“I think the policy makes all the sense in the world for what the Prime Minister wants to do for the aerospace and defense sector,” said Chris Raymond, VP for Business Development & Strategy at Boeing Defense Space & Security.
The new order for two of the Indian Navy’s four HDW Type-209 submarines is expected to cost an estimated USD 200 million and the planned purchase currently awaits the Indian govt’s approval of the US Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).
Airbus Helicopters has initiated the process to get approval for a joint venture with an Indian partner to manufacture helicopters in India, with a majority stake held by the European company.
Boeing is expecting a contract from the IAF this year to set up a facility for training pilots and loadmasters for the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Hindon.
Steven Gillard of Rolls-Royce spoke to StratPost about the Naval Aircraft Yard milestone of overhauling the 50th Sea Harrier Pegasus engine and the role played by his company in helping achieve it.
After confusion over who would decide the commercial aspects of the order, the case is set to move to the Defense Acquisitions Council (DAC), headed by the defense minister, for Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).
After spending USD 30 billion on the FGFA and USD 20 billion on the MMRCA, the Indian Air Force will be left with a serious shortfall of at least 14 squadrons in 2032, going by the ‘best-case scenario’.
Captain HS Jhajj was the first navy pilot to be trained on the Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft and would have been the first CO of the P-8I Sqn.
The team is in the US to discuss the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) and terms for the new Defense Framework Agreement in a trip timed just before the Modi visit.
While General Atomics’ Predator and Reaper drones are not licensed for export to India, Lall will be promoting a line-up of commercial products, besides the EMALS system being developed by the company.
The armed forces personnel to be awarded for gallantry this Independence Day include Major Mukund Varadarajan, who is being awarded the Ashok Chakra, posthumously.
The final session of the roundtable summarized the state of Indian air power and discussed ways to alleviate the difficult situation the air force could find itself in future.
The roundtable moved on to discuss the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, the DRDO development of a new fighter to be produced by HAL, and raised serious concerns on the impact of it’s possible failure.
The discussion moved to the IAF’s tender for acquisition of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat aircraft with the question being: How does MMRCA fit future air power needs, costs, squadron strength?
In the next round, the roundtable discussed the balance of air power in India’s neighborhood and the challenges posed by the air forces of Pakistan and China.
