Moles Or Morons In Indian Defense Establishment

Not so surprising if you are an Indian and have a taste of the official bureaucracy, a file related to Hawk AJT acquirement  has suddenly disappeared from the ministry of defense. As per the old routine ministry has ordered an inquiry to bring the guilty to justice swiftly....(read never)

The missing file dealt with 20 AJT's being procured for  IAF's surya kiran aerobatics team. which has been cooling its heels for last three years due to no jets to practice with.

Readers might remember similar thing happened with another file dealing with MMRCA contract, which went missing and was handed back to IAF by a civilian under very-2 mysterious circumstances.

You can add this to the assertions of the intelligence agency which was quite clear that Mumbai attack of 26/11 was facilitated by a mole in the Government of India. They never caught him.

Followers of this blog may be reminded of the case where a military officer asked a subedar to copy some documents from his computer and gave him the password for the same. This particular person turned out to be a guy working for the enemy and was caught handing over files to the Pakistani embassy worker.

Few years back the army sent its computers for overhaul with the hardidsk with sensitive information to local computer retail shop.

So you can draw your own conclusion as to what is going on in New Delhi. It would be very naive on our part to believe that our establishment is not being targeted (successfully) for infiltration and espionage. Not every agent is James bond or wears a long black overcoat.

Tata to build aerostructure for Pilatus

In a major boost to manufacturring sector as laid down by the roadmap introduced by the new PM, we have learnt that Switzerland based Pilatus Aircraft Limited and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have entered into an agreement for manufacturing aerostructures( which includes the airframe of the plane with fuselage, cockpit, fins, rudders, wings etc).
The Swiss company supplies the PC-7 MkII Trainer aircraft to the I.A.F. 

I.A.F has already put in an order fro 75 such aircrafts.

"We are delighted to enter into a relationship with TASL, which is known for its high quality aero structure assembly capability, proven to many prestigious international aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Tata is without doubt a partner of choice for Pilatus in the continued expansion of its portfolio of international subcontractors. The partnership is also important in the context of Pilatus' offset obligation resulting from the sale of the PC-7 MkII Training Aircraft System to the Indian Air Force", CEO of Pilatus Aircraft, Markus Bucher, stated in a press release.

"We are pleased to enter into a partnership with Pilatus, known for its technology leadership and excellence in the business jet and trainer aircraft segment. It is a matter of pride for us that Pilatus has found Tata Advanced Systems to be the partner of choice in its global supply chain. This significant initiative is testament to the strong performance demonstrated by Tata Advanced Systems in recent years to become a supplier of choice for Aerostructures manufacturing. Our desire is to further strengthen this partnership with Pilatus to develop capabilities for complete aircraft manufacturing in India, which will meet the needs of the Indian Defence Forces." TASL chairman, S Ramadorai, said.

Garuda 5 exercise begins in Jodhpur

Garuda-5 Update

70 member French Airforce team has landed in Jodhpur for the Garuda-5, this event has got quite a bit news coverage because French airforce will be using 4 Rafale multi-role fighters against Indian Su-30MKI,MiG-27 and MiG-21.

The two air forces would be engaged in various missions ranging from close combat engagement of large forces, slow mover protection, and protecting and engaging high-value aerial assets in the exercise at the strategic airbase near Indo-Pak border.

The airchiefs of French and Indian airforce would be flying the Raflae and Sukhoi.

It will help the Indian side understand the best way to use Rafale by watching it in action in the hands of french pilots and the French team will get a first hand experience of the needs and thinking of the Indian pilots. Added to that is the exchange of ideas for maintaining and servicing such high end products between the ground crews of both the forces.

Defense minister Jaitley is scheduled for a visit.

Rafale Details

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks, reconnaissance, high-accuracy strikes and nuclear strike deterrence. The aircraft were developed for the French Air Force and Navy. France's Air Force and Navy ordered 180 (132 for the air force and 48 for the navy), 100 aircraft had been delivered by the end of 2010. The Rafale entered into service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. Ten aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

Read more about Rafale

Drone Footage OF IAF C-130J Landing At Daulat Beg Oldie

Courtesy http://www.livefistdefence.com/2013/08/video-drone-footage-of-iafs-c-130j.html

MIG-29 Kub Crashes In Russia, Aftershocks Felt In India

Two pilots were killed on Thursday when a Russian Air Force MiG-29Kub fighter jet crashed in the Astrakhan region of Russia on Thursday, law enforcement sources said.

“At 4.43 p.m. the aircraft went off the radar screens around 43 km from the town of Akhtubinsk in Astrakhan region,” the source said.

The crash site has been located and an Mi-8 rescue helicopter is on its way to the site.
Akhtubinsk is home to the Russian Air Force’s test and tactical evaluation center, but it is not yet known if the aircraft came from that base.

The defense ministry of Russia has grounded the entire Mig-29K fleet with immediate effect. This has left the Indian defense establishment really jittery because Russia and India signed a contract in 2004 for the delivery of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and four two-seat MiG-29KUB fighters to be deployed on the Admiral Gorshkov, currently being retrofitted in Russia for the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy is planning to use a total of 45 MiG-29Ks, including the 16 stipulated under the 2004 contract with Russia.Until 2010 India has received 11 of the first batch.

Now the government of India has asked from the Russians as to the nature of the crash and the reason behind grounding of the fleet. It is suspected that some kind of major flaw has been found, thus forcing even the Russians to ground their own fleet. This time they cannot blame HAL for faulty spares or Indian Pilots for incompetence. Unfortunately keeping with the new Russian mantra of cold shouldering its main buyer and ignoring all attempts by the Indians to mend fences, they have kept mum on this issue and have refused to comment thus far on the accident.

Kargil-II When Pakistani Intruder Tasted The Might Of IAF

Introduction

The year 2002 was witness to a full mobilisation by the Indian Army post the high profile terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament on 13th Dec 2001. Pakistan Army also mobilised in response. Amidst these tensions the two forces regularly attacked each at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Most of these firings were minor skirmishes resulting in no loss of life; indeed artillery and small arms fire had been regular occurrence for several years. However, in one event the Indian Air Force (IAF) was called upon to bombard Pakistani troops. The battle leading to eviction of Pakistani intruders was euphemistically called “Kargil-II” in the popular media owing to the outward similarities of the operation to the Kargil War in 1999.


Pakistan Army Intrusion

The incident was covered in some detail by Praveen Swami of the “The Hindu” newspaper. According to Swami, Pakistan occupied four sangarhs (improvised bunkers made of stone) and forward trenches that had been built by Indian troops over the years at Loonda Post which is in the Machhal (or Macchil) Sector. Reportedly unexpected whiteout conditions due to rain and fog provided cover to the Pakistani troops.

The area was the responsibility of a battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry under the 53 Infantry Brigade. The overall command of the LoC in the area fell with the 15 Corps.

Loonda Post has strategic value because it overlooks Kel town in the Neelam Valley on the Pakistani side of the LoC. It is not known how long the Pakistani troops were occupying the feature.

However, the official statement by the Indian government released later denies that Loonda Post was captured by the Pakistan Army:

“It is not factually correct that the Pakistan troops had occupied a strategic post on our side of the Line of Control which necessitated a massive attack by Indian troops & air force on Loonda post in Machal sector. However, in the last week of July 2002, there was minor Pakistan intrusion, approximately 800 meters on our side of the Line of Control in the area of Point 3260, which is 1800 meters East of Loonda post.”

As to why the feature was lost to Pakistani troops;

“Point 3260 is not considered tactically important and viable for physical occupation by our own troops. Being in close proximity of the Line of Control and the area not being physically occupied, Pakistan troops had intruded into this area. However, since the area is regularly patrolled by our own troops, they observed presence of some Pakistan troops in the area of Point 3260 on July 26, 2002”.

The Operation

The intrusion was detected on 26th July when a patrol by Sikh LI was ambushed leading to 3 deaths. Per other reports the intrusion was detected by a UAV. The Indian Army responded with 155 mm fire FH-77B ‘Bofors’ howitzers and mortars on the feature from three sides. Mi-17s flew in special forces. In the counter bombardment from Pakistani artillery 11 Indian soldiers belonging to Sikh LI and attached Ladakh Scouts troops lost their lives. Post the initial clashes the Army raised a request to the IAF for support. The IAF in turn sought prior approval from the Defence Minister.


On 2nd August, a multi ship formation of Mirage-2000s from the 7 Sqn “Battleaxes” went airborne with precision guided munitions on board. Time on Target: 1315 hrs.

As many as 8-12 Mirage-2000s were involved in the mission, which was led by the CO 7 Squadron - Wg Cdr Rajesh Kumar with four arriving on the target. Wg Cdr Kumar dropped the first 1000 pound bomb followed by other aircraft. The air attack was defended against by SAMs.

The Indian Army was able to recapture the post after the attack destroyed Pakistani positions. To recognition of his actions Wg Cdr Rajesh Kumar was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) in 2003. The CO of the Sikh LI Bn, Colonel V.K. Malhotra was removed from command but was cleared of all charges in the following inquiry.

Pakistan losses added to 28 deaths in the operation.

Battle in Gultari(Pakistani Lies)?

In a press conference on 23rd August 2002, PA public relations officer Major General Rashid Quereshi, known for dishonest statements since the Kargil War, alledged that the IAF had attacked forward Pakistani posts in Gultari area in support of the Indian Army on night of 22nd/23rd. It was claimed that the PA had retaliated in defence leading to death of Indian troops. The Indian Army completely denied the whole affair and furnished that no casualties had occurred in that timeframe. The claim coincided with the visit of a senior American diplomat Richard Armitage to Pakistan, and hence is thought to be fabricated and not related to the Loonda post incident. Possibly the bogey was raised to pre-empt any such plans by the Indian armed forces?

It is not clear as to why there was no such claim from the Pakistani side during the actual battle in Machal. It can be speculated that since it would mean admission of defeat, Pakistani sources did not reveal it. Secondly, the Pakistani claim would have been untenable given the sanctity the marked LoC boundary enjoys since the Kargil War in international circles.

The IAF dilemma: To Upgrade Mirage Or Not To

The Indian Air Force has a dilemma: should it go ahead and upgrade it’s 51-strong Mirage fleet or purchase new fighters for Mirages’ specific role? Talks between the Ministry of Defence and Mirage’s French manufacturer Dassault are in the final stage and a decision is expected soon.

Upgrade of the French Dassault M2000 fighter aircraft would cost a whopping Rs 14,400 crore but it does not include the cost of procuring new weaponry worth Rs 80 crore.

If the Defence Ministry and the manufacturer sign the agreement, Dassault will supply four upgraded aircraft and kits to upgrade the remaining 47 aircraft to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Roughly Rs 4,500 crore is to be spent by HAL on the upgrade. It will also charge nearly Rs 900 crore for the furnished items.

A section of the IAF top brass feels that the upgrade cost is too high as the officers say that buying a new fighter would work out cheaper.

“Avionics and weaponry are complementary but their capabilities don’t always match. The upgrade process is very complicated and thorough and has to be very convincing for it to be approved,” said Air Marshal (retired) D. Keeler - hero of the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. Mirage fighters were inducted in the IAF during Keeler’s tenure in the mid-eighties. “Upgradation is always planned on the future lifespan of the airframe and engines,” he added.

New weapons required to be fitted in the proposed upgraded aircraft include BVR (RF) MICA missiles, IR MICA missiles, conventional weapons and smart guided weapons with standoff capabilities, and air-to-surface weapons.

Incidentally, Dassault fighter Rafale has been shortlisted along with Eurofighter Typhoon in the over $10.5 billion deal for 126 Medium Multi Role-Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). Two American, one Swedish and one Russian rival firm are out of the race.

The Eurofighter is said to having an edge over Rafale. Dassault sees this as a ‘win-win situation’: If it fails to get the MMRCA deal, it is confident of clinching the Mirage upgrade deal. Purchasing new Mirages is not an option now as France has closed the production line, presumably to avoid competition between Mirage 2000 and the Rafale. When last produced in 2007, the estimated price of a Mirage 2000-09 was Rs 30-35 million.

The first batch of 40 Mirage aircraft was delivered during 1986-87, the second batch of nine during 1988-89 and the third batch of 10 aircraft during 2003-04. Of these 59 aircraft, only 51 are now in the fleet. The rest have been lost.

The proposal is to upgrade all 51 aircraft to extend their operational life and update their capability. The ‘cardinal points’ of the proposal include: no airframe modifications, no changes to major aircraft systems, no modification to equipment bays, limited cockpit modifications, minimum retrofit line modification facilities/activities, and, most significantly, it does not cover the cost of supply of weapons.

As the purpose of the upgrade is to bring the IAF’s Mirage 2000 fleet up to the standard of the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, which is used by the French and sold as the Mirage 2000-09, would it not be a better option to ascertain whether any country wants to sell some or all of its inventory at a more competitive cost than that represented by the upgrade, questions the anti-upgrade lobby within the IAF.

India had reportedly talked to Qatar, which was looking to sell its Mirage 2000-09 fleet of 12 aircraft. The talks failed as Qatar’s price expectations could not be met. Some senior officers are of the view that this setback does not preclude the attempt to identify another source, provided that the price is reasonable and that there is sufficient service life remaining to justify the acquisition.

India must negotiate and conclude contracts for the upgrade of Mirage fighters and procurement of weapons simultaneously, advise senior IAF officers. Otherwise, they warn, weapon manufacturers will dictate their ‘expensive terms’ later.

Tejas LCA Enters Key Test Phase From Next Month

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft has certainly tested the patience of the Indian air force and the Indian defense establishment, but the coming weeks may finally yield important breakthroughs to fielding the indigenously developed aircraft.

Next month, Tejas is due to undergo a second phase of night trials and, if the systems perform as advertised, it will be cleared for night attack, a crucial requirement to achieve full operational clearance (FOC) as a day/night, all-weather platform by December 2012.

The Tejas recently began its first phase of night attack trials. The fifth limited-series-production aircraft (LSP‑5), in the final Mk.1 configuration that includes a night-vision-capable cockpit, was used in six night flights in which test pilots conducted mock targeting and attack drills to test simulated avionics and integration of weapons and sensors. The aircraft’s modified ELTA Systems multimode radar and Rafael Litening pod were both tested during the flights.

Following the first six tests last month, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) said, “The preliminary results indicate that the integrated system performed very well, meeting the requirements of night operations. The flights also tested the helmet-mounted display system [Elta DASH] and instrument landing system.”

With the Indian air force set on establishing its first Tejas squadron in 2013, the next 16 months are crucial for the project test team. There are several flight-envelope expansion tasks still unfinished, including assessing angle of attack, g-forces and sustained turn rate. The next limited-series-production aircraft, LSP-6, is expected to be dedicated to resolving those issues quickly.

The air force is putting pressure on developments. Before Tejas reached initial operational clearance (IOC), the service waived some requirements, but it is firm it will not do so again for FOC, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik made clear during a Tejas ceremony in January when IOC was attained. “We’ve waited a long time for the Tejas. We don’t want a partial platform. We want everything fully operational,” he said.

The absence of certain capabilities that the Tejas team promised but could not deliver for IOC in January 2011 did not please the service, which was finally forced to extract assurances that the untested capabilities will be completed by next month. These include wake penetration tests as well as all-weather, day/night and lightning clearances. Several test points in weapons delivery in different configurations remain on the team’s must-do list and will continue through into next year. So far, the Tejas has only conducted live drops of gravity bombs and Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missiles. Strike profiles are being tested at the DRDO’s new bombing range outside Bengaluru.

In the next few months, Tejas platforms will fire air-to-ground munitions such as cluster weapons, laser-guided bombs and S-8 rocket pods against still and moving targets. Rafael’s Derby beyond-visual-range missile is expected to be a standard on the Tejas, with trials scheduled a year from now. Reports suggest a contract could be signed shortly. In its final Mk.1 configuration, the air force also expects the Tejas to be fully capable of deploying Kh-59-series stand-off strike weapons and Kh-35/31 antiship missiles.

The next big item on the program time line is the first flight of the LCA navy variant, expected in the next two months. Its progress has been delayed by issues with weight, landing gear and sink-rate parameters.

Meanwhile, India’s troubled and hugely delayed Kaveri turbofan engine development effort—once linked to the Tejas program—has made some progress in flight trials. Between November 2010 and April this year, the engine has powered an Iluyshin Il-76 flying testbed on 11 flights outside Moscow. The Kaveri, delinked from the Tejas program several years ago because of persistent failures to meet requirements, is being completed in cooperation with Snecma (and its M88 ECO core) for India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and, in a modified form, the country’s concept stealth unmanned combat aircraft known as AURA.

C-17 Globemaster III The Mamoth

Official Designation C-17 Globemaster III Unofficial Nicknames Barney, Moose, Mighty Mouse, Buddah Primary Role Strategic airlift Secondary Roles Tactical airlift, special operations, aeromedical evac National Origin USA Original Contractor McDonnell Douglas Corp. Current Contractor The Boeing Company Operator United States Air Force, British Royal Air Force Wingspan 169 feet, 10 inches (51.75m) Winglet Span 9 feet, 4 inches (2.80m) Length 174 feet (53.04m) Height at Tail 55 feet (16.76m) Stabilizer Span 65 feet (19.81m) Cargo Hold Length: 88 feet (26.82m) including aft ramp; Width: 18 feet (5.49m); Height: 12 feet, 4 inches (3.72m) forward of the wing; Height: 13 feet, 6 inches (4.11m) aft of the wing Armament None Engines Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofans Thrust 44,400 pounds (180kN) per engine Cruise Speed 540 mph (869km/h; Mach 0.73) Max Speed 570 mph (917km/h; Mach 0.77) Range 4,700 nm (8,704km) without cargo; Unlimited with inflight refueling Service Ceiling 45,000 feet (13,716m) Operating Weight 276,000 pounds (125,192kg) Fuel Capacity 181,054 pounds (28,000 gallons) Max Payload 169,000 pounds (76,657kg) Number of 463L Pallets 18 Number of Seats 54 sidewall seats (27 on each side); 48 centerline seats (8 sets of six, back-to-back); — Palletized seat kit installed — 100 seats on 10 pallets Max Takeoff Weight 585,000 pounds (265,352kg) Takeoff/Landing Distances 7,740 feet (2,359m) at max gross weight; 3,000 feet (914.4m) with 160,000 pound (72,575kg) load Basic Crew Three (pilot, co-pilot, loadmaster) Date Deployed June 1993

The C-17 is the newest airlift aircraft to enter the Air Force's inventory. The C-17 is a four engine turbofan aircraft capable of airlifting large payloads over intercontinental ranges without refueling. Its design is intended to allow delivery of outsize combat cargo and equipment directly into austere airfields.The C-17 will deliver passengers and cargo over intercontinental distances, provide theater and strategic airlift in both airland and airdrop modes, and augment aeromedical evacuation and special operations missions. The C-17's biggest contribution to the present airlift system will be long range direct delivery. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft is also able to perform theater airlift missions when required.

The C-17 Globemaster III is the third aircraft to use this designation. Two previous versions of this venerable system have seen service, from the Berlin Airlift (the C-74 Globemaster) to Southeast Asia (the C-124 Globemaster II).

Significant features of the multi-engine C-17 include: supercritical wing design and winglets to reduce drag, and provide increased fuel efficiency and range; receiver in-flight refueling capability; externally blown flap configuration, direct lift control spoilers and high impact landing gear system, which contribute to the aircraft's capability to operate into and out of small austere airfields; forward and upward thrust reverser system that provides backup capability, reduces the aircraft ramp space requirements, and minimizes the interference of dust, debris, and noise on ground personnel activities; cargo door, ramp design and cargo restraint systems that are operable by a single loadmaster and that permit immediate equipment offload without special handling equipment; two-man cockpit with Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays that reduce complexity and improve reliability; maximum use of Built-In Test (BIT) features to reduce maintenance and troubleshooting times; and walk-in avionics bay below the flight deck that improves accessibility.

The C-17's system specifications impose a demanding set of reliability and maintainability requirements. These requirements include an aircraft mission completion success probability of 93 percent, only 18.6 aircraft maintenance manhours per flying hour, and full and partial mission capable rates of 74.7 and 82.5 percent respectively for a mature fleet with 100,000 flying hours.

The C-17 measures approximately 174 feet long with a 170-foot wingspan. The aircraft is powered by four fully reversible Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 engines (the commercial PW2040 series version is currently used on the Boeing 757). Each engine produces 40,440 pounds of thrust, located on pylons ahead of and below the wing leading edge. The engines are equipped with directed-flow thrust reversers capable of deployment in flight. On the ground, a fully loaded aircraft, using engine reversers, can back up a two percent slope. The thrust reversers direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion of dust and debris. Combined with propulsive lift, the advanced thrust reversers enables short landings. The thrust reversers are an integral part of the C-17 nacelle. When thrust reversal is initiated, both fan and core exhausts are redirected. Thrust is directed forward and upward through exposed louvers for maximum reverse thrust. During ground operations, the thrust reversers can be deployed with engines idling, directing engine blast away from personnel working cargo.

Technologically, the heart of the C­17 is its propulsive lift system, which uses engine exhaust to augment lift generation. By directing engine exhaust onto large flaps extended into the exhaust stream, the C­17 is capable of flying steep approaches at remarkably slow landing speeds. This equates to the aircraft's ability to land pay loads as large as 160,000 pounds on runways as short as 3000 feet.

The "externally blown flap" or "powered-lift system" enables the airplane to make slow, steep approaches with heavy cargo loads. The steep approach helps pilots make precision landings with the aircraft, touching down precisely in the spot desired on limited runway surfaces. This was accomplished by diverting engine exhaust downward, giving the wing more lift. In the flap system, the engine exhaust from pod-mounted engines impinges directly on conventional slotted flaps and is deflected downward to augment the wing lift. This allows aircraft with blown flaps to operate at roughly twice the lift coefficient of that of conventional jet transport aircraft.

Like other military transports, the C-17 uses a "supercritical" wing. These are advanced airfoil designs that enhance the range, cruising speed and fuel efficiency of jet aircraft by producing weaker shock waves that create less drag and permit high efficiency.

In the mid-1970s, NASA Langley developed the winglet concept through wind tunnel research. Winglets are small, winglike vertical surfaces at each wing-tip of an aircraft that enable the airplane to fly with greater efficiency. They curve flow at the wingtip to produce a forward force on the airplane, similar to the sail on a sail boat. The concept was first demonstrated in-flight on a corporate Gates Model 28 Longhorn series Learjet, and further tested on a large DC-10 aircraft as part of the NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) Program. Winglets were installed on a KC-135A tanker on loan from the Air Force and flight tested at NASA Dryden in 1979 and 1980. Eventually, winglets were applied to the C-17.

Sixteen-thousand pounds of composite materials have been applied to the aircraft. Several of the major control surface and secondary structural components of the C-17 are made of composites. The most direct contribution to C-17 applications was the development of the DC-10 graphite-epoxy upper aft rudders. These rudders have accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours since they were introduced into regular airline service in 1976. The high-time rudder alone has flown for 75,000 hours. The control surfaces of the C-17 follow the same multi-rib configuration as the DC-10 rudders.

The aircraft is operated by a crew of three (pilot, copilot and loadmaster). Cargo is loaded onto the C-17 through a large aft door that accommodates military vehicles and palletized cargo. The C-17 can carry virtually all of the Army's air-transportable, outsized combat equipment. The C-17 is also able to airdrop paratroopers and cargo.

Maximum payload capacity of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds, and its maximum gross takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds. With a payload of 130,000 pounds and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 feet, the C-17 has an unrefueled range of approximately 5,200 nautical miles. Its cruise speed is approximately 450 knots (.77 Mach).

The design of this aircraft lets it operate on small, austere airfields. The C-17 can take off and land on runways as short as 3,000 feet and as narrow as 90 feet wide. Even on such narrow runways, the C-17 can turn around by using its backing capability while performing a three-point star turn.

The McDonnell Douglas (now owned by Boeing) C-17 was designed to fulfill airlift needs well into the new century. Boeing is on contract with the Air Force to build and deliver 120 C-17s through 2004. The Air Force declared the first C-17 squadron operational in January 1995. Since then the fleet has amassed more than 200,000 flying hours. In 1998, eight C-17s completed the longest airdrop mission in history, flying more than 8,000 nautical miles from the United States to Central Asia, dropping troops and equipment after more than 19 hours in the air. In February 1999, President Bill Clinton presented the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for business excellence to Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, maker of the C-17. In May 1995, the C-17 received the prestigious Collier Trophy, symbolizing the top aeronautical achievement of 1994. During normal testing, C-17s set 22 world records, including payload to altitude time-to-climb and the short takeoff and landing mark, in which the C-17 took off in less than 1,400 feet, carried a payload of 44,000 pounds to altitude, and landed in less than 1,400 feet.

Eurofighter Typhoon Frontrunner To Win The $11 billion MMRCA Contract

Eurofighter Typhoon is the front-runner for the USD 11 billion contract Indian Air Force Multi-Role Combat Aircraft deal, a senior official of the BAE Systems has said indicating that if the contract goes through a part of fighter manufacturing would be off loaded to India.

"The negotiation for crucial commercial terms will begin next month," Michael Christie , Senior Vice President, BAE Systems India told a group of visiting journalists at BAE Systems' production centre at Warton, Lancashire, in UK yesterday.

India had short-listed French Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for the project to acquire 126 fighters, while rejecting American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-16, Sweden's Gripen and Russian MiG-35 fighters.

Dassault and Europefighter have been asked by the Ministry of Defence to extend the offer validity.

"If Typhoon is chosen, the order for the contract will be firmed up in the first quarter of next year and "delivery of aircraft will begin in 2015," Christie indicated.

According to Christie, Typhoon is a generation ahead of Chinese aircraft J10 Thunder.

"China also unveiled a proto-type of J20. But typhoon is one of the most advanced aircraft, The missile capability of the aircraft and radar capability are of a different level," he said.

It is built by a four-nation European consortium - Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain - with Britain and Germany having 33 per cent stake each.

Answering a question on indigenisation of HAWK, Christie said "The indigenisation programme is very successful".

India had contracted to receive 66 HAWK - 26 built in the UK and 42 under licence by HAL in Bengaluru under a 1 billion pound agreement and the contract was widened by New Delhi to purchase 57 more HAWKs under licence production.

Today, the Indian Tricolour is flying proudly outside the BAE Warton production centre, along with the British flag, thanks to the massive Indian order, which is keeping the company going.

Christie said that India is keen to have 70 per cent of the Typhoon to be produced in India and the 30 per cent in the UK.

BAE is keen to make India a partner of the Consortium, Christie said.

Asked whether India could export HAWK, Christie said, the existing agreement does not allow it.

"We are in discussion to find how we can do that". Christie said, adding, "Typhoon has taken us to the next generation of aircraft".

"If India were to finalise the agreement for Typhoon, it will be produced in Bengaluru. They will have to create new space for it in Bengaluru", he said.

The Big Daddy Of Transport Aircrafts Coming To India

Read Technical Specs Of this Mammoth

India may have ejected American fighters out of the $10.4 billion race to supply 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) but US really has no reason to crib. Decks have now been cleared for the biggest-ever Indo-US defence deal: the $4.1 billion contract for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift aircraft.

Defence ministry sources on Thursday said the Globemaster deal, a direct government-to-government contract under the American FMS (foreign military sales) programme, should get the "final nod" from the Cabinet Committee on Security "within this month".

"All issues connected to costing and offsets (under which Globemaster-manufacturer Boeing will plough back 30% of the contract value into India) have been resolved," said a source.

IAF certainly needs to augment its strategic airlift capability to swiftly move combat systems and troops over large national and international distances, given that it has just over a dozen Russian-origin IL-76 `Gajraj' aircraft. Capable of carrying a payload of almost 170,000 pounds and landing even at small forward airbases with semi-prepared runways, the four-engine rugged C-17s can transport tanks and troops over 2,400 nautical miles.

With mid-air refueling, C-17s can go even longer distances. Along with the C-130J `Super Hercules' aircraft already being inducted, the C-17s will play a significant role in countering China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, which includes five fully-operational airbases in Tibet.

That's not all on the US arms deals front. India is already conducting commercial negotiations for the around $1 billion "follow-on contract" for four more P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, eight of which were earlier ordered for $2.1 billion in 2009.

Similarly, negotiations for six more C-130J `Super Hercules' heavy-lift aircraft will begin soon. "IAF has already inducted two of the earlier six C-130Js ordered for $1.2 billion in 2008. Two more will come around July, with the last two in September-October," said the MoD source.

So, if all this is taken into account, US has notched up sales worth around $9 billion to India in the arena of military transport and reconnaissance aircraft alone.

If one adds other deals connected to military aviation, like the $822 million for 99 GE F-414 engines for Mark-II version of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and the $170 million for Harpoon Block-II anti-ship missiles, as well as the proposed ones for attack and heavy-lift helicopters, the overall figure will jump to well over $11 billion.

Consequently, all the brouhaha over India choosing a fighter over "a strategic partnership" in the MMRCA project has not gone down well. "We went purely by IAF's technical and flight evaluation in the MMRCA project," said the MoD source.

"While Eurofighter Typhoon and French Rafale were right up there in the laid-down 643 test-points, the others (American F/A-18 and F-16, Russian MiG-35 and Swedish Gripen) were not fully compliant. So, now Typhoon and Rafale will compete commercially for the project," he added.

From US, with love:
C-17 Globemaster-III: 10 of these rugged giant strategic airlift aircraft to be inducted from 2013-14 onwards under a $4.1 billion contract. Capable of carrying a payload of 164,900 pounds after taking off even from makeshift airstrips, C-17s will give India swift power projection capabilities. Another six C-17s likely to be ordered at a later stage.

P-8I Poseidon: 12 of these long-range maritime patrol aircraft to be inducted from early-2013 onwards, costing upwards of $3 billion, to plug surveillance gaps over Indian Ocean. Armed with torpedoes, depth bombs and Harpoon missiles, P-8Is will also boost anti-warship and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

C-130J "Super Hercules": Six of these tactical airlift aircraft, customised for "special and covert operations", to be inducted within this year under a $1.2 billion contract. Negotiations in progress for another six C-130Js.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The C-17 Globemaster III is a high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport.
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS
Wingspan to winglet tip	169.8 feet (51.74 m)
Length	174 feet (53.04 m)
Height at tail	55.1 feet (16.79 m)
Fuselage diameter	22.5 feet (6.86 m)
ENGINES
Four Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (military designation F117-PW-100) 40,440 pounds thrust each
CARGO COMPARTMENT
Cargo compartment crew	One loadmaster
Cargo floor length	68.2 feet (20.78 m)
Ramp length	21.4 feet (6.52 m) structural length
Loadable width	18 feet (5.49 m)
Loadable height (under wing)	12.3 feet (3.76m)
Loadable height (aft of wing)	14.8 feet (4.50m)
Ramp to ground angle	9 degrees
Ramp capacity	40,000 lbs. (18,144 kg)
Aerial delivery system capacity
Pallets	Eleven 463L pallets (including 2 on ramp)
Single load airdrop	60,000 pound platform (27,216 kg)
Sequential loads airdrop	110,000 pounds (49,895 kg) (60 feet of platforms) (18.29 m)
Logistic rail system capacity	Eighteen 463L pallets (including 4 on ramp)
Dual-row airdrop system	Up to eight 18 foot platforms or 12 463L pallets
Combat offload	All pallets from ADS or logistic rail systems
SEATING
Sidewall (permanently installed)	54 (27 each side, 18 inches wide, 24 inch spacing center to center)
Centerline (stored on board)	48 (in sets of six back-to-back, 8 sets)
Palletized (10-passenger pallets)	80 on 8 pallets, plus 54 passengers on sidewall seats
AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION
Litter stations (onboard)	Three (3 litters each)
Litter stations (additional kit)	Nine
Total capability (contingency)	36 litters and 54 ambulatory
COCKPIT
Flight crew	2 pilots
Observer positions	2
Instrument displays	2 full-time all-function head-up displays (HUD), 4 multi-function active matrix liquid crystal displays
Navigation system	Digital electronics
Communication	Integrated radio management system with communications system open architecture (COSA)
Flight controls system	Quadruple-redundant electronic flight control with mechanical backup system
WING
Area	3,800 sq. ft. (353.03 sq. m)
Aspect Radio	7.165
Wing sweep angle	25 degrees
Airfoil type	Supercritical
Flaps	Fixed-vane, double-slotted, simple-hinged
WINGLET
Height	8.92 feet (2.72 m)
Span	9.21 feet (2.81 m)
Area	35.85 sq. ft. (3.33 m)
Sweep	30 degrees
Angle	15 degrees from vertical
HORIZONTAL TAIL
Area	845 sq. ft. (78.50 sq. m)
Span	65 feet (19.81 m)
Aspect ratio	5.0
Sweep	27 degrees
LANDING GEAR
Main, type	Triple Tandem
Width (outside to outside)	33.7 feet (10.26 m)
Tires	50x21-20
Nose, type	Single strut, steerable with dual wheels
Tires	40 x 16 - 14
Wheelbase	65.8 feet (20.06 m)

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Tejas Fighter To Get Derby Missiles

By Arie Egozi

A contract to integrate Rafael's Derby medium-range air-air missile with India's Tejas light combat aircraft will be signed soon, according to industry sources.
Delivery of the missiles is expected from the second half of 2012, following the final phase of integration tests that are planned for early next year.
The active radar- and infrared-guided Derby, which provides an all-weather, beyond visual-range capability, has previously been acquired for the Indian navy's British Aerospace-built Sea Harrier FRS51 fighters. Fourteen aircraft have been modified to use the weapon, said Indian sources.

US Wants More Data On Fighter Setback From India

India has agreed to provide the United States with more information about its decision last week to drop two US defence companies from an $11 billion fighter competition, a top US official said on Tuesday.

Assistant secretary of state Andrew Shapiro reiterated the US government's deep disappointment about India's decision, but he said Washington was still pursuing other defence sales with India that could strengthen ties between the two countries.

"Going forward, it's important to recognize that we have a number of sales either in the pipeline or to be considered that will enable us to continue to build the defence trade relationship," Shapiro told a group of business executives who are advising the state department on export control reforms.

"Our strategic relationship is far greater than any one sale," he said.

India last week eliminated Chicago-based Boeing Co's FA-18 SuperHornet and Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16 from a competition to provide 126 fighters.

Instead, it short-listed the Eurofighter made by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, and France's Rafale for the $11 billion contract.

But US arms makers are still jockeying for an estimated $50 billion in sales to India, which plans to modernise its Soviet-era military equipment and technology.

Over the past three years, India has agreed to buy some $10 billion in US military hardware, including six Lockheed C-130J military transport aircraft and eight long-range Boeing P-8 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Shapiro cited those agreements, and said Washington remained in discussions with India about additional sales of C-130 planes, C-17 cargo planes built by Boeing, and an array of helicopters, as well as other advanced systems.

Sukhois Might Have Found The Crashed Chopper in Bhutan: IAF

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Monday said images taken by two Sukhoi aircraft have detected ‘an aircraft-like something’ in an area in Bhutan, giving out hope that the helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu might be located.

‘Technical means are available within the country and are far more superior. I am quite positive, we will able to find the location (the whereabouts of the helicopter) shortly,’ Air Marshal K.K. Nohwar, chief of the IAF’s Eastern Air Command, told journalists.
The Pawan Hans AS350 B-3 helicopter carrying the 56-year-old Khandu and four others went missing Saturday morning after it took off from Tawang at 9.50 a.m, and has remained untraced for the third day Monday.

‘Sukhoi-30s with recce pods and ISRO have managed to pick up something which has been given for assessment. The data (from Sukhoi and ISRO) is being corroborated with the ground situation,’ Nohwar said.

On Sunday, two satellites from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had taken images but they were hazy due to bad weather.
Two Sukhoi-30 aircraft from a base in Bareilly also completed aerial mapping over Arunachal Pradesh Sunday in an attempt to get definite clues about the missing helicopter.
‘Our helicopters have made attempts to go to certain areas in Bhutan. Whenever the weather is clearing, the helicopters which are kept at stand by at three focal areas at Tawang, Tezpur and Guwahati would be pressed into service,’ he added.

Nohwar said, ‘Information coming from villagers says they heard or saw something and this is being collated with other inputs, and based on that search is being conducted.’
The air marshal added: ‘From the time we got the information, we have launched our helicopters to the areas about which we received inputs. We also made attempts to go to that side (Bhutan) based on inputs. The army has also launched a massive operation on the ground.’

He said inputs also came from ISRO on three possible sites.
Asked if the helicopter could have crashed, Nohwar said: ‘It is too early to say about the reason. The bad weather could be one of the reasons. But the aircraft involved here is just four months old and it’s a brand new aircraft.’

Asked if China had anything to do with the chopper remaining untraced, the Eastern Air Command chief said: ‘Let’s not jump the gun, and I don’t think so.’

The Crisis Management Team monitoring the rescue and search operation here identified three possible locations where the helicopter might have landed or crashed – Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagajen in the state’s West Kameng district, and the small village of Mobi in Trashiyangtse district of Bhutan.
All the three locations are bordering the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Will the Europeans Beat The Yanks To the Post

With European fighters surging ahead of the American jets in the hotly-contested race to bag the gigantic $10.4 billion project to supply 126 medium multi-role fighter aircraft (MMRCA), India has now virtually shortlisted or "down-selected" two out of the six contenders in the fray.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Sources said Eurofighter Typhoon (backed by UK, Germany, Spain and Italy) and French Rafale are the ones most likely to figure in the shortlist of the jets which have met the technical requirements, even though US has been hard-selling its F/A-18 'Super Hornet' and F-16 'Falcon' jets. The other two are the Swedish Gripen and Russian MiG-35.

Though there was no official word from the defence ministry on Wednesday, sources said the sealed commercial bids of the shortlisted aviation majors will now be opened for the final negotiations to select the eventual winner in this "mother of all defence deals".

Rafale

Under the project, 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, while 108 will be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd after transfer of technology.

IAF, on its part, had submitted its flight evaluation trials and staff evaluation reports to MoD a year ago after evaluating the six fighters on as many as 643 technical attributes during the gruelling field trials.

This will be the first time that India will take into account "life-cycle costs" -- the cost of operating the fighters over a 40-year period, with 6,000 hours of flying -- rather than just pitching for the lowest bidder in a defence contract.

The contract also specifies 50% offsets, under which the selected foreign vendor will be required to plough half of the contract forex value back into India.

IAF is keen to induct the first lot of these 126 fighters by 2014 to retain its combat edge. It is left with just 32 fighter squadrons (each has 12 to 18 jets) at present, down from the "sanctioned" strength of 39.5 squadrons. This when Pakistan is getting new American F-16s and Chinese fighters, while China assiduously builds new airbases in Tibet and south China.

Dharasu Advance Landing Ground Activated

View Dharasu, Uttarakhand in a larger map
Wary of the build up of Chinese military infrastructure along its borders, India has silently activated an advanced landing ground (ALG) for its air force transport planes at Dharasu in Uttarakhand to aid in the swift movement of troops during conflicts.
The ALG, at an altitude of 2,950 feet in the Uttarkashi hills bordering China, was made operational in the second half of 2010 without much fanfare with the landing of an AN-32 medium lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This information is contained in the latest issue of 'The Blue Glory', an air headquarters' quarterly news bulletin.
Dharasu was a "professional challenge" for years for the IAF and the "trial landing" of the AN-32 aircraft there was effected by the 12 Squadron of the IAF.
"The ALG is situated in the bowl in hills with restricted approach from both sides. It is at an elevation of 2,950 feet and the usable length of the landing ground is 3,400 feet," the bulletin said.
The landing was achieved under the leadership of Central Air Command senior air staff officer Air Marshal VM Varthaman and 12 Squadron commanding officer, Group Captain SK Indoria, it added.
When Central Air Command spokesperson Group Captain Amit Mahajan was contacted over the phone on Wednesday for further details of the Dharasu ALG opening, he refused to discuss the matter, citing "military" reasons.
When it was pointed out that the information was now in the public domain through the IAF bulletin, Mahajan reacted angrily and said he would not give any more details.
Dharasu's opening for air operations comes two years after India consciously began upgrading and opening ALGs along the 4,057-km-long Sino-Indian line of actual control (LAC).
Apart from military mobilisation, the upgrade of the ALGs would also ensure that the movement of civilians and goods continues when road traffic gets affected during the harsh winter.
Daulat Beg Oldi at the tri-junction of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin, a 38,000 sq km of land in eastern Ladakh occupied by China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war, was the first such ALG to be opened.
The ALG, at the northern-most part of Ladakh at an altitude of 16,200 feet and just nine km away from the LAC, was made operational for AN-32s on May 31, 2008.
Just six months later, the IAF opened Fukche ALG, an old airstrip abandoned after the 1962 war, at an altitude of 13,700 feet, only three km from LAC in the southeastern part of Ladakh on Nov 4, 2008, again with an AN-32 landing.
On Sep 18, 2009, the IAF again carried out a first time landing at Nyoma in southeastern Ladakh, 23 km from the LAC. Nyoma was used as an helicopter base by the IAF prior to the AN-32 landing there.
After reactivating the ALGs in the western and central sectors along the Sino-Indian border, the IAF is also working on upgrading the ALGs on the eastern sector such as Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar, as well as several helipads in Arunachal Pradesh.
Apart from controlling 38,000 sq km of Aksai Chin, China also administers another 5,180 sq km of northern Kashmir ceded by Pakistan under a 1963 pact. China also claims the whole of Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern India as its own territory.
In recent years, China has build up several air bases in the Tibet region, closer to its borders with India, apart from strengthening the road infrastructure and rail link to the region, to enable quick mobilisation of its troops.
India has responded to the Chinese military build up by strengthening its border roads and air force infrastructure, apart from deploying its front line fighter jets at bases closer to the borders and raising two new mountain divisions for the northeast.

Garuds To Protect IAF Choppers In Anti-Naxal Operation

The Indian Air Force announced the deployment of Garud Special Forces commandos and four choppers for anti-Naval operations in the Maoist bastions in Chhattisgarh. However, they have withdrawn all of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which were operating there until now.

The Garud Commandos have been deployed in order to protect the choppers from eventual Maoists attacks and retaliate whenever there are hostile confrontations. IAF chief P V Naik stated that Four IAF choppers are operating in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Dantewada areas. He confirmed the use of UAVs in these areas in order to track Naxals, but said that all of them have been withdrawn.

He didn’t forget to mention the choppers deployed there, saying that each of them is carrying a Garud Special Force member who mans the gun which is an external part of the chopper. When Naik was asked about the reason of the UAV withdrawal, he said “due to the longtime use, the UAVs have lost the surprise element and they are not the best choice for our goals”.

The IAF chief discussed the Rules of Engagement (RoE) in the Naxal-affected areas, saying that special rules have been given to the IAF for retaliating when there choppers are under attack. The rules are followed in order to reduce to minimum collateral damage, so the only person who can determine the target is the captain of the chopper who must confirm the source of fire and order an offensive attack.

Another question which Naik received was the influence of China and Pakistan over India and if he considers those nations as a threat. The IAF Chief answered respectively, saying that China and Pakistan are not considers as a threat, but more as a challenge and they are currently no concern for him. Naik assured the attending people that the armed forces of India are not weaklings and are perfectly capable of facing any challenge to the country’s security.

India Likely To Award Trainer Contract In Q3

Alenia Aermacchi M-311

Grob Aircraft G120TP

Korea Aerospace Industries' KT-1

A Pilatus PC-7 'Turbo 

Embraer EMB-312 Super Tucano

India is poised to shortlist a manufacturer to provide much-needed basic trainer aircraft.

The contenders — Grob's G-120 TP, Embraer's EMB-312 Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries' KT-1, Finmeccanica's M-311 and Pilatus' PC-7 — emerged following a request for proposals issued in early 2010. The deal is estimated to cost $1 billion.

"The flight trials [of the competitors] have been completed and we are assessing the evaluation made by the Indian air force," an Indian defense ministry official says. "We expect to award a contract in the third quarter of 2011 and the [deliveries] are expected to commence some time [in] 2012."

India is seeking to procure 75 aircraft off the shelf, with 106 to be built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) under a joint venture agreement.

The selected manufacturer will be required to deliver an initial batch of 12 aircraft within two years of signing the contract. The project is aimed at replacing HAL's HPT-32 Deepak aircraft, which were grounded following several crashes due to technical glitches.

"We are in urgent need of trainer jets for our pilots," the official says. The air force has been without a basic trainer jet since July 2009.

India's arms build-up has been hampered by a series of delayed or canceled deals. Analysts say that a delay in awarding the contract for basic trainers could deflate profits for both the bidders as well as the prime domestic recipients of offset work.

Under defense ministry procurement procedures, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that win Indian contracts must support the Indian industrial base by purchasing defense goods and services locally, as well as other direct and indirect investments in defense manufacturing and R&D infrastructure. Offset levels begin at 30% of the contract value and may be higher in certain cases.

The addition of Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers and Intermediate Jet Trainers also is part of the air force's flight training modernization. Last July, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce signed an agreement valued at ₤700 million ($1.1 billion) to supply Hawk trainers to India.

The deal for 57 aircraft was signed with HAL at the company's headquarters in Bengaluru during the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron. The order is valued at more than ₤500 million for BAE and as much as ₤200 million for Rolls-Royce.

An earlier order for 66 BAE trainers took two decades to negotiate and was hampered by a lack of parts. The deal was finally signed in 2004, and 24 of these airplanes were completed in December 2009. Of the remaining 42 to be built by HAL, 10 have been delivered, and the entire batch is expected to be completed by 2012.

Now the question arises what happened to IJT being developed by DRDO which is supposed to get Operational clearance by the end of 2011. Do we need a basic Jet Trainer in addition to IJT or the Basic Jet Trainer is to replace IJT.
It was reported that as a vote of confidence, the Chief of Air Staff has placed an order for 16 HJT-36s, meant for the national aerobatic team, the Surya Kirans. A second vote came from the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister Dr. V.K. Atre, who said, "We are few more steps to the AJT and a larger LCA, the mid-combat aircraft"
The HJT-36(IJT) allows India to build any of the following:


1] A basic trainer, suitable for basic jet training.
2] A trainer for basic combat use of unguided weapons, air-to-air missiles and sea targets.
3] A combat trainer with under-wing hardpoints capable of launching guided missiles and using guidance equipment pods.
4] A single-seater tactical fighter, with guns, all-weather radar for use of AAMs and ASMs.
5] A Coast Guard SAR aircraft, with a nose-mounted search radar.
6] A sporty private jet for enthusiasts.

Women Air Warriors Embark For Mt. Everest Expedition

Striving to Touch the sky with glory a 20 member Indian Air Force mountaineering team was flagged off by the Air Officer-in-charge-Administration Air Marshal JN Burma today, to scale Mt Everest.

It is the first time in the history of IAF that women in Blue have embarked on an expedition to scale the highest peak on earth. The idea was conceived in early 2009, since then there have been consistent efforts. The team underwent a rigorous training schedule including Basic Mountaineering Course and Winter Training Camps at Siachen in 2010 and 2011. They went on to scale progressively higher and tougher Himalayan peaks in the past two year starting with Mt Stok Kangri (6121M) in Leh, Mt Bhagirathi II (6512M) in Uttarkhand, Mt Kamet (7757M) in Garhwal and Mt Saser Kangri I (7672M) in Landhakh.

The team consists of 11 women officers who will be accompanied by one doctor and eight other male air warriors who are qualified mountaineers. The team will be following the southeast ridge route as was used by Hillary and Tenzing in the first successful expedition to Mt Everest in 1953. The route involves technical challenges such as famous Khumbu icefall which is extremely volatile and keeps shifting, innumerous crevasses and ceracs.

Apart from creating precedence in the field of adventure activities by IAF women officers, this endeavor is also a milestone in women empowerment.

Amongst the other dignitaries to attend the ceremony were Air Mshl N Verma, Air Cmde GK Patnaik, Air Cmde M Singh, Gp Capt R Chandola, Col Sanjeev Soni and Cdr KS Rawat who wished safety and success to the team with a message, Do well, the nation is looking up to you