Dassault to get Rafale-M (Marine Version) to Shore Based Test Facility in Goa for Trials
French defence giant Dassault Aviation is likely to bring the naval version of the Rafale aircraft to India in early 2022 to showcase its ability to carry out a ski jump, which is a crucial take-off capability to operate from Indian aircraft carriers.
Dassault which is eyeing a mega contract with the Indian Navy
for new fighters, has offered to bring the Rafale-M (Marine) to India. The Navy
plans to procure new fighters to replace the Russian MiG-29K fighters.
The Rafale-M will not take off from the aircraft carrier during
the showcase but from the shore-based test facility at INS Hansa, Goa. Dates
are yet to be worked out but Dassault has offered to bring the Rafale-M as
early as January, if needed.
INS Vikramaditya and an indigenous one that is under trial employ
STOBAR Short Take-off but Arrested Recovery. That’s why foreign fighters have
to showcase the Ski Jump capability as a basic requirement.
Argentina Confirms Indian HAL Tejas as ‘Key Contender’ For Its
Airforce Fighter Jet Contract, Awaits Official Proposal
Argentina’s air force has an aging fleet comprising French designed
Mirage-III and Mirage-V aircraft along with the US built A4 Skyhawk subsonic
jets. The Mirage fighters were phased out in 2015. This left the South American
country’s air force in a very vulnerable position.
Argentina had recently set aside a budget worth $664 million
to procure warplanes to enhance its airpower. However, procuring these fighters
doesn’t seem to be an easy task.
Tejas aircraft was already pitched to the Royal Malaysian Air
Force. Since the Argentine Air Force is looking for multi-purpose fighters that
it plans to employ in surveillance and airspace control roles, India’s
indigenous Light Combat Aircraft LCA Tejas could be a desirable option.
The LCA makes for a great choice for nations looking for a
budget fighter aircraft. Its Mark-1A variant will be equipped with an active
electronically scanned array AESA radar, beyond visual range (BVR) missile,
electronic warfare suit, and an air to air refuelling system.
Pakistan’s New HQ-9P Air Defence System Could Seriously
Complicate Indian Air Force Operations
The delivery of the first units HQ-9P to Pakistan has been confirmed. The HQ-9P which is thought to be an export variant of
the HQ-9B tailored to Pakistani
requirements, was commissioned during a ceremony on October 14th at Army Air
Defence Centre Karachi. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan's Chief of Army
Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The systems provide Pakistan with its first ever long-range
surface to air missile capability. The missile system has a maximum engagement
range reported as between 200 and 300km by various sources. HQ-9 have long been
seen as a Chinese analogue to the more widely used Russian S-300 series, and
the HQ-9B is considered China’s most capable multirole long range air defence
system other than the S-400 acquired from Russia.
The acquisition comes as India plans to acquire its first S-400
units with five battalions set to be operational by 2025.
