India y su industria aeronáutica

[champi]

Rusia dice que cumple lo prometido con el FGFA, y que el prototipo volará este año: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... india.html

(Source: Itar-Tass; published February 07, 2014)
Russia fulfils all of its obligations under the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) programme with India, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said at the Defexpo-2014 security systems exhibition in New Delhi.
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The initial version of the FGFA being created jointly by India and Russia will be ready for flight testing in 2014, the Times of India said earlier, quoting the Chief of the Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne as saying.
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Browne reviewed the performance of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, called Sukhoi T-50.

“Russia has already given the draft R&D contract to us. It will include the cost of designing, infrastructure build-up at Ozar, prototype development and flight testing. So, India will have scientists and test pilots based both in Russia and Ozar during the R&D phase up to 2019. HAL will subsequently begin manufacturing the fighters,” the newspaper's source said.

Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) First Deputy Director Alexander Fomin said that India and Russia would need at least 6-10 years to build a fifth generation fighter aircraft.
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[Orel]

5th gen fighter aircraft project with Russia delayed: A K Antony
Feb 10, 2014

The project to co-develop Fifth General Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) with Russia and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft and Intermediate Jet Trainer programmes have been delayed, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha today.

Answering another query, he said due to time overruns in the Intermediate Jet Trainer programme of the HAL, the Government has decided to extend the use of the Kiran-MkI trainer aircraft till 2017-18.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... antony-ijt

[champi]

La India subirá un 10% su presupuesto de defensa, y de paso salen a relucir los costes actualizados del Tejas: https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/in ... ine-01901/

We have the program’s new cost figures, which are rising. A less parochial awareness is also rising, it seems…

Feb 12/14: Costs. India’s MoD releases another set of official cost figures for the program, leaving out the Kaveri engine but adding a “Phase-III” development period. LCA development costs have now risen from an original INR 71.16 billion to INR 140.33 billion (+97.2%), or INR 168.72 billion (+137.1%) if one properly counts the Kaveri engine. Expected production line investments would push those figures even higher. India’s MoD was savvy enough to compare development costs to Saab’s more advanced Gripen NG:

“Developmental cost of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas is Rs.7965.56 Crore ($1.09 Billion) including building of 15 aircraft and creation of infrastructure for production of 08 aircraft per annum. This compares with the developmental cost of JAS 39 NG Grippen is $1.80 Billion for developing 5 Proto Vehicles.”

That’s actually just the current predicted cost of the IAF’s MK.I/II development, minus the Kaveri engine, and arguably without creating infrastructure that could actually deliver 8 aircraft per year. The Gripen NG figure would need to be checked carefully, to see what it included and excluded. Even so, the simple act of making the comparison shows a greater sense of external awareness than we’re used to seeing from India’s MoD. Source: India MoD/ PIB, “Developmental Cost of LCA Project”.
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Y a pesar de todos los problemas y sobrecostes, proponen hacer el mantenimiento del Vikramaditya conjuntamente con los rusos: http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140213 ... ussia.html

[champi]

Con algo de retraso (la noticia ya es de una semana atrás), un paso más para que se firme el Rafale: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/a-big ... nce-490440

HAL se llevará el gran bocado, un 70% del trabajo a pesar de los recelos de Dassault, que se lleva el resto más las unidades iniciales totalmente fabricadas en Francia.

Y documentos filtrados por "hackers" parecen revelar largas discusiones con los motores del MiG-29 y también del SU-30 MKI: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 92610.aspx

Saikat Datta , Hindustan Times New Delhi, March 08, 2014

A cyber attack on Russian communication systems by anonymous hackers on early Saturday morning has compromised India's defence dealings with Russia and raised serious concerns about a possible major security breach.

Believed to have been carried out by an international group of anonymous hackers in retaliation to the last week's Russian invasion of Ukraine, the attack was detected by Indian technical intelligence agencies at about 4am on Saturday.

Most of the leaked documents relate to India's dealings with Russia for the purchase, overhaul and repair of front-line fighter aircraft like the Sukhoi-30 MKI and the MiG-29.
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Several letters written by UAC president M Pogosyan to HAL chairman RK Tyagi refer to a host of issues discussed during the 31st session of Indo-Russian Subgroup on Aviation (IRSA) held in New Delhi on February 20 this year. The IRSA is a sub-group of the Indo-Russian Inter Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.

Some of these letters discuss the delays in finalising a contract between UAC and HAL for the RD-33 MK engines, which power the MiG-29 fighter aircraft.

In one of the leaked communications, Pogosyan writes to Tyagi that the "reason for the delay in delivery documentation" is due to "too much time" being spent on discussing "the formula escalation."

Obviously, this indicates that there are delays in the MiG-29 up gradation programme that is being negotiated between Russia and India. There is also a discussion on the AL-31 FP engines which power the SU-30 MKI and are particularly made for the Indian variant of the fighter aircraft.

Pogosyan writes that he "agree(s) this project causes great concern."

There is also a great deal of discussion in setting up Repair and Over Haul (ROH) facilities for the SU-30 MKI, which has been delayed due to indecision on the deputation of Russian specialists. Pogosyan admits that the delays are due to the disagreements between Russia and India on the "financial aspect of reimbursement rates for 2014".

However, he assures Tyagi that he is ready to continue with their commitments for the continuous overhaul of the SU-30 MKIs until the problem is resolved.
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Y se abre otra investigación más por posible corrupción, en este caso con Rolls-Royce de por medio: http://www.livefistdefence.com/2014/03/ ... rolls.html

[champi]

Más sobre los documentos filtrados. Parece que la mitad de los Su-30 están parados por problemas de diversa naturaleza: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/rus ... in-trouble

VISHAL THAPAR New Delhi | 15th Mar 2014

A shocking 50% of the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter fleet is on the ground due to unresolved servicing issues with the aircraft's Russian manufacturers. This has also eroded the combat capability of India's frontline long-range strike aircraft and compromised even that part of the fleet which is capable of being flown.

The IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have rung the alarm bells about the repeated mid-flight failure of the Su-30 mission computer and the blanking out of all cockpit displays. The Russians have not responded to the repeated SOS' from the Indians for over a year.

These disclosures have been made in leaked communications between HAL and Russian agencies. These are in exclusive possession of The Sunday Guardian.

The managing director of HAL's Nasik complex, which is tasked with assembly and repair of the IAF Sukhois, has, in vain, desperately flagged "multiple cases of repeated failure of Mission Computer-1 and blanking out of Head Up Displays (HUD) and all Multi-Function Displays (MFD) in flight" with earmarked representatives of both Rosboronexport — the Russian government's arms export agency — and Irkut, the original manufacturer of the Sukhoi-30.

"As the displays blanking off is a serious and critical issue affecting the exploitation of aircraft (it) needs corrective action/remedial measures on priority," he pleads in a letter dated 28 February this year, reminding the Russians that he's been raising the issue since 7 March 2013 but to no avail.
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What seems even more worrying is the Russian go-slow, which has severely hit the maintenance and availability of the fleet. Even five years after the signing of contract for the setting up of Su-30 repair and overhaul facilities in India at HAL, there's no progress despite "agreements" and assurances even at the level of the Defence Ministers of the two countries.

"Due to non-availability of facilities for overhaul of aggregates (aircraft parts), the serviceability (availability for flying) of Su-30MKI is slowly decreasing and demand for Aircraft on Ground (AOG) items on the rise," HAL's Nasik division again pleads with Russia's Rosboronexport in a telling letter dated 24 December 2013. Even the revised deadlines committed the Russians to set up the repair-overhaul facility at HAL by December 2013, and overhaul the first aircraft by June 2014. This seems nowhere on the horizon.

Worse, Russia has put on hold the posting of its Sukhoi specialists to India for helping set up repair and maintenance capability. Documents available with The Sunday Guardian suggest that the two sides are haggling over price. This goes against an agreement that posting of Russian specialists would not be disrupted even if price negotiations were not concluded. In the absence of these specialists, HAL has been forced to fend on its own, as Aircraft on Ground (AOG) are piling up.

"Huge quantities of unserviceable aggregates (parts) are lying due for overhaul at various bases of IAF," HAL states, disclosing that the number of Su-30s being grounded for want of quick repair is increasing. The Russians have been informed that five Su-30MKI fighters are already parked at HAL for extensive overhaul, and another 15 will be due for overhaul in the current year. This number is equivalent to an entire squadron.

Lamenting the Russian delays, HAL expresses even more helplessness: "It appears that Rosboronexport and Irkut Corporation (the main parties to the contract) have limited control over other Russian companies (which provide vital parts like engines)." Supplies and deputation of specialists by other companies are even more erratic.



While warning that operating the fighters without conclusively sorting out the recurring snags could affect pilot confidence, Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia, who recently headed the IAF's Western Command, also questions the Ministry of Defence and HAL for the sorry state of affairs. "It's an issue of mismanagement of maintenance arrangements. The Ministry of Defence's Department of Defence Production is responsible. They have failed to resolve the problems," he says.

As the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command, Air Marshal Ahluwalia did not hesitate to ground the MiG-29 fleet for three months after suspicions of its airworthiness arose following a crash. He flew the fleet again only after the maintenance issue was nailed.

Figures reveal how serious the problem of availability of the IAF's Su-30MKI fleet is. Against the Sukhoi figure of just 50% aircraft fit for operational flying, statistics reveal just how much ground is to be covered. The availability rates of the IAF's French-origin Mirage-2000 and even the Russian-origin MiG-29 is about 75%. As India quibbles with Russia over maintenance arrangements, the larger question is: What good is a weapon if it cannot be used?

[Orel]

Vaya con los MKI...

[alejandro_]

Figures reveal how serious the problem of availability of the IAF's Su-30MKI fleet is. Against the Sukhoi figure of just 50% aircraft fit for operational flying, statistics reveal just how much ground is to be covered. The availability rates of the IAF's French-origin Mirage-2000 and even the Russian-origin MiG-29 is about 75%. As India quibbles with Russia over maintenance arrangements, the larger question is: What good is a weapon if it cannot be used?

Sorprende que el MiG-29 tenga un índice tan alto. Hace unos años el avión daba muchos problemas porque no había repuestos.

Ni siquiera un 50% me parece demasiado bajo. Si recuerdo bien, la disponibilidad de los aviones de la USAF no era mucho más alta.

Saludos.

[Orel]

No, si yo no lo digo por el 50%. En tiempo de paz no es raro tener no más de un 60% de disponibilidad, creo recordar. Pero que el ordenador central falle, o que se cuelguen todas las pantallas de cabina son problemas importantes.

[charly015]

Saludos

Con India pasan cosas muy raras que, por cierto, no le pasan a otros operadores

Me centraré en tú último comentario, Orel. Fallo del ordenador central... la noticia habla de "mission computer" que viene a ser lo mismo. El caso es que lees la noticia y da la impresión de que falla un equipo o sistema ruso pero da la casualidad que el mission computer de los Su-30MKI lo fabrica India en la fabrica de HAL en Hyderabad. Hace años que este tipo de equipos los aporta e integra India ya que esa es la razón de ser de este tipo de programas, asimilar tecnologías.

Por lo tanto, como ocurre con otros programas en India, el problema es que cada vez meten más la mano los propios indios.

UN SALUDO

[Orel]

Si yo no dije que esos equipos fueran rusos. Imagínate lo que puede pasar con el Rafale si de verdad le meten tanta mano los indios. De repente la fiabilidad del modelo cae bajo mínimos

[charly015]

Saludos

Me refiero a la noticia que deja el poso de problemas con los rusos cuando, quizá, sean problemas con los Indios de India.

Fijate lo que pasa con los submarinos clase Kilo... sólo tienen problemas los Indios. Y por qué ¿?... a lo mejor el problema es que a medida que reparan y modernizan los submarinos clae kilo van instalándoles cada vez más equipos y sistemas... Indios.

Nadie más tiene los problemas que tiene la Armada India con sus submarinos clase Kilo y mira que probablemente sea el modelo de submarino más extendido, actualmente.

UN SALUDO

[champi]

La India podría producir el PC-7 localmente: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... er-397159/

Quieren 106 unidades, la mayoría de las cuales deberían ser producidas localmente.

Como curiosidad, de momento las mujeres seguirán sin pilotar aviones de caza porque su físico no está bien preparado: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/women-physic ... 3-242.html

[Orel]

La India ha perdido uno de sus nuevos C-130J:
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ve-397555/

[champi]

La India busca nueva plataforma AWACS: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... rm-397626/

Piden seis unidades con una "seta" de diez metros de diámetro.

[Orel]

India comprará seis aviones para convertirlos en AWACS
Viernes 04 de Abril de 2014

El Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) u Organización para la investigación y el Desarrollo en Defensa de India anunció recientemente un concurso internacional para el suministro de seis aviones para su conversión en avión de alerta aerotransportada y control (AWACS). Lo curioso de este programa es que no se ha licitado el contrato por seis aviones de alerta embarcada completos sino seis aviones que incluyan las modificaciones para ser convertidos posteriormente en una plataforma de ese tipo.

India se ha puesto en contacto con fabricantes como Boeing, Saab, Airbus, Bombardier, UAC (United Aircraft Corporation de Rusia que incluye a Ilyushin, Antonov y Sukhoi) y Dassault Aviation.

http://www.defensa.com/index.php?option ... Itemid=187