Aerospace Diary

Posted by-Neelam Mathews July 8, 2014 During the last five years (from 2009-10 up to 2.7.2014), thirty fighter aircraft (three Su-30 and twenty seven MIG series) and eight transport aircraft (one AN-32 and seven helicopters) of Soviet era have crashed.   Main reasons for these accidents were human error and technical defect. The C-130J crash was not mentioned. A ny inquiry has been instituted to go into the cause and circumstances in the wake of MIG-21 aircrash in Anantnag district of Kashmir recently .  Every IAF aircraft accident/ incident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry (Col) to ascertain the cause of accident and the recommendations of the completed Court of Inquiry are implemented. Various preventive measures like invigoration of Aviation Safety Organization, streamlining of accident reporting procedure, analytical studies and quality audits of the aircraft fleets to identify vulnerable areas have been taken to reduce aircraft accidents. A...

Neelam Mathews June 30, 2014 Air Indias B-777s and crew put on standby to fly to Iraq to bring stranded Indian citizens back home, is a misplaced decision. Simultaneously, the government has released a tender on June 26 for a wet lease charter to fly to Iraq. While it is still not clear whether any response has been received to the tender   ( http://aerospacediary.blogspot.in/2014/06/breaking-air-india-wants-to-charter.html ) which we have viewed, it was clearly urgent. Questions come to the fore as to why a commercial national carrier is carrying out a role meant for the Air Force and Indian Navy. "Clearly India has no military clout and political leaders need to address this. Indian military aircraft will not be allowed in the war zone," said a former Indian Air Force official. After all, we did get the C-17s. It is clear that more needs to be done on the strategic front.” Recently a C-130J transporter of the IAF crashed. The investigation results have not been...

Posted -Neelam Mathews Aug 20,2013 PRESS RELEASE   An IAF,  C 130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the  highest airstrip in the world  at 0654 hrs today.              In a significant capability demonstration move by the IAF, a C 130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the  highest airstrip in the world  at 0654 hrs today. The Commanding Officer Group Captain Tejbir Singh and the crew of the “Veiled Vipers” along with senior officer of Air Headquarters touched down on the DBO airstrip located at 16614 feet (5065 meters) in the Aksai Chin area after taking off from their home base at Hindon.               DBO is an important Army forward area post which links the ancient silk route to china. This base was built during the Indo-China conflict in 1962 and came into promine...

AIN NEWS LIVE FROM AEROINDIA  »  2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS A C-17 heavy lifter was prominent among a large U.S. contingent of aircraft at this week's Aero India show. [Photo: Rakesh Mangaraj, Indian MoD.] February 8, 2013, 11:21 AM The U.S.-India Business Council coordinated a large  U.S.  industry delegation to this week’s Aero India show led by Lt.Gen. Jeff Kohler (Retd.), vice president of Boeing Military Aircraft and Vice Admiral (Retd.) Kevin Cosgriff, senior vice president for international business with Textron Systems. Defense sales to India from the  U.S.  have risen from an annual value of just $200 million in 2001 to over $14 billion today. “India’s defense modernization requirements and capacity building measures are vast, and reflect a growing need to secure critical infrastructure assets and defend sizeable borders, while securing their economic growth. The U.S industry leads the way in of...

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...

Neelam Mathews Oct 5, 2012 The much talked about and discussed C-130J Weapons System Trainer (WST ) has arrived, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne confirmed to Aerospace Diary today. A Lockheed Martin official had confirmed to us during a recent trip to the US that the simulator would be in India by the end of the year.   The WST will be placed in Hindon airbase where a MiG-21 simulator exists that is being moved away. There has been criticism in the past regarding the exclusion of the WST as part of the offsets. According to an article in 2010, “Had the WST been part of the C-130J contract, Lockheed Martin would have been liable - in accordance with Defense Offset Policy, to pay 30 percent of the cost of the simulator as offset. ” This is brushed away by a former IAF official who says: “Who would have thought in bygone days of needing a simulator for training for a transport aircraft? Things have changed with hi-technology now….It was an honest mistake.”   Aerospa...

Neelam Mathews Washington D.C June 19, 2012 As the requirement to get the additional six C130Js from Lockheed Martin gets imminent, the Indian government  seems to have got embroiled in a mesh that involves crossing its Ts and dotting its Is. Since the lead time for delivery is around three years, the need to make a decision seems all the more urgent. . The heart of the matter may be the contract itself which India holds rigidly close to its heart. Meanwhile though the US has strict laws, it does leave space for flexibility.  Delays like this have already resulted in losing the technology edge that India swears it needs. Aerospace Diary learns an offset program for RFID that was to be executed in India could not be initiated fast enough by BEL and a private company as bureaucratic processes got in the way. With no moves on it for two years, the projected was abandoned since technology had moved on. The cost of entry for the new technology , being too ...

Dec 16, 2011 Number six of the six C-130J Super Hercules ordered by India, under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, departed Marietta on December 15.  This aircraft, like its five predecessors, was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, says Lockheed Martin.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Oct 18, 2011 Even as India and Qatar join the global C-130 operator family, Lockheed Martin is holding its 23rd Hercules Operators’ Conference through Oct. 20.  About 800 representatives from 34 nations ─ as well as 90 supplier companies ─ are attending to celebrate the C-130J program.   “We know that the C-130 will be here for decades to come ….. There is nothing like a Hercules and nothing that can replace a Hercules. Some have tried and some are still trying, but the reality is that the aircraft’s concept, design and proven capabilities have been, and still are, the standard for airlift throughout modern history,”  said John Cottam, Lockheed Martin director of C-130 International Operations, proudly. This year’s theme is “Relevance and Affordability”. The U.S. Air Force recently received HC-130J Personnel Recovery and MC-130J Special Operations aircraft. At the end of this month, Lockheed Martin will roll out the 250th C-130J Super ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 9, 2011 The fifth of six C-130J Super Hercules on order for the Indian Air Force has departed the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta.  This aircraft, like its predecessors, was delivered well ahead of schedule and is now en route to Air Force Station Hindon in India, says Lockheed Martin. India’s sixth C-130J will be delivered in October.

Roger M. Rose, CEO, Lockheed Martin India Pvt. Ltd., met with Aviation Week’s Neelam Mathews, just before the show, to discuss Aero India and the C-130J airlifter. ShowNews: What are you showcasing at Aero India? Roger Rose: Lockheed Martin will be highlighting the on-time, on-budget delivery of the first of India’s six C-130Js, which we delivered to the U.S. Air Force in December, and is due for turnover from the USAF to the Indian Air Force in early February. Several variants of F-16 fighter aircraft – including UAE’s Block 60 aircraft – will be displayed, as we showcase the capability that will be applied to the F-16IN Super Viper, if chosen in the MMRCA competition. Our Electronics Systems group will be highlighting our role in the Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile – we are in discussions with the U.S. Government and Indian Army to bring this capability to India. As a systems solutions provider, we have many of the missiles, fire control, and navigation systems on the Apache heli...

Aerospace Daily Feb 5, 2011 NEW DELHI — The first of six Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft is being introduced into the Indian air force on Feb. 5 at the Hindon air base near New Delhi. The second C-130J will be handed over by late February/March, with the next two deliveries made by late April/May and the final two by October. A C-130J simulator will be delivered by year’s end. The air force has not yet decided who will be responsible for maintenance of the fleet at the end of the contract timeline. “We could have little, none or a large role to play in support solutions [after three years],” says Orville Prins, Lockheed Martin’s PROGRAMS vice president for business development in India. The company also is in talks for the tanker version of the C-130J. “It can function as a tanker for helicopters and fighters,” Prins says. “The KC-130J with a roll-on/roll-off system shows the mission flexibility of the C-130J.” In the air, the KC-130J offers a 57,500-lb. fuel off...

Aerospace Daily Dec18, 2010 PROGRAMS Lockheed Martin on Dec. 17 delivered the first of six C-130Js for the Indian air force that comprise a $1.2 billion order placed in 2008 as the country’s first U.S. Foreign Military Sale. The C-130J delivery is being made first to the U.S. Air Force and then will go the Indian air force in February. All the deliveries are expected to be completed by 2011. The contract includes training of aircrews and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during a three-year initial support period. Powered by four Rolls-Royce AE2100 engines, the C-130J is designed to support special operations. Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set, the aircraft can perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landings in blackout conditions, Lockheed Martin says. - Neelam Mathews

Defense Aviation Week & Space Technology Jun 28 , 2010 , p. 48 Neelam Mathews New Delhi Robert Wall Washington Andy Nativi Washington Boeing ponders C-17 derivative, but exports hold the most promise Printed headline: Lifting Fortunes Boeing is once again renewing proposals for a C-17 derivative to try to maintain its military airlifter business line. The latest iteration is the C-17FE concept. The “FE,” which stands for fuel efficient, would have a narrower fuselage by several feet than the aircraft now in production. It also would involve lightening of the structure through use of composites. The goal is to meet the nominal Joint Future Theater Lift (JFTL) program threshold. U.S. Army/Air Force directives would impact the design as their needs evolve. But the ultimate aim is to meet 99% of the JFTL requirement with the C-17FE. PiX-The first three of six C-130Js, due to arrive in India by year-end, are being assembled at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., factory.C...

Jun 01 , 2010 NEW DELHI Delivery of the first of six C-130J airlifters to the Indian Air Force will occur later this year, Lockheed Martin says. The IAF has also identified a group of pilots to receive training at Lockheed Martin facilities before the delivery. India is to receive six C-130Js for Special Services, with an additional option for six more. The aircraft will undergo flights trials in India before being inducted into the IAF, sources said. It will likely be based at Hindon Air Force Station, and work on permanent hangars is in full swing. The aircraft’s assembly line is in Marietta, Ga. “The order includes three years of initial support, training of air crew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets, and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during the three-year initial support period. Also included is operational equipment designed to increase Special O...