Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Indian Naval aviation

Twin aircraft carrier strike groups in action by the Indian Navy (Credits- Defence Decode)

Rebirth of INS Vikrant (Credits- India Navy)

The INS Vikrant Successfully Tested And Proved Satisfactory (Credits- The Buzz)

Tejas LCA- The Evolution

Image Credits-Wikipedia I am back to blogging after nearly eight months. Many things have happened in the time frame. Perhaps the most interesting is the evolution of the LCA Tejas, India's indigenous combat aircraft program. Perhaps of all the combat aircraft, perhaps Tejas is the closest to my heart as an Indian as it is an indigenous product.  Tejas was initiated as project LCA with the intention not only to find a replacement for the venerable Mig-21 but also as a project for the establishment of the entire eco-system for the development and manufacture of a combat aircraft. It was also envisaged as the stepping stone for the development of a whole new and advanced technologies for the manufacture of avionics and weapon systems. But like many of the countries like Sweden, India had to rely on OEM's for certain products that India could not master,  the most important being the engine. Even though Kaveri engine project was initiated, it was decoupled from the main

INS Viraat: Bidding adieu to the grand old lady of the Indian Navy

INS Viraat setting sail on her last voyage ( Image credits- Indian Navy)  INS Viraat hold a pride of place in the history of the Indian Navy. Joining the Indian fleet in 1987 as India's second aircraft carrier after her decommissioning as HMS Hermes from the Royal Navy, she played a critical part in the Indian Navy for over three decades. She was the flag ship of the Indian Navy until the mantle was passed on to INS Vikramaditya. INS Viraat was unique in many ways. She is the oldest serving Aircraft carrier in the world. She also has an illustrious carrier spanning well over five decades in active duty spanning from the Falklands war to the Indian Navy. As the Indian Navy prepares to decommission her in the later part of this year, an era will come to an end. As she is taken off the services, she also becomes the last carrier in the Indian Navy to have STOVL configuration which enabled her to deploy Sea Harrier jump jet. After her decommissioning, Indian navy is transitioning

MiGs make a comeback – at sea ( Source- The National Inerest / Author- Rakesh Krishna Simha)

Indian Navy Mig-29K ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Indian Navy) Source- Russia & India Report Author- Rakesh Krishna Simha Former Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji holds a rare distinction. The Indian Air Force officer, who was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, is the only air force pilot to have commanded MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27 and MiG-29 units. "The only pilot," he says. "There’s no one even in Russia.” Mukerji’s achievement was possible because of the dominance of MiG aircraft in the IAF fleet. Currently the IAF has 245 units of the MiG-21 interceptor and 120 units of the MiG-27 ground attack jet. The MiG-23 fighter-bomber and the MiG-25, of which the IAF had eight units of the reconnaissance version, are long retired. Although MiG-21s are still in use in as many as 19 air forces worldwide, the frequent crashes of these older IAF MiGs led to a trial by media and furore in parliament, after which the IAF announced

India Will Purchase 4 More US Maritime Surveillance Aircraft ( Source- The Diplomat / Author- Ankit Panda)

Boeing P8I of The Indian Navy ( Source- Wikimedia Commons / Credits- Indian Navy) Source- The Diplomat Author- Ankit Panda On Wednesday, the Indian Defense Ministry announced that it had cleared $4.74 billion for the purchase of new military equipment, including four long-range military patrol aircraft from the United States. Specifically, India will purchase four additional Boeing P-8I Poseidon surveillance aircraft, among the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft currently available. India placed an order for eight P-8I aircraft in 2009—the latest order is four an additional four units. The P-8I is an export variant of the P-8A Poseidon, designed for the needs of the Indian Navy. Notably, it features a Telephonics APS-143 OceanEye aft radar and magnetic anomaly detector not present on the original P-8A. The Indian Navy has a total of eight P-8Is on order and deliveries began in December 2012. So far, as of this order, s

Make In India- INS Vikrant

CG of INS Vikrant  ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Indian Navy) In continuation of our weekly series "Make In India", today we feature the INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier. Designed in India,  the ship will be the combat ships ever designed in India. Designed by the Indian Navy's Naval design Bureau, two ships are planned in the series. The first INS Vikrant will be a STOBAR configuration at over 40,000 tonnes with a compliment of Mig-29 sea borne combat aircrafts and also  Kamov Ka-31 helicopters. Later the LCA Navy will also join the ship. The second ship will be of a bigger design with a displacement of more than 65,000 tonnes and will feature CATOBAR design and will include AMCA navy and assorted platforms which may also include E-2 AEW Aircrafts. This ship may be nuclear powered. It is in design stages and production will start later this decade. It will probably be the first time America will be helping with the EMAILS launch system. These ships and t

Indian Navy Strengthening its Air Warfare Capability ( Source- NDTV)

Boeing P8I ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Indian Navy) Source- NDTV The Indian Navy is working towards a new fleet of aircraft and helicopters for maritime surveillance, electronic warfare and anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, its top commander has said. According to the naval chief, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, it was imperative to expand its "maritime surveillance footprint to meet operational requirements" with 12 Boeing P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft, nine yet to be identified medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft and 12 Dornier-228 short range maritime reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft. "The induction of these aircraft will provide the Indian Navy with the required surveillance capability in support of our operational roles," Adm. Dhowan told India Strategic magazine ( www.indiastrategic.in ) in an interview. At present, Boeing has a contract to supply eight P-8Is, six of which have been delivered on