Aerospace Diary

06 October 2013 - 16:28 by  Neelam Mathews  in New Delhi Having lost its battle for a dialogue with the Indian authorities, AgustaWestland is invoking the arbitration clause in its AW101 contract with the MoD. The move comes as AgustaWestland executives face trial in Italian courts over alleged misdoings on the Indian VVIP helicopter contract, which was frozen from 1 February. Read More in RotorHub

Neelam Mathews Oct 5, 2012 The delay in production of India’s intermediate jet trainer (IJT) by government-owned defense manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has the Indian air force worried as these are to  replace the present ageing trainers Kirans Mk II retiring by 2015, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K.Browne  said in an exclusive interview. The IJT, a stage-II trainer is used for training before pilots advance to the final BAE Hawk Advanced jet trainers- 123 were ordered under two contracts- and another 20 are in the offing to replace the Kiran acrobatic team being by rookie pilots. India recently ordered 75 Pilatus PC-7 MkII basic trainers as its indigenous obsolescent, single piston-engine HPT-32 basic trainers were grounded. “The loss of 17 aircraft and 19 pilots had resulted in pilots losing confidence in the safety and performance of the aircraft,” a defense official said on condition of anonymity. HPT-32 trainers had a take-off spee...

Singapore Air Show » February 16, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews India’s Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne confirmed to AIN here at the Singapore Airshow that the country’s resolve to select the lowest bidder for the contract for 126 medium multirole combat aircraft remains in place. The contract negotiation committee ( CNC) opened Dassault Aviation’s bid proposing its Rafale on February 13 and identified the French OEM as the lowest bidder. The decision to involve another manufacturer is “procedurally untenable,” said Browne. “We have a procedure as per the defense procurement policy that stipulates the contract goes to the lowest bidder.” The CNC , which gets into action once the lowest bidder has been identified, is scheduled to start price negotiations with Dassault from March 5. Discussions will be held on electronics, radar, transfer of t...

Neelam Mathews Oct 5, 2011 The astute Indian Air Force Chief NAK Browne has dared the Indian industry to put its money where its mouth is by getting involved in the indigenization program to build Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) to replace its aged 56 Avros. “The model we are proposing is to buy a few and license manufacture the rest in India…This is the first time it ('Make' India) will be open to the private sector…We do not require more than 56…the (40-50 seater) project can cater to the civil aviation market (to become viable),” said Browne. The OEM will need to select a partner in India, “The TOT will be the OEMs responsibility,” says a senior IAF official to Aerospace Diary. The MoD wants the same requirements of Avros to be maintained in the replacement. Which in effect, leaves the ATR out as it does not have a rear ramp as the Avro does. Short field landings and take-offs from all type of airstrips is also expected.Those that are expected to be in the fray inclu...

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne spent generous time with the media to answer queries. He even tried his hand at answering a query in Hindi, which unveiled his hidden talent. Some excerpts: Mirage 2000 - Negotiations on the upgradation of the Mirage-2000s are on, Browne said. “We have finished the negotiations for the MICA missile for the aircraft and the case is now with the Finance Ministry. If not this month, it should get cleared next month at least.” LCA - The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has suffered a setback as the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the aircraft has been delayed by another year."As far as LCA is concerned, there was an initial IOC in January this year. We were supposed to get the IOC (final) by the end of this year. As we see it, there is a delay of almost another year in that." C-130J - The Indian Air Force (IAF) will exercise options for another six C-130J transport aircraft in addi...