Vuela el primer C-130J para la India:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -130j.htmlBy Craig Hoyle
India's first US-built military transport has
made its debut flight, with the Lockheed Martin C-130J having taken to the air from Marietta, Georgia on 4 October.
The first of six stretched-fuselage Hercules on order for the Indian air force, aircraft KC-3801 will be followed by two more examples getting airborne "within the next few weeks", Lockheed says.
Both images © Lockheed Martin
"The aircraft will now complete a series of company and customer flight tests prior to
delivery in December," the company says.
New Delhi signed a contract for its new tactical transports in 2007. The aircraft will feature equipment including an in-flight refuelling probe and a FLIR Systems AAQ-22 Star Safire III electro-optical/infrared sensor turret.
Por cierto, leyendo la
SP's Aviation Magazine (especial de la IAF) es de alucine lo que están pagando por el material occidental. Por ejemplo, por estos 6 Hércules van a pagar $1.100 millones, y la fecha de entrega dicen que será de los dos primeros ejemplares en febrero del 2011 y los restantes antes de final de año. Otros $1.000 millones para 3 Boeing bussines jet en configuración VVIP, $5.800 millones por 10 C-17 ($580 millones la unidad
). Además, también van a pagar $750 millones por 12 AW-101 en configuración VVIP y en cambio para los 6 cisternas tienen pensado gastarse sólo $1.500 millones (los BBJ les saldrían más caros...). Y me faltan las cifras del P-8I.
Además tambieÅ„ quieren remotorizar los Jaguar (unas 100 unidades), modernizar los Mirage 2000 ($40 millones por avión
), modernizar 105 An-32, 60 Mig-29 y ya existe un plan propuesto por HAL para modernizar los Su-30MKI por un valor de $2.370 millones. Ah, y por supuesto también quieren comprar helicópteros de todos los tamaños y formas a montañas, y los FGFA (aunque aquí sólo hablan de $6.000 millones)... Total, $100.000 millones en 10 años.
Eso sí, alguno de los de muy arriba ya empieza a pensar que igual la logística puede que sea algo problemática:
http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/10/mu ... ntory.htmlIndian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik indicated today that the potential multiplicity of aircraft types in his fleet inventory was a major cause for concern, and that by the end of the decade, the IAF would hopefully have an inventory of just five fighter types: the upgraded Su-30MKI (272), the MMRCA (126), the PAK FA/Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (200-250), the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (100) and the Tejas MK-II (150-200). "If it were upto me, I would have a single aircraft type. But we don't live in a perfect world," the Air Chief said.
La última frase me recuerda a "con faldas y a lo loco"
Ah, y este mismo "jefazo" también dice que la mitad del equipamiento actual de la IAF es obsoleto:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =ASI&s=AIRAGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 5 Oct 2010 12:53
NEW DELHI - Half of the weapons and equipment used by the Indian Air Force are obsolete and need urgent replacement, a top Indian defense official has said.
Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, pointing to investment by the government in defense, said half of the existing fighter jets, radars, transport aircraft and air defense weapons will be upgraded by 2014-15.
The country is reportedly negotiating a $3.5 billion aircraft defense deal with the U.S. that will be signed in November when President Barack Obama visits the Indian capital.
Naik said the air force was also likely to agree a $25 billion defense deal with Russia by 2010 to buy advanced stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
"Around 50 percent of our equipment is obsolete and needs to be replaced," Naik told reporters on Oct. 4, in comments reported by local media.
"Ten years ago, we had no money for modernization. This caused some delays. Subsequent planning will fructify by 2014-15," he said.
Vuelven a salir los $25.000 millones para el FGFA, y por lo que se ve de una fuente oficial.
Un saludo.