Aerospace Diary

Aerospace Daily Dec 24, 2010 NEW DELHI — Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony will open two coast guard stations during a visit to the Lakshadweep Islands to facilitate closer coordination among maritime stakeholders and enhance coastal security. Increasing incidents of piracy near Lakshadweep have heightened security concerns in the region. The Lakshadweep archipelago comprises 36 islands with an area of about 32 sq. km. (12 sq. mi.). Only 11 of the islands are inhabited. The territorial waters comprise about 20,000 sq. km. The Eight Degree Channel, which separates Minicoy island from the Maldives, has traffic of about 30-40 ships a day. The first phase of the government’s coastal surveillance plan envisions 73 coastal police stations, 204 boats, 153 ground vehicles, 304 two-wheeled vehicles and related equipment in place by March 2011. A second phase has been approved at a cost of $350 million, to provide 131 more stations, 180 boats, 10 large vessels and 60 jetties. A u...

PROGRAMS NEW DELHI — India is expected to release a request for proposals soon for outsourcing maritime air surveillance of the country’s coastline. “We are hoping the Request for Proposal will be out soon,” says Lee Griffiths, head of Cobham in India, which plans to bid on the work with an Indian partner. The Australian government’s Border Protection Command entrusted Surveillance Australia, part of the Cobham Services Division, with maritime air surveillance of Australia’s borders. It was named the preferred bidder for a 12-year, A$1 billion contract over Raytheon Australia under a performance-based contract that lasts until 2020. The company provides a full turnkey operation with 10 modified Bombardier Dash 8 maritime patrol aircraft which each year fly 2,500 missions and 15,000 hr. Cobham is taking its prospective Indian partner on the Indian surveillance contract to Australia to observe its operations,according to Griffiths. “The challenge here [in India] is to work throug...