AEROSPACE POWER NEWSLETTER
VOL 1 NO 4 01 AUGUST 2021
Centre for Air Power Studies | @CAPS_India Centre for Air Power Studies | Centre for Air Power Studies
Disclaimer:
Information and data included in this newsletter is for educational & non-commercial purposes only and has been carefully adapted, excerpted or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate at the time of preparation. The Centre does not accept any liability for error therein. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.
“In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary — and sufficient — to be in a position in case of war to conquer the command of the air.” — General Giulio Douhet
Contents
Opinions
1. Indian Space Programme More Advanced Than Chinese, Says Veteran Scientist
2. Indecisiveness impedes military modernization
3. This is how Indian defence can really deter China
4. Asian countries stockpile powerful new missiles
5. Can The U.S. Provide ‗Over-The-Horizon‘ Air Support For Afghanistan?
6. Israel‘s Drone Diplomacy Tries to Offset Heavy Loses in Ice Cream War
Air Power
7. Russia Tests Hypersonic Zircon Missile
8. Israel Hosts First International Drone Exercise
9. Independence Day terror alert! Terrorists may use drones to strike important installations in Delhi 10. The U.S. Air Force Is Sending Dozens Of F-22 Stealth Fighters To Practice For War With China
11. Russia unveils new fighter, Putin hails country's air power
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 1 12. PLA increases use of simulators in pilot training, high efficiency reported
13. China-made drones hover over India, call for regulation
14. China‘s Air Incursions Into Taiwan‘s ADIZ Focus on ‗Anti-Access‘ and Maritime Deterrence
15. Three more Rafale fighter jets arrive in India from France
16. Israel launches air strikes on Lebanon and Syria as part of U.S.-backed shadow war
17. Armenian forces foil Azerbaijani drone attempt to cross air border: Defense Ministry
Space Power
18. Germany establishes new military space command
19. Land Acquisition for ISRO‘s Second Spaceport Reaches Final Stage
20. ISRO to launch GISAT-1 on August 12
21. US Trials Nano Satellites for Missile Defense
22. US Space Force sees UK as potential site to build a deep-Space radar
23. Gaganyaan 1st uncrewed mission unlikely before June 2022; no life support systems testing
Global Aerospace Industry
24. Boeing delivers 10th P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to Navy
25. Who is buying Israeli counter-drone systems in South Asia?
26. RAF eyeing electric trainer as carbon-reduction campaign powers up
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 2 27. Russia on Track to Deliver Fighter Jets to Myanmar – Reports
Indian Aerospace Industry
28. Astra Mk1 Integration with Tejas Nears Completion, Both Israeli FCR to be Enabled
29. BrahMos ER Test Fired off Odisha Coast
30. HAL set to deliver first batch of 3 Light Combat Helicopters to IAF
31. Pandemic helps ISRO pursue privatisation plans
32. Russia Formally Offers 21 MiG-29 Aircraft to India
33. DRDO successfully flight tests new generation surface-to-air Akash missile
34. HAL is all set to respond to Royal Malaysian Air Force‘s RfP for LCA
Technology Development
35. An automated flight control system for drone swarms has been developed
36. Directed Energy: From Counter-Drone To Force Fields?
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 3 Opinions by the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) apogee motor derived from the fourth stage motor of the SLV-3. Designed Indian Space Programme More and built in just two years with limited Advanced Than Chinese, Says infrastructure in industrial sheds, APPLE Veteran Scientist provided ISRO with valuable hands-on experience in designing and developing Bhaswati Guha Majumder| 13 July 2021 three-axis stabilised geostationary communication satellites, as well as in-orbit Source: Swarajyamag | raising manoeuvres, appendage deployment https://swarajyamag.com/science/indian- in orbit, station keeping and so on. space-programme-more-advanced-than- chinese-says-veteran-scientist The event, which was conducted virtually, was attended by Prof Mylswamy Annadurai, Padma Shri awardee Prof R M Vasagam, a space scientist who is known as Moon who is a veteran space scientist, said during Man of India, Dr Manpreet Singh Manna, the 40 years celebration event of the Ariane who is the Chairman IEEE Photonics Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) Society and Dr L V Muralikrishna Reddy, satellite in space that the President BRICS Indian's space FEO, as well as Prof programme is much The Indian space programme and the Vasagam, who was more advanced than research conducted by ISRO are much the project director of the Chinese. During more advanced than the Chinese space APPLE. The virtual the event, which was agencies. celebration also organised by allowed many Chandigarh students of the University to university to take part. celebrate the success of India's first experimental communication satellite, Prof However, while speaking at the event, Prof Vasagam received the Lifetime Vasagam said: "The Indian space Achievement Award for his contribution to programme and the research conducted by the Indian space programme. ISRO is much more advanced than the Chinese space agencies as we have On June 19, 1981, the APPLE satellite was indigenously developed the technology and launched into GTO (Geosynchronous have not been dependent on other Transfer Orbit) by the third development countries." In response to a question about flight of European Space Agency's (ESA) China's competition in the field of space Ariane vehicle from Kourou. It was technology, Prof Vasagam stated that propelled into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO)
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 4 Chinese youth are spearheading space Not only Prof Vasagam but also Dr missions such as Mars Rover, as well as Annadurai pointed out the possibilities of Moon Mission, and if India wants to counter India's space missions. He stated that China's competition, its youth must come country's space programme is progressing forward and choose Aerospace Engineering well, adding that India is outperforming as a career. China in areas such as remote sensing and space exploration. Additionally, Dr Singh He also stated that "Robotics is playing an said: "The launch of APPLE satellite was important role in space technology and in just the beginning of the success of Indian future, the field of space programme and robotics would be if we look today contributing bigtime We have indigenously developed the India has successfully in the futuristic space technology and have not been launched more than exploration missions dependent on other countries, says 300 satellites". so pursuing a career Padma Shri awardee Prof R M in the emerging fields Vasagam. Chandigarh of Artificial University, which Intelligence, Machine organised the event, Learning and Mechatronics will open is the first university in North India to offer multiple avenues for Indian Youth". a course in Satellite System Design and Building. Prof Vasegam praised the Additionally, Prof Vasagam said that to university's efforts in the field of science and remain competitive in the space technology technology, particularly in the aerospace market, India must offer cost-effective engineering sector, since the university is solutions to countries that may have the now working on the building of a Student capacity to run a space programme but need Communication Satellite that would be put more resources to fulfil future requirements. into orbit by 2022. While talking about the APPLE project, he said that it opened a door of opportunity for Indecisiveness impedes military India because it was crucial for the country's modernization telecommunication network to be established, and it also played a role in the Amit Cowshish | 20 July 2021 development of futuristic communication satellites such as INSAT, which placed India Source: Financial Express | among a select group of countries with its https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/i own constellation of communication ndecisiveness-impedes-military- satellites. modernisation/2293986/
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 5 The inability of the Ministry of Defence submarines, and armoured fighting vehicles (MoD) to find a quick way out of logjams in by the Indian industry with technology procurement programmes has caused more transfer from the foreign manufactures. damage to the military‘s modernisation It has been a decade since MoD took the drive and the country‘s prestige than the bold step of allowing the foreign companies combined effect of Byzantine procedures, to select the Indian Production Partner on bureaucratic lethargy, financial constraints, their own from the private sector for and occasional allegations of corruption. manufacturing a transport aircraft in India to Instances of the vendors‘ bids being kept in replace the Avro-fleet. However, the Airbus- prolonged suspended animation or the Tata combine‘s Rs 15,000 crore bid for Requests for Proposal (RfP) being retracted manufacturing C-295 military transport several years after these are issued, only to aircraft in India remains in limbo even after be re-issued and, in some cases, to be re- it was reported by the media in February this retracted, abound. year that the offer was about to be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The red flag recently raised by the Indian Army (IA) and Indian Navy (IN) over delay The ongoing Cheetah-Chetak replacement in replacing Cheetah-Chetak helicopters of project is of a piece with these random the 1960s‘ vintage is a grim reminder that examples of indecisiveness, as the MoD has boastful claims of reforms in the policy and nothing concrete to show for more than two procedures governing acquisition of defence decades of labour to acquire 498 Light materiel have failed to deliver as the internal Utility Helicopters (LUHs) to replace the processes of the MoD and the Services ageing fleet whose extended technical life Headquarters (SHQs), both of which work would expire 2023 onward, and to create in tandem to build up the military parallel capacity for aircraft manufacturing capabilities, continue to be marred by in the private sector. indecisiveness. Meanwhile, after two failed attempts to meet More than fifteen years after the ‗Make‘ the scaled-down requirement of 197 procedure was evolved by the MoD to helicopters, an inter-governmental encourage indigenous design and agreement (IGA) was signed with Russia in development of prototypes of futuristic 2015 and a joint venture (JV) between the equipment by the Indian industry, not a state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited single development contract has been (HAL), and Rostec Corp/Russian awarded. No deal has also been finalised Helicopters was also set up, to acquire 40 under the ‗Strategic Partnership Model‘ twin-engine Kamov-226T helicopters in a introduced in 2016 for indigenous fly-away condition and to build another 160 production of aircraft, helicopters, in India, of which 135 were to be for the IA
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 6 and the remaining 65 for the Indian Air wonder then that there are unconfirmed Force (IAF). reports of the contractually stipulated percentage of indigenous content being According to some sources, the project is reached in some cases through clever stuck six years after it was conceived accounting. because India wants a higher indigenous content in the helicopters that are to be made The argument that local production of in India, than what Russia is prepared to equipment saves foreign exchange, despite offer. This is not the first time that a badly all the problems mentioned above, is valid. needed project is stuck because of the However, in some cases this advantage is disagreement over the extent of nullified by the higher cost of local indigenisation or production of workshare between Instances of the vendors‘ bids being foreign-origin the foreign original kept in prolonged suspended animation equipment. This is equipment or the Requests for Proposal (RfP) exemplified by Ka- manufacturer (OEM) being retracted several years after 226T helicopters and the Indian these are issued, only to be re-issued which are estimated production agency. and, in some cases, to be re-retracted, to cost around $11 abound. million apiece, if Acquisition of 126 made in India, medium multi-role combat aircraft -of which against the per unit import cost of $6 18 were to be imported in a fly-away million. condition from Dassault Aviation of France and the remaining 108 made in India by The present approach of realising the HAL- too remained stuck largely because of nebulous goal of Atmanirbharta, or self- the wrangling over the workshare between reliance, in defence production by insisting them before it was unceremoniously on increasing levels of indigenous content in abandoned in 2015. the locally manufactured equipment is flawed for it compels the vendors to focus While the MoD wants the equipment largely on indigenisation of parts, manufactured in India to have a high components, assemblies, and sub- percentage of indigenous content -normally assemblies, and not the critical technologies in the range of 50% to 60%- some OEMs that go into its production. Denial of these assert that the Indian industry is often unable technologies by the foreign manufacturers in to absorb the technology offered by them. crisis situations can jeopardise self-reliance. The Indian vendors, of course, deny it, but many admit privately that achieving higher Four things are required for achieving better levels of indigenisation in the locally results. First, a composite policy for manufactured equipment is a tall order. No indigenous design and development of
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 7 major equipment and platforms which numbers between 12,50,000 and 14,00,000 focusses on development of critical officers and men. technologies and special military-grade China is an aspiring world power that metals and alloys. Second, an overarching spends $252 billion on its defence budget, as organisation to coordinate the efforts compared to $72.9 billion that India spends. currently being made disjointedly by several Both countries limit their budget to around 2 agencies like the Services‘ Indigenisation per cent of their GDP, which in China‘s case Directorates and the Defence Research and is five times our size. They have downsized Development Organisation. Third, an their army and built a navy, which is appropriate funding mechanism for research, growing faster than the US navy. They are design, and development. Fourth, and most invulnerable on land, and their only strategic importantly, the capability to take quick weakness is their reliance on the Indian decisions to wrap up the procurement cases. Ocean SLOCs (sea lines of All this is missing at present. communications) for 70 per cent of their This is how Indian defence can imported oil. really deter China The only guarantee of Chinese non- aggression and good behaviour is a well- Raja Menon | 24 July 2021 crafted threat to their oil tankers and a Source: The Indian Express | complete naval mastery of the escalation https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/col that is bound to follow. The first step is to umns/this-is-how-indian-defence-can-really- accept that we are an asymmetric power and deter-china-7419386/ leverage the RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) so that numerical inferiority is of no Can India afford a million-man army? Apart consequence. We start by dividing the Indo- from being a question to be answered by Pacific, including the South China seas and strategists, this question is an emotive one. the Eastern Indian Ocean, into areas of This is because, as every Indian will aver, maritime search responsibility between the the most respected national institution is the QUAD. All nations operate on a common Indian army. This question, however, arose reporting communication net, centred either during the Galwan episode, largely because in Port Blair or Visakhapatnam. On being the Chinese PLA, which constantly appears requested by India, the QUAD maritime on our borders in overwhelming numbers, search aircraft gain information dominance actually has only 9,75,000 officers and men. over the Indo-Pacific on all PLAN (People‘s This is considerably fewer than the Indian Liberation Army Navy) movements taking army, which according to diverse sources, place, aimed at transiting the Malacca Straits. The Indian navy apprehends all
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 8 China-bound tankers and keeps them in a are constrained because the army gets 61 per quarantine anchorage off the Nicobars, with cent of the defence budget. Sadly, 81 per a diplomatic declaration that India reserves cent of the army budget goes into manpower the right to choose the time and place of and maintenance. retaliation, and alerts the QUAD. We can achieve better conventional The impounded tankers are unharmed and deterrence against China by giving bigger are merely bait for the PLAN to respond, by roles to the navy and air force and coming to engage the Indian navy. The downsizing the army by 2,00,000 men over movement of PLAN units is reported days in five years through retirement and reduced advance to the waiting Indian forces by recruitment. The reduction in manpower will QUAD resources. The PLAN units are save approximately Rs 30,000 crore, which funnelled through the geographically can be equally divided between the three constrained straits services. The army into, what is, to can replace its borrow an army Not by throwing expensive manpower vintage T72 tanks or tactical expression, a at the problem, but by giving bigger acquire three killing ground. What roles to the navy and air force and squadrons of would be greatly downsizing the army by 200,000 men. gunships. The navy beneficial, and to can easily acquire its make the operation cherished third tri-service, is to build aircraft carrier, and up the Car Nicobar airfield into a full- the air force its two new fully-equipped fledged airbase and permanently station a airbases abroad. squadron of suitable aircraft. If the air force The Chinese are about to extend their can be coaxed into abandoning its territorial geographical advantage by building a new airspace defence mentality, and go high-speed rail from Chengdu, running close expeditionary, we could negotiate with by and parallel to the Arunachal border, up Oman for the use of the old RAF airbase at to Lhasa. China cannot be countered by Masirah to dominate the Gulf of Hormuz throwing expensive manpower at the and threaten the Chinese base at Djibouti. problem, but only by shifting the battle All this makes an elegant strategic solution space to advantageous geography, by a and a better alternative to reinforcing the united navy and air force effort, while a unfavourable geography of the Sino-Indian technically advanced army holds the border in the Himalayas. As the years pass, Himalayan border. manpower is going to get increasingly expensive, and as it is, our strategic options
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 9 Asian countries stockpile powerful Such weapons are increasingly affordable new missiles and accurate, and as some countries acquire them, their neighbors don‘t want to be left Josh Smith | 21 July 2021 behind, analysts said. Missiles provide strategic benefits such as deterring enemies Source: Taipei Times | and boosting leverage with allies, and can be https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/arch a lucrative export. ives/2021/07/21/2003761199 The long-term implications are uncertain, Asia is sliding into a dangerous arms race as and there is a slim chance that the new smaller nations that once stayed on the weapons could balance tensions and help sidelines build arsenals of advanced long- maintain peace, Santoro said. range missiles, following in the footsteps of powerhouses China and the US, analysts ―More likely is that missile proliferation will say. fuel suspicions, trigger arms races, increase tensions, and ultimately cause crises and China is mass producing its DF-26, a even wars,‖ he said. multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000km — while the US is developing new HOMEGROWN MISSILES weapons aimed at countering Beijing in the Pacific. According to unreleased 2021 military briefing documents, US Indo-Pacific Other countries in the region are buying or Command (INDOPACOM) plans to deploy developing their own new missiles, driven its new long-range weapons in ―highly by security concerns over China and a desire survivable, precision-strike networks along to reduce their reliance on the US. the First Island Chain,‖ which includes Japan, Taiwan and other Pacific islands Before the decade is out, Asia will be ringing the east coasts of China and Russia. bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder and are more The new weapons include the Long-range sophisticated than ever before — a stark and Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), a missile that dangerous change from recent years, can deliver a highly maneuverable warhead analysts, diplomats and military officials at more than five times the speed of sound to say. targets more than 2,775km away.
―The missile landscape is changing in Asia, An INDOPACOM spokesman said that no and it‘s changing fast,‖ said David Santoro, decisions had been made as to where to president of the Pacific Forum. deploy these weapons. So far, most American allies in the region have been hesitant to commit to hosting them. If based
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 10 in Guam, a US territory, the LRHW would the Type 12, with an expected range of be unable to hit mainland China. 1,000km.
Japan, home to more than 54,000 US troops, Among US allies, South Korea fields the could host some of the new missile batteries most robust domestic ballistic missile on its Okinawan islands, but the US would program, which got a boost from a recent probably have to withdraw other forces, a agreement with Washington to drop bilateral source familiar with Japanese government limits on its capabilities. Its Hyunmoo-4 has thinking said, speaking anonymously an 800km range, giving it a reach well because of the sensitivity of the issue. inside China.
Allowing in American missiles — which the ―When the US allies‘ conventional long- US military will control — will also most range-strike capabilities grow, the chances likely bring an angry response from China, of their employment in the event of a analysts said. regional conflict also increase,‖ Zhao Tong, a strategic security Some of America‘s expert in Beijing, allies are developing wrote in a recent their own arsenals. Asia‘s missile proliferation will fuel report. Australia recently suspicions, trigger arms races, increase announced it would tensions and ultimately cause crises Despite the concerns, spend US$100 billion and even wars. Washington ―will over 20 years continue to developing advanced encourage its allies missiles. and partners to invest in defense capabilities that are compatible with coordinated ―COVID and China have shown that operations,‖ US Representative Mike depending on such extended global supply Rogers, ranking member of the House chains in times of crisis for key items — and Armed Services Committee, said. in war, that includes advanced missiles — is a mistake, so it is sensible strategic thinking BLURRED LINES to have production capacity in Australia,‖ Taiwan has not publicly announced a said Michael Shoebridge of the Australian ballistic missile program, but in December Strategic Policy Institute. the US State Department approved its Japan has spent millions on long range air- request to buy dozens of American short- launched weapons, and is developing a new range ballistic missiles. Officials say Taipei version of a truck-mounted anti-ship missile, is mass producing weapons and developing
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 11 cruise missiles such as the Yun Feng, which warheads. China, North Korea and the US could strike as far as Beijing. all field such weapons.
All this is aimed at ―making the spines of ―It is difficult, if not impossible, to [Taiwan‘s] porcupine longer as the abilities determine if a ballistic missile is armed with of China‘s military improve,‖ Wang Ting-yu a conventional or nuclear warhead until it (王定宇), a senior lawmaker from the ruling reaches the target,‖ Davenport said. As the Democratic Progressive Party, said, while number of such weapons increases, ―there is insisting that the island‘s missiles were not an increased risk of inadvertent escalation to meant to strike deep in China. a nuclear strike.‖
One diplomatic source in Taipei said Can The U.S. Provide ‗Over-The- Taiwan‘s armed forces, traditionally focused Horizon‘ Air Support For on defending the island and warding off a Afghanistan? Chinese invasion, are beginning to look more offensive. Paul Iddon | 24 July 2021
―The line between defensive and offensive Source: Forbes | nature of the weapons is getting thinner and https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/202 thinner,‖ the diplomat added. 1/07/24/how-can-the-us-maintain-over-the- South Korea has been in a heated missile horizon-support-for- race with North Korea. The North recently afghanistan/?sh=4a2e67b24322 tested what appeared to be an improved The United States has said it will provide version of its proven KN-23 missile with a Afghanistan‘s military with ―over-the- 2.5-ton warhead that analysts say is aimed at horizon‖ air support after completing its besting the 2-ton warhead on the Hyunmoo- troop withdrawal from the country. How it 4. can do so with the significant number of ―While North Korea still appears to be the potential constraints that may soon emerge, primary driver behind South Korea‘s missile however, isn't all that clear. expansion, Seoul is pursuing systems with In mid-July, the U.S. launched several ranges beyond what is necessary to counter airstrikes in support of Afghan government North Korea,‖ said Kelsey Davenport, forces fighting the Taliban. These strikes director for nonproliferation policy at the were reportedly demonstrative of the stated Arms Control Association in Washington. U.S. intention of providing air support, at As proliferation accelerates, analysts say the least until it completes its withdrawal from most worrisome missiles are those that can the country by Aug. 31. carry either conventional or nuclear
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 12 U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said Since neighboring Pakistan isn‘t allowing at a press conference Wednesday that after the U.S. to base aircraft on its soil for Aug. 31, U.S. airstrikes would only target Al operations over Afghanistan, Washington Qaeda and other terrorist groups in the has entered discussions with Tajikistan and country, not the Taliban. It‘s unclear Uzbekistan. Russia, Baker said, reportedly whether or not this policy will change if the supports the U.S. military carrying out Taliban is on the verge of capturing the operations from Central Asia, provided there capital Kabul, where the U.S. is keeping are clear constraints on its mission. about 650 troops to provide security for its Islamabad‘s refusal to allow the U.S. use of embassy there. its territory as a base of operations could At the same press conference, Chairman of degrade Washington‘s ability to carry out the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance warned that a ―complete Taliban takeover‖ (ISR) missions over Afghanistan. is a possibility, with ―Pakistan would the group already Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have served as a having seized roughly Gen. Mark Milley warned that a much better base of half of Afghanistan‘s ―complete Taliban takeover‖ is a operations for U.S. districts, although he possibility, with the group already having drone flights over said he doesn‘t seized roughly half of Afghanistan‘s Afghanistan, south of believe ―the endgame districts, although he said he doesn‘t the mountain range, is yet written.‖ believe ―the endgame is yet written.‖ but potential The U.S. doesn‘t have permission to use any operations from Central Asia may offer military bases in the six countries bordering similar intelligence and surveillance Afghanistan. That means that its aircraft support,‖ Baker said. have to fly from bases in the Persian Gulf or The ultimate location of U.S. operational from aircraft carriers. sites in the region and overflight permission ―Distance will effectively eliminate any U.S. from regional countries will have a capability to provide close air support for significant impact on U.S. decision-making Afghan forces on the ground,‖ Rodger on post-withdrawal airstrikes in Baker, senior VP for strategic analysis at Afghanistan. Stratfor, told me. ―However, such air assets ―Without operational basing in Pakistan, the could still be used for targeting static sites bar will likely be higher for U.S. active (training camps, arms caches), or used in military intervention, even through the use pre-planned offensive operations, assuming of armed drones,‖ Baker said. ―Any action the United States is granted overflight in support of the Afghan military forces clearance from Pakistan.‖
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 13 would likely require a specific request from Russia almost a decade ago. Rather than the Afghan government, and likely need to seeking out second-hand Mi-17s from match the overflight or operational former Soviet states, several of which are agreements with neighboring countries.‖ even fellow NATO members, the U.S. began supplying Afghanistan with UH-60s, ―However, the United States has hoping they could replace the Afghan Mi- demonstrated its commitment to carry out 17s. unilateral operations should it perceive a direct non-state actor threat against the However, it could even take until the mid- United States,‖ he added. 2030s, according to a U.S. official quoted by the Times, for the Afghan air force to be Afghanistan has a modest air force that the able to operate their Black Hawks without U.S. helped it build up over the years. assistance from contractors. With most of However, maintenance issues and other the contractors already having left the shortcoming could severely inhibit that air country, Afghanistan will undoubtedly arm‘s ability to help fend off Taliban struggle to keep its Black Hawks operational advances and support Afghan soldiers on the in the coming months. Remote technical battlefield. support via Zoom will not likely prove an The Afghan air force lacks fighter jets, using adequate substitute for on the ground Cessna AC-208 Caravans and Brazilian- contractors. made A-29 Super Tucanos light attack ―While the Afghan Air Force has been built aircraft, and relies heavily on helicopters. up and trained over the past several years, it U.S. contractors provide a staggering 100 still has a limited number of trained pilots percent of the maintenance for and a significant lack of experienced Afghanistan‘s fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk maintenance personnel,‖ Baker said. helicopters and C-130 Hercules transport ―The shift to U.S. Blackhawks from Russian planes, according to the New York Times. Hips poses a particular challenge for Afghan Afghanistan had long preferred Russian- maintenance crews.‖ built Mi-17 ‗Hip‘ utility helicopters since it He added that there are suggestions India finds them easier to fly and maintain in light may seize this emerging opportunity to gain of the fact that it operated such Russian a foothold in Afghanistan by providing parts hardware for decades. and maintenance for the Afghanistan's older The U.S. used to procure the Mi-17s for the Russian helicopters that remain in service. Afghan Air Force. That all changed when The Indian military has long used Russian Congress banned the use of federal funds for military hardware. In 2018-19, New Delhi the purchase of military hardware from
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 14 gifted Afghanistan four refurbished Russian- Israel‘s Drone Diplomacy Tries to built Mi-24V ‗Hind‘ attack helicopters it had Offset Heavy Loses in Ice Cream purchased from Belarus to help Kabul War improve its counterinsurgency capabilities. It might take similar steps that could help Anshel Pfeffer | 25 July 2021 keep Afghanistan‘s air force in the current fight. Source: Haaretz | https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel- On the ground, as the Taliban overrun s-drone-diplomacy-tries-to-offset-heavy- Afghan Army outposts and positions, the loses-in-ice-cream-war-1.10020555 government agreed to arm militias across the country to help combat the group. Its The tactical center of the Israel Air Force‘s decision to do so, Baker said, ―is in large Remotely Piloted Aircraft division at the part a recognition of the realities of Palmachim air base is festooned with flags. Afghanistan‘s continued fragmented social Flying alongside the Star of David are the and political environment, and the need to flags of the United States, Britain, France, reduce permissive areas for Taliban Germany and Italy. Inside the building are advances, particularly in the provinces dozens of air crew from the six countries, around Kabul.‖ receiving their orders for the sorties to be flown in an hour. On their different colored While arming such groups is risky, many of flight suits are stylized Velcro patches with these militias would most likely have armed white arrows converging over a dark themselves if they had concluded that the silhouette of Israel‘s coastline. Afghan government and military were too weak to stop the Taliban. Welcome to the two-week Operation Blue Guardian. Personnel from six air forces have ―It will be important to watch how the assembled to learn from each other how to security environment evolves along operate unmanned aerial vehicles. And also Afghanistan‘s borders, particularly along the to let the world know they‘ve all come to Tajik border,‖ Baker said. Israel to do this. The Israel Defense Forces ―Should the Tajik factions in Afghanistan spokesperson‘s unit is an integral part of it consider the Kabul government incapable of all: this isn‘t just a military exercise, it‘s a providing security or remaining secure media spectacle. against the Taliban advances, they may This is the first international exercise of its withdraw to their traditional ethnic regions, kind featuring members of different air sliding Afghanistan back toward the pattern forces using another country‘s systems, of the late 1990s,‖ he added. flying together in dual-drone formations. One is operated by a foreign team, the
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 15 second by Israeli operators, and after each The Hermes 450 drones taking off from sortie the teams sit together in joint Palmachim during the exercise have no briefings. pylons. In Blue Guardian, they are using their sensors. While the Hermes 450 (―Zik‖) drones being used are unique to the IAF, the point of the When asked, none of the officers involved in exercise isn‘t to learn how to fly them – as the exercise could come up with a plausible they are directed automatically anyway by a scenario in which such cooperation between click of a computer mouse – but to learn RPA teams would take place in actual ―how to fly missions.‖ What‘s important in operations. But there still is a concrete these missions isn‘t how to get the drone purpose to this exercise beyond gaining over the designated area, but how to use its professional expertise: it‘s another form of advance sensors to locate and acquire targets diplomacy. By holding such an event openly and other usable intelligence. in the media glare, Israel is demonstrating how it has become an accepted and In some of the sorties, the RPA teams respected partner of NATO and its main coordinate with manned fighter jets and members. attack helicopters, which carry out simulated strikes based on the coordinates they receive Not that long ago, some of the countries during the mission. The foreign personnel taking part in Blue Guardian – especially are operating according to an Israeli doctrine Britain and France – would have balked at that uses several drones working in tandem publicizing this level of military cooperation to sweep the area, identify targets and ensure with Israel. They have extensive diplomatic there are no civilians in the kill zone. and commercial interests in the Arab world and were concerned about jeopardizing In the evenings, they gather to share stories them. and battle experience of the various Middle East theaters in which their different One of the changes that the Abraham countries have operated – Iraq, Afghanistan, Accords has wrought in the region is that no Lebanon, Gaza and elsewhere. one thinks anymore that close ties with Israel can harm similar relations with the There is of course another aspect to drone Arab world, certainly when it comes to the warfare. Despite repeated reports in the Gulf states. Yet still, bringing together teams foreign media on the use Israel has made of from five Western nations on such an armed drones in targeted killings, the exercise, especially when the memory of the simulated airstrikes in the exercise are carnage of the Gaza conflict in May is still carried out by manned aircraft, F-16 fighters so fresh, is a diplomatic triumph. and Apache helicopters.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 16 This week, as major newspapers around the and researchers who revealed the ways an world, including Haaretz, carried the advanced surveillance system has been used findings of the Pegasus Project, we learned by authoritarian regimes? Or is it with the of another form of Israeli diplomacy. The governments that use Pegasus to suppress list of countries that had used the NSO dissent, the tech companies that develop Group‘s cyberhacking tools to keep tabs on those capabilities and the militaries journalists, human rights activists and constantly refining their remotely controlled political rivals tallied perfectly with the list weapons systems and doctrines for taking of autocrats and populists courted over the out targets? past decade by former Prime Minister Israel is losing, if it hasn‘t already lost, the Benjamin Netanyahu. battle for one side of that power balance. If We now have a better idea of the kind of Ben & Jerry‘s remains available in Israeli sweeteners Netanyahu threw in to build his stores after the end of 2022, it will only be impressive array of international alliances because the corporate giant Unilever and what the bland somehow forces the statements on At the end of a week in which Ben & company it owns to ―agreement to Jerry‘s sent Israeli politicians into allow that to happen. cooperate in the field meltdown, a joint exercise with five But other companies of cybersecurity‖ Western air forces, has injected some that want to project a actually means. It was perspective on the multiple levels of different type of a fascinating insight Israel‘s standing in the world. image could pull out on how Israel has of Israel. And been conducting itself in a murky world. Israel‘s high-tech scene, for years one of the country‘s main selling points, is tainted by At the end of a week in which the the abusive intrusion of the NSO Group and announcement by Ben & Jerry‘s that it like-minded companies. On the other hand, would be ending the agreement with its it‘s not like Big Tech in other places is Israeli licensee to manufacture its ice cream enjoying a particularly positive image right in Israel induced mass hysteria among now. Israeli politicians, the joint exercise, along with the NSO revelations, injects some Ironically, in some quarters – the ones where perspective on the multiple levels of Israel‘s the potential customers lurk – NSO‘s image standing in the world. will have been enhanced as the preferred surveillance provider to those prepared to On what side does the power reside? With pay the most. Just as the negative headlines activists in Vermont who successfully on the Gaza operation haven‘t deterred pressured the progressive Jewish founders of Western militaries from sending their the ice cream company? With journalists
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 17 personnel to a joint exercise with the IAF. The ministry said that ―the tactical and On the contrary. technical characteristics of the Tsirkon missile were confirmed during the tests.‖ It‘s difficult, but Israel wants to have both: Russia plans to equip its submarines and the admiration of the professional hard men, surface ships with these missiles in the the weapons and cybersecurity deals, the coming years. Even as there are questions military cooperation. And it wants to have about hypersonic missile technology, the free, carefree and progressive image and experts acknowledge that ―the combination lifestyle that comes with tubs of Ben & of speed, maneuverability, and altitude of Jerry‘s in every supermarket freezer. hypersonic missiles makes them difficult to track and intercept.‖ Air Power According to one report, given the speed at which they travel, ―the air pressure in front Russia Tests Hypersonic Zircon of the weapon forms a plasma cloud as it Missile moves, absorbing radio waves and making it Rajeshwari Pillai Rajagopalan | 22 July practically invisible to active radar systems.‖ 2021 In addition, the reaction time of even the advanced Aegis-class system is too slow to Source: The Diplomat | be able to intercept such missiles. Experts https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/russia- estimate that ―it would take fewer than a tests-hypersonic-zircon-missile/ half-dozen of those missiles to sink even the Russia has reportedly conducted a most advanced American aircraft carrier, successful test launch of a hypersonic cruise such as the USS Gerald R. Ford.‖ missile. Russian President Vladimir Putin In 2018, Putin announced that Russia was said earlier this week that the new developing a series of hypersonic weapons hypersonic missile, Tsirkon (Zircon) was including the Avangard that ―could hit ―part of a new generation of missile systems almost any point in the world and evade a without equal in the world.‖ The Russian U.S.-built missile shield.‖ In 2019, he defense ministry in a statement said that the threatened to use hypersonic missiles to missile was fired from the Admiral target the U.S. directly if Washington Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea and hit a deployed intermediate-range missiles in ground target located on the coast of the Europe, after the Trump administration Barents Sea, more than 350 kilometers withdrew from the Intermediate-Range away, with the missile travelling at seven Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Although the times the speed of sound. U.S. has not yet deployed such missiles in Europe, Russia continues to worry about
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 18 possible deployments in the future. The U.S. People‘s Republic of China, China claims that it withdrew from the INF treaty showcased the DF-17 missile for the first because of Russian cheating. time. Even though the U.S. has known about the DF-17 prototype for close to a decade, Putin has boasted of developing many Mike Griffin, the U.S. undersecretary for weapon systems, including the Sarmat research and engineering at the Department intercontinental ballistic missiles and of Defense, in 2018 revealed that China had Burevestnik cruise missile, that could evade done ―20 times as many hypersonic weapons U.S. missile defense systems. The Zircon tests as has the United States over the last missile itself has been tested many times and decade.‖ Like Russia, China‘s pursuit of in October 2020, commenting on one of hypersonic missiles appears to have been those tests, Putin claimed that it is a ―great spurred by U.S. missile defense event not just in the life of our armed forces developments, which could potentially but for all of Russia.‖ neutralize the traditional ballistic missiles Some of Russia‘s hypersonic missiles are that Russia and China possess. already claimed to be deployed with its Reacting to Russia‘s latest test, NATO in a armed forces. According to Russian media statement said that it reports, the ―create[s] a greater government has risk of escalation and ―deployed two Growing geopolitical rivalries will miscalculation.‖ It interceptor jets continue to drive the development of added that ―Russia‘s capable of carrying hypersonic and other lethal weapons new hypersonic the hyped Kinzhal systems. missiles are highly hypersonic missile for destabilizing and war games in Syria.‖ pose significant risks Russia‘s defense ministry is quoted in the to security and stability across the Euro- same report as saying that ―a pair of MiG- Atlantic area.‖ The statement also said that 31K aircraft with the ability to use the latest the NATO allies remain ―committed to hypersonic missiles from the Kinzhal respond in measured way to Russia‘s complex flew from Russian airfields to the growing array of conventional and nuclear- Russian airbase Khmeimim in Syria for capable missiles,‖ but clarified that it will exercises.‖ not undertake efforts to ―mirror what Russia Russia is not alone in these efforts. China does, but we will maintain credible has been making consistent efforts at deterrence and defense, to protect our developing hypersonic weapons. In 2019, at nations.‖ the military parade on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 19 Growing geopolitical rivalries will continue ―This is the first time that we are meeting to drive the development of hypersonic and with drone operators from around the world, other lethal weapon systems. With the U.S., conducting missions together, complicated Russia, and China all pursuing these missions of assisting ground troops, of technologies, it has already given way to a locating and striking enemies, of joint spiraling arms race. Countries like India and operations with manned and remotely Australia have had to respond as well, albeit controlled aircraft,‖ IAF Commander Brig. at different levels. Gen. Yoav Amiram told The Times of Israel. Israel Hosts First International Drone Exercise Strategic Importance Israel sent a total of nine teams to participate Joe Saballa | 23 July 2021 in the drill. Among the teams were operators Source: Defence Post | from the 161st Black Snake Squadron, the https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/23 200th Squadron, and the 210 White Eagle /israel-international-drone-exercise/ Squadron.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has conducted For IAF Chief Amikam Norkin, the exercise its first international unmanned aerial offers a platform for mutual study and vehicle (UAV) exercise with military pilots growth, playing an important role in from five other establishing the air countries. force internationally. The international drone exercise was Dubbed ―Blue conducted following the May conflict The Israel Defense Guardian,‖ the drill Forces (IDF) between Israel and Palestinian kicked off on July 13 commended the and culminated on militants in the Gaza Strip. service for hosting an Thursday. international event focusing on UAVs. It Pilots from Israel, Germany, Italy, France, said the activity was strategically important the US, and the UK showcased the because the country was able to team up capabilities of Hermes-450 drones with 20 with foreign drone operators. representatives from other nations in attendance. The international drone exercise was conducted following the May conflict Participating teams simulated scenarios such between Israel and Palestinian militants in as ground troop support, reconnaissance, the Gaza Strip. Amiram said the country and intelligence collections missions, and cooperation with various forces in the air.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 20 relied extensively on the air force‘s drone in Delhi before August 15 to disrupt expertise during the conflict. Independence Day celebrations. Intelligence agencies have warned that terror groups may ―The UAV array conducted over 6,000 strike on August 5 - the day Article 370 was flight hours during Operation Guardian of scrapped from Jammu and Kashmir. the Walls, maintained operational continuity with many aircraft over the Strip, and Delhi Police and other security agencies are basically allowed aerial forces of the air also being given special training to tackle force and the entire IDF to operate in a the drone threat. complicated, populated battlefield in which In view of the drone attack on the Indian Air we need to find the enemy and minimize Force (IAF) station in Jammu recently, collateral damage,‖ Amiram remarked. Delhi Police Commissioner Balaji Independence Day terror alert! Srivastava had asked officials to be on alert. He had also issued orders, prohibiting the Terrorists may use drones to strike flying of aerial objects like drones, important installations in Delhi paragliders, and hot air balloons, ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Abhay Parashar | 20 July 2021 According to Delhi Police, it has been Source: India TV | reported that certain criminals, anti-social https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/de elements or terrorists inimical to India may lhi-independence-day-terror-alert-pakistan- pose a threat to the safety of the general terror-groups-may-use-drone-august-5- public, dignitaries and vital installations by latest-updates-720660 using sub- Security agencies conventional aerial have sounded an alert As per the alert, terror groups may use platforms like over a possible terror explosive-laden drones to carry out paragliders, attack in New Delhi attacks in Delhi before August 15 to Unmanned Aerial using drones before disrupt Independence Day Vehicles (UAVs) or Independence Day celebrations. drones, remotely (August 15). piloted aircraft, hot According to sources, air balloons, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has alerted the quadcopters or para-jumping from aircraft Delhi Police regarding 'drone jihad' by etc. Pakistan-based terror groups. On June 27, two consecutive explosions As per the alert, terror groups may use took place at the high security Jammu Air explosive-laden drones to carry out attacks Force station. A drone, in a first-of-its kind
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 21 strike, dropped two bombs at IAF station at accompanying the fighters. The C-130s and Jammu, causing minor injuries to two other support planes are critical to what personnel. happens next.
The U.S. Air Force Is Sending Under the rubric of Exercise Pacific Iron 21, the fighters will spread out across four Dozens Of F-22 Stealth Fighters To airfields. Three—Andersen, A.B. Won Pat Practice For War With China International Airport and Northwest Field— are in Guam. One, Tinian International David Axe | 20 July 2021 Airport, lies 120 miles north of Guam. Source: Forbes | The plan, according to Air Force releases, is https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021 for the fighters to practice deploying to, and /07/20/the-us-air-force-is-sending-dozens- flying sorties from, austere airfields. The of-f-22-stealth-fighters-to-practice-for-war- flying branch in recent years has grown with-china/?sh=10bfd2d6faf9 increasingly worried that, in the early hours The U.S. Air Force is deploying a huge of a regional war, the Chinese People‘s force of fighters—including a possibly Liberation Army Rocket Force might fire unprecedented scores of ballistic number of F-22s—to Under the new ―agile combat missiles at big U.S. Guam to practice for employment‖ concept, the Air Force bases, including war with China. would scatter its planes across dozens Andersen. of small airstrips in the Western The 10 F-15Es from Under the new ―agile Pacific, all in the hope of complicating the 389th Fighter combat employment‖ China‘s bombardment. Squadron at concept, the Air Mountain Home Air Force would scatter Force Base, Idaho already are on the ground its planes across dozens of small airstrips in at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. the Western Pacific, all in the hope of complicating China‘s bombardment. Some Twenty-five F-22s from two squadrons—the of the airstrips, such as Northwest Field in 525th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Guam, are leftover from World War II. Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and the 199th Fighter Squadron, part of the Hawaii ―ACE is the use of agile operations to Air National Guard at Joint Base Pearl generate resilient air power in a contested Harbor-Hickam—should arrive soon. environment and is designed to organize, train and equip airmen to be more agile in Two C-130J transports from the 374th operation execution, strategic in deterrence Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan are
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 22 and more resilient in capabilities,‖ the Air Those tankers are too big safely to operate Force stated. from austere airstrips. While the Air Force might succeed in spreading out its fighters in The Air Force for years has been practicing order to protect them from Chinese rockets, this dispersal concept, but rarely with so the service could struggle to do the same for many fighters—to say nothing of so many its tankers and transport planes. stealth fighters. Likewise, America‘s heavy bombers depend The F-22, like all low-observable warplanes, on big air bases. At least three B-52s from requires extensive maintenance between the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base sorties. That can be hard to do at an airstrip in North Dakota arrived at Andersen last without permanent facilities. week. KC-135 tankers usually accompany The presence of the C-130s in the force mix these Guam bomber rotations. for Pacific Iron 21 is telling. It‘s one thing to The logistical demands of ―distributed‖ air land a bunch of F-22s on some disused operations represent a major challenge. All runway and throw up some tents for the those F-15s and F-22s dispersing around crews and maintainers. It‘s quite another to Guam should be impressive. keep the planes and airmen supplied with food, fuel, parts and ammunition. But it‘d be even more impressive to see the Air Force support those scattered fighters in To keep the austere bases combat-ready in a way that the Chinese can‘t shut down with wartime, the Air Force would need to a few rockets. sustain a steady rhythm of resupply missions. Russia unveils new fighter, Putin Moreover, many of the potential outlying hails country's air power bases the Air Force has identified for potential use during a crisis lie hundreds of Associated Press | 20 July 2021 miles from likely combat zones over the Source: Money Control | Philippine Sea and China Seas. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/ The fighters would need support from aerial russia-unveils-new-fighter-putin-hails- tankers—lots of it. ―Air refueling is critical countrys-air-power-7198831.html to agile combat employment because it Russian aircraft makers on Tuesday extends the aircraft‘s range and duration of unveiled a prototype of a new fighter jet that flight,‖ U.S. Transportation Command features stealth capabilities and other tweeted last month. advanced characteristics.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 23 Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected It said the new warplane belongs to the so- the prospective warplane displayed with called fifth generation of fighter jets, a much fanfare at the MAKS-2021 definition that assumes stealth International Aviation and Space Salon. The characteristics and a capability to cruise at air show opened Tuesday in Zhukovsky, supersonic speed, among other advanced outside Moscow. features.
Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi developed the Rostec said the new design includes new fighter under the LTS program, a artificial intelligence features to assist the Russian acronym for the Light Tactical pilot and other innovative technologies. It Aircraft. said the jet was designed to reduce service costs and to be easily adapted to varying Its makers said the prototype is set to make customer needs. its maiden flight in 2023 and deliveries could start in 2026. They said the new The prospective Russian fighter jet appears design could be converted to an unpiloted intended to compete with the U.S. F-35 version and a two- Lightning II fighter, seat model. which entered service in 2015. The new aircraft, Rostec said the new design includes which hasn't received artificial intelligence features to assist Rostec ran an a name yet, is smaller the pilot and other innovative aggressive than Russia‘s latest technologies. advertising campaign Su-57 two-engine in the days before the stealth fighter, also air show, publishing built by Sukhoi, and a picture of the new has one engine. It can fly at a speed of 1.8-2 fighter hidden under a black tarpaulin with times the speed of sound and has a range of ―Wanna see me naked?‖ written under it. It 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), the jet's also posted a video featuring adulatory makers said. customers from India, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Vietnam and other Russian state corporation Rostec, which countries, reflecting export hopes. includes Sukhoi and other aircraft makers, has advertised the new plane under the tag Plane spotters flocked to Zhukovsky last Checkmate, an approach apparently week to take pictures of the new plane as it intended to underline its superior was being taxied to a parking spot across the characteristics. giant airfield which has served as the country‘s top military aircraft test facility since Cold War times.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 24 The Kremlin has made modernization of the The Chinese People's Liberation Army country‘s arsenals a key priority amid (PLA) Air Force is increasing the use of tensions with the West that followed simulators in pilot training, an approach that Moscow‘s 2014 annexation of Ukraine‘s can significantly reduce cost, increase pilot's Crimean Peninsula. training time and practice special scenarios that are hard to replicate with real aircrafts, a It also has strongly encouraged the recent report said. development of new passenger jets to compete with planes built by American It also shows that China has established a aircraft maker Boeing and Europe's Airbus technically advanced simulation training that currently account for the bulk of system, experts said on Monday. Russian carriers' fleets. An aviation brigade affiliated with the Air Russia's airliner programs have encountered Force of the PLA Central Theater Command delays amid Western sanctions that started to use simulators to train pilots in hampered imports of Western engines and 2019. By 2020 it had established a training other key components. But the country simulation center and proved that it is managed to produce a new engine for the feasible to reduce training with real aircrafts new MS-21 passenger plane, which also was thanks to training simulations this year, No. displayed at the show in Zhukovsky. 34 Military Room, a WeChat public account affiliated with the PLA Daily, reported on ―What we saw in Zhukovsky today Sunday. demonstrates that the Russian aviation has a big potential for development and our According to the report, Yang Peng, training aircraft making industries continue to create staff officer of the brigade, noted that new competitive aircraft designs,‖ Putin said compared with the cost of aviation fuel, in a speech at the show's opening. maintenance of the aircraft and consumption of spare parts, the cost of training simulators PLA increases use of simulators in is much lower. pilot training, high efficiency Due to the high costs, pilots get fewer reported chances to practice with real aircrafts. However, simulators will provide more Liu Xuanzun | 20 July 2021 opportunities for them to master flying Source: Global Times | techniques, the report said, noting that https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202107/12 simulators can also replicate many scenarios 29076.shtml that cannot be easily tried with real aircrafts, including emergencies.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 25 Starting this year, pilots will be using a type A brigade attached to the 83rd Group Army of simulator integrated with artificial of the PLA has set up more than 10 VR intelligence that assists training, learns from training simulation rooms for instruction in each engagement and can become a top ace, multiple areas, including individual combat even superior to human pilots, the report skills and coordinated action and command, said. China Central Television reported earlier this year. China used to lack the technologies to develop advanced, realistic training The Rocket Force is also using similar simulators to conduct meaningful training simulation technologies to practice the but now it has a complete system to develop launch of missiles, like during a launch and maintain this kind of simulators that exercise conducted in mid-March reported have become key in by the PLA Daily in the PLA's routine March. training, Fu An aviation brigade affiliated with the The deployment of Qianshao, a Chinese Air Force of the PLA Central Theater training simulations military aviation Command started to use simulators to is a reflection of the expert, told the train pilots in 2019. PLA's development Global Times. of a new military Simulators help pilots training system and improve their flight skills and contribute to the strengthening of the military by science flight safety, and train the pilots' situational and technology, analysts said. awareness and help develop new tactics, Fu said, noting that the simulators could China-made drones hover over become interconnected with pilots using India, call for regulation different simulators and fighting each other in simulated combat scenarios. GC News Desk | 16 July 2021
The PLA Air Force is not the only PLA Source: Goa Chronicle | service that uses training simulators. https://goachronicle.com/china-made- drones-hover-over-india-call-for-regulation/ For instance, a logistics support unit affiliated with the PLA Northern Theater India is seeing a deluge of China-made Command Navy used virtual reality (VR) drones, many of them are said to be sighted simulators to practice the disassembly of near the country‘s military installations and equipment, location of malfunctions and highly protected areas. fixing of pipelines in a wartime fuel support drill, the PLA Daily reported in March.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 26 There are nearly five lakhs mostly illegal been sighted along the sensitive border with Chinese-made drones in different sizes and Pakistan after the 2019 abrogation of Article weights, experts say, that pose serious 370. security threats to the country. Drones have very little infra-red or radar The drone market in India is inundated with signature to be picked up by the traditional Chinese-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles air defence systems and it‘s hard to track (UAVs) and they are not regularised as per them at night or in foggy weather because of the standards, Sai Pattabiram CEO & their small size and low engine noise. founder of Chennai-based Sree Sai Aerotech The present technology is not fully equipped Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (SSAI) said while to neutralise UAVs. talking to UNI. Their Radio Frequency (RF) is similar to our ―To counter these illegal drones, we have to wifi routers. Even if we use RF jamming to create an indigenous drone ecosystem with inactive drones, it can affect the Internet as proper measures in the country,‖ Pattabiram well, Pattabiram says. says. The UAVs that can be Apart from the manoeuvred remotely The drone market in India is inundated aggressive tracking, by a pilot are with Chinese-made Unmanned Aerial he also suggests becoming the Vehicles (UAVs) and they are not monitoring within signature weapon of regularised as per the standards the country. terrorists across the globe. The country According to a study saw this in the June by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation 27 twin drone attack at the Air Force Station (DGCA), the drone market is estimated to in Jammu. touch 886 million dollars by 2021 in India.
Among those drones that are used by the Based on their weight, UAVs can be military, Iran, Turkey, and China have classified into five categories–nano serious arsenals, there are emerging drone (weighing up to 250 g), Micro air vehicles alliances around the world. (MAV) (250g – 2kg), Miniature UAV or small (SUAV) (2-25 kg), medium (25-150 Reports say that an improvised low-cost kg), and large (over 150 kg). rotary-wing drone was used to drop explosives at the IAF Jammu. They need to require a licensed pilot and permit from the Director General of Civil According to the Central agencies, over 300 drones and unidentified flying objects have
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 27 Aviation (DGCA). However, nano drones incursions. Recently, in these pages, a need not require a permit. former Republic of China Navy captain, Lu Li-Shih, joined this chorus ―decoding As per the Unmanned Aircraft System China‘s recent combat drills in the first Rules, 2021, issued by the Ministry of Civil island chain.‖ Aviation, the ability to fly a drone in the country is subject to the type of drone and However, Lu added to the confusion the corresponding permit and license needed surrounding the issue by directing attention for it. to the KJ-500 airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, claiming the These rules have several restrictions on type‘s presence as the ―most intriguing‖ drone use apart from licences and permits to fact. Instead, we argue that the prominent use drones. presence of other special mission aircraft, The Ministry is reported to be in the process especially the KQ-200 maritime patrol and of preparing new rules to regulate drone use anti-submarine warfare (MP-ASW) aircraft in India. deserves more attention in helping us uncover the underlying rationale of Chinese China‘s Air Incursions Into actions in the Southwestern part of Taiwan‘s Taiwan‘s ADIZ Focus on ‗Anti- ADIZ. Access‘ and Maritime Deterrence Betting on the Wrong ―Horse‖
Olli Pekka Suorsa and Adrian Ang U-Jin | The presence of KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft in 20 July 2021 Taiwan‘s southwestern ADIZ is neither unusual nor unexpected. The aircraft have Source: The Diplomat | increasingly become part of the People‘s https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/chinas-air- Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and incursions-into-taiwans-adiz-focus-on-anti- People‘s Liberation Army Naval Air Force access-and-maritime-deterrence/ (PLAN-AF) order of battle since the mid- Chinese aerial incursions into Taiwan‘s Air 2010s, addressing a major capability gap. Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) have The IISS Military Balance 2021 recorded a received a lot of attention since the island‘s total of 25-plus KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft Ministry of National Defense (MND) began currently in service between the PLAAF and making the data public in September 2020. PLAN-AF. Both services operate the type in Understandably, the larger scale incidents, the Eastern and Southern Theater like that of June 15 – the largest thus far, Commands, facing Taiwan. In comparison, involving 28 aircraft – have generated only two years ago the IISS Military heated debates about the rationale for the Balance 2019 reported fewer than half that
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 28 number – 11 KJ-500s – in operation deployed currently with both the Eastern and between the two services. Southern Theater Commands. Importantly, our research indicates that the KQ-200 MP- The KJ-500 has become an important ASW aircraft has been the most frequent element in all major PLAAF air exercises, in intruder into the southwestern part of accordance with Xi Jinping‘s insistence on Taiwan‘s ADIZ. Out of 192 incursions ―more realistic combat training‖ for the recorded between September 16, 2020 and service. Thus, the increased presence of KJ- July 15, 2021, 131 (68.2 percent) have 500s sighted within Japan and Taiwan‘s involved at least one KQ-200 while 12 ADIZs, as well as in the South China Sea, incursions (6.3 percent) have involved two should be expected as it is indicative of a KQ-200s. Over this period, KQ-200s have natural development in the PLAAF and flown 143 sorties. Significantly, the KQ-200 PLAN-AF‘s drive to become modern, MP-ASW has been involved in all 10 large- ―informatized‖ and ―networked‖ forces. scale incursions (involving 10 or more Therefore, we should expect to see KJ-500s sorties) recorded by Taiwan‘s MND. In become an increasingly normal sight and a comparison, the KJ- critical element of The KQ-200 is also commonly sighted 500 AEW&C was any Chinese air patrolling within Japan‘s ADIZ, involved in only operations or demonstrating Beijing‘s interest in seven of the 10 large- exercises within surveilling foreign naval activity – both scale incursions and Taiwan‘s ADIZ, surface and sub-surface – around the has flown only 19 coordinating friendly two most important maritime choke sorties during the forces‘ actions and points in the so-called first island chain same time period. providing early warning of any fighter aircraft scrambled to For context, the KQ-200 is also commonly intercept Chinese formations. sighted patrolling within Japan‘s ADIZ, demonstrating Beijing‘s interest in KQ-200 MP-ASW and China‘s ―Anti- surveilling foreign naval activity – both Access‖ Strategy surface and sub-surface – around the two In addition to the KJ-500 AEW&C, China‘s most important maritime choke points in the military modernization has focused strongly so-called first island chain: the Bashi on filling capability gaps and addressing Channel and the Miyako Strait. weaknesses. One well-known capability gap We argue that the KQ-200 MP-ASW has been the Chinese navy‘s lack of capable aircraft‘s prominent presence in all large- maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare scale formations intruding into the (MP-ASW) aircraft. The PLAN-AF‘s southwestern portion of Taiwan‘s ADIZ on, answer to this deficiency is built around the for example, March 26 and April 12 of this KQ-200 MP-ASW aircraft, which is widely
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 29 year, likely demonstrated China‘s interest to undertaken by China have only reached as control the first island chain, and its intent to far as past the Bashi Channel and the deny foreign navies, in particular that of the Western Pacific Ocean. Therefore, we argue U.S., access in any Taiwan Strait conflict that the recent large-scale incursions into scenario. Taiwan‘s ADIZ are very different in meaning and rationale to the earlier Moreover, as we argued in our earlier piece ‖circumnavigation‖ flights. for The Diplomat, these missions were likely linked to the simultaneous presence of In addition to data provided by Taiwan‘s a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group (CSG) in MND, our argument can be further the vicinity. This can be demonstrated in corroborated with reports citing Japan Air China‘s large aircraft formations entering Self-Defense Force (JASDF) sources from Taiwan‘s ADIZ on January 24, March 29, 2019, suggesting that Chinese KQ-200 and and June 15. The MND‘s data also shows H-6K aircraft flew through the Miyako that the KQ-200s typically loiter farther out Strait and established communications with at sea than any other aircraft type. Thus, we PLAN vessels already in the Western Pacific argue that both the in a joint exercise crude flight route between PLA‘s data provided by the surface and air China‘s intentions are likely directed MND, the known components. More against outside interference — and not presence of a U.S. recently, in April at Taiwan specifically. CSG, and the 2021, China‘s Global composition of each Times reported about large-scale formation, a joint air and sea involving at least one KQ-200 as well as one exercise, involving the Liaoning carrier, or more anti-ship missile capable combat Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers, and aircraft types (i.e., H-6K, JH-7A, and J-16) Type 054A frigates, as well as KQ-200 point to a strong ―anti-access‖ and maritime aircraft, among others. The exercise was deterrence focus. reportedly a response to U.S. naval ―provocations.‖ Unlike the Chinese high-visibility ―circumnavigation‖ flights around Taiwan in Such exercises and the PLAN‘s presence 2016, 2017, and 2020, which were outside the first island chain, in the Western considered attempts at intimidating and Pacific, have become increasingly common warning the Taiwanese people against with the modernization and growing electing the Democratic Progressive Party ―jointness‖ and confidence of the PLA. candidate, Tsai Ing-wen, as president, the However, by using only the data provided more recent long-distance missions by the MND, we can merely observe a
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 30 single element of possibly much larger The new batch of the aircraft will be part of exercises. Due to the lack of similar the IAF‘s second squadron of the Rafale consistent data from, for example, Japan, we jets. are not able to establish whether the equally, The aircraft were provided mid-air if not more, frequent Chinese incursions into refuelling by the air force of the United Arab Japan‘s ADIZ in the East China Sea and Emirates (UAE). near the Miyako Strait are linked to the incursions observed in the southwestern part ―Three Rafale aircraft arrived in India a of Taiwan‘s ADIZ. short while ago, after a direct ferry from #IstresAirBase, France. IAF deeply Nevertheless, what we can observe is the appreciates the support by UAE Air Force prominent role of new and increasingly for in-flight refuelling during the non-stop capable special mission aircraft, and, ferry,‖ the IAF said in a tweet. especially, the KQ-200 MP-ASW in China‘s maturing ―anti-access‖ and maritime Following the arrival of the new batch, the deterrence construct. number of Rafale jets with the IAF went up to 24. Three more Rafale fighter jets arrive in India from France The new squadron of Rafale jets will be based in Hasimara airbase in West Bengal. PTI | 22 July 2021 The first Rafale squadron is based in the Source: The Print | Ambala air force station. A squadron https://theprint.in/defence/three-more-rafale- comprises around 18 aircraft. fighter-jets-arrive-in-india-from- India had signed an inter-governmental france/700511/ agreement with France in September 2016 The seventh batch of for the procurement three more Rafale of 36 Rafale fighter fighter jets arrived in jets at a cost of India after flying around Rs 58,000 non-stop for a crore. distance of almost The first batch of 8,000 km from five Rafale jets France, in a further arrived in India on July 29 last year. boost to the strike capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF). India is expected to get more Rafale jets from France in the next few months.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 31 The Rafale jets, manufactured by French No details were given of the targets of the aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are Israeli missiles, but there have been weeks India‘s first major acquisition of fighter of speculation that Israel was considering a planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were military intervention in Lebanon to diminish imported from Russia. the influence of Hezbollah.
The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a Syrian air defenses intercepted an Israeli range of potent weapons. European missile missile attack on Monday night that Tel maker MBDA‘s Meteor beyond visual range Aviv said was targeting Iranian forces in air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and Aleppo as part of what has been described as MICA weapons system will be the mainstay a U.S.-backed shadow war. of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. ―The Israeli enemy carried out an aerial Israel launches air strikes on attack towards south-east Aleppo, targeting positions in the al-Safirah area,‖ a Syrian Lebanon and Syria as part of U.S.- military source said. ―Our air defenses backed shadow war intercepted the missiles … shooting down most of them.‖ The extent of damage was Steve Sweeney | July 2021 still being assessed. Source: People‘s World | The attacks were believed to have targeted https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/israel- troops from Iran‘s elite Quds Force, which launches-air-strikes-on-lebanon-and-syria- has a presence in Syria, playing a leading as-part-of-us-backed-shadow-war/ role in the fight against Isis and other Israel launched a missile attack on southern jihadist groups. Lebanon early today, just hours after air It has been targeted by Israeli air strikes, strikes had targeted along with fighters Iranian forces near Syrian air defenses intercepted an from Lebanon‘s the Syrian city of Israeli missile attack on Monday night Hezbollah, thousands Aleppo. that Tel Aviv said was targeting of whom have been The Israeli army Iranian forces in Aleppo as part of killed during the claimed that it was what has been described as a U.S.- battle to regain responding to four backed shadow war. control of Syria from rockets launched ―terrorist from Lebanon that triggered warning sirens organizations‖ they say are backed by the in the Western Galilee region. United States.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 32 The Israeli Defence Force refused to Source: United News of India | comment on the air strikes, the first since a http://www.uniindia.com/armenian-forces- new Israeli government, led by Prime foil-azerbaijani-drone-attempt-to-cross-air- Minister Naftali Bennett, took office last border-defense- month. ministry/world/news/2457623.html
The far-right nationalist has vowed to The Armenian Defense Ministry stated on continue the policy of his predecessor Saturday that the national counter-air Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched defense forces prevented the unmanned frequent missile attacks on Syria aimed at aerial vehicle from Azerbaijan from entering stifling Iranian influence in the region. the republic's airspace.
Israeli air strikes killed at least 11 Syrian "On July 23, at about 11 p.m. [19:00 GMT], soldiers last month, and U.S. President Joe the air defense subdivisions of the RA Biden ordered drone attacks that targeted Armed Forces with corresponding actions Iranian-backed militia in both Syria and stopped the attempt to enter the airspace of Iraq. the Republic of Armenia by UAV in the south-western direction of the Armenian- The groups vowed revenge for the U.S. Azerbaijani border," the statement read. attacks, in which a child and four soldiers were killed, and have launched a number of The situation on the mutual border is strikes targeting the occupying force‘s deemed as stable as of 9 a.m. on Saturday. military bases inside Syria. Space Power On Saturday, Syrian President Bashar al- Assad vowed to drive out U.S. and Turkish occupying forces from the country. Germany establishes new military space command Ankara has troops holed up in the northern Idlib province, where they are helping Vivienne Machi | 13 July 2021 various jihadist groups maintain their last stronghold. Source: Defence News | https://www.defensenews.com/space/2021/0 Armenian forces foil Azerbaijani 7/13/germany-establishes-new-military- drone attempt to cross air border: space-command/ Defense Ministry The German military has announced the creation of a separate command dedicated to UNI/Sputnik | 24 July 2021 space, becoming the latest of a handful of
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 33 nations prioritizing more resources and As with NATO, the emphasis for ASOC was missions among the stars. more on space as a defensive domain, with the aim of protecting German systems and The Ministry of Defence introduced the new further investing in space situational space command in a July 13 ceremony at the awareness, according to the German German Space Situational Awareness Centre Institute for International and Security in Uedem, located in the country‘s North Affairs. Rhine-Westphalia region. Berlin is not alone in its efforts to create a Defence Minister Annegret Kramp- separate military space entity. The U.S. Karrenbauer provided a keynote speech for Space Force was established in late 2019 as the event. a separate military branch under the The military is ―responding to the increasing Department of the Air Force, and now significance of space for our state‘s ability boasts a separate budget line from the Air to function, the Force and its own prosperity of our The military is responding to the representation on the population, and the increasing significance of space for our Joint Chiefs of Staff, increasing state‘s ability to function, the with Chief of Space dependency of the prosperity of our population, and the Operations Gen. Jay armed forces on increasing dependency of the armed Raymond. While space-supported data, forces on space-supported data, initial Space Force services and services and products. personnel were products,‖ the transferred in from ministry said in a statement. space-related units within the Air Force, the nascent service will soon welcome its first Since 2009, the German Air Force, or — and soon to be former — Marines, Luftwaffe, has used the center to monitor soldiers and sailors. space assets, order maneuvering of systems and recommend evasion routes to The U.S. officially reestablished its Space commercial satellite operators, according to Command on Aug. 29, 2019, which is the German Aerospace Center. In fall 2020, technically the second iteration of an the Air and Space Operations Center, or American space command. Established in ASOC, was inaugurated there in response to 1985, the first Space Command was NATO‘s declaration of space as a new ultimately merged into U.S. Strategic operational domain at the alliance‘s 2019 Command in 2002 as part of the military meeting in London, England. reorganization following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 34 In fall 2020, France renamed its Air Force to launch facility at Kulasekarapattinam in the become the Air and Space Force, after district has reached the final stage and that creating its new space command the Tamil Nadu government will push for Commandement de l‘espace in 2019. The subsequent work to begin at the earliest. United Kingdom also established a separate According to The Hindu, Kanimozhi said space command in spring 2021 as a joint work on acquiring land for ISRO‘s space command staffed with personnel from the vehicle launch facility was going on as the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Air Force and the civil service. government was ―keen on establishing a NATO has named space as one of its top rocket launch pad at Kulasekarapattinam‖. seven priorities for emerging and disruptive The land acquisition process had reached an technologies, or EDT. The member nations‘ advanced stage and the government will defense ministers endorsed a new strategy in soon hand over the land to ISRO. March to ensure the alliance fosters these ―I will meet the officials concerned during technologies through increased cooperation my visit to New Delhi to press the demand with innovation hubs and nontraditional for the early commencement of work on this industry, and to protect EDT investment facility,‖ she said. from export issues and outside influence. In September 2020, minister of state Jitendra Land Acquisition for ISRO‘s Singh had said that the Tamil Nadu Second Spaceport Reaches Final government has identified around 2,300 Stage acres for the port, which will have one launchpad. ISRO‘s existing spaceport at the Col SC Tyagi (Retd.) | 13 July 2021 Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota has two functioning launchpads. Source: The Wire Science | https://science.thewire.in/spaceflight/land- ISRO zeroed in on Kulasekarapattinam for acquisition-for-isros-second-spaceport- its second spaceport in December 2019. As reaches-final-stage/ The Wire Science had reported then, it Thoothukudi MP would allow ISRO to Kanimozhi said that ISRO zeroed in on launch smaller the land acquisition Kulasekarapattinam for its second satellites more process for the Indian spaceport in December 2019. frequently using the Space Research Small Satellite Organisation Launch Vehicle (ISRO)‘s rocket (SSLV), which is
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 35 under development. imaging-satellite-on-august-12/
The Wire Science had also reported that the The Indian Space Research Organization second port will provide strategic (ISRO) is picking up pace and getting back advantages such as allowing vehicles to into launch activity at Sriharikota Spaceport. enter polar orbits straightaway, without The organization will go ahead with its having to swerve to avoid flying over Sri planned orbiting of geo-imaging satellite Lanka, as is necessary for vehicles taking off GISAT-1 on board GSLV-F10 rocket on from Sriharikota. This manoeuvre requires August 12. more fuel, therefore forcing smaller launch It is going to be the second launch of the vehicles to reduce their payload. Bengaluru-headquartered Space agency in ISRO chairman K. Sivan confirmed in June the COVID-19-hit 2021. last year that Kulasekarapattinam‘s On February 28, ISRO successfully geographic location has a strategic launched PSLV-C51 mission with Brazil‘s advantage, allowing the SSLV to fly straight earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and to the south pole. 18 co-passengers, including some built by ―The payload loss in big vehicles is students, on board. manageable. When it comes to small The 2,268-kg GISAT-1 was to be launched satellite launch vehicles, such manoeuvres from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh‘s won‘t give any payload capability. We Nellore district on March 5, 2020, but was selected Kulasekarapattinam because it postponed a day before the blast-off due to gives us the benefit of launching straight in technical reasons. the southward direction,‖ Sivan said, according to the Times of India. Thereafter, the launch was delayed due to lockdown which affected normal work. ISRO to launch GISAT-1 on August 12 It was scheduled for March 28 this year but a ‗minor issue‘ with the satellite forced NewsDesk | 13 July further postponement. 2021 The launch was later We have tentatively planned the Source: Geospatial expected in April and World | GSLV-F10 launch on August 12, at then in May but the https://www.geospati 5.43 am, subject to weather conditions, campaign could not be taken up due to alworld.net/news/eart an ISRO official was quoted as saying. h-observation-isro- lockdown in parts of plans-to-launch-geo- the country triggered
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 36 by the second wave of the pandemic. properties, snow and glacier and oceanography. ―We have tentatively planned the GSLV- F10 launch on August 12, at 5.43 am, US Trials Nano Satellites for Missile subject to weather conditions,‖ an ISRO Defense official was quoted as saying. Inder Singh Bisht | 13 July 2021 According to ISRO, GISAT-1 will facilitate near real-time observation of the Indian sub- Source: The Defense Post | continent, under cloud-free conditions, at https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/13 frequent intervals. /nano-satellites-missile-defense/
GISAT-1 will be placed in a The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV- launched two nanosatellites, known as F10 and it will be positioned in the final CubeSats, last month as part of a geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km above demonstration to see their viability within the Earth‘s equator. The earth observation the missile defense communications satellite will provide the country near real- architecture, the Department of Defense time images of its borders and also enable revealed in a statement. quick monitoring of natural disasters. CubeSats are a miniaturized, low-cost subset Experts said positioning the state-of-the-art of nanosatellites weighing up to 1.33 agile earth observation satellite in kilograms (2.9 pounds) per unit. A geostationary orbit has key advantages. nanosatellite weighs less than 300 kilograms (661 pounds). ―It is going to be a game-changer for India,‖ an official of the department of Space was In the 90-day demonstration, which may be quoted as saying. extended up to one year, the MDA will use two CubeSats ―to demonstrate networked Listing the objectives of the mission, ISRO radio communications between had earlier said the satellite would provide nanosatellites while in orbit,‖ the statement near real-time imaging of the large area said. region of interest at frequent intervals. It would help in quick monitoring of natural Missile Tracking Space Sensor disasters, episodic and any short-term events. The agency will ensure that the CubeSats ―navigate properly, receive and send signals The third objective is to obtain spectral to radios and networks and operate as signatures of agriculture, forestry, intended,‖ the statement added. mineralogy, disaster warning, cloud
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 37 CubeSats will play a crucial role in the perfect platform for this,‖ Shari Feth, head Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space of the Innovation, Science, and Technology Sensor payload functioning being developed directorate at MDA, said. by MDA. Provides Unprecedented Testing Capability The payload, to be deployed on satellites, NTI project lead Eric Cole explained, ―The will detect and track ability to leverage the hypersonic and rapid advances in ballistic missiles and CubeSats will play a crucial role in the commercial CubeSat send critical Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking technology, as well as information to the Space Sensor payload functioning the growing base of system. being developed by MDA. commercial small ―The missile defense launch providers, architecture will enables a unique require communications between testing capability never before available.‖ interceptors, sensors and command and ―The ability to test in the relevant control systems to quickly identify, track environment of space enables testing to and destroy incoming enemy missiles before achieve higher technology readiness levels, they reach their targets,‖ MDA director for making the technology transition path into space sensors, Walt Chai, said. operational systems much more viable.‖ ―The CubeSats will allow the agency to demonstrate the capabilities quickly and US Space Force sees UK as potential affordably.‖ site to build a deep-Space radar
Affordable Cost Crucial for Technology NewsDesk | 23 July 2021 Maturation Source: Geospatial World | CubeSats‘ lower cost than traditional https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/us- satellites — $1.3 million versus hundreds of space-force-sees-uk-as-potential-site-to- millions — makes it crucial for the build-a-deep-space-radar-eos/ maturation of technologies for future applications in missile defense. US Space Force officials and UK government have started discussions about ―For the NTI (Nanosat Testbed Initiative) the building of a deep-Space radar site in efforts, we only need something small to UK, as reported by SpaceNews. The Deep take technology experiments to space in Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) order to test in the relevant environment and project started by the US Air Force in 2017 gather accurate data. CubeSats are the
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 38 is a network of sensors, which is planned to Gaganyaan 1st uncrewed mission be developed to track active satellites and unlikely before June 2022; no life debris beyond geostationary orbit. support systems testing The Space Force describes it as a 24/7, all- weather ground-based radar system for Chetan Kumar | 22 July 2021 space domain awareness. Source: The Times of India | The Space Force recently issued a request https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sc for design concepts from contractors. Up to ience/gaganyaan-1st-uncrewed-mission- three radar sites could be built in the coming unlikely-before-june-2022-no-life-support- years. One would be in the United States systems-testing/articleshow/84655380.cms and the other two in other parts of the world. The first uncrewed mission part of the Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston, Gaganyaan programme, which ISRO was head of the UK Royal Air Force, was hoping to launch by December this year, has recently in the United States for talks over been postponed to next year. In fact, it is the plans, the Guardian newspaper reported. unlikely to be launched before June 2022. He said the British were ―very interested‖ in Scientists associated with the programme the project and in hosting a US radar station. said while there has been progress made on the human rating of systems, especially the ―We have recently started exploratory launch vehicle, there‘s still a lot of work discussions with the U.K. to determine the pending. ―...Which is why we are looking at potential collaboration opportunities with the second half of 2022 for the first the Deep Space Advanced Radar uncrewed mission. It could even be August,‖ Capability,‖ the spokesman was quoted as one of them said. saying. ISRO chairman K Sivan told TOI: ―It‘s now DARC will have three geographically impossible to carry out the first uncrewed separated sites around the world, ―that will mission this year as we‘ve lost a lot of time play a key role in moving towards a resilient because of lockdowns and work is only space enterprise able to deter aggression,‖ picking up now. It‘ll happen only next year he said. ―The DARC program office is around June.‖ working site selection of all three sites in parallel, and has not finalized the location of This change is likely to impact the overall any sites at this time.‖ timeline of the programme, which initially hoped to send Indian astronauts to space by 2022.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 39 Multiple scientists said that the first test the worldwide tracking networks. And, uncrewed mission may see the orbital we need to test the return flight. Here we‘ll module stay in orbit for multiple days — look at both the thermal protection and other could even be as long as a week — but that systems of the module during its return, and not all systems that will eventually be part of also the recovery response after it lands the human spaceflight will be part of this back,‖ Sivan said. mission. Sivan said: ISRO will also be ―It‘s likely to stay in testing both the audio orbit for a ‗long time‘ It‘s now impossible to carry out the and video links as we‘ll test all first uncrewed mission this year as through the launch systems for extremes. we‘ve lost a lot of time because of and the orbiting of But we‘re yet to lockdowns and work is only picking up the module. decide for how long now. It‘ll happen only next year Vyomitra, the half we‘ll keep it there.‖ around June. humanoid designed He, however, by ISRO, is also confirmed that this mission won‘t be testing likely to make it in the first mission. the crucial environment and life support ―...We are aiming to send Vyomitra, but the systems. ―...As far as life support systems crew module won‘t be pressurised (like it go, it is more important to conduct extensive would be with astronauts) so not all aspects ground tests than to do an actual flight test of human activity will be mimicked by the — which is also critical — and we will, robot in the first mission,‖ Sivan added. therefore, be testing those on the ground first and use it as part of the second uncrewed Although ISRO has shortlisted some mission,‖ Sivan said. experiments, what may eventually make it as part of the first mission is yet to be The development of these systems will be decided. the most challenging part of human spaceflight, and Sivan said Isro is doing it Global Aerospace Industry indigenously. However, sources said ISRO could be getting help indirectly from other space agencies. Boeing delivers 10th P-8I maritime Flight Performance & Vyomitra patrol aircraft to Navy
―The first mission is mainly for flight Dinakar Peri | 09 July 2021 performance systems. The human-rated Source: The Hindu | launch vehicle will be demonstrated. After https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bo injecting the module into orbit, we need to
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 40 eing-delivers-10th-p-8i-maritime-patrol- Navy exercised the optional clause for four aircraft-to-navy/article35295620.ece more P-8Is in a deal worth over $1billion. The Indian Navy was the first international Aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Tuesday customer of P-8. delivered the 10th long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare The Navy has also deployed P-8Is for aircraft to the Navy. This is the second of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief the four additional aircraft contracted under missions. an optional clause in 2016. Centre at Arakkonam The remaining two were expected to be Boeing is completing delivered in the last construction of a quarter of this year, a 60,000 sq. ft. defence official said. This is the second of the four additional training support and The patrol aircraft aircraft contracted under an optional data handling centre was an integral part of clause in 2016. at INS Rajali, the Indian Navy‘s Arakkonam, and a fleet and had secondary surpassed 30,000 maintenance training flight hours since its induction in 2013, centre at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Boeing said in a statement. Technology, Kochi, as part of a training and support package contract signed in 2019. In May, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of six additional P-8I This new indigenous, ground-based training aircraft and related equipment, a deal would allow naval crew to increase mission estimated to cost $2.42 billion. In November proficiency in a shorter time, while reducing 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council on-aircraft training time, resulting in approved the procurement of six aircraft. increased aircraft availability, Boeing added. The number was cut down from 10 to six At Aero India in February, Boeing due to budgetary constraints as also because announced strategic collaboration the Navy was undertaking fleet agreements with Air Works of India for the rationalisation and deciding to go in for long Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) endurance unmanned platforms. of the P-8I fleet and the VIP transport fleet The Navy had procured eight P-8Is under a of the Indian Air Force. $2.2 billion deal in 2009. The aircraft are The six aircraft under discussion will come part of the 312A Naval Air Squadron based with extensive upgrades, officials had stated. at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu. In 2016, the As reported by The Hindu, the six P-8Is will
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 41 come installed with encrypted range, and on that deal we provided communication systems since India has now extended-range capability, which is not a signed the foundational agreement usual requirement,‖ the source said. Communications Compatibility and Security South Asia generally consists of Agreement (COMCASA) with the U.S. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Who is buying Israeli counter-drone Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Israel doesn‘t have diplomatic systems in South Asia? relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Seth J.Frantzman | 13 July 2021 Pakistan, and has experienced intermittent positive relations with the Maldives. Source: Defense News | https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/20 IAI has previously done business with India: 21/07/13/who-is-buying-israeli-counter- In 2017, the company won $2 billion worth drone-systems-in-south-asia/ of deals. In 2020, it discussed the Drone Guard system at the DefExpo conference in JERSUSALEM — Israel Aerospace India, The Times of India reported. There Industries has announced the sale of dozens has been online speculation that the system of counter-UAV Drone Guard systems to an was sold to India, with local media platform unnamed South Asian country. ThePrint noting July 9 that the Indian Army ―is in the process of procuring an The deal, announced in early July, was unspecified number of anti-drone systems valued in the tens of millions of dollars. that will detect and Israeli companies jam the often don‘t identify communication and their customers, Drone Guard was originally built on navigation signals of leaving observers to adapted radar and existing electro- a hostile unmanned speculate about who optical technology, but its manufacturer aerial vehicle (UAV) acquired the system has updated the platform. or spoof it.‖ The in South Asia. article did not According to a source identify the company at IAI familiar with the matter, the company or companies providing the systems. can only go so far as to partly discuss the Days before announcing the Drone Guard process involved in selling this technology deal, IAI reported a deal to upgrade Sri to South or Southeast Asian countries. Lanka Air Force planes. Sri Lankan media ―Threats are diverse, and actually what we and defense officials have also expressed have to do is show that we have a solution concern about rising drone threats in recent which is very comprehensive and long years.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 42 Given the lack of reported drone threats or July, minister for defence procurement incidents in Bhutan, a relatively small Jeremy Quin said the Ministry of Defence country, and in Nepal, the number of accounts for 50% of all emissions made by potential South Asian countries seeking UK central government departments, with advanced counter-UAS technology and the RAF‘s Air Command alone responsible which have relations with Israel are for 41%. relatively few. It‘s unlikely the customer is Speaking during the same forum, RAF the Maldives because it is so isolated at sea deputy commander Air Marshal Andrew and the threats it faces are more limited. Turner said a broad range of measures are IAI has sold about 200 Drone Guard already being explored in order to reduce the systems globally amid an increased interest service‘s environmental footprint, including by countries in defending against a plethora investing in the production of sustainable of emerging UAV threats. IAI says the aviation fuel (SAF). This drive is being multi-sensor, multilayered ELI-4030 Drone made in support of the UK government‘s Guard system provides ―the ability to detect, commitment to achieving net-zero carbon classify, identify and defeat drone attacks.‖ emissions by 2050, but also offers operational benefits, he adds. RAF eyeing electric trainer as ―We are going to endeavour to fly a 100% carbon-reduction campaign powers SAF-powered aircraft this side of Christmas, up and move that fleet to 100% SAF in about two years‘ time,‖ Turner says, without Craig Hoyle | 13 July 2021 identifying the type involved. Flying the Source: Flight Global | service‘s current assets with a 50:50 mix is https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/raf- already possible. eyeing-electric-trainer-as-carbon-reduction- The RAF recently made an investment in a campaign-powers-up/144570.article private company which has demonstrated The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is exploring the production of jet fuel from apples and multiple pathways to reducing its lavender, with a laboratory product ―more environmental impact, with initiatives stable than jet fuel‖, Turner says. He notes, ranging from the planned introduction of however, that today SAF typically costs electrically-powered light training aircraft to around four-times as much per litre than Jet- the ―flight-free certification‖ of future A1 fuel, and that broader adoption of the combat assets. technology is needed to close this price gap. ―We need a momentum in society to be Introducing a sustainability session during demanding of change such that airlines – the the virtual Farnborough Connect event on 13
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 43 whole industry – moves in this direction,‖ he and to provide air experience flights for adds. cadets and instruction for university air squadron students. Turner says the RAF also is ―driving very hard at making the Red Arrows‘ [coloured] ―We will have a competition,‖ Turner says, smoke sustainable‖; the aerobatic display with the ambition of fielding a new type team currently uses diesel and dye to ―before the end of this parliament, or early achieve the effect. in the next‖. The next UK general election is due no later than May 2024. He adds: ―If The service is also looking to declare at least battery technology moves faster then we will one of its bases net-zero by 2025, with the move with it.‖ goal of over time having such facilities become net He also sees a contributors to the potential for using national grid, through electrically-powered We are going to endeavour to fly a 100% generating power by SAF-powered aircraft this side of swarming drones, solar, heat pumps and Christmas, and move that fleet to 100% ―for base security, or wind. SAF in about two years‘ time. in a combat and operational sense to ―We believe that hazard an adversary‘s through these systems‖. mechanisms, relatively rapidly we can generate substantially more power than our Turner also believes it will be possible to bases currently consume,‖ he says. achieve ―flight-free certification‖ of the UK‘s Tempest future combat air system and Other measures are also being considered, Mosquito loyal wingman, thanks to the use such as the idea of replacing grass next to of digital-twin technology. This will enable runways with moss, which has much greater test flights to be conducted only to validate carbon-capture characteristics. Such a step software modelling, which also offers an also would remove the need for regular operational advantage to the military. He machine-mowing, and could reduce notes: ―there will be components or facets – wildlife-related hazards. signature particularly – that we simply don‘t But in one of the most visible signs of want to show in the public domain, because change for the RAF, Turner reveals that it is it will compromise its capabilities‖ to investigating the acquisition of electric- potential adversaries. powered aircraft to replace its Babcock- Quin identifies the UK‘s broader Future operated Grob Aerospace Tutor T1 fleet, Combat Air System initiative as an example which is used for elementary flight training of a defence programme ―providing brilliant
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 44 opportunities to innovate low-carbon According to Deutsche Welle, Dmitry technologies and pioneer climate-mitigation Shugayev, the chief of Russia‘s Federal methods‖. Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said Russia ―continues to implement plans‖ ―Defence is faced with a unique set of toward delivering Su-30 jets and Yak-130 challenges – to develop capabilities that training aircraft to Myanmar. match the evolving threat in increasingly severe conditions‖ and in line with carbon Russia had agreed to sell six Su-30 aircraft emission-reduction goals, Quin says. ―How to Myanmar in 2018, when the army was in do we adapt our current aircraft fleet to the middle of a military offensive against ensure greater efficiency doesn‘t come with Rohingya militants that the United Nations a reduction in effectiveness?‖ called ethnic cleansing.
Russia on Track to Deliver Fighter Shugayev added that Myanmar‘s air force currently operates Russian-made Yak-130 Jets to Myanmar – Reports and MiG-29 fighter jets.
23 July 2021 After the military coup in February, Russian Source: The Moscow Times | customs data showed the Myanmar junta https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/07/ importing $14.7 million in radar equipment 23/russia-on-track-to-deliver-fighter-jets-to- that month. That followed the delivery of myanmar-reports-a74597 $96 million worth of classified defense- related goods in December. Russia is going ahead with plans to deliver Sukhoi Su-30 fighter International jets to Myanmar's watchdogs say increasingly isolated After the military coup in February, Myanmar has spent military regime, a top Russian customs data showed the $807 million on defense cooperation Myanmar junta importing $14.7 million Russian arms imports official was quoted as in radar equipment that month. over the past decade, saying Friday. making Russia the country‘s No. 2 Moscow has military exporter continued to support Myanmar with arms after China. deals and military delegation visits following the ouster of civilian leader Aung During his visit to Naypyitaw in January, San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint this Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu year. agreed to supply Myanmar with Pantsir-S1
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 45 surface-to-air missile systems, Orlan-10E flight trials of the missile might happen in surveillance drones and radar equipment. next few weeks that includes 4-5 rounds of test-firing that has been planned with the The United States has suspended a trade present ELTA-LRDE 2032/MMR Fire deal with Myanmar until democratic control Radar (FCR) soon after that. leadership is restored and several Singaporean companies, including a firm All 36+18 (Trainers)in Tejas Mk1 that sold anti-drone products to Myanmar‘s configurations will get Astra Mk1 BVR that police, have canceled their deals. are equipped with the ELTA-LRDE 2032/MMR Fire control Radar (FCR), and The European Union has accused Russia of by 2023 it will also be integrated with the blocking a coordinated international ELTA-2052 AESA Fire control Radar response to the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar and (FCR) that has been planned for the first lot the turmoil it has faced since. Rights groups of 20 units of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet. meanwhile accuse Moscow of Indigenous UTTAM AESA FCR that will be ―legitimizing‖ the country‘s ―brutal and equipped on remaining 53 Tejas Mk1A unlawful attempted coup.‖ fighter jets will also get a host of Indian- made weapons that includes Astra Mk1 and Indian Aerospace Industry Astra Mk2 BVR when it enters production in 2025. Astra Mk1 Integration with Tejas HAL will deliver 16 FOC Single seater Nears Completion, Both Israeli FCR Tejas Mk1 after which it will start to be Enabled manufacturing 18 Tejas Mk1 Trainer aircraft posts which, will start manufacturing Tejas Ele Times Bureau | 13 July 2021 Mk1A fighter jets. HAL earlier this year, Source: Ele Times | had secured a deal for 73 upgraded Tejas https://www.eletimes.com/astra-mk1- Mk1A Single seater jets along with 10 Tejas integration-with-tejas-nears-completion- Mk1 Trainer jets. Astra Mk1 will also be both-israeli-fcr-to-be-enabled enabled on IOC-II configured Tejas Mk1 Squadron when it moves to forward Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics positions for active combat duties, so Limited (HAL) had confirmed in the past certification of the Astra Mk1 on Tejas Mk1 that Indigenous Astra Mk1 beyond visual plays a significant role to boost combat range air to air missile integration work with performance of Tejas Mk1 fleet that are a Limited Series Production (LSP) Tejas presently equipped only with Derby BVRs. Mk1 is presently being carried out, Industrial sources, do confirm that captive
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 46 BrahMos ER Test Fired off Odisha HAL set to deliver first batch of 3 Coast Light Combat Helicopters to IAF
Ele Times Bureau | 13 July 2021 Dinakar Peri | 12 July 2021
Source: Ele Times | Source: The Hindu | https://www.eletimes.com/brahmos-er-test- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hal fired-off-odisha-coast -set-to-deliver-first-batch-of-3-light-combat- helicopters-to-iaf/article35265426.ece The updated version of supersonic cruise missile ‗BrahMos‘ test fired off Odisha Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is coast on Monday. The missile which has a gearing up to deliver the first batch of three target range of 400 kilometres was test fired Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to the from the launchpad number-5 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) once acceptance tests Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur in are completed. These are part of the 15 Balasore. Limited Series Production (LSP) helicopters approved for the Army and the IAF. BrahMos Aerospace has developed the missile and it as a joint venture between ―HAL has received Letter of Intent for five Defence Research and Development Air force and five Army LCH for delivery Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO pending contract finalisation of 15 Limited Mashinostroeyenia (NPOM) of Russia. The Series Production (LSP) LCH. HAL has missile, which is a medium-range supersonic produced and signalled out three LSP LCH missile that can be launched from for the IAF. Same will be subjected to submarines, ships, aircraft or land-based customer acceptance and training shortly,‖ a platforms, has been named after two rivers, HAL source said. the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in On the remaining helicopters of the LSP Russia. series, the source added, ―In the current year BrahMos is considered to be the fastest we are producing four LCH for Army and supersonic missile in the world that can two for the Air Force. Remaining six LCH achieve a speed 2.8 times the speed of will be produced next year.‖ sound. Delayed deal According to reports, the land attack version The deal for the 15 LCH was expected to of BrahMos has the capability of cruising at have been signed in the first quarter of 2021 2.8 Mach speed and with the upgraded but has been delayed due to the second wave capability, the missile can hit targets at a of the pandemic. range of upto 400 kilometers with precision.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 47 The IAF has put forward a requirement for developed by the HAL in addition to around 65 LCH and the Army for 114 helicopters. 160 older Cheetah and Chetak utility Of the 15 LSP helicopters, 10 are for the helicopters which are in need of urgent IAF and five for the replacement. Army. The LCH, the Last August, amid lightest attack The deal for the 15 LCH was expected to the ongoing standoff helicopter in the have been signed in the first quarter of with China in Eastern world weighing 5.5 2021 but has been delayed due to the Ladakh, two LCH tonnes, has been second wave of the pandemic. were deployed for designed and operations at high developed by the altitude in Leh at HAL to meet the specific and unique short notice to support IAF missions, requirements of the Indian armed forces and validating their capability. can operate at heights of 12,000 feet.
The Army Aviation operates smaller utility Pandemic helps ISRO pursue helicopters but does not have attack privatisation plans helicopters in its fleet and has for sometime pitched for attack helicopters of its own to Amarnath K Menon | 21 July 2021 operate with its strike Corps. The attack Source: India Today | helicopter fleet is operated by the Air Force https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today- which provides close air support to the insight/story/pandemic-helps-isro-pursue- Army. privatisation-plans-1830960-2021-07-21 The IAF operates the older Mi-25 and Mi-35 The Indian Space Research Organisation Russian attack helicopters which are in the (ISRO) is looking at a major launch ahead of process of being phased out and has Independence Day. On August 12, its inducted 22 AH-64E Apache attack workhorse Geosynchronous Satellite Launch helicopters from the U.S. The Army will Vehicle (GSLV F-10) will lift off from the also start receiving the Apache attack Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), the helicopters from early 2023 onwards, six of spaceport at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, which have been contracted under an and lob the Earth Observation Satellite estimated $800 mn deal from the U.S. in (EOS-03) into orbit. It will provide near February 2020. real-time observation of the Indian Presently, the Army has 90 Advanced Light subcontinent under cloud-free conditions, Helicopters (ALH) and 75 Rudra, and at frequent intervals. weaponised ALH, helicopters in service which are indigenously designed and
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 48 This will enable quick monitoring of natural ISRO had launched PSLV-C51 with Brazil‘s disasters, episodic events and any short-term Amazonia-01 and 18 other satellites on events. It will obtain spectral signatures for February 28 and the Sounding Rocket RH- agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, disaster 560 Sourex on March 12 this year. The warning, cloud properties, snow and glaciers GSLV F-10 / EOS-03 launch was and oceanography. It will also ensure a rescheduled for March 28 this year, subject quantum jump in disaster mitigation. to weather conditions. A minor issue with the satellite prompted the space agency to Weighing about 2.27 kgs, EOS-03 is India‘s plan the launch for April 18 but that was first state-of-the-art agile earth observation date put off again due to the second wave satellite. It will first be placed in a highly Covid-induced lockdown. elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit before the satellite The Covid pandemic reaches the final had crippled the geostationary orbit, A draft policy for private players, majority of ISRO‘s about 36,000 kms commercial launch projects, they are all space activities in above Earth, using its taking form. A major satellite launch is 2020 and continues onboard propulsion also planned before I-Day. to have an impact on system. the space agency‘s core activity in 2021 The launch of the as well. However, it has helped ISRO pursue satellite was scheduled for March 5 last year its privatisation plans. ―Our teams worked but was cancelled because of a technical from home and utilised the time to come out glitch a day earlier. The Covid-19 outbreak with draft policies to usher in private and the resultant lockdown forced ISRO to players,‖ says ISRO chairman K. Sivan. put off the launch further. With the marked Apart from coming out with the draft policy improvement in workforce attendance at the to allow private players and transfer medical SDSC after the second wave of the equipment technologies, the time was used pandemic, the integration of EOS-03 and the to chart a decadal plan. launch vehicle and stage-wise checking of all parameters is progressing rapidly. If all This includes development of a heavy-lift goes well, GSLV F-10 / EOS-03 will be the rocket, reusable satellite launch vehicle, third take off from the spaceport this year. semi-cryogenic engine, and development This launch is poised to be a game-changer flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle in some ways. With onboard high-resolution (SSLV). Meanwhile, the prestigious Indo- cameras, the satellite will allow the country US collaboration, the NASA-ISRO to monitor the Indian landmass, its oceans Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission, and its borders continuously.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 49 moved ahead with the space agency sending NSIL plans to own and operate launch the S band SAR payload. vehicles and satellites to offer a complete range of commercial services. This is While the department of space (DoS) expected to help free research teams from recently came out with the ‗Draft National routine activities to focus on cutting-edge Space Transportation Policy-2020‘, it also research. It is also to transition progressively has a committee going into the provisions of from supply-driven to demand-driven mode. the Space Activities Bill with legal NSIL has already begun negotiations with consultations under way to finalise it. Last users on communication satellite capacities year, the government unveiled the draft to finalise requirements for new satellites Space-based Communication Policy of India (mostly communication satellites). Since 2020 (Spacecom Policy-2020), the draft inception, NSIL has extended launch Space-based Remote Sensing Policy and the services to 45 customer satellites through Revised Technology Transfer Policy four Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle missions guidelines. with Amazonia-1, the orbiting Brazilian Preparations have also begun to constitute a satellite, its first commercial mission. full-fledged Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN- Russia Formally Offers 21 MiG-29 SPACe), which will be the regulatory body Aircraft to India for private players, and will be used to enlist those from within and outside the space Inder Singh Bisht | 23 July 2021 agency. Source: The Defense Post | Meanwhile, DoS‘s commercial arm, New https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/23 Space India Limited (NSIL), apart from /russia-india-mi29-fighters/ buying satellites made by ISRO, will also Russia has presented India with an offer of lease assets from it. ―NSIL will acquire three 21 MiG-29 fighters, Asia News International communication satellites—GSAT-20, reported citing a spokesperson for Russia‘s GSAT-22 and GSAT-24--and operate them. Federal Service for Military-Technical ―We expect an investment of about Rs 2,000 Cooperation. crore each year over the next five years and we plan to hire 300 highly skilled people,‖ India is currently considering the offer, says NSIL chairman and managing director according to the outlet. G. Narayanan. As a central public sector The offer comes a year after India‘s council enterprise, the company aims to fund its for defense purchases approved the five-year expansion activities through a acquisition of the fighter along with 12 Su- combination of debt and equity.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 50 30MKI fighters amid a border standoff with https://theprint.in/defence/drdo-successfully- China. flight-tests-new-generation-surface-to-air- akash-missile/701740/ Upgrades India on Friday successfully flight tested the India currently operates 69 MiG-29s, first New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile inducted in 1985, which are now undergoing from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, upgrades. off the Odisha coast, DRDO sources said. The upgraded aircraft, known as the MiG-29 The test was carried out by Defence UPG, will feature air-to-air refueling Research and Development Organisation capacity, cutting-edge avionics, and (DRDO) against a high-speed unmanned advanced weapons, equipping it for beyond- aerial target which was successfully visual-range combat. intercepted by the missile. Leftover Mig-29 Airframes The surface-to-air missile was also Although Russia has long ceased producing successfully flight-tested two days ago from the aircraft, 21 of its airframes have the same launch ground of ITR at Chandipur remained in storage since the 1980s. near here, sources said.
The airframes, judged to still be in good The flight trial was conducted from launch condition, will be fitted with equipment and pad 3 of the ITR with all weapon system systems as part of the deal, The Print elements such as Multifunction Radar, reported. Command, Control and Communication System and launcher participating in The aircraft will be manufactured according deployment configuration, they said. to the most recent MiG UPG standard under which the Indian Air Force currently The missile, equipped with a radio operates before delivery to India. frequency seeker, successfully intercepted a high speed unmanned aerial target, a DRDO DRDO successfully flight tests new spokesperson said. generation surface-to-air Akash On July 21, the missile was flight-tested missile without the seeker, meeting all the mission requirements. PTI | 23 July 2021 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Source: The Print | congratulated DRDO, Indian Air Force and the Industry on the second successful flight test of Akash-NG in a span of three days.
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 51 The missile system also congratulated has been developed the teams for the The missile has been indigenously by Defence Research successful trial of manufactured by Defence Research and Development Akash NG which is and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Laboratory (DRDL), capable of Hyderabad, in collaboration with other Hyderabad, in intercepting high DRDO laboratories. collaboration with speed and agile aerial other DRDO threats. laboratories. HAL is all set to respond to Royal The test was carried out amid inclement Malaysian Air Force‘s RfP for LCA weather conditions proving the all-weather capability of the weapon system. Huma Siddiqui | 21 July 2021
In order to capture flight data, ITR deployed Source: Financial Express | a number of Range stations like Electro https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/h Optical Tracking System, Radar and al-is-all-set-to-respond-to-royal-malaysian- Telemetry. air-forces-rfp-for-lca/2295082/
The flawless performance of the entire By the end of September 2021, the state- weapon system has been confirmed by owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited complete flight data captured by these (HAL) is expected to respond to a Request systems. During the test, the missile for Proposal (RfP) from the Royal demonstrated high manoeuvrability required Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The for neutralising fast and agile aerial threats, Malaysian Air Force has sent out a global sources said. request for low-cost light fighter aircraft.
The launch was witnessed by the Speaking on condition of anonymity, a top representatives of the Indian Air Force. officer has confirmed to Financial Express Once deployed, the Akash-NG weapon Online ―The Company will be responding to system will prove to be a force multiplier for the RfP from RMAF for the Light Combat the air defence capability of the Indian Air Aircraft (LCA) `Tejas‘. And it has to be sent Force. at the end of September.‖
Production agencies Bharat Electronics As has been reported earlier this year, on the Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited also sidelines of the 13th edition of Aero-India, R participated in the trials. Madhavan, chairman of Hindustan Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has told DRDO Chairman, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Financial Express Online that ―Several
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 52 Southeast Asian and Middle East countries More about the LCA Programme evinced interest in the indigenous LCA Because of the government‘s efforts, the `Tejas‘ Mk 1A fighter aircraft.‖ Tejas program has received a major shot in ―At a vanilla price of just Rs 309 crore per the arm in boosting the Atamanirbhar drive aircraft, the export version of the fighters are in the aerospace and aeronautics. going to be different from those which are According to a top officer, ―The production going to be inducted in the Indian Air Force rate for this increased requirement by IAF is (IAF),‖ he added. being augmented by HAL from 8 to 16 While the aircraft will be exported at the aircraft every year through the creation of a price of Rs 309 crore (making it the cheapest state-of-the-art new facility in Bengaluru.‖ fighter globally), there will be extra charges Tejas would have the for the services to be highest level of provided overseas. indigenisation in The RMAF had first The Malaysian Air Force has sent out a comparison to any expressed interest in global request for low-cost light fighter programme of this `Tejas‘ LCA from scale with aircraft. HAL in 2019. For the progressive first time ever `Tejas‘ indigenisation of showcased its might critical technologies, during the Langkawi International Maritime thereby making India a technologically self- and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in reliant nation. The programme would check Malaysia. out the developing technologies indigenously. The South Asian country has invited proposals from various competitors ―LCA-Tejas program follows the system including: FA-50 light attack aircraft integrator model and has created a national developed by Korea Aerospace Industries aerospace ecosystem with the participation (KAI); M-346FA Fighter Attack aircraft of more than 560 companies from large to variant developed by Leonardo, of Italy; SMEs which encompass all the facets of Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft developed aircraft design and manufacturing. It is by United Aircraft Corporation of Russia; estimated that once the LCA MK1A and JF-17 of China. program in India kicks-off, primary jobs to a tune of 5000 are expected to be generated India‘s ‗Tejas‘ had its first international across the country. The programme will exposure during the Bahrain International foster local industry and drive skill Air Show back in 2016. development of young Indian workforce.‖
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 53 ―More than 200 Indian companies are It is a 4+ generation fighter and comes with involved in tooling, GSEs, and GHEs a glass cockpit with Satellite aided Inertial supplies for the program. Till date the LCA Navigation System. program is estimated to have produced It is capable of firing Beyond Visual Range 50,000 primary and secondary jobs across (BVR) missiles, can carry air-to-surface, air- the nation. And, in the country‘s aerospace to-air, precision-guided and standoff bombs history, the LCA-program enabled and precision-guided munitions. It can hit partnership with Indian private players targets over land or sea. manufacturing aircraft fuselage and wings. Some of the major companies contributing The aircraft can be refuelled mid-air which in the LCA programme from the private will increase its combat radius. sector are VEMv technologies, L&T, DTL, Alpha Toccol, TAML, Data Patterns, The Made in India aircraft has a height 4.40 Pendios, Compupower and many others,‖ metre, wingspan of 8.20 metre, and length of said the officer quoted above. 13.20 metre, and maximum speed is supersonic at all altitudes. It has a service What is Malaysia looking at? ceiling of 50,000 feet and ‗g‘ limits +8/-3.5. The country is planning to buy 36 light Technology Development combat aircraft (LCA) which will be added to its existing fleets in the Air Force. An automated flight control system According to reports, Malaysia is assessing India‘s Tejas, Chinese JF-17 and F/A 50 of for drone swarms has been South Korea. developed
If and when the LCA gets exported, the 19 July 2021 whole programme will get a much-needed boost and HAL will get international Source: EurekAlert | recognition in the global market for its https://www.eurekalert.org/news- design capabilities and the product will also releases/761975 get validated. "The project's main objective is to integrate Tejas specifications & Speed: a certain degree of automation, so that an operator can control a small fleet of up to 10 It is an advanced Fly-by-wire (FBW) fighter drones from a single ground station," says which has been designed, developed, and Luis E. Moreno, LABYRINTH's manufactured by the Aeronautical coordinator and researcher at the UC3M's Development Agency (ADA) and HAL. Robotics Lab. "The idea is that the operator indicates the mission to be undertaken (for
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 54 example, monitoring traffic in a particular Research) initiative. This new framework is area) and the system automatically converts designed to integrate low-level drone this mission into a set of routes that each operations, below 120 metres (400 feet), drone has to follow, automatically safely and efficiently into European calculating alternative routes when airspace. necessary," he explains. In addition to "Air controllers use ATM (Air Traffic planning and controlling routes, two other Management) to safely manage the traffic of areas of technology are being subject to commercial aircraft. Similarly, developing work: communication using 5G networks an Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) (so that drones are connected at all times) system that allows drones to share airspace and the computer security behind the entire with other drones and aircraft is imperative," system. explains Francisco Valera, another scientist Researchers have already developed an taking part in this project and a member of initial strategy for NETCOM (Networks Air controllers use ATM (Air Traffic planning routes and Management) to safely manage the and Communications preventing collisions traffic of commercial aircraft. Services) at the for drone swarms in Similarly, developing an Unmanned UC3M. This research three-dimensional Traffic Management (UTM) system group, along with environments, in an that allows drones to share airspace Telefonica I+D and article published in with other drones and aircraft is the IMDEA imperative the Sensors journal. Networks Institute, In order to do this, they first designed a 3D recently presented an experimental study model that simulates an urban environment, about the use of mobile technologies in where they established take-off and landing drone networks in the Sensors journal. zones. Then they tested a planning algorithm Possible applications that was responsible for calculating optimal, fluid routes for a set of drones. Finally, they Drones can be useful in different implemented different measures (flights at applications, such as delivering and different altitudes, distance control, etc.) to transporting goods, monitoring in different obtain a strategy for avoiding possible environments, or accessing places that are collisions. difficult to reach in emergency situations, for example. However, there have been Researchers at the LABYRINTH project are concerns about the safety of these flights developing these technologies within the until now, which have limited their use and framework of U-Space, a new European it is often illegal to use drones in certain drone air traffic management system led by public areas. It is estimated that by 2035 the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM there will be approximately 400,000 drones
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 55 flying within Europe, so the biggest from 5 countries (Germany, Austria, challenge in this regard will be safely Belgium, Spain, and Italy). The Spanish managing drone traffic in cities and other institutions that are participating, along with areas with high levels of congestion. the UC3M, are the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), the National Institute of The foreseen applications within the Aerospace Technology (INTA), the LABYRINTH project framework concern SAMUR-ProtecciónCivil of Madrid and the different environments in Spain. For companies Expace on Board Systems, example, work is being undertaken with the Inncome, PONS Seguridad Vial and Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT, in its Telefonica I+D. The Western Ligurian Sea Spanish acronym) to use drones to improve Port Authority (Italy), the German road transport, analysing aspects such as Aerospace Center (DLR), the German speed control, measuring the distance Institute for Standardization (DIN), the between vehicles, identifying license plates, Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), and and following up on and providing support the European Organisation for the Safety of in the event of accidents. Another initiative Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) are also with the National Institute of Aerospace taking part in the project. Technology (INTA, in its Spanish acronym) is intending to use drones at airports to Directed Energy: From Counter- control unauthorised access, inspect tracks, Drone To Force Fields? or use them as a deterrent against birds. In the case of managing emergencies at large Theresa Hitchens | 23 July 2021 gatherings (such as at concerts or sporting events), a collaboration with the SAMUR- Source: Breaking Defense | Protección Civil of Madrid is in place for https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/directe pre-emergency surveillance operations d-energy-from-counter-drone-to-force- (identifying exit routes, medical care points fields/ or danger zones, calculating street capacity) The Air Force and Army are rapidly pushing and assistance with medical operations to expand development of directed energy (faster routes to incidents, transporting weapons beyond the high-priority counter- specialised material or medicine). drone mission, officials said yesterday. LABYRINTH (Ensuring drone traffic ―The Air Force and the Army both, we have control and safety) is a project funded by the ongoing efforts to build counter-UAS European Union's H2020 Programme (GA systems,‖ Craig Robin, head of directed 861696) that is being coordinated by the energy at the Army Rapid Capabilities & UC3M. This R&D&I consortium is made up Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), of 13 research centres and industrial partners explained during a webinar sponsored by
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 56 Defence iQ. ―UAVs are in the threat set … net guns and shotguns — which are only they‘re just not the only threat.‖ effective at ―10s of meters ranges.‖
Meanwhile, the Air Force Research ―In 2020, it is possible to build a 100‘s of Laboratory (AFRL) is looking to the future kilowatt class laser weapon system that can of DE weapons in a new paper released last create destructive effects at tactically Friday, Directed Energy Futures 2060. It relevant distances, which if deployed could sees promise in a broad array of future enable certain offensive and defensive missions from AI-driven laser systems to operations. By tactically relevant distances enable machine-speed drone kill chains to in this instance, we mean up to a few space-based missile defenses (a concept that kilometers,‖ the AFRL study added. has gone in and out of fashion for decades). Jirjis said a continuing challenge for laser Most eyebrow raising is AFRL‘s prediction weapons, however, ―is being able to hit that DEW could be used by 2060 to create multiple threats at one time.‖ (Hence, Air ―force fields‖ to Force and Army protect bases by We‘re painting with broad strokes, but interest in high- repelling incoming we're diving into what missions of the powered drones and munitions future will look like. The technology is microwaves.) — or even eventually not quite Star Wars, but we‘re getting ―You can do that by improved to develop linearly prosecuting a kind of ―nuclear close. them one at a time, umbrella.‖ you can get that Different Targets, Different Requirements maybe more spectrally trying to hit at multiple lasers,‖ he said. ―I think that‘s DoD tapped the Army to lead the the Joint where some of the capabilities may also go, Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems with … technologies to be able to actually Office (JCO)last January. It is exploring meet some of those challenges.‖ numerous technological approaches to that small UAS mission, from metal ‗nets‘ that Beyond c-UAS, where much of DoD‘s focus tangle rotors to low-power lasers (in the 10- is today, other targets — for example, 20 kilowatt range, Robin said.) artillery or cruise missiles — require developers to look at different designs and Current DE systems under development for power levels as they go forward, Robin said. countering unmanned aerial systems (c- ―Shooting artillery is harder than shooting UAS) have ranges ―nearing 1 kilometer,‖ UAVs; … shooting a cruise missile is harder AFRL‘s study explains, as opposed to other than shooting a UAV.‖ types of counter-UAS capabilities — such as
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 57 Targeting missiles, for example, would ―H2 was tested as part of a directed energy require much longer-range capabilities. experiment that began in the spring of 2020 Longer range requirements also mean higher and was managed by the Strategic power requirements. For airborne systems, Development Planning & Experimentation, atmospheric turbulence and beam dispersion or SDPE, office. This experiment has also become problems — whether the target involved taking commercial off-the-shelf is ballistic missiles or air-to-air missiles. systems and deploying them to several combatant commands, or COCOMs, for Field Experiments training, testing and evaluation for a one- The Air Force thus is deeply involved in a year period,‖ the service said in a press ―directed energy experimentation release. campaign,‖ said Michael Jirjis, former head ―Five DEWs were to be tested throughout of that campaign, but now Air Force Life the effort – three versions of the HELWS Cycle Management Center‘s Architecture & and two different high-power microwave Integration systems. Four Directorate lead for systems were tested base defense. He Five DEWs were to be tested in 2020, three of explained that the throughout the effort – three versions which have been concept is to ―very deployed,‖ the quickly‖ test DE of the HELWS and two different high- release added. systems first in the power microwave systems. US with operators, One of those high- and then rapidly power microwave deploy them overseas on a ―staggered‖ experiments, the Tactical High Power basis. A number of laser systems, he added, Microwave Operational Responder (THOR), are ―currently going on a 12-months is being developed with the Army, and is overseas field assessment.‖ aimed at the hard problem of taking down swarms of small drones. It is expected to be In February, for example, the service‘s sent abroad (most likely to Africa) sometime Directed Energy Combined Test Force (DE- this year. after months of delay caused by CTF), inaugurated in 2018 at Kirtland AFB the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, tested the High Energy Laser Weapon System 2 — also known as ―We‘re starting to see they‘ve had success, HELWS2 or H2. HELWS2 is a c-UAS that the operators like them, that they are directed energy weapon developed by sustainable enough in the field that we‘re Raytheon Intelligence & Space. (The first willing to actually keep those going, are iteration of HELWS was certified for starting to transition over to the Component combat ops last September.)
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 58 and Combatant Commands to to actually ―Even with a pessimistic estimate of the keep those as a real world asset,‖ Jirjis said. advance in DE science and technology, DE capabilities will have significant military But all the services are rapidly advancing on utility in the battlespace of the future, due to multiple types of directed-energy weapons the unique capabilities of DE systems in for different missions. While DoD doesn‘t terms of precision, range, flexibility, release an aggregated budget for directed scalability of effects, deep magazine, and energy (DE) research and development active probing of the battlespace across all efforts, a rough run through the 2022 budget domains and phases of conflict. Today, DE justification books shows nearly $800 weapons are used by all major military million requested by the Army, Navy, Air powers for a variety of effects,‖ the study Force and DoD‘s Research & Engineering concludes. office (OUSDR&E). For lasers and high-powered microwaves, Robin was equally bullish on the ability to however, AFRL sees great potential — rapidly move laser systems for base defense including for future weapons systems that in particular to the field. ―In my opinion, use artificial intelligence to identify and here we are right now is this: the system‘s target enemy threats at machine speeds. … that are out there now in forward operating areas now, I think those folks are ―We‘re painting with broad strokes, but really gonna like them, and they‘re gonna we‘re diving into what missions of the want more of them,‖ he said. The services, future will look like. The technology is not he said, ―need to be ready to respond to that quite Star Wars, but we‘re getting close,‖ demand signal, because it is a capability for said Jeremy Murray-Krezan, AFRL‘s this problem that just doesn‘t exist right directed energy deputy chief scientist, said now.‖ in the lab‘s press release.
From Star Wars To Force Fields ―By 2060 we can predict that DE systems will become more effective, and this idea of AFRL, for its part, sees rapid development a force field includes methods to destroy of DEW over the next 40 years. The study other threats too,‖ he said. ―Eventually there looks at potential progress toward weapons may be potential to achieve the penultimate based on lasers, high powered microwaves goal of a Nuclear or ballistic missile and particle beam weapons — although for umbrella. It‘s fun to think about what that the latter, AFRL says that despite years of might be in 2060, but we don‘t want to research such weapons remain unproven and speculate too much.‖ are likely to still be in the realm of science fiction even in the 2060s. The report itself is a bit more sober:
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 59 “Future trends in DEW technology will point-localized force fields against small follow mission needs. The „holy grail‟ from and relatively soft targets today. Airborne a military utility perspective is a DE weapon and space-based DE platforms could system effective enough, favorable from a achieve a greater area defense and SWAP perspective, and affordable enough to multipoint defenses, for a broader coverage provide a nuclear/missile umbrella. missile umbrella. However, these concepts Although a concept often associated with require significant technical advancement science fiction, in fact ground and ship- by 2060 to achieve the full range of power based DE defense systems effectively act like contemplated.” ***
Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) was established in 2001 as an autonomous defence research and analysis body for research and focused analyses on issues related to national security, defence, and aerospace issues in the evolving strategic and international security environment. Its objective is to facilitate greater understanding of these issues amongst the Armed Forces, the strategic community and the public besides contributing to policy generation and decision-making.
Centre for Air Power Studies P-284, Arjan Path, Subroto Park, New Delhi-110010 Phone no.: 91 11 25699131, 25699132 | Fax no.: 91 11 25682533 Email: [email protected] | [email protected] Website: https://capsindia.org/
Vol 1 No 4 | Aerospace Power Newsletter 60