Since 2007, there’s
been intense speculation by several India-based bloggers/journalists about the
kind of turbofan-based powerplants being developed for both strategic and
multi-role tactical weapon systems, when all it takes to get to the truth is to
have an honest chat with the Ministry of Defence-owned Hindustan Aeronautics
Ltd’s (HAL) Bengaluru-based Engine Test Bed Research & Development Centre
(ETBRDC), and with the DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research
Establishment (GTRE), which is exactly what I did. And here are the results:
1) HAL has developed a turbofan (see HAL's officially released data below)
for powering a strategic cruise missile (supposed to be the air-launched and
submarine-launched Nirbhay) as well as a tactical cruise missile, which, if developed by the DRDO, will have
performance parameters similar to the Taurus KEPD-350 CALCM. This turbofan,
which will also be powering a cruise missile simulating drone, is presently
undergoing its flight certification tests under the guidance and supervision of
CEMILAC. Therefore, it is high time all speculation ends on the Nirbhay missile
being powered by ducted-fans, prop-fans or turboprops!!! And by the way, the ETBRDC is also
close to commissioning an engine testbed centre in Sulur for the first squadron
of the IAF’s Tejas Mk1 MRCAs. This testbed is capable of measuring engine
thrusts up to 150kN. The ETBRDC will also be developing both the starter-engine
for the FGFA and Tejas Mk2, as well as the APU for the FGFA and Tejas Mk2.
2) GTRE, with the help of Russia’s NPO Saturn, is developing the ‘Laghu Shakthi’ turbofan (below) for a MALE-UAV now being developed by the DRDO. This is in response to an IAF requirement for a single turbofan-powered MALE-UAV capable of operating over mountainous areas—a task which cannot be optimally performed by piston-engined UAVs like the Nishant, Searcher Mk1/2 and Heron-1. The Indian Navy too has evinced deep interest in this R & D programme, especially since its piston-engined MALE-UAVs like the Searcher Mk2 and Heron-1 cannot operate from India’s island-based territories due to adverse wind conditions. A turbofan-powered MALE-UAV, on the other hand, will face no such limitations.
Lastly, I’m glad to report that
user-trials of a T-90S MBT equipped with IRDE-developed and BEL-built (see
below) commander’s panoramic sight and driver’s uncooled thermal imager (derived
from that developed for the Arjun Mk1A MBT) have just gotten underway. If all
goes well, then these two items will be retrofitted on to both the first 310
T-90S MBTs acquired for the Indian Army just about a decade ago, as well as on
1,000 T-72M1 MBTs that are due to undergo a deep upgrade. For both MBT-types, VRDE has already developed the APU, which too is now undergoing user-trials.
The Russia-supplied T-90S MBTs originally
came with the 1A43 fire-control computer, 1G46 gunner’s laser rangefinder, IV528-2
digital ballistics computer (comprising BV-1 and BV-2 modules), 1V216-M1
correction input device, 1PM-96MT ESSA gunner’s thermal imaging sight (now
being produced by the Dehru Dun-based Opto-Electronics Factory of the MoD-owned
OFB), and the commander’s T01-K04 sighting/night vision system using the PK-5
stabilised sight-mounting.
The CVRDE-upgraded prototype of the T-90S has
done away with the T01-K04 and substitutes it with the IRDE-developed and
BEL-built commander’s panoramic sight (which houses a SAGEM-built MATIS-STD
thermal imager operating in the 3-5 micron bandwidth), which has resulted in
enhanced static visibility levels for both the gunner and commander.
In
addition, the IV528-2 digital ballistics computer has given way to an
indigenous solution developed by TATA Power Strategic Electronics Division, while
the IRDE-developed driver’s uncooled thermal imaging night sight has replaced
the TVN-5 night-vision device.
Furthermore, a DEAL-developed MMW-based IFF system has been installed for enhancing the MBT crew’s situational awareness.
Lastly, the T-90S’
track-wraps have been indigenised by AMW-MGM Forgings Pvt Ltd, which has also
developed tracks with metal/rubber-brushed parallel pin-jointed gearings,
stamped track-links adapted to accept rubber pads, with steel needles on the
track-pins providing conductivity and picking up static electricity from rubber-brushed
pin-jointed gearings during movement.
209 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 209 of 209To Dashu & Mr.RA 13: What the US actually did was that it agreed to permit Pakistan’s Foreign Minister make the announcement that the US has tendered an apology during the course of a telephonic conversation between Hillary Clinton & Hina Rabbani Khar. And as for the ZE-10 attack helicopter & its ‘borrowed’ Canadian powerplant, the whole idea was to buy time for the CHTEC-developed WZ-16 powerplant to mature. Will dwell more upon this issue later.
To An Indian: My reading of this issue is different. I don’t see the possibility of Pakistan deliberately allowing the non-state actors of Indian origin to head from Saudi Arabia & that too from Karachi Airport, where the US FBI’s PISCES emigration records monitoring software (which links all Pakistani emigration facilities with a US-based database) would have immediately identified the suspects. However, this did not happen. Therefore, in all probability, it was some of the Saudi-based Indian Muslim expats who alerted the Indian Embassy in Riyadh about the LeT’s recruitment efforts there, following which the Indians informed the Saudi authorities & got some the LeT guys detained, after which the process of verifying their antecedents & countries of origin began. The US had a minimal role to play in such episodes & could have only provided the corroborating evidence gathered from David C Headley during the trial of Tahawwur Rana. Therefore, the deportation processes of alleged terrorists of Indian origin is strictly a bilateral Saudi-Indian affair. After all, Saudi Arabia knows only too well that for the foreseeable future, it will be India & China that will be the largest customers of Saudi crude oil exports, & it is also in Saudi Arabia interest to see both these countries lessening their dependence on Iranian crude oil exports. I therefore don’t believe at all that India’s urgency in bringing back LeT operatives of Indian origin from Saudi or Pakistani soil is in any way subservient to the US’ critical need for getting Pakistan to open the over-land NATO transit supply routes.
HI Prasun,
For the small turbofan for which DRDO is seeking to collaborate with an international partner have they come up with an RFI , because I haven't seen any .
Thanks,
Priyabrata
http://idrw.org/?p=12568
Prasun who will be the likely winner by you. Now that lifetime costs are taken into account similar to the MMRCA. In this case how does the calculation work ? Like adding all the cost of planes,training, maintenance, spares, overhauling etc. A330 MRTT is bigger plane and can therefore re-fuel more aircraft's per sortie. So is cost-per- refueling a plane is calculated instead of cost per sortie.
Dear Mr.SenGupta,
I am chief designer for an Israeli company that specializes in designing mini UAVs and cyber security programs.
Can we approach the Indian defense ministry directly to show our products or do we need to wait for a tender/ RFI to be issued.
Would be thankful to you for a reply.
Thanks&Regards,
David D Gross
Prasun,
Does Indian Army have any need for ultra-heavy APC like the Israeli Namer. It can use Arjun chassis or convert some of the older T-72s to APC (Israel did the same thing initially with T-55's). Such modified APC can be equipped with .50 caliber CROW Type gun, rockets, trophy APS, even a mast. Such a vehicle can offer a lot more protection than BMP.
prasun some questions,
1;what's meant by track-via-missiles guidance?????
2,Understanding the fact that ADS can always be penetrated, to what much extent SAM systems can inflict loss to the opposing party. I mean suppose a case of war between two fronts each equipped to the teeth with modern weapons, In starting phases of offensive air campaign by airforce of A, it counted some strategic SAMs. ARMs were fired simultaneously with PGMs to take them down, but the point defence SAMs took them out. Similarly the A airforce fighters jammed the seekers of SAMs guided against them and managed to survive. what sud be the best outcome of this kinda asymmetric warfares we gonna notice.in the nt too far future.??????
3.Rather than takin conventional missions how much our SOFs prepared to fare against assymetric 5th gen warfare!!!!!!!!
4.What are the standard equipment of an average SOF personnel for regular missions.
5.The NATGEO says normal composite hard add-on armour plates used today by militaries for protection against assault rifle bullets breaks-down partially at the point of impact from a bullet. So 3-4 hits on it make the plate too much weak to hardly resist any other bullet impact. Is ths true?
6, What are those topi typ things usually found on indian army soldier's head, is it a kinda standard headgear or what.?
To Priyabrata Gupta: I’m not aware of any RFI being issued by the DRDO for this venture.
To Anon@1.20PM: I don’t think the IL-78MKI is a MRTT, but is an aerial refuelling tanker that can also be converted to a cargo transport aircraft. But the IL-78MKI cannot concurrently function as both an aerial refuelling tanker & cargo transport aircraft. If the reqmt is for a MRTT, then only the A330-200 presently fits the bill.
To David D Gross: The best authority to help you in this case will be SIBAT, which will be able to guide you for initiating business contacts with both the Ministry of Defence as well as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs of India. One need not wait for RFIs & RFPs to be issued, & technical presentations can always be made to these two Ministries.
To Anon@5.36PM: The reqmt is not for any ultra-heavy APC, but for tank destroyers like the BMP-T that can increase both the combat firepower & combined arms warfighting capabilities of the IA’s motorised infantry formations.
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