Aerospace Diary

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (right) and Bombardier president and CEO Pierre Beaudoin meet in Astana on February 26. March 4, 2014, 11:12 AM The Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan plans to launch a domestic airline, Air Kazakhstan, in early 2015 with a fleet of 10 new Bombardier Q400 twin turboprops. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the plans with Bombardier president and  CEO  Pierre Beaudoin on February 26 following a meeting between the two at January’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss wider cooperation in air and rail transport. “We can build on the experience of starting a new airline from Air Astana,” a 12-year-old joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund Samruk Kazyna and the  UK ’s  BAE  Systems, confirmed Nazarbayev. “We plan to transfer technology, provide training to Kazakhstan’s pilots, construct a...

Neelam Mathews Dec 6, 2012 The Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile has been successfully launched from a Eurofighter Typhoon as part of the Future Enhancements Flight Test Program. The missile was eject launched from a rear fuselage missile station, which on Eurofighter Typhoon is semi-conformal for aircraft drag and radar signature reduction. The missile motor was fired, providing data that will allow the missile launch envelope to be expanded.  This builds on an earlier series of flight trials, carried out by partner company BAE Systems on behalf of the Eurofighter program, where unpowered missiles were used to demonstrate safe separation on the missile. This current package of work begins the full integration of the Meteor missile with all Eurofighter Typhoon systems. The flight trials were conducted with integrated support from QinetiQ and MBDA at a firing range in Aberporth, Wales, UK on the 4th December.  electronics to deliver optimum comb...

Neelam Mathews March 21, 2012 Congressional clearance for foreign military sales for BAE Systems M777 155mm lightweight towed howitzers, may be cleared this year for 145 guns. Trials for the guns were held in Chandigarh, Sikkim and the desert. The light gun was also transported on a Mi26 helicopter. Meanwhile, BAE Systems is progressing towards cyber security in India that holds potential, said Dean McCumiskey, Managing Director and Chief Executive, India to Aerospace Diary.   The focus this year at Defexpo at BAE Systems stall will be the 155mm lightweight towed howitzers and the BvS10. McCumiskey said a proven workhorse in battle situations, the BvS10 armored all-terrain vehicle provides a combination of mobility, payload and protection. “The BvS10 serves a dual purpose. It is not just for military applications, but can be used for humanitarian operations in remote areas.”  

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 23, 2012 Dean McCumiskey has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of BAE Systems’ India operations with effect from March 2012. Dean is currently Group Chief Information Officer based in the company’s London headquarters and will succeed Andrew Gallagher who takes up new responsibilities as BAE Systems’ Director of Audit, based in the UK. McCumiskey will be responsible for leading the next phase of BAE Systems’ business development in India, where the defense, aerospace and security company directly employs around 100 people and has a growing presence through strategic investments in technology sharing and industrial partnerships, says a statement.   Dean McCumiskey has experience of the global defense, aerospace and security industry, having held senior management positions in both the US and Europe. Prior to taking up the role of Chief Information Officer, he was responsible for business winning activities in Europe, Canada and...

Posted by -Neelam Mathews July 26, 2011 Embraer Defense and Security has selected the Goodrich Corporation to provide the electro-hydrostatic actuators (EHA), electro-backup hydrostatic actuators (EBHA), actuator electronics, and electrical controls for the primary flight control system of the KC-390 military transport aircraft. The company has selected BAE  Systems to provide hardware, embedded software, system design and integration support of  the flight control electronics for the KC-390 military transport jet.“ Goodrich will develop and deliver the system through the joint efforts of its businesses Actuation Systems and Engine Control & Electrical Power Systems, as well as the Goodrich Electronic Systems Center. The flight tests of the KC-390 are expected to begin in 2014 and the aircraft should go into service at the end of 2015. Meanwhile, BAE Systems will supply flight control computers and actuator control electronics for the KC-390. The system will be d...

Neelam Mathews May 10, 2011 Time: 9:pm IST Even as the MoD extended the validity of its Request for Proposal by two months –upto June 28- for 155 mm. towed artillery guns, BAE Systems has reconfirmed it will not participate in the RFP for the 1580 guns. BAE Systems says it has not reconsidered its position on the FH77 B05 howitzer towed 155 mm gun and contrary to a news report, the company denies having held a strategic meeting last week in Delhi, or anywhere else, to reconsider the decision.  "The decision not to bid for this program been made. That decision is not under review," says Guy Douglas, spokesman of BAE Systems to Aerospace Diary. Not many bidders are left in the fray with many blacklisted including Singapore Technology Kinetics (STK); Denel,  Soltam and Rheinmetall. Russia's Rosoboron is believed to have decided not to participate. Interestingly, Israel’s Elbit that bought over Soltam is participating alongwith Bharat Forge, Nexter alongwith Lar...

Business Strategies Defense Technology International Feb 01 , 2011 , p. 48 Neelam Mathews New Delhi India’s rigid rules on technology transfer affect bidders Printed headline: Keeping Secrets As the downselect for India’s $10-billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program draws nearer, bidders are beginning to face reality. Technology transfer is the most perplexing issue in the request for proposals (RFP) document. If this issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of foreign companies, many analysts question whether India will be able to achieve rapid development of its defense industry. Russia’s MiG-35 is one of six fighters competing for India’s MMRCA contract. Credit: MIKOYAN The MMRCA contract seeks 126 fighters and is the largest procurement program pending in India. Competitors include Mikoyan’s MiG-35, the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, Boeing’s...

Programs Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Dec 15 , 2010 , p. 08 Neelam Mathews BENGALURU, India — India’s largest defense manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), is in talks with the U.K.’s BAE Systems on various projects related to Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers. HAL is currently licensed by BAE to produce the Hawk in India for the Indian military. Possible future projects include establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul base for Hawks worldwide, building a worldwide supply chain and making India the center for exporting the Hawk in the long term, Aviation Week has learned. The final decision on what direction the partnership will take will depend on cost and both companies’ desire to kick-start the project. Opportunities are opening up for BAE as it expands its installed base for Hawks in India. In February 2003, India signed a $1.7-billion contract with BAE to supply 66 Hawk trainer jets. In...

NEW DELHI — Controversy continues to surround India’s delayed effort to purchase Hawk Mk. 132 trainer aircraft. Charges and countercharges have been made over the past year between vendor BAE Systems and Indian government defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.(HAL), which had promised to manufacture a certain share of the Advanced Jet Trainer after BAE delivered the initial batch. Of the 66 Hawks ordered, BAE Systems has delivered all 24 aircraft in flyaway condition promised to the Indian air force. Delivery of the remaining 42 AJTs was scheduled from 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 in a phased manner. To date, HAL has manufactured 12 aircraft. “Delivery delays have been an exasperation for the Indian air force,” an official told Aviation Week. Answering a question in parliament April 22 on why deliveries have been delayed, Minister of State for Defense M.M. Pallam Raju said three aircraft were to be built from semi-knocked down (SKD) kits, three from completely knocked down (CKD...

Show Report Defense Technology International Apr 01 , 2010 , p. 44 Neelam Mathews New Delhi India’s defense needs draw industry to Defexpo Printed headline: Buyer’s Market India’s rapidly growing defense programs attracted a number of major global contractors to the biennial Def- expo land and naval exposition here in February. Many were looking to establish or firm up partnerships with local manufacturers to meet the offsets mandated for procurement awards by the defense ministry. Though eager for business, most contractors want the government to relax the cap on ownership levels that has been imposed on joint ventures. The current foreign direct investment (FDI) limit favors Indian companies on a 74-26% basis over foreign OEMs, a level that many contractors say provides no incentive for technology transfer. India’s Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP) mandates a 30% offsets clause for projects valued at more than $65 million. At present, only $43 million worth of offsets ...

Major Programs Update Defense Technology International Feb 01 , 2010 , p. 30 Neelam Mathews Printed headline: India Readies Howitzer Trials As India plans to hold trials for towed howitzers in late February, the push for towed and ultra-light guns is drawing interest from two contenders, Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics and BAE Systems. BAE Systems is offering its FH77B05 howitzer to India. Credit: BAE SYSTEMS India wants to procure 400 towed 155-mm. howitzers and 144 ultra-light howitzers. The military is reportedly trying to procure BAE’s M777 ultra-light howitzer through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, an effort hastened, perhaps, by Pakistan’s acquisition last year of 67 M109 A5 Paladin self-propelled artillery guns from BAE through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program. Immediate attention is being given to the towed howitzers, which, due to India’s history of re-bids, are undergoing trials for the fifth time. “ST Kinetics’ entry, the iFH2000, a 155-mm./52-calib...

Lightweight Howitzers Through U.S. Foreign Military Sales NEW DELHI — The Indian government has requested to purchase 145 M777 155mm Lightweight Towed Howitzers through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. The request includes warranty, spare parts, support and test equipment, documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, technical assistance from U.S. government and contractor representatives, and logistics support services. The estimated cost is $647 million. BAE Systems, whose U.S. Land Systems division manufactures the M777, said it welcomes the news of the U.S. Congressional notification of a potential FMS purchase of the M777 ultra light weight howitzer by the Government of India. “The M777 is, by some considerable margin, the lightest 155mm howitzer in the world, and the only system proven in battle,” the company said. Significant work share would be completed in India by the Mahindra and BAE Systems joint venture company. The intention is that the j...

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report January 20, 2009 NEW DELHI – ST Kinetics, the Land Systems arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering, is participating in numerous programs in India and says it is looking at itself as a capability-based company able to integrate all dimensions of lifecycle support. Rated by Moodys as AAA, it has bid for six Indian defense contracts, including a Request for Proposals (RFP) for 34,377 Compact Personal Weapons. Other tenders include 400 155mm towed howitzers, the trials for which are to be held at the end of February in Kargil, a district of Ladakh in Kashmir that lies near the Line of Control facing Pakistan-administered Kashmir and was the center of conflict in May 1999. The war was fought in high altitudes in mountainous terrain, posing severe logistical problems for both India and Pakistan. The Spider Light Strike Vehicle under technical evaluation is ready for shipment, says Patrick Choy, chief marketing officer for ST Kinetics. Its collapsible r...

ST Kinetics Howitzers Approved For Indian Trials Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Dec 23, 2009 NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry has approved Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics to go ahead with the trials for 39 155mm caliber ultra-light howitzers that were postponed from June. The delay in trials followed ST Kinetics being implicated in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe of the ministry’s former Ordnance Factory Board chairman. The investigation resulted in a temporary ban on procurements from ST and six other companies (Aerospace DAILY, June 23, 29). The government now has said that while the investigations will carry on, tests of the Howitzers should move ahead. In June, India received a consignment of ST 155s to participate in the trials. The request for proposals (RFP) for 155mm ultra-light Howitzers was first issued by the defense ministry in January 2008 with an original deadline of April 7, 2008.The submission deadline was extended twice and the final d...