China :: Defence :: Space

India has issued a request for information for a naval multi-role helicopter (NMRH) to complement its existing fleet of Westland Sea King 42 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. The RFI calls for helicopters with a maximum all-up weight of between 9t and 12.5t. The NMRH, which will be expected to serve for 30 years, should have the capacity for 10% weight growth throughout its service life without hurting performance. The navy foresees three primary roles: ASW, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and special operations. Secondary roles include electronic intelligence, search and rescue (SAR), external cargo carrying, casualty evacuation and combat SAR. Candidate helicopters must be able to operate from ships as small as the navy's Godavari-class frigates. They also need to be able to fit in shipboard hangars with a length of 15.5m (50.8ft), a width of 5.5m and a height of 5.3m. "The NMRH should be a contemporary design with modern, reliable and fuel-efficient engines and fully i...

Donning Indian Air Force colours, the third and fourth of six C-130J Super Hercules planes acquired by India in a $950 million deal have left for their new home, Air Force Station Hindon, outside New Delhi. The remaining two C-130Js on order will be delivered later this summer, the plane's manufacturers Lockheed Martin said announcing the departure of the aircraft from its facility in Marietta, Georgia, Wednesday. Equipped with an Infrared Detection Set, the aircraft can perform precision low-level flying, airdrops and landing in blackout conditions, Lockheed said. Self-protection systems and other features are included to ensure aircraft survivability in hostile air defence environments. The aircraft also is equipped with air-to-air receiver refuelling capability for extended range operations, it said. India's first acquisition from the US through the foreign military sales route in decades, the C-130J is expected to enhance Indian special forces' reach for their specialis...

The Darin-II upgrade programme on Jaguar aircraft and the Project Tiger upgrade programme on Sea Harrier aircraft have been successfully accomplished and the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) has been issued for service use. Also on the anvil are the Jaguar Darin III upgrade, Jaguar re-engine and Mirage mid-life upgrade programmes. India has been operating these aircraft since 1980s and after years of service these aircraft are well understood. The strengths and weaknesses of these aircrafts are known and appropriate doctrines formed around them. The upgrades are being defined to target the deficiencies and bring these platforms to contemporary standards. Jaguar DARIN-II Upgrade A major avionics upgrade on the Jaguar direct supply aircraft, christened DARIN II, was undertaken in early 2000. The upgrade concentrated around improving the navigational capabilities, reducing pilot work-load, improving the attack capabilities and survivability in the electronic warfare. Introduction of core...

The Indian aircraft industry is still in its nascent stages of growth. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the only significant player, manufacturing aircraft and engines, albeit under license production. Even so, most of the materials and material technologies have been sourced from the original manufacturers (OEMs) of the engines and aircraft. In the recent past, a number of new material technologies have been recently introduced which are required in the production of Sukhoi aircraft (Su-30) and its engine (AL31FP). Kaveri, the proposed engine for LCA Tejas is the only programme which aims to design and develop indigenous engine and also to develop indigenous capabilities in the areas of materials and manufacturing technologies. In a sense, the development of indigenous material technologies in India is linked to Kaveri programme. Assessment of materials and manufacturing technologies presented here is largely based on the Kaveri experience in which many industries and research l...

CHINA MILITARY: Hollywood animated film "Kung Fu Panda 2" recently released in China again after the break box office records to become China's most grossing movie ever is one. However, there are a few artists and academics called for a boycott this American movies that Hollywood money also brainwashing, is a cultural aggression. There have been comments that the "cultural invasion" of the

CHINA MILITARY: "Chinese Aircraft carrier has been under construction, but have not yet completed!" Just this one sentence has so much attention around the world, saying this is because the PLA Chief of General Staff Chen Bingde. This is by far, the first senior Chinese military officials confirmed the existence of domestic aircraft carrier project.Varyag aircraft carrier in sunriseWhat kind

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today provided an update on a number of Defence capability projects and activities. -- Largs Bay Sales Agreement Signed Mr Smith and Mr Clare announced finalisation of the acquisition process for the United Kingdom Bay-Class amphibious ship Largs Bay. The Government announced on 6 April that Australia had been successful in its bid to acquire the United Kingdoms Bay Class amphibious ship Largs Bay at a cost of 65 million (approximately $100 million). The negotiations for the RFA Largs Bay have now been completed with the signing of the Sales Agreement by the Australian and the United Kingdom Governments on 8 June. The third and final payment of $35 million (22 million) will now be made. The purchase follows successful sea-trials undertaken in April and inspection by international Shipping firm Teekay confirming that the Ship is in a good material state. The Ship will now undergo essential re-fit and mainte...