www.aeromag.in Visit us at Hall - A3.6 DAY 31rd Feb 2021 SHOW DAILY Benguluru to Host World’s First Hybrid Airshow VISIT SchIEBEL Schiebel’s AT A2.2 -A2.3 CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAV Page : 26 FACE TO FACE 16 42 52 40 35 Ashmita Sethi Dr G Satheesh Reddy Dr. S K Jha Cmde Siddharth Mishra (Retd) Col. H S Shankar (Retd) President and Country Head Secretary DDR&D & CMD, MIDHANI CMD, BDL CMD, ADTL Chairman DRDO Pratt & Whitney over 10 000 maritime flight hours over 2 000 deck landings operated from 30+ ships powerful heavy fuel engine EXTENSIVEEXTENSIVE SHIPBOARDSHIPBOARD EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE UNMANNED MARITIME ISR AT AERO INDIA 2021, PLEASE VISIT US AT BOOTH #A2-A3. 2 3 Aero India 2021 Goes Virtual Benguluru to Host World’s First Hybrid Airshow engaluru, the aerospace capital of the country, is all set to host the much-anticipated global event Aero BIndia 2021. This year the three-day event is unique as it will be the World’s first Hybrid exhibition wherein the business element of the event will be both physical as well as virtual. The hybrid model of Aero India - 21 aimed to be the template for the world to emulate conduct of business in the new normal till the concerns of the pandemic are addressed. One of the largest airshows in the world offering a unique platform to international aviation sector to bolster Narendra Modi business, the 13th edition of the biennial airshow will Hon’ble Prime Minister be held at at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, from 3 to 5 February abiding strict Covid-19 protocols. Considered an important calendar event in the global aerospace industry and it will be attended by thousands of business visitors and lakh general visitors. The event will be held simultaneously as a Physical Exhibition and a Virtual Exhibition with stalls being provided in both the physical and virtual realms which will result in greater engagement and the exhibitors will experience a greater outreach catering to those who could not join the event physically. Aero India is the largest air show in Asia that provides opportunity to demonstrate products to the potential customer and investors. The expo attracts many exhibitors from the world’s leading industries in the field of Military and Civil Aviation, Aerospace, Airport Infrastructure and Defence Engineering. The show includes both air displays and static exhibitions of a large array of military platforms from the Aerospace sector and exhibitors from around the world are likely to showcase their products using latest technologies to the potential customers. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken a lead role in organising the event and besides providing huge logistic support; HAL will showcase its prowess in defence and aerospace. A total of 543 exhibitor including 78 foreign exhibitors have registered so far. Participants from 14 countries will be there and nearly 165 virtual exhibitors have registered to feature in the hybrid airshow. The latest edition is expected to break the records of previous years in terms Rajnath Singh of participation despite the impact caused by the pandemic. Defence Minister Flying display and aerobatics of aircraft from various countries is arranged at the venue during each day of the show. The event offers B2B facilities and has a section titled ‘Drone Olympics’ and a ‘Students pavilion’. 4 5 Rafale, Tejas enhance IAF’s firepower in 2020 Acquisitions are an integral part of the Indian Air Force’s functioning and the year 2020 was no different. Rafale and Tejas Serving Indian Frontiers and beyond…... aircraft, MAFI Phase-II and integration of BrahMos air version missile on Su-30 MKI aircraft were among the highlights of the year. Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria PVSM AVSM VM ADC Visit us at he Indian Air Force (IAF) (IN), and four of other services. defence equipment is in progress. engaged in several crucial Under a deal with France, Rafale Another major procurement is HALL - C Tacquisitions in 2020, including aircraft have been ferried to that of 83 advanced Light Combat the Rafale fighter jets from France, India and fully operationalized. Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A from Hindustan while the successful integration of Moreover, the first squadron of Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Similarly, 2 0 2 1 C-5.7,C-5.8 BrahMos air-launched missile on Rafale was successfully inducted procurement of 56 C-295 from STALL Su-30 MKI aircraft was a major in September 2020 with necessary Airbus with participation of an Indian C-6.3,C-6.4 achievement during the year. assets and infrastructure. production agency for manufacture TheRunwaytoaBillionOpportunities Modernisation of Airfield The IAF also successfully integrated of 40 aircraft (out of a total 56) in Infrastructure (MAFI) was yet another BrahMos air version missile on Su-30 India is also at CFA approval stage 03 - 05 February, 2021 significant event. In May, MAFI Phase- MKI aircraft. The BrahMos missile and a contract would be signed II contract for 37 airfields was signed provides IAF a much-desired capability soon. The case is first-of-its-kind Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to strike from large stand-off ranges which envisages participation of with Tata Power SED for Rs 1189.44 on any target at sea or on land with private companies and would give a crore. The upgradation of navigational pinpoint accuracy round-the-clock boost to India’s defence industry. aids and infrastructure under this and in all weather conditions. Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) from project enhances the operational HAL; IEWR and D-29 from BEL; Harop capability by facilitating air operations Other procurements (P-IV) (Option Clause) and upgrade of of military and civil aircraft even in Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was UAV systems are also at an advanced poor visibility and adverse weather accorded by Defence Council for stage of acquisition procedure. while enhancing aerospace safety. procurement of potential indigenous The MAFI Phase-I project which was platforms such as ASTRA BVR Indigenisation programmes completed in December 2019 involved missile, Smart Anti Field Weapon For actively supporting the national modernisation of 30 airfields of IAF. (SAAW), Long Range Land Attack vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, IAF The 37 airfields of MAFI Phase-II Cruise Missile (LR-LACM) and avails various schemes launched by include 24 of IAF, nine of Indian Navy HTT-40. Procurement of these the Government of India (GoI) and 6 7 provides impetus to the process of AoN for procurement of six AEW&C self-reliance in Defence manufacturing. (Airborne Early Warning & Control) Some of the major programmes under Mk-2 aircraft the Make in India initiative are: Make-II Scheme: IAF has issued Project Sanction Order (PSO) for prototype development to undertake design and development of chaff & flares, IRST for Su-30, foldable fibreglass mats, 125 kg bombs and fuze for aerial bombs by the Indian Industry. As many as 18 IAF projects under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) set up by GoI and with associated equipment has been IAF would managed by DRDO are at various granted by DAC (Defence Acquisition be procuring 83 LCA Mk 1A soon. stages of implementation. For Council) in December under the The FOC configuration comes instance, contracts for the design and ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category. with improved weapons capability, development of video processing/ Yet another milestone crossed by IAF enhanced flight envelope, inflight switching board for Su-30 MKI and in 2020 is the induction of LCA ‘Tejas’, refuelling capability and advanced burner rings for Mirage-2000 engine which is a product of indigenous effort features for low speed handling. have been awarded to Indian vendors. towards building a potent fighter In 2020, IAF initiated the process Under the iDEX (Innovation for aircraft with contemporary capabilities. to upgrade its legacy Pechora missile Defence Excellence) framework Tejas is the first advanced fly-by-wire system of post 1987 vintage and the of DIO (Defence Innovation fighter aircraft designed, developed contract for digitization of firing units Organisation), MoD for engaging and manufactured in India. The first of the system was signed in September. industries, including MSMEs, startups LCA Squadron was formed in 2016 and Post digitization, performance of and individual innovators, IAF till date, 16 aircraft have been delivered the system would be enhanced participated in four Defence India to IAF in IOC configuration. Delivery of considerably. Currently, the digitization Startup Challenge during 2020. FOC aircraft has also commenced and of the firing unit is progressing. Hawk-i Successfully Test Fires Smart Anti Airfield Weapon Awasthi and Wg Cdr (Retd) M Patel executed the weapon release in a text book manner and all mission objectives were met. The telemetry and tracking systems captured all the mission events confirming the success of the trials. Arup Chatterjee, Director, Engineering and R&D, HAL said HAL is indigenously enhancing the training and combat n a big boost to the indigenous Hawk-i program, HAL capability of Hawk-i. HAL is in discussions with Indian Armed successfully test fired a Smart Anti Airfield Weapon Forces for integration of various weapons on Hawk platform. I(SAAW) from the Hawk-i aircraft off the coast of The Hawk-i is HAL’s internally funded program offering Odisha. The indigenous stand-off weapon developed the Indian Armed Forces an upgrade and combat capability by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO is the first for the Hawk, transforming it into an Advanced Jet Trainer smart weapon fired from an Indian Hawk-Mk132. providing training on sensors and weapons in peacetime “HAL has been focusing on the Atmanirbhar Bharat into a potent combat platform during conflict.