Wednesday, October 20, 2010

hypersonic missiles

India ready to test fire advanced 3000 Km Agni III missile in the next six months – hypersonic missiles getting developed
 
India is on its way to building the untold hypersonic bunker busting missile systems. It is a bunker-busting missile that can fly into near-space, and then come crashing down on a target thousands of miles away, at four times the speed of sound. The concept needs durable, high temperature materials, thermal protection systems, advanced guidance, navigation and control, efficient aerodynamic configurations, and innovative propulsion concepts.
India would test-fire its 3,000 kms longest-range surface to surface missile Agni III by the year end and has started induction of the short and intermediate range Agni I and Agni II versions in the newly raised strategic command, India's top defence scientist Dr M. Natrajan said.
"Development of Agni III missile is on schedule and it would fly by the year end," Natrajan said in a presentation made at the Defence Research and Development Organization [DRDO] Technology day awards function here in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

His remarks assume significance as DRDO has put off tests of the wholly solid Agni III missiles twice. Former Defence Minister George Fernandes had announced that the missile, which can give India the capability of developing intercontinental range ballistic missile, would be test fired in 2003 year end.
The missile was later scheduled to be tested in mid-2004, but the trials were put off with defence scientists saying some snags had been noticed in propulsion systems and that these were being rectified.
The country's scientific adviser on defence also announced "nine successful test firings have been undertaken of the surface-to-air Akash missile and fourth generation fire and forget Nag anti-tank missiles," he said declaring that Nag was now ready for user trials.
However, DRDO officials did not throw light on the recent claims by country's top missile scientist Dr Prahlada of the organization developing a hypersonic missile development capability.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

INDIAN MISSILES

INDIAN MISSILES

1. S-125 Neva/Pechora


The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora (Russian: С-125 "Нева"/"Печора", NATO reporting name SA-3 Goa) Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more maneuverable targets.

It is also able to engage lower flying targets than the previous systems, and being more modern it is much more resistant to ECM than the S-75. The 5V24 (V-600) missiles reach around Mach 3 to 3.5 in flight, both stages powered by solid fuel rocket motors.
Status : Operational

2. Akash Missile



Akash (Sanskrit: आकाश Ākāś "Sky") is India's medium range surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The missile can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m Akash can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms. Akash is said to be capable of both conventional and nuclear warheads, with a reported payload of 60 kg.A nuclear warhead could potentially give the missile the capability to destroy both aircraft and warheads from ballistic missiles. The missile battery is described as being able to track and attack several targets simultaneously.

An Akash battery comprises four 3D phased array radars and four launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interlinked. Each radar is able to track 16 targets simultaneously and control a launcher with 3 missiles. Hence it is reported to be able to track 64 targets and simultaneously attack any 12 of those targets at one time.

The Akash system is comparable to the Patriot system, but unlike the Patriot, Akash is fully mobile and capable of protecting a moving convoy of vehicles. Like the Patriot, the Akash is really an air defence SAM which has been tested in a ballistic missile role

Status : Ordered, Induction

3. S-300



The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by NPO Almaz, all based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles.

The S-300 system was first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1979, designed for the air defense of large industrial and administrative facilities, military bases, and control of airspace against enemy strike aircraft.

The project-managing developer of the S-300 is Russian Almaz corporation (government owned, aka "KB-1") which is currently a part of "Almaz-Antei" Air Defense Concern. S-300 uses missiles developed by MKB "Fakel" design bureau (a separate government corporation, aka "OKB-2").

The S-300 is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently fielded . Its radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. S-300 deployment time is five minutes. The S-300 missiles are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime

Status : Operational


4. Trishul




Trishul (Sanskrit त्रिशूल meaning trident) is the name of a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It has a range of 9 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg warhead. Designed to be used against low-level (sea skimming) targets at short range, the system has been developed to defend naval vessels against missiles and also as a short range surface to air missile on land. Guidance consists of three different guiding beams, with the guidance handed over progressively to a narrower beam as the missile approaches the target.

According to reports, the range of the missile is 12 km and is fitted with a 15 kg warhead. The weight of the missile is 130 kg. The length of the missile is 3.1 m

5. SPYDER SAM



The SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an anti-aircraft missile system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (with use of Czech Tatra chassis) and using surface-to-air versions of the Python 5 and Derby missiles, also made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a quick reaction medium range missile system. SPYDER is capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones and precision-guided munitions. It provides air defence for fixed assets and for point and area defence for mobile forces in combat areas.

Aug 18/09: Indian Army’s QR-SAM. The Times of India reports that India’s Ministry of Defence has finally given the go-ahead for the army’s INR 40 billion (about $820 million) Quick-Reaction SAM program. These mobile missiles would protect Indian maneuver elements like armored columns and troop concentrations, as well as important areas and installations. The Army seeks to equip 3 regiments with this contract, which is over twice the size of the IAF’s 18 squadron purchase.

 Status : Under Purchase


6. PAD and AAD



The Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered Ballistic missile defense system to protect India from missile attacks.

Introduced in light of the ballistic missile threat from Pakistan, it is a two tiered system consisting of two interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile for high altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile for lower altitude interception. The two-tiered shield should be able to intercept any incoming missile launched 5,000 kilometers away.

Status : Under Testing, Induction of 2000 Km Missile Defence system by 2012.

7. Barak-8 /MR-SAM Program




India and Israel agreed to jointly develop a new long range, land-based air defense system to replace the aging Pechora (SA-3 GOA) missiles currently in service with the Indian Air Force. Covering a range of 70 km, the new missile will almost double the range of the 60km vertically launched Barak 8 shipborne missile (also known as Barak NG) currently being developed for the Indian and Israeli Navies under a US$480 million five year program launched in early 2006.

The new missile system will be based on the medium-range naval air defense missile currently under development for the Indian and Israeli Navies. The naval application of the missile will be integrated with the MF-STAR phased array shipborne radar, which Elta claims to be superior to the SPY-1 AEGIS radar. Overall, the MF-STAR / Barak 8 combination is claimed to be superior to the leading US made systems such as AEGIS or Patriot PAC-3 missile systems.

Status : Under Development

8. MBDA Maitri SAM




Here's the Maitri short-range surface to air missile (SR-SAM) on display at the MBDA stall. This is the programme that succeeds the defunct Trishul shipborne point-defence missile programme, and is a joint venture between DRDO and MBDA, with developmental feeds from the VL-MICA and Trishul programmes.

Status : Under development

Future Options :


1. India has been offered the deadly S-400 and Patriot SAMs.

2. India is Possibly developing MR SAM with Israel

3. India is also visualizing to develop s Land based SAM , Basd on the Successful Astra BVR Missile.

Monday, October 18, 2010

MiG-35

MiG-35
A MiG-35D
RoleMultirole fighter
National originRussia
ManufacturerMikoyan
First flight2007
StatusExperimental
Number built10 by 2008
Developed fromMikoyan MiG-29M


The Mikoyan MiG-35  is a further development of the MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-29K/KUB technology. It is classified as a 4++ generation jet fighter by its manufacturer. The first prototype was a modification of the aircraft that previously served as MiG-29M2 model demonstrator. So far 10 prototypes have been built and are currently subject to extensive field trials. The MiG-35 is now classed as a medium-weight aircraft because its maximum take-off weight has increased by 30 percent which exceeds its previous criteria of classification.
MiG Corporation first officially presented the MiG-35 internationally during the Aero India 2007 air show. The MiG-35 was officially unveiled when the Russian Minister of Defence, Sergey Ivanov, visited Lukhovitsky Machine Building Plant "MAPO-MIG". The single seat version is designated MiG-35 and the two-seat version is MiG-35D. The fighter has vastly improved avionics and weapon systems, notably the new AESA radar and the uniquely designed Optical Locator System (OLS), relieves the aircraft from relying on ground-controlled interception (GCI) systems and enables it to conduct independent multi-role missions.



MIG-35D at Aero India 2007

The first demonstrator, a dual-seat aircraft, was built on an existing MiG-29M2 airframe, which previously served as a demonstrator for modifications designated MiG-29MRCA and MiG-29M2.

Unveiling at Aero India

Russia unveiled the MiG-35 at the Aero India 2007 airshow in Bangalore, amid Moscow's keenness to sell these planes to India. It was reported that the MiG-35 made its way from Moscow to Bangalore in less than three hours, assisted by in-flight refueling on the way and flying at supersonic speeds.
The MiG-35 is a contender with the Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, JAS 39 Gripen and F-16 Falcon for the bid of more than 126 multirole combat aircraft to be procured by the Indian Air Force in Indian MRCA competition.
 
Aero India 2007 was the first time that the final version of the MiG-35 fighter was displayed in an international air show. Until then, only the prototype of the MiG-35 had been shown to the public at air shows in Russia and the UK in 2005.
It was again demonstrated at Aero India 2009 held at Yelahanka Airbase near Bangalore where it was flown by an Indian Air Force pilot.

As of April 2010, pictures and additional info surfaced of two new MiG-35 demonstrators, single-seat MiG-35 bort "961", and two-seat MiG-35D "967". According to Russian media, they have first flown at the beginning of Autumn 2009, and subsequently they took part in MMRCA trials in India starting October 2009. Both have a very high commonality with the previous MiG-29K/KUB airframes, with the immediate visible difference being the braking parachute installed in the place of the hook present on the naval aircraft. Subsequently MiG-35D "967" appears to have been equipped with a similar AESA radar as fitted to the older MiG-35 demonstrator bort "154", identifiable by the dark-grey short nose radome.

The MiG-35 is currently in development. Information listed below is preliminary and may change.

MiG-35 is a strong contender in india's future weapon development program. 126 MiG-35 could be ordered by indian government as part of mordenising indian air force  
 
General characteristics
Performance
Armament

INDIAN FIGHTER PLANE An-32

INDIAN FIGHTER PLANE

An-32
K2677 taking off
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

An-32 taking off

Antonov An-32  Sutlej

Known as the Sutlej in the IAF, the An-32 is the workhorse of the transport fleet traveling to far off bases such as Leh, to deliver much-needed supplies to the Army outposts in the area. An estimated 110 aircraft are in service with the IAF. Deliveries to the IAF began in July 1984.

Number Procured: 110

Units Equipped:
........................No.12 Squadron "Yaks" , Agra
........................No.25 Squadron "Himalayan Eagles" ("B" Flight Only), Chandigarh
........................No.33 Squadron "Caribous" , Sulur
........................No.43 Squadron "Ibex" , Jorhat
........................No.48 Squadron "Camels" , Chandigarh
........................No.49 Squadron "Paraspears" , Jorhat
........................Paratroopers Training School, Agra
........................Transport Training Wing, Yelhanka

  Design and development
The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then India leader Indira Gandhi. The An-32 is designed to withstand adverse weather conditions better than the standard An-26. The high placement of the engine nacelles above the wing allowed for larger diameter propeller, which are driven by 5100 hp rated AI-20 turboprop engines, almost twice the power of the An-26's AI-24 powerplants. The An-32 therefore enjoys excellent take-off characteristics under tropical and mountainous (high-altitude) conditions, where hot or thin air hampers the powerplants tractive effort. The price for a newly built An-32 was quoted as being 6-9 million dollars in 2000.

 

Specifications (An-32)

General characteristics
  • Crew: 3
  • Capacity: 42 paratroopers/50 passengers/24 Casualties on stretcher with 3 medical personnel
  • Length: 23.78 m (78 ft 0¾ in)
  • Wingspan: 29.20 m (95 ft 9½ in)
  • Height: 8.75m (28 ft 8½ in)
  • Wing area: 75 m² (807 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 16,800 kg (37,038 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 27,000 kg (59,400 lb)
  • Powerplant:ZMKB Progress AI-20DM turboprop, 3,812 kW (5,112 ehp) each
Performance
  • Maximum speed: 530 km/h (286 knots, 329 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 470 km/h (254 knots, 292 mph) (econ cruise)
  • Range: 2,500 km (1,350 nmi, 1,553 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 9,500 m (31,165 ft) 

Major Accidents

  • On June 10, 2009, an Indian Air Force, An-32 transport plane carrying 13 people crashed shortly after it took off from Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh, a state bordering China. All the 13 people on board were reported to have been killed. Soon after the crash, India inked $ 400 million deal for AN-32 fleet upgrade with Ukraine. This upgrade as reported will extend the life of these transport planes by nearly 15 years.