VI/2013 ARerospace &Defence eview INS Vikramaditya (R33) commissioned Russian aircraft with IN India’s Maritime Options Dubai Air Show 2013 MBDA Missiles The Sea Gripen CFM VI/2013 VI/2013 Aerospace &Defence Review 42 ‘The Carrier that endorses the view that “a well- 102 An Enduring Story came in from the funded navy can become both As Part II of the article on Indo- a provider of security and an Russian co-operation in military Cold’ expression of India’s willingness aviation, the ongoing extent of Vayu was the only trade journal to shoulder great-power Russian aircraft in service with represented at Severodvinsk responsibilities.” India’s Naval Air Arm is reviewed INS Vikramaditya (R33) commissioned Russian aircraft with IN when the Indian Naval Ensign by Pushpindar Singh. The Indian India’s Maritime Options Dubai Air Show 2013 was hoisted on stern of INS Navy’s inventory today includes The Sea Gripen MBDA Missiles Vikramaditya, and is therefore NAMEXPO 2013 Russian-origin long range able to bring this exclusive, 68 India’s first Naval and Maritime maritime patrol aircraft, AEW INS Vikramaditya during sea trials in Russian comprehensive report Expo was held at Cochin, which and ASW helicopters, supersonic waters (photo : Sevmash) on commissioning of Indian included conferences involving multi-role fighters - an enduring Navy’s new aircraft carrier. the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, story in its sixth decade. This account is supported with Ministry of MSME and NSIC. other ‘exclusives’ including There was both international EDITORIAL PANEL an informal interaction with and domestic participation, MANAGING EDITOR Defence Minister AK Antony and with timely papers presented by Vikramjit Singh Chopra a tour of vital sections of the ship. several speakers including that by Tony Ogilvy head of the Sea EDITORIAL ADVISOR Gripen programme. A relevant Admiral Arun Prakash piece examines the LCA Navy project and focuses on critical EDITORIAL PANEL challenges of aircraft operating Pushpindar Singh from a carrier at sea. 116 Air Show on the Gulf Air Marshal Brijesh Jayal The Vayu editorial team were at the Dubai World Centre and Dr. Manoj Joshi Interview with the brand new Al Maktoum Lt. Gen. Kamal Davar 34 International Airport to cover Lt. Gen. SJS Sehgal DCNS, interaction the Dubai Air Show 2013. The Gp Capt JC Malik with CNS Show witnessed mega orders Cdr M Nirmal On the eve of Navy Day, Admiral by mega carriers, with formal DK Joshi addressed the nation announcements on orders for Monica Arora during a media briefing, the Boeing and Airbus airliners Angad Singh DCNS : ‘Sea’ the Future theme being ‘Indian Navy – 76 The French naval defence exceeding US $ 160 billion. The Richard Gardner (UK) Maritime Security through Self company (DCNS) have Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder Reuben Johnson (USA) Reliance’. Earlier, in an exclusive expanded their expertise beyond fighter also made its mark, both Simon Watson (UK) interview with the Vayu Vice designing & building submarines on static and flying display. Admiral Pradeep K Chatterjee, Bertrand de Boisset (France) and surface combatants, to now DCNS articulated on several Dr Nick Evesenkin (Russia) include associated systems and issues that are critical to the infrastructure. In this review of Tamir Eshel (Israel) future prowess of the Indian the company’s performance in Navy. ADVERTISING & MARKETING MANAGER 2013, the CEO Patrick Boissier, confirms their growth potential Husnal Kaur even as we look at “The Water BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER World of DCNS”. Also : Affordable Air Power; Premjit Singh Mangalyaan to Mars; Gathering of (Grey) Eagles; EMALS; Aircraft and their Carriers; More wings for ICG; 56 India’s Maritime Dornier 228 in India – 30 years Options on; DSEI 2013; ESPS ‘Cantabria’; Things that go ‘Bang’ ! Tomahawk for Precision Strikes; Admiral Arun Prakash invokes 91 Angad Singh of Vayu visited missile Published by: the ‘Mahanian solution’, Bear versus Dragon; Guardians THE SOCIETY FOR AEROSPACE STUDIES manufacturer MBDA’s facilities in of the Golden Gate; End of An alongside maritime doctrine of Europe, to be briefed on a wide D-43, Sujan Singh Park, the famous Naval geo-strategist Era; Interviews with Mr Kanji range of MBDA products that are Ishimaru (ShinMaywa); Mr Khalil New Delhi 110 003 India Sir Julian Corbett, in his review either actively on offer to India or Tel: +91 11 24617234 of the Indian Navy today. In Rahman (Atlas Elektronik India); are relevant to the Indian market AVM Arvind Walia (Sikorsky); Fax: +91 11 24628615 asking the question whether in the future. In this first article Rainer Farid (Eurocopter); e-mail: [email protected] we are “putting the cart before of a two-part series on the trip, the horse”, the former CNS Sebastien Remy (EADS e-mail: [email protected] are covered MBDA’s maritime Innovation Works). products, in keeping with the Printed at Aegean Offset Printers Navy-centric theme of this Issue. Regular features : Commentary, Opinion, Viewpoint, The opinions expressed in the articles published in the Vayu Aerospace and Aviation & Defence in India, World Defence Review do not necessarily reflect Aviation & Defence News, Ancient the views or policies of The Society for Aviator Anecdotes, Vayu 25 years back, Aerospace Studies. Tale Spin. Visit us at: www.vayuaerospace.in C O M M E N T A R Y with initially just four Westland Wapiti IIA single-engine The Promise of INS Vikramaditya biplanes. ndia’s naval doctrine professes a three-carrier force: Post-Independence, the IAF has been among with the Ione each on either flank, with a third one remaining world’s busiest: it has participated in wars with Pakistan, on periodic maintenance at any given time. Having been involved in military engagements overseas (Sri Lanka) envisaged a naval force built around a carrier battle group and in UN peace support operations, continues to be engaged to retain control over the expansive seas under its sphere in air maintenance operations in some of the world’s most of geostrategic interest, India acquired its first carrier, treacherous terrains setting new records as a matter of routine INS Vikrant, as early as 1961 and operated it till the late and exercises with some of the world’s most advanced air 1990s alongside another British-origin carrier, INS Viraat, forces, including the US Air Force. which was inducted in 1987. Aircraft carrier Vikramaditya The IAF, which is currently in the midst of unprecedented has now been inducted into the Indian Navy as a work-in- modernisation and capability enhancement, has in the last progress. It is meant to bridge the operational gap between decade-and-a-half inducted long-range Su-30MKI multi- the retirement of Viraat, already a spent force and on its last role fighters, flight refuelling aircraft, Airborne Warning lap, and the induction of the indigenous carrier, Vikrant, and Control Systems and the US-made C-17 and C-130J to be ready hopefully by 2018. During the interregnum, Hercules transport aircraft. The transport aircraft, however, the Navy could not have afforded to waste its five-decade are essentially replacements for the ageing Soviet-origin experience and skills in operating carriers. The strategic Il-76 and An-32 fleet. But despite these new inductions and value of an aircraft carrier is apparent also from China’s capabilities, the IAF seems to be fighting a losing battle — acquisition of a resurrected Soviet carrier. both quantitative and qualitative — when it comes to its The debate may continue on the strategic utility of sea fighter squadrons. Numerically, the IAF is depleted to 33 control when stealthy underwater platforms are part of the fighter squadrons (a 34th squadron is currently under raising) strategic deterrence. Yet, the significance of carriers in against its sanctioned strength of 42. implementing India’s quest to exert a benign influence over The much delayed indigenously developed Light Combat the volatile Indo-Pacific cannot be overstated. Strengthening Aircraft is still some time away from induction, which means its expensive carrier-centric surface fleet should not of course the IAF will need to continue to fly its museum piece MiG-21s be at the expense of critical sea denial capability achieved that have a dubious flight safety record. Equally serious is the through a strategic submarine force. The two can indeed be recent statement of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal complementary. Carriers demonstrate ‘intent’, but a potent Norman Anil Kumar Browne, that the IAF has no backup undersea fleet, which is less costly to build and maintain and plan in case India does not make a timely purchase of the relatively less vulnerable to attacks, would be increasingly shortlisted French-made Rafale medium multi-role combat vital to attaining credible strategic deterrence. The induction of INS Vikramaditya has hopefully aircraft which are meant to replace the ageing Jaguars and ended any debates over its usefulness. The age of the hull, the other MiG series aircraft — the MiG-23s, MiG-27s and the quality of work done at the Russian submarine yard of MiG-29s. There could then be a rapid decline in the number Sevmash where it was rebuilt, and price renegotiations, of fighter aircraft fleet between 2017-2022, making the IAF were part of this debate in the past. The Navy should now worse off than now. The government, which would be aware focus its energies on integrating it into the fleet. It should of all this, needs to take timely measures so that the country’s train and qualify its fighter pilots on the Vikramaditya’s air power capabilities do not deteriorate further. deck. It should negotiate with Russia on the maintenance From The Tribune of the platform so as to operate the systems smoothly and efficiently through its life-cycle of 25 years.