Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  JULY 11, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India's Finance and Defense Minister, Arun Jaitley, delivered the country's defense budget on July 10. Overall it is bigger, but the air force allocation has shrunk. July 11, 2014, 7:25 AM Foreign companies can now own 49 percent of Indian defense companies, following a change announced as part of the  country’s budget statement  on July 10. The budget was presented by Finance and Defense Minister Arun Jaitley, a member of the newly elected government. It includes an allocation of $38.17 billion for defense, a gain of 12.44 percent. Some $15.76 billion of this (up from $13.15 billion last year) is capital expenditure, used primarily for procurement. The increase in foreign direct investment ( FDI ) prompted mixed reactions from the industry. “The budget is disappointing; 49 percent is unlikely to get significant flows, as industry partners in high-t...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  MAY 30, 2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Arun Jaitley, India’s new defense and finance minister, meets Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. (Photo: Indian MoD) May 29, 2014, 3:55 PM A lack of decision-making on large Indian defense procurement deals in the past two years is expected to end with the swearing-in of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Changes in procurement and offset policies are also expected. Major projects that are in the final stage of processing and require a signature for conclusion include the 126-aircraft  medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA ) won by Dassault Aviation’s Rafale ; the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ); and naval multi-role helicopters. While these are likely to be signed this financial year, a crash crunch could hold other decisions until next year. To fast-track some projects, the Ministry of Defence has proposed an approxim...

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS March 12, 2014, 1:53 PM Rolls-Royce is looking to expand its engine component manufacturing activities in India, possibly adding new product lines and increasing the size of the facilities at its International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd ( IAMPL ) operation in Bangalore, which already makes parts for the Trent 700 turbofan. One option being considered is to begin licensed production of components for the  AE  2100D3 military turbofan. IAMPL  is a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. ( HAL ), and the two partners are considering whether to increase the size of the existing 77,500-sq-ft facility or relocate to a new site in the same Bangalore aerospace park. The company currently ships more than 130 different engine compressor parts to Rolls-Royce’s main aero engines factory in Derby,  UK . Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is to supply the M250- B17F /2 turboprop engine...