to Rs.24.36 crore (US$ 4.94 millions) has been received in defense industry sector from April 2000 to April 2013. The data regarding investment made by the Indian Private Sector Firms is not maintained.              63 applications have been received for Industrial License for manufacture of defense items from private companies in 20...