IV/2011 ARerospace &Defence eview Indian Defence Reforms Indian Army Aviation : Aviators in Olive Green The Challenges Ahead Paris Air Show 2011 HAL’s Helicopter Complex CFM IV/2011 IV/2011 Aerospace &Defence Review Pawar (retd) who was ADG Army Aviation 2004-2006, reviews the ground realities and challenges of the near future. Indian Defence Reforms Indian Army Aviation : Aviators in Olive Green The Challenges Ahead Defence Reforms Paris Air Show 2011 HAL’s Helicopter Complex Brigadier Gurmeet S Kanwal, Paris Air Show 2011 26 The Vayu editorial team Cover : HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter Director CLAWS writes on of the Indian Army in exercises the challenges to National Security, 70 covered this biennial Air Show, (photo from Army Aviation Directorate) 10 years after the Kargil Review arguably the most important in the Committee had tabled its report world, with on-the-spot reports on in Parliament. Many lacunae still Other side of the hill the main events amidst heavyweight EDITORIAL PANEL remain in the management of national Pakistan’s Army Aviation rivalry between the global giants for security and the Government has now 52 also began on the same day airliner orders (it was A320neo all MANAGING EDITOR as India’s but there the similarity the way !). The Indian requirement Vikramjit Singh Chopra appointed a Task Force on National Security and given them six months ends. As Maj Gen Waqar A Kingravi for new fighters (MMRCA) saw lively states, PAA is ‘no longer a toothless EDITORIAL ADVISOR to submit its report. sparring between the shortlisted supporting arm, but has a lethal candidates even as the Gripen NG Admiral Arun Prakash Interview with punch.....’ made its confident appearance. EDITORIAL PANEL Richard Gardner met with Chairman Pushpindar Singh Maj Gen PK Bharali Interview with HAL MD HAL at their chalet which continuously hosted various Indian delegations Air Marshal Brijesh Jayal Vision for the next 25 years 29 Helicopter Complex (mostly defence). In parallel paths, An exclusive Vayu interview Air Cdre. Jasjit Singh two Indian low-cost carriers created 54 with P.Soundara Rajan, Gp Capt JC Malik history by ordering 252 A320neos. Dr SR Valluri Managing Director of HAL’s Cdr M Nirmal Helicopter Complex on present and future programmes, including Airbus : Moving towards Esha Singh progress on the LCH and LUH Vision 2050 Monica Arora which are intended for large scale Airbus has revealed it’s Richard Gardner (UK) production and induction by the 90 European Aviation Vision 2050, Reuben Johnson (USA) Indian Armed Forces. an inspirational roadmap on how Simon Watson (UK) the sector will handle 16 billion Bertrand de Boisset (France) passengers and 400 million tonnes Dr Nick Evesenkin (Russia) of cargo annually. Even as A380s are Tamir Eshel (Israel) going into service in Korea and A320s Aviators in Olive Green are being assembled in China, Vayu ADVERTISING & MARKETING MANAGER The Indian Army Aviation readers are given a preview of what Corps marks its Silver Jubilee Husnal Kaur 33 passengers in 2050 will experience as in 2001. This article records its per the Airbus concept. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER evolution from August 1947 till the Premjit Singh independent Directorate came into being in November 1986, when Apache Joint Warrior On Wings of the Wind Spirit Dr Sean Wilson was on board 50th Anniversary of the HF-24 GENERAL MANAGER (UK) Chetak and Cheetah helicopters HMS Ark Royal where the 125 Marut’s first flight was celebrated were transferred from the IAF. The 59 Avi S. Sodhi (British) Army Air Corps WAH-64D by HAL in June 2011. Even as veteran Army Aviation Directorate has slowly e-mail: [email protected] Apache AH1 attack helicopters were ‘Marutians’ gathered for a weekend of expanded and been prime mover deployed and developing their role bonhomie and nostalgia, the definitive behind HAL’s Dhruv Advanced Light in a maritime environment. With history Spirits of the Wind by Pushpindar Helicopter. exclusive photos also by the author. Singh was released at a function; an extract is taken from the book. Also : Published by: An Army Adventure, THE SOCIETY FOR AEROSPACE STUDIES Israeli Companies at D-43, Sujan Singh Park, Le Bourget; MROs : Trends New Delhi 110 003 India Indian Army Aviation: and Challenges; Missile Tel: +91 11 24617234 Robust global market Fax: +91 11 24628615 The Challenges Ahead Miscellany; ‘Collective The last 25 years, since Army e-mail: [email protected] for helicopters Heroism’; ‘Fly (LCA) Navy, 46 Aviation Corps was established The demand for 16,900 new e-mail: [email protected] in November 1986, have been 64 turbine helicopters has been Fly’; The Final Lap. characterised by somewhat sluggish forecast for the 10 year period Printed at Aegean Offset Printers and stunted growth but also tempered beginning 2011, as the market Regular features : The opinions expressed in the articles published in action at diverse battle fields from responds to improving economic Commentary, Outlook, Viewpoint, in the Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review do the arctic heights of the Siachen fundamentals and the world’s military Aviation & Defence in India, not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Glacier to the steamy jungles of Sri operators continue to require World Aviation & Defence News, The Society for Aerospace Studies. Lanka. In this article, Lt Gen B.S increased vertical lift capability. Tale Spin. Visit us at: www.vayuaerospace.in COMMENTARY COMMENTARYCOMMENTARY highlighted last year, the biggest problem with the organisation Plane Truths of Britain’s defence has been the billions wasted on buying the ir India is back in the news again with its familiar story of wrong equipment, at the wrong time, at the wrong price thanks Aimminent collapse. The State-owned airline is poised to lose to the shambolic procurement processes. The cost of all this nearly Rs 8,000-10,000 crore this year, is paying salaries a couple waste is estimated to be about £6 billion a year. of months late, is on the verge of defaulting on aircraft loans, and The appointment of Bernard Grey as the new head of is snowed under Rs 42,570 crore of accumulated debt. A company procurement in December means this battle has already been with Rs 2,145 crore equity has dug itself into a Rs 100,000 crore joined, while other reviews going on within the MoD will hole in debts and losses. Does it deserve a lifeline? Astoundingly, the probably prove more significant. answer is yes if the company is owned by the government and the Nonetheless, Lord Leven’s suggestions are important. tab is picked up by the taxpayer. Should the airline’s management Britain’s pitiful record in procurement is partly due to the chronic be allowed to continue? Again astoundingly, yes. Moreover, the lack of accountability in the MoD, which the proposals seek to managers that brought Air India to such a pass now have the job address. His review is not, as some skeptics suggest, merely a of turning it around. The government will over the course of July blueprint for rearranging the deckchairs. review plans to park two-thirds of the bloated airline’s 30,000 The immunity of the top brass to the cuts that have taken workers in ground handling and maintenance subsidiaries, to buy place lower down the ranks has reached Rurutanian proportions. another 100 planes, to pump in Rs 43,255 crore equity, and to pay We now have more generals than battalions, more air marshals overdue bills for ferrying ministers and officials. than fighter squadrons and more admirals than ships. A bit of In the wonderland of State-run enterprises, the taxpayer is trimming would surely be healthy. bemused. Looks suspiciously like throwing good money after bad. Putting common functions such as cyber warfare and military Yet, the bigger fleet and extra cash are needed so that Air India intelligence into a new joint forces command looks a sensible way can earn Rs 5,000 crore more and run on Rs 4,000 crore less every to save money and improve delivery to the Services. Any well-run year. To do this, the airline must cart 17 million people in 2015. company would have done so years ago, not that the defence chiefs If it manages to accomplish this, it could fly out of the red five would like to be compared with mere chief executives. years from now. But before the government signs over shiploads of Nor will they like Lord Levene’s proposal that the single rupees, shouldn’t it be asking for some guarantees? This is not the Service chiefs be removed from the Defence Board, which first revival plan the airline has come up with. Air India operates takes all the major decisions. The board will be headed by the in the real world, not inside central hall of Parliament where you Defence Secretary and should include external non-executives can go round and round in circles and never turn the corner. while the Chief of Defence Staff, currently General Sir David Air India can survive if it is run like an airline, not a ministerial Richards, would represent all the Services. In theory, this should fief. The question its owner must ask is how best can this be streamline the process and speed decision-making, the Services accomplished, not how to micro manage near-death experiences. If thus speaking with one voice. Some MoD civilians are skeptical Air India serves the national purpose by expanding its operations that it will actually make much difference and suggest it might in a rapidly growing industry, it has to be as a viable entity. Unless be better to keep the Service chiefs in the tent.