February 1, 2010, New Delhi -- IAF is all set to conduct a high-voltage firepower exercise to showcase its `shock and awe' capabilities to both domestic as well as international audiences.
Dubbed `Vayu-Shakti', the high-intensity blitzkrieg will culminate in a massive firepower demonstration at the Pokhran range in Thar desert on February 24, with the country's top leadership, military brass and foreign military observers in attendance.
The sheer scale can be gauged from the fact that IAF has kept around 70 top-notch fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s, Jaguars, MiG-29s, MiG-27s and MiG-21 `Bisons' from several airbases on standby for Vayu-Shakti.
Moreover, IAF will also be deploying Mi-35 attack and Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters, IL-76 heavy-lift and AN-32 medium-lift cargo aircraft for the exercise.
"Vayu-Shakti is being held after a gap of some years. It will be a `maha' (major) one to demonstrate India's aerial firepower and capabilities, both during day and night," said a top IAF officer.
Foreign observers and military attaches are often invited to military exercises in India but this time the number will be much larger. "Vayu-Shakti will send a message that, along with the growing economic power, we also have the requisite military muscle to defend our geo-strategic interests," said another officer.
Yes, IAF is still grappling with the sharp decline in the number of its fighter squadrons, down to just 32 from even the `sanctioned strength' of 39.5. But the force is confident that operational and procurement plans are in place to ensure its capability to operate in India's expanding strategic environment, spreading from the Persian Gulf right up to Malacca Strait.
The fourth largest air force in the world after US, Russia and China, IAF's eventual aim is to transform into an `expeditionary aerospace force', with the wherewithal to rapidly deploy and operate across the globe.
IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, has outlined a three-pronged strategy for his force. One, `to see first and see the farthest', with AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) and satellites.
Two, `to reach first and the farthest', with mid-air refuellers to enhance the radius of operations of its fighters. And three, `to hit hard and accurately', with advanced missiles and PGMs (precision guided munitions).
All this, of course, does not come cheap. India has inked defence deals worth over $50 billion since the 1999 Kargil conflict, and will spend another $30 billion over the next four-five years, as reported by TOI earlier.
IAF, on its part, hopes to induct all 230 Sukhoi-30MKIs so far contracted from Russia for around $8.5 billion by 2014-15, apart from upgrades of its 63 MiG-29s and 52 Mirage-2000s.
Then, even as India is close to tying up with Russia to build and induct around 250 Sukhoi T-50 advanced stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the ongoing trials to select 126 multi-role combat aircraft under the mammoth $10.4 billion programme are at an advanced stage now.
THE TIMES OF INDIA
January 28, 2010, Bandung -- Helicopters EC-725 and EC-225 which are the latest products of Eurocopter are developments of chopper S-332, better known as Super Puma.
"Helicopters EC-725 and EC-225 are the development of the NAS-332 or Super Puma. Its development must not change the chopper`s system and load capacity," Vice President of Airframe Eurocopter, Andreas Stoeckle said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the building of the Airframe of choppers EC-725 and EC-225 at the hangar of PTDI in Bandung Wednesday.
PTDI is supplying components of tailboom and fuselage for the latest Eurocopter choppers.
Production by PTDI was started with the production of tailbooms in January 2010,
followed by the production of the fuselage starting in May 2010.
It was scheduled that the first tailboom would have to be handed to Eurocopter in October 2010, and the fuseluge to be handed to PTDI in November 2011.
He said that in the second year or October 2011, PTDI is required to hand over 6 tailbooms, or one in every two months.
Then in the third year, October 2012 will see PTDI handing 10 tailbooms and the next stage, 12 tailbooms will be handed each year, or one unit each month in four years and so on.
The biggest number of developments reached 125 units, which will affect ways of building the helicopters. An airframe, Andreas said, is the main structure of an aircraft, both fixed wing planes and helicopters.
The construction and handing of 125 airframes, tailbooms and fuselages for choppers EC-725/ EC-225, the European international aircraft producer has made PTDI as the main supplier of world class airframes.
"This package is worth more than 50 percent in the manufacture of 4,000 basic parts and 500 sub-assembling work in building the main components," Andreas Stoeckle said.
In the meantime, president director of PTDI Budi Santoso has projected the national aerospace company to become supplier of the main parts and components for world aerospace companies.
He said EC-725 and EC-225 will replace Super Pumas, which hopefully could also be used in Indonesia.
"The last three Super Pumas built by PTDI, for completion in 2010 could also be handed to defense and security authorities which had ordered for the planes," the PTDI boss said.
ANTARA News
January 19, 2009 -- Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced the signing of a contract with the Boeing Company to provide five years of through life support services for the new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet of Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEWC) aircraft.
“This contract will create more than 100 industry jobs in the Newcastle area. It will also provide continued and new employment for more than 100 personnel at Amberley over the next 12 months, which will have positive flow-on effects for local businesses,” Mr Combet said.
“The five year performance based contract is valued at $800 million and provides a comprehensive support arrangement.
“The contract links contractor profits directly to contractor performance, thereby promoting greater efficiency and delivering real cost savings.
“The contract aims to reduce costs into the future, providing value for money for Defence and the Australian taxpayer.
“As outlined in the Rudd Government’s White Paper the Wedgetail aircraft will provide vastly improved situational awareness and an ability to control and coordinate aircraft in the military environment.
“The Boeing Company will be supported by Boeing Defence Australia on maintenance, engineering and training. Northrop Grumman Corporation will provide support for their Multi-Role Electronically Scanned radar.
“As part of the contract, the industry team will deliver services including logistics, training, spares management, aircraft deeper maintenance, engineering and supply chain management,” Minister Combet said.
The Wedgetail aircraft are being delivered progressively to RAAF Base Williamtown. This contract will allow for the necessary infrastructure to be developed for the support of the Wedgetail Aircraft when they are formally accepted by the Commonwealth.
ADF
Anoa APS-2 6x6. (Photo: KOMPAS)
January 13, 2010, Bandung -- State-owned arms manufacturer PT Pindad here Wednesday delivered 33 armored personnel carriers of the APS-2 type (6x6) to the Defense Ministry.
According to a Defense Ministry press release, 24 of the delivered armored vehicles would be used by the army, and the other 13 would put at the disposal of the Indonesian contingent in the UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon.
The 38 APS-2s constituted the third batch of armored personnel carrier deliveries to the Defense Ministry which had placed an order for 150 units. In the first and second batches PT Pindad delivered a total of 60 units to the ministry in 2008.
The ministry had also asked PT Pindad in 2008 to make four armored reconnaissance vehicles.
The APS-2s made by PT Pindad each weigh 12 tons and their bodies were constructed with monocoque and covered in 8 to 10 mm bullet-proof plating.
Although the vehicles are relatively heavy, they can develop a cruising speed of 90 kilometers per hour, turn within a radius of 10 meters and take inclines of up to 31 degrees.
The vehicles are equipped with night vision instruments, a 6- ton winch and for communication purposes they have an intercom set plus VHF/FM (anti-jamming and hopping) and a GPS navigation system.
One APS-2 can carry 15 soldiers, has eight glass reconnaissance and eight firing holes besides two sets of smoke launching tubes.
In terms of firing power, every APS-2 is topped by a copula that can spin 360 degrees to aim AGL or SMB machine guns at targets. They are also equipped with 7.62 mm weapons (infantry) and AGL 40 mm guns (cavalry ).
ANTARA News
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