Welcome, 2013.

Here’s wishing you all a safe, brilliant year — ShivFollow @livefist Follow @ShivAroor

LCA Tejas LSP-8 Revs Up On Ground

On December 12, the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) conducted the initial engine ground run (EGR) on the long awaited eighth limited series production (LSP-8) airframe of the LCA Tejas, according to HAL literature. The LSP-8 is the airframe that is to be handed over to the IAF for user trials. The LSP-8 is likely…

Here She Is! INS Tarkash Arrives In Mumbai

PHOTO / DPR DEFENCE Navy Statement: The Indian Navy got a major fillip to its firepower with the arrival of its latest acquisition INS Tarkash at Mumbai.  Built by the Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia,  INS Tarkash was commissioned on 09 Nov 12 by Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Comand.  Tarkash is…

INS Tarkash Arrives In India

The Indian Navy’s brand new modified Krivak-III class stealth frigate arrived off the coast of Mumbai today to join the Western fleet. The ship sailed from Russia to the UK and back via Oman. The first of the follow-on three frigates, INS Teg, was commissioned in April this year. More details about the class of…

Deal For 42 More Su-30MKIs Signed

HAL Statement: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a contract for 42 numbers of Su-30 MKI frontline Fighter Aircraft with the Ministry of Defence and Russian firm Rosoboronexport in New Delhi today.  “HAL’s total responsibility for this supersonic multirole aircraft has now gone up to 222. This will further boost our confidence and operations as we have…

India’s Astra BVRAAM Test-fired From Ground

FILE PHOTO DRDO Statement: Astra, the ‘Air to Air’ guided missile being developed by DRDO was successfully flight test meeting all the mission parameters, in its full configuration, at 1530 hrs on Saturday, the 22nd December 2012, from the Integrated Test Range – ITR, Odisha. The missile fired from the ground based launcher successfully intercepted…

R.I.P. HAL’s Basic Trainer

In what is a massive blow to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) prestige, reputation and, to a smaller extent, finances, the Indian MoD has scrapped the HTT-40 indigenous turboprop trainer programme. My friend Ajai Shukla at Business Standard reports that HAL has quoted a unit price per aircraft (when ready) that is twice the price of…

Boeing Delivers 1st P-8I To India

SEATTLE, Dec. 20, 2012 — Boeing on Dec. 19 made an on-site delivery of the first P-8I aircraft to the Indian Navy in Seattle, in accordance with the contract. India will receive this aircraft and two more of its eight contracted P-8Is in 2013. The program is progressing on schedule as Boeing assembles the fourth and…

Indian Navy To Get First Boeing P-8I Today

PHOTO / SHIV AROOR The first of eight Boeing Defense P-8I Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft will be  handed over today on-site to the Indian Navy today at Boeing Field, Seattle, 10 days ahead of schedule (it was to be handed over on December 31). Flight acceptance tests will ensue in a few weeks. Boeing has said…

India’s Year In Defence

Excerpts from the Ministry of Defence Year End Review 2012.New Weapons Systems to Strengthen Defence Preparedness AGNI-V – India proudly entered the exclusive club as the sixth country on 19 April 2012, when its Long-range Ballistic Missile took to sky on its maiden flight and reached the pre-designated target point over 5000 km away in…

41 Years Ago: Animated Reconstruction Of IAF’s Most Historic Dogfight

BY AND COURTESY ANURAG RANA This is a beautiful 3D animated reconstruction of one of the Indian Air Force’s most unforgettable dogfights — in which Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon valiantly defended the Srinagar air force base with a Folland Gnat against marauding Pakistani F-86 Sabres on December 14, 1971, exactly 41 years ago. A…

Financial Penalties On Russia For Gorshkov Delay

While it has been known for a while that India planned to penalise Russia for the delays in delivery of the Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) aircraft carrier, this was officially stated for the first time today in Parliament by the Indian defence minister. Responding to a question on the carrier programme, A.K. Antony said, “[D]elivery…