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thanks n be with me i like my fellow INDIANS a lot

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Wild Wild Web

ajaybhutani

dude please edit ur previous post.. editing it will earn u more respect while not doing it might definitely hurt some paksitani frnds here. its ur call.

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IAF pilots display AWACS instincts

Calcutta: Eighteen months back, US Air Force pilots got their first stinging urprise when they were dominated by their IAF counterparts in close combat exercises in the skies of Gwalior. And at Kalaikunda, they are experiencing a sense of deja vu.

This time what's surprising them is the Indian team's capabilities in an AWACS environment.

The IAF, which virtually has no experience in flying in an advanced airborne radar environment, is at least two years away from owning an AWACS fleet, but has all that's needed for an “eye in the sky” killer profile.

IAF sources said that after about 70 Indian pilots and personnel were given a tour of the USAF E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft on November 5, the fighter crew have shown an “intuitive feel for operating in such an environment”. The USAF began using AWACS with its squadron of F-16s on November 8, a day after the exercise began.

But the IAF's real test will be during the Large Force Engagement (LFE) sorties to begin on November 12-13, when AWACS will come into full use by both forces. LFE sorties involve full squadron-sized missions, implying about 30 fighters of both will be airborne at the same time using the E-3 AWACS for cooperative target designation.

The E-3 will give the teams battle information and location of “adversaries” as also instructions. While both sides insist that the exercises are purely cooperative and all missions partnership-based, the operational debrief on November 19 will reveal if the IAF has kept up its ability to surprise.

The USAF is especially under pressure from the Pentagon not to show the F-16 Falcon in bad light, since Washington wants this exercise to work also as a subtle tool for sales to New Delhi. Last year, Senate hearings in the US following the Gwalior exercises indicated that Washington had recognised that its air dominance was severely eroded following the F-15 Eagles' poor performance against Indian Sukhoi-30s.

During the current exercise, while trying to play down what had become virtually a diplomatic embarrassment last year, exercise director Gp Capt Hari Kumar has been told not to comment on which side performs better. But the IAF has also told its men to keep up the good work.

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U.S., India Military Exercise: A Test of U.S. Air Superiority

Summary

The U.S. and Indian air forces began a 12-day joint exercise in India on Nov. 7. Cope India 2005, as the exercise is called, will test Indian pilots' ability to operate in an environment controlled by airborne warning and control system aircraft. The last time the two forces held joint exercises, the Indians proved to be a tougher opponent than expected, reportedly embarrassing U.S. flyers on several occasions. Should this happen again, the exercise will illustrate the narrowing gap between the powerful U.S. Air Force and the increasingly sophisticated air forces of other countries.

Analysis

A 12-day military exercise began Nov. 7 between a squadron of U.S. Air Force F-16s from Misawa Air Base in Japan and pilots from the Indian air force at the Kalaikunda air base in India's West Bengal state. The exercise, called Cope India 2005, aims to foster closer military ties between Washington and New Delhi, and test Indian pilots' ability to operate in an combat environment controlled by airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. In February 2004, the last time the U.S. Air Force participated in Cope India exercises, the Indian pilots bested U.S. flyers in several mock-combat engagements.

As other countries -- friend and foe -- better train and equip their air forces, the United States' near-total air dominance could erode.

Washington's foreign policy relies on U.S. air superiority throughout the world. Once a country's air force is eliminated from the battlefield, U.S. planes can penetrate its airspace almost at will to attack enemy leadership, air defense targets and command-and-control facilities. By controlling the air, the U.S. military can operate more freely on the ground without having to worry about significant casualties, even during a major military operation. Having this superiority makes it easier for Washington to consider taking the military option in a crisis.

U.S. air dominance is due in large part to pilots' ability to engage and destroy enemy aircraft beyond visual range (BVR) -- meaning they can engage and shoot down enemy aircraft before their opponents even see them. BVR capability reduces the chance that an enemy can shoot down U.S. planes -- and thus kill or capture pilots. Another important factor is the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile. Equipped with its own active radar system and capable of tracking a target on its own, the missile can be fired a long distance from the enemy.

The Indian air force is equipped with the Russian-built Su-30 MKI Flanker, a powerful fighter capable of performance equal to that of the U.S. F-15C. Even more threatening to U.S. air dominance than advanced combat aircraft, however, are the advanced weapons they deploy. In recent years, the proliferation of modern weapons has narrowed the gap between the U.S. Air Force and some of the world's other air forces. Powerful avionics such as those in the Su-30 and India's French-built Mirage 2000 have given other countries BVR combat capability.

The key to successful air combat against ground targets or other aircraft is situational awareness -- a pilot's ability to know what is going on in the air and on the ground around him. Given the speed of modern aircraft and of missiles fired both from the ground and from other aircraft, every second counts. Victory in air combat generally goes to the pilot who spots the enemy first. Now, however, pilots whose planes are equipped with up-to-date sensors have nearly the same level of situational awareness as U.S. pilots.

Moreover, air-to-air missiles with active radar, such as the Russian-built AA-12 Adder and the French-built MICA RF, have given other air forces the same advantages as U.S. pilots. For closer-range combat, advanced heat-seeking missiles are available on the international arms market. The Israeli-made Python currently is the most advanced heat-seeking air-to-air missile available, and can be fired at an aircraft flying in a different direction, increasing a pilot's targeting opportunities. This is done in conjunction with a High Off-Bore Sight targeting system -- essentially a sight mounted in the pilot's helmet -- that allows the pilot to select a target just by looking at it.

Helmet-mounted sights have been standard equipment on Russian-made MiG-29 Fulcrums and Flankers, as well as the Mirage 2000 for years. The United States, however, only began to field its helmet-mounted sight in 2003.

Active Radar missiles such as the AA-12, MICA RF, combined with heat-seekers such as the Python 4, allow pilots to shave seconds off their reaction time, which can make the critical difference between life and death in air combat. India's neighbor to the north, China, also operates a large arsenal of the formidable Su-30 MKK. China also has earlier versions of the Python missile and is developing its own version of the AA-12.

Military budget cuts meant to offset the financial burden of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are a prime hindrance to U.S. efforts to maintain its air dominance. For example, orders for the new $250 million F/A-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which began reaching squadron service in 2005, have been cut twice from an original order of 750 in 1991 to 276 in 2005.

The last time the U.S. and Indian air forces met in mock combat, U.S. pilots in F-15s lost several engagements with Indian Su-30 MKI Flankers, which were equipped with AA-12s and flown by expert pilots. This time, the United States might be "stacking the deck" by bringing along an AWACS aircraft -- giving American pilots greater situational awareness than their adversaries.

Without air dominance, the U.S. military cannot count on overwhelming success -- with few or no casualties -- on the battlefield. Moreover, as other countries narrow the gap between U.S. capabilities in the air and their own, they might be encouraged to adopt a more confrontational stance toward the United States. Unless U.S. air superiority is maintained, the decision-makers might have to think twice before opting for battle.

Neo

Defense Industry Daily ^ | 11-Nov-2005 03:54 | Defense Industry Daily

Pakistan's Daily Times reports that India is set to purchase some 50 Heron MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAVs from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in a deal worth $220 million. They will reportedly be put to use carrying out reconnaissance missions on India's mountainous borders with China and Pakistan. India was said to have been close to sealing the deal in 2004, but it was postponed due to the change in governments in New Delhi.

The Heron's performance during the December 2004 tsunami apparently clinched the India deal, and they are not alone in being impressed by the Heron's capabilities. Turkey, Israel, and Australia have also ordered Heron UAVs recently.

The Daily Times noted that India already has some 12 Heron drones, and reminds readers that they played a crucial part in search and rescue operations following the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004. IAI Searcher and Heron UAVs were used to locate trapped survivors and missing bodies near the Andaman and Nicobar islands, relaying clear photographs while in flight and allowing immediate response as soon as a survivor or victims were identified on screen via the live feed.

The Heron UAV is capable of flying for up to 52 hours at a time at altitudes exceeding 32,000 feet. It has a maximum range of about 3,300 kilometersm and can carry a maximum payload weighing 250 kg/ 550 lbs. It is built to carry multiple payloads at a time for a variety of missions, including electro-optical and thermal surveillance equipment, SAR radars for ground surveillance, maritime patrol radars and sensors, signals and other intelligence collection antennas and equipment, laser designators, and even radio relays.

In analyzing the Heron sale, Stratfor notes that:

"The purchase will allow India to better protect its long borders and to pave the way for the planned 2007 acquisition of Israeli Phalcon radar -- all while seeking to convince Pakistan that the security balance between the two countries will not shift further in New Delhi's favor. Pakistan, however, is unlikely to be placated, and will endeavor to counter the Indian acquisition.... Despite the negative resonance this deal will have in Islamabad, the Herons will strengthen New Delhi's ability to deny access to jihadists crossing into India from Pakistan by enhancing India's border surveillance capabilities. "

The Heron UAV is also popular beyond India. An IAI-EADS derivative named Eagle was selected by the French Air Force to provide strategic and theater reconnaissance, intelligence collection and communications support. It is also expected to operate in the maritime surveillance role.

Beyond Europe, DID has covered Turkey's $150 million contract for 30 Heron UAV systems in September, and also noted Israel's supplementary $50 million purchase of Heron UAVs to patrol the Gaza Strip in the wake of its recent pullout.

In addition, Ha'aretz Daily's coverage notes that the Australian army recently announced that it would purchase 18 Heron drones from IAI, and that the drones would be put to use in Iraq. With IAI Herons at the high end and Elbit Systems Skylark mini-UAVs for its troops, the Australians will be the best equipped UAV force in Iraq other than the United States.

SIDEBAR: The Pakistani Daily Times newspaper also notes its sources claim that the Indian Army is also making inquiries about the Hunter UAV, a smaller IAI aircraft that is also in service with the US Army. RQ-5A Hunter UAVs have logged substantial flight time in Iraq, and demonstrated their ability to drop small precision munitions like the Viper Strike.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520266/posts

Samudra

The Hunter is a cool one.

Neo

Yeah, check the pics in the link I posted.
Looks nice!

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We serve to ensure these freedoms: USAF

The protests by the CPI-M in Kolkata and Kalaikunda against the Indo-US joint air exercises will not deter the US Air Force (USAF) or the American administration from continuing military-to-military interactions between the two countries.
Speaking to The Statesman from Kalaikunda air station, Captain John Redfield, Pacific Air Forces, USAF, said: “We are aware of the protests going on here and have also read media reports about them. But we are here on a job, on a mission. And in an open society, people are certainly free to voice their opinion, including in the form of protests.” As Col. David Cannon, Pacific Air Forces’ public affairs director, told The Statesman: “One of the reasons we serve in the military is to preserve the freedom of speech.”
A spokesperson for the US Consulate in Kolkata echoed these views and added: “The US Air Force, indeed any branch of the armed forces, only serves in a country at the invitation of that country’s government.” Asked whether the protests would deter the USA from holding joint exercises with India in future, Captain Redfield, the USAF’s public affairs officer for India, was categorical: “No.”
“I can speak for the American side and tell you that such protests will not dampen the spirit of our personnel or the desire to hold joint military exercises in India,” he said. The US Consulate spokesperson pointed out that Indo-US relations are at an “all-time high”. “Two great pluralistic democracies are now positioned for a partnership that will be crucial in shaping the international landscape of the 21st century.” The spokesperson, replying to the Communist protesters’ allegations that joint military exercises with the USA had “compromised” India’s sovereignty, said: “These developments do not compromise India’s sovereignty or independence. These are agreements between two equal, important partners, who look to the future and understand what some of their shared values and objectives must be.”

The USAF is very upbeat about how the joint exercises have gone and said that the objectives of holding such exercises included cultivating common bonds and fostering goodwill between USAF and IAF personnel, apart from promoting regional security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. “We are learning a lot about each other. The joint exercises are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our pilots and maintenance personnel. They have read a lot about the MiGs and the Mirages — now they have flown with them. Our Indian counterparts are learning about us and our aircraft. This will be helpful in the future when, and if the need arises, USAF and IAF operate together in the region,” Captain Redfield added.
Numerous joint military exercises over the past five years have not only strengthened the bilateral relationship but also helped ensure well-coordinated responses to the recent tsunami and Hurricane Katrina disasters. “These are remarkable examples of how far we have come, and the great potential we have for the future,” the spokesperson added.

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Lockheed Martin eyes new opportunities in Indian arms market

Armaments major Lockheed Martin, in the race to supply 126 combat jets to India, is eyeing several other opportunities to sell aircraft and hardware worth billions of dollars to the country's armed forces.
The US firm will bid for an Indian Navy proposal to acquire some 30 submarine hunter helicopters, the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s plan to buy 80 medium-lift helicopters and an Indian Army programme to acquire tactical missiles.

"I'm telling my colleagues in the US that there's a new opportunity here almost every day," Royce Caplinger, managing director of Lockheed Martin, told IANS.

Lockheed Martin is also pitching its C-130J Hercules, one of the most successful military transport aircraft, to the IAF and will be responsible for maintenance and product support if the Indian Navy goes ahead with a plan to acquire used P3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft from the US Navy.

The firm also makes the missiles used in the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile defence system that the US has offered to India. The chief of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency flew to India in September to make a classified presentation on the system to the country's military top brass.

Caplinger, who heads Lockheed Martin's new Indian office in New Delhi that will be formally inaugurated Monday, admitted the burgeoning defence ties between the US and India had opened up new doors for American armament firms.

Lockheed Martin is one of four military aviation majors short-listed for India's programme to buy 126 frontline jets, and Caplinger believes the F-16 Fighting Falcon jets offered by his firm stand a good chance even though they are pitted against France's Mirage 2000 and Russia's MiG-29 - both already in service with the IAF.

The fourth jet in the race is Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen. The US government has also unilaterally offered the F-18 jet made by Boeing for the programme.

"The Indian government's request for proposals should be issued before the end of the year and we are anxious to get on and compete. We have a team standing by and the US government is preparing as well," Caplinger said.

"The IAF has the Mirage and MiG-29 in its inventory and likes them but the F-16 represents the latest and greatest that the US has to offer. The platform may be old but the technology, weapon systems and cockpit are the latest."

"We have competed with the other fighters and we can win this bid."

When it is concluded, the 126-jet purchase will be one of the largest defence buys by India, which has spent billions of dollars over the past few years to acquire a refurbished Russian aircraft carrier, six French Scorpene submarines, six Il-78 midair refuellers from Uzbekistan and three Phalcon spy planes from Israel.

The US government has been aggressively pitching the F-16 and F-18 to India, and the US Air Force has sent an F-16 squadron from Japan for the Cope India 05 wargame currently under way with the IAF at a base in West Bengal.

During the exercise at Kalaikunda airbase, IAF pilots will fly in the F-16s to get a feel of the aircraft.

Noting that the F-16 was in service with 24 countries, Caplinger said Lockheed Martin would have "no problems" with offering co-production of the jets in India. "We are trying to be pro-active about this deal and have already visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to look at their (production) facilities," he said.

By choosing the F-16, Caplinger said, India would also get "on the path" to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter currently being developed by Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin has tied up with Sikorsky to offer the MH-60 helicopter for an Indian Navy programme to replace its ageing Sea King submarine hunter helicopters.

"We hope to have the request for proposal for that programme soon. Lockheed Martin will provide the cockpit, sensors and weapons and Sikorsky the platforms," Caplinger said.

Lockheed Martin is also offering its shoulder-fired anti-armour Javelin missile to the Indian Army and patrol vessels and helicopters to India's Coast Guard, Caplinger said.

indianguy4u

Guys what will be in MISSION UDAAN. The promos show very little.

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Hala Madrid!!

Endangered

They will show almost everything about Indian Air Force still i dun think everything coz they have restrictions; we can guess about 51% of our AIR FORCE; and Iguess they will start telecasting from 20th onwards and friends I was one out of 2000 finalists... I was unable to attend the physical test coz I was too busy with my work and i know I missed it in real time; its a 45 days affair (thats what they told me after i got selected inside 2000 out of 60 thausands) anyway we will watch the show soon; right now they are showing some of our fighters flying or refueling in NGC; lets see the real show and i am sure we will see it and get a better knowledge about our AIR FORCE..... have fun n glue ur eyes on NGC 20th onwards

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Indian Coast Guard ships visit UAE

Two warships of India’s Coast Guard are visiting the United Arab emirates (UAE) as part of New Delhi’s efforts to step up cooperation with countries in the Middle East to prevent piracy and crimes.

The visit will mark the first official interaction between the Coast Guards of India and UAE. The Indian vessels, ICGS Sangram and ICGS Durgabhai Deshmukh, will be in Abu Bhabi until November 13.

During the visit, the two sides will hold official ceremonial receptions. Senior officers of the UAE Coast Guard will witness a demonstration at sea by the Indian ships on Saturday.

Under India’s National Oil Disaster Contingency Plan, its Coast Guard has been designated the nodal agency for all oil spill responses within the country’s exclusive economic zone of over two million sq. km.

Currently, India’s Coast Guard is capable of combating oil pollution of up to 10,000 tonnes and is upgrading its capability to fight oil pollution exceeding 10,000 tonnes.

The force is also responsible for patrolling India’s coastline of over 7,000 km.

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IAF to receive first batch of AJT by March 2007

The first batch of HAWK-132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) from BAe, United Kingdom, is likely to be received by the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2007, Air Marshal S Bhojwani, Air Officer Commanding-in-chief, Training Command, informed today.
Addressing a press conference at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) here, he said BAe UK, with which a deal for the sale of 66 AJTs was signed, was to deliver 24 aircraft first, while the rest would be manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

He said pilots from IAF had been provided training on IJT at the UK and by 2007, over 75 personnel would complete their training. HAL had also started getting raw materials for the licenced manufacture of AJT.

Air Marshal Bhojwani said infrastructure facilities at the IAF's Bidar airbase were being upgraded to accommodate the training base for IJTs. The runway in Bidar was being expanded to accommodate larger fighter aircraft.

To a question, he said the General Court Martial, being conducted against Flying Officer Anjali Gupta, was on the right track and it was being carried out with all seriousness like the affairs of the Karnataka High Court. The GCM was armed with all the authorities of a civil court, he added, refusing to comment on its functioning as the matter was sub-judice.

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Lockheed Martin Optimistic on Orders

NEW DELHI (AP) - Lockheed Martin Corp. is optimistic it will win an order for more than 120 new combat aircraft from the Indian Air Force, a senior company official said Monday.

U.S.-based Lockheed is also looking to collaborate with India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. on the development and co-production of fighter jets, said Vice President Orville Prins.

Prins said he is "cautiously optimistic" that India will order its F-16 jets. India's Air Force currently has no American-made aircraft and uses mostly Russian-made MiG fighters, along with British Jaguars and French Mirage aircraft.

"There are some very good air planes in the competition," Prins told The Associated Press. "It would be a difficult competition. We are not taking anything for granted."

Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen was also in India lobbying Monday for the F-16 bid.

Besides the F-16, India is eyeing Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, the French Mirage, Sweden's Gripen and Sukhoi fighters from Russia.

The chief of India's Air Force said last month that proposals from aircraft manufacturers would likely be sought before the year ends.

India has never bought American planes for its air force because of frosty relations with Washington during the Cold War period when New Delhi was a close ally of the former Soviet Union.

But relations have rapidly warmed in recent years, and the two countries have embarked on a wide range of strategic cooperation, including civilian nuclear energy.

A key factor for India in choosing new planes would be the supplier's commitment to share technologies to make spare parts, and to develop and produce aircraft in India.

Lockheed Martin, based in Bethesda, Maryland, has previously said it could co-produce F-16s with Hindustan Aeronautics, or HAL, if India decided to buy the multi-role combat aircraft.

On Monday, Prins said the company wanted to collaborate on research and development with HAL irrespective of India's decision on the F-16s.

"HAL has tremendous capabilities. We would like to find opportunities where, in fact, they could become a part of our overall team," he said.

HAL officials could not be reached for comment late Monday.