DRDO plans more land based trials of VL-SRSAM
The Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO plans
to conduct more trial launches of vertical launch short range surface to air
missile VL-SRSAM system later this year before it commences trials from
warships. VL-SRSAM was twice tested from a makeshift static vertical launcher
from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur successfully.
The launches were carried out for a demonstration of vertical launch capability as part of its maiden launch campaign and the missiles intercepted the simulated targets with pinpoint accuracy. They were tested for minimum and maximum range. In Fresh trials planned, the British made target drone Banshee will be used to simulate a sea skimming missile and will also include live warheads this time.
Indigenously designed and developed by DRDO for the Navy, the
VL-SRSAM is meant for neutralizing various aerial threats at close ranges,
including sea skimming targets and has a range of 40km. Once deployed in
frontline warships, the VL-SRSAM system will prove to be a force multiplier for
the Navy and will be replacing the aging Israeli Barak 1 Point air defense
system and will be work with the Indo Israeli LR SAM air defense system that
has a range of 70 to 90 kilometers.
Indian Air Force has been offered a Truck based Mobile
Canister VL-SRSAM system to be used as a Short ranged air defense system
against aerial threats for its forward airbases and infrastructure.
China’s J-10 comes of age with indigenous engine
The recent appearance of an operational Chengdu J-10C powered
by a domestically produced engine marks a key moment for the single engined
type in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
As with so much in Chinese airpower, much of the J-10’s
history is shrouded in mystery. It is understood that the type, which
originated in the 1980s, traces its lineage to the J-9, a canard/delta fighter
that was abandoned in 1980. It is also believed that the J-10 benefited from
the 1980s Israel Aircraft Industries Lavi programme.
In May 2007, Russia’s Rosoboronexport arms agency announced a
$300 million deal to sell 100 Saturn AL-31 engines for China’s planned J-10
fleet.
Since that time, the AL-31 has been the key powerplant for
all variants of the J 10, from the original J-10As to the far more advanced J-10Cs.
Beijing always had plans for the J-10 to receive a local powerplant, the
Shenyang WS-10 Taihang, Finally, in early May, it became clear that a corner
had been turned, a J-10C in an operational unit was spotted with the WS-10.
Mounted inside the J-10, the WS-10 can be identified by a few
subtle features. One is that the afterburner nozzle petals are notably wider on
the WS-10 than on the AL-31. The WS-10 also has a ring structure around the
interior of the nozzle that is absent on the AL-31. In images at least, the
sheen of the alloy used on the WS-10 nozzle is also somewhat lighter than for the
Russian engine.
Former MiG 21 Pilot Takes A Dig At HAL; Says Dassault Rightly
Rejected Local Manufacturing Of Rafale Jets In India
The Indian Air Force reported yet another crash involving a
MiG 21 Bison aircraft on Friday near the western sector in Punjab. The pilot,
Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary, who had reportedly ejected, could not
survive the crash.
The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the accident.
According to officials, the Soviet era aircraft had taken off
from Suratgarh in Rajasthan for Jagraon in Ludhiana for night training
purposes. The aircraft was returning to Suratgarh when it crashed in Moga on
the way back.
The body of Squadron leader Abhinav Chaudhary was found 2 kilometers
away from the crash spot after a search extending 4 hours. The authorities
spotted the open parachute some distance away and an SOS was also sent from the
pilot’s device who had died by then.
This was the third MiG 21 Bison crash this year. The first
incident occurring in January had also taken place near Suratgarh, then the
second MiG 21 crashed when Group Captain Ashish Gupta took off from the Gwalior
airbase and was killed.
India has been unable to retire the old Soviet origin MiG 21s, the first supersonic fighters inducted in 1963, due to a tremendous delay in the induction of newer and more advanced aircraft supposed to replace the obsolete fighter fleet.
The delay in the induction of the indigenous Tejas light
combat aircraft LCA has forced the IAF to continue to operate four MiG 21
`Bison’ squadrons. Under a new deal signed in February this year for Rs 46,898
crore with HAL, IAF expects to induct 83 new Tejas jets between February 2024
and December 2028. The force already operates around 40 such fighters which
have been delivered to it earlier.
India’s LCA project, approved in August 1983, was envisioned
to replace the Russian MiG 21 and has dragged on for decades. The delay has
meant the dwindling squadron strength of the IAF continues to worsen and
operate older aircraft, which originally needs at least 42 squadrons and is
only left with around 31 to 32.
