Aerospace Diary

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  AUGUST 23, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS The first Indian Navy P-8I Poseidon at Utkrosh naval air station. The jet may be a contender for India’s latest maritime patrol aircraft requirement, even though a smaller aircraft is envisioned. (Photo: Indian Navy) August 23, 2013, 10:35 AM India’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has issued a request for proposal for nine medium-range maritime reconnaissance ( MRMR ) aircraft for the Indian Navy, plus 38 anti-ship missiles. The Navy has taken delivery of the first of eight Boeing P-8I Poseidon jets, and Boeing Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Although the new  RFP  seems to encourage smaller, lower-cost airframes and weapons, its terms may limit the bids. The  RFP  states the aircraft must fly a transit of 400 nm at 300 knots and patrol 400 nm for four hours at a height of 10,000 feet, configured with two missiles with a range of about 50 nm. The Mo...

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  JANUARY 11, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS India will become the fifth country to operate A330 multi-role tanker transports (MRTTs), following Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK. (Photo: Airbus Military) January 11, 2013, 10:25 AM The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) has selected the A330 multi-role tanker transport ( MRTT ) for its tanker procurement in preference to the Ilyushin Il- 78MK , after a second round of bidding. Commercial negotiations for six aircraft with an option for three more will start soon, and a contract that includes a 30-percent offset commitment is expected to be signed by June. Airbus Military  CEO  Domingo Urena-Raso said, “This has been a long and tough competition, and we are honored to have been selected.” The depot maintenance and life support costs of the A330 were a factor in the Airbus win, since the base price of the Il-78 was lower. Having suffered in t...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews                                                         Dec 3, 2012 1.     The world has acknowledged India’s economic trajectory and as the country continues to progress on the path of sustained growth, there is a growing acceptance that the maritime domain is the prime facilitator of our economic growth. More than 90% of our trade by volume and 77% by value is transported over the seas. Over 97% of our energy needs of oil are either imported or produced from offshore fields. Consequently, our economic growth is inextricably linked to the seas.   2.     The raison d’etre of our existence is thus, succinctly encapsulated in the theme for Navy Week 2012: ‘Indian Navy – Maritime Power for National Prosperity’. Our mandate is unambiguous – to be ‘Net Security Providers’ wh...

Neelam Mathews Aug 31, 2012 It was on January 1, 2009, the Government of India signed a contract with Boeing Defense, Space & Security to purchase eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and antisubmarine aircraft. The P-8I celebrated its first flight in Seattle in September 2011. Delivery of the first aircraft scheduled for 2013, may now be made around Dec 18, 2012, Aerospace Diary learns, but could not confirm. Boeing had said it would deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015.The P-8I is an India-unique variant of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon and offers India the full range of maritime surveillance and patrol missions. HAL is currently contracted to manufacture the P-8I weapons bay door, tailcone, and IFFT, and the F/A-18 gun bay door and wiring harnesses. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has delivered the Indian-designed Data Link II for the P-8I, a communications system that will enable exchange of t...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews May 31, 2012 Press Release: Boeing on May 3 delivered to the U.S. Navy the first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft with a cockpit sub-assembly produced by Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The sub-assembly provides cockpit floodlighting compatible with the aircraft's Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS). Boeing awarded BEL an initial contract in March 2011 for work on Super Hornet cockpit subassemblies. That contract included options to renew annually for up to four years. As a result of BEL's demonstrated performance, Boeing recently exercised an option to renew the contract for another year. "BEL continues to demonstrate its capabilities and its position as a valued partner to Boeing," said Dennis Swanson, vice president of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India. "BEL's work on P-8I, Super Hornets and Growlers is another example of how Indian companies a...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 29, 2011 The first Boeing P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy has completed its initial flight. It took off  from Renton Field in Seattle. "The P-8I will provide India with the necessary speed and reliability to satisfy the Indian Navy's maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements," said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president. The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009. An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the original contract. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 ft prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company fac...