Civil Aviation, Including Systems and Mense Effort to Make This Airshow a Resounding Success

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2-3_Breitling advert.indd 2 2/4/09 6:45:57 PM Table of Contents

Regular Departments SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION 20 6 A Word from Editor News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India. 8 NewsWithViews - Kiran Crash Claims Pilot AviationISSUE 1 • 2009 - Miracle on the Hudson Show Preview 10 InFocus Engineering Metamorphosis 16 AERO INDIA 2009 12 CURTAIN RAISER Forum Walk the Line Military 44 NewsDigest IAF MODERNISATION 48 LastWord 20 FLASH FORWARD Lifetime Commitment 29 AWAITING AWACS

RAINING �� 30 T �� Cover Photo: �� HAWK-ISH MANOEUVRES To facilitate the IAF’s drive ��

�� 36 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT FLASH FORWARD: As the IAF stands to regain its original force

�� ECLIPSED & EDGED OUT poised on the threshold of significant levels, the number of Su-30 �� modernisation, the need of the hour is MKIs which are already Industry for the government to offer meaningful �� under production at HAL � 15 INDRA and timely support to accelerate the can be effectively increased. modernisation programme. �� INDRA – EXCELLENCE IN �� (Seen here is a Mirage 2000 of the �� Photo Credit: IAF SP's Avn 1 of 09 Cover.indd 1 2/4/09 4:06:57 PM AIRBORNE SOLUTIONS Indian Air Force in flight.) 27 TECHNOLOGY UAVS AT THE CENTENNIAL 2018 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Jayant Baranwal Ratan Sonal Civil GRAPHIC DESIGNER: ASSISTANT EDITOR 33 TRAINING Vimlesh Kumar Yadav Arundhati Das FLYING TUTORS © SP Guide Publications, 2009 SENIOR VISITING EDITOR Business Aviation Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Inland: Rs 850 • Foreign: US$ 250 INDUSTRY SENIOR TECHNICAL GROUP EDITORS Email: [email protected] 38 E MBRAER BULLISH ON ITS Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey FOR ADVERTISING DETAILS, CONTACT: ANGE OF USINESS ETS R B J Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand [email protected] 40 RISING STAR [email protected] SUB-EDITOR [email protected] Face to Face Bipasha Roy SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD 42 RAYTHEON CONTRIBUTORS A-133 Arjun Nagar, (Opposite Defence Colony) ‘ISSA CREATES A SAFETY ZONE India New Delhi 110 003, India. Air Marshal (Retd) P.K. Mehra, AROUND AIRPORTS’ Air Marshal (Retd) N. Menon, Tel: +91 (11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 Group Captain (Retd) A.K. Sachdev, Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Email: [email protected] Hall of Fame Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha 43 EUGENE B. ELY Europe POSTAL ADDRESS Alan Peaford, Phil Nasskau, Rob Coppinger Post Box No 2525 USA & Canada New Delhi 110 005, India. 40 Sushant Deb, LeRoy Cook, Lon Nordeen, Anil R. Pustam (West Indies) REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE BENGALURU, INDIA 534, Jal Vayu Vihar CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR Kammanhalli Main Road Jayant Baranwal Bangalore 560043, India. Tel: +91 (80) 23682534 DEFYING THE ADMIN & COORDINATION Bharti Sharma MOSCOW, RUSSIA DOWNTURN LAGUK Co., Ltd., (Yuri Laskin) Owned, published and printed by Jayant Baranwal, printed Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 27 at Rave India and published at A-133, Arjun Nagar (Opposite 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. Defence Colony), New Delhi 110 003, India. All rights reserved. Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise without prior written permission of the Publishers. www.spguidepublications.com

NEXT ISSUE: Evolution of Commercial Aviation in India UNMANNED IN DEMAND

4 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net 277mm Bleed 267mm Trim 257mm Live Scale: 1.0" = 1" = 1.0" Scale: 0 value of advanced technology and lowerand life-cycle radar avionicsweapon, costs systems, toleading-edge helpwhether with ensurethe threat capability securityis on multirole the ground, unrivaled andinthe airF/A-18E/Faffordability delivers orat sea. The network-enabled Super Hornet The provides for decadesthe optimum to come. 25 3C 4C 50 5100 75 41M 50C 41Y 50K 4 % C y a n 2 5 % C y a Output printed at: printed Output Production Artist: n 5 0 % C Space/Color: y Frontline Communications Partners Communications Frontline a n Retoucher: file Name: file 7 Client - FRONTLINE Job # - 101953 Ver. - AD01 - Ver. 101953 - # Job FRONTLINE - Client 5 % C y Media: Bleed: Fonts: a n Date: If it is deficient or does not comply with your requirements, please contact: please requirements, your with comply not does or deficient is it If Trim: Live: 1 0 0 % C y a n Helvetica (Bold), Helvetica (Plain), Helvetica 65 Helvetica (Plain), Helvetica (Bold), Helvetica 197mm x 257mm x 197mm Page–4-Color–Bleed Full Aviation SP 100% BOEG_IDS_F18_1105M_H 2/8/08 S. Bowman S. 277mm x 220mm 267mm x 210mm 4 % Client: PUBLICATIONNOTE: M a g 2 5 % M a g Boeing 5 0 % M Cyan a 220mm Bleed 220mm g Material for this insertion is to be examined carefully upon receipt. upon carefully examined be to is insertion this for Material 7 Job Number: Job 5 % M a g 1 0 0 % Magenta Guideline for general identification only. Do not use as insertion order.insertion as use only.not identification Do general for Guideline M a g 4 % Y e l 210mm Trim210mm o 2 5 % Y e l o BOEG_IDS_F18_1105M_H 5 0 % Yellow Y e l o 7 5 80CnuyPr at ut 01 o nee,C 90067 1011,CA Los Suite Angeles, East, Park Century 1880 % 197mm Live 197mm Y e l Product: o 1 0 0 % Y e Black Account Executive: Account l o Creative Director: Creative 4 TrafficManager: % Print Producer: Print B l Proof Reader: Proof k Digital Artist: Integrated Defense Systems Defense Integrated Copy Writer: Copy Art Director: Art 4 3 3 % % % Art Buyer: Art C Y M y e a a l g Vendor: o n Print Production at 310-601-1485. at Production Print Client: Legal: GCD: 2 5 % B l k 2 1 1 5 9 9 Schawk TraciBrown Boeing McAuliffe D. P.Serchuk J. Alexander P.Serchuk P.Serchuk % % % C Y M y e a a l g o n 5 0 % B l k 5 4 4 0 0 0 % % % C Y M y e a a l g o n 7 5 % B l k 7 6 6 5 4 4 % % % C Y M y e a a l g o n Bleed Trim Live 1 0 0 Date/Initials % Approved B l k A Word from Editor India plays host to the bigwigs of the global defence industry out to strut their wares and woo their prized customer. We bring you all the buzz surrounding Aero India 2009.

ndia is shopping. And the world’s largest defence companies from 50 different countries, including India, are manufacturers are out to woo their prized custom- showcasing their products and services in the show. At the er, eyes glued to the swelling pie of budgetary al- forefront are companies from Germany and France with 31 location. Be it the massive $10 billion (Rs 49,000 each. Following close on their heels are UK (26), Russia (24), crore) deal for Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft the US (22), Italy (19), Belgium (17), Israel (11) and Australia for the Indian Air Force (IAF) or the huge inventory (10). Over 100 aircraft—military and civil, as also UAVs—are of helicopters the armed forces are looking to pick from the expected to take part in flying and static display. Iforeign defence market at a cost running into some stag- Capturing all the buzz surrounding this prestigious air- gering figures, lure of the lucre and the rich bargains to be show, this Aero India 2009 special edition of SP’s Aviation struck have fuelled the race like never before. deliberates on the modernisation thrust of the IAF. The pres- Ending months of anticipation, deliberation and prep- ent leadership staunchly believes the IAF is not a tactical aration, the curtains have at last gone up on the seventh force but a full-fledged strategic aerospace power. However, chapter of Aero India. Cynosure of defence manufacturers while the IAF may have the right intentions, it has to travel across the globe, from February 11 to 15, India plays host a long distance and achieve many modernisation milestones to the bigwigs—and what a queue up it’s promising to be! to acquire the capabilities it aspires for. Drawn to the steadily lengthening shopping list, the event That said, these are exciting times for the armed forces has inexorably attracted a horde of celebrated players from and the Indian defence industry. The team at SP’s heartily the industry worldwide. Aero India 2009 is expected to pro- congratulates the event organisers—the Ministry of Defence vide an insight into the latest developments and technolo- and the Confederation of Indian Industry—for their im- gies in military and civil aviation, including systems and mense effort to make this airshow a resounding success. sub-systems. A range of military and civil aircraft will be Come, soak in the power and the promise. participating in flying and static display. Defying the gloom and global recession, around 550

THE BUZZ JUST GOT BIGGER: AT AERO INDIA 2007, MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE M.M. Jayant Baranwal PALLAM RAJU WITH RATAN TATA, WHOSE PRESENCE AT THE EVENT GRABBED HEADLINES Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

6 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA NewsWithViews pet nearHyderabad.pet SuryaKiranstookoverfromthe Thun Kiranwasconstituted andbased at AirForce Station Hakim equippedII withmoreapowerful Orpheus engine, theSurya riedlydisbanded. However, with hurthe arrival was Streak Silver 1982, of inArizonathe of desertsKiran the Mark over USAF, the Thunderbirds going into thefourthenewsingaircraftof groundformation aerobaticwhile theteamof practicing limited. Follow force per was I Mark Kiran the of manoeuvre envelope the engine, ered comparatively low-powper, a profileas equipped with the Vi teamrelativelyputaup simple FIS.This Instructors at posted Flying Qualified experienced Kiran Mark I aircraft sported. the of appearance silvery and shining unpainted the to able Streak. Thenamewas attribut Silver christened team, obatic creationthree-aircraftaof of aer way by Tambaram at IAF theInstructors’ of (FIS) School wasI undertaken bythe Flying aerobaticswith the Kiran Mark initialexperimentformationat bly not widely known is that the Royal Air Force. What is proba the ofArrows Red the oflines derboltswerepatterned theon Thun the 1980s, early the in Raised over. world the pilots fighterhighlyratedandbygin British ori aircraft of combat legendary a Hunter, versatileHawker and powerful more muchequippedIAFthea ofwith team aerobatic formation nine-aircraft first derbolts, the dustanAeronautics Limited(HAL), SKAT replaced theThun ing formation aerobatic teams in the world. different parts of the world. It is now counted among theS lead VIEWS 8

An IAF fighter pilot from the acclaimed Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) was killed when a Kiran trainer aircraft crashed during a training sortie on on sortie a plot a training at in vacant later a minutes aircraft a Bidar,few from off crashed took said. trainer during am,which 8.45 sources aircraft, at IAF The (HJT-16) occurred II crashed Mk accident the when sortie, Kiran routine aircraft indigenous the trainer on was and Kiran a recently SKAT the when joined had killed was Dhaliwal R.S. (SKAT) Commander 21.Team Wing January Aerobatics Wednesday, Kiran Surya acclaimed the from pilot fighter IAF An KIRAN CRASHCLAIMSPILOT near the air force station, but no loss of civilian life or property was reported in the incident, the sources said. The Air Headquarters immediately ordered ordered immediately Headquarters mishap. said. the Air The into sources the inquiry of incident, the court a in reported was property or life civilian of loss no but station, force air the near

ivr tek comprised Streak Silver Hin the (HJT-16) by built II Mark Kiran Equipped with SP’S every part of the country and also at majorperformedpractically hasairinteam1996, thealised showsin in (IAF).ForceInstitutionIndianAirthe ofpride the is urya Kiran, the prestigious nine-aircraft aerobatic team, AVIATION

Issue 1•2009 ------

------pilot involved was quite proficient and not newly inducted.newly not andproficient quite was involvedpilot forthcoming AeroIndia 2009. Contrary to media reports, the comesat atime when the SKAT was busy gearing up for the cise, and has a defined operational role as well. assigned the status of an Air Force Squadron,later relocatedNo. 52at toAir Forcebe preStation Bidar. SKAT has now derboltsbeen as the Hunter aircraft was being phased out and was Kiran Aerobatic Team a new Suryaraythe of give light.thoughtprocessinitiate tothe to IAF the for establishthe probable cause ofthe tragedy, perhaps itis time inthe vicinity of AirForce Station Bidar in search for clues to on-going Court of Inquiry delves into the million piecesbetteralternativesbe future.strewn near availablethethe While in Shocking as it is, the fatal accident at Bidar on January 21 — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey os f n o te ot expe most the of one of Loss utd no h IAF, will there the into ducted in arrangementseating being spaceHawk, bothwith tandem Aero British the and HJT-36 the as knownTrainer also Jet with the HAL built Intermediate However, task. the suitable for required, numbers the in able this was the only as option machine no hadavail IAF the But formation. close in ma noeuvring team aircraft nine a for idealarrangementthenotfore ofboth the pilots. Thisisthere lots, restricting 360 degree view pi two side-by-seating the for 1980s.aircrafthastheThis in the Mk II version was produced early1970sthethoughfleetin trainer IAF the into troduced sequence by the team. dar during a practice aerobatic killed were in a flying accident at Bi pilots experienced two hap with SKAT. In mis March second2006, the is this years, three last the Yelahanka. in Incidentally, at event coming for the team vis-à-vis the forth difficulties some to lead could team the of members rienced h Krn icat a in was aircraft Kiran The SP www.spsaviation.net ------ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA NewsWithViews that nobody is left behind. End result: no fatalities. aircraft having walked twice up and down the aisle to ensure rescue work. The Captain is the last to thecomestart immediatelyand outin closeferries ofand boats Rescue the flooded onrubber slides, some stand onthe wings ofthe floating jet. gers wearing life-jackets stream out through emergency exits down, the Airbus A320 floats, touch drifts On south. pm. Soon 3.31 after, time deg, passen 1.6 water Celsius, deg -7.7 is HudsonRiver. temperature Air city’sinplane ditchesthepilot reachUnableto Teterboro, the port, Teterboro,Jersey.Newin airsmalla atland to himask controllers Guardia La At3.28, engines. both on birdhits reports Sullenberger Captain out,later,climbminute the on A airport. Guardia La York’s (local3.26pmtime) fromNew utes. The flight gets airborne min at 10 than res less cue—takes of commencement and sode—from take-off to ditching epi entiremiraculous. The as termed officials as well as es combination that both witness of rescue boats in the presencevicinity, the a by and aircraft, crippled the of handling deft lenberger’sthinkingandquick Sul Captain 57-year-old by the averted was catastrophe North Carolina. Charlotte, at hub Airways US Guardia airport en route to the La from take-off geese after shortly of flock a hitting fireafter caught have to reported thatboth CFMengines oftheaircraft failed, with oneengine USAirways. FederalUSAviation The confirmedhasAgency they averted a disaster that may well have killed off the ailing son River through a flawless ‘dead-stick’ ditching manoeuvre, C VIEWS soon after taking off from La Guardia airport in the afternoon hours of Thursday, January 15. “We’ve had a miracle on the Hudson,” the on 15.of David miracle Thursday,a New York hours January Governor had “We’ve afternoon the in airport Guardia geese,La from of off flock taking a after soon striking from possibly engines, both in people power 155 lost and plane boats. York The New emergency Manhatten, and off ferries River converging of Hudson flotilla icy a the by in rescued were ditched onboard masterfully he after hero a as hailed been has jetliner Airways US a of pilot The MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON Paterson told a news conference. “The pilot somehow, without any engines, was able to land this plane... without any serious injuries,” serious any said. plane...he without this land to able engines, was any somehow, without conference. pilot “The news a told Paterson ht ih hv be a been have might What the powerless Airbus A320 in the frigid Recoveringfeat.incrediblewaters an ofoff pulledHudindeed staff cabin and Skiles Jeffrey co-pilot his US1549, flight the of pilotIII,Sullenberger ‘Sully’ B Chesleyaptain ------leastafforded some reaction time to the pilot to mull an alter ficientreachtothe nearest landing ground atTeterboro, atit suf not wasgainedheightquitting.before thethoughEven height ft 3,200 plus-tonne airplane to 70 the take topower enough out spew to continued engines CFM robustA320’s Airbus dysfunctional, the and Damaged jetliner? of-the-art highlycompetent pilot onthe flight-deck ofhigh-tech,a state- in the conduct of recruitments and flying operations. tiondrills are also being taken note of by the airlines in India, Hopefully,this factor and the need to conduct regular evacua ter’emergencies built-inisa factor inmilitary flying training. famousF-4Phantom combat jets. Quickreaction to‘bold-let pilotin USAF, where he served for close to a decade flying the a i ral a ial? r bilat obnto o a brilliant combination of a Or miracle? a really it Was Issue 1•2009 — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia nativeplanaction.of wasanIt tialflying grooming as afighter crisis. Sullenberger received ini lected demeanour in the face of pilotalsobutcalmhiscoland of not just the flying skills of the happenedvolumes speaksthis apart the fuselage. That none would of tearaircraft waterandthe into plow impact, on off wings and engines would break (260 km/h) where, typically, knots the 140 about of speed a at planewould have hit the water investigator speculating that the said Max Vermij, an air accident riverwithoutthebreaking up,” an Airbus jet was able amazing to land is in It landing. ground a than destructive more even was left to the pilot. systemtill touchdown. Therest fulluse of the jet’s flight-control licpowerandallowed thepilot hydrau and electric supply to turbine, continued air ram the as the Auxiliary Power Unit and plane’salternatesystems, such air River. The Hudson the of watersthe landingon a for in mand decision on his part to go extraordinary but brilliant com “A water landing is typically

SP’S AVIATION SP

9 ------PHOTOGRAPH: IAF InFocus ing on the occasion of Air Force Day Parade on October 8, the mands a shift in its focus. responsibilities to meet India’s securityincreasing challengeson take which,to uponde called be would IAF thewords, rity as important as the country’s territorial security.”economy Inof a resurgent other India, makes energy and trade secu Ocean.Indianburgeoningthe The reachesof far the to and (CentralRepublics),CARAsianSouth-East theAsiathrough terests and responsibilities, stretches from the Horn of Africa, power,gional India’s in ‘strategic footprint’,its uponbased MinisterManmohan Singh, hadobserved,he “Agrowing re IAF’sthesub-set India’sofavision as vision. QuotingPrime Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi had defined ated and comprehensively articulated on the subject. Former strategicaerospacepower. reiterhaveSuccessivechiefsair 1995, the IAF started in doctrineto look its at itself of formulationin an time enhanced first role theas a after especially half-a-century.time—morethen However,and 1990s the in weather, tactical air force remained unchanged. fair- a being it ofsomehow, mindsetbut,aircraft the strike itsown bomber force and long-range (in comparative terms) airwarfare). Post-Independence, theIAFwasequipped with Royal Air Force retaining the primary theroles like (with bombing reconnaissance battlefieldand and cooperation army subsidiary(tactical)agiven likewasroletime,RIAF thethe of policiesimperial Army.withIndian However,keeping in the of part as not and forceindependent an asestablished forcesairfew1930s,the Forcethe(RIAF) Air ofin one was took a long time for the IAF to change its mindset. changingthegeo-political geo-strategicand scenarios. itBut with regional and extra-regional capabilitiesforcestrategicair true to a transformingkeepintoitselfin forward pace with A Metamorph Engineering 10 IAF MODERNISATION capabilities itaspiresfor milestones and The IAFhastotravel alongdistance

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SP’S AVIATION achieve many modernisation

Air Force’s (IAF) aspiration to take another step come of the seminar was indicative of the Indian Sub-continental to a Continental Force’. The outDelhithemedwasin ‘IndianForce: AirFroma seminarIndianonaerospace powerconducted littleover three years ago, in December 2006, a

Issue 1•2009

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------osis new challenges and opportunities and how the IAF was head present air chief, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major, spoke about the combat aircraft in the neighbourhood. majorchallengestheaccretionof posedbyone of dwells on challenges?futuremeetForumaddress to to needs IAF the capabilitiesaspiresit for. So,shortcomingswhattheare that achieve many modernisation milestones before it acquires theadequate measure. TheIAFhas strategic/tacticaltravelto longadistance the capabilities inand create to able been not However,righthavethemaywhileintentions,IAFthe hasit not a tactical force but a full-fledged strategic aerospace power. bilities. For instance, would the IAF: is evaluate caparequired to the generate tosufficient has are thesewhether IAF the what place, taking indeed are induction and improvement in infrastructure in the pipeline.sors, weapons, communication equipment in varying stagesfact in of a state of transformation with a variety of aircraft, sen ingfrom the same podium, hereaffirmed that the IAF was in ingfor exciting times in the coming years. Ayear later, speak The present IAF leadershippresentIAFThestaunchly isbelieves IAF the Beready toserve varietya ofnational • interests incon equippedprovidefull, Beto seamless 24-by-seven and • Have recovered• combat power to the authorised levels? Airborne like systems, technology new inducted Have • Have shifted from• a pure line-of-sight capability to sub acquired Haveincreasing abilityexploittospace capa • Have acquired capabilities• for strategic effect? Have truly• changed from a sub-continental, geographical Have been sufficiently• equipped to be the prime reposi inductionssomeinfrastructureWhileand improvements tingencies inside and outside the country? of interest? airdefence coveritsentireto territory andotherareas Warning and Control System, fully into service? stantially beyond-visual-range capabilities? bilities for enhancing military operations? limited force to one with continental reach and effect? nuclear deterrence? credibleprovidingcriticalbilitiescomponentswhileof capa deterrence conventional India’s credible of tory —Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia SP www.spsaviation.net ------af SPs aviation 210x267tz.fh11 27/1/09 13:01 P�gina 1

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Composici�n Forum systems, space-based command, control, and communicationslike AWACS, aerial refuelling systems, and moderncombatpowersupported is air plethoradefenceaby force-multipliersof tionand started entering operational service. Thisformidable asthe FC-1 and J-10 which have been already under produc sions of the MiG-21 (F-7) types besides the newer400 Sukhoi designs Su-27/Su-30 such class of aircraft, over 700 newer ver (ChineseForce)expectedAirwoulddeploybe upwardsto of nologyhasprovided majora leap into thefuture. ThePLAAF anceitsinfavour. The access Soviet/Russianto military tech posefully for two decades now which is shifting the military bal A Walk 12 IAF MODERNISATION for thefuturein in airpower assess thelikelyassess

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needs tocarry out empirical out empirical SP’S requirements of Chinaand the government capabilities AVIATION In theﬁnal the Indian rity, most importantly, China and Pakistan. whoseairpower could impinge onIndian secu defence,including likely capabilities of countries (IAF)must rest on its role in the overall national create future capabilities for the to taken Indian be direction toAir appreciation the Forceny of the rise the rise studies to Pakistan analysis,

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------400beingoperational anygivenat time approximatelyin 25 the PAF has around 530 jet fighters on itsfrom inventorySweden (SAAB-2000with about with ‘Erieye’) and quireChina. force-multipliers At present, such as airborne early110aircraft. of warningaddition,In systemsthePAF also isthehuntinac to whichin the ultimate overall tally may reach a planned figure against terror, the PAF is to receive improvedjointlyfightingwar byversionthe US militarypackage the fromaid of F-16s Chinesestate-of-the-art fighters.jetJ-10renewed theUnder tion,it is also looking at acquiring up to two squadrons of the 250.additobuildInplanshasupwhichnese toFC-1) itof (ChiJF-17manufacturerjointthe alreadyof abecome has deficienciesthefillChinato combatto itspower. in Today, it exploitclosenessitstoDuringableleanerbeen times,has it ogy weapon systems such as the F-16 jet fighters from the US.state’againtimeandrecipienthasbeenthe high technol of infrastructure, modernised ballistic and cruise missiles. Pakistani Air Force (PAF) riding on the status of a ‘frontline

www.spsaviation.net - - - -

FORUM IAF MODERNISATION squadrons. In 2006, talking about the US imposed sanctions in figure in the 1980s still enjoyed a comfortable superiority in the wake of Pakistan’s nuclear weapon tests and the resulting number of squadrons over the PAF (Chinese Air Force capabil- disparity between the IAF and the PAF, the then Chief of the ity conveniently taken out of calculations)—a ratio of close to Air Staff of the PAF, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, had said, 2:1 in the IAF’s favour. But the modernisation drought in the “We have to bridge this gap in the manner that we can deny 1990s started to show its adverse effects, which coupled with the advantage that our neighbour has.” Three years later, the obsolescence plus hasty and premature retirement of MiG-23 gap has evidently been filled to a great extent. BN fleet owing to some technical problems led to the downslide Most defence analysts in India feel that the possibility of a of the force’s combat squadrons. Today, the IAF has dropped full-fledged two-front war against it by China and Pakistan is to a hitherto unimaginable low level of 28 to 29 combat squad- remote. That may be so but what India is facing right now is rons. Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, soon after taking over reins a two-front aerospace power modernisation of unprecedented of the Chief of the Air Staff in 2005, had said, “Airpower will scale and technological dimensions. Secondly, as Air Commo- be the predominant factor in wars of tomorrow... we will need dore (Retd) Jasjit Singh, one of India’s leading defence strat- numbers and better quality of machines. The IAF is pushing for egists suggests, “The strategic nexus between the two at the at least 40 jet-fighter squadrons, along with more force-multi- nuclear and conventional military levels has to be factored into pliers.” Later the same chief had to send an SOS to the Ministry our thinking.” In the next five years, China would be well on of Defence urging the government for outright purchase of 40 its way to be operating a modern sophisticated air force with additional Su-30s to stem the dwindling numbers. close to 1,500 state-of-the-art combat aircraft and all possible Today, the PAF alone is on the threshold of equaling or even force-multipliers and combat support systems. It would also be surpassing the IAF in terms of number of squadrons in their well advanced to exploit space for military purposes. respective combat fleets. India has taken some steps to correct It would be equally interesting to see which way Pakistan this dismal situation but the painfully slow processes need to be would be heading in the next five years. If all goes well, Pakistan speeded up. The good news is that the government has accept- would have received enough F-16s (most of them advanced ed the IAF’s proposal for the outright purchase of additional 40 versions) to raise the inventory of this high performance multi- Sukhois, plus HAL has stepped up the home production of the role combat aircraft to 110—a formidable force indeed. Another Su-30 MKIs, aiming at a total of 230 of these aircraft into the high-tech induction into the PAF is the jointly developed JF-17 IAF by about 2014. This alone however, will not be sufficient (Joint Fighter-17) Thunder with China (known there as FC-1 to stem the rate at which the PAF is closing the gap in com- or ‘Fierce Dragon’). Soon after the induction of the first two bat capabilities. India’s second move to acquire 126 Medium JF-17s, specially flown into Pakistan to participate in the Paki- Multi-role Combat Aircraft through global tendering is trudging stan Day Joint along and is Services Parade at present at “AIRPOWER WILL BE THE PREDOMINANT FACTOR IN WARS “IT WOULD APPEAR ON THE FACE OF IT THAT THE 64 on March 23, OF TOMORROW... WE WILL NEED NUMBERS AND BETTER SQUADRON (45 COMBAT SQUADRONS) FORCE EARLIER the techni- 2007, the PAF QUALITY OF MACHINES... THE IAF IS PUSHING FOR AT PLANNED WOULD BE A GOOD INITIAL TARGET... THIS WOULD cal evaluation chief, Air Chief LEAST 40 JET-FIGHTER SQUADRONS, ALONG WITH MORE AMOUNT TO THE BAREST MINIMUM GOAL.” stage. There FORCE-MULTIPLIERS.” —AIR COMMODORE (RETD) JASJIT SINGH, Marshal Tan- —AIR CHIEF MARSHAL S.P. TYAGI, SOON AFTER TAKING DIRECTOR, is little hope of vir Mahmood OVER THE REINS OF THE CHIEF OF AIR STAFF IN 2005 CENTRE FOR AIR POWER STUDIES seeing these Ahmed said, aircraft in the “PAF would soon Indian skies induct Fourth and Fifth Generation high-tech fleet of fighter- before 2014-15 with the total induction process stretching up bomber aircraft with the aim to modernize the country’s air to 2020. Similarly, the development of the indigenous LCA is force, which includes the induction of 10 to 12 squadrons of plagued with delays and it would be a miracle if the first lot JF-17 Thunder aircraft.” Remarkably, development of the JF- of Final Operational Clearance aircraft becomes available for 17 has been one of the fastest in the history of military avia- induction into the IAF before 2012. Even then, the IAF will find tion. Secondly, its production has already commenced at the it extremely difficult to restore its combat squadrons’ strength Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra putting Pakistan in to the earlier 39-and-half level. the category of only a small number of countries that can pro- In the final analysis, the government needs to carry out duce jet fighters. The production will soon be increased to 20 empirical studies to assess the likely requirements for the fu- to 30 per annum giving PAF the capability of having a fleet of ture in keeping with the rise in air power capabilities of China 100 to 150 aircraft in the next five years. Ultimately, the PAF and Pakistan. According to Air Commodore (Retd) Singh, “It may acquire 250 to 300 aircraft of this type to replace its older would appear on the face of it that the 64 squadron (45 com- models such as the F-7 and Mirage III/V aircraft. bat squadrons) force earlier planned would be a good initial The massive combined accretion in the form of 2,000-plus target. This would amount to the barest minimum goal.” This high-tech state-of-the-art aircraft in India’s neighbourhood by itself would necessitate increasing the induction by another poses a formidable challenge. How has India and the IAF, in 10 squadrons over and above what is already planned and particular, responded to the challenge? But first, a bit of histo- achievable till 2020. But the IAF would face phenomenal chal- ry. The original proposal (1959) for a 64-squadron force (with lenges in achieving such a minimum objective. 45 combat squadrons) later reinforced after the 1962 debacle Finally, this is only one aspect of the modernising process. against the Chinese—as it often happens—got lost in the bu- The IAF will have to do much more to achieve the metamor- reaucratic fog. What finally got to be accepted was a combat phic transformation it aspires for and emerge as one of the force level of 39 1⁄2 squadrons (with 1/2 squadron of dedicated leading continental and balanced air forces in the world. SP maritime strike aircraft). The IAF, after having achieved this — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

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Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 15 SHOW PREVIEW AERO INDIA 2009

Curtain Raiser Despite the unfavourable global developments, indications are that participation is likely to be as good if not better than in 2007

ot many may recall that the globally acknowl- it was decided to edged international air show Aero India com- By Air Marshal (Retd) shift the event to menced in 1991 as a privately organised B.K. Pandey, Bangalore February, a month aviation exhibition by Delhi-based company known for moder- Convex essentially with a view to rejuvenate ate temperatures the Indian aviation industry. Appropriately and clear skies. dubbed a ‘Trade Show’, the exhibition comprised a handful Hence, the next air show was held in February of 2001. US Nof stalls at Hotel Ashoka. This pioneering effort of Convex pro- sanctions continued to inhibit the event and as such, the num- prietor Anand Sethi was repeated two years later on a much ber of participants in Aero India 2001 did not register signifi- larger scale in the form a full-fledged air show called Avia In- cant increase over the air show in 1998—194 to a mere 229. dia at Air Force Station, Yelahanka. Representation by Indian companies, however, multiplied As the business of aviation in those days was dominated threefold. largely by the military and the public sector, it is not surpris- Aero India 2003 had 250 Indian and foreign participating that this aviation related activity was soon appropriated ing companies, once again dominated by the aerospace in- by the government. The next air show held in 1996 was re- dustries of Russia and France. There was a marginal increase christened Aero India and organised by the Department of in American presence possibly inspired by the news of India’s Defence Production & Supplies under the Ministry of Defence forthcoming mega tender for 126 Medium Multi-Role Aircraft (MoD) duly supported by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Defence (MMRCA). Lifting of sanctions, move towards globalisation of Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of the Indian economy, favourable policy changes related to For- Civil Aviation (MOCA), Department of Space and the Govern- eign Direct Investment and the incorporation of the Indian ment of Karnataka. private sector in the defence manufacturing activity paving Aero India 1998, held in December that year, witnessed the way to joint ventures, injected a new spirit into the air substantially enhanced participation from foreign aerospace show. The Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, vis- companies—174, to be precise. With only 20 Indian companies ited the air show. participating, it was literally a token representation. Neverthe- By Aero India 2005, Air Force Station Yelahanka had less, a beginning had been made. On account of the sanctions been selected as the permanent venue for this international in the wake of Pokharan-II, participation by American compa- event. The 2005 event was marked by the presence of a large nies was restricted to the commercial divisions of Boeing and American delegation and aerospace majors with a distinct Bell Helicopters. Both these companies were supporting large military bias signaling a clear shift in US policy towards India. fleets operating in India in the regime of civil aviation. There were 380 exhibitors representing the world’s leading

PHOTOGRAPHS: SP GUIDE PUBNS Dictated by considerations of weather, for future air shows, aerospace industries. There was also a healthy growth in the

16 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net SHOW PREVIEW AERO INDIA 2009 participation by the Indian private industry. Aero India 2007 show is being organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisa- witnessed a ballooning in the number of participants to 500, tion (DEO) under the MoD with the management of the event with the strength of Indian companies rising to nearly 200. entrusted to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The De- Multi billion dollar programme to modernise the IAF and the fence Public Sector Undertakings are expected to participate in unprecedented boom in the Indian civil aviation industry, strength in the exposition with their best foot forward. presented exciting opportunities that drew aerospace majors from around the world to Yela- hanka, boosting the status of Aero India as one of the major air shows in the world.

AERO INDIA 2009 With a track record of six successful air shows, Aero India is now acknowledged as the fourth largest air show in the world bringing together players in the global aerospace industry, big and small, to showcase their products and capabilities and to explore new opportunities for collaboration. More importantly, the exposition would provide a unique platform for the Indian aerospace industry, both in the public and

PICTURE PERFECT: OMINOUS SHADOWS THE KIRAN MARK II-HJT 16 IN Logically speaking, Aero India SURYA KIRAN COLOURS; (LEFT) ought to have larger number RATAN TATA IN AN F-16 FIGHTER JET AT THE AERO INDIA 2007 of exhibitors than the previous show two years earlier. However, Aero India 2009 is being held in the shadow of a few ominous events. Firstly, the global economy is in the midst of perhaps the most serious crisis in recent history and despite the rhetoric, the end is not yet in sight. The civil aviation industry is consequently in turmoil. Over 31 airlines of which many in the US, have closed down and the remaining severely mauled by the unprecedented rise in the price of ATF and fall in traffic in 2008, are engaged in a desperate struggle for survival. On the Indian scene, the cumulative losses by the end of private sector, for networking and integration with the global the current fiscal are estimated to reach a staggering figure aerospace industry. Aero India 2009 is expected to provide of Rs 10,000 crore ($2 billion). There have been a number of an insight into the latest developments and technologies in mergers and alliances in the airlines in the recent past. A slew military and civil aviation including systems and sub-systems. of cost cutting measures are also being implemented by all There would a range of military and civil aircraft participating airlines: rationalisation of routes, reduction of excess capacity, in flying and static display. One would get to see the latest in downward revision in salaries, lay-offs, progressive phasing the regime of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), especially the out of high-cost expatriate captains and trimming of frills for miniature UAVs from Israel. employees. Air fares have risen and orders for aircraft are be- The new events added this year include Vintage Aircraft ing cancelled or delivery rescheduled. Employment opportuni- Show, Space Pavilion, Business Meetings and Aerospace HRD ties in the aviation industry have rather suddenly evaporated Focus. As usual, this year too, this prestigious international air and the demand for flying training has slowed down consider-

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 17 SHOW PREVIEW AERO INDIA 2009 ably. The world of business aviation has also been afflicted in Another episode that could affect Aero India 2009 is the a similar fashion though to a somewhat lesser degree. disconcerting security situation in the country in the after- Despite the developments, the two leading manufacturers math of the attack on Mumbai. of commercial aircraft as also business jets continue to be op- timistic about the potential of the Indian market. Encouraged MILITARY AVIATION: IN GOOD HEALTH by the sharp drop in the price of ATF in the recent past, the The situation with regard to military aviation in India is quite industry views the present difficulties as transient but, at the different as it remains immune to the economic crisis. In fact, same time, expresses apprehensions that 2009 could still be governments usually resort in increase spending to provide a bad year. However, they are reasonably confident that the stimulus to the economy in the event of an economic slow- industry would recover and re-establish a respectable growth down or recession. There is therefore reasonable certainty trajectory in not too distant a future. This optimism was vis- that modernisation programmes for the aviation wings of the ible in the civil aviation trade show India Aviation 2008 held at armed forces will continue without interruption. As per HAL Begumpet airport, Hyderabad in October last year even though Chairman A.K. Baweja, “The global recession has had no im- not a single deal was signed during the event. This year, Em- pact on HAL’s business and currently HAL’s hands are full braer of Brazil, an emerging player in the global business jet with orders worth Rs 57,000 crore, including several hundred market will showcase a number of executive jets including the crores worth of exports. We have seven programmes running Phenom 100 VLJ, the Phenom 300, the new mid-light Legacy and seven more are in the design stage.” HAL has already be-

INDIA’S PRIDE: SURYA KIRAN PERFORM AN AEROBATIC FEAT; (INSET) NISHANT, THE COUNTRY’S INDIGENOUS UAV DEVELOPED BY DRDO

450 and the mid-size Legacy 500, the popular super mid-size Legacy 600 and the ultra-large luxurious Lineage 1000. Em- gun prelimi- braer claims that all of the jets are best-in-class, offering supe- nary work to design, develop rior comfort, excellent performance at low operating costs. and produce indigenous light utility helicop- Aero India has traditionally had a military aviation bias ters (LUH) and medium lift helicopters for the three services. primarily because the civil aviation industry in India prior to HAL hopes to locate a foreign partner for the two projects 2004 had a low profile. However, in view of the boom in civil during the air show. aviation that began in 2004, MOCA acknowledged the need to project the civil aviation market potential in India quite in- PARTICIPANTS dependently. Hence was born India Aviation 2008, which is Despite the unfavourable developments, there are indications intended to be held every two years at Begumpet, Hyderabad. that participation is likely to be as good if not better than in This step could affect participation by the civil aviation indus- 2007. Around 550 companies from 50 different countries in- try in Aero India 2009. Overall the prevailing mood in the civil cluding India are expected to participate. Aerospace majors aviation industry does not appear to be inspiring or conducive and armament manufacturers from the US, UK, Russia, France, to the spirit of Aero India Germany, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Ukraine and

18 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net SHOW PREVIEW AERO INDIA 2009

Netherlands are believed to have confirmed their participation of the Fifth Generation combat aircraft, the PAK-FA, which in the air show. Italy will be attending for the first time with is likely to be inducted into the IAF around the year 2015. a joint presentation organised by ICE, the Italian Trade Com- Helicopters such as Agusta/Westland, Sikorsky of the US, Eu- mission. The Italian aerospace industry which ranks fourth in rocopter Fennec, and the Russian Kamov who are in the race for the contracts to supply 197 Utility and 22 Attack Helicop- ters for the Indian Army and the IAF are likely to showcase their products on offer. Bell and Boeing are reported to have already pulled out of the race. Visitors to Aero India 2009 are likely to witness the HAL built Intermediate jet Trainer (IJT) or the HJT 36, fly with a new Russian AL-55 I engine, a scaled down version of the AL-31 FP engine FREEZE FRAME: fitted on the Su-30 MKI. The AL-55 I ONBOARD AN F-18, has a higher thrust rating than the RATAN TATA INTERACTS WITH A FIGHTER PILOT; French Larzac engine currently fitted (BELOW) THE BOEING on the IJT. Also on display will be the C-17 GLOBEMASTER NAL developed 14-seat Saras light TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

Europe and seventh in the world considers the Indian market transport aircraft to be manufactured by HAL. to be particularly important for its aerospace industry. Over 100 aircraft—military and civil, as also UAVs—are AN ABERRATION expected to take part in flying and static display. An interna- Although Bangalore now has a brand new international air- tional seminar on “The Future of Aircraft Development and port at Devanhalli well outside the city, flying activities related Research” sponsored by the DRDO will be held prior to the to Aero India would impinge on scheduled domestic and in- air show, from February 9 to 11. CEOs and prominent scien- ternational civil air traffic as Air Force Station Yelahanka is tists from the global aerospace industry and several Chiefs of in close proximity as the crow flies. For reasons of air safety, foreign air forces are expected to participate, many of whom Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) is required to close would present papers. the airport to civil air traffic from 10 am to 12 noon between In the regime of combat aircraft, the contenders who con- February 7 and 10. On the days of the actual air show, from tinue to be in the race for the 126 MMRCA contract for the IAF February 11 to 15, the airport will be closed for an additional are likely to occupy the centre stage. The other project that two hours from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. A NOTAM has already could be of interest would be the deal between the HAL and been issued to this effect. The website www.bengaluruairport. the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia for the development com records all the changes to airport operations. SP

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 19 MILITARY IAF MODERNISATION

Flash FORWARD As the IAF stands poised on the threshold of signiﬁcant modernisation, the need of the hour is for the government to offer meaningful and timely support to accelerate the modernisation programme

hroughout its long and By Air Marshal (Retd) sion to rationalise its defence needs. In mostly turbulent history, V.K. Bhatia the 1960s, post two quick conflicts against the IAF has sometimes China and Pakistan, respectively, various ‘super-cruised’ and, at studies were conducted to strengthen the other times, literally armed forces and, as far as the IAF was stalled in its quest to cre- concerned, a recommended force level of ate operational capabilities to meet the multifarious challeng- up to 64 (with 45 combat squadrons) was reinforced to ef- Tes. This has by and large been due to the ‘knee-jerk’ policies of fectively fight against its belligerent western neighbour while the government which is known to respond only in a reactive maintaining a defensive posture against its northern neigh- mode as far as the country’s defence needs are concerned. In bour . The closest that the IAF has been able to come to this the past, after each war it was forced to fight with its neigh- was the officially declared figure of 39 1⁄2 squadrons achieved

PHOTOGRAPH: AIRQUALITY-UCDAVIS.EDU bouring countries, India embarked on a soul-searching mis- during the ‘golden era’ of late 1970s/80s. This was made pos-

20 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

FORWARD MILITARY IAF MODERNISATION sible with the massive induction of a variety of aircraft such as his recent message on the eve of IAF’s 76th anniversary stated, Jaguars, MiG-29s, MiG-23 variants, MiG-25s and the Mirage “The IAF is in the process of transformation. A large number of 2000 multi-role combat aircraft. aircraft, sensors, weapons, communication equipment and in- These were truly happier times for the IAF but, unfortu- frastructure are in varying stages of induction.” However, while nately, the golden period did not last for too long. The beginning he is hopeful of the IAF leapfrogging a generation ahead short- of 1990s witnessed the then unimaginable and sudden disinte- ly, he succinctly admits that the process will actually be slow gration of the Soviet Union as also the dire financial state that and laborious. The need of the hour is adequate budgetary India found itself in. While the former had a crippling effect on support for meaningful and timely modernisation. In the pres- the flow of spares and equipment of Soviet origin, which still ent scenario, if the government commits to spending around 3 formed the backbone of the IAF’s operational inventory, the per cent of GDP on defence as it had done in the 1980s; suffi- latter made it impossible to acquire new equipment due to the cient resources would be available for meaningful modernisa- then prevailing financial constraints. At the turn of the century tion. Major weapon systems, equipment and capabilities are and as the time passed, gaping deficiencies began to surface required for the IAF to attain the status of a balanced modern in the IAF’s inventory, brought on by obsolescence and retire- air force of a continental stature. ment of aircraft, especially the older MiG variants. Even though Fighter Force: Three major types of aircraft needed by the IAF some transfusion in the form of the new Su-30K and later Su- to fulfil its assigned roles are the air dominance/air superior- 30MKI air dominance fighters took place and a third squadron ity aircraft, multi-role combat aircraft and the tactical fighter of Mirage 2000 was squeezed out from limited fresh inductions aircraft or light combat aircraft in the ratio of 1/3rd each for and available resources, the net result was not good enough to a 40 to 45 (desirable) squad- stem the downslide in the number of fighter squadrons. The ron combat force. Some steps IAF which had maintained a 39 1⁄2 squadron combat aircraft Even if things have recently been taken by strength till 2001, was last year down to 29 squadrons having move smoothly, the government to arrest the lost more than a quarter of its combat potential. owing to imminent alarming rate at which the IAF is losing its combat ca- IAF UNDER TRANSFORMATION phasing out of pability. The Su-30 induction While the new millennium saw the quick reduction in the its upgraded has been accelerated for an IAF’s force levels, its doctrinal perceptions went through fun- MiG-21 Bisons eventual total of 230 aircraft damental and far-reaching changes to propel the IAF into a and MiG-27s, of this type. The technical new realm. For instance, the IAF fully shed the notion of being by 2020 timeframe, evaluation of the contenders called a mere tactical air force meant primarily for the sup- for the 126 MMRCA project port of the surface forces. It strongly reinforced its case for the IAF would is almost complete with flight being a strategic air force in conformity with all other leading still be a 34 to 35 trials due to commence in aerospace powers in the world. With India emerging as the combat squadron the near future. However, the new economic power house, the resultant geo-political and se- force induction process is lengthy curity scenarios require it to possess comprehensive military and they are not likely to start capability characterised by flexibility, quick response, mobility entering squadron service be- and transportability of all forms of national power as well as fore 2013-14. Similarly, while long reach and precision-targeting fire power with minimal the indigenous LCA with IOC collateral damage—all the attributes of a modern air force. (Initial Operational Clearance) might start getting inducted into the IAF by 2011, there is no commitment from HAL as to when PRESENT CAPABILITIES the LCA would achieve FOC (Full Operational Clearance). Even How do the IAF’s current force levels, support equipment and if things move smoothly, owing to imminent phasing out of its infrastructure measure up to do full justice to its enhanced upgraded MiG-21 Bisons and the MiG-27s, by 2020 timeframe, roles? One doesn’t have to look too deep to realize that there the IAF would still be a 34 to 35 combat squadron force (see are a large number of deficiencies in the IAF’s arsenal in prac- table below). tically all areas of desired capabilities. For example, it has the Keeping in view the fast pace of accretion and modernisa- strategic airlift capability, so aptly demonstrated during the Maldives crisis, but it is limited in nature. Similarly, its strategic offensive capability is also restricted. The IAF lacks ad- IAF: LIKELY COMBAT FORCE BY 2020 equate precision attack capability, both by day and by night. WITH PRESENT PLANNED INDUCTIONS For terminal defences, its existing Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) squadrons have already crossed the threshold of obsolescence Role Aircraft Type Number of Aircraft Squadrons and cannot be stretched much further. This has caused serious Air Dominance Su-30 MKI 230 11 to 12 erosion in the SAM defence capability. As far as the Network Air Superiority MiG-29 50 approx 3 Enabled Operations (NEO) or the more advanced infrastructure for Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is concerned, the IAF MRCA Mirage 2000 50 3 is still at a nascent stage. MMRCA ‘Yet to be selected’ 126 6 Strike Jaguar 110 5 MODERNISATION OF IAF The IAF—it has been stated at several forums—is now poised Light Combat LCA (Tejas) 125 6 on the threshold of significant modernisation. The Air Chief in Grand Total - 660 approx 34 to 35

22 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

MILITARY IAF MODERNISATION tion of China and Pakistan air forces (see Forum for details), port force of the IAF is also short on capabilities, especially it would be desirable for the IAF to not only aim to regain its in view of the new and emerging scenarios. The IAF’s stra- original force levels but move up to the approved levels of 45 tegic airlift capability is limited and its IL-76 fleet which was combat squadrons. The likely achievable rate of production of acquired more than two decades ago cannot meet the single the indigenous LCA would preclude increasing the number of wave requirement of a present day ‘Rapid Action Force’. The Tejas squadrons than already predicted. The gap could be filled IAF’s reported proposal to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) by increasing the number of Su-30 MKIs which are already for a 70 to 80 tonne-payload heavy airlifter would be a step in under production at HAL as also the MMRCA aircraft which the right direction. In addition, a proposal for the joint devel- would also be on active production line at one of the HAL facili- opment of a medium transport aircraft (MTA), between India ties within the 2020 timeframe. By extending the production and Russia is being progressed. Also, the IAF’s workhorse, AN- run of the Su-30 assembly line and accelerating the rate of 32 is being upgraded and some more Dornier DO-228 light indigenous production of the MMRCA, the IAF could aspire not transporters have been ordered. However, presently, only six only to restore its combat squadrons’ strength to the original C-130Js are on order for special operations and other tasks. figure but also to reach the approved strength of 45 squadrons These would have to be augmented. For VVIP/VIP duties, while (see wish list for details). the BBJs have arrived and put into operational service, the IAF Transport Force: Though not as bad as the fighters, the trans- needs more Embraer Legacy aircraft to fulfil its VIP commitments. Approval is reportedly being sought to acquire four additional ‘Embraer’ to increase the figure to eight aircraft. WISH LIST FOR A BALANCED & CAPABLE AIR FORCE Helicopter Force: The IAF’s helicopter force is also suffering 2020 Timeframe from obsolescence as well as deficiencies in numbers in the (Operational Airborne Platforms Only) face of ever growing demands of not only the army and para- Role Type of Aircraft Number of Aircraft Number of Sqns military forces, but also to meet other national commitments Fighter Force such as disaster relief work, etc. The IAF is reportedly acquiring 80 Mi-17 V5 from Russia with inductions to be completed Air Dominance Su-30 MKI 230 + *(130) = 360 18 by 2013. In the lightweight category, the indigenously designed Air Superiority MiG-29 50 approx 3 HAL, Dhruv, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) with French MRCA Mirage 2000 50 3 Turbomeca engines is getting inducted into the IAF with 38 on MMRCA Yet to be Selected 126 + *(74) = 200 10 order plus another 16 of the armed version. In addition, RFPs Strike Jaguar 110 5 for acquiring 125 light-weight helicopters to replace the ageing Chetak/Cheetah helicopters and, 22 attack helicopters to Light Combat LCA (Tejas) 125 approx 6 replace the existing 30 Mi-25/Mi-35 helicopters have also been Total - 900 approx 45 issued. The IAF has also reportedly selected AW101 (EH101 Transport Force until June 2007) to replace the existing Russian-built helicop- HETAC (45-50 ton) IL-76 24 2 ters in its VIP Squadron. The contract for an expected eight VHETAC (70-80 ton) To be Selected 6-12 1 helicopters is likely to be signed before March 2009, with deliveries beginning in early 2010. METAC (20 ton) C-130J 12 1 Air Defence: A gap free radar cover for the entire air space +Spl Forces + MTA (when 40-50 3 and adjoining areas of a country is a prerequisite in building acquired) up a proper air defence environment. Notwithstanding the Tact Tpt AN-32 70-80 5 individual localised needs for air defence, it is imperative to Total - 160-170 approx 12 integrate all radars and other air defence equipment, civil or Force Multipliers military, into a seamless system under the overall control of a single authority, not only during war but also during peace- FRA IL-78 12 1 time in view of the existing terror threats from across the AWACS Phalcon System 6 1 borders. The IAF needs to induct radars of different types to UAVs - - - remove the current deficiencies. These range from the high +UCAVs Heron, Searcher 80-100 5 and medium power radars of western origin to the Low-Lev- +HALE el Transportable Radars (LLTR) of Russian or Israeli origin. Total - - 7 Sqns The recent induction of the indigenous ‘Rohini’ MPR into the IAF will help meet its medium-power radar requirements. As Grand Total - - 64 Sqns far as aerostats are concerned, only two have been acquired Helicopter Force and deployed so far. These are needed in greater numbers Heavy lift Mi-26, for instance 12 1 Unit to meet the actual requirement. Similarly, three AWACS on Medium Lift Mi-17 variants 150 appx 12” order, first of which is likely to be inducted into the IAF soon, would need to be augmented to meet the overall service re- Light Utility ALH + The New 150-200 12-15” Variant quirements. In addition to the Israeli Phalcon system, India is also developing locally through DRDO its own Airborne Attack LCH 40-50 3” Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems with ESM/SI- Total - 400+ 30 units appx GINT/CSM capabilities for which, it has chosen the proven *Note: Additional aircraft which could be manufactured by HAL for augmentation to Embraer ERJ-145 (three on order) as the carrier platforms. 45-sqn combat strength These are intended to act as vital backup nodes to the more

24 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

MILITARY IAF MODERNISATION expensive Phalcons for an indepth air defence network. to exchange secure voice, data and real-time pictures. The en- For the protection of VAs and VPs, greater dependence tire architecture will form the ‘Integrated Air Command and should be on the surface-to-air weapon systems, thus free- Control System’ (IACCS). Utilisation of Space assets including ing the manned fighters for air dominance and offensive creation of such capabilities is an integral part of this plan. strike roles. An impregnable air defence cordon can be cre- It can only be hoped that all the plans are converted into ated around the VAs and VPs by employing a judicious mix real-time capabilities soon as, without them, IAF will be un- of normal, quick-reaction and shoulder fired missiles coupled able to fully apply aerospace power at the time and place of with Air Defence (AD) guns. In this context, the ageing Pechora its choosing. systems are in immediate need of replacements. The signing of the deferred Indo-Israeli agreement for the IAF to finally go IN CONCLUSION in for 18 Israeli Spyder air defence systems (three squadrons) With aspirations to become a transcontinental strategic force is a step in the right direction. Similarly, the Indo-Israeli joint and in keeping with India’s status as an emerging global venture for the development and production of MR-SAM sys- economic and military power, the IAF is going through a tem needs to be pursued vigorously. The IAF has also ordered transformation in its perspective, doctrine, mission and role. two squadrons worth of the indigenous Akash SAM systems To meet its tasks effectively, the IAF needs to be equipped but these must be thoroughly tested and if required, developed for long-reach, persistent, all-weather precision, networked further before placing additional orders. and space-enabled force capability. As the IAF stands poised Networking/Space: The full potential and capability of any on the threshold of significant modernisation, the need of aerospace power can only be realised if it becomes a fully net- the hour is meaningful and timely government support to worked force. Efforts are being made in the IAF to connect all accelerate its modernisation programme. Only this way, can its operational sites through ‘Air Force Network’ (AFNET). An the IAF grow to the stature of a transcontinental strategic ‘Operational Data Link’ (ODL) is also planned to seamlessly air force and truly merit the sobriquet of ‘Fourth Largest Air connect airborne platforms, sensors, UAVs and SAM systems Force in the World’. SP

India proves fertile ground for CAE’s world-class simulation and training

AE has been supplying the Indian market with simulation- CAE’s world- based training solutions since 1971. The Company has de- class simulation livered 12 full-flight simulators to Indian airline customers C technology for both and most recently, established a commercial aviation training centre and two flight training organizations. In addition, CAE the civil aviation acquired Macmet Technologies Ltd in 2007, India’s leading mili- and military tary simulation company, and has entered into a joint venture markets helps with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to open a helicopter training enhance safety, centre in 2010. With over 300 employees now in India, CAE has efﬁciency, and a solid foot on the ground. mission readiness. For the civil aviation market, CAE’s number one priority is to provide customers with the expertise, solid training infrastructure and the most modern standards in flight training. As a result ing ab initio flight schools in strategic locations around the world. of these new initiatives, CAE has the capacity to graduate 400 It complements CAE’s training network and expands the Compa- new pilots and to provide type-ratings to 1,000 pilots annually. ny’s scope to give clients access to a vast pool of candidates from CAE has also entered into long-term agreements to source, re- around the globe. All training is standardized, from first flight cruit and train pilots for key Indian airlines. through type-specific training and certification, and the training process is uniformly managed. CAE TRAINING AND SERVICES, BANGALORE As part of the CAE Global Academy, the Rajiv Gandhi Na- The Bangalore centre was set up in 2008 and is now operational. tional Flying Institute (RGNFI) will be India’s newest and most CAE’s newest, state-of-the-art training centre is situated 4 km modern flight training school. Located in the town of Gondia, from the new Bengaluru International Airport and 35 km from RGNFI is a joint venture between the Airport Authorities of India downtown Bangalore. The centre is part of the CAE-Airbus co- (AAI) and CAE, and will offer one of the most advanced training operation and supplies ground school and simulator training on environments created for individuals aspiring to become pro- the A320 and the B737-800 to airlines within the surrounding fessional pilots. The Institute will operate new aircraft and uses region. CAE’s curriculum, courseware and innovative training method- CAE GLOBAL ACADEMY ologies. This joint venture covers everything from flying opera- The CAE Global Academy is a worldwide network of flight train- tions to aircraft maintenance and personnel facilities. The school ing organizations that offers pilot candidates an optimized pro- started operations in August 2008 and the first class of cadets gram with standard operating procedures. Upon graduation, the will be graduating by the end of 2009. new first officers may pursue type-ratings in one of CAE’s train- India’s national flying institute, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran ing centres. By tapping CAE’s expertise and global presence, the Akademi (IGRUA) in Rae Bareli, was established in 1985 is now advantage of aligning with CAE will be to provide best-in-class managed by CAE. The academy is dedicated to improving flight aviation training programs to the Indian market. training standards and providing high-quality training to aspir- CAE Global Academy is a groundbreaking alliance with leading pilots from India and around the globe. <

26 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net INDUSTRY UNMANNED

UAVs at the Centennial 2018 Most UAV manufacturers are developing payloads and synergetic support systems for non-military applications like counter-terror operations, disaster management, border and urban surveillance, ground and sea traffic monitoring, crop diagnosis and ground mapping

By Air Marshal (Retd) B.N. Gokhale

heard some one say the other day “...... last of the fighter pilots may already have been born.” It wasn’t music to my ears, especially having been a fighter pilot all through my career and even after hanging my overall recently, I read with great interest the progress of the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF), as well Ias the futuristic Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Air- craft (FGFA) programme. But this operator of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was very emphatic about what he had said and began enumerating a number of futuristic applications on the anvil in this field. These sound interesting. The century of manned aviation was celebrated just six

PHOTOGRAPH: IAF years ago and in just a decade from now, on March 6, 2018,

27 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 27 INDUSTRY UNMANNED we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of unmanned aviation. programmes for three different types of UAVs, Rustam Me- As per the broad definition, unmanned aviation encompasses dium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), Pawan optimised for a wide range of airborne platforms, starting originally from short-range and Gagan, a tactical UAV. an ‘aerial torpedo’ or the forerunner of today’s cruise missile Various roles for which UAVs are being utilised by the IAF and Precision Guided Munition (PGM), to the futuristic astral- include collation of intelligence, including reconnaissance and planes being developed to fly in the atmospheres of other gal- surveillance of the designated area, UAV assisted fighter/heli- axies. Other applications from this ‘family tree’ include the re- copter strike (UAFS/UAHS) as well as laser designation of tar- coverable aero models, target drones, decoys, reconnaissance gets. In addition, these can be used for Battle Damage Assess- as well as armed platforms; which are collectively known as ment (BDA) and for real time inputs during BAS/BAI missions Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This term is already changing to strike aircraft. Use of SAR and IR gives this platform near all to Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with increasing number weather 24-by-seven capabilities. UAVs are also used for gath- of ‘dull and dangerous’ missions; at present flown by combat ering ELINT and using the inputs along with COMINT to evade pilots both, fixed and rotary wing, being taken over by such and intercept enemy fighters and helicopters. Other role being robotic flying machines. considered is a weapon platform like the American Predator, In addition to the flight itself, the development of unmanned paving way to future use of UCAV. Additionally, long endurance aircraft hinged on the confluence of three critical technologies. of UAVs enables availability for extended periods, a distinct ad- There was a need to incorporate automatic stabilisation, re- vantage over manned aircraft if engaged in similar roles. mote control and autonomous navigation. Elmer Sperry of USA Most of the UAV manufacturers are developing payloads was the first person to attempt an unmanned aircraft design and synergetic support systems also to be used for non-military to address all the three issues on a single platform. The efforts applications, including counter terrorism operations, disaster resulted in the invention of an Aerial Torpedo. Soon after this management, border and urban surveillance, ground and sea event, efforts were being made both in the US and the UK to traffic monitoring, crop diagnosis and ground mapping. With design radio controlled recoverable aerial targets which were micro and nanotechnologies developing rapidly their applica- successfully flown in September 1924. Target drones were in- tions in both military and civil UAVs are also being worked troduced in 1930 as a spin-off from these early efforts. Prior upon. The unmanned systems acquired by the IAF have been to World War II, a large number were being flown regularly in continuously upgraded. Add-ons such as Automatic Take Off both the countries to train anti-aircraft gunners. Interestingly, and Landing (ATOL) systems, satellite communication data some of these were assembled by one 19-year-old Norma Jean links, better radio relays and advanced payloads are also being Dougherty, an employee, who later became a successful Hol- contemplated. It is a very versatile platform, a force multiplier lywood star popularly known as Marilyn Monroe! and hence it needs to be accorded the necessary impetus for In the later years, unmanned aviation progressed rather attaining an integrated operational status. slowly, with USAF using such machines mainly as reconnais- Though the UAV is unmanned, operators and maintenance sance drones in the Vietnam War. Although research work on crew are required on the ground to operate it. The Operation miniaturisation, incorporating inertial navigation and GPS as Crew which is responsible for the conduct of the mission gen- well as data link continued, it was the Israeli Defence Forces erally consists of a Mission Commander (MC) double banking that were the first to exploit the capability of these platforms. also as an Internal Pilot (IP), an External Pilot (EP) and an Ob- In the Yom Kippur war of 1973 with Syrian intention of recap- server (OB) who also works as the Special Load Operator and turing the Golan Heights, Israel used their UAVs to gain critical Imagery Interpreter. The technical team is headed by a Techni- information on the advancing armour, which helped them set cal Officer / System Engineer who not only ensures mainte- up an ambush and achieve decisive victory despite Syrian nu- nance of UAV and systems but also doubles up as a Data Ac- merical superiority. However, the world came to know about quisition System (DAS) operator for health monitoring of UAV the potential of the UAV only after the 1982 Bekaa Valley op- and systems. The UAVs are not only technology intensive but erations, where Israel used these as force multipliers. have marginal error tolerance especially in critical conditions IAF planners saw a great potential in these platforms and of flight like take-off and landing, evading enemy interception inducted UAVs in 2000. Searcher II and Heron UAVs have dis- and during emergencies such as loss of link . The fleet, there- tinguished themselves over the past few years by delivering fore, requires highly skilled and motivated manpower. electro optical/infrared (EO/IR), Electronic Warfare (EW) and The ability of this system to exchange data with a number now Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) intelligence, without ex- of other systems has been proved beyond doubt. This aspect of posing pilots to risk. Within a short span of their induction, interoperability has been demonstrated recently in all opera- the IAF has been able to exploit ground and airborne relays tions of UAV in Operation Enduring Freedom, conflict in Leba- to extend operating ranges and also use them in different ter- non and in the Afghan war. The IAF, too, is capable of stream- rains including the Himalayan heights. The preparations during live videos for all C4I2 users along with provision of ESM ing Operation Parakram have given the IAF the expertise in data. Successful trials reveal that ESM and SAR imagery can be reducing the ‘sensor to shooter’ cycle. On the other hand, de- very usefully integrated. Due to its wide coverage, long endur- ployment in different parts of the country has enabled the IAF ance and continued presence in the AOR, use of UAV can be to acquire additional infrastructure, which will help in exploit- exploited with synergy of effort. Multiple payloads can facilitate ing the UAVs in different roles including disaster management this vehicle to locate and designate hostile emitters, with live and internal security. Apart from the IAF, the Indian Army and video streaming for any Commander to decide and shape the the Indian Navy have also bought similar platforms enabling battle. The present usage of this platform is a stepping stone commonality in training, sharing of infrastructure and main- for more complex and interwoven air campaigns in which the tenance. DRDO, meanwhile, has also embarked on indigenous UAV will be the eyes of any commander. SP

28 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net MILITARY IAF MODERNISATION Awaiting AWACS The Israeli Aerospace Industries are to supply the IAF three Phalcon AWACS radar systems. India also has an indigenous programme with DRDO for the development of the AEW&C.

edia was recently abuzz with reports that the first aircraft inside a stationary dome with three fixed equilateral of the three Phalcon Airborne Warning and Con- scanners providing full 360 degree coverage. The electroni- trol System (AWACS) aircraft from Israel had ar- cally steered beam delivers a tremendous advantage over me- rived quietly at New Delhi’s Palam airport techni- chanical rotating antenna, as it supports the tracking of high Mcal area on January 11 on a stopover from Israel. Reports manoeuvring targets. The radar can detect even low flying ob- claimed it had been inspected by senior IAF brass, including jects from distances of hundreds of kilometers, by and night, the Chief, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major, before flying out to under all-weather conditions. Flying at 30,000 ft altitude, the Agra. The newly formed No. 50 Squadron of the IAF is likely system can detect targets up to 370 to 400 km with radar cross to be equipped with the aircraft with Air Force Station Agra section of three sq m. Compared to the 20 to 40 seconds with a as its home base. However, while the media went into a tizzy rotodome radar, track initia- with the breaking news of a vital force-multiplier being in- tion is achieved within two to ducted into the IAF and its implications, especially in view The Phalcon four seconds. The IFF data is of the present standoff between India and Pakistan over the system would be a automatically correlated with Mumbai terror attacks, official agencies maintained a stud- tremendous the phased-array radar for ied silence on the subject. force-multiplier, quick identification of friend In March 2004, India and Israel signed a $1.1 billion deal from foe. It also collects and (Rs 5,375 crore) according to which the Israeli Aerospace In- being able to provide analyses ELINT data. dustries are to supply the IAF three Phalcon radar systems. real-time The Phalcon’s CSM/CO- India had signed a separate deal worth an additional $500 intelligence MINT receives in UHF, VHF million (Rs 2,440 crore) with the Ilyushin Corporation of and and HF, rapidly searching Russia for the supply of three IL-76 air-lifters, which were to for airborne, shipborne or be used as platforms for these radar systems. The first of the command ground communications sig- modified aircraft was to have arrived in India by September & control in nals of interest. A DF capa- 2007. However, in November 2007, Indian defence officials selected airspace bility locates targets. Detect- revealed that there had been significant delay in the supply over the combat area ed signals can be assigned of the Russian IL-76 platforms and the induction of the Phal- to monitoring receivers incon system was consequently postponed to 2009-10. As per stantaneously. The system the revised schedule, the first system is to be delivered to the makes extensive use of com- IAF in March-April 2009 with the second and third slotted puters to reduce the load for induction in September 2009 and April 2010. on operators. The aircraft There is little doubt that the Phalcon system would be communicates, via its data-link, with Air Defence Direction a tremendous force-multiplier, being able to provide real- Centres. Data from additional air defence sensors are fused time intelligence and command & control needed to attain to create a complete spatial picture. Eventually the system and maintain air superiority in selected airspace over the will also be networked with other air force assets through combat area and to enable surveillance deep inside enemy satellite to provide a network-centric warfare capability. The territory. The Phalcon (Phased Array L-band Conformal ra- IAF is keen to acquire three more Phalcons to have a to- dar, EL/M-2075) has been developed and produced by ELTA tal of six such systems in its inventory. Reports emerging in using active phased array electronic scanning technology early November 2008 suggested that India may have already rather than a mechanically rotating antenna (rotodome) contracted for a fourth system with an option for two more. used by current AWACS, giving Phalcon much greater flex- India also has an indigenous AWACS programme with the ibility and performance. DRDO for which it is acquiring three Embraer 145 platforms. Data gathered by four sensors—phased-array radar, The first delivery is scheduled for 2011. Centre for Air Borne phased-array IFF, ESM/ELINT and CSM/COMINT—is inces- Systems (CABS), a unit of the DRDO, will be the central agen- santly cross-related by an unique fusion technology. When one cy for integration of the indigenous sensors. of the sensors reports a detection, the system automatically P.S. At the time of going to print, Air HQ confirmed that the initiates an active search of the complementary sensors. In the Phalcon system has still not entered the Indian skies. SP IAF system, the phased-array radar is mounted on top of the — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

29 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 29 MILITARY TRAINING Hawk-ish manoeuvres

Once the entire force of 106 Hawk trainers are inducted, there would be a signiﬁcant improvement in the already high training standards of the IAF

ransforming a relatively raw individual into a By Air Marshal (Retd) their final term which is skilled professional capable of piloting a weapon Narayan Menon, Bangalore of six months. On com- of war as powerful as a fighter aircraft is a pro- pletion of a three-year cess replete with challenges, both for the individ- training programme at ual and the systems of training that are respon- the NDA, cadets of the sible for bringing about this metamorphosis. Flying Branch are then The process begins with selection of candidates for the flying routed to the Air Force Academy (AFA) for Stage-I training. Tbranch of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This process is elaborate The AFA is a unique institution where trainees of all branches and is designed to assess every facet of one’s personality. of the IAF, that is, flying, technical or engineering and ground Candidates who clear the initial screening tests are sub- duty, are trained jointly for the first six months. jected to stringent medical examination to verify fitness level At the AFA, basic flying training is imparted on the HPT- essential for the demanding work-load of a pilot. Visual acu- 32 aircraft designed and built by the Hindustan Aeronautics ity and superb physical condition are vital requirements. Limited (HAL). All trainees destined for the flying branch, Mental agility, ability to perform as a team and social com- including ex-NDA, direct entry and women cadets, are re- patibility are also prerequisites that are duly verified. A spe- quired to undergo a common flying training syllabus of ap- cial series of ‘Pilot Aptitude Battery Tests’ gauge the motor proximately 65 hours during Stage-I, which is the basic stage. co-ordination skills and spatial orientation capability of the In the first 15 hours or so it becomes apparent whether the candidates. A failure in this invites permanent unsuitability flight cadet is capable or not of going ‘solo’, in other words, of for a flying career in the military. being entrusted solely with the aircraft. The first solo flight is an achievement unlike any other. Flight cadets who prove in- TRAINING FOR F(P) BRANCH capable of going solo within the stipulated number of hours Aspirants to a career in military aviation have the option to are weeded out. The process of rejection on account of fail- join the Flying Pilots or F(P) branch, of the IAF and route ure to achieve the minimum standards of proficiency contin- through the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakvas- ues throughout all stages of flying training. During Stage-I la near Pune. In this institution, cadets of all three services, basic flying manoeuvres are taught. The concerned flying the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the IAF are trained to- instructor continuously evaluates and meticulously records a gether. Cadets assigned to the F(P) branch are introduced to flight cadet’s performance during each ‘sortie’ so that by the

PHOTOGRAPHS: SP GUIDE PUBNS elementary powered flying on the Super Dimona aircraft in end of Stage-I, a comprehensive overall assessment of the

30 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net Hawk-ish manoeuvres

mission ready

For the Indian defence and homeland security forces, training serves to meet one objective: mission readiness. CAE-Macmet is India’s leading supplier of simulation, training, and mission rehearsal systems. Macmet has been a company synonymous with simulation in India for a decade. Over the past 60 years, CAE has earned a reputation as the world’s leading simulation and training company. CAE acquired Macmet Technologies in 2007 and now, Bangalore-based CAE-Macmet is bringing the full breadth of CAE’s world-class simulation technologies to India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force. From expertise to perform training needs analysis and training system design to in-house capability to manufacture the most advanced simulation equipment and provide a full range of services, you can trust CAE-Macmet as your simulation and training partner. Our people, products, and services will help you stay one step ahead and achieve your objective: mission readiness.

Come visit CAE’s booth (Hall H, Booth #23) at Aero India 2009 to see and learn more about CAE’s world-class simulation and training solutions. AM102

CAE Medallion™-6000 visual system Full mission simulator UAV simulator

one step ahead cae.com MILITARY TRAINING individual’s capability and progress is available. the newly inducted Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) in the The batch of flight cadets completing Stage-I training is first six months. In the next 12 months they would fly another trifurcated into different streams of the flying branch: fight- 100 hours on the same type and then be routed to operation- ers, transport and helicopters. Undoubtedly, all three streams al squadrons. As many as 24 Hawk 132 aircraft from British demand challenging flying skills but individuals have differing Aerospace have already been received and are flying. HAL is aptitudes and dispositions. The flying instructors are trained to deliver the remaining 42 over the next three years. As addi- to spot these nuances of personality and recommend in re- tional aircraft are inducted, Stage-III training will be conducted spect of each flight cadet, the stream for which the individual in totality on the Hawk fleet at Air Force Station Bidar. is best suited from the point of view of capability and tempera- ment. As per regulations currently in vogue, women cadets OVER TO THE HAWKS are restricted to being assigned to either the transport or the Induction of the Hawk AJT has been a true milestone in the helicopter stream. history of flying training in the IAF. After the Vampire and the Hunter aircraft were phased out, the IAF resorted to the MiG- ACQUIRING ‘WINGS’ 21FL initially and later the MiG-21M aircraft for the conduct For Stage-II, trainees of the fighter stream move to Air Force of Stage-III training. Acquired in the early 1960s, the MiG- Station Hakimpet, Hyderabad. Stage-II consists of approxi- 21FL, also referred to as Type 77, was designed primarily to intercept US bomber aircraft intruding Soviet airspace at high altitude and speed. Without any alternative at that point in time, the IAF diverted the MiG-21 FL to the operational training role. The MiG-21 FL was an excellent interceptor, but it did not have the attributes of a combat trainer and hence was hardly suitable for the newly assigned role. Although adopted as a measure for the interim, endemic delays that afflict India’s acquisition programmes resulted in a time lag of over two full decades between the projections to the government of the need for a new combat training aircraft, the AJT, and the receipt of the first batch of Hawk aircraft. An AJT must facilitate smooth and easy transition for under training fighter pilots to higher performance machines. The MiG-21FL, with its Russian instrumentation and lack of modern avionics, fell somewhat short in this regard. The Hawk is much better suited as an AJT since it has been designed specifically for this role. It has modern avionics, glass cockpit, better ergonomics and excellent handling characteristics, attributes that hopefully would make transition to TRAINING TOOLS, INTERNATIONAL AND modern fighters like the Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and DOMESTIC: (PREVIOUS PAGE) mately 80 hours of flying on Kiran MiG-21 Bison considerably easier. HAWK IN IAF COLOURS; Mark I or Mark IA aircraft over a A major problem with the MiG-21 was low availability of (ABOVE) DOMESTIC PROGRAMME IJT AWAITS 24-week period. Transport train- trainers, resulting in lower ‘dual’ hours for the trainee. This INDUCTION ees fly the Dornier DO-228 and drawback has been completely eliminated as all IAF Hawks Avro/An-32 aircraft at Yelahanka have two seats for the pilots and are arranged in tandem. The while the helicopter trainees fly instructor will be able to impart much more of dual training the Chetak and Mi-8 at Hakimpet and Yelahanka, respective- in air combat, airborne interception and armament delivery ly. Unlike the HPT-32, the Kiran Mk I/IA is a jet aircraft capa- techniques that are the bread ble of much better performance. Advanced aerobatics, close As many as and butter of fighter pilots. In- formation flying and basic fighter manoeuvres are taught to dia has ordered 57 additional the cadets during Stage-II. All flight cadets are awarded the 24 Hawk Hawk AJT aircraft, 40 for the IAF coveted ‘wings’ and commissioned into the IAF at the end of 132 aircraft and 17 for the Indian Navy. IAF this Stage. In a few years time, the Kiran aircraft is scheduled is likely to commission a Hawk to be replaced by the HAL manufactured Intermediate Jet from BAE training base in the Eastern Air Trainer, HJT-36 aircraft. Systems Command for conducting live air- The IAF currently is in a change-over process for Stage-III have been to-air firing practice. or the Advanced Stage of training for fighter flying. All fighter received and are Once the entire force of trainees proceed to Air Force Station Bidar for a period of six ﬂying. HAL is Hawk trainers are inducted, months. The lot is divided into two groups. One flies the Kiran to deliver the there would be a significant im- Mk II for nearly 90 hours and then proceeds to MiG Opera- provement in the already high tional Flying Training Units located in Eastern Air Command remaining 42 over training standards of the IAF and South Western Air Command. This stage of training is the next three and its fighter pilots would be split into two semesters and the officer trainees fly about 140 years. ready and fully prepared to take hours on the MiG-21M over 12 months before joining frontline on all future combat missions fighter squadrons of the IAF. The second lot flies 65 hours on with complete confidence. SP

32 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net CIVIL TRAINING

lying TUTORS A pilot aspiring for the Indian Airline Transport Pilot’s License to advance from a First Officer status to captaining an airliner has to work hard to earn it

esponsibility for regulating avia- stunted their role in training pilots. This tion training and licensing pro- By Our Staff Reporter had forced many youngsters—disappoint- cedures related to aviation in ed with the prospect of prolonged delays India lies with the Director Gen- at these institutions—to seek alternatives. eral Civil Aviation (DGCA). To the Those who could afford it, grabbed slots at credit of the DGCA, its regulatory framework flying schools in the US, Australia and Philippines where fly- in this regard is diligently drawn up and designed with ad- ing facilities abound and certification rules, in comparison to Requate safety factors built into the system of licensing in such Indian regimes, are lax. At one point there was a fairly viscous a manner that adequate training becomes predicated to the flow of graduates in disciplines not remotely connected with licensing process. However, there is a problem with manning aviation towards flying training in institutions abroad. The in DGCA which prevents adequate on-location oversight or end result was an overflow for the system. even a reassuring system of audit to ensure that the 28 government-run flying institutions and seventeen private flying NEW ENTRANTS clubs in India (several of them not functioning at the moment) There is reason to cheer in the news that Indira Gandhi Rash- strictly follow the training philosophy in letter and spirit. triya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) is planning to upgrade its output Occasionally, one hears unconfirmed rumours that some from 40 to 100 cadets per annum through a management of the alumni of these flying schools have far less hands on contract with CAE, Canada. This endeavour is supplemented flying experience in the cockpit than their flying log books by the setting up of a National Flying Training Institute at Gon- proclaim. This problem has now been neutralised by the fact dia, Maharashtra which will also be run on the lines of IGRUA. that airlines can pick and choose the best of the lot. One esti- Another facility that deserves a mention here is Punj Lloyd’s mate is that there are around 8,000 unemployed CPL holders Chimes Aviation Academy at Dhana, Madhya Pradesh. Punj in India and thus, candidates with weak training background decided to study the Indian aviation sector extensively and are eliminated during the selection process. after dropping the idea to start an airline business, started a Not all of the 45 flying institutions listed on the DGCA site pilot training academy. With an initial capital investment of are functional. The problems hounding them are many. Lack Rs 30 crore, the academy is established on the IGRUA model of flying instructors as many have fled to more lucrative air- and offers a 12-month course, for which it has the capacity to

PHOTOGRAPH: ASHISH SHAH line jobs, poor funding and inadequate infrastructure have enroll 120 students a year with a fee of Rs 22 lakh.

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 33 CIVIL TRAINING

Meeting training commitments of airlines is a major activ- A host of training centres continue to do fairly good busi- ity of the flight operations department. Small airlines remain ness training prospective cabin crew. Avalon Academy recent- dependent on hiring of simulators and other facilities but the ly inaugurated aviation training centres in Dehra Dun, Meerut three affluent ones have been taking steps to enhance their and Bijnor. Avalon has strategic alliances with over 37 leading capabilities in the training domain. In April last year, Jet Air- domestic and international airlines. It specializes in providing ways became India’s first airline to get a DGCA approval for high quality training to aspirants interested in making a ca- its Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO), thus becoming reer in Aviation, Travel & Tourism industry, as well as prepar- empowered to conduct endorsement courses and examina- ing students for the corporate world. tions in house ---of course under the supervision of DGCA. Incidentally, the TRTO did not come up overnight but evolved CLOSER TO GROUND from a training school that was first approved in 1995 by Perhaps the only sub-set of the aviation industry where there DGCA. Air India too has a TRTO at its Central Training Estab- has been no drop in takers is that of aviation maintenance lishment at Hyderabad for its Airbus A320 and Boeing 737- engineers. There does not appear to be a glut in the market 800 aircraft crew including ab-initio trainee pilots as well as and salaries have not dropped. Also surprising is the absence those converting from other types of aircraft. The CTE is of of retrenchment of engineers by airlines; perhaps the cause course older than Jet Airways’ school and has been impart- for this differentiation is that irrespec- ing civil aviation related training to airline personnel with tive of how much an airline reduces qualified instructors, examiners, check pilots and ground in- Indira its utilization of its aircraft, there is no structors. The recognition as TRTO has enabled it to conduct Gandhi substantial difference in the number of endorsement training, refresher/recurrent training, checks Rashtriya engineers it requires in proportion to and specialised training for pilots on A310, A320, B737-800 Uran the number of aircraft in its strength. and B747-400 aircraft. Akademi is As for training of commercial staff In an interesting and encouraging development, Birla In- working for airlines at airports, in-house stitute of Technology, Mesra has signed an MoU with the Jam- planning to training appears to be the trend with shedpur Cooperative Flying Club to establish a joint venture upgrade its stress on customised training designed flying training institute that will provide the flying training output from to meet airline’s specific needs. Some of required for a new three year B.Sc. (Aeronautical Sciences) 40 to 100 this is set to change drastically when the degree course proposed to be offered at BIT. The proposed new ground handling policy announced new course will integrate a broad based education with the cadets by the Ministry of Civil Aviation is en- ground instruction and flying training prescribed by DGCA for per forced on July 1, which will usher in an the Commercial Pilots License (CPL), which is the basic license annum entirely new regime, one under which required by students aspiring to become commercial pilots. through a airlines would be forced to use services The syllabus is designed in such a manner that will allow the management of one of two or three alternatives of- pilots trained under BIT’s programme to take up manage- contract fered at each airport by the airport opment positions in the aviation industry. In another develop- erator. Some of the differentiation on ment, Bird Group has entered into a deal with France-based with CAE, account of an airline’s culture vis-à-vis simulator manufacturer Alsim to offer its products in India. Canada customer handling is set to change. So Alsim’s Flight Training Devices are versatile and compliant will their individual needs to train staff with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Joint Aviation for the jobs taken over by the services Authorities regulations. The tie up will definitely provide for offered by the airport operators. more state-of-the-art training facilities in India. DGCA, to reiterate a point, has Last year, Kingfisher Training Academy announced plans a robust training and licensing regime. The Indian Airline to set up 25 centres by 2010 in the country, including in non- Transport Pilot’s License (ATPL), a mandatory requirement metro cities, with the objective of training 6,000 to 8,000 stu- for an Indian pilot to advance from a First Officer status to dents per year in the field of aviation and the allied hospitality captaining an airliner in India, is rather hard to obtain and sector. Livewel Aviation, a 35-year-old company with diverse an aspiring pilot has to work hard to earn it. This iteration is interests in the aviation sector, is also in the process of setting complete only when one states that, in comparison, an FAA up training institutions offering training for airport ground equivalent licence is much easier to obtain. A couple of enter- services, cabin crew, aviation cargo, aviation security, hospi- prising Indian First Officers, in despair after several, succes- tality, customer services, pilots and flight dispatchers. How- sive attempts to obtain the Indian ATPL, espied and snatched ever, some other plans for training facilities fell by the way- upon an opportunity provided by a chink in DGCA’s otherwise side during the last year due to the general disillusionment robust regime. They used the legitimacy of a foreign license with the aviation industry in India and indeed worldwide. Jet by foreign pilots on Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation Airways had to abort its plans to set up a training facility in as a subterfuge for circumventing the stringent ATPL exami- conjunction with Brussels-based Sabena Flight Academy that nation regime. would have supplied around 200 candidates annually. Simi- In defence of DGCA, it must be stated that it has discovered larly, Deccan Aviation shelved its plans to establish a residen- the chink and is in the process of cementing it to ensure that tial flying training centre with a planned outlay of Rs 65 crore. its overall regimen of a very high standard of aviation training NACIL too has shelved plans for training facilities in associa- in India is not only maintained but also seen to be maintained. tion with aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus SAS, at This good intent on the part of DGCA continues to be one of least for the time being. the reasons for cheer for the aviation industry in India. SP

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SP.AVI_267x210_Recipe.indd 1 15/12/08 16:21:46 MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT Eclipsed & edged out

Most armed forces, including those of the major powers, are equipped with transport aircraft of the 1960s and 1970s vintage that are technologically obsolete and operationally inadequate

ess glamorous than the By Group Captain (Retd) LOOMING CRISIS, WORLDWIDE fighter fleet, military Joseph Noronha, Goa Most armed forces including those of transport aircraft are a the major powers are equipped with vital constituent of the in- transport aircraft of the 1960s and ventory of the land and 1970s vintage that are technologically air forces of a nation. Yet, obsolete and operationally inadequate. these are accorded lower priority and less budgetary sup- The current global military transport fleet consists of more Lport with little publicity. During the last two decades, in- than 2,300 tactical airlift aircraft with an average age of 26 ter-theatre war-fighting, peacekeeping and humanitarian years and around 50 strategic airlift aircraft of which most are interventions have become the order of the day. The need is operated by the US and the Commonwealth of Independent for swift response at short notice, often over long distances, States. The ubiquitous Lockheed Martin C-130, for instance, hauling bulky stores both military and civil. Such missions began production in 1954. It is strange, therefore, that the last are often against ill-defined threats or in the midst of the two decades have seen the launch of just three new designs In unbelievable chaos in the aftermath of natural disasters. In military transport aircraft: the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, this age of shrinking military budgets, strict financial limits the EADS-CASA C-295 and, last year, Alenia’s C-27J Spartan. also need to be maintained. Airbus’s own much-awaited A400M has been dogged Crises often reveal glaring deficiencies in contingency by delays and is yet to get airborne. Indeed, the state of the planning with air transport capability lagging woefully be- military air transport fleets of the major powers is rather hind. Much of the soul-searching following November’s car- depressing. The American scene appears particularly bleak. nage in Mumbai revolved around why it took so long for The global war on terror has sharply accelerated aircraft the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos based near utilisation rates, yet plans to induct new aircraft seem lost Delhi, to reach the scene of action. The government has now somewhere in the political labyrinth. The C-17 Globemaster

PHOTOGRAPH: IAF sanctioned dedicated transport fleet for the NSG. III remains the backbone of US inter-theatre transport opera-

36 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT tions around the world. Its ability to operate from shorter and cluding cargo transport, troop transport, MEDEVAC, aerial unprepared runways makes it especially valuable. Improve- refuelling, and electronic surveillance. Since the survivabil- ments in the C-130J Super Hercules, which entered produc- ity of transport aircraft in the tactical battle area is open to tion in 1997, have improved the plane’s range, cruise ceiling, question, the A400M could be fitted with an extensive ECM time to climb, speed and airfield requirements. Yet, the trend suite, besides armour plating crew protection, bullet-proof in airlift demand is likely to place a premium on aircraft that windscreens, engine exhaust treatment for infrared emis- can carry more than a C-130J. Consequently, the levels of sion reduction, and inert gas explosion retardation and fire C-17 flight hours remain well above USAF projections, and retardation in the fuel systems. are likely to continue being so. Some experts say this would A series of smart design decisions regarding load carry- shorten the C-17 fleet’s expected lifespan by five years. Some ing capacity, extensive use of modern materials, multi-role even predict a US airlift crisis in the coming decade. capability and a multinational industrial program were ex- Stretched by the demands of the war on terror, partic- pected to leave the aircraft well positioned to take overall ularly the frequent need to land on unpaved airstrips, the market share from Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Hercules. RAF is badly affected by the revised delivery schedule of the The catch: It won’t be ready in time. In January, EADS an- Airbus A400M. The 25 new planes on order that were to ar- nounced that the first A400M delivery would be postponed rive in 2010, will be delivered in 2012. Meanwhile, NATO until at least 2012. Critics also has been trying to make good its shortfall in strategic airlift. say it is overweight and under- In March 2006, under the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution, Dogged by powered. As a result, Lockheed NATO put a multinational airlift contract into effect. Six An- obsolescence and Martin expects to sell more of tonov An-124-100 strategic airlift aircraft, leased from Rus- shortages in its its competing planes. The tra- sia, will be available to 15 NATO members. NATO also plans transport ﬂeets, ditional Boeing-Airbus rivalry to buy three C-17s. Member countries will receive allocated the IAF operates is absent in this segment since flight hours relative to their participation. This pool would Boeing seems too preoccupied enhance Europe’s defence capabilities through the new 14 Ilyushin with its 787 Dreamliner woes to heavy lift aircraft. Side-by-side, the European Air Transport Il-76 aircraft think about producing a military Fleet initiative, which could enter operation in 2014, will for tactical and transport plane. pool aircraft like the A400M and the C-130J. strategic airlift, Embraer is also considering Russia in this respect is no better off. There are around 300 and six IL-78s a new transport aircraft, the C- transport aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force, includ- 390, which will be the company’s ing An-12 Cub, An-72 Coaler, An-124 Condor and Il-76 Candid for in-ﬂight first cargo plane and its heaviest planes. Most of these entered service in the 1960s and 1970s refuelling aircraft, carrying approximately and are considered unsafe by modern standards. However, 19 tonnes of freight. Size-wise it comprehensive upgrading could extend their service life until will be between the C-27J and 2020-2025. The Chinese situation has hitherto been a couple the C-130J. This multi-role air- of notches worse than the Russian, but the much stronger Chi- craft would be used for midair nese economy will probably permit it to keep pace with mili- refuelling, MEDEVAC as well as to transport troops. The C- tary transport aircraft requirements in the foreseeable future. 390 is proposed as a twinjet replacement for thousands of Dogged by obsolescence and shortages in its transport ageing Lockheed Martin C-130s. The aircraft’s first flight is fleets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 14 Ilyushin Il-76 expected around 2011. aircraft for tactical and strategic airlift, and six IL-78s for in- Turning to light military transport aircraft, there are three flight refuelling. Apart from the obsolescent HS-748 Avros, main options at present: Alenia’s C-27J Spartan, EADS-CASA’s it has a fleet of 90 Antonov An-32 and 28 Dornier Do 228 C-295M and that old faithful—Antonov’s An-32. The C-27J utility aircraft. In an effort to infuse fresh life into its trans- Spartan is a twin-turboprop, medium-sized military transport port fleet, the IAF will begin an upgrade programme for its aircraft. The aircraft was selected as the Joint Cargo Aircraft An-32s and Do 228s this year. The upgrade is intended to for the US military. Italy received its first C-27J in October 2006 improve the avionics, increase the engine lifespan, and im- and the US Army received its first in September last year. prove range and payload so they can remain operational for So far as India is concerned, the success of the BrahMos another 15 to 20 years. Six C-130J Super Hercules have also missile project needs to be replicated in the Indo-Russian been contracted for delivery in 2011. Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MRTA) project. In 2002, the two countries agreed to a 50-50 joint venture between Hin- AIRCRAFT ON OFFER dustan Aeronautics Limited and Ilyushin Aviation Complex/ The Airbus A400M is a direct result of a commonly felt need Rosoboronexport to develop the MRTA with a payload ca- by eight European air forces for a new generation, multi- pacity of 18.5 tonnes, a range of 2,500 km and a speed role military transport to replace the ageing C-130 Hercules of 870 km/hour. The twin bypass turbo-jet is expected to and C-160 Transall. The aircraft incorporates leading state- fly soon and enter service by 2015. While the IAF plans to of-the-art technology including a fly-by-wire flight control acquire 45 such aircraft, the Russian market could absorb system, a flight envelope protection system, advanced struc- 100 planes within the next 12 years. However, latest reports tural design incorporating extensive use of composite mate- suggest that the deal has not been finalised as yet. If the deal rials, four high performance turboprop engines and high flo- doesn’t come through, India could look at partnering the tation landing gear, allowing operation from short, unpaved Embraer’s C-390 programme which is very similar to what airfields. The A400M can operate in many configurations in- is needed by the IAF and also in an advanced stage. SP

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 37 BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY

1 5 Embraer bullish on its range of business jets 8

2 6

4 PHOTOGRAPHS: ASHISH SHAH, MUMBAI PHOTOGRAPHS: ASHISH SHAH,

38 SP’S AVIATION Issue 01 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY

Embraer bullish on its range of business jets Upbeat and looking to consolidate its position, Embraer for the ﬁrst time in India showcased the cabin cross-section of the ultra-large Lineage 1000 executive jet from January 19 to 23 in Mumbai. The company also named Indamer as its authorised service centre for India. Embraer will promote its entire portfolio of executive jets at Aero India 2009.

9 12

1. The plush interiors of Lineage 10 1000; 2. The Lineage 1000 jet was designed with comfort and luxury as top priorities; 3. Jose Eduardo Gandara Costas, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific, renders an overview of the Asian market; 4. Andre de Castilho Silva, Director, Customer Support & Services, Asia Pacific, announces Mumbai-based Indamer Embraer’s authorised service centre for India; 5. Lineage 1000 cabin mock up; 6. Captain Manfred Baudzus, Director, Business Development, Asia Pacific, explains 11 the attributes of the Phenom 300 to a prospective customer; 7. Captain Baudzus addresses the media; 8. Lineage 1000 model and mock up; 9. Andre de Castilho Silva presents a model of the Phenom 100 to Bharat Malkani, Managing Director, Indamer, after anointing the company Embraer’s Authorised Service Centre for India; 10. & 11. The line of Embraer Executive Jets—the Lineage 1000, Legacy 600, Legacy 500 and Legacy 450; 12. Bharat Malkani makes his acceptance speech

Issue 01 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 39 BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY

PLUSH INTERIOR: INSIDE DR VIJAY MALLYA’S A319 ACJ AND (BELOW) Rising THE AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Star Business aviation in India, discounting an odd hiccup here and there, is in the ascendant for the coming years

s if the injury inflicted on By Our Staff Correspondent attract public opprobrium for their aircraft the US business aviation holdings. Moreover, the US phenomenon, industry by developments which in a single stroke rendered corporate detrimental to aviation aviation an icon of extravagance and callous wasn’t enough, a prickly provision of the re- affluence in times of economic downturn, is unlikely to be recently introduced Troubled Assets Relief Pro- peated here in India for the simple reason that with elections gramme Bill piled on the insult. According to the Bill, com- round the corner, business aircraft are going to be extensively Apanies bidding for and receiving federal bailout funds are utilised during the campaign. Indeed, several new helicopters required to relinquish their corporate fleets or jet leases as are going to exercise their rotors in Indian skies just before part of the bailout deal. The proposal is the fallout of outrage electioneering commences in earnest. expressed by a section of the politicians over three heads of US car manufacturers flying to Washington on individual INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE business jets on a joint mission to seek a government bailout. In the last few months, over 30 airlines worldwide have either Saner voices insisting that the use of business jets was hardly shut down or filed for bankruptcy, but the market for business the underlying cause for the economic state of the US were aircraft has not registered a corresponding dip. A key reason brushed aside even as the Bill’s provisions reflected the erro- is the fall in prices, rendering business jets more and more af- neous perception in aviation circles about business aviation, fordable. Business aircraft options in terms of size and variants that it is less of a necessity and more of a luxury. are also expanding. Moreover, there is seemingly a change in Back home, there is no such visible blow to the tenacious perception of what business aviation represents from a macro hold corporate houses maintain on their business aircraft. viewpoint. The direct and tangible contribution that a business Perhaps because the clamour for bailout packages is neither aircraft makes towards facilitating the functioning of a busi-

PHOTOGRAPHS: AIRLINERS.NET as noisy nor the plight of most business houses so sorry as to ness enterprise is very difficult to quantify. It would be a good

40 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY idea to view business aviation collectively as a national asset executive jet service centre. This is the first Maintenance, Re- without breaking it up into component aircraft or holdings in pair and Overhaul (MRO) Company to serve Embraer’s Phe- terms of their owners. nom and Legacy 600 jet customers in India. Based in Mumbai, According to one estimate, at least 10,000 entities in India Indamer has 1,200 sq m of space for its hangar and facilities, have the wherewithal to own and operate at least one busi- and can provide warranty support and heavy maintenance ness aircraft. Some of these can easily afford more than one. A services for customers of Phenom and Legacy 600 jets. Be- large number of business houses, such as Reliance Industries, sides handling routine checks, it will also offer rescue teams. Videocon, the UB Group, Raymond, GMR, Bharat Hotels, Taj Operations are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2009. Air and Oberoi, own aircraft including jets like Falcon, Cessna, Indeed, the growing potential of the business jet market in Bombardier, Beech King and Gulfstream. One noticeable trend Asia and India, even if temporarily set back by global events, is the obfuscation between pure business aviation and charter is reflected in the mushrooming of new MRO facilities. Other operations. The latter is a secondary role and complementary than the Embraer MRO in India, Dassault Falcon is planning inasmuch as it utilises gainfully the spare flying effort available to open up a spares distribution centre in May this year in on privately owned aircraft. Mumbai, India, with $1.5 million (Rs 7.35 crore) worth of Understandably, the preference for aircraft types used for spares. This will complement a similar centre in Shanghai and business purposes lean towards the jet barring a small mi- a regional distribution centre in Singapore. Hawker Beech- nority opting for helicopters and/or turboprop aircraft due craft has seven authorised service to limitations of airports where they operate from. Business centres in Asia, stretching in an jets represent some of the most technologically complex and At least arc from northern Japan through advanced products being manufactured today. Breaking off 10,000 Taiwan and China’s Hainan Is- from military hand-me-downs in the US, and starting with the entities in land. It has opened a new autho- Lockheed JetStar in 1957, business jet technology came into its have rised service centre at the Indira own and has not looked back since then. Today, the business India Gandhi International Airport at jet scene has an aircraft to match almost every need. There the wherewithal Delhi. Travel conglomerate Inter- is the Very Light Jet with a small size, a small price tag, but to own at least Globe General Aviation Limited a huge demand. Then there is the Super Sonic Business Jet one business expanded into service and sales which promises to provide a solution for the business traveller aircraft. Some of last June. It is now the region’s au- in a hurry to reach international destinations or even distant these can easily thorised dealer and intends to es- domestic ones in quick time. tablish new service centres across afford more India as it boosts sales. CUSTOMISED SERVICE than one. Apart from these niche classes, business jets of all sizes and BREAKING NEW GROUND with all kinds of customised embellishments await the atten- Although the business aviation tion of corporate houses with the desire and the money to sector appears to be well en- spend on fast travel for their owners and executives. The avail- trenched and to be holding good ability of diverse business jets is matched by the demand for potential, some recent develop- them in India and there is no sign yet that there is going to be ments need to be mentioned to complete the picture. Airnetz a sharp drop in that demand in the near future. Apparently, In- Aviation, a leading air charter service in India, recently intro- dia Inc. is confident that the current global recession is transi- duced business class service for corporate passengers over tory and the Indian growth story is far from over. The underly- third party operated small aircraft. The service is advertised ing message for business aviation in India holds good cheer for as being able to take passengers to over 400 airfields in In- the future albeit last year’s estimates by the Business Aviation dia. The idea is revolutionary in that passengers can request Association of India that the annual growth in the numbers of a business class ticket to a destination according to their re- business aircraft in India would be 30 to 40 per cent over the quired time and date. The flight request is then also sent to coming years does not appear realistic at the moment. over 2,000 travel agents in India who are Airnetz resellers. Although traditionally, business aviation in India has been Other corporate passengers then join the pool. Airnetz plans dominated by turboprop aircraft, the predilection for busi- to facilitate over 500 such flights every month, especially to ness jets has been manifest in recent times. According to Jose routes where schedule airline service is not frequent or does Eduardo Costas, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Asia- not exist at all. Something like a car pool, the service, it is Pacific for Embraer executive jets, the last order from India claimed by Airnetz, is cheaper than luxury cars and offers was for a Legacy 600, a $28 million (Rs 138 crore) aircraft, passengers an unbeatable option to travel anywhere, any- and the order was placed as recently as November 2008. A time with other corporate passengers they know. total of 155 Legacy 600 planes have been ordered globally, Simultaneously, there is an assault by airlines to woo busi- including eight by Indian buyers. Four more are to be or- ness class travelers through promotional offers (free travel dered soon. Currently, India is reported to have over 90 busi- for spouse, et al), corporate deals at concessional fares, in- ness jets and about 100 turbo-prop aircraft. Of the 20 orders credible frequent flier programmes, and so on. However, the worldwide for the Lineage 1000 priced at $45.25 million (Rs charm of owning a captive aircraft for corporate travel is an 222 crore), two are from India. idea that is unlikely to lose its lustre even when surrounded Recognising the trend as an opportunity, Embraer has tied by the glitter of economically sound and less risky options. In up with Indamer Company Pvt. Ltd, a wholly owned subsid- short, business aviation in India, discounting an odd hiccup iary of European Aviation Holding Co. Pvt. Ltd, an authorised here and there, is in the ascendant for the coming years. SP

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 41 FACE TO FACE RAYTHEON

‘ISSA creates a safety zone around airports’

Admiral (Retd) Walter F. Doran, President Raytheon Asia outlines the company’s plans to expand awareness of its products and capabilities

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): Outline the com- include AIM-9X, AMRAAM, Maverick, curity of passengers within an airport pany’s profile. What are Raytheon’s Paveway, JSOW. These are the world’s facility. The Integrated Security Systems defence technologies and products? most advanced and most lethal air-to- for Airports (ISSA) is a comprehensive Admiral (Retd) Walter F. Doran air and air-to-ground weapon systems. system that detects, observes, assesses (Doran): Raytheon is a global defence Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems and tracks intrusions to secure areas technology company that does business produces radar systems and electronic and aids airport security personnel in in about 80 countries. We have 72,000 warfare systems that combined with dispatching the appropriate response employees, more than half of whom are our weapons all but guarantee air domi- to the intrusion. Raytheon is currently engineers. That gives us a lot of capa- nance for the US and its allies. Our inte- implementing this system in New York bility in developing and manufacturing grated fighter solutions support a vari- area airports. innovative solutions to problems. Some ety of manned and unmanned systems. of Raytheon’s major areas of focus in- These provide decision makers with the SP’s: Raytheon has been trying to clude precision engagement, radar and most actionable information available, expand its presence in the Indian sensors, integration of sophisticated and give pilots and aircrews the edge no armed forces for the past two years. systems and training. matter what platform they’re flying. What has been your experience? Doran: As I said, this is an emerging SP’s: For how long has Raytheon been SP’s: Can you tell us something about market for us, but an important one for in India and has it been productive? your partnership with ISRO for GPS our future growth. Raytheon’s philoso- Doran: Raytheon has been associated and Geosynchronous Augmentation phy is to build long-term sustainable with India for more than 40 years, but System (GAGAN) and the Chandray- relationships so that means working the strategic landscape is changing very aan programme? closely with customers/potential cus- rapidly now. This is something I have Doran: We are in close collaboration tomers. We’re making progress in build- personally hoped for since my days as with ISRO and AAI and are working on ing these closer relationships with gov- a student in India. Till a few years ago, the final operational phase of the GAGAN ernment, military and industry officials Raytheon, despite smaller defence proj- programme. Raytheon also developed so they better understand Raytheon’s ects like the Firefinder radar for the In- the sensing technology that was placed products and capabilities and we bet- dian Army, was known in India largely on the Chandrayaan to help determine ter understand their needs. So far, that’s for its civilian interests, particularly in whether the polar regions of the moon working well. the area of air traffic control. The sat- contain ice. Raytheon provided the an- ellite-navigation system we developed tenna, transmitter, analog receiver and SP’s: What is the assurance level of with ISRO, known as GAGAN, has prov- software for the sensor, as well as sys- product support by Raytheon during en a success in the technical demonstra- tems engineering. the life cycle of a system? tion phase. We are now looking to ex- Doran: Raytheon has a strong record of pand awareness of Raytheon’s products SP’s: What are the systems you pro- providing lifetime support for our prod- and capabilities. vide for civil aviation? ucts, as well as extensive training for Doran: Raytheon is one of the world’s those using the equipment. SP’s: What are Raytheon’s fighter largest providers of air-traffic control aircraft systems for air dominance? systems, including in Mumbai and Delhi. SP’s: How does your company view Doran: Yes, Raytheon provides a vari- The company also has submitted bids Transfer of Technology and offsets? ety of cutting edge sensor technologies on providing air traffic management Doran: We do business in some 80 along with advanced weapons systems systems in Kolkata and Chennai. countries and each has requirements for that ensure our customers are fully technology transfer and offsets, in some equipped to execute their mission and SP’s: Do you provide systems for inte- form or another. We are quite adept at return safely. Most of the weapons pack- grated airport security? working technology arrangements and ages for US fighter aircraft are produced Doran: Raytheon has developed a so- the US has historically been supportive SP PHOTOGRAPH: RAYTHEON by Raytheon Missile Systems. Products lution that ensures the safety and se- of sharing technology with its allies.

42 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net Hall of Fame OULD ANY PRUDENT form erected on the deck of the USS system to safely ‘grab’ the aircraft dur- PILOT choose to take Birmingham. The wheels of the plane ing its landing run. On January 18, off and land from an actually hit the sea before it attained 1911 Eugene, in a Curtiss pusher bi- ‘airstrip’ racing across enough speed to climb away. Eugene plane specially equipped with arrest- the ocean at 30 knots? made it safely to shore—a distance of ing hooks on its axle, took off from WNot likely. That naval pilots—admit- about 2 1/2 miles. The feat not only Selfridge Field and headed for the San tedly prone to execute incredible ma- demonstrated the practicality of avia- Francisco Bay. Sighting the Pennsyl- noeuvres—have made it a routine pro- tion at sea, but catapulted Ely to the vania, he headed straight for the ship, cedure on aircraft carriers the world cutting his engine when he was over is largely creditable to Eugene only 75 feet from the fantail, and Ely, the first pilot ever to take off and allowed the plane to glide onto the land an aircraft aboard ship. deck, touching down at a speed Eugene Burton Ely was born in of 40 mph. As the biplane raced Iowa on October 21, 1886. At 18, he along, the hooks on the undercar- began to take a passionate interest riage caught the ropes stretched in automobiles, and their engines, between large bags of sand that quickly becoming one of America’s had been placed along the entire first racing drivers. In 1910, when length of the ‘runway’, exactly as a friend bought a biplane and didn’t planned. The forward momentum know how to fly it, Eugene volun- of the aircraft was quickly retard- teered to try. He probably thought ed and it was safely brought to a that flying should not be too difficult complete stop. The cruiser’s Cap- for a racing driver. Of course, he re- EUGENE B. ELY tain Charles F. Pond called it “the turned to earth with a tremendous most important landing of a bird bump. Feeling remorseful about the (1886 – 1911) since the dove flew back to Noah’s crash he bought the wreckage and ark”. He later reported, “Noth- proceeded to painstakingly repair it On November 14, 1910 Eugene ing damaged, and not a bolt or till it was airworthy again. This time brace startled, and Ely the coolest he approached the task with great- Ely took off from a temporary man on board.” Eugene Ely was er caution, making the briefest of platform erected on the deck greeted with a barrage of cheers, straight-line hops just to get the feel boat horns and whistles. There of the machine. Despite the initial of the USS Birmingham. The is no doubt that his daring flight mishap he took to flying naturally. that day, during the early history Within weeks he had taught himself wheels of the plane actually of aviation, was one of the most to fly and was awarded a certificate outstanding achievements made by the Aero Club of America. The hit the sea before it attained by any of the pioneer aviators. next few months were intensely ac- enough speed to climb away. However, Eugene Ely’s tri- tive, touring the entire country and umph was short lived. On October giving flying demonstrations. Eugene made it safely to 19, 1911 he misjudged a steep In the years following the Wright dive during a demonstration flight Brothers’ conquest of the air in shore—a distance of about and crashed, dying minutes later. 1903, pressure intensified on the US He was only 26 years old. He was Navy to evaluate the new machines 2 1/2 miles. The feat not only actually a rather modest human and their significance for naval op- demonstrated the practicality being and a cautious and expert erations. Glenn Curtiss was probably flyer who did not believe in dare- the person responsible for persuad- of aviation at sea, but devil flying. However, as with all ing the navy to act. He prophesied: barnstormers and stunt flyers of “The battles of the future will be catapulted Ely to the front the era he knew that some day his fought in the air. The aeroplane will pages of virtually every time would probably be up. His decide the destiny of nations... En- aviation achievements had been cumbered as (big ships) are within newspaper in America. accomplished within the space of their turrets and military masts, they a year and a half. He was award- cannot launch air fighters, and with- ed the Distinguished Flying Cross out these to defend them, they would front pages of virtually every newspa- posthumously in 1933. Aircraft carriers be blown apart in case of war.” Captain per in America. to this day use the same basic design Washington Chambers, who worked Taking off from a ship was, no for take off and landing as he did. Could for the Secretary of the US Navy, was doubt, a remarkable feat. But could a there be more compelling proof of Eu- convinced and roped in Eugene Ely for plane land on a ship? Eugene Ely be- gene Ely’s lasting legacy? SP a demonstration. lieved it could. This time the cruiser —Group Captain (Retd) On November 14, 1910 Eugene Pennsylvania was chosen. Its deck was Joseph Noronha, Ely took off from a temporary plat- modified with the first ever tail-hook Goa

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 43 NEWSDigest MILITARY gramme. The 737 received From a technical perspective, RoundUp approximately 14,000 pounds algae oil can be produced and Quick Asia-Pacific of fuel during two connec- converted to JP-8. The goal tions with the tanker. The of this 36-month programme AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES Indian Air Force appoints aircraft achieved another is to reduce the cost of doing first woman navigator aerial-refueling first when so to a level that will offer the • Aerospace Industries Association Seventy-five years after its it received fuel from an air US Department of Defense an President and CEO Marion Blakey formation, the Indian Air force KC-135 tanker. Project affordable, reliable long term said aerospace and defence industry Force (IAF) has finally broken Wedgetail includes six 737 supply of JP-8. “is a source of economic strength the gender barrier with a AEW&C aircraft plus ground that should be tapped in the stimulus young woman reaching out support segments for mis- Deployed F-22 Raptors bill to help lead our nation out of very to the skies as its first woman sion crew training, mission arrive at Andersen challenging times”. One way to take flying officer (Navigator). De- support and system mainte- Twelve F-22 Raptors de- advantage of the industry’s strength termined to add more firsts nance. ployed from Elmendorf would be to include several aviation to her career, Jaipur-based Air Force Base, Alaska, infrastructure provisions in the bill, Kavita Barala has her sights India gets Warrior Satellite have arrived at Andersen he added. set on learning to navigate Surveillance Systems Air Force Base, Guam for the frontline fighter jet Su- At the Pacific Telecom Con- a three-month deployment AIR AUSTRAL 30 and becoming the first ference in Hawaii, Antenna in support of Pacific Global female co-pilot of a multi-role Technology Communications Deterrence mission. As part • Air Austral, the airline based in aircraft. The career choice of Inc., a provider of commer- of the continuing force pos- Saint Denis, La Reunion, has signed a navigator in the IAF was cial satellite communications ture adjustments to address an MoU with Airbus for the purchase available to women since systems, announced the worldwide requirements, of two A380s in a single-class they were inducted into the deployment of its Warrior additional forces like the configuration. In such a configuration, force a decade-and-half ago, Satellite Monitoring and 90th Expeditionary Fighter the A380 will offer unique level of fuel but no one had opted for the Surveillance System for the Squadron (EFS) continue to economy, further emphasising the branch till now. Indian region. The Warrior deploy throughout the West- eco-efficient nature of the aircraft. Satellite Monitoring System ern Pacific. While deployed Airbus Military initiates can simultaneously provide here, the airmen of the 90th ALENIA AERONAUTICA testing of A330 MRTT complete observation for EFS will fly alongside those satellite activities spread over of the 23rd Expeditionary • As part of Alenia Aeronautica’s con- 140 degrees. However, with Bomb Squadron, in support tract with Italy’s Direzione Generale the added upgrades, the sys- of numerous exercises and Armamenti Aeronautici (Aeronautical tem goes beyond the monitor- missions, showcasing the Armaments Procurement Agency) for ing that is being offered by US commitment to security the supply of four ATR72 maritime rival systems today. Designed and stability throughout the patrol aircraft, SELEX Galileo, a for the unique requirements Pacific. Finmeccanica company, will integrate of government and military its Airborne Tactical Observation and entities, Warrior allows the Rockwell Collins bags deal Surveillance System mission system operator an in-depth view of for F-22 avionics with the Seaspray AESA Radar for the An A330 MRTT built for the not only the spectrum usage/ first time for installation on an Italian Royal Australian Air Force geo-location issues involved aircraft. completed another major in satellite carriage, but also milestone when the A310 the ability to manage, control BELL-BOEING Boom demonstrator, used as and archive the data, voice test bed for the new EADS and video content being car- • Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, fly-by-wire boom, made a ried on any given satellite on Amarillo, Texas, has been awarded series of contacts during a any given transponder in its a cost-plus-incentive fee, indefinite- flight test over waters off the viewing arc simultaneously. delivery, requirements contract with coast of southwest Spain. The an estimated value of $581.5 million A330 MRTT is equipped with Americas Rockwell Collins has been to provide Joint Performance Based two wing-tip mounted ‘hose- awarded a 32-month Depot Logistics support for the Marine and-drogue’ refueling pods, General Atomics to develop Activation contract by Corps (MV-22), Air Force, and Special an advanced aerial refueling algae derived jet fuel Lockheed Martin to provide Forces Operations Command (CV-22) boom in the tail, as well as General Atomics (GA) has test capability, training and aircraft during the production and complete capabilities in navi- been awarded a contract from integration support for F-22 deployment phase of the V-22 Pro- gation, military identification DARPA to develop scalable avionics at Warner Robins Air gramme. The contract is expected to and military communications, processes for the cost-effec- Logistics Center (WR-ALC). be completed by November 2013. including a tactical data link tive large-scale production The contract is valued at and defensive countermea- of algae triglyceride oil and $23.8 million (Rs 115 crore). BELL HELICOPTER sures equipment. an algae-derived JP-8 jet fuel The contract was developed surrogate. The contract has a through Rockwell Collins’ en- • Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. com- Boeing finishes first aerial total value of up to $43 million gineering services to provide pany, ended 2008 with delivery of the refueling of 737 platform (Rs 210 crore) if all phases of total support solutions to WR- ninth OH-58D aircraft to be modified The Boeing Company has the development programme ALC and other government under the current Kiowa Warrior completed the first aerial are completed. GA will lead customers by ensuring the Safety Enhancement Programme refueling of a 737 platform. a team of university and in- warfighter is pro Guam for (SEP) contract. Bell’s SEP line had The historic flights were con- dustrial partners that will ex- a three-month deployment been closed down and after work was ducted for Project Wedgetail, amine all aspects of the algae in support of Pacific Global completed on the previous SEP lot Australia’s AEW&C pro- to JP-8 production process. Deterrence mission.

44 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net NEWSDigest Raytheon awarded MALD-J systems underwent design CIVIL AVIATION RoundUp study contract reviews with the indus- Quick The US Air Force has trial partners, thus ensuring Asia-Pacific awarded Raytheon Company overall programme consis- in December 2007. Workers applied a $12.2 million (Rs 75 crore) tency. Interface design is now As elections draw near, Textron Six Sigma processes and contract to study the feasibil- almost complete, paving the buyers queue up for aircraft tools to accomplish a lean restart of ity of increasing power and way for more detailed work There had been an abrupt the SEP line during May 2008. adding a data link capability on the systems and airframe. rise in the orders of smaller for the MALD-J, a state-of- Meanwhile, Ruag, the Swiss aircraft like Cessnas, C-90s BOEING the-art, low-cost flight vehicle partner, carried out two and helicopters with the that is modular, air-launched specific wind tunnel tests in elections round the corner. • The Boeing Company has an- and programmable. It weighs 2008, results of which were Managers of some top politi- nounced that the US Air Force has less than 300 pounds and very positive. Simultaneously, cians are scouting for aircraft authorised the Commonwealth of has a range of approximately the AVE-C drone carried out a before the campaign gains Australia’s provision of $234 million 500 nautical miles (about 575 demonstration flight on June momentum to cover long (Rs 1,140 crore) for Boeing to statute miles). The contract 30, 2008. Work is progress- distance in minimal time. The complete production of the sixth requires Raytheon to inte- ing well with the maiden orders are also coming from Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) sat- grate a data link and more flight scheduled during end small and medium entrepre- ellite. With this authorisation, Boeing powerful jammer amplifiers of 2011. neurs of non-metros. Accord- is now fully funded for the production into the baseline MALD/ ing to a Delhi-based aircraft of all three WGS Block II satellites, MALD-J vehicle. Raytheon New approach for the lease rental and purchasing and is on track to deliver the first in will also determine the tech- A400M Programme company, an automobile an- this new series in 2011. nical feasibility and perfor- In a bid to find a new pro- cillary unit owner at a small mance capability of MALD-J gramme approach for the town in Punjab has placed an BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE Block II prior to building and A400M, Airbus Military and order for a six-seat second flight testing the new vehicle. EADS have proposed a new hand aircraft. Promoter of a • Bombardier Aerospace has an- programme. Airbus Military cement-manufacturing unit in nounced that Colgan Air, Inc., a wholly Europe and EADS want to discuss Haryana has also shown keen owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines the programme schedule interest in buying a helicop- Corp., has signed a firm order to France’s DGA to along with changes to other ter. The bulk of the orders acquire 15 Q400 NextGen turboprop modernise avionics areas of the contract includ- are coming from Ludhiana, airliners. The transaction involves France’s defence procure- ing technical characteristics Amritsar and Dehradun, with the conversion to firm orders of 10 ment agency DGA recently of the military aircraft. Airbus prices ranging between Rs 7 conditional orders and the exercise announced it would mod- Military has suggested that crore and Rs 10 crore. of five options placed by Pinnacle ernise the avionics in the series production should in 2007. Colgan Air’s operations are Armee de l’Air’s 14 C-135FR be resumed once adequate based in Manassas, Virginia. aerial tankers in order to maturity is reached, based on INDUSTRY keep them compliant with flight test results. FRENCH DEFENCE AGENCY ICAO regulations for opera- Americas tion in civilian airspace. The Swiss’ Partial Tiger: RFP • The French Defence Procurement €37-million (Rs 230 crore) delivered to manufacturers Boeing finishes 2008 with Agency (DGA) has ordered a further contract will be handled by With the delivery of the 662 airplane orders 22 NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Air France. The first mod- second request for proposal The Boeing Company in 2008 Helicopter) helicopters for the ernised aircraft is scheduled (RFP), the three manufactur- recorded 662 net commercial French Army Aviation during Decem- for delivery in 2011, with ers Dassault, EADS and Saab, airplane orders, bringing its ber 2008 from NHIndustries (NHI) the rest re-entering service the Swiss evaluation of a backlog of unfilled com- consortium. With this second batch, between 2011 and 2013. successor for the F-5 Tiger is mercial orders to more than after the initial 12 aircraft ordered The modernisation will allow proceeding as planned. In the 3,700 airplanes. The Next- there are now 34 NH 90 TTH to be France to keep the aircraft in updated RFP, the manufac- Generation 737 remained delivered to the French Army from service until at least 2015. turers were asked to submit the company’s best seller, 2011 onwards. NHI is the NH90 an offer for 22 aircraft. In with 484 chosen last year by programme joint venture established DGA selects Dassault addition, defence procure- customers from nearly every between Eurocopter, AgustaWestland Aviation to develop nEUROn ment agency Armasuisse has region of the world. Demand and Stork Fokker. On February 9, 2006, French set the budget at $1.92 billion for the all-new 787 Dream- defence procurement agency (Rs 9,370 crore) and inquired liner also remained strong EADS DGA named Dassault Aviation how many aircraft can be de- with 93 ordered, primarily prime contractor for devel- livered for this amount. The by Middle East customers. • There is no discussion within EADS oping nEUROn, an Euro- further selection schedule is The twin-aisle 777 captured about a scenario to withdraw from pean combat aircraft vehicle as follows: 54 orders from customers the A400M programme, contrary (UCAV) demonstrator. This • The selection of the aircraft in Europe, the Middle East, to what has been circulated in the signaled the active launch type is planned for July. North America and Asia. press. Over 6,000 persons are at of the project. To date, 85 • Together with the bill on The 767-300ER (Extended present working actively on the proper cent of the total budget Armament Program 2010, Range) logged 28 orders, and gramme inside EADS, and there are has been awarded to the the collective Federal Council the 747-8 Intercontinental ongoing discussions with OCCAR and Industry by DGA, which acts will approve the procure- added three to the orders list. the customer governments. This air- on behalf of the six partner ment of the selected type and During 2008, 375 airplanes craft will be the best in its category, states (France, Sweden, Italy, submit it to Swiss Parliament. were delivered to customers with outstanding specifications and Spain, Greece and Switzer- • Approval of the Partial Ti- worldwide: 290 737s (includ- no alternative programme in competi- land). During the first half ger Replacement by the Swiss ing six Boeing Business Jets), tion on the world market. of 2008, all major nEUROn Parliament is likely by 2010. 14 747s, 10 767s and 61

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 45 NEWSDigest APPOINTMENTS 777s. Boeing also debuted the cy, the Malaysian Maritime RoundUp first 777 Freighter and began Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Quick KAYANAKIS NAMED VP flight testing on that pro- has taken delivery of the first OF FALCON WORLDWIDE gramme, while the first P-8A of two Bombardier 415MP FINLAND Jean Kayanakis was recently Poseidon—a derivative of the amphibious aircraft ordered named Vice President of Next- Generation 737 for use by the Malaysian government • National daily Helsingin Sanomat Falcon Worldwide Spares for by the US Navy—completed in June 2008. The Malaysian had reported that the Finnish Dassault Falcon. Kayanakis final assembly. government is the launch military is considering replacing its was previously Director, East- customer in Asia for the spe- Russian-made surface-to-air missile ern Hemisphere Spares. Support remains high cialised Bombardier 415MP system 9K37M, which were delivered for Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The first Bombardier during 1996 and 1997, as part of ANARK APPOINTS GARCIA Decisions about the F-35 Joint 415MP aircraft delivered to Soviet era debt. The report also said SENIOR VICE CHIEF OF Strike Fighter and F-22 Rap- Malaysia is equipped with the replacement system would be BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT tor aircraft programmes are a state-of-the-art surveil- NATO compliant. The Finnish defence Anark has appointed Garcia expected early in President lance suite that includes two ministry, however, did not confirm as new Senior Vice President Barack Obama’s administra- side-looking airborne radars, the report. of Business Development. He tion. Based on initial indica- one forward-looking infrared will leverage his experience tions and inquiries from radar, an airborne maritime FRANCE-INDIA within the computer-aided Obama’s transition team, Air surveillance system and other design and product lifecycle Force Maj General Charles R. avionics and communications • As per Jean-David Levitte, Diplo- management industry to Davis said he’s confident the equipment. matic Adviser to French President, form new tie-ups and chan- F-35 programme begun dur- France wants to develop a new nel partnerships for Anark’s ing the Clinton administration First avionics-equipped F-35 short-range surface-to-air missile products and solutions. will continue, even if budget rolls out at Lockheed Martin (SR-SAM) in cooperation with India. restraints force scale-backs. Lockheed Martin has com- Negotiations are nearing conclusion, NEW HEAD OF CORPORATE Davis made the comments pleted the first F-35 Lightning a report said. This new system may MEDIA RELATIONS AT EADS here as keynote speaker at a II equipped with mission be the Maitri, which may incorporate Alexander Reinhardt has Brookings Institution forum, systems, a milestone that will technology from India’s Trishul SAM been appointed Head of “The Joint Strike Fighter lead to the first avionics test- and MBDA’s MICA. Corporate Media Relations at and Beyond”. However, he ing on board an F-35 aircraft. EADS effective from January acknowledged that the pro- The short takeoff/vertical GE AVIATION 26, succeeding the new Head gramme might not get scaled landing (STOVL) F-35 variant of Corporate Communica- back. Davis conceded he gets left the factory on January • GE Aviation has completed on tions, Pierre Bayle. many questions about the F- 21, and goes to the fuel facil- schedule the Critical Design Review 35’s cost which is expected to ity for functional fuel system of its new GE38 turboshaft engine, THIERRY IS BOMBARDIER’S be $80 million (Rs 390 crore) checks before it is scheduled clearing the way for full-engine NEW BOARD MEMBER to $90 million (Rs 440 crore), for delivery to the flight line testing in 2009. A key component of Bombardier Inc. on January depending on the variant and by the end of January. Its GE’s growth strategy for turboshaft 21 announced the appoint- delivery schedule. And if fewer first flight is expected this engines, the GE38 will power Sikorsky ment of Thierry Desmarest aircraft are built, each will summer. The aircraft, called Aircraft Corporation’s next-generation to its Board of Directors. cost even more. “We lose two BF-4, will carry the Northrop CH-53K heavy lift helicopter being Desmarest has been Chair- airplanes in our (fiscal 2009) Grumman AN/APG-81 Ac- developed for the US Marine Corps. man of the Board of Directors appropriation, and every other tive Electronically Scanned In addition to powering the CH-53K, of Total since 2007. one of the airplanes being Array radar and Integrated GE envisions the GE38 as the future bought in that year goes up $3 Communications, Navigation cornerstone for a new turboshaft/tur- NEW EXECUTIVE VP OF million (Rs 15 crore),” he said. and Identification suite, and boprop family. CFM INTERNATIONAL Another consideration, he the BAE Systems Electronic Chaker Chahrour has been said, is the cost of maintain- Warfare system. The Block INDONESIAN AIR FORCE named as the new Executive ing the aging legacy fleets the 0.5 mission systems software, Vice President of CFM Inter- F-35 would replace if produc- which incorporates more • JSC ‘Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft national from February 1. tion is cut. The F-35 is the first than half of the combat-ready Production Association named after aircraft to be developed within Block 3 software, will drive Yury Gagarin’ (KNAAPO) delivered the DCNS PROPOSES BOISSIER the Defense Department to the system. BF-4 will be up- third Su-30 MK2 fighter to Indonesia AS CHAIRMAN & CEO meet the needs of three servic- dated with additional equip- under the contract signed on July 27, The DCNS Board on January es, with three variants being ment and software through 2008 for the delivery of six aircraft; 14 co-opted Patrick Boissier developed simultaneously and Block 3, the last block in the three Su-30 MK2 and three Su-27 as a member and appointed will replace the legacy F-16 System Development and SKM to the Indonesian Air Force. Chairman of the Board to the aircraft for the US Air Force Demonstration program. In December 2008, two Su-30 MK2 President of the French Re- and the F/A-18 and AV-8 air- fighters were delivered to Indonesia. public. The Board delegated craft for the Navy and Marine Europe The Su-27 SKMs are planned for Boissier in the position of Corps, as well as numerous delivery in 2009-2010. Chairman and CEO. legacy aircraft for the interna- Airbus ready to take market tional partners participating in challenges of 2009 JAPAN GRUMMAN APPOINTS the F-35 programme. President and CEO Tom SCOTT A. LEE VP Enders conveyed at a press • F-22 Raptors took to the sky over Northrop Grumman Corpo- Bombardier delivers first conference on January 15 that Japan as members of the 27th ration has named Scott A. 415MP aircraft to Malaysia Airbus is ready to build on its Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Lee Vice President of space On January 23, Bombardier solid performance of 2008, en- began flight operations with Kadena systems for the company’s Aerospace announced that tering the new year with confi- Air Base officials. Electronic Systems sector. Malaysia’s coast guard agen- dence that comes with having

46 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net NEWSDigest SHOW CALENDAR a highly competitive product SPACE RoundUp line, a strong management Quick 11 February – 15 February and employee team, and the Americas AERO INDIA 2009 benefits of ongoing internal NORTHROP GRUMMAN Air Force Station Yelahanka, improvement, company con- NASA debuts Global Hawk Bangalore, India solidation and effective cash Autonomous Aircraft • Northrop Grumman Corp., Integrated URL: www.aeroindia.in management programmes. NASA and the Northrop Systems, has been awarded a $30.86 The Airbus’ results for last Grumman Corp have un- million (Rs 150 crore) modification to 22 February – 25 February year were also presented veiled the first Global Hawk a previously awarded firm-fixed-price AIRPORT SECURITY to international journal- aircraft system to be used contract to exercise an option for the MIDDLE EAST 2009 ists. Enders said the 777 net for environmental science procurement of 30 centre barrels and Renaissance Dubai Hotel, orders booked by Airbus in research, heralding a new loose and miscellaneous parts for the Dubai 2008 represented an “impres- application for the world’s F/A-18 A/B/C/D aircraft. Work is ex- URL: www.airportsecurityme. sive performance,” which gave first fully autonomous high- pected to be completed in November com Airbus a 54 per cent share of altitude, long-endurance 2011. Northrop Grumman Systems the market for commercial aircraft. The debut took place Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, has 22 February – 26 February aircraft with passenger capac- at NASA’s Dryden Flight been awarded a $40 million not-to- IDEX 2009 ity above 100 seats. Deliveries Research Centre. exceed modification to a previously Abu Dhabi National last year totaled 483, which awarded firm fixed price contract for Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi surpassed the 2007 level by 30 the procurement of three Low Rate URL: www.idexuae.ae aircraft and marked another Initial Production Vertical Takeoff and new record for the company. Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial 26 February – 28 February Airbus’ overall order volume Vehicle units, including support by 2009 WOMEN IN AVIATION on December 31, 2008 was March 2011. INTERNATIONAL 9,215, with total deliveries CONFERENCE reaching the 5,500 mark. MITSUBISHI INDUSTRIES Hyatt Regency Hotel, Atlanta URL: www.wai.org ATR registers record NASA and Northrop • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has turnover in 2008 Grumman are returning decided to participate in develop- 26 February – 27 February On the occasion of the ATR NASA’s two Global Hawk air- ment of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB DIRECTED ENERGY annual press conference, craft to flight this year under aero-engine for the Airbus A350 XWB, WEAPONS 2009 which took place on January a space act agreement signed which is expected to become Airbus’s Thistle, Marble Arch, London 23 in Paris, Stéphane Mayer, in May 2008. NASA plans to mainstay commercial aircraft. URL: www.defenceiq.com ATR CEO, announced a re- use the aircraft for missions cord turnover of $1.3 billion to support its Science Mission THALES ALENIA SPACE 26 February – 27 February (Rs 6,310 crore) for 2008. Directorate and the earth sci- AIR WEAPONS Such result continues the ence community that require • Thales Alenia Space has won five INTEGRATION 2009 strong growth of ATR since high-altitude, long-distance contracts for geostationary commu- Thistle Marble Arch, the recovery of the turboprop airborne capability. Global nications satellites out of a total of London, Greater London market in 2005, and repre- Hawk can fly at altitudes up 26 ordered in 2008, a market share URL: www.airweapons.co.uk sents an increase of around to 65,000 ft for more than 31 of 23 per cent, plus contracts for four 140 per cent in the last three hours at a time. The National communications payloads, one obser- 12 March – 13 March years. “The outstanding an- Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- vation satellite and the low Earth CYBER SECURITY nual turnover achieved in ministration is also partner- orbit constellation for O3b Networks, CONFERENCE 2008 is the recognition to the ing with NASA to develop this comprising 16 satellites. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, strong efforts that we have new airborne research tool. Washington, DC, done in a particularly difficult SPANISH AIR FORCE Virginia, USA year taking into account the Europe URL: www.ttcus.com global economic context. • The Spanish Air Force has signed Despite such difficulties, we Arianespace to Launch an agreement with Indra, the IT 19 March – 20 March have achieved an important Egyptian satellite Nilesat 201 premier multinational in Spain and a AIRBORNE NETWORKS rate of growth, including a On the occasion of the visit leading IT multinational in Europe, to CONFERENCE doubling of aircraft deliveries of the French Prime Minister co-manage the commercial exploita- Caesar’s Palace Hotel & in two years, while keeping in Egypt, it was announced tion of its Parachuting simulation Casino, Las Vegas, NV, USA one of our highest historical that Arianespace has been centre in Alcantarilla, Murcia, in a URL: www.ttcus.com backlogs. In such compli- chosen to launch the Nilesat public private partnership. The service cated times we are especially 201 satellite, as part of a includes use of facilities with a state- 23 March – 24 March gratified by the confidence turnkey contract that Thales of-the-art wind tunnel, where users MILITARY SPACE shown both from our cur- Alenia Space signed with practice jumps and movements which OPERATIONS & rent operators and our new Egyptian operator Nilesat. will be performed in the air later. SECURITY 2009 customers”, he said. ATR Nilesat 201 will be placed The Thistle, Marble Arch, finished 2008 with a backlog into geostationary transfer UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE London, United Kingdom of 169 aircraft, which rep- orbit by an Ariane 5 or Soyuz URL: www.iqpc.com resents over two and a half rocket launched from the Gui- • United Launch Alliance’s Delta years of production. Among ana Space Centre, Europe’s IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload 25 March – 27 March the backlog, there is a total of Spaceport in French Guiana, for the National Reconnaissance AIR SURVEILLANCE & 39 ATR -600 series aircraft, during the first quarter of Office successfully lifted off from RECONNAISSANCE thus showing the confidence 2010. Built by Thales Alenia Space Launch Complex 37 at CAPE Cafe Royal, London the customers placed in this Space, Nilesat 201 will weigh CANAVERAL AFS. URL: www.asarcevent.com new version. nearly 3,000 kg at launch. •

Issue 1 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 47 LASTWord Lifetime Commitment

wo years ago, in a press inof Soviet origin was much lower than terview, commenting on the contemporary western equipment, ex- MMRCA tender floated for the penditure on maintenance, overhaul, Indian Air Force (IAF) S.P. Tya- servicing or replacement of components Tgi the then Chief of the Air Staff, said, and upgrade over the Total Technical “Earlier the IAF used to buy on the low- Life of the equipment was considerably est tender system. Now we are saying higher than on the western equivalents. not the lowest tender, but we want to see However, this did not matter as pay- what the life-cycle cost is. How do you ments were based on a barter system There is no doubt calculate life-cycle cost? This is a new on a favourable rupee-rouble exchange that Life Cycle area, so we have to devise a formula. So, rate unlike in the case of western equip- to get a consensus and to make sure it ment where the outflow was in hard Cost is now the is fair and everybody believes it is fair, currency. But now with the globalisation it will take some time.” This public state- of the Russian economy, the favourable dominant factor ment signaled a profound shift in the terms of yesteryears are no longer avail- underlying philosophy that has thus far able and all transactions are required to that provides a shaped the procurement policy and pro- be in hard currency. Besides, as the na- true indicator of cedure related to aircraft and weapon tion now has easy access to non-Russian systems for the IAF. However, the Air sources for the procurement of military the best low cost Chief’s statement also indicated that as aircraft and weapon systems, Life Cycle this was a new concept with which the Cost has acquired as much relevance as and cost-effective IAF was not quite familiar, the modalities unit cost, if not more. would have to be worked out carefully In a follow up announcement, there procurement and correctly to ensure credibility of the were indications that the requirement options procurement procedure. Incidentally, the to evaluate Life Cycle Cost in respect of concept of Life Cycle Cost was first devel- the six competing aircraft in the tender oped in the mid-1960s but for reasons for the 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat each proposal. This will force the indus- explained below, the Indian system of Aircraft would not apply. However, the try to make/evolve good accurate models procurement of defence equipment has RFP issued August 2007, clearly states for such calculations. remained immune to it all these years. the responsibility of the manufacturer Perpetually escalating cost of military In the days of the Cold War, the IAF in this regard as, “Manufacturer would aircraft and weapon systems coupled procured military aircraft and weapon be responsible to provide parameters for with shrinking budgets in real terms on systems largely from the Soviet Union on computation and verifiable analysis of account of erosion in purchasing power highly attractive financial terms. There Life Cycle Cost for the life time usage of has compelled nations to take a seri- was neither a practice nor requirement the aircraft.” The methodology of compu- ous look at the shape and size of their for an open tender system when deal- tation of Life Cycle Cost of military equip- armed forces and the quality as also ing with the Soviet Union. The position ment is indeed complex especially on the quantity of hardware they can af- of the Indian Army and the Indian Navy account of the imponderables involved. ford to procure. Inaccuracies and limita- in this regard would have been no differ- While it may be possible to estimate Life tions in the methodology of computation ent as all three services were tethered to Cycle Cost in respect of equipment in use notwithstanding, there is no doubt that the same source for hardware. Nearly 80 for years with a fair degree of accuracy, Life Cycle Cost is now the dominant fac- per cent of the inventory of the three ser- in case of aircraft under development, tor that provides a true indicator of the vices was of Soviet origin. Being the only the exercise may not provide as accurate best low cost and cost-effective procure- source available for frontline military a result. Besides, how does one compare ment options. In order to make defence equipment and cutting edge technology, the Life Cycle Cost of a single engine related hardware affordable, Life Cycle cost was never an issue and as such the fighter with a twin engine fighter which Cost must in due course be given the question of Life Cycle Cost never arose. has just entered operational service? importance and emphasis it deserves in Hence it was never factored into the pro- What is needed is a consistent demand the Defence Procurement Procedure and curement process. from the user or buyer that a good com- procurement decisions. SP

ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA ILLUSTRATION: Although the unit cost of hardware putation of Life Cycle Cost accompany — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

48 SP’S AVIATION Issue 1 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net ��

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