crazy about defence

CHARLES DE GAULLE

2008-04-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

CHARLES DE GAULLE
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The Charles De Gaulle is a 38,000 ton, nuclear powered French aircraft carrier launched in May 1994 The ship operates a fleet of 40 Rafale M combat aircraft, the Super Etendard and three E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. The ship also supports the AS 565 Panther and Dauphin helicopters. There are two lifts, measuring 19 x 13 m, which have a load capacity of 36 tons. The hangar has a floor area of 140 x 30 metres and a height 6.1 metres. It accommodates 20 to 25 aircraft. The main deck consists of a main runway angled at 8.5 degrees to the ship's axis and an aircraft launch area forward of the island. The runway and the forward launch area are each equipped with a USN Type C13 catapult rated to handle aircraft up to 22 tonnes and capable of launching one aircraft per minute. The runway is 195 metres long and the whole deck measures 260 x 64 metres. Charles de Gaulle
The Charles De Gaulle is a 38,000 ton, nuclear powered French aircraft carrier launched in May 1994 The ship operates a fleet of 40 Rafale M combat aircraft, the Super Etendard and three E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. The ship also supports the AS 565 Panther and Dauphin helicopters. There are two lifts, measuring 19 x 13 m, which have a load capacity of 36 tons. The hangar has a floor area of 140 x 30 metres and a height 6.1 metres. It accommodates 20 to 25 aircraft. The main deck consists of a main runway angled at 8.5 degrees to the ship's axis and an aircraft launch area forward of the island. The runway and the forward launch area are each equipped with a USN Type C13 catapult rated to handle aircraft up to 22 tonnes and capable of launching one aircraft per minute. The runway is 195 metres long and the whole deck measures 260 x 64 metres.

The ship's weapons are managed by a Senit Combat Management System, CMS Model 8. The system has the capacity to track up to 2,000 friendly and hostile targets. The weapon control system consists of two Sagem Vigy 105 optronic directors. The ship has two Sagem Vampir search and track systems. The ship is fitted with the Aster 15 surface-to-air missile launchers, Sylver vertical launch systems, installed on the edge of the deck, with two launchers (16 cells) on the starboard side forward of the bridge and two launchers on the port side aft of the bridge. The ship has two six-cell Sadral launching systems for the Mistral missile positioned on the edges of the main deck about 45 metres (starboard side) and 36 metres (port side) aft of the Aster missile launchers. The ship is also equipped with eight Giat 20F2 guns and four decoy launchers are installed, two on either side of the ship firing chaff to 8 km and infra-red flares to a range of 3 km

When launched, Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was the largest fighting ship ever built by a European shipyard. Designed to operate 40 Rafale M aircraft, it will be the main unit of the French Navy's surface fleet. The Charles de Gaulle was officially handed over to the French Navy on 28 September 2000.

The Charles de Gaulle is the most sophisticated, highest performance warship ever built in Europe. She offers massive air power, a highly-integrated combat system, and impressive endurance. Deploying 40 modern combat planes plus early-warning aircraft, she can conduct 100 air missions a day. As the center-piece of a carrier group, she can perform vital duties in any waters.

Two catapults accelerate aircraft (Rafales, Hawkeyes, and modernized Super Étendards) to over 300 km/h in just 75 meters. The flight deck can launch one aircraft every 30 seconds or handle a mass landing of 20 aircraft in just 12 minutes. Data links (to NATO standards L16 and L11) allow Hawkeye early-warning aircraft to transmit tactical situation data in real time to naval units and combat aircraft
The Senit 8 CMS enables CIC officers and the OTC to monitor 2,000 tracks in real time and engage air, naval and shore targets in fully-integrated mode. As part of one of the most modern systems of its type ever deployed, Aster 15 hyper-agile anti-air missiles provide protection against attacking aircraft and missiles. The aircraft carrier acts as the hub of an extensive communications network exchanging data over 50 simultaneous links with naval and air units plus shore-based command centers

The Satrap stabilization system system offers exceptional performance. At 20 knots with the rudder at 30°, heel is just 1°. Reduced platform motion means the flight deck can handle 25-ton aircraft up to sea state 6.
In addition to state-of-the-art stabilization, communications and automation — including the Senit 8 CMS and the Shipmaster IPMS — all onboard facilities were designed and developed using the latest technologies, including CAD and virtual reality. All basic concepts correctly foreshadowed the design and construction of warships now at the proposal stage.
Safety is essential to the success of every naval mission. In peacetime, the crew's safety is the top priority. This depends not only on the inherent safety of the vessel's equipment and weapons, but also on how the crew handles the ship and how they respond to incidents and emergencies. As a result of long-term involvement in the design and development of powerplants for nuclear submarines and, more recently, the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier, safety awareness is a strong tradition at DCN. No other area of naval architecture demands stricter compliance with safety and environmental requirements, whether during normal operation or combat situations.
The procedures laid down in the DCN Reference System are based on lessons learned from the design and development of a wide range of warships. In addition to guidelines for naval architecture and design, the Reference System also details strict materials qualification processes and quality control procedures to be carried out during shipbuilding.

Dependability analyses are undertaken to check that each system's target failure rates comply with the allocated rates. The ship's Operations Manual is also based on these dependability analyses. This Manual details both normal operations and responses to failures and incidents

Nonetheless, the Charles de Gaulle has suffered from a variety of problems [see James Dunnigan's "How NOT to Build an Aircraft Carrier"]. The Charles de Gaulle took eleven years to build, with construction beginning in 1988 and entering service in late 2000. For comparison, constructino of the American CVN 77 began in 2001 with a projected delivery in 2008. The 40,000 ton ship is slower than the conventionally powered Foch, which she it replaced. The propellers on the CDG did not work properly, so she recycled those of the Foch. The nuclear reactor was problematic, with the engine crew receiving five times the allowable annual radiation dose. The flight deck layout has precluded operating the E-2 radar aircraft.

Specifications
Power Plant
2 Nuclear Power Plants;Two propellers with 4 blades each, 80,000 ch (56,000 kW);Electric power: 21,400 kW
Length, overall
262 meters
Flight Deck Width
65 meters
Total Height
75 meters
Displacement
35,500 tons40,600 tons (full load)
Speed
27 knots
Aircraft
35-40
Aircraft Elevators
2
Catapults
2
Runway Floor Space
12,000 m²
Hangar Area Floor Space
4,600 m²
Crew
Ship's Company: 1,950
Armament
2 Aster 15 missile systems (16 each)2 Sadral systems (6 each)8 Giat 20 F2
Combat Systems
2 Raccal-Decca1 DRBJ 11 B1 DRBV 26 D1 DRBV 15 C1 Arabel1 Vampir DIBV 1 system2 DIBC 2A (Vigy 105) systems
1 ARBR 21 radar detector2 ARBB 33 jammers4 Sagaie decoy-launchersSLAT systemSAIGON systemSENIT 8 systemTACAN : VRBP-20A
Launch Rate
1 aircraft/30 seconds
Munitions Storage
550 tons
Fuel Storage
3,400 tons
Endurance
45 days

2007-07-08T02:40:00.000-07:00

INDIAN AIR FORCE MCRA REQUIREMENT (PART-2)

Second in the series is the swedish plane- SAAB JAS 39 GRIPEN(GRIFFIN) LIGHT WEIGHT MULTIROLE FIGHTER

The Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft, developed by Saab, was first flown in December 1988 and entered operational service with the Swedish Air Force in 1997. Gripen has been developed by an industrial consortium consisting of Saab, Ericsson Microwave Systems, Volvo Aero Corporation, Saab Avionics and FFV Aerotech. A joint venture company, Gripen International, has been set up by Saab and BAE Systems to market the Gripen for export markets.Regarded as the first of the Fourth Generation series of fighters anywhere, the JAS 39 Gripen represents one of the best engineered and designed fighters in the skies today - some regard it as the most capable as well.

JAS 39A is the single-seater version of the Gripen. A two-seater JAS 39B operational trainer variant of Gripen is available. The JAS 39B is equipped with the same avionics and weapons suite as the JAS 39A, with the exception of the gun. JAS 39C is the single seat Batch 3 and export standard version, which was first delivered to the Swedish Air Force in September 2002. JAS 39C has colour cockpit displays, on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) and in-flight refuelling capabilty. JAS 39D will be a similarly upgraded two seater.The base model is piloted by one crewman in an ergonomically-designed cockpit setting. The cockpit features three multi-function computer displays and a wide-angled heads up display. The fighter is designed with versatility in mind, thusly the system can be switched from a fighter, reconnaissance or strike role on the fly - allowing the pilot to accomplish all three types of sorties whenever needed.

The Gripen is built on a delta wing design that sits far aft of the main fuselage. Forward-placed canards are fully reactive and supply the airframe with stability at slower speeds and agility at higher speeds. A reported twenty to thirty percent of the body-covering material is made from carbon fibers and the system as a whole is said to maintain some stealth characteristics in the way of diminutive radar and heat signatures.

Gripen need only 2,625 feet of runaway space to take off or land, thus utilizing any road in the country to mount attacks or defend in the event of an all-scale invasion. The system as a whole is designed to be minimal to maintain in terms of battlefield conditions thusly a single technician and some enlisted hands can keep and make ready the aircraft for flight in under fifteen minutes of preparation.

The Gripen is fitted with an Ericsson PS-05/A multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar system capable of tracking multiple targets at one time. The targeting and communications system in highly integrated with other Gripens (with the Tactical Information Data Link System) allowing for a clear line of communication between flight groups for added versatility.The Ericsson PS-05 long-range multi-purpose pulse Doppler radar has air-to air operating modes covering long-range search, multi-target track-while-scan, multiple priority target tracking, air combat quick search modes, raid assessment and beyond visual range (BVR) missile mid-course updates. The air-to-surface modes include long-range search/target identification, multiple priority target tracking, high-resolution, real beam mapping, air-to-surface ranging and Doppler beam sharpening (DBS).The aircraft is equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor and will have the Saab IR-Otis infrared search and track system (IRST).

The main functions of each display are as follows:Head-Up Display (HUD) - providing FLIR imagery and weapon aiming information superimposed on the outside world at all altitudes.Flight Data Display (FDD) - provides flight data and system status information about the engine, fuel and external stores. Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) - provides navigational and tactical mission data superimposed on an electronic map of selectable scale. Multi-Sensor Display (MSD) - presents information from the radar, FLIR imagery and other sensors. Flight and fire control data are also superimposed.

The aircraft has VHF/UHF transmitters and receivers from SaabTech Vectronics, and a Thales TSC 2000 identification friend or foe (IFF) system. An air-to-air data link allows real-time exchange of tactical data within and between co-operating air units. In the attack and reconnaissance role, the data link allows radar-derived surface data to be transferred from one Gripen to a group of radar-silent attacking aircraft.

The Volvo Aero Corporation RM12 is a modular, fuel efficient, low bypass ratio afterburning turbofan in the 80 KN (18,000lb) thrust class. A digital engine control system automatically monitors the engine parameters and automatically switches on the back-up systems if required. A condition monitoring system registers the flight data. The air-to-air refuelling probe is retracted into the aircraft to retain the aerodynamic profile

The Gripen cockpit is dominated by three large, full color, Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and a wide angle diffractive optics Head-Up Display (HUD) with a holographic combiner. A highly efficient human-machine interface has been integrated into the Gripen to substantially ease pilot workload, particularly in combat situations. This provides a Gripen pilot with outstanding situational awareness, ensuring unrivalled operational effectiveness. It also increases the time available for tactical decision-making allowing the pilot to use the aircraft and weapons system to maximum effect.A fully fused and integrated data flow, processed by all-digital systems, gives Gripen the power, intelligence and agility to fight the 'information war' - for the pilot as well as the commander - to the maximum operational effect. Gripen incorporates the world's most developed datalink, which increases situation awareness and combat effectiveness while shortening the sensor-to-shooter loop to near real-time.

Saab Avionics is responsible for the EWS 39 electronic warfare suite, which has been ordered by the Swedish Air Force. EWS 39 is an integrated EW system that provides radar warning, electronic support measures and chaff and flare decoy dispensers.

The Gripen has seven external hardpoints for carrying payloads: one at each wingtip, two under each wing and one on the fuselage centreline. The air-to-air missiles include MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) MICA, Raytheon AIM-120B AMRAAM and Lockheed Martin/Raytheon Sidewinder AIM-9L (Swedish Air Force Designation RB74). Sidewinder, mounted on the wingtips, is an all-aspect attack, short-range missile for enhanced dogfight capability. Air-to-surface missiles include the radar-guided Saab RBS15F anti-ship missile and Raytheon Maverick missile. Later versions of the aircraft for Sweden will be armed with the short-range Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T air-to-air missile and the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile. Deliveries of IRIS-T began in December 2005. Meteor is due to enter service in 2010. The Saab Bofors/MBDA Taurus KEPD 350 long-range standoff missile, with a range of 350km, has been successfully flight tested on the Gripen.The internally mounted 27mm Mauser high-energy gun can operate in an automatic radar-guided aiming mode. The stand-off dispenser is the DWF39 from EADS (formerly DaimlerChrysler Aerospace) and Bofors. The Bofors ARAK 70 rocket pod is cleared for carriage on the Gripen.

In terms of export, South Africa is to be the first receiver of the Gripen aircraft beginning in 2007. Several other countries have expressed interest in the system including Hungary, which has leased over a dozen Gripen for its air force.The Swedish Air Force has ordered 204 Gripen (including 28 of the two-seater version) for two operational squadrons, with deliveries continuing till 2007. In November 1998, the South African Air Force ordered 28 Gripen multi-role aircraft (19 single-seat and nine dual-seat). Denel Aviation of South Africa will produce part of the centre fuselage. First flight was in November 2005 and deliveries are to begin in 2008. In November 2001, Hungary signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the lease of 14 aircraft - 12 JAS 39A single-seat and two JAS 39B. In February 2003, Sweden and Hungary signed an amendment to the lease contract and both the single seated and the twin seated aircraft will be upgraded to C and D standard. The amendment also says that Hungary will purchase the aircraft after the lease period. Deliveries will begin in 2006.
In June 2004, the Czech Republic signed a leasing agreement with the Swedish Government for 14 new Gripen (12 single-seat JAS 39C and two two-seat JAS 39D) for a period of ten years. The aircraft were delivered between April and August 2005.

2007-07-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

INDAIN AIR FORCE MCRA REQUIREMENT (PART-1)

As I promised earlier, first I will be posting the specifications of all the aircraft and then I will be comparing the aircrafts and will be analysing the geo-political, financial and then I will be giving the conclusion as which aircraft will win the contract.

First in the series is the French plane-RAFALE MULTI-ROLE COMBAT FIGHTER

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short- and long-range missions, including ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance, and high-accuracy strike or nuclear strike deterrence.The Rafale is a fourth-generation 'Omni Role' fighter aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide range of missions. Dassault uses 'Omni Role' as a marketing term to differentiate the aircraft from other 'multi-role' fighters, like the Eurofighter, Joint Strike Fighter and the JAS-39 Gripen.

The aircraft has been developed for the French Air Force and Navy. The Rafale is produced in three variants - M, B and C. The Rafale M variant is a single-seater carrier-based version for the navy, while B and C are two-seat and single-seat versions respectively for the Air Force.The fully capable F3 standard aircraft with Thales terrain-following RBE2 3D radar, Thales RECO NG optronics pod and the capability to launch ASMP-A nuclear missiles and AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles was signed in February 2004. An order for 59 F3 aircraft, 47 for the Air Force (11 two-seat and 36 single-seat) and 12 (single-seat) for the Navy, was placed in December 2004. The Rafale F3 will be delivered from 2007 and the first squadron of 20 aircraft will be in service in 2008.

The cockpit has hands-on throttle and stick control (HOTAS). The cockpit is equipped with a head-up, wide-angle holographic display from Thales Avionique, which provides aircraft control data, mission data and firing cues. A collimated, multi-image head-level display presents tactical situation and sensor data, and two touch-screen lateral displays show the aircraft system parameters and mission data. The pilot also has a helmet-mounted sight and display. A CCD camera and on-board recorder records the image of the head-up display throughout the mission.

The fuselage material construction is made up of The fuselage material nstruction is made up of specialized composites to assist the aircraft in maintaining the smallest of radar signatures. In a way, the system represents the first French attempt as stealth technology with this kind of focus. A mixture of carbon and Kevlar components are said to make up the finish throughout the surface of the aircraft. Titanium and aluminum-lithium are also reported to have been used in construction.The delta wing design that popularized the early Dassault aircraft was back, this time complimented by the addition of two small forward-mounted canard planes. The addition of these minor surfaces added greatly to the agility of the machine as a whole, coupled with the already impressive lift and drag generated by the overall design.

The Rafale can carry payloads of over nine tons on 14 hardpoints for the Air Force version, and 13 for the naval version. The range of weapons includes: Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick and PGM100 air-to-ground missiles; and Exocet/AM39, Penguin 3 and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. For a strategic mission the Rafale can deliver the MBDA (formerly Aerospatiale) ASMP standoff nuclear missile.

The rafalewill also be armed with the Sagem AASM precision-guided bomb, which has both GPS / inertial guidance and, optionally, imaging infrared terminal guidance.The Rafale has a twin-gun pod and a GIAT 30mm DEFA 791B cannon which can fire 2,500 rounds per minute.The Rafale is equipped with laser designation pods for laser guidance of air-to-ground missiles.

The Rafale's electronic warfare system is the Spectra from Thales. Spectra incorporates solid state transmitter technology, radar warner, DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detection systems and jammers.

The Rafale is equipped with an RBE2 radar, developed by Thales, which has look-down and shoot-down capability. The radar can track up to eight targets simultaneously and provides threat identification and prioritisation.

The optronic systems include the Thales/SAGEM OSF infrared search and track system, installed in the nose of the aircraft. The optronic suite carries out search, target identification, telemetry and automatic target discrimination and tracking.

The communications suite on the Rafale uses the Saturn onboard V/UHF radio, which is a second-generation, anti-jam tactical UHF radio for NATO. Saturn provides voice encryption in fast-frequency hopping mode. The aircraft is also equipped with fixed-frequency VHF/UHF radio for communications with civil air traffic control. A multifunction information distribution system (MIDS) terminal provides secure, high-data-rate tactical data exchange with NATO C2 stations, AWACS aircraft or naval ships.
Rafale is equipped with a Thales TLS 2000 navigation receiver, which is used for the approach phase of flight. The TLS 2000 integrates the instrument landing system (ILS), microwave landing system (MLS) and VHF Omni-directional Radio-ranger (VOR) and marker functions.
The radar altimeter is the AHV 17 altimeter from Thales, which is suitable for very low flight. The Rafale has a TACAN tactical air navigation receiver for en route navigation and as a landing aid.
The Rafale has an SB25A combined interrogator-transponder developed by Thales. The SB25A is the first IFF using electronic scanning technology.

The aircraft is equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling with a flight refuelling hose reel and drogue pack.The Rafale is powered by two SNECMA M88-2 turbofans each providing a thrust of 75kNwhich have a dry thrust of 11,000 pounds and 17,000 afterburning each. In order to further reduce fuel consumption and increase the service life of the engine's critical parts (high-pressure core and afterburner), SNECMA has developed a new version of the M88-2, called the M88-2E4. This new version offers improved fuel consumption (2 to 4 % lower than the M88-2E1). As of 2005 all M-88 engines deployed in France comply with this new standard. The aircraft is equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling with a flight refuelling hose reel and drogue pack.

Messier-Dowty provides the "jumper" landing gear, designed to spring out when the aircraft is catapulted by the nose gear strut.

A Paris-based newspaper quoted a government source in Libya saying it has chosen to order 13-18 Rafale jets from French manufacturer Dassault.Libya is said to have chosen the Rafale to replace its ageing MiG fighters ahead of competing offers from China and Russia as well as Eurofighter. The deal, expected to be worth £1.62 billion, would provide the first foreign buyer for the aircraft.

The French air force took delivery of its first batch of the Frence-made Rafale fighter planes on June 27,06 the manufacturer of the long-delayed jet, Dassault Aviation, still looking for the first foreign order for the aircraft. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin attended a ceremony at an army base in Saint Dizier, northeast France, where 20 models of the Rafale were delivered. The Rafale, which is the successor to the Mirage jet, entered service in the French navy in 2004 and 10 models are based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, The Charles de Gaulle. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who attended the ceremony, called the planes “quite exceptional” and the “most comprehensive and most high-performance” fighter jets in the world.

RFP FOR 126 MCRA

2007-06-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hey guys good news! At last the joint comittie yesterday gave the go ahead to issue request for proposal (rfp) by next month.

This is said to be the mother of all defence deals, worth over $10 billion for purchasing 126 (MCRA) and has the clause of right to option for 50-60 aircraft more if the guv. fells the need for that and an 30% offset policy.

Defence sources says that the rfp would be issued to six contenders Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and Boeing’s F-18 super Hornet of the US, Sweden’s Gripen, Eurofighter GmbH’s Eurofighter Typhoon and Russia’s MiG-35 but that is irrelevant as the time taken so far towards issuing the rfp only is so long, how can they gurantee that there will be no delays in selecting an aircraft for the IAF?

In my next posting I will be predicting which aircraft INDIA will choose/ have to choose depending on diffrent scenarios that will govern the aircraft selection and complex negotiations that have to be done.

TYPE 45 DESTROYER - DARING CLASS

2007-06-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

TYPE 45 DESTROYER - DARING CLASS

The first Type 45 (HMS Daring) is expected to enter service during 2009. Subsequent vessels of a planned eight ship class (six ordered) are expected to follow at regular intervals between that point and around 2015. The current estimated unit production cost of each Type 45 is £561.6 million, based on the currently approved programme of six ships. This estimate includes the cost of the principal surface to air missile system (PAAMS), which is the primary weapons system for the Type 45 destroyer. Within the figure of £561.6 million overall cost, the cost of the PAAMS system is approximately one third or about £187 million.

In addition to its role as an air defence vessel the Type 45 destroyer will be a versatile platform that is planned to deliver a number of capabilities. These include naval gunfire support and, through its embarked helicopter, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It will be capable of employment in a full range of tasks including maritime force protection, interdiction and peace support operations. With eight Type 45 destroyers in service, a minimum of five units would be available to the Fleet for deployment at various states of readiness. During 2004 the Defence Procurement Agency conducted an assessment of the potential to fit tactical Tomahawk missiles to the Type 45 destroyer. Although this assessment confirmed the practicability of either fitting or retro-fitting Tomahawk missiles it remains the position that there is currently no requirement for the Type 45 to be fitted with them.

TYPE 45 - DARING CLASS DESTROYERS Specifications
Length
152.4 m
Displacement
7,350 tons full load
Max Speed
29 knots
Range
7,000 nm at 18 knots
Complement
187
Armament (Estimated)

Missiles
SSM 8 x Harpoon (2 quad)

Surface-to-Air (SAM) 6 x DCN Sylver A 50 VLS PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System)

16 x Aster 15 and 32 x Aster 30 weapons or combination
Guns
1 x Vickers 4.5 in (114 mm)/55 Mk 8 Mod 1

2 x 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems
Helicopters
Lynx or Merlin

NAME
IN-SERVICE DATE (PROJECTED)
HMS Daring
2009
HMS Dauntless
2010
HMS Diamond
2010
HMS Dragon
2011
HMS Defender
2012
HMS Duncan
2012

Various components and pics of LCA (LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT)

2007-06-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

pics of futuristic planes - unseen pics of some secret pics

2007-06-25T21:23:00.001-07:00

pics of planes

2007-06-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

2007-06-14T00:27:00.000-07:00

INDIAN NAVY

THE NEED OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

INDIA is a big country and has a very big coastline and oil reserves in the INDIAN OCEAN. INDIA's EEZ is set to grow by 2010 and INDIAN NAVY has the daunting task to protect the maritime interest of INDIAN GOV. INDIAN NAVY has a present fleet of 134 ships that is set to grow. INDIAN NAVY has a projected estimate of 180 ships and this will revolve around its requirement of three aircraft carriers. INDIA has to acquire three aircraft carriers to project its strength in the near future in the INDIAN OCEAN region. The INDIAN OCEAN region in the near future will be the hot bed for commerce and by the opening of the SETUSAMUDRAM project ( the sea canal between INDIA and SRI LANKA ) INDIAN OCEAN region will gain more importance as the growing clout of ASIAN market specially CHINA and INDIA will dominate the future WORLD market. Now lets learn about the INDAIN OCEAN region. INDIAN OCEAN region as the name signifies is around INDIA and some part of ASIA and northern AFRICA. As the economies of the ASIAN giants grow as it is projected that by 2050 INDIAN and CHINESE economy will be among the top three in the world, already from the sea lane 40 present of world oil passes through. And according to strategists this place will be the hot bed for future conflicts. So INDIA has to protect and guard its sea lane because more than 90 percent of INDIAN trade is done through the sea lane and to do so it has to project and maintain true blue water navy that can defend its interest in the golden future ahead. INDIAN NAVY is now in a transformational phase where it is moving from a coastal navy to realizing its dream to become a truly blue water navy, projecting its strength from the gulf of Persia to Indian Ocean. So the need of the day is to have a right mix of modern combat vessels and upgrading the existing vessels. Any navy in the world does not have the capabilities to maintain all new vessels in its fleet and especially in context to the INDIA NAVY where there was no new combat vessel ordered in the nineties; it was a lost decade for the INDIAN NAVY. The need of the day is INDIAN NAVY orders new combat vessel to replace the vessels that are in the end of their life cycle. In the mid sixties defence researchers rightly pointed out that INDIA will need three aircraft carriers. Due to resource crunch the navy could settle for just two aircraft carriers although the procurement of the aircraft carriers heralded INDIA into a select club of nations which possessed and operates these mighty vessels .These two vessels were procured from BRITAIN and were in the mid cycle of their life so these cannot be operated for a long time. VIKRANT which joined the navy first shaped the 1971 war and all the laurels goes to the strategist and the seamen who used the carrier in the best way possible to turn the war into a win and eventually was able to free BANGLADESH from PAKISTAN. Eventually VIRAAT was commissioned in the services in the eighties. In the end of the century INDAIN NAVY has to decommission VIKRANT and INDIA was left with the solitary aircraft carrier VIRAAT. The obvious choice for the INDIAN NAVY was to procure an aircraft carrier and the only option after a long search in the world market was the ADMIRAL GORSHKOV. ADMIRAL GORSHKOV was an aircraft carrier of the RUSSIAN NAVY. Originally named BAKU, she was the fourth of the Project 1143 aircraft carrying cruisers, known as the KIEV class. The ship was laid down in 1978, launched in 1982, and commissioned in 1987. In terms of her armament, the BAKU was built with a modified design relative to the other three KIEV class vessels; however, she carried an identical air wing, consisting of a squadron of twelve YAK-38 'Forger' V/STOL aircraft, twelve Ka-27 'Helix-A' ASW/SAR helicopters and two Ka-31 'Helix' AEW helicopters.In the collapse of the SOVIET UNION, the city of BAKU (which the ship was named after) became part of independent AZERBAIJAN, and afterwards the ship was renamed ADMIRAL GORSHKOV, in honor of SERGEY GORSHKOV commander in chief of the SOVIET NAVY during the Cold War. In 1994, following a boiler room explosion, the ship was docked for a year of repairs. Although she returned to service in 1995, she was finally withdrawn in 1996 and offered for sale.After years of negotiations, on Jan 20,2004, RUSSIA and INDIA signed a deal to buy aircraft-carrier ADMIRAL GORSHKOV, along with 12 single-seat MiG-29K 'Fulcrum-D' and 4 dual-seat MiG-29KUB, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on INDIAN NAVY facilities. Upgrade plans involve stripping all the weaponry from the ship's foredeck to make way for Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery configuration, with a 14.3 degree ski-jump on the bow and three arrestor wires on the angled deck, allowing her to operate the MiG-29K 'Fulcrum' and SEA HARRIER aircraft. It is estimated that the ship will enter service in the INDIAN NAVY in 2008 as INS VIKRAMADITYA.

In 1989 a plan was announced to build two new aircraft carriers, with the first vessel to replace the VIKRANT, which was set to decommission in early 1997. A contract for a design study then was signed in 1989 with DCN (Direction des Constructions Navales) International (currently known as DCNS) of France for a vessel of about 25,000 tons and with a speed of 30 knots. Construction was to start at the Cochin Shipyard (CSL) in 1993 after the Indian Naval Design Organization had translated this design study into a production model. However, in 1991, the Committee on Defence Expenditure informed the INDIAN NAVY to abandon plans for large aircraft carriers and shift the design effort to the ITALIAN GARIBALDI Class due to budgetary constraints. In September 1993, the Chief of Naval Staff 'ADMIRAL L. RAMDAS' - restated the commitment to have a large aircraft carrier ready for trials by 2000, yet no firm decision had been made to provide funds or begin construction. The then Chief of Naval Staff - ADMIRAL SUSHIL KUMAR stated the vessel will be built at an estimated cost of Rs.20 billion at CSL. Another Rs.50 million will be spent on expanding CSL's shipyards warehousing space, extending its marshalling yard and acquiring new equipment as the vessel is the largest and broadest ship ever to built in India. In 2001, CSL released an image illustrating the 32,000-ton STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) design with a pronounced ski jump. The design of the superstructure and sensor suite was considerably different from the model displayed at Def Expo 1999. In February 2002, the then Chief of Naval Staff ADMIRAL MADHVENDRA SINGH - stated that the commissioning of the ADS will take 8 to 10 years since CSL had not yet been modernized. On 20 March 2002, the then Defence Minister GEORGE FERNANDES stated that the Navy had reassessed their requirement and proposed building a larger vessel displacing 37,500 tons, measuring 252 meters by 58 meters and with a top speed of 28 knots. In August 2006, the then Chief of Naval Staff - ADMIRAL ARUN PRAKASH stated that the designation for the vessel has been changed from Air Defence Ship (ADS) to Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). He also stated that delivery to the Indian Navy will be within 7 to 8 years and that would suggest a commissioning date of 2014.

Now according to the earlier envisaged plan now INDIAN NAVY is planning to start production of the second aircraft carrier as soon the first IAC is commissioned that means INDAIN NAVY may operate 3 aircraft carriers by 2020. If the above plan goes as planned then INDIA can call itself true blue water navy and project its strength in the whole of INDIAN OCEAN and can change political decisions.