First flight of Tejas aircraft LSP-4 takes off

 Photo Courtesy - Shiv Aroor @ LiveFist

BANGALORE: The first flight of Tejas Aircraft LSP-4 (Limited Series Production aircraft) took to the skies on Wednesday, going supersonic touching a 1.1 Mach speed.

The aircraft took off at 1110 hrs from HAL's Bangalore airport and landed forty minutes later, a DRDO release said.

The flight marks for the first time a Tejas aircraft flying in the configuration that will be finally delivered to the Indian Air Force.

This milestone is another step in the direction of releasing the Tejas for IAF service, which is planned for December 2010, it said.

In the sortie, test pilot Gp Capt Suneet Krishna flew the aircraft to an altitude of 11 kms and went supersonic, touching 1.1 Mach speed with Test Director, Gp Capt D Chakravorty, guiding him from the telemetry facility of National Flight Test Centre.

For all first flights of prototype aeroplanes, it is a standard operating procedure to have another aircraft chase the aircraft under test. In this case, the chase aircraft was flown by the Chief Test Pilot of NFTC, Gp Capt RR Tyagi with Wg Cdr Prabhu as the Test Director.

The Indian Navy has a considerable stake in the programme, as they look to replace their Sea Harrier fleet, which is due to be phased out in due course.

Senior scientists from ADA, NAL and ADE were involved in the development and flight test planning of the newly integrated flight control software which was used by the test aircraft. Programme Director of Aeronautical Development Agency, P S Subramanyam said the Tejas team was now heading to central India to carry out hot weather trials.

He expressed confidence that the aircraft would soon be flown by operational pilots of the defense services. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/First-flight-of-Tejas-aircraft-LSP-4-takes-off/articleshow/6004370.cms

Images of the week - INS Vikramaditya

A bow view of the Soviet aircraft carrier BAKU (CVHG-103) underway off the coast of southern Italy. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Text/Image: Wikipedia

The conversion plans for the aircraft carrier involve stripping all the armament, including the P-500 Bazalt cruise missile launchers and the four Antey Kinzhal surface-to-air missile launchers fitted on the front of the carrier,to make way for a 14.3 degree bow ski-jump. Text/Image: Wikipedia

A view of the superstructure and radar equipment aboard the Soviet Kiev class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Kiev class carriers (also known as Project 1143 or as the Krechyet (Gyrfalcon) class) were the first class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers built in the Soviet Union. Text/Image: Wikipedia


Google Maps screenshot of INS Vikramaditya undergoing reconfiguration at a shipyard in Severodvinsk, Russia

Images from the shipyard in Russia

A possible deck layout configuration

Images Courtesy: www.Navy.com.br

MiG-29K : Carrier-based multipurpose fighter a/c

Source: http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20100217/157912300.html

NEWS FLASH - Conduct of senior naval officer in Gorshkov project under scanner

New Delhi: A senior navy officer, who played a crucial role in the acquisition of Admiral Gorshkov, the Russian aircraft carrier, has been placed under the scanner. Investigators are looking into whether commodore Sukhjinder Singh’s proximity to some Russians was in any way linked to problems associated with the Gorshkov project, including the escalation in cost as well as delays. Singh was in charge of the aircraft carrier project in Russia, and had been stationed there for many years. The commodore was deputed there to supervise the re-fitting and technical requirements. The probe also focuses on his improper personal conduct.

The carrier has for long been in focus for the quantum jump in its cost — the project cost has gone up from Rs4,870 crore in 2004 to Rs11,650 crore currently. In the second week of March, during Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi, India had — in a controversial move — agreed to pay $2.33 billion for the refitting as against the original $974 million agreed upon in 2004. Singh was posted in Russia until about three years ago, and was probably the senior-most officer there to oversee the Gorshkov project. On his return to Delhi, he was appointed to the crucial post of principal director (aircraft carrier project) looking after the Gorshkov project from the headquarters. All of this underlines Singh’s extensive involvement in the project.

According to the navy, the formal inquiry against Singh, who till some months ago was the principal director of the project, started a few weeks ago. It was ordered after incriminating evidence emerged showing his links to some Russians.

DNA has material to establish the commodore’s involvement in activities which were unbecoming of an officer of his rank and stature.

Confirming the inquiry, a navy spokesperson told DNA, “The IN (Indian Navy) has received information about a senior naval officer who has been involved in an act of loose moral conduct. The navy has instituted an inquiry to establish whether this had any influence on the performance of his official duties. Preliminary indications are that the involvement has been at a personal level.”

A navy source said the inquiry is looking into “all aspects” of Singh’s conduct, including whether his behaviour in Russia and proximity to some Russian individuals has had any “impact on the Gorshkov deal”. The concern is whether those individuals were part of a larger conspiracy of the Russian arms industry.

The Gorshkov project took a bizarre turn when Russians demanded in mid-2008 a massive price hike for the refit, leading to many within the navy and outside to suggest scrapping the entire project. In fact, questions continue to swirl about the logic of price hike. The carrier, which was originally slated to be delivered in 2008, is now only expected in 2012. Again, through it all, Singh has had a crucial role.

A navy source told DNA that “preliminary evidence” indicates that Singh may not have played any significant role in deciding the new price.

However, Singh was a member of the cost negotiation committee (CNC) set up last year to resolve the unprecedented Russian demand for increase in refit cost. According to naval records, Singh sat through the first meeting of the CNC last year. The CNC comprised at least three admirals from the navy, some three joint secretary rank officers and others. Singh was among the junior-most.

“The inquiry is going through the records” of the CNC, sources confirmed. The one man investigation, a formal court of inquiry, would “sum up in the next few days”, they said.

Connections, implications

Project cost of Admiral Gorshkov has gone up from Rs4,870 crore in 2004 to Rs11,650 crore currently Singh was in charge of the aircraft carrier project in Russia and had been stationed there for many years Sources in the intelligence set-up said incriminating evidence detailing Singh’s improper conduct was made available to naval authorities, prompting them to start the inquiry

Investigators are also looking at his Russian contacts and if they had any links to the Russian arms industry, as well as if some of those close associations could have influenced his conduct in the Gorshkov deal

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_conduct-of-senior-naval-officer-in-gorshkov-project-under-scanner_1370307

The Lt Commander Rahul Nair I knew - by Sandeep Unnithan (India Today)

"Sandy! Why aren't you in Goa?" That was my friend Lt Commander Rahul Nair just a fortnight ago, wondering why I wasn't there for a red letter day in naval aviation--the raising of the first MiG-29K squadron and the navy's return to carrier-borne fast jets.


I first met Rahul Nair nearly 25 years ago. 'Chukku' was the second of four children--a short nine-year old with a mop of thick black hair. He had a tropical temperament--an infectious grin that would light his face up and a stormy temper that would cut down boys twice his size--and a heart of pure gold. Our fathers were naval officers posted on ships in Mumbai and the families visited each other often. His father, Cdr RM Nair had just returned from a posting in Nigeria with what was El Dorado in the early 1980s-a VCR, color television and a library of VHS tapes. Chukku's home was our mini movie theatre- the first Star Trek movie, The Inglorious Bastards (the Italian-English original that inspired Tarantino) and an endless supply of dubbed Chinese kung-fu flicks. Then it was the cricket matches in and around Nofra as the naval officers residential area was called. In all the gully--cricket matches we played, my bat had the singular distinction of never touching the ball. Rahul, on the other hand, was the pinch-hitter. A ferocious all-rounder who never gave up. This was because he hated losing. I once watched him verbally attack the young umpire who had declared him out. But after the match, as we said, it was all cool.

We lost touch after the Nairs moved to New Delhi. Then, nearly a decade later, while I was working as a young city reporter in the Indian Express, Mumbai, I watched as two young officers with crew cuts smartly strode into Express Towers to meet me. It was Chukku. Only that a stint in the NDA and naval academy had turned him into Sub Lieutenant Rahul Nair. He was accompanied by Sub Lieutenant Saurabh Saxena. Both were naval officers united in a passion to fly jets. They were coursemates and from all accounts, inseparable. They joked about their NDA days--you can spot them somewhere in the cadet army that made up the backdrop for the Amitabh Bachchan-Ajay Devgan film Major Saab. The film was a terrible rip-off of An Officer and a Gentleman and Rahul fumed about having to sit in winter ceremonials for the mess scene in the middle of the Pune summer because the director felt it would look good. Rahul then moved on to train with the IAF to fly MiG-21s out of Chabua. In 2002, a crash of a twin-seat MiG-21 trainer kept us on tenterhooks. They never recovered the pilots of that unfortunate aircraft. "Sandy, I'm safe. But we lost two good pilots," that was Rahul calling back to say he was ok. Those lines would be repeated by his colleagues with tragic familiarity years later.

He relocated to Goa nearly five years back to fly with the newly raised Sagar Pawan aerobatics team and my visits to Goa were never complete without lunch or dinner with Lakshmi and Rahul. And three years back I saw his young son Rohaan, a spitting image of his father. Rahul took me around Indian Naval Air Squadron INAS 551, explained the workings of the Kiran Mark 2 trainer and his love for flying. We met and spoke frequently over the past five years, joked about the odds of two people having similarly named wives, mothers and fathers--Lakshmi, Saraswathy, Vijaykrishnan / Radhakrishnan.

But these were not exactly the best years for naval aviation. Some good pilots died in a spate of Sea Harrier crashes. Each time we spoke, the topic of the conversation inevitably veered around to that of crashes and the gloom over the squadron. Lt Cdr Pannu didn't make it but Cdr Vikram Menon miraculously survived a second crash. And then, in August last year, it was Lt Cdr Saurabh Saxena. Rahul was in tears. They called Saurabh's Harrier crash, Controlled Flying into Terrain or CFIT. A terse, sterile acronymn for a tragic horrible end. I had my doubts about continuing to fly ageing aircraft like the Harriers and Kirans, but for Rahul there was never any doubt. Flying was his passion, his hobby. He would continue to fly for as long as he could.

On Wednesday afternoon, I switched on to watch the TV channels breathlessly telecasting a Kiran Mk 2 spiraling out of control into a building. I froze. I dialed Rahul. His cellphone was switched off. Nobody could tell me the names of the pilots. My mother called in sobbing. Chukku was no more. He had died bailing out of the aircraft. He never gave up to the very end.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/87064/India/The+Lt+Commander+Rahul+Nair+I+knew.html

Ship rams into Coast Guard vessel in Mumbai harbour

MUMBAI: A private ship rammed into a Coast Guard vessel in the Mumbai Harbour here Tuesday evening, an official said.

Though details of the accident and the number of casualties were not immediately available, the official said all efforts were under way to save the Coast Guard ship, which has apparently suffered serious damages in the collision.

Despite repeated attempts, Coast Guard officials in Mumbai and New Delhi were not available for comment.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Merchant-ship-collides-with-Coast-Guard-vessel-no-casualties-/articleshow/5716379.cms

Indian navy deploys INS Nirdeshak for hydrographic assistance to Mauritius

Image Source: http://pages.intnet.mu/warbirds/warships/auxils.htm

1. INS Nirdeshak set sail for Mauritius for a hydrographic survey mission on 17 Mar 10. The ship is likely to operate in Mauritian waters for about four weeks.

2. The deployment of INS Nirdeshak is in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mauritian government. During the last four years about ten hydrographic surveys have been conducted by the Indian Navy in Mauritian waters. Some of the important surveys undertaken include those for Mauritian capital Port Louis harbour, Port Mathurin in Rodrigues Island, Carajos Cargados Shoals and Agalega Island. It is noteworthy that before the survey by the Indian Navy, Agalega was last surveyed over 100 years ago.

3. In addition to hydrographic survey of important ports, harbours and designated sea areas around the islands, the MoU encompasses training of Mauritian hydrographic personnel at National Institute of Hydrography at Goa and provision of expertise for setting up of a hydrographic infrastructure at Mauritius.

4. As a result of the sustained hydrographic assistance, four navigational charts of Mauritian waters have been produced and handed over. This is likely to give a boost to their sea trade. The survey will also be assisting land based ocean industries being set up in Mauritius.

5. This survey will also include collection of supporting data for the continental shelf claims of Mauritius. Surveys related to the development of the tourism industry in the islands are also conducted.

6. The regular presence of Indian Naval survey ships in Mauritius has generated a swell of goodwill and further reinforced the strong links between the two countries. The crew of the survey ships have not only been involved in surveying unchartered waters but have also endeared themselves to the local populace by participating in community building exercises during their short visits to the harbour, providing assistance in reaching supplies to far flung islands and acting as goodwill ambassadors.

7. It may be recalled that Indian Naval Ship Nirdeshak was the last ship to visit Mauritius during March - April 2009. On her return passage to India the ship was diverted to Seychelles to demonstrate Indian Naval presence and to deter piracy in the region. During her deployment off Seychelles the ship was involved in the successful capture of nine pirates in an operation which was coordinated with Spanish frigate Numancia.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=59749&kwd=

Update: Top military brass against permanent commission to women officers

NEW DELHI: Women may have had a long history in military, right from the days of Joan of Arc or even Jhansi ki Rani, but the Indian military brass remains dead against granting permanent commission (PC) to women officers across the board due to what they call `operational, practical and cultural problems'.

Women are being inducted into armed forces as officers since the early-1990s, and many of them have served with distinction, but they can only don their uniforms for a maximum of 14 years even now as short-service commission (SSC) officers. At the most, they can become Lt-Colonels and their equivalents in IAF and Navy in these 14 years.

Many women officers, serving and retired, do not agree with the `double standards' practised in armed forces. "On one hand, the forces keep cribbing about the shortage of officers. On the other, they are perfectly willing to let go of this (women) well-trained and available human resource,'' said a Major.

The government in 2008 did issue orders for PC for women officers but, in what many saw as mere lip-service to gender equality, it was restricted to just the legal and education wings of the three Services, as also IAF's accounts branch and Navy's `naval constructor' department.

The reason was plain and simple. These wings do not involve command of men or battalions. "Women officers have neither been trained for command nor given the responsibility so far,'' a senior officer told TOI on Friday.

"We are going in for having a large SSC base and a lean PC cadre. Granting PC to existing women SSC officers will hit the entire restructuring process. Grant of PC to women must be based on military needs and organisational requirements, not social considerations or pressure exerted by some groups. It has to be a gradual process,'' he added.

But how gradual will the process be? The 2009 batch of SSC women cadets currently undergoing training in the Officers' Training Academy at Chennai or IAF Academy at Dundigal, for instance, will be given the option to choose PC in the legal or education branches just a year or two before they complete 10 years in service. As per existing policy, no serving women officer can get PC.

Some women officers contend they often face a condescending attitude from their colleagues and seniors in the predominantly-male environment of the 13-lakh strong armed forces, where they constitute barely 2.5% to 6% of the officer cadre. Women, of course, are not inducted as PBORs (personnel below officer rank).

"In many fields, like engineering, signals or even flying, women have done better than their male counterparts. So, what is the problem if they are given PC? It's tough to get a second career at 35-40,'' says a woman officer.

Yes, there are operational problems, with the overwhelming chunk of the Army deployed along the borders or in counter-insurgency operations, but women officers can certainly be considered for PC in wings like engineering, ordnance, intelligence, signals, logistics, air traffic control and the like, which will not take them directly to the battlefront.

The military brass, however, holds it's essential to obtain feedback on the performance of women based on the now revised pre-commission training (from the earlier 24 weeks to the present 49 weeks), detailment on courses such as junior command course and assess their performance as sub-unit commanders especially in field areas for holding higher ranks and grant of PC.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Top-military-brass-against-permanent-commission-to-women-officers/articleshow/5677653.cms

NEWS FLASH - In a freak accident, the Navy guns down one of its own

It was a misfire that killed Anil Kumar Pradhan, a young sailor with the Western Naval Command. Official versions put it as a rarest of rare incident, but sources indicate a big operational faux pas on one of India's finest warships.

On March 12, Pradhan, onboard the INS Delhi in Visakhapatnam, came under fire from an anti-aircraft gun on another warship. The 12.5 mm bullet killed him on the spot.  

More alarmingly, the mishap occurred on one of the Indian Navy's finest warships, INS Mumbai. "It's unbelievable that the incident took place on INS Mumbai. It is the finest warship with a battle hardened crew which simply can not commit any mistake," said a naval officer on the condition of anonymity.

"But the vital question is about the round which should not have been there in the anti-aircraft gun during the system check. It indicates towards gross negligence on part of the crew of the INS Mumbai. Thankfully, it was a single bullet, otherwise the gun, which is used to shoot down aircraft, would have caused massive damage to the crew and other systems of INS Delhi," said another officer .

The incident occured soon after the culmination of the joint exercise, Tropex 10, by all the three armed forces, off the Visakhapatnam coast-the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. "After the exercise was over, some of the ships had anchored at Vizag port and were scheduled to sail for their return passage to the base port, Mumbai," said a naval officer. 

INS Mumbai and INS Delhi were anchored side by side and were scheduled to undergo final systems check before sailing. But apparently during the procedure, the anti-aircraft gun mounted on the deck of INS Mumbai fired accidentally. The bullet directly hit chief radio electrical artificer (equivalent to the rank of chief petty officer) Anil Kumar Pradhan, posted on INS Delhi, and killed him. "There is a procedure to check every single system on the warship before it sails for the high seas. During that exercise the anti-aircraft gun fired, which was loaded with one single round," the officer added.

Pradhan (31) was unmarried and is survived by his parents. He was a native of Sarangpur district in Orissa. Indian Navy spokesperson, Commander PVS Satish said: "A Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been ordered to investigate the incident, but it's an extremely rare incident."

Navy officials also ruled out any doubts regarding the AK-360 anti-aircraft gun. "It's one of the most dependable guns with the Navy and this is the first such unfortunate incident related to it. The actual cause would be known only after the CoI. But it surely indicates towards a very serious blunder on the part of the crew and command of the INS Mumbai," said an officer.

Losing Good Men

It's not just the Indian Navy which has been robbed of good sailors by freak mishaps. On Sunday night, four Indian Army jawans lost their lives when an 81 mm mortar cell exploded at a firing range in Pokhran. A Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been ordered into the incident. The Navy lost two of its pilots earlier this month, when an aerobatic display plane crashed into a building in Hyderabad.

Both pilots had over 1000 flying hours to their credit

PANAJI/NEW DELHI: Two experienced pilots of the Indian Navy, each with over 1,000 flying hours to their credit, were killed when the trainer aircraft belonging to INAS 551 at INS Hans, Goa, Sagar Pawan, crashed into a two-storeyed building during an air show on Wednesday at Hyderabad. The Navy has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

The two naval pilots, Cdr Suresh K Maurya (39) and his co-pilot Lt Cdr Rahul Nair (33), were performing in the aerobatics display when the aircraft crashed into a building. They were performing at the inaugural function of the India Aviation 2010 Air-show at Hyderabad. Posted at INS Hansa, Goa, the two flew fighter jets and were specialised pilots.

‘‘The team has performed extensively across the country at many locations since its inception in 2002 with many an accolade and has had an accident-free record to date,'' a navy spokesperson said.

‘‘Both pilots were experienced members of the Sagar Pawan Aerobatics Team (SPAT). SPAT consists of HAL-manufactured fighter trainer Kiran Mk II aircraft based at INS Hansa at Dabolim,'' the spokesperson added.

The aircraft, an Mk II frame number 708, crashed a couple of minutes before noon in the Bowenpally locality near the old Begumpet Airport in the heart of Hyderabad.

It appears Commander Maurya tried his best until the last minute to steer the aircraft out of the civilian area to minimise human casualty.His co-pilot, Lt Commander Rahul Nair, had ejected, but was short of the required altitude and failed to activate his parachute. The accident took place killing both when the Sagar Pawan team was in its final action called ‘downward bomb bust manoeuvre' which would have taken the four aircraft in different directions.

 

Cdr Suresh Maurya

Lt Cdr Rahul Nair

Cdr Maurya was from Sultanpur in UP and is survived by his wife, while Lt Cdr Nair was from Kerala and is survived by his wife and a three-year-old son. The family lives in Mayur Vihar in Delhi.

Both Nair and Maurya had checked into a hotel in Hyderabad for the airshow on February 27. ‘‘In the final dive, the pilots either overshot the ‘dive limit' and could not pull up fast enough or the engine failed, making it impossible for them to control the aircraft,'' said a Navy official.

A Navy spokesperson said the Kiran aircraft fleet has been grounded until the cause of accident is
known. ‘‘It's the standard practice after any accident,'' the official added.

The Sagar Pawan team has performed over 100 shows in the past five years with a record 10 years of accident-free flying. The first batch of Kiran Mk II was delivered to the Navy in 1986 and the aerobatic unit Sagar Pawan was constituted in 2003. Two previous aircrashes recorded for Kiran were in 1998 and 1999. The crash rate for Kiran is one in 10,000 hours of flying.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Both-pilots-had-over-1000-flying-hours-to-their-credit/articleshow/5639051.cms

R.I.P ... May God give strength to the families of these two bravehearts.

NEWS FLASH - Navy plane crashes during airshow in Hyderabad

Image Copyright - NDTV

A Navy aircraft crashed into a residential building in a crowded area during an airshow in Hyderabad. At least one person, the pilot, is believed to have been killed. The other casualties are not known yet.

The aircraft that crashed was a Kiran MK-II aircraft belonging to the 'Sagar Pawan' aerobatic team of the Navy.  Sources say after doing dive formation that was part of the air show organized for the inaugural event of the India Aviation Summit, the planes were levelling out before flying off in different directions.

Eyewitnesses say the plane nose-dived in a free fall. Rescue team says plane hit cell tower before crashing. Hyderabad police commissioner AK Khan has told NDTV that the pilot is suspected to have died.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/disaster-at-hyderabad-air-show-17130.php

MiG-29K Technical Training Simulator (MAKS 2009)

MiG-29K is in serial production for Indian Navy. These aircrafts will be on board Vikramaditya carrier. The trainer was displayed on MAKS-2009 Air Show.

"Black Panthers" at INS Hansa (Feb 19th, 2010)

 

Defence Minister A.K. Antony in the cockpit of a MiG-29K aircraft of the Indian Navy. MiG-29Ks were inducted into the Indian Navy as part of the "Black Panthers" Squadron on Feb 19th, 2010

 Source: Press Information Bureau, Govt of India

 

 

 Two MiG-29Ks flying in formation with a Sea Harrier of the Indian Navy.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Govt of India

Capt Ahuja, the first Indian Naval Aviator to get carrier qualification at US Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas. He successfully landed on board USS Enterprise in 2007 to get his US Naval Aviator wings.

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

 

 

From the archives - Capt Ahuja with a T-45C "Goshawk" trainer a/c of Training-Wing 2 at US NAS Kingsville, Texas.

Source: MilitaryPhotos.net

The "Black Panthers" with their bird!

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

Tail hook of the MiG-29K

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

 

MiG-29K at INS Hansa with it's wings folded

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

 

Memento presented to the Defence Minister by the Chief of Naval Staff.

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

 

The "Black Panthers" !!!

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

Air-to-air refuelling probe is visible here on the MiG-29K's fuselage

Source: LiveFist blog by Shiv Aroor

Coming soon...

Coming up - Pictures from INS Hansa, the home base of "Black Panthers" MiG-29K Sqn of Indian Navy