
Enjoy these images of the Indian Air Force as it commemorated Air Force Day.
The French defense company MBDA is planning to display a wide range of weapons systems from its product line at DefExpo, including the Mistral VSHORAD, the Mistral ATAM for the Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv Mk IV WSI (Weapons System Integrated), as well as their PARS 3 LR anti-tank guided missile system, which is also being considered for the Dhruv.
In its report tabled in parliament, the committee on defense noted that though it was given the impression on “a lot of efforts” by the ICG to upgrade its capacity post-26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the force accretion rate indicated that the progress in this regard is “slow.”
‘With Mistral having already won a competition to arm India’s ALH Dhruv helicopters, MBDA has also been keen to propose all the advantages that the missile offers as a ground-based air defense weapon’, calling the ‘supply logistics’, ‘service and maintenance benefits’ of a ‘multiple use missile’ to be ‘an added advantage’.
The Indian Navy has issued a Request For Information for a second batch of Multi-Role Helicopters, even with the existing tender process for 16 helicopters still under way. Unlike the earlier tender, the new RFI is also taking Life Cycle Cost into consideration as part of the assessment process.
India’s air show in Bangalore next week will be the largest ever with 29 countries bringing their aerospace products, including fighter jets and transport aircraft, for showcasing at the five-day event.
28 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and army will overfly the Republic Day parade next Wednesday in New Delhi including 13 fighters and five transport aircraft. Ten helicopters, including three Indian Army Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) will also be part of the flypast.
The European arms firm MBDA has offered its services for stockpile management to the Indian armed forces, saying it can help achieve cost savings of up to 30 per cent, besides configuring life extensions of existing stock and improving safety.
Saab has offered its radar, CARABAS, to the Defense Research and Development Organization’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment for evaluation. The radar can penetrate densely-forested areas and detect mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried underground.