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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 1-2019

Issue Features

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  MILITARY | F-35
  In the News!
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  At the recent price of $88 million per aircraft, the F-35 not only challenges currently available combat platforms in the world, but becomes a delight for air forces around the globe

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  MILITARY | MODERNISATION
  2019 a Landmark Year for Inductions
  By Vishal Thapar

  From a game changing missile-firing drone to an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), key new weapons this year will give India more military muscle, and generate fresh options for the politico-military leadership to address threats.

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  MILITARY | FIGHTER SQUADRONS
  Scrambling for Numbers
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  The aspiration of the IAF to seek 45 fighters squadrons looks like a distant dream

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  INDUSTRY | HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS
  Past Perfect, Future Tense
  By Vishal Thapar

  The scrapping of the MMRCA & FGFA programmes has suddenly pulled the plug on assured orders for fighter aircraft, and thrown India’s aviation behemoth into an existential crisis

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  CIVIL | SUMMIT
  India 3rd-largest aviation market of the future
  By Vishal Thapar

  India unveiled a Drone Ecosystem Policy Roadmap and a National Air Cargo Policy at the Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai on January 15 and 16 while articulating a Vision 2040 for the Civil Aviation Industry, showcasing itself as a 1.12-billion air passenger market by 2040.

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  SPACE | ISRO
  GSAT-7A Good Need Holistic Approach
  By Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The boost in drone operations comes with the IAF transitioning from ground-based control of UAVs to satellite-aided operations, enabling greater range and flexibility

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  A Word from Editor-in-Chief
  By Jayant Baranwal, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

  Irrespective of any political repercussions, we have no choice but to look at as to how we can arrest this seemingly most scary depleting scenario of the fighter squadrons. Our nation’s security remains paramount. No compromises whatsoever, on this front, with any kind of excuses are acceptable.

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  NEWS WITH VIEWS
  Controversy over Purchase of Rafale Jets
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  The controversy over the NDA Government’s decision to purchase 36 Rafale combat aircraft from the French company Dassault Aviation has been dominating India’s political discourse for the last several months. The ruling BJP and the main opposition party Congress are at loggerheads over the deal.

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  HALL OF FAME
  Allan Lockheed (1889-1969)
  By Joseph Noronha

  Allan Lockheed was one of those rare persons who, without any formal training, exhibited immense natural talent as an aviator

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  LAST WORD
  Positive Step
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  Whatever be the final outcome, the move by France Government to gift two Mirage 2000 aircraft at a minimal cost to the IAF ought to be seen as a positive step to build goodwill between the two nations

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  NEWS | DIGEST
  India’s Light Combat Chopper declared ready for induction after Mistral 2 missile firing
  By Vishal Thapar

  Rs. 3,000 crore contract for 15 first tranche LCHs likely at Aero India 2019

• NEWS | DIGEST
  Appointments
  

  Airbus has appointed Philippe Mhun as Chief Programmes and Services Officer for Airbus Commercial Aircraft, effective January 1, 2019.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Blended Bio-Jet Fuelled Aircraft Flown by IAF
  

  On December 17, 2018, Experimental Test Pilots and Test Engineer from the premier testing establishment ASTE of the Indian Air Force (IAF), flew India’s first military flight using blended bio-jet fuel on the An-32 transport aircraft.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  S-400 Missile Defence System for India
  

  A contract was signed on October 5, 2018 for delivery of S-400 Missile Defence system from Russia. The delivery will commence from October 2020 and will be completed by April 2023.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Russia’s over-the-horizon detection radar Konteiner
  

  Russia’s latest over-the-horizon detection radar Konteiner will take on combat alert duty in 2019. Combat crews of radio-technical units of the Russian Aerospace Forces have taken on test combat duty on December 1, 2018.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Japan’s National Defence Programme
  

  The Japanese government has agreed on a multi-billion defence procurement plan which was released on December 18, 2018.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  Boeing Completes NATO AWACS Upgrades
  

  Boeing has delivered the final Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft modernised with avionics and a digital cockpit to NATO, completing the fleet upgrade.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  Boeing Contract for MQ-25 Stingray Research
  

  Boeing is receiving additional funding to continue research on the MQ-25 Stingray. The contract modification is valued at $90.4 million and is expected to be completed in August 2024.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  Contract for Northrop Grumman
  

  Northrop Grumman has been given a $1.3 billion IDIQ contract for the Litening advanced targeting pod. Designed to improve both day and night attack capabilities, the AN/AAQ-28 pods provide pilots with advanced image processing for target identification and coordinate generation, a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, charge-coupled device television (CCD-TV) sensors, a laser spot tracker/range finder and infrared laser marker/designators.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  Sikorsky, Boeing Provide First Look at SB1 Defiant
  

  Sikorsky and Boeing provided the first look at the SB1 Defiant helicopter the companies have developed for the US Army’s Joint Multi-Role technology demonstrator programme.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | EUROPE
  First Flight of Rafale F3-R
  

  On December 10, 2018, the first Rafale aircraft upgraded to the French Air Force’s latest F3-R standard, made its first flight from Air Base 118.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: SPACE | AMERICAS
  Dream Chaser Spacecraft Passes NASA Milestone
  

  Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Dream Chaser spacecraft passed a key milestone for NASA’S Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, validating design performance and clearing the way for full spacecraft production.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: SPACE | EUROPE
  Military Imaging Satellite-CSO-1
  

  France launched CSO-1 which is a new military imaging satellite and is the first of three identical satellites that are replacing France’s ageing Helios constellation.

• NEWS | DIGEST
  Quick RoundUp
  

  Airbus has confirmed that it achieved 800 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2018, subject to the finalisation of the auditing process. Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services.