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SPECIAL SECTION that trends could be identified, analysed and VI/2017 perhaps, eventually, even shaped. 45 years on, the Journal has striven to Aerospace & Defence Review maintain its raison d’être and is regarded, both within the country and globally, as such, not only reporting on contemporary aerospace matters, but becoming an invaluable reference for posterity. The Vayu has been recognised for its professionalism by leading organisations such as the Royal Aeronautical Society and others, receiving honours repeatedly at international forums, and regarded as amongst the leading aerospace journals of the world. Essentially, however, the Vayu keeps its Indian flavour, concentrating on matters The Indian Navy Today that concern the country, be it on the Interview with the CNS HMS Queen Elizabeth The Final Reckoning ? MBDA’s future plans national aviation industry, the services, Carrier borne fighters Dubai Air Show 2017 the airlines and space research. Thus, as hen India’s Defence Minister covered at first hand Operation Pawan, the officially launched this journal 33 months of Indian armed involvement in in New Delhi on 7 November northern and eastern Sri Lanka, also flying W1974, he had hoped that this journal in helicopter gunships during some actions ‘would give professional satisfaction to those there. Vayu was also uniquely positioned on would be associated with this … serving to the heights overlooking Drass on last day of disseminate real knowledge in-depth … that action, 20 years back. touching the chord of those people who are In the international arena, the Vayu serious minded and who want to go deeper’. has continuously covered on-the-spot air Editorial of the premiere issue shows at Farnborough, Le Bourget, Changi, proclaimed that the Journal, was intended to Dubai, Zhukovsky, Langkawi as also visited span, appropriately, the gap for a specialised leading international aerospace companies Asian aviation magazine. Conscious of the in America, Britain, France, Germany, environment constraints and the limitation Sweden, Italy, Spain, Russia, Brazil … in which we function, it will nevertheless be China is a hopeful next ! our endeavor to offer the highest standards of But essentially, it is India. The Vayu has accuracy presenting solid fact and data recorded very assiduously reported on and analysed in an informative and readable manner. national endeavours for achieving self-reliance The journal would strive to report with not only in the production of aircraft but de objectivity which is as important as professional novo design and development of various types knowledge and skill, style and a capacity to the years and decades go by, readers can ranging from motorised gliders, basic trainers, keep up with change. From reports on air review as to how the Air Force expanded light transport aircraft, advanced helicopters arms and their sophisticated weapon-systems, and modernised in the 1980s, began to new generation multi-role fighters, as also the highly organised air transport industry and endeavours to supplant obsolescent aircraft space launch vehicles. space research to those on historical events that types from start of the 21st century, how The next 15 pages are a virtual ‘pilots eye have shaped man’s flight, the Journal would the Indian Navy has progressed in keeping view’ of aviation and aerospace developments provide for concentrated reading by those up with stated Maritime Capability Plans, that have impacted on India over 45 years involved or associated with aviation and, foundation and expansion of the Coast but to go into depth, readers are urged to visit hopefully, given an impetus to the air-minded. Guard, formalisation of the Army Aviation http://www.vayuaerospace.in for hundreds of Although international in flavour, the Corps, even as the ‘Open Skies’ policy selected articles – or order copies from the magazine would have a strong Asian bias… spawned a rash of startup private airlines past in digital format as are available. with the hope that the vantage point of New with, in the event, many disappearing With Vayu Aerospace Review on the way Delhi, as geographic centre of the arc from sooner or later. Other are expanding. towards completing its half century in 2024, West Asia to the Pacific, would enable it to Some short but sharp conflicts in the readers are assured that the standards they heighten its impact on Governments and sub-continent were analysed in-depth, have grown to expect, will be maintained, industry, making each the better informed from Kargil in 1999 to Balakot in 2019 with uprightness, professionalism and style. on aviation parameters and programmes so and the Vayu remains unique in having Vayu Editorial Team VI/2019 51 1974 1975 1976 Defence Minister S Swaran Singh stated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are that it would be incorrect to say that the proceeding with four new aircraft projects, Indian Air Force was facing difficulty in being the armed Kiran Mk. II jet trainer equipping itself “properly” owing to foreign whose prototype flew end July 1976; the exchange shortages. “Our effort has always HPT-32 primary trainer the Ajeet trainer been to keep our defence preparedness at a (to fly in 1978); and an Advanced Light satisfactory level within our resources.” Helicopter (ALH) to be designed and Soviet Defence Minister, Marshal developed with Aerospatiale assistance, Andrei Grechko, accompanied by Chiefs (having a fenestron tail rotor design) and to of the Soviet Air Forces and Navy, Air be operated from helipads as high as 6000 A significant development is the setting Chief Marshal PS Kotakhov and Admiral metres above sea level. up of a Design Organisation in HAL headed SG Gorshkov, respectively, visited India The IAF plans to induct the definitive by a whole time Director responsible for for three days in February. Considerable MiG-21bis into service during next year planning and co-ordinating all the design significance has been attached to this high to supplement and eventually replace the and development activities of the Company. powered defence visit to India as detailed MiG-21Ms and MiG-21FLs in service. Development of the HF-24 Marut will talks covered the whole gamut of present The MiG-21bis will be powered by the continue with new engines and systems. co-operation and collaboration between the Tumansky R-25 engine and have “improved The HF-24 Mk. II is virtually rejected as two countries concerning India’s security ground attack capability” the Indian Air Force has not confirmed its requirement. The IAF have “turned down” the Soviet initial interest in the afterburning Orpheus According to reports from London, offer of MiG-23 swing-wing strike fighters, 703. HAL have submitted firm proposals the keen Indian interest in procuring largely on the basis of inadequate range to for the Mk. III or HF-73, and this aircraft Jaguar strike fighters has been toned down meet its requirements. The IAF has also would reportedly exhaust the growth because financial problems could “not be shelved the HAL proposal for a SNECMA potential of the HF-24. satisfactorily resolved”. M.53-powered derivative of the HF-24 The second Indian-built Leander-class Indian Naval missions visiting Moscow Marut but is studying an alternative design frigate, INS Himgiri was commissioned recently have discussed a comprehensive with the Tumansky R-25 engine (the HF-25). at Bombay on 23 November. Similar to list of requirements, which includes more Commenting on Professor Satish the INS Nilgiri, the first such type to be submarines, Kresta-type helicopter carriers as Dhawan’s reports which “cleared” built at Mazagon Dock Yard, the Himgiri well as long-range maritime reconnaissance operations by the HS 748, Air Chief carries a MATCH Alouette III helicopter aircraft. Marshal OP Mehra has said that the Indian and is equipped with Seacat short-range Air Force continued to operate the HS anti-aircraft missiles amongst other 748 without any “rethinking” and would armament. continue to receive the new HS 748s for Air India has ordered its fifth Boeing which orders had been placed with HAL. 747B for delivery in December 1975. The lone aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is During the Fifth Plan, Air India was to to undergo modernisation but no decision procure three wide-bodied jets and the has been taken concerning new flying DC-10 was strongly considered but its equipment on board. lower operating cost was outweighed by The Indian Navy’s second Sea King The Indian Navy’s first long-range additional investment in new engineering ASW helicopter squadron, INAS 336, was maritime reconnaissance unit, INAS 312, facilities, ground support equipment and commissioned at INS Garuda, Cochin. The was formally commissioned at INAS Hansa, crew training which would have been Unit will be committed on the Western Goa on 18 November, equipped with ex- entailed. coast of India, the total number of Sea Kings in Indian Navy Service is now twelve, with Air India / ex-Indian Air Force Lockheed HAL Kanpur will be delivering the 69th, two squadrons. L.1049G Super Constellations fitted with and last, Avro 748 to the Indian Air Force in ASV-21 radars. 1975 but owing to the delay in submission The Satellite Introduction Television of the Dhawan Committee report, plans for Experiment (SITE) began from 1 August the production of the freighter version (30 with a message from the Prime Minister. HS 784Ms) and development of a maritime About 2,400 villages in six different reconnaissance variant at the insistence of states- Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, the IAF, has resulted in an inevitable break Karnataka, Orissa, Rajasthan and Bihar have The first of three Airbus A.300 B2s on in production and idle capacity at Kanpur, got the benefit of the TV programmes. order by Indian Airlines was delivered to the “causing serious concern and the matter is Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, Corporation on 30 October, 1976, with the being pursued with the Government for an completed six months in orbit on 19 second and third airliners reaching Bombay expeditious final decision”.