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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 7-2018

Issue Features

• 

  SHOW PREVIEW | FIA 2018
  All the Deals & Developments Coming to Farnborough Airshow
  By Arpita Kala & Rohit Srivastava

  The week-long biennial event, being held from July 16-22, is the perfect opportunity for veterans as well as newbies in the aerospace field. Over 1,500 trade exhibitors, 150 aircraft and 1,50,000 trade and public visitors are expected to visit the show this time.

• 

  CIVIL | INDUSTRY
  Boeing-Embraer Targeting Airbus-Bombardier
  By Air Marshal Sukhchain Singh (Retd)

  The need for a deal has recently become more pressing since its European rival, Airbus, took control of Bombardier’s C-Series regional jet programme

• 

  BUSINESS AVIATION | LIGHT JETS
  New Wave in VLJs
  By Rohit Srivastava

  Not so long ago, very light jets (VLJs) were a buzzword in the aviation world as plane manufacturers saw the huge potential for small, efficient, and simple jets.

• 

  BUSINESS AVIATION | HONDAJET
  Are You Ready for an Elite Experience?
  By Arpita Kala

  The most delivered jet, HondaJet, is drumming up a storm with their latest offering

• 

  MILITARY | APACHE
  The Most Advanced & The Most Lethal
  By Rohit Srivastava

  The AH-64 Apache is the only combat helicopter in service with the ability to rapidly detect, classify, prioritise and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges in allweather conditions

• 

  MILITARY | HELICOPTERS
  Next-Gen Combat Helicopters
  By Group Captain A.K. Sachdev (Retd)

  Technology has been tardy in addressing speed and design problems of rotary-wing platforms; but there are some developments afoot in the vertical lift machines

• 

  MILITARY | MMRCA 2.0
  Fighters for the IAF – A Dilemma
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  IAF will need to induct more than 300 combat aircraft by 2025 to restore and maintain its operational status. Further, another 100 aircraft would be required by 2032 to replace those retiring from service.

• 

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

  Undue delay in the procurement of military hardware has serious implications for the Indian armed forces and in turn for national security

• 

  NEWS WITH VIEWS
  Taking on the Dragon!
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  India has deployed more troops and significantly increased patrolling in the mountainous terrains of Dibang, Dau-Delai and Lohit valleys along the borders with China in the Tibetan region in Arunachal sector...

• 

  HALL OF FAME
  Robert Hoover (1922-2016)
  By Joseph Noronha

  In 115 years of powered flight, there have been many great aviators, but Robert Hoover was considered to be one of the most accomplished of them all

• 

  LAST WORD
  Conclude Tata-Airbus JV, Now
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  There is compelling need to finalise the contract for the C295 with Tata-Airbus joint venture to provide the much needed impetus for the success of the ‘Make in India’ programme

• NEWS | DIGEST
  Appointments
  

  Aerion, the leader in supersonic flight, has appointed Roger Noble as Vice President of Sales for the Eastern United States, CFM International has appointed Jean-Marc Domergue as Vice President of Contracts...

• NEWS | DIGEST
  Quick RoundUp
  

  Under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for $38.43 million contract modification, MD Helicopters will provide Afghanistan for performance based, contractor-managed operations to support systems readiness...

• 

  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  IAF MI-17 uses Bambi Bucket to douse ship’s fire
  

  A Mi-17 V5 Helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was requisitioned on June 17, 2018 for dousing the flames on a merchant vessel MV SSL on the shores of Sunderbans.

• 

  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Israel’s Cargo Variant ThunderB UAV
  

  The Israeli defence manufacturer Blue-Bird Aero Systems is currently promoting the newly developed cargo variant of its ThunderB UAV. The ThunderB is a highwing UAV integrating a V-shaped tail and housing a gimballed payload unit in the forward section of its fuselage.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Airbridge for Mansarovar Yatra: An IAF Effort
  

  For three months, starting June 18, 2018, the IAF has created an airbridge between Pithoragarh and Gunji, in an effort to airlift 1080 registered passengers to Gunji to enable them to continue their journey...

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Defence Acquisition Council Approves Purchase of S-400
  

  It has been reported that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given its final approval to an agreement to purchase S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia, despite opposition from Washington.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  Pricing Of Equipment Provided By Defence PSUs
  

  It has been reported that the Ministry of Defence has set up a committee to audit the high cost of Tejas Mark 1A quoted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In April 2018, HAL quoted 463 crore per jet for a total of 83 aircraft.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | ASIA PACIFIC
  First Green ALH Dhruv Mk-III For Indian Coast Guard
  

  The first green helicopter for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has completed the installation of basic systems and had a successful maiden ground run on June 29, 2018.

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  NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  T-38 Get New Life With Pacer Classic III Mods
  

  Designed in the 1950s, the T-38 Talon is a tandem, two-seat aircraft that became the world’s first and most produced supersonic trainer with over 1,100 being built and thus far, has trained an estimated 72,000 pilots from the US Air Force, foreign nations and NASA.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  Modernisation of the US Air Force B-52H
  

  The current modernisation programme of the Air Force’s B-52H aims to make the platform even more lethal. According to a recently published RFI, the Air Force plans to equip the B-52H wing pylon to carry a single weapon weighing up to the 20,000lb...

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | AMERICAS
  US Air Force Contract for Northrop Grumman
  

  The US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Centre has awarded a $47 million contract to Northrop Grumman in support of the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Polar Space Vehicles 1 and 2.

• NEWS | DIGEST: MILITARY | EUROPE
  A400M: Update on the €20BN Military Aircraft
  

  It is reported that the A400M programme has been unpredictable in results due to the challenges of developing a multi-role heavy-lift aircraft using new engine and composite technologies which has set back the planning...

• NEWS | DIGEST: SPACE | ASIA-PACIFIC
  Crew Escape System - Technology Demonstrator
  

  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has carried out a major technology demonstration on July 5, 2018, the first in a series of tests to qualify a Crew Escape System, which is a critical technology relevant for human spaceflight.

• NEWS | DIGEST: SPACE | AMERICAS
  Contract for SpaceX
  

  The USAir Force Space and Missile Systems Center has contracted SpaceX for a $130 million contract for the delivery of the Air Force Space Command-52 satellite by Elon Musk’s Falcon-Heavy Rocket.