Sukhoi-30s to be back in air in week’s time: Air Force Chief
India’s frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet, which was grounded after a crash near Pune, will be back in air ‘within a week’s time’, Air Force Chief Arup Raha on Friday said. He also said that the findings of a Court of Inquiry into the crash are being finalised. This is the longest period that the Russian-made aircraft has been grounded since 2009 when its operation was suspended for nearly three weeks following an accident. “This (Pune crash on October 14) was an accident which appeared to be automatic firing of the seats. Cou…
IAF grounds entire Sukhoi-30 fleet for safety checks
NEW DELHI: India has grounded its entire Sukhoi-30 fleet and each aircraft is undergoing a thorough technical check following a recent crash near Pune. The fleet of about 200 twin-engine Su-30s would be back in air only when they are cleared by the technical review. "The fleet has been grounded and is undergoing technical checks following the latest accident in Pune. It would be back in air only after a thorough check," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Simranpal Singh Birdi said. He did not specify what were the specific techni…
Desi Tyres on Sukhoi Fighters a Runway Hit
The Indian fighter jets have begun the process of changing over to desi tyres, probably signalling an end to escalating cost and non-availability concerns. The Indian Air Force sources confirmed to Express that the ‘India shining’ story is being scripted by the MRF, which has got the clearance from the military airworthiness officials to produce the main wheel tyres of frontline fighters Sukhoi (Su-30 MKI). The indigenous tyres named Aeromuscle are 30 per cent cheaper than the imported ones. The IAF started looking within the countr…
"BrahMos-M" set for a debut in 2017
Russia and India are currently working on the development of a smaller version of the supersonic cruise missile "BrahMos", which could be commissioned in the Indian army by 2017, said Sivathanu Pillai, President of "BrahMos Aerospace, talking to ITAR-Tass. In order to mount the missiles on fighter jets, the weight of the warheads needed to be reduced, and the mini version called “BrahMos-M” will be suitable for the same. The new BrahMos-M will be modified to be used on IAF’s upgraded Mig-29 and Mig-29k. There are plans …
China rules out Air Defence Zone along Sino-India border
China on Thursday ruled out establishing an air defence zone along the India-China border like it recently did over the disputed islands in the East China Sea, saying such zones are created only in coastal areas beyond territorial airspace. "I want to clarify that on the concept of Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), it is an area of airspace established by coastal state beyond its territorial airspace. So, the question does not arise," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing here. He was respon…
'Desperate India' will not give up the Indian Ocean
Desperate to do something to improve its rapidly declining submarine force, India is now talking to German manufacturers about upgrading the four German subs in Indian service so these boats can fire Harpoon anti-ship missiles. India also wants to upgrade the 48 AEG-SUT Mod-1 heavy torpedoes that (in addition to naval mines) arm the German U209 subs India owns. There is also a search for someone to supply towed sonar arrays for 16 Indian surface ships. India has delayed upgrading submarine detection equipment on these ships and now se…
IAF decides on Sukhoi-30 for BrahMos, final tests from end-2014
The Indian Air Force has chosen its frontline Sukhoi-30 fighter jets as the platform to mount the supersonic BrahMos missiles, whose first test launch will be carried out by the end of 2014, a top official said on Thursday. "We have chosen Sukhoi-30. That is a deep penetration aircraft which is being produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Nashik facility in collaboration with the Russians," BrahMos Aerospace managing director and chief executive AS Pillai told reporters here. He said an air version of t…
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