Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Maiden Flight Of Light Combat Aircraft-Navy (NP1)
The indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas
LCA Navy NP1 today made its maiden flight
in Bangalore when Commodore JA Maolankar, Test Pilot and Wg Cdr Prabhu,
Flight Test Engineer completed a 22 minutes flight. During the flight
the aircraft was put through various manoeuvers including low speed
handling and even undertook a close formation flying at slow speed with
another aircraft.
Earlier the LCA Navy NP1 had
completed various intensive Ground testing regimen including Low Speed
Taxi Trials (LSD), High Speed Taxi Trials (HSD), Ground Vibration Test
(GVT), Structural Coupling Test (SCT) and extensive system integration
tests with power plant using State-of-the-Art facilities at Bangalore
HAL airport.
With this India has crossed
a major milestone in Design, Development, Manufacturing and Testing
of a “four plus” generation Carrier Borne Fly-by-Wire STOBAR aircraft.
LCA Navy aircraft is the first
attempt in the country to provide a complete marine force multiplier
that will give unique battle punch to the Naval Aviation Arm of the
21st Century to fulfil national dream of a blue water Navy.
LCA Navy is the second STOBAR (Ski Take Off But Arrested Recovery) Carrier
Borne aircraft in the world, after the Russian deck based aircraft.
However, this will be the only Carrier borne Fighter aircraft in the
Light category.
Along with Hindustan Aeronautics
Ltd (HAL) who are the Principal Partners with Aeronautical Development
Agency (ADA) in association with more than 100 agencies ranging from
users, DRDO, CEMILAC, DGAQA, CSIR, PSUs, Private Industrial Sector and
academia, spread all over India including Indian Navy and Indian Air
Force are involved in the Programme. The key responsibility of LCA Navy
design, build, integration and testing is with various Divisions of
HAL. ADE has played a lead role in Design and Development of the Integrated
Flight Control System in unison with NAL, Bangalore for Testing and
Integration of Flight Control Laws to ensure safe functionalities for
various phases of flight. AMAGB has been designed and manufactured by
CVRDE, Chennai up-to the certification level. NSTL, Visakhapatnam and
RCI, Hyderabad has rendered critical support for shock testing of LRUs.
Significant Private Industry partnership with ASL (DRDO), Hyderabad
for high energy Carbon-Carbon brake pads, and CADES for LEVCON and stub
wing design, as examples, has helped maturing of Private Sector of the
country. This Project will give us self reliance capability in a true
sense and also help in taking up more Naval Aircraft Projects in future.
Productionisation of indigenously developed Hydraulic system and Fuel
system Line Replacement Units (LRUs) have been assigned to GTTC, Bangalore
(Government Tool Room and Training Centre) and CTTC (Centre Tool Room
and Training Centre), Bhubaneswar respectively. Above all this, constant
support, regular participation, keen observation and continuous guidance
from CEMILAC and DGAQA have ensured stringent certification and quality
requirements are met on the aircraft.
The Design of first indigenous
Naval aircraft imposed huge technological challenges to the Defence
Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) to meet the peculiar
requirements of Naval aircraft; starting from saline and humid environment
of operation, restricted availability of deck run for launch and recovery
and high operating load conditions. Basic design changes required to
suit the carrier operations are strengthening of aircraft structure
and Landing Gear, Arrester Hook, improved engine, enhanced aerodynamic
performance and incorporation of special metal/material. A host of other
systems like the Leading Edge Vortex Control (LEVCON) surface fitted
at the front end of the aircraft wing operated by a concealed rotary
actuator with aerodynamic profiling to ensure low landing speed, good
controllability and better vision for the pilot. The feature of launch
and recovery onboard Carrier at high sink rate of 7.1 rn/sec, flareless
landing with engine to full throttle till arrested by deck cable impose
five times of loading on Main Landing Gear as compared to the IAF version.
Also such axial load calls for re-certification of all Line Replacement
Units (LRUs), components and associated systems of naval version to
ensure fail safe operation repeatedly.
ADA has set a world class Telemetry
and Monitoring facility at the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) to
enable conduct of flight test activities at Bangalore. Intuitive on-line
monitoring and control of the aircraft are carried out by the Test Director
and various System designers. To facilitate proving the aircraft for
carrier borne applications, a Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) is being
set up at the Naval Air Station, Goa replicating an aircraft carrier
with a ski-jump for launch and arresting gear for deck recovery. Take
off area is ready, with landing readiness scheduled for end of 2012.
This test facility readiness is as per schedule.
The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral
Nirmal Verma in a communication to the Scientific Adviser to the Raksha
Mantri, said, “… I express my appreciation and congratulations to
all members of the ADA, HAL and DRDO teams for the first successful
limited test flight of the LCA (Navy) aircraft… We must ensure that
today's accomplishment leads to the timely fructification of the operational
requirements for carrier borne operations….”
DPR
'27th' -- Important Date For INS Teg!
Keel Laying : 27 July 2007
Launch : 27 November 2009
Commissioning : 27 April 2012
Launch : 27 November 2009
Commissioning : 27 April 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
MoD Wakes Up To Corruption In VVIP Chopper Deal, After I Broke The Story In 2007!
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today directed his ministry officials to get a fresh report from the Indian Embassy in Rome following a media report alleging malpractices in the procurement of 12 helicopters for the VVIP Communication Squadrons of the Indian Air Force from Ms. Agusta Westland.
There were media reports also in February 2012 about investigations undertaken by Italian authorities into alleged unethical dealings by M/s Finmeccanica Italy. Following this, information was sought by MoD from the Indian Embassy in Rome. The Indian Embassy reported that Italian authorities were conducting preliminary investigations on allegations of financial malpractices occurring within Finmeccanica and its subsidiaries in general. There was no specific probe being conducted on India-related transactions. There is no clear indication at this stage whether the India related deal would be probed on the strength of preliminary investigations.
It may be recalled that the contract for the procurement of the helicopters contains the standard provisions against use of undue influence and employment of agents and payment of agency commission. A Pre-Contract Integrity Pact has also been signed between Agusta Westland and MoD.
Any such complaint or allegation received will be investigated and the contractual provisions invoked, in case any wrong doing is established, in addition to action that may be required under law.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)