Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews May 4, 2013 Neelam Mathews May 4, 2013 With approval given by the defense procurement apex body, Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), the Indian Air Force is set to release a (repeat) Request for Proposal for nine aircraft along with systems for airborne Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Communications Jamming (COMJAM), ground survey and target towing within a month.  An RFP released four years ago shortlisted Israel Aircraft Industries with an 8-seater G-200 and Embraer 145, both offering the Elta Airborne Integrated Signal Intelligence System (AISIS). Delays in the offset policy resulted in price escalation by the OEM, which was not accepted by the ministry of defense, leading to cancellation of the bid. “Now five years later, the cost will be much higher given the changed specs and also a highly depreciated rupee,” a vendor says. The new RFP requires a larger aircraft to provide for ten seating passengers in a cabin. IAI, if it participates, wi...

Neelam Mathews Jan 13, 2012 An RFI is out by the Indian Army that is planning to procure an Unmanned  Aerial Vehicle (UAV)  Mission Simulator. The last date of submission is Feb 25. The RFI says the Indian Army is employing Searcher and Heron class of UAVs and is planning to acquire a Mission Simulator for training of its crew. The  UAV Mission Simulator should be capable of conducting  initial and refresher training of External Pilot, Internal Pilot, Mission Commander and Observer with a separate console available to the instructor.  The Simulator is proposed to be used for simulation of single, Air Data Relay (ADR), mission scenario, maritime scenario, with or without Satellite Communication (SATCOM) for single or multiple payloads. It will also be used for simulation of all phases of UAV mission as well as its payloads and to play pre-recorded missions with annotations for analysis. 

Neelam Mathews Dec 19, 2012 The Ministry of Defense plans to procure  Passive Surveillance and ELINT System (PSES) for the Indian Air Force, for which an RFI has been released. The last date for submissions is Dec 31. The first part of the RFI incorporates operational characteristics and features that should be met by the equipment.  Some technical parameters are also mentioned. The PSES will be used by the Indian Air Force as a ground based system deployed in field areas intelligence, early warning, air  defense, and ground and marine surveillance missions.  Passive surveillance role will be capable of generating a comprehensive Air Situation Picture (ASP) with the help of  reception and processing of chance reflections of other transmissions in the RF spectrum.  The ELINT system will intercept, process, analyse and report all types of Radar transmissions across the complete band of Radar Operation Radio Frequency bands (70 MHz to 40 MHz),says...

Neelam Mathews Dec 17, 2012 The Indian Army is planning to procure Electro Optical Systems to be                   co-mounted on the 17 Meter MAST for simultaneous electronic surveillance display feed alongwith input of BFSR (MR).  “With a view to identify probable vendors who can undertake the said project the OEMs/Vendors are requested to forward information on the product which they can offer.,” says the RFI of which the last date of submission is Jan 31, 2013. Some of the RFI queries: Q1. Is the Electro optical system (EOS) passive or active?    Q2. Can the EOS be integrated on the existing 17 meter mast alongwith the BFSR (MR) radar for simultaneous functioning? Does it lend itself to be easily fitted without jeopardizingthe functioning of the BFSR (MR) radar? Q3. Are  the ranges of the EOS ( TI and CCD Camera) capable of achieving the following in ...

Neelam Mathews July 21, 2012 Washington D.C Over three years since the Indian Navy showed an interest in the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, India might be rethinking the acquisition. A Request For Information is expected to be released for the system. This will be an FMS case, AerospaceDiary learns. Aegis is the primary sea-based component of the U.S. missile defense system. Aegis BMD seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, MK 41 Vertical Launching System, and SM-3 missile through an advanced command and control system. Japan, Korea, Spain, Norway and Australia have already bought the system. Kuwait and UAE have shown interest, according to Lockheed Martin's Jeff Bantle here. He adds demand is increasing as the threat environment intensifies. Twenty-six Aegis BMD-equipped warships - 22 in the U.S. Navy and four in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force - have the certified capability to engage ballistic missiles and perform long-range surveillance and tra...

Neelam Mathews June 13, 2012 With a Request for Proposal awaited for  India ’s first private medium airlifter project for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to replace 56  Hawker Siddeley HS 748s,  the government is facing the reality that is private enterprise – running into losses just won’t do. India’s handful of manufacturers that have been in discussions for this project, say they need a commitment from the Ministry of Defense for at least 200 aircraft before they commit to getting involved. “We need a business case before we invest money in the project,” says one of the Indian manufacturers on condition of anonymity. The  Hawker Siddeley HS 748s were originally designed by the British firm Avro in the late 1950s. A Request for Information was released in December last year inviting foreign OEMs to bid for a medium transport aircraft  only if they could find private Indian partners who would build the aircraft in I...

Neelam Mathews Dec 26, 2011   The Ministry of Defense, plans on procuring a weapon system “which can mount an in service Pistol 9mm for shooting around the corner w/o exposing the firer or with minimum exposure of the firer. It is envisaged to engage targets effectively using traverse firing.” The RFI has asked OEMs to indicate if they can supply the equipment with Transfer of Technology or otherwise. Information asked for includes Specifications Parameters Available on Video Camera , Monitor , Weapon (Types that can be mounted) , environment conditions including spares, remote operation capability, aspects of Electro Magnetic Emission. The responses from OEM’s have been requested by Jan 31.

NEW DELHI — The Indian navy has issued a request for information (RFI) for procurement of six conventional submarines under its Project 75 (I) program. The estimated value of the eventual contract is $11 billion. Submissions are due by Sept 30. Companies expected to respond include Rosoboronexport (Amur shipyard),France’s DCNS, Germany’s HDW and Spain’s Navantia. The Indian navy says it is in the process of identifying a contemporary conventional submarine with two diesel-electric engines to be built at the vendor’s shipyard and four more at Indian shipyards. The RFI states it will look at companies that have independently designed and constructed modern subs currently in service or undergoing sea trials. “The submarine should be capable of operating in open and littoral/shallow waters in dense antisurface and antisubmarine warfare and [electronic warfare] environments,” the RFI says. The Scorpene — six of which India has ordered and are under construction — is 1,700 tons and ...