News Analysis India

Tag: Air Force

  • Defence ministry inks Rs 6,800-cr contract with HAL to procure 70 basic trainer aircraft

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Tuesday sealed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of over Rs 6,800 crore for the Indian Air Force.

    The ministry also finalised a contract with Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for the acquisition of three cadet training ships worth over Rs 3,100 crore.

    Both the procurement proposals were cleared by the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on March 1.

    “The ministry of defence on March 7 signed contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and three cadet training ships respectively in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh,” the ministry said.

    While the HAL will provide 70 HTT-40 aircraft over a period of six years, the delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026.

    Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, along with other senior civil and military officials of the ministry, and representatives of the HAL and L&T were present at the contract signing ceremony.

    The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft possessing good low speed handling qualities and provides better training effectiveness, according to the ministry.

    The HTT-40 contains approximately 56 per cent indigenous content which will progressively increase to over 60 per cent through indigenisation of major components and subsystems, officials said.

    “The aircraft will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of Indian Air Force for training of newly-inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators,” the ministry said in a statement.

    “Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft is configurable for upgrades to incorporate the futuristic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six years,” it said.

    It said the HAL would engage the domestic private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain. “The procurement has the potential to provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people spread over more than 100 MSMEs,” the ministry said.

    On the cadet training ships, the ministry said they will cater to the training of officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training to meet the future requirements of the Indian Navy. “The ships would also provide training to cadets from friendly countries with the aim to strengthen diplomatic relations,” it said.

    “The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people from distress areas, Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026,” the ministry said.

    The ships will be indigenously designed, developed and constructed at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai. “The project will generate employment of 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-half years. This will encourage active participation of Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs,” the ministry said.

    NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Tuesday sealed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of over Rs 6,800 crore for the Indian Air Force.

    The ministry also finalised a contract with Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for the acquisition of three cadet training ships worth over Rs 3,100 crore.

    Both the procurement proposals were cleared by the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on March 1.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The ministry of defence on March 7 signed contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft and three cadet training ships respectively in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh,” the ministry said.

    While the HAL will provide 70 HTT-40 aircraft over a period of six years, the delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026.

    Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, along with other senior civil and military officials of the ministry, and representatives of the HAL and L&T were present at the contract signing ceremony.

    The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft possessing good low speed handling qualities and provides better training effectiveness, according to the ministry.

    The HTT-40 contains approximately 56 per cent indigenous content which will progressively increase to over 60 per cent through indigenisation of major components and subsystems, officials said.

    “The aircraft will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of Indian Air Force for training of newly-inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators,” the ministry said in a statement.

    “Being an indigenous solution, the aircraft is configurable for upgrades to incorporate the futuristic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six years,” it said.

    It said the HAL would engage the domestic private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain. “The procurement has the potential to provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people spread over more than 100 MSMEs,” the ministry said.

    On the cadet training ships, the ministry said they will cater to the training of officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training to meet the future requirements of the Indian Navy. “The ships would also provide training to cadets from friendly countries with the aim to strengthen diplomatic relations,” it said.

    “The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people from distress areas, Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from 2026,” the ministry said.

    The ships will be indigenously designed, developed and constructed at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai. “The project will generate employment of 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-half years. This will encourage active participation of Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs,” the ministry said.

  • Airfield security review in Jammu: IAF officer urges people to promptly report any suspicious activities

    By PTI

    JAMMU: A top Indian Air Force officer on Saturday underlined the need to maintain strict vigil to ensure airfield security and urged people to provide timely information on any suspicious activities, according to a defence spokesperson.

    Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Jammu, Air Commodore G S Bhullar said this while chairing an airfield security review meeting here, the spokesperson said.

    Village heads from areas in the immediate vicinity of the Jammu airfield, officials of concerned civic agencies and key officials of the Airport Authority of India attended the meeting at the Air Force Station here.

    Addressing the meeting, the AOC highlighted the need for exercising strict vigil to prevent any untoward incidents and check any suspicious activities or drone sightings, and requested the stakeholders to promptly report them, the spokesperson said.

    He also expressed concern over rampant garbage dumping around the Jammu airport and how it is contributing to heightened bird activity which might lead to aircraft accidents.

    The officer urged all village heads and civic agencies to take steps to educate people in their areas about better waste segregation and disposal.

    Garbage disposal in important areas in the vicinity of the Jammu airfield was also highlighted during the meeting, the spokesperson said.

    JAMMU: A top Indian Air Force officer on Saturday underlined the need to maintain strict vigil to ensure airfield security and urged people to provide timely information on any suspicious activities, according to a defence spokesperson.

    Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Jammu, Air Commodore G S Bhullar said this while chairing an airfield security review meeting here, the spokesperson said.

    Village heads from areas in the immediate vicinity of the Jammu airfield, officials of concerned civic agencies and key officials of the Airport Authority of India attended the meeting at the Air Force Station here.

    Addressing the meeting, the AOC highlighted the need for exercising strict vigil to prevent any untoward incidents and check any suspicious activities or drone sightings, and requested the stakeholders to promptly report them, the spokesperson said.

    He also expressed concern over rampant garbage dumping around the Jammu airport and how it is contributing to heightened bird activity which might lead to aircraft accidents.

    The officer urged all village heads and civic agencies to take steps to educate people in their areas about better waste segregation and disposal.

    Garbage disposal in important areas in the vicinity of the Jammu airfield was also highlighted during the meeting, the spokesperson said.

  • India, Bangladesh play significant role in ensuring security of region: B’desh Air Force Chief

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: India and Bangladesh have a pivotal role to play in ensuring the security of the region, Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan said here on Saturday.

    Speaking as the chief guest at the Combined Graduation Parade of Flight Cadets of various branches of the Indian Air Force, Hannan said both countries have an “umbilical connection” and that relationship has been more profound since the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971.

    “Both the countries have a significant role to play in ensuring the security of the region and our defence forces conduct regular joint exercises to ensure that we have synergy in our efforts,” he said.

    Noting that Bangladesh Air Force was born in Dimapur in India on September 28, 1971, the air force chief of the neighbouring country said with that heritage today both countries have an understanding of mutual trust and respect.

    “India and Bangladesh have an umbilical connection. This connection has been more profound since the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. This makes me recall the invaluable contribution of India as a whole and the Indian Air Force in particular in the 1971 war of liberation,” he said.

    Offering advice to the passing out cadets, Hannan said in this technology-driven world, air and space power will play a key role in 21st-century warfare and will continue to do so in the future.

    According to him, currently and also in times to come, the world will face many security challenges that could be effectively countered by continuously upgrading and improving technological capabilities.

    “In order to stay ahead of time and be well prepared for the growing requirements, strategies should be dynamic, flexible and updated. It is in this context that the Indian Air Force stands to derive maximum benefit from the young and innovative minds that can take on the challenges in a professional and competent manner,” he said.

    The Bangladesh Defence official said the IAF is keeping pace with the changing environment and has improved the training curriculum recently to train resilient, dynamic and field-ready officers.

    HYDERABAD: India and Bangladesh have a pivotal role to play in ensuring the security of the region, Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan said here on Saturday.

    Speaking as the chief guest at the Combined Graduation Parade of Flight Cadets of various branches of the Indian Air Force, Hannan said both countries have an “umbilical connection” and that relationship has been more profound since the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971.

    “Both the countries have a significant role to play in ensuring the security of the region and our defence forces conduct regular joint exercises to ensure that we have synergy in our efforts,” he said.

    Noting that Bangladesh Air Force was born in Dimapur in India on September 28, 1971, the air force chief of the neighbouring country said with that heritage today both countries have an understanding of mutual trust and respect.

    “India and Bangladesh have an umbilical connection. This connection has been more profound since the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. This makes me recall the invaluable contribution of India as a whole and the Indian Air Force in particular in the 1971 war of liberation,” he said.

    Offering advice to the passing out cadets, Hannan said in this technology-driven world, air and space power will play a key role in 21st-century warfare and will continue to do so in the future.

    According to him, currently and also in times to come, the world will face many security challenges that could be effectively countered by continuously upgrading and improving technological capabilities.

    “In order to stay ahead of time and be well prepared for the growing requirements, strategies should be dynamic, flexible and updated. It is in this context that the Indian Air Force stands to derive maximum benefit from the young and innovative minds that can take on the challenges in a professional and competent manner,” he said.

    The Bangladesh Defence official said the IAF is keeping pace with the changing environment and has improved the training curriculum recently to train resilient, dynamic and field-ready officers.

  • Govt rolls out ‘Agnipath’ scheme, unveils radical changes in military recruitment 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India unveiled a new scheme called “Agnipath” on Tuesday for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, largely on a short-term contractual basis, with an aim to cut the ballooning salary and pensions bill.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the new scheme at a media briefing, shortly after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it.

    “The Agnipath recruitment scheme is a transformative initiative that will provide a youthful profile to the armed forces,” Singh said.

    The revolutionary changes in the recruitment process will see the induction of the soldiers initially for a period of four years and some of them would be retained.

    “Under the Agnipath scheme, Indian youngsters will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as ‘Agniveer’,” the defence minister said.

    Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said the scheme will ensure a wider talent pool for recruitment in the armed forces.  The “Agnipath” scheme, earlier christened as “Tour of Duty”, was launched in the presence of the chiefs of the three services.

    The new scheme was announced after extensive deliberations on it over the last two years. The soldiers to be recruited under the scheme will be called “Agniveer”.

    Currently, the Army recruits young people under the short service commission for an initial tenure of 10 years, which is extendable up to 14 years.

    The scheme is aimed at slashing the salary and pension bills of the three services, which have been increasing rapidly.

    The defence budget of Rs 5,25,166 crore for 2022-23 included Rs 1,19,696 crore for defence pensions. The allocation for revenue expenditure was Rs 2,33,000 crore. The revenue expenditure includes the expenses on payment of salaries and maintenance of establishments.

  • Public spat as CDS calls Air Force a support arm, Air Chief says it is not

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Differences over the proposed integrated command system of defence forces came out in public view on Friday when Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat termed the Air Force just a supporting arm, while Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria said “it is not”. 

    Speaking at a defence summit on Friday, Gen Rawat said the “Air force is required to provide support to the ground forces. Do not forget, Air Force continues to remain a supporting arm to the armed forces just as the Artillery or Engineers support the Combatant Arms in the Army…. They have an adequate charter of supporting the ground forces in times of war,” the CDS added.

    Later, speaking at the same event, the Air Chief said, “Air power has a huge role to play in any of the integrated battle areas and it is not an issue of support alone.”Calling the formation of the theatre commands much more complex the Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said, “Air force is for the formation of theatre commands. But the issues we have raised is about how we should do it. It is the most important reform that has an impact on warfighting.”

    When asked about the charter of the Indian Air Force, Bhadauria said, “Every service has its own doctrine, the best knowledge of how to employ the capabilities and capacities to get the best results.”The 1.4 million Indian Armed Forces, Army, Navy and Air Force function to secure and defend the nation under 17 functional commands.

    The  formation of the Chief of Defence Staff in December 2019 was to integrate and synergise the armed forces to prepare them to meet the requirements of modern warfare. Theaterisation is one of the charters of the CDS. There are plans are to integrate the forces into five theatre commands – Air Defence, Maritime Theatre, Eastern Theatre, Western Theatre and Northern Theatre. 

  • Indian Navy and Air force to exercise with US Carrier Strike Group in Indian Ocean

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: In a major exercise involving the warships and aircraft, the Indian Navy and Air Force are going to Participate in a Passage Exercise with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan during its transit through Indian Ocean Region on 23rd and 24th June 2021.

    As per the Indian Navy, “The two-day exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship and cooperation by demonstrating the ability to integrate and coordinate comprehensively in maritime operations.”

    The Indian Naval Ships (INS) Kochi and Teg along with P8I and MiG 29K aircraft and Indian Air Force will be engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the Carrier Strike Group comprising Nimitz class Nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey and Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh.

    The Exercise is taking place in the Area of Responsibility of Southern Air Command. Indian Air force informed, “It will see the IAF forces operate from bases under four operational commands and will include Jaguars & Su-30 MKI fighters, AWACS, AEW&C and Air to Air Refueller aircraft. The US CSG is expected to field F-18 fighters and E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft.”

    The Exercise will include high tempo operations which will, “include advanced air defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and anti-submarine exercises.” the Navy said.

    “Indian Navy and US Navy regularly undertake a host of bilateral and multilateral exercises which underscore the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring commitment to an open, inclusive and a rule-based international order,” added the Indian Navy.

    The reports indicated that the Japan based US CSG, currently in the Indian Ocean, is on transit to the Middle east to provide support in completing the US Force withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

  • Air Force, Navy ferry oxygen tanks, medical staff for Covid fight

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: The Union Government is deploying every available resource to tide over the oxygen emergency in the country. Given the urgency, the Railways, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy have been pressed into massive Covid-19 relief efforts.

    “One C-17 aircraft of the IAF left for Changi International Airport, Singapore, from the Hindon Air Base at 2 am on April 24. It is on its way to offload four empty cryogenic oxygen containers at Panagarh in West Bengal,” said IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe.

    “Another C-17 left Hindon Air Base for the Lohegaon Air Base in Pune for loading two empty cryogenic oxygen container trucks which were then flown to Jamnagar Air Base. The same -C17 aircraft is currently on its second shuttle from Pune to Jamnagar, with a load of two more empty containers,” he added.

    One C-17 aircraft transported two empty containers from Jodhpur to Jamnagar early on Saturday. One IAF Chinook helicopter and one AN-32 transport aircraft took Covid testing equipment from Jammu to Leh and from Jammu to Kargil, respectively. “The equipment consisted of bio -safety cabinets, centrifuges and stabilisers. These machines have been made by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and now given to the Union Territory of Ladakh to enhance testing,” he added.

    Meanwhile, taking into account the rise in Covid-19 cases in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, the Southern Naval Command Headquarters at Kochi has deputed its Naval Ship INS Sharda as ‘Oxygen Express’ to ferry oxygen cylinders to the islands and also to bring back empty cylinders to the mainland for refilling them,” said Defence chief spokesperson Commander Mehul Karnik.

    He added that a medical team comprising of two doctors, two nursing assistants, along with essential medical supplies, have also been provided through naval resources to augment medical support to the islands.

  • Rafale pricing can be discussed only if facts of deal come into public domain: SC

    The Supreme Court Wednesday said a discussion on the pricing of Rafale fighter jets can only take place if the facts of the deal are allowed to come into the public domain.

    The apex court, which began its hearing on pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, also said it was dealing with the requirements of the Air Force and would like to hear from an Air Force officer and “not the official of the Defence Ministry”.

    “The decision we need to take is whether to bring the fact on pricing in public domain or not,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

    The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, told Attorney General K K Venugopal that there is no question of any debate on pricing without making the facts public.

    The bench clarified that any discussion on price will be considered if it thinks the issue should enter the public domain.

    The top court also sought the assistance of an Air Force officer on the issue.

    “We are dealing with the requirements of the Air Force and would like to ask an Air Force officer on Rafale jets. We want to hear from an Air force officer and not the official of the Defence Ministry on the issue,” the bench said when the attorney general began his arguments on behalf of the Centre in the pre-lunch session.

    In his arguments, Venugopal defended the secrecy clause relating to the pricing of the Rafale jets, saying adversaries may get an advantage if the entire details are disclosed.

    Refusing to divulge details on the pricing aspect, he said he would not be able to assist the court  further on the pricing issue.

    “I decided not to peruse it myself as in a case of any leak, my office would be held responsible,” Venugopal said.

    The bench then told him there is no question of any debate on pricing without making the facts public.

    Venugopal said these matters are for experts to deal with. “We have been saying that even Parliament has not been told about the complete cost of the jets,” he said.

    At the exchange rate of November 2016, the cost of a bare fighter jet was Rs 670 crore, he said.

    India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

    The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

    Venugopal said the earlier jets were not intended to be loaded with the requisite weapons system and the government had reservations as it did not want to violate the  Inter Government Agreement (IGA) and the secrecy clause.

    The hearing saw Venugopal opposing advocate Prashant Bhushan who wanted to submit information on the secrecy clause of the Rafale agreement.

    “Secrecy agreement has to be secret and how is he producing it in court?” Venugopal asked when Bhushan raised the issue.

    Bhushan, appearing on behalf of himself and former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, alleged that the government was hiding behind the secrecy clause and had not disclosed the price of the fighter jets.

    The CJI told Bhushan, “We are giving you full hearing. Use this opportunity carefully and cite only those things which are necessary.”

    Bhushan said the price per aircraft was 155 million Euros and was now 270 million Euros. This shows that there was hike of 40 per cent in its price, the advocate said.

    He said the CBI was bound to register an FIR in this case.

    The lawyer alleged that there was a conspiracy with French company Dassault, which granted the offset right to Reliance Defence.

    He said Reliance had no competence in executing the offset contract.

    Bhushan said they filed the petition after the CBI did not register the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

    He also quoted former French president François Hollande and other Dassault officials to impute criminal motives in granting the offset contract to Reliance.

    The activist-lawyer submitted that the NDA government had “short circuited” the acquisition process by taking the IGA route.

    He said there was no sovereign guarantee from the French government in the deal and argued that the Union Law ministry initially flagged the issue and later gave in to the proposal of entering into an IGA.

    Six foreign companies had applied and two firms were shortlisted during the earlier process, Bhushan said.

    Later, the deal went to Dassault and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was part of it. Suddenly, however, a statement was issued which said there will be no technology transfer, and only 36 jets would be procured, the lawyer told the court.

    Bhushan submitted that nobody knows about the alleged change in the deal done by the prime minister. Even the defence minister was not aware about the change, he said.

    Advocates M L Sharma, Vineet Dhanda and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, also advanced their arguments.

    Reliance in previous statements has said the Indian government, French government, Dassault and Reliance have clarified on multiple occasions there was no offset contract for Rs 30,000 crore to Reliance as alleged by the Congress.