Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews , Delhi 25-Jan-2019 Indian government policy to connect Tier 2 and 3 cities has received a boost, after the Airports Authority of  India (AAI) and  Saab  announced they will research a pan-Indian air traffic management automation system for airports in the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).... Read more in JAR

by  Neelam Mathews  -  September 12, 2018, 2:58 PM The AMCA stealthy fifth-generation fighter project aims to provide a replacement for India's Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighters, one of which is seen here with an Australian F/A-18 Hornet. (photo: Royal Australian Air Force) With the number of the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadrons expected to decrease quickly from the present 31 as the current fleet ages, there has been a decisive endeavor to accelerate the recapitalization of the fighter fleet. The majority of the new fighters are to bear the “Make in India” label. By 2032, the Indian Air Force plans to have at least 18 squadrons of Indian-made fighters, said the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal R. Nambiar, at a conference held in Delhi this month. Nambiar said that the squadrons of the indigenously built fleet would include the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1, Mk1A, and Mk2 that, in 10 years, “would be the mainstay of our inventory.” LCA variants would r...

Jane's Airport Review Neelam Mathews 11-Sep-2017 The Airports Authority of  India  (AAI) is looking at the viability of investing in digital towers. An expression of interest document will be..... Read more in Jane's Subscription 1 Could the new ATC tower at Delhi (pictured left, next to the old tower) be supplemented by a remote facility for contingency services? ( Neelam   Mathews )

Russia Pitches MiG-35 to India as FGFA Project Falters by  Neelam Mathews  - September 7, 2017, 7:56 AM As the contest to supply a new fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) heats up, the MiG-35 has emerged as a viable candidate. India is supposedly seeking about 220 single-engine fighters to replace 11 squadrons of MiG-21/27s that entered service in the 1990s. Rosoboronexport is believed to have offered a licensed production deal for the twin-engine MiG-35 that would compensate for the IAF’s reluctance to proceed with the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project. At the MAKS 2017 airshow in July, Ilya Tarasenko, director general of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, said: “We are actively working with the IAF in order to win the tender.” Russia has committed to a 40-year maintenance and upgrade contract to preclude the support issues that have arisen in the past with Russian aircraft in service wit...

Neelam Mathews Nov 30, 2016 One of the original batch of LCAs on display at the Aero India show in 2015. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) India’s Ministry of Defense has cleared an order for 83 Light Combat Aircraft ( LCA ), designated Mk1A, from government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL ) for the Indian Air Force ( IAF ).   HAL   currently has in hand an order for 40   GE   F404 -engined   LCA s for the   IAF . Of the 20 to be produced with an initial operational clearance, three have been delivered and the fourth is scheduled to be handed over by early next year. Twenty more will be supplied once they receive the final operational clearance ( FOC ) by end of 2017. HAL   says it will increase production from eight to 16 a year “once a formal order is received for the 83 Mk1As.”   IAF   Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha said last year: “We want the   LCA   Mk1A with an improved radar [Elta's ...

by  Neelam Mathews  -  November 2, 2016, 12:26 PM Lockheed Martin released this artist’s impression of an F-16 in Indian air force colors in 2011, when the type was previously evaluated for the MMRCA contract. (Image: Lockheed Martin) After  confirming the acquisition  of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters off-the-shelf from France, India has invited proposals from the U.S., Sweden and Russia to transfer technology and produce a single-engine fighter in-country. The latest move seems to preclude any “Make in India” offers from Dassault for the twin-engine Rafale, as well as Eurofighter (for the Typhoon) or Boeing (for the F/A-18). India has a requirement for approximately 100 more fighters. The invitation was in the form of letters handed to the ambassadors of the three countries. Lockheed Martin has already responded, offering an upgraded “F-16 Block 70.” It is believed that Saab will follow, with an offer for the Gripen E. It is unclear what Russia mi...

Neelam Mathews Apr 24, 2016 Pix-Neelam Mathews As the Indian Air Force (IAF) squadrons hit a low of around 33 against the 42 projected and India has come closer to signing 36 Rafales for its Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft requirement, it is now looking at a second line of fighters to be produced in the country.  Given that the IAF has a varied fleet with spares inventory management getting tedious and more expensive, what happens to commonality we asked Chief Arup Raha. It is no secret that lack of commonality in aircraft models has made inventory management a grueling task for the IAF in the past. “Commonality in the IAF fleet is very important. We have too many inventories, and each aircraft requires spares., " confessed CAS to AerospaceDiary. In an exclusive, he added that "while it was best is to have lesser inventories, we have so many Su-30s. We cannot keep expanding one particular fleet (as) there are vulnerabilities and (so) we (must keep) balance....

Neelam Mathews/Ben Vogel Feb 12, 2016 The biggest airport in  Pakistan  is being built by the  China  Communications Construction Company at Gwadar in Baluchistan as part of the USD46 billion  China - Pakistan  Economic Corridor linking western  China  to the Arabian Sea. Construction of New Gwadar International Airport is set to begin imminently. The USD250 million project is expected to last 30 months on a 4,000-acre site that sits 25 km northeast of the existing airport. The airport is one element of a wider Chinese-backed strategy for Gwadar, including development of the deepwater Gwadar Port and a road-building programme. Chinese Overseas Ports Holding Company Ltd took over the port in October 2015 after signing a 40-year lease for more than 2,000 acres of land. While New Gwadar International International Airport is primarily a Chinese project, the  Pakistan  Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) is upgrading airfield infr...

IHS Jane's Airport Review Neelam Mathews   - IHS Jane's Airport Review 23 October 2014   Saab has been selected by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to deploy its Advanced - Surface Movement Guidance & Control System (A-SMGCS) at five airports. The product is expected to save costs and significantly improve situational awareness, runway safety, and capacity. A3000 A-SMGCS plus Saab multilateration sensors and SR-3 surface-movement radars will be installed at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Guwahati, Jaipur, and Lucknow airports. The system "will enable the airport to reduce runway incursions while maximising the use of runways and taxiways", said Anders Carp, head of Saab's traffic management business unit. Installing the Saab equipment "will enhance ground surveillance, leading to improved access and enhanced safety of aircraft operations" at the five airports, said V Somasundaram, board member (ANS) at the AAI.........More on Janes...

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...

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 Nov 28, 2012 Northrop Grumman Corporation is to supply advanced shipboard navigation systems for 20 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. The fast patrol vessels will be built at Cochi Shipyard Under the contract, awarded through the company's Indian reseller Marine Electricals Ltd., Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will provide a navigation package including VisionMaster Total Watch multifunction displays, electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), autopilot, magnetic compass and the new NAVIGAT 3000 fibre optic gyrocompass. The contract also includes spares, factory testing and engineering support services. The first shipset delivery is expected in late 2012. Deliveries will continue into 2015.   Saab has appointed Niklas Nieminen as Managing Director of Saab India Technologies Pvt Ltd from November 1.  Niklas will be working losely with Lars-Olof Lindgren, designate Head of Market Area, India. A...

Neelam Mathews Nov 20, 2012   Inderjit Sial is the  new President & Managing Director of Textron India. He succeeds N.R. Mohanty who is retiring after 6 years of service with the company.  Inderjit is responsible for advancing the company’s globalization strategy in the region and with supporting Textron business units with their growth, business development, engineering and sourcing initiatives.  He is also responsible for managing overall relationship with the Indian Government and Indian Military Services.  His most recent position was managing director of SAAB India Technologies, a position he held since 2010, after having joined SAAB in 2008 as vice president industrial cooperation. At SAAB, Inderjit was responsible for government relations as well as business development for a broad range of product lines covering defense and civil aerospace. He was instrumental in establishing SAAB’s industrial partnerships and JV’s with various...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Aug 28, 2012 Lars-Olof Lindgren, former ambassador of Sweden to India between 2007 to 2012, will head Saab Market Area India from December 1. “Lars-Olof Lindgren’s experience and relationships with the Indian and Swedish governments and industries will further reinforce Saab’s long-term commitment to the Indian market,” says Saab. He succeeds Jan Widerström . Saab President and CEO, Håkan Buskhe said: “ India has been identified to be one of Saab’s most important markets and we look forward to welcoming Lars-Olof who, with his considerable experience of India , will enable us to contribute significantly to the country’s defence industry, forge new relationships with the Indian private sector and build strong, collaborative partnerships.” Saab recently signed an MoU) with ship-builder Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering Ltd. for a $38-million investment for building infrastructure and maintenance of military hardware.

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Aug 3, 2012-08-03 Saab has announced the implementation of National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) on the Indian coast line for India’s Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), which will also be used by   Indian Navy, Coast Guard and DG Shipping . The National Automatic Identification Systems was inaugurated by India’s Union Minister for Shipping, G.K. Vasan, at a formal ceremony in Chennai. This National   Automatic Information System (NAIS)   provides coverage to entire Indian Coast, whereby 74 lighthouses are now fitted with the Saab systems.   Automatic Identification System (AIS)   provides real time merchant traffic information and the web server allows access to live data over internet.   The project   comprised installation of sensors and equipments along the Indian coast for regional and national control centers. Saab implemented the entire gamut of project which included i...