TVS & DRDO in talks to manufacture ‘Make-in-India’ AWACS
The Defence Corridor in Tamil Nadu could be instrumental in placing India on the global map with a landmark manufacturing deal that is taking shape. A consortium of industries, spearheaded by TVS and Sons, is preparing to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle that will enable the manufacture of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
When this fructifies, India will join the group
of elite nations, and emerge as the fifth country in the world that can produce
indigenous AWACS. Talks are still at a preliminary stage but the idea is to
create a ‘Made-in-India’ Special Purpose Vehicle, to strengthen the defence
sector.
The IAF currently has just three Israeli
Phalcon AWACS, with a 400 kilometer range and 360 degree radar coverage, and
two indigenous “Netra AEW &C aircraft”.
LCA-AF-Mk2: Likely will be ready for Ceremonial
Rollout in August 2022
India will celebrate 75th Independence Day in
2022 and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) wants to mark this
event with the rollout of the first assembled LCA-AF-Mk2 fighter jet around the
Independence Day event next August even though the program has suffered a loss
of few months due to the second wave of the pandemic in the country.
High profile Ceremonial rollout of the LCA-AF-Mk2
has been planned that will be attended by the bigwigs of the present government
including Prime minister Modi, Defence Minister, and other members of the Union
cabinet along with the Indian Air force Chief and other heads of the military
branches.
HAL is in charge of manufacturing five
pre-productions LCA-AF-Mk2 fighter jets. HAL started metal cutting exercise
earlier this year and already has started contracting and tender works for
procurement of the assembly jigs, tools, and machinery for the program along
with that is also setting up the public-private supply chain for the program
that will see large participation from the private and MSME sector companies in
the program after getting confidence boost earlier this year after IAF placed
fresh orders for the 83 LCA-Tejas-Mk1.
While the official Ceremonial rollout might
happen around the Independence Day event next August but the Low and High-speed
trials of the jet will only commence in 2023, followed by the first flight later
in 2023 or early 2024. Ceremonial rollout doesn’t mean aircraft is fit for
flight as seen in South Korea that had unveiled its new Boramae (“Falcon”)
fighter jet, only to dismantle it later since most of the components were still
not integrated into the aircraft and actual flight-worthy aircraft will be
ready only next year. The Naval LCA also made its first flight almost two years
after being rolled out, on 27 April 2012.
The KF-21 Boramae will evolve until possess
characteristics of sixth generation fighters
KAI, the Air Force and the South Korean
National Institute of Science and Technology plan to develop sixth generation
technologies to address threats beyond 2035, many of which will be incorporated
into the KF-21 Boramae. While the KF-21 Boramae is a very new 4.5 Generation
fighter, which had its rollout this year, it was designed from the ground-up
with the ability to evolve to achieve the capabilities of 5th Generation dot
aircraft such as the F-35 and the F-22.
But the new 6th Generation fighters from the US
(NGAD and F/A XX programs), Europe (Tempest and FCAS) and Japan (FX program)
are already on the horizon, which would be taking flight from 2030 and they
will dominate the skies beyond 2040.
Although Korea was able to finish, almost
alone, the prototype and the assembly line of the KF-21, which is in itself a
great achievement, and that it still has years of development to rub shoulders
with the F-35, the truth is that future technologies that would bring the
Boramae closer to the capabilities of a 6th Generation fighter are already
being explored.
Snapped Airbus A319 Flying Testbed of DRDO
India’s Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has procured an Ex Air India, Airbus A319 to be used as an
Inhouse flying Testbed aircraft for various Airborne Radar programs for the
Indian military. The first picture of the DRDO’s Flying Test Bed has now going
viral on the social media sphere where it was spotted with Tipnis gray scheme
and DRDO’s Logo on it.
Airbus A319 Flight Testbed aircraft will be
used to carry out developmental trials of the locally developed Uttam Fire
Control Radar, (Elecro-Optical/Infra-Red) systems, Synthetic aperture radar,
Side-looking airborne radar, and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems for
the Indian Air force’s A319 based AEW &C program and Navy’s Maritime Patrol
Aircraft program to be based on C-295 aircraft.
DRDO’s Airbus A319 Flight Testbed can
accommodate a Crew of 6 and will be equipped with test and instrumentation
racks to record the performance of the systems that are in development.
Why Induction of American MH-60 Romeo Choppers
is a good news for Indian Navy ?
India on Friday formally received the first two
of the 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters at the San Diego’s Naval Air
Station North Island in the US, which the Indian Navy said will enhance its
“three dimensional capabilities”, on the surface, in the air and underwater.
The 24 Romeo, ordered by India last year, is
meant to meet the immediate requirement of the Navy which currently relies on
its P8i aircraft for anti-submarine operations amid China’s increasing forays
into the waters around India.
This will replace its fleet of the ageing
British-built Sea King helicopters, which is now mostly used for transport
rather than its actual role — anti-submarine warfare.
The Romeo choppers also have anti-surface
warfare capabilities, which means they will be capable of detecting surface
threats and taking action against enemy ships too.
Besides tracking submarines and engaging them,
these choppers are also capable of performing other maritime roles such as
search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation
and surveillance.
For
Any Suggestions Contact at any of the platforms given below :
YouTube
Channel Link :
http://www.youtube.com/c/IndianDefenceNews_1?sub_confirmation=1
FaceBook
Page : https://www.facebook.com/LatestDefenceUpdates
Instagram
Link : LatestDefenseUpdates
Koo
Link : https://www.kooapp.com/profile/DefenceSpaceScience
Twitter
Link : latest_defence
You
can send me friend request on FB Account :
https://www.facebook.com/riteshsinha229
Gmail
Id : Indiareacts8851@gmail.com
Note
: For Backlinks Add your Website at
ASR
Search Engine : https://www.activesearchresults.com
