Friday, December 17, 2010

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Indian Air Force Gets Super Hercules C-130J Airlifter

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Indian Air Force Gets Super Hercules C-130J Airlifter
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources PTI
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - December 17, 2010: Giving a boost to India’s air power, U.S. aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin has delivered the first batch of six state-of-the-art C-130J military transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

The new fleet was ordered under a USD 1.2 billion US Foreign Military Sale (India’s first) in late 2008.

“There are few mottos that impart such passion as that of the Indian Air Force, which is ‘Touch the Sky With Glory’,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for C-130 Programs.

“Today begins a new glorious, enduring partnership with India as the fourth largest air force in the world proudly joins the worldwide C-130 family,” he said.

Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules is the most advanced airlifter ever built.

The C-130J combines the latest in aerospace technology with a proven, rugged airframe design, resulting in an aircraft that gives an operator more capability with greater operational efficiency.

The IAF’s new Super Hercules will be the longer fuselage or “stretched” variant of the C-130J, similar to those being delivered to the U.S. Air Force.

With this, India joins the growing number of nations with C-130J fleets including US, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The C-130J carries eight 463L pallets, 97 medical litters, 24 CDS bundles, 128 combat troops and 92 paratroops.

Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set (IDS), the aircraft will be able to perform precision low-level flying, airdrops, and landing in blackout conditions.

Self protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environments.

In addition, the aircraft is equipped with air-to-air receiver refuelling capability for extended range operations.

Lockheed Martin will integrate this equipment and other capabilities into the Indian configuration as agreed between the governments.

The aircraft is being provided to the U.S. under a package which includes six aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets, and a team of technical specialists who will be based in India during a three year initial support period.

Also included in the package is India-unique operational equipment designed to increase Special Operations capabilities.

In addition, the C-130J Super Hercules will provide the Indian Air Force with modern and effective airlift to support a wide range of national requirements.

The C-130J takes full advantage of the Global Positioning System and other highly reliable, automated navigation and route planning aides.

This allows the cockpit crew to focus on the mission and on flying rather than on managing aircraft systems.

The military transport aircraft was received by the Indian Defence and Military Attache Brigadier Bhupesh Kumar Jain and Air Attache Air Commodore J S Walia at a ceremony held in Marietta, Georgia.

The Indian Air Force, often abbreviated as the IAF with over 1,300 aircraft is the world's fourth largest air force after the United States Air Force,Russian Air Force and China's People's Liberation Army Air Force. The Indian Air Force has aircraft of British, French and Russian (erstwhile Soviet) origins. However, Russian aircraft dominate its inventory. HAL produces some of the Russian and British aircraft in India under license. The exact number of aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force cannot be determined with precision from open sources. Various reliable sources provide notably divergent estimates for a variety of high-visibility aircraft. The IAF currently operates approximately 364 fighter aircraft, over 224 ground-attack/bomber aircraft, 740 non-combat aircraft as well as approximately 135 UAVs. The following is a list of aircraft that have served in or are in service with the IAF, for aircraft programmes still under development refer to Future of the Indian Air Force.

INDIAN AIR FORCE CURRENT AIRCRAFT


PhotoAircraftOriginTypeVersionsIn service[4]Notes on aircraft
Fighter aircraft[4]
Sheeju mig21.JPGMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Soviet UnionInterceptor/fighterMiG-21 Bison
MiG-21Bis
121[5]Upgraded MiG-21 Bison to be phased out by 2017[6] Other 80-90 Non-upgraded MiG-21s not included here to be phased out in 2012/2013[5]
IAF MiG-29.jpgMikoyan MiG-29 FulcrumSoviet UnionAir superiority fighterMiG-29S69[7]Known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) in IAF. All being upgraded to the SMT standard. [8][9]
SU-30MKI-g4sp - edit 2(clipped).jpgSukhoi Su-30MKIFlanker-HRussia/IndiaAir superiority fighterSu-30MKI122[10]The IAF have placed an order for a total of 272 Su-30MKIs of which 124 have been inducted as of July 2010[10] and two have been lost in crashes.[11] The IAF will receive 40 upgraded Su-30MKIs capable of carrying the BrahMos cruise missile possibly by 2012.[12][13]
Dassault Mirage 2000 2.jpgDassault Mirage 2000FranceMulti-role fighterMirage 2000H51[14][15]Known as Vajra (Hindi for Thunderbolt) in the IAF. All are to be upgraded to Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 variant.[16]
Light Combat Aircraft.jpgHAL TejasIndiaMulti-role05[17] aircraft are in the IAF inventory though Initial Operating Clearance is expected only in December 2010. 48 aircraft of the type are on order.[18]
Total Combat aircraft
3645 Tejas in evaluation. 80-90 Mig-21s being phased out.
Ground attack/Bomber aircraft [4]
Mig-27.jpgMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27Soviet UnionGround AttackMiG-27UPG100+[19]Known as Bahadur (Hindi for Valiant) in IAF service.
IAF Jaguar.jpgJaguar IS/IMFrance
United Kingdom
BomberJaguar IS/IM139[20]Known as Shamsher in IAF service.
Total Ground attack/Bomber aircraft
239+
Trainer aircraft
HAL Deepak.jpgHAL HPT-32 DeepakIndiaBasic Trainer (BJT)70The HPT-32 was grounded in July 2009 ,[21]but was revived in May 2010[21] and is to be fitted with a parachute recovery system (PRS).[21] The HPT-32 is to be phased out soon.[21]
HAL Kiran Aero India-2007.jpgHAL HJT-16 KiranIndiaIntermediate Trainer (IJT)HJT-1680The HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 is also operated by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the IAF.[22] The Kiran is to be replaced by the HAL HJT-36 Sitara.[23]
IAFBaeHawk.jpgBAE HawkUnited KingdomAdvanced Trainer (AJT)Hawk 13239[24]A total of 106 BAE Hawk trainers have been ordered by the IAF.[24]
Total Trainers Aircraft
189
Transport aircraft[4]
Air.france.erj145.750pix.jpgEmbraer EMB 135BrazilVIP transportECJ-135 Legacy5
RAAF BBJ 3.jpgBoeing Business JetUnited StatesVIP transport737-8003
Wiki dornierdo228 lgw1.jpgDornier Do 228Germany
India
very Light TransportDo 228-20140
C-GBFA First Air HS748 (A748).JPGHawker Siddeley HS 748United KingdomLight TransportHS 748-10064Once formed the backbone of the IAF's transport fleet, but now used mainly for transport training and communication duties.[25]
An32roh.JPGAntonov An-32 ClineSoviet UnionMedium TransportAn-32105[26]Known as Sutlej (name of an Indian river) in IAF service. All are being upgraded.[26]
IAF IL-76 Hawaii.JPGIlyushin Il-76 CandidSoviet UnionHeavy TransportIl-7624[27]Known as Gajraj (Hindi for King Elephant) in IAF service.
100pxLockheed Martin C-130J Super HerculesUnited StatesSpecial Forces + Heavy TransportC-130J6[citation needed]
Total Transport Aircraft
235
AEW&C[4]
Il-76 EL/M-2075 PhalconRussia
Israel
AEW&CEL/M-2075 Phalcon3[28]The IAF might order 2 more Phalcon systems.[28]
Total number of AWACS
3
Air Tanker Aircraft
Il-78MKI.jpegIlyushin Il-78 MKIRussia
Israel
Il-76IL-78MKI6[29][30]
Total number of Air Tanker Aircraft
6
Helicopters[4]
Indian air force dhruv helicopter j4042 arp.jpgHAL DhruvIndiaUtility helicopterDhruv36In addition to transport and utility roles, Dhruvs are also used as attack helicopters.[31] 4 Dhruvs are also operated by the Indian Air Force Sarang Helicopter Display Team.[32]
An Indian Air Force Cheetah evacuating ill J&K Police Personnel. Photograph taken in Bani region of Basoli Tehsil, Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir, India..JPGAérospatiale SA 315B LamaFranceUtility helicopterSA 315B Cheetah/Cheetal28Used mainly for high altitude operations. It is used for both transport and search-and-rescue missions.[33]
Mil Mi-26.jpgMil Mi-26 HaloSoviet UnionTransport helicopterMi-264
IAF Mi-8.JPEGMil Mi-8Soviet UnionTransport helicopterMi-882The Mi-8 is being progressively replaced by the Mi-17.[34][35]
Mi-17Soviet UnionTransport helicopter52The IAF has ordered 80 Mi-17V-5s to replace and augment its existing fleet of Mi-8s and Mi-17s, with an order for 59 additional helicopters to follow soon.[36]
Mi-35 Hind Akbar.jpgMil Mi-35 Hind-ESoviet UnionAttack helicopterMi-3520Can also act as a low-capacity troop transport.
Chetak(070407-N-4953E-002).jpgAérospatiale SA 316B Alouette IIIFranceUtility-92Used primarily for training, rescue and light transport roles in the IAF. [37] The HAL Chetak is scheduled to be replaced by HAL's Advanced Light Helicopter.[37]
100pxHAL Light Combat HelicopterIndiaAIR TO AIR + Ground supportHAL LCH179[citation needed]
Total number of Helicopters
493
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Lakshya PTA.JPGLakshya PTAIndiaPilotless Target Aircraft (PTA)~1023 were orderd by India to be operated by the IAF, Indian army and Indian Navy.
Paris Air Show 2007-06-24 n25.jpgIAI HarpyIsraelFire & Forget Radar Emitter Destroyer?A UAV explosive which attacks enemy radars, but also destroys its self.
Salon du Bourget 20090619 075.jpgIAI HeronIsraelHeron I/IIStrategic Multi-Role UAV~25India orderd 50 to be deployed by the IAF and Indian Navy.
IAI-Searcher2.jpgIAI SearcherIsraelSearcher II100+
Total Unmanned Air Vehicles
135+
Total Aircraft
1,327+ aircraft and 135+ UAVs




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