Aerospace Diary

LAND WARFARE 30th September 2016 - 9:54 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  India’s Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, has cleared around $3 billion in procurements, including anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM)....more on ShephardMedia

by  Neelam Mathews  and Chris Pocock  -  April 28, 2016, 7:55 AM Lockheed Martin says that its Persistent Threat Detection Systems (PTDS) aerostats have been operationally proven over Afghanistan and Iraq. (Photo: Lockheed Martin) The Indian Air Force is considering a new purchase of radar-carrying aerostats for air and sea surveillance, especially of low-flying targets. The Indian Ministry of Defense issued a request for information ( RFI ) late last year for a batch of four, six or eight static, mobile or portable aerostat systems, and may soon make a request for proposal, which will include a 30 percent offset clause. The aerostats are likely to be employed in the western and or northern sectors of the Indian sub-continent, an Indian defense official told  AIN . Apart from the U.S., only a handful of countries operate such systems, mostly in the Middle East, although  Singapore is joining their number . The two major suppliers in th...

Neelam Mathews Oct 18, 2015 While Boeing Co Chairman, President and CEO James   McNerney announced to an awe-struck audience in Delhi on Oct 16 that the company would be willing to make its twin-engine F-18 fighters in India, when India releases another MMRCA tender in two years, one wonders what is actually happening to thinking in higher echelons of power? I am not even going into issues related to CISMOA, which a few say will be solved ultimately. While it goes to the credit of the OEMs that they are more than willing to include Indian companies in their global supply base, one wonders why homework has not been done to calculate costs that will be incurred should the country add to its already over two dozen different aircraft models? The Indian Air Force, as far as I can remember, has been crying hoarse over this issue. So while, one has no affiliations to the Rafale for instance, why not just set up co-production for another 90 more? We have to start some time. As...

http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/javelin-co-production-india-advances-under-dtti/?nocache=141380557039 Land Warfare 17th October 2014 - 14:00 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  Plans are afoot in India to co-develop and co-produce the next generation of Raytheon-Lockheed Martin FGM-148  Javelin  ATGMs. The Javelin proposal is being instigated as the US signs a new 10-year Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) with India as the old one is set to expire in mid-2015. On a recent visit to India, US secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel stated: ‘This is an unprecedented offer that we have made only to India and no one else. To ensure our defense industrial cooperation receives the attention it demands, in May, I announced that I was directing the Pentagon's Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Frank Kendall …. to lead and advance the DTTI.’ Presently, the military has to make do with second-generation 2km rang...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 9, 2012 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has acquired 50% of Controp shares. Controp, owned by Shlomo Nir, Sason Benado, Eli Ben Aharon and Ezekiel Ambar, is in the security and military market since 1988, developing and producing smart electro-optic security and surveillance systems. Rafael's Chairman, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Ilan Biran said while concluding the transaction that Controp has dedicated and professional managers and employees who turned it into a successful company with advanced capabilities in electro-optics. Controp will continue to operate as an independent company with engineering, administrative and marketing support from Rafael and Aeronautics, that will enable it to offer comprehensive solutions and advanced systems to the IDF and security organizations as well as to civilian sectors and to its customers abroad. Avi Leumi, CEO of Aeronautics said Controp's ability to contend with its future challenges and goals will certainl...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2011 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. received recognition from the US Department of Defense and the US Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) last month for its continued support of the US Army in its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, says the company. Director of the DCMA Charlie E. Williams Jr., presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Lova Drori, Rafael's Corporate VP of Marketing and expressed the U.S. Department of Defense's appreciation for outstanding support and delivery of quality battle proven armor products. The certificate further cited Rafael for providing "exceptional support to the United States Department of Defense and for being an outstanding Industry partner in the production of Reactive Armor for the Stryker and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. "The certificate also highlighted Rafael's "contribution to the survivability of the United States service members in harm's way, and to its comm...

  Posted by Neelam Mathews Oct 15, 2011 Rafae l will display SPICE, its stand-off strike weapon that overcomes GPS jamming at the Seoul Air Show starting Oct 18. The company says it will also feature a range of other solutions including its Iron Dome missile-defense system. The two products have been aggressively marked in India. SPICE 1000 , an air-to-ground Autonomous Precision guided weapon, capable of overcoming enemy GPS jamming, is part of a family of air-to-ground solutions that also includes the SPICE 2000. SPICE is a stand-off weapon system that hits and destroys targets at high attack volumes.  Also featured will be the Spike Family, an Electro-Optic, Tactical, Precision-Guided Missile System, which includes the Spike LR – Precision Missile System for Infantry, Special Forces and Light Combat Vehicles, Spike ER - an Extended Range tactical missile for helicopters, LCV and Naval vessels and the Spike NLOS Multi-Purpose, Multi-Platform Electro Optical Missile Sy...

With a full range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missile systems, Lova Drori, Executive Vice President Marketing, Rafael, tells ShowNews’ Neelam Mathews that he is looking at long term partnerships with Indian companies. ShowNews: The joint venture with Bharat Electronics Ltd. for seekers seems to have met a roadblock? Lova Drori: Currently there is a stoppage. Since the requirement is (only) 26% (for the foreign partner) and BEL prefers not to have a third industry partner in the JV, it means the JV will become a defense public sector undertaking. The requirements are too complicated. We need to find solutions to that. SN: How? LD:We are looking for JVs in other areas of land systems including remote control weapon stations. SN: What issues do you face in India? LD: There is a problem of process in India. For example, upgrade projects have been planned for several years (and they take time). SN:What is the status of the delivery of the low-level, quick-reaction, surface-...

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report March 30, 2010 NEW DELHI —Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is close to accepting a 26% equity stake in a joint venture with India’s public sector company, Bharat Electronics Ltd., giving speed to the overdue project. The venture is to develop advanced imaging infrared seekers for the Python 5 fifth-generation air-to-air missile.India has ordered 18 Spyder systems that use advanced air-to-air missiles as ground-launched surface-to-air missiles. Besides the Python 5, it has the beyond-visual-range Derby missile, which has an active seeker. BEL says it hopes the joint venture will be sealed within four months. The venture will encourage development of indigenous missile and guidance technologies within India and will enable Rafael to meet offset requirements by transferring technologies and workshare. India restricts foreign equity in defense projects to 26%. This has been a bone of contention among foreign companies that say they are con...

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report Feb 18 , 2010 , p. 06 Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI — Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is in negotiations with Indian public sector company Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) concerning a joint venture program to produce advanced imaging infrared seekers for the Python 5 missile. “The ultimate solution is forming joint ventures,” Rafael Chairman Ilan Biran says. The joint venture with BEL may take a few months, as Rafael has requested that the Indian government increase the Foreign Direct Investment limit from 26 percent to 49 percent. Other issues to be determined include the scope of the project and its market assessment. However, investment is not an issue, BEL Chairman Ashwani Kumar Datt told Aerospace DAILY this week at the land and naval systems DefExpo here. India has ordered 18 Spyder systems that use advanced air-to-air missiles as ground-launched surface-to-air missiles. Besides the Python 5, it has the Derby beyond-visual-range missile, whi...