Did IAF’s 'US-made' C-130J Super Hercules that crashed have fake Chinese parts?

India's newly-acquired American C-130J Super Hercules plane that crashed last week near Gwalior has been under intense scrutiny in the United States and Canada after a Senate investigation concluded that counterfeit parts in the aircraft's display systems could cause it to "lose data or even go blank altogether" in midflight, with potentially catastrophic consequences. 

A 2011-2012 investigation by the US Senate armed services committee eventually traced the counterfeit electronic parts used in the C-130J, C-27J, and many other US military systems to a company in Shenzhen, China, called Hong Dark Electronic Trade Company. Hong Dark sold the parts at issue to Global IC Trading Group, an independent distributor in the US, which in turn sold it to L-3 Communications Display Systems, which in turn supplied it to Lockheed Martin, the US military's prime contractor for the C-130J. 

Indian C-130J Super Hercules plane Crash

 Amid scathing observations by the Senate panel, the US air force suspended and banned Hong Dark in 2012 from competing for government contracts and subcontracts, but testimony before the armed services committee showed stunning lapses in the supply chain and procurement procedures for the military systems, including the C-130J Super Hercules, six of which New Delhi contracted to buy in 2010 for $1.1 billion, around Rs 1000 crores apiece. 

Indian C-130J Super Hercules plane Crash

India has plans to buys six more to augment its transport fleet with the much-acclaimed aircraft, which has won plaudits for its safety record and its versatility. The acquisition enables the Indian military to put boots and supplies on the ground in remote and inhospitable terrain, giving it matchless reach in the region. 

However, the aircraft display systems itself will now come under scrutiny — if it already hadn't been under the scanner — although the cause of the Gwalior crash is yet to be determined. The US Senate committee report is withering in its observations not only about US procurement and supply chain system, but also the casual manner in which private contractors treated the issue once the counterfeit parts were detected. 

The story begins in November 2010 when L-3 Display Systems detected that the company's in-house failure rate for a chip installed on display units used in C-130J and C-27J had more than tripled from 8.5 per cent to 27 per cent. L-3 also noticed that the same part had previously failed on a fielded military plane. The company sent the chips for testing, which resulted in identification of "multiple abnormalities," with the tester concluding that the parts were "suspect counterfeit." 

Is It Chinese Answer to US X-47B Development?

Sino X-47B

Sino X-47B

Is Saab’s New Gripen The Future Of Fighters?

The reason that the JAS 39E may earn a Gen 6 tag is that it has been designed with these issues in mind. Software comes first: The new hardware runs Mission System 21 software, the latest roughly biennial release in the series that started with the JAS 39A/B.

Long life requires adaptability, both across missions and through-life. Like Ed Heinemann's A-4 Skyhawk, the Gripen was designed as a small aircraft with a relatively large payload. And by porting most of the software to the new version, the idea is that all C/D weapons and capabilities, and then some, are ready to go on the E.

 JAS 39 E

The Swedes have invested in state-of-the-art sensors for ISR and situational awareness (AW&ST March 17, p. 28), including what may be the first in-service electronic warfare system using gallium-nitride technology. It's significant that a lot of space is devoted to the identification friend-or-foe system. Good IFF is most important in a confused situation where civilian, friendly, neutral, questionable and hostile actors are sharing the same airspace.

Sweden's ability to develop its own state-of-the-art fighters has long depended on blending home-grown and imported technology. Harvesting technology rather than inventing it becomes more important as commercial technology takes a leading role and becomes more global. The JAS 39E engine is from the U.S., the radar from Britain, and the infrared search and track system is Italian. Much of the airframe may be built in Brazil.

China's J-10B Multi-Role Fighter Jet Nears Induction

J-10B MultiRole Fighter Jet

J-10B MultiRole Fighter Jet

China 's J-10B Fighter Jet is now near its induction stage  into Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Fitted with diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI), active electronically scanned array (AESA) and infra-red search and track (IRST) sensors will be true 4.5+ generational  multirole fighter jet. China is working really hard in recent years in developing J-10's different version for different roles in PLAAF and PLANAF.

J-10 also has some export successs in international market and Pakistan's PAF is likely to be the first export customer of J-10B which is named FC-20 in Pakistan.

Russia's New UCAV Altius Unveiled

Russian New Altius UCAV

Russia's State Media says Altius drone (UCAV) is a long-endurance  Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle with capability to perform a wide variety of tasks, including strike missions. Altius UCAV  first prototype is a high-winged aircraft  powered by two turboprop engines, with slab-sided rear fuselage and a V-shaped tail.

First Israeli M-346 Lavi Rolled Out

Alenia Aermacchi has rolled out the first M-346 advanced trainer for Israel in a ceremony held at the manufacturer’s plant in Italy.

Dating from a July 2012 order, the company will supply 30 of the aircraft to the nation’s air force to replace its fleet of aged 60 Douglas A/TA-4 Skyhawks, alongside ground-based training systems.

Israeli M-346 Lavi

Delivery of the first two M-346s, to be known as the Lavi in Israeli service, is scheduled for summer 2014, with a further seven aircraft to be handed over this year, 18 in 2015 and the remainder in 2016

Eleven of the Honeywell F124-200-powered type are in different stages of construction at the Production facility, four of which have entered final assembly.

A time to reflect

Dear readers, 

I started this blog in November 2013 with the purpose of being an English version of the site Aerofatos. My idea was to publish news about military aviation in India, Russia and China. 

Unfortunately, the blog did not get the number of views to make it something sustainable. Despite the 500 Facebook fans, only 100-200 views per day were recorded. Very little for two hour of daily dedication. 

If any of you want to take responsibility for posting materials, please contact me. This is not a paid job. It is for someone who likes aviation. 

The aerofatos.com address will be available until May 2014. I will not renew with my host (Netfirms), but I can transfer to another person. The Facebook page also needs a new admistrador. 

But aerofatos.com.br remain online. In portuguese, sure.

Sorry for the inconvenience. 

Julio Ribeiro
aerofatos@gmail.com

Su-34 frontline bomber was put into service by Russian air forces

In accordance with the decision of the government of Russian Federation, the new Su-34 frontline bomber was put into service, Interfax reports with reference to a source close to the military-industrial sector. He reminded that the bomber successfully completed all the necessary tests and its deliveries were started long ago. The serial Su-34s are being manufactured by Novosibirsk Aviation Plant.

"Last year Sukhoi Company successfully implemented the first contract for delivery of 32 Su-34s to Russian air forces and started the implementation of the second contract for delivery of 92 bombers of the type”, - the source said.

Now it's PAK TA's turn

An-225 Mriya: illustrative photo

The enterprises of Russian military-industrial sector have started the development of a next-generation military-transport aircraft – PAK TA (similarly to PAK FA it may stand for Perspective Airborne Complex of Transport Aviation). The project should be completed in the next decade, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to CEO of Ilyushin Aviation Complex, Viktor Livanov.

"The project does not have an approved name; for now it is called PAK TA - Perspective Airborne Complex of Transport Aviation. Today it is just a project that may be implemented by 2030", - the source explained. According to him, the exact specifications for PAK TA will be elaborated later after negotiations with potential customers.

Aggressor squadrons feel the pinch of DoD cuts

Ongoing Department of Defense (DoD) defence cuts are impacting on the ability of the Aggressor units to deliver up-to-date training to US Air Force (USAF) and allied squadrons, a senior officer told IHS Jane's in early March.

Speaking at the 'Red Flag 14-2' exercise at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada, commander of the 57th Adversary Tactics Support Squadron (ATSS), Lieutenant Colonel Jon Berardinelli, said that Aggressor units such as his are fleeing the cuts especially, and that it is affecting the delivery of realistic training scenarios.

"On the adversary side, we are feeling the impact of budget cuts. That just impacts our capability to replicate the newest threats. While we are pulling back the adversaries and not upgrading the equipment that we use to replicate the threats, those threats are getting better equipment. The older [Lockheed Martin] F-16s and [Boeing] F-15s are going to approach the point where we aren't quite replicating country-X's fighter or air defence system," he said.

J-31 or Project 310?

As we've seen the J-20 project proceed to the pre-production prototype stage, Project 310 (Shenyang AC's 5th gen design) is continuing its flight testing. Although, I and many other have called it J-31, it really hasn't become an official PLAAF project yet, so it has no J designation Many have called it the J-21 project, because they expect it to receive that designation once it becomes official.

There have been a lot of discussions online about where this project is at and how is it funded, so I will give me take here. At this stage, project 310 only has one flying prototype in No. 31001. Some would compare it to No. 2001 of J-20 project, but I consider more as a proof of concept aircraft similar to X-35. 

Lavi or not Lavi. That is the question

IAI Lavi: a competitive aircraft in the export market against American aircraft such as the F-16C/D and the F/A-18C/D

When we look at the prototype of the Israeli fighter IAI LAVI you think: I must be crazy. This is a Chinese J-10! To resolve this doubt see "The chronological history of the J-10 programme"... Please, don't confuse the old Lavi - a single-engined 4th generation fighter developed in Israel in the 1980s with the new Lavi: the local name of new M346 trainer.

Gripen E not reliant on Swiss referendum

The Swedish government is fully committed to the Saab Gripen E combat aircraft programme, irrespective of the outcome of a Swiss national referendum on the planned procurement of the type, company officials said on 11 March.

Speaking at the company's Linköping production facility near Stockholm, Saab's Swiss campaign leader for the Gripen E, Richard Smith, said that the contract signed with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk - FMV) to deliver 60 Gripen E aircraft to the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) will continue regardless of how the Swiss vote in the referendum scheduled for mid-May.

Inhofe: Putting F-22s, Aegis Ships Near Ukraine Would Not Escalate Conflict

A senior Republican senator says his call to surround Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine-occupying forces with America’s most-advanced weapons would not amount to an escalation that could trigger a major conflict.

Western presidents and chancellors, as well as senior secretaries and ministers, are focused on using economic and diplomatic maneuvers to force the Russian president to remove his forces from Ukraine’s Crimea region. No Western leader is talking about using military force to push Putin’s forces from the region.

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s senior Republican said he isn’t, either.

Top Gun takeover: Stolen F-35 secrets showing up in China’s stealth fighter

A cyber espionage operation by China seven years ago produced sensitive technology and aircraft secrets that were incorporated into the latest version of China’s new J-20 stealth fighter jet, according to U.S. officials and private defense analysts.

The Chinese cyber spying against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II took place in 2007 under what U.S. intelligence agencies codenamed Operation Byzantine Hades, a large-scale, multi-year cyber program that targeted governments and industry.

Defense officials said the stolen data was obtained by a Chinese military unit called a Technical Reconnaissance Bureau in the Chengdu province. The data was then passed to the state-run Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC).

PLA Air Force armament dept needs financial attention: chief

China must devote more resources to developing strategic bombers as a way to safeguard the nation's maritime interests, Yuan Qiang, chief of the PLA Air Force's armament department and member of the National People's Congress, said in an interview with national broadcaster China National Radio.

A modern PLA Navy with aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and submarines will not be enough to make China a maritime superpower, said the chief. To soldify China's ability to project its forces overseas, the PLA needs more strategic bombers, large cargo planes, early warning and air-refueling aircraft. It is now the time for China to show its determination to create a strong strategic air force, he said.

Russia Sends 6 Fighter Jets to Belarus

Six Russian Su-27 fighter jets and three military transport planes with ground support personnel arrived Thursday at an airbase in Belarus to boost the airspace defenses of the two countries' Union State, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said the aircraft from the Western military district have been deployed to the Babruysk airbase in line with a bilateral agreement on the joint protection of the Union State's airspace.

The planes will reinforce the four Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jets already at the nearby Baranovichi airbase. The Su-27 Flanker is a highly-maneuverable, all-weather fighter jet that could be used in a variety of combat missions, including reconnaissance and the interception of enemy aircraft.

First F-16s arrive in Poland to bolster training mission

Six F-16 fighters from the 555th Fighter Squadron from Aviano Base, Italy, have arrived in Poland to augment the U.S. military’s presence there amid regional tensions following Russia’s Feb. 28 incursion into Ukraine, officials said.

The fighters landed on Thursday afternoon and another six F-16s are expected to arrive at Lask Air Base, Poland, by the end of the week, officials said. In addition to the 12 fighters, roughly 150 airmen will augment the ongoing training mission at the base.

A small team of roughly 10 airmen is permanently stationed at Lask Air Base, which hosts two-week training rotations for F-16 crews. It is not known how long the F-16s and airmen will stay in Poland, said Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez.

China’s Y-20 Prototype Aircraft Can Take Off with Maximum Weight

Research and development on China’s Y-20 large transport aircraft, which ranks as a large aircraft by international standards, is going smoothly, and the level of technology is maturing in various aspects.

The Y-20 prototype aircraft can now achieve maximum take-off weight and maximum altitude, Tang Changhong, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and chief designer of the Y-20 heavy-duty transport aircraft, said in an interview.

The Y-20 heavy-duty transport aircraft is a new-generation aircraft independently developed by China, with a maximum take-off weight of about 220 tons and a maximum payload of 66 tons.

“Development of the domestically designed engine which will be soon be used to equip the Y-20 has also been proceeding very smoothly. A lot of progress has been made,” said Tang.

Pentagon budget 2015: New long-range bomber moves ahead with funding uptick

The US Air Force (USAF) has notably ramped up its funding request for developing a next-generation bomber aircraft, which is to still be part of a 'system of systems' and capped at USD550 million per production aircraft, officials said.

In its fiscal year 2015 (FY 2015) budget proposal the USAF requested USD914 million in research and development funding for the Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). USD359 million was enacted in FY 2014 for the programme.

LRS-B is among the air force's top three acquisition priorities, the others being the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refuelling tanker.

Pentagon F-35 chief suggests unit cost of $80-85 million

The price of the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) may have dropped by as much as 12.5% in just over a year, according to figures quoted by Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, head of the Pentagon's JSF programme office.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra on 12 March, Gen Bogdan cited a price of USD80-85 million per aircraft in 2019 dollars, inclusive of engine, manufacturer's profit and inflation.

"We're pretty confident we are going to get there", he said, noting that this figure could fall should further orders be received but could also rise if any existing customers cancelled or deferred planned acquisitions.

Czech government approves Gripen lease extension

The Czech Republic looks set to continue flying the Saab Gripen C/D until at least 2026, with its government expected to sign a lease extension deal with the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM) in April.

“The government of the Czech Republic has approved a new JAS 39 Gripen agreement,” the FXM says in a 12 March announcement. The agency has been negotiating the potential deal with the authorities in Prague “for some two years”, with its director-general Ulf Hammarström describing the activity as “a long, tough process”.

Saab reveals full Gripen E design, cost savings

Saab has started fuselage assembly work on its first of three Gripen E test aircraft and revealed its detailed design for the future variant, which it says will beat the development and operational cost performance of the C-model fighter now flown by five air forces.

Decisions in favour of the Gripen E from the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Brazil in recent months have prompted a surge of fresh interest in the development, says Saab deputy chief executive and head of aeronautics Lennart Sindahl. “Wherever we go, we see a good situation,” he says. The company is confident of a "yes" vote in a Swiss public referendum on 18 May over a planned 22-aircraft procurement, and also of closing out talks with Brazil for its 36-unit F-X2 deal by late this year.

The Morning News: March 12, 2014

Firt F-35 at Luke

Click the title to read

U.S. Air Force plans to remove almost 500 aircraft over the next five years

The USAF plans to divest entire fleets, including the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane and U-2 Dragon Lady spyplanes and “focus on the multi-role aircraft that can deliver a variety of capabilities combatant commanders require”... THE AVIATIONIST

Technology of limited use in search for missing 777

Amid conflicting reports about whether the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 has been spotted, an expert in airborne search and rescue at sea highlights the challenging task facing the aerial armada searching for the aircraft... FLIGHT GLOBAL

US Will Beef Up Air Operations in Poland

More U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons will deploy to Poland in the coming days and weeks, a Pentagon official said here today... DEFENCE TALK

First NATO AWACS flight over Romania

Only a day after NATO announced that Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS airplanes will perform surveillance missions over Romania and Poland... AVIATIA MAGAZIN

First F-35 Lightning II arrives at Luke AFB

Escorted by two F-16s, Luke AFB's first F-35 Lightning II arrived a little after 11.00h on March 10, 2014 from the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Texas... F-16.NET

Improved J­20 Ready For First Test Flight

Images emerged on 20 February of a modified prototype Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation fighter undertaking high-speed taxi runs... ASIAN DEFENCE

Israel will face dozens of enemy drones in next conflict

The IAF is preparing to face cruise missiles and dozens of enemy drones in the next conflict, the head of Air Defense Command said Monday.

Summary of day: March 11th, 2014

Now, in a new format. Click the title to read

J-20 sees significant stealth changes: US analyst

After China unveiled its first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-20, in 2011, many analysts around the world believed that the fighter had the potential to shift the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region...

Russian Paratroopers Hold Massive Drills as Crimea Vote Nears

An airborne division based in central Russia began large-scale exercises Tuesday against the backdrop of an ongoing political and security crisis in Ukraine...

CGI of Chinese J-31/ F-60 Shen Fei (Falcon Eagle) Stealth Fighter Jet in Action

Computer-generated imagery (CGI) of the J-31/ F-60 Shen Fei (Falcon Eagle) fifth generation fighter jet in action with beyond visual range (BVR) air to air missiles and fifth generation short range infrared homing air-to-air missiles...

Algerian Ministry of Defense placed an order for 48 new helicopters

Algerian Ministry of Defense placed an order for 48 new helicopters Mi-28N, Lenta.ru reports with reference to Jane's. The value of this contract is about $2,7 billion...

Saab to offer Gripen C/D upgrades, pushes exports

Saab is to continue to offer upgrades to the Gripen C/D combat aircraft to maintain the type's capability out beyond the introduction into service of the latest-variant Gripen E, a company official disclosed on 10 March...

Indian Navy To Open Search for Carrier Air Defense System

The Indian Navy has declined, for now, a Russian offer to mount the Kashtan air defense system on India’s INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier...

Dissecting a dogfight: Sukhoi vs USAF at Red Flag 2008

It was the first time the legendary Russian Sukhoi-30 Flanker flew in American airspace, and it kicked up a controversy. In August 2008 India sent its top of the line Su-30MKI fighter to participate in Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. Known for its complex war gaming, Red Flag involves simulated air combat and coordination between friendly air forces. In 2008 the participants included the French and South Korean air forces.

The IAF contingent – comprising six Flankers, two Illyushin IL-78MKI tankers and one IL-76MD transport – initially arrived at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho on July 17. The fighter pilots of No. 20 Lighting Squadron from Pune underwent a three-week familiarisation with training rules, and flew missions against the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eilson AFB, Alaska, and the resident 366th Fighter Wing.

Defense officials ‘in panic’ about US defunding of F-16 upgrade: US report

US magazine Defense News reported on Saturday that Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials were “embarrassed and beginning to panic” over the Pentagon’s decision not to fund upgrades for 300 US F-16 jets.

Taiwan’s 146 F-16s are also scheduled for upgrades under the Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) program and the fear is that with Washington dropping out, costs will shoot up.

India To Seek Home-built Replacement for Air Defense Guns

The Indian Army will replace its aging Swedish-built 40mm L/70 air defense guns with weapons from domestic companies, a Defence Ministry source said, after the cancellation of a global tender floated last year that failed to elicit any response from overseas defense companies.

The MoD decided this month to float a $400 million domestic-only tender, the source said, to purchase 430 gun systems to replace the four-decade-old L/70 guns.

Taiwan Faces Tough Choices After US Cancels F-16 Upgrade

The US Air Force’s decision not to fund the Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) program that would have upgraded 300 US F-16 fighter jets and 146 Taiwan F-16s comes as a blow to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

The decision not to include CAPES in the Pentagon’s fiscal 2015 budget request was a “tough tradeoff,” according to Maj. Gen. James Martin, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for budget. He described the decision as part of a pattern of prioritizing “buying new capability over upgrading legacy equipment.

“We do have money in the budget to handle some key modification programs for our legacy equipment so we can keep it ready,” Martin said. “But the F-16 CAPES program is one program that we decided not to fund.”

J-20 Program Update

Prototype No. 2011 of the J-20 project had its maiden flight last weekend. As previously discussed, No. 2011 has significant changes to the previous J-20 prototypes that we've seen in flight testing (No. 2001 and No. 2002). 

There were probably 2 more prototypes similar to 2001/2002 for the purpose of static and RCS testing. It seems like 2001/2002 are more like the demonstrator prototypes whereas 2011 is the first pre-production prototype. 

Russia Reinforces Armenian Base With Overhauled MiG-29 Fighter Jets

Russia has strengthened its airbase in Armenia with a batch of overhauled MiG-29 fighter jets, a military official said Tuesday.

Russia’s 3624th Air Base at the Erebuni airport in Yerevan previously hosted at least 16 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets operating under the framework of air defense agreements concluded between the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Chinese Z-10 Attack Helicopter Crashes in Weinan

Chinese Z-10 Attack Helicopter Crashed today at approximately 14:00 hrs today near Weinan in  in Shaanxi province. Z-10 Attack Helicopter can carry anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and unguided rockets.

Chinese Military Review

Test flight frequency of Y-20 heavy-duty transport aircraft sets new record

The Y-20 heavy-duty transport aircraft is now still at the test flight stage, and its test flight frequency and time already set new records in the test flight history of China, according to Tang Changhong, chief designer of the Y-20 heavy-duty transport aircraft, on March 3, 2014 in Beijing.

Although the commissioning time for Y-20 cannot be disclosed, Tang Changhong said it is hoped that it can be commissioned as early as possible. However, it is important to ensure that there is no risk of failure at all in the aircraft test, and the aircraft can only be put into use under the very precise conditions. The test to date is going on very smoothly. He disclosed that the training of the test flight pilots for large transport aircraft is now underway.

Taiwan Think Tank Issues Blue Paper on China's Ambitions

Taiwan: Mirage 2000

In a marked departure from past efforts, the opposition party’s think tank, New Frontier Foundation, released a remarkable report on China’s military ambitions against Taiwan.

Foundation President Su Tseng-Chang, who also serves as chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), released the “Defense Policy Blue Paper” on March 4.

“China’s Military Threats Against Taiwan in 2025” is the fifth in a series of “blue papers” produced by the DPP think tank on defense issues, but it is the first to produce substantive research on the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) modernization efforts and Chinese military programs aimed at waging a successful war to take the island. Past reports have been amateurish and disappointing.

SA attack helicopters in renewed action in the DRC

The United Nations (UN) called in two South African Air Force (SAAF) attack helicopters to strike rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday March 1.

This follows the intensification of the joint MONUSCO (UN Mission in the DRC) and FARDC (Armed Forces of the DRC) operations against the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebel forces in the DRC. 

At 14h55 local time, two SAAF Rooivalk helicopters attached to MONUSCO fired on the ADF base at Saha Sitisa in the Mbau area, northeast of Beni (North Kivu). The helicopters used both their 20mm internal cannon and 70mm FFAR unguided rockets.

India’s Ageing War Machine Could Grind to A Halt, Govt. Warned

Suggestive photo: I think the Mig not want to see the situation.

Frustrated by long delays in replacing their growing stockpile of obsolescent equipment, India’s three armed service chiefs have been warning the government that procurement delays are compromising the country’s war preparedness, military sources have told The Hindu. The government, the sources said, was told the Air Force’s combat jet fleet would soon begin shrinking dangerously, even as the Army was short of tanks and artillery.

The warnings come as Admiral D.K. Joshi, who resigned as Navy chief in the wake of an explosion on the INS Sindhuratna on Wenesday — one of several submarines refitted to serve beyond its design life, because of procurement and modernization delays in the navy.

Facing severe budgetary constraints, New Delhi has moved to curtail military spending, freezing modernization expenditure for 2014-2015 — making it unlikely that major acquisitions will take place soon.

Third Chengdu J-20 prototype flies

The third prototype of the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter made its maiden flight successfully on Saturday 1st March. According to the witness report on Chinese social media, the J-20 prototype “2011″ took the sky at about 12:00 local time, escorted by a Chengdu J-10S two-seater fighter. The entire flight lasted about 30 minutes before the aircraft landed safely.

The “2011″ prototype was first spotted at the test airfield of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) preparing for its maiden flight in early 2014. A low-speed taxi test took place on 16 January, followed by a high-speed taxi test on 18 January.

Prototypes of J-15 Flying Shark Naval Fighter Aircraft Still Going Strong

HQ images of the two prototypes of J-15 Flying Shark Naval Fighter aircraft of  People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). Continuation of the test flight program by 555 and 556 prototypes of J-15 Flying Shark will allow J-15 to carry newer type of Chinese weapons.

Chinese Military Review