LCA 'TEJAS' MKIA DELIVERIES TO THE INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF) were to begin in March 2024. The strategic community got a jolt when they were told that there were delays because of issues related to supplies of the GE F404-IN20 engines from US-based GE Aerospace. That the aircraft will now be handed over in August. Later the date of delivery was changed to November.
IAF that is already at an all-time low of nearly 30 squadrons was facing the prospect of going below that already low figure. The security establishment and defence hierarchy was reportedly seized of the situation, and acting to retrieve the situation and prevent further delays. During his visit to the US, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had reportedly flagged the issue.
Not just engines, Tejas Mk1A delivery could be hit over key Danish part, the engine charge amplifiers, now on export blacklist. Denmark authorities have reportedly put export restrictions on this item, which is likely to be due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. India is in talks with Denmark. It was a small product which was being imported. Because of this export blacklisting, HAL had contracted a Bengaluru firm to indigenise it. The firm, we are told, has almost completed it, and then HAL will carry out tests. It can then be mass-produced.
AERIAL THREAT PERCEPTION
China is pulling ahead. They are directly competing with USA. In March this year, in a testimony on Capitol Hill, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Navy Admiral John C. Aquilino said that China would “soon have the world’s largest air force”. In its 2023 report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon noted that the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLAN combined have over 3,150 operational aircraft other than trainers and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 9, 2024 de SP’s Aviation.
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Esta historia es de la edición Issue 9, 2024 de SP’s Aviation.
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BOEING'S SERVICE SUPPORT FOR SELF-RELIANCE IN AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE
Boeing Defence India (BDI) remains committed to developing in-country capabilities and strengthening its support for India's defence ecosystem
"WILL CONTINUE THE POLICY FOR DEFENCE REFORMS TO BOOST MANUFACTURING"
Furthering the country's defence production target of three lakh crore by 2029 and leading such initiatives is Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. In an exclusive interaction, Consulting and Contributing Editor Manish Kumar Jha speaks with the Secretary, on his roadmap and policies for spurring defence manufacturing in India, for both public and private sectors.
LESSONS FOR AIRPOWER
Learning from the Past and Ongoing Conflicts
"OUR CURRENT R&D BUDGET IS WOEFULLY SHORT"
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff believes that while concentrated efforts to increase the same are on-going, the private industry would also need to actively invest in this sector
AW109 TREKKERM
Leonardo's state-of-the-art multi-role military light helicopter
IAF'S CHALLENGES AND KEY SOLUTIONS
Major industry platforms like Aero India 2025, showcasing advanced aerospace and defence technology solutions, present a crucial opportunity for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to address its operational challenges
CIRRUS SR22: CHOOSE CAPS FOR SAFETY!
Cirrus Aircraft and COPA set out to create a culture in which pilots who operated the CAPS system were celebrated - not criticised or even questioned - for their decision. This resulted in a steep drop in accident rates.
SEARCH FOR A MEDIUM LIFT HELICOPTER
The Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), offering diverse capabilities, is being developed to cater to both military and civilian applications
INDIAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AT AN INFLECTION POINT
Aero India 2025 is a golden opportunity for all stakeholders, from policymakers to DRDO, PSUS and private industry, to come together and showcase their commitment to not only make India Atmanirbhar in Aerospace but also be a reliable and capable exporter of aerospace products
"MIDDLE-EAST REGION IS A LAUNCH PAD, AND OUR AIRCRAFT ARE WELL-SUITED FOR MISSIONS OUT OF HERE"
The MEBAA show, held in Dubai every second year, witnesses a very regular participation of Gulfstream Aerospace. The 2024 edition held in December last year also witnessed a great and active participation of Gulfstream. Jayant Baranwal, Editorin-Chief, SP's Aviation, had an exclusive conversation at this occasion, with Michael Swift, Group Vice President - Sales, EMEA & APAC, Gulfstream Aerospace.
