IAF To Induct first C-130 J Hercules Transport Aircraft

Indian Air Force will formally induct its first C-130 J Hercules Transport aircraft on February 5.


The aircraft is likely to arrive in the country by the end of this month and would be formally inducted into the IAF at a ceremony at its home base Hindan air base near here on February 5, IAF officials said here.

The first of the six aircraft procured by India under USD 970 million deal was handed over to IAF in mid-December.

The aircraft is expected to enhance IAF''s special missions capability along with transporting men and material.

India had purchased the aircraft under the US government''s Foreign Military Sales route that includes an offset clause under which the firm will invest 30 per cent of the deal amount back in Indian defence industry.

The aircraft will be based at Hindan in Ghaziabad just outside the capital, where the infrastructure for its deployment has been completed.

The aircraft would also be pressed into service for transporting special forces from the capital to other placesin the country in case need arises.

The US government had offered a unique C-130J configuration modified for special mission roles and these will be the first uniquely configured aircraft in the IAF fleet for its special operations.

The aircraft will be able to perform precision low-levelflying, air drops, and landing in blackout conditions. Special features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environment.

India is also planning to place orders for six more similar aircraft and likely to send a Letter of Request to the US Government in this regard in near future.

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Indonesia Look To Buy C-27J Military Transport Aircrafts

Indonesia Looking to buy an unspecified number of Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartans to augment its fleet of military transport aircraft.

It will assess the aircraft based on its "operation requirements, technical specifications [and] logistics support", says air force chief Air Chief Marshal Imam Sufaat.

Apart from the C-27Js, the service is also reportedly considering the Airbus Military C-295 that is licence-produced in Bandung by state-owned Indonesian Aerospace.

"We also need a middle transport fleet. This could be met with the procurement of C-27J Spartans. A CN-235 has the capacity to transport about three tonnes of load while a Spartan is able to carry a load of up to 10 tonnes," the air force chief adds.

The service is focused on the purchase of transport aircraft due to an anticipated increase of military operations in the next five years, he adds.

Alenia is waiting for the air force to provide information on the number of aircraft needed and delivery schedule before it offers its aircraft.

"Indonesia has a need for transport aircraft. Of course this is of interest for Alenia Aeronautica, as we believe that the C-27J tactical transport aircraft can meet these requirements. We believe that their requirement could be quite urgent: air mobility is certainly crucial for a country like Indonesia," adds the Finmeccanica subsidiary.

In addition to Fokker F-27s and CN-235s, the Indonesian air force also operates de Havilland Canada DHC-5s, Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Lockheed L-100s, Fokker F-28s and Airbus Military C-212s for its military airlift and transport.

The C-27J is operated or has been ordered by several air forces around the world, including Bulgaria, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Morocco, Romania and Slovakia. The US Air Force and US Army also operate the type as the Joint Cargo Aircraft.

India has issued a request for information for 16 medium military transport aircraft, to which Alenia has responded. Taiwan is also looking to buy the C-27J as well.

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Chinese Y-20 copy of C-17 Globmaster Long Range Transport Aircraft

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India Approves 10 C-17 Purchase Deal Having Worth Nearly 4.1 Billion Dollar

The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the country’s final arbiter on defense and security issues, has approved the purchase of ten C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft.

The order is expected to be worth USD 4.1 billion.

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3rd And 4th Indian C-130J Super Hercules planes Will Arrive Soon

The 3rd and 4th of six C-130J Super Hercules planes acquired by India in a $950 million deal have left for their new home, Air Force Station Hindon, outside New Delhi. The remaining two C-130Js on order will be delivered later this summer, the plane's manufacturers Lockheed Martin said announcing the departure of the aircraft from its facility in Marietta, Georgia, Wednesday.

Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set, the aircraft can perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landing in blackout conditions, Lockheed said. Self-protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environments. The aircraft also is equipped with air-to-air receiver refuelling capability for extended range operations, it said.

Source:  http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=245506

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Chinese Comac C919 Commercial Airliner

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Chinese Aerospace Manufacturer Opens Europe Office In Paris

Chinese Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (Comac) on Sunday set up its European office in Paris, the second overseas branch after its U.S. office, marking a new step for China's aviation industry in opening-up and international exchanges.

"The establishment of Comac Europe office is very significant. It represents the strategic cooperation between China and France and will deepen the two sides' collaboration in aerospace and all areas concerned," Chinese Ambassador Kong Quan said at an opening ceremony, citing Europe's influence in global aerospace industry and civil aviation market.

"Taking self-dependent innovation as the strategic cornerstone, Comac meanwhile actively conducts international cooperation and draws upon advanced technologies and experience in global civil aviation industry...," Comac President Jin Zhuanglong said.

The Chinese aerospace manufacturer has built up cooperative relationship and partnership with dozens of enterprises and institutions in many countries and regions since its establishment in May 2008 in Shanghai.

Regional jet ARJ21 and the trunkliner C919 are two flagship products of the young Chinese company. The group is now working to achieve certification and delivery of ARJ21-700 aircraft by the end of this year, Jin said.

With regard to China's C919 trunkliner program, Jin said COMAC has signed cooperation agreements with 17 international companies in the United States and Europe, and has actively explored collaboration with GECAS, British Airways and Ryanair.

"In the context that the world economy is on recovery from the financial crisis, the civil aviation industry is facing great challenge. We are willing to keep close contact with all relevant public administrations and forge friendly relations and cooperation with overseas suppliers to contribute to the development of world civil aviation industry," Jin said.

For the French State Secretary for Transport Thierry Marianne, who also attended the opening ceremony, the Chinese aviation market has great potential in the years to come, and China is estimated to need 3,000 new planes.

"We have understood that China had decided to build its own aerospace industry. It is a legitimate choice," Marianne said.

A demo mock-up of the full-scale forward fuselage of C919 will be displayed during the 49th Paris Air Show on June 20-26, which will be the first time that the 1:1 demo mock-up is to be showcased at an international stage outside China, Jin told Xinhua.

During the air show, Comac is going to sign agreements with an international airline and an airborne-system supplier and carry out a series of activities concerning international cooperation and exchanges, according to the group.

Source: 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-06/20/c_13938396.htm

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