www.indiastrategic.in AERO INDIA 2011 February 09–13, Bangalore SHOW DAILY #1 Vision of the Indian Air Force ew Delhi. Chief of the Air Staff, Air MINISTER OF DEFENCE NChief Marshal P V Naik, says that In- INDIA dia needs futuristic air power to help meet MESSAGE the challenges of security to India. Speaking recently at the third edition of the National Seminar on Aerospace Technologies (NSAT.3), held annually by become the focal point for the global India Strategic, the Air Chief highlighted defence industry. The expanding civil that credible deterrence is essential, and aviation sector in India has opened a number of avenues for global as well as domestic aerospace industry. Government of India wants to promote indigenous defence-industrial base. We have recently released Defence Procurement Procedures 2011 and Defence Production Policy in this regard. In close consultation with various stakeholders, Government of India will leave no stone unturned in achieving the long envisaged goal of self-reliance. Once again, the Ministry of Defence has entrusted Confederation of Indian I extend a warm welcome to all the industry with the Herculean task of participants of the eighth edition of Aero organising this event. The Aero India India 2011 happening from February 2011 will give the required boost up 9-13, 2011 at Yelanhanka, Bangalore, to our endeavours. The exhibition India. It is heartening to see the Aero will provide an ideal platform to India expanding its horizon. Year after manufacturers, service providers and year, more and more people are getting users for close interaction. that the Indian Armed Forces needed to interested in Aero India which indicates I look forward to your participation in develop all round capabilities. its global recognition. It is now ranked Aero India 2011 and wish the event Air Power, he pointed out, was the instru- amongst top international exhibitions in all success. ment of choice as it has the Reach, Speed, this category. Flexibility of Choice, and Precision. New Delhi (A K Antony) Owing to the ongoing modernisation Air Chief Marshal Naik gave his vision October, 2010 plans of its armed forces, India has in his address as: Contd. on pg 3 IndiaIndiaSTRATEGIC 1 The CH-47F Chinook is the most versatile, mission-capable heavy-lift helicopter in the world. More powerful than ever with advanced flight controls and avionics, the CH-47F is in a class by itself, whether it’s transporting troops and equipment, on deep combat assault, performing search and rescue, or delivering disaster relief. Extraordinary performance—it’s what you expect from Chinook. Aero India 2011 Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, Air Marshal more exciting possibilities. Looking into requirements of airlift. Ashok Goel, Mr Gulshan Luthra, Distin- the future, I think we will see a revolution The four main ingredients of military guished Guests, I congratulate India Stra- in Engine design, Artifi cial Intelligence and air power are its hardware, its people, its tegic once again to organize the N-SAT.3 Weapons which will be capable of directed organisation and interfaces. Hardware with a focus once again on futuristic air and controlled destruction and also the is indispensable to an air force – acquir- power capabilities. development of Non-Lethal air launched ing it is a daunting task. In a changing India has emerged as a global power’, weapons. I also visualise that technologies environment, they throw up challenges to said President Obama a couple of weeks for surveillance and intelligence gathering, capabilities and demand evolution. back. Undoubtedly our presence is being felt will leapfrog a generation ahead. Aircraft We hope to bridge the gap through across the world. With India’s emergence instrumentation, metallurgy, communica- indigenous R&D in core areas. We have there is also a great responsibility on us tion, reccce and computer power are some recommended a selective approach to our to protect our interests. We have marched of the other areas that will see revolution- DRDO and cautioned against re-inventing ahead on all fronts, but various security ary advances. the wheel. Transfer of technologies where issues, both external and internal tend to The possibilities are immense and I am possible is another option. We must lev- threaten our progress and the emergence sure many emerging technologies are erage our business deals towards that as a global power. already on the anvil. end. The Government of India requires The situation has come to a stage where In times to come, aerospace power will a minimum of 30 per cent offsets in all we have witnessed increased participation seek to enhance its fundamentals in order major deals but the challenge is how to of the armed forces over a varied spec- to extend its reach, accuracy, lethality, absorb them. trum of activities. All these concerns have all-weather capabilities, survivability, com- While our response to technological accentuated the need to develop all round mand and control. More complex situa- challenges will determine the shape of capabilities of our armed forces. Our tions will witness increased employmentof things to come, maintenance challenges forces should be capable of contributing Remotely Piloted Aircraft. ‘Peace-time’ ap- determine how long they last and how effectively in any situation, external or in- plications of the Armed Forces are growing effective they would be. Maintainability, ternal. In a contemporary world the surest and so are the demands on the Indian Air which includes logistics issues are crucial bet to sustain peace is to project a credible Force requiring an enhancement in our to aerospace power. IAF is proactive on deterrence; politically, economically and airlift & surveillance capabilities. this and has energised interaction with above all, militarily. We have a number of acquisitions and vendors and entered into long-term spares Today, the IAF has to be ready for every upgrades lined up for transforming the IAF and repair contracts. We must continue to conceivable confl ict situation. Aerospace from a tactical force to a strategic one and keep abreast of changes in maintenance power is becoming the obvious instrument to credibly project aerospace power as the philosophies the world over and assimilate of choice since it provides Reach, Speed most potent deterrent in future and apply what is relevant and good for of Response, Precision and a great deal of As you all know, HAL along with the us. Flexibility options to our national leader- Russians are going ahead with the plans In the end, aerospace power is futuristic ship. With all these inherent capabilities, to manufacture the FGFA for the Indian and increasingly utilitarian. India requires aerospace power is destined to be THE Air Force, as per our specifi cations. The it in all its capabilities. The IAF has dem- power of the future and it will increase FGFA will be the frontline fi ghter from onstrated its professionalism and the world in its strategic value and universal ap- 2016-2017. With superior stealth tech- has taken notice. It is our duty to grow plicability. nology and super maneuverability; it will in step with the Nation to provide it the I have been projecting the vision of the be a class apart and match any other necessary capabilities and security that it IAF at a number of forums; that of becom- aircraft in its class. The FGFA will be the would need. We must be able to provide ing a responsive, Net-centric force. As I see fi rst truly joint aviation project. We will multiple options to the National Leader- it, the day is not far when it would be possi- be contributing signifi cantly to the total ship and be able to execute them once ble for the IAF to relay information, across design by providing composite material selected. The way forward lies not only thousands of kilometers, where it would be components, avionics, electronic warfare in seeking technological solutions, but to re-directed in real time to the shooter. This systems and cockpit displays. build a road-map to develop or acquire would be possible by networking all our Another joint venture is the MTA for and that too in a timeframe so as to put assets on a secure data-link, thus enabling which we have again formed a joint enter- away the factors of obsolescence and the commanders to execute their mission prise with Russia and we will be involved in securing a lead. with minimum sensor-to-shooter time. the project right from the inception stage. I believe these are some of the issues Enabling such a scenario requires a large With its intended capabilities like 20 ton that will govern the future of aerospace number of individual technologies, as you load and ability to take off and land on technologies and its impact on the Indian can appreciate. Aerospace technologies shorter runways, the MTA will prove to Air Force in the foreseeable future. will continue to evolve, creating many be workhorse and cater to the increasing ■ IndiaSTRATEGIC 3 Aero India 2011 Boeing Military Aircraft’s State of the Business By Chris Chadwick, President, President, Boeing Military Aircraft eattle. Boeing believes that the best India, irrespective of platform sales, is to way to prepare for the future is to be a long-term partner in developing the Senvision it through the eyes of our aerospace industry. As the world’s largest customers. They have evolving needs aerospace company doing business in requiring us to deliver the capabilities more than 140 countries, Boeing has necessary to address 21st century threats the breadth and depth of products and at a price they can afford. Our approach services that can benefi t India. That is to India has been guided by this principle the strategic advantage that we can offer –understanding our customers and here.