Aerospace Diary

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

Security Neelam Mathews, London   IHS Jane's Airport Review 05 March 2015 International flights to and from Nepal were cancelled after an arriving Turkish Airlines A330 skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Source: Turkish Airlines All flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the only international airport in Nepal, remain cancelled following a runway excursion on 4 March involving an arriving Turkish Airlines A330. Flight THY726 from Istanbul skidded off the shoulder of the runway and landed nose down in a grassy field in poor visibility. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft nose gear collapsed, and there was damage to the fuselage and engine cowlings, as well as a burst tyre. Indian agencies are assisting in the aircraft recovery mission, particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF) and national aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Acting on a request from the...

Neelam Mathews, London   - IHS Jane's Airport Review 05 March 2015 International flights to and from Nepal were cancelled after an arriving Turkish Airlines A330 skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Source: Turkish Airlines All flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the only international airport in Nepal, remain cancelled following a runway excursion on 4 March involving an arriving Turkish Airlines A330. Flight THY726 from Istanbul skidded off the shoulder of the runway and landed nose down in a grassy field in poor visibility. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft nose gear collapsed, and there was damage to the fuselage and engine cowlings, as well as a burst tyre. Indian agencies are assisting in the aircraft recovery mission, particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF) and national aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Acting on a request from the Nepalese a...

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha paying his last respects to the Crew of C-130J at ceremonial function held at Air Force Station Hindan on Mar 29

Neelam Mathews March 28, 2014     As a stunned military views the crash of the IAF tactical transporter, C130-J, 75 miles west of Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh , killing five, the Chief of IAF is said to have ordered an inquiry on the possible cause related to the mishap. While this is unprecedented, it shows the shock generated following the crash. “This cannot happen to a C170J, thought it was a cruel joke,’ an IAF official told AerospaceDiary. Recent crashes of the C170 were in Norway and Italy. Understandably, there has been no comment  from Lockheed Martin as yet. While speculation would be out of place at this point, the C-130J that has an infrared detection set that permits precision low-level flying, could have suffered a failure of aerostructures that could be one or many of the following- in the wing, airframe or cockpit, said an engineer to AerospaceDiary. “This could lead to a failure in the fly-by-wire and other critical systems.” Aerospac...

Neelam  Mathews Sept 13, 2013 India is to purchase six more Lockheed Martin C-130J medium lift aircraft that will based at   Panagarh in West Bengal for operations along the India-China border. Panagarh is the HQ of the recently created Mountain Strike Corps. The decision was made by the Defense Acquisition Council today. It will now have to be cleared by the CCS and finance ministry. An advance of 12.5 percent-$125 million- will be paid by India Delivery is expected within 3 years of signing of the contract, AerospaceDiary learns. India had sent a Letter of Request to the US government in September 2011 for procuring six additional C-130Js. The DAC also cleared the acquisition of another 230 Russian made T-90 tanks to be produced by the Heavy Vehicles Factory Avadi in Tamil Nadu.

Neelam Mathews Feb 12, 2013 Lockheed Martin is exploring opportunities across various Indian services to offer its versatile C-130J platform .  A contract for an additional six is in the offing as the U.S and Indian governments enter the final stage of discussions. Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), said in December: “T here will be an increase in the induction of transport aircraft and helicopters in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and their role will be expanded for deployment in conflicts.” Lockheed Martin has held discussions with the IAF “on the possibility of reducing India’s Avro replacement requirement (56) with (fewer) C130Js,”  Abhay Paranjape, Director, Business Development, LM Aeronautics National Executive, India said. “The C-130J provides significant benefits to India. The infrastructure at the air base (Hindon) is already there, trained technicians, operational benefits and discussions are on with Tata (on manufacturing) and the IAF l...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews April 30, 2012 Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) have been signed with the Government of the United States (USG) for the procurement of C-17 Globemaster aircraft as well as six C-130J aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF) The estimated cost of the procurement of the C-17 aircraft is US $ 4.116 billion while the cost of the procurement of the C-130-J 30 aircraft is US $962.4 million, says defense minister AK Antony in parliament. . The cost of an aircraft depends on its specifications, configurations and equipment on-board. The cost at which the aircraft is being supplied to India is commensurate with the cost at which C-17 aircraft is supplied to the United States Air Force and its allies. All ten C-17 aircraft and their associated equipment are expected to be delivered to the IAF between June 2013 and June 2015. The induction of the C-130 J30 aircraft commenced in February 2011 and five aircraft have been induc...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 Lockheed Martin has delivered four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters to the State of Qatar, the first C-130J operator in the Middle-East The Qatar Emiri Air Force’s new Super Hercules are the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J. The aircraft will be used for humanitarian relief and military missions for the defense of the State of Qatar. The new airlift fleet will ferry to Qatar in October, says Lockheed Martin in a statement.  Lockheed Martin is providing a complete solution package that includes the four aircraft; aircrew and maintenance training; spares; ground support and test equipment; and a team of technical specialists who will be based in Qatar during an initial support period.

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report January 21, 2009 NEW DELHI — India’s unwillingness to sign the long-gestating Logistics Support Agreement and the Communications, Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA)with the U.S. has prompted U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remark: “On the U.S. side, we have not done a good job spelling out [the] benefits of signing these agreements.” The agreements “have been lying for quite some time now,” Gates said Jan. 20. “They were put on the table in 2002. It is not a new requirement but has been known for some time. CISMOA will allow [our] defense relationship to expand significantly by increasing interoperability and security of communication equipment. “I see these [pacts] as enablers to allow defense trade ... as it will lead to great interoperability for our forces to work together, whether in relief or security operations,” Gates said. Gates was on a two-day visit to India devoted to furthering the U.S.-India defense r...