IAF's An 32 Tactical Air lifter serves upto 2035

IAF's An 32  Tactical Air lifter serves upto 2035

     Indian Air force is the largest operator of Soviet designed An 32 Tactical turboprop Air lifter. Deliveries starts from early 1985 to 1991. India operates more than 105 such aircraft as of now. Initially IAF bought nearly 125 units. Where two of them lost in accidents. These air crafts running behind the schedule for last some years. However the Modernization allows the aircraft to keep rolling till 2035. The An 32 is one of the best platform can be used as a STOL aircraft operated from small landing air strip in remote locations. An 32 also performed better in High altitude Leh and hotter Punjab makes one of the best reliable aircraft in IAF inventory.

     After expiring the first life term in 2000, IAF asked the government to carryout a Mid life upgrades to the An 32 with new subsystems. However the proposal shelved form more than ten years. In June 2009 a An 32 crashed close to Arunachal due to mechanical issues. Thus wakes up the government about IAF call of Modernization. IAF awarded a Ukrainian Aircraft company Antonov and his partner company Antonov Civil Aviation to carryout the modernization.

    The Modernization plans is upgrading first 40 units in Ukraine as five batches and another 65 in India with mechanical support from Ukraine. The first 40 units are completed as five batches. Ukraine will delivered one batch every year starting from 2010. And IAF will start modifying the aircraft after one or two batches delivered from Ukraine.

    The Modernization include Engines and Cockpit changes. The An 32 will get new modernized engine named Motor AI 20 DM Sich. The new engine is more reliable compared to it's predecessor. Suits best for High altitude operations and short take off and landing mission. the engine further allows the aircraft to carry some half ton more cargo.  This engine further allows engine life to some 22,000 hours. Typically Turbo props engines can runs longer than the Turbo jets.

     The Modernization include variety of modern systems in the cockpit. There is no mention of glass cockpit digital systems. However almost all modern upgraded system comes with Multi functional LCD displays in the cockpit. The proposed IL 76 modernization also include the same MFD systems. So it's believed the An 32 too get MFD systems in the cockpit.

     Modern systems include digital altimeters and distance measuring equipment's. collision avoidance system. ground proximity warning system, Radar warning receivers, upgraded communication systems. Which include SATCOM systems. and new improved onboard oxygen generation systems. GPS navigation systems also installed in the modernized An 32.

    IAF will carryout modernization work of balance 65 An 32 aircraft in Kanpur based No. 1 Base Repair Depot aviation plant.  Reports suggested that IAF already carried out flight trail of in house modernized system and completes all other 65 systems within 2017, Two years running behind the original schedule. Overall IAF about to spent $400 millions for the upgrade program.  The deal also include two full mission simulators for pilot training.

    The An 32 can carry 42 fully armed para troopers for more than 2000 kilometers at the speed of some 450 kilometers per hour. Which is one of the best tactical aircraft with the assisted support of short take off and landing in small air strips too. An 32 can fly upto the height of some 31,000 feet. A nominal range which can evade most short range surface to air missiles and MANPAD's.

  From now the IAF's An 32 Cline will be called as An 32 RE. The RE Stands for Re-Equipped. This will allow the IAF to keep the Antonov's for another 20 years or upto 2035. 

The strategic MTA project revived

The strategic MTA project revived 

 HAL and UAC Revive the Strategic Jointly Developed MTA Project

      In 2009, India and Russia signed an agreement to jointly develop a aircraft that would boost the capabilities of the IAF and also replace the aging An-32 fleet of the IAF which for then was the mainstay medium airlift and transport aircraft of the Indian Air force.  India fielded its trusted HAL for the program which would act as the lead partner and the principal integrator.

     Russia fielded its United Aircraft Company (UAC) which with HAL would set up a subsidiary company for the project. The Program is estimated to cost around US $600 million and the outcome would be a very versatile medium lift aircraft that could be used by the Indian and Russian forces. India initially ordered 45 aircraft and Russian forces placed an order for around 105 aircraft.

       The aircraft will be a derivative of the Iluyshin-214, MTAL was charged with designing the aircraft from the scratch.  India signed an MOU with MTAL for the design process of the project and appointed around 40 Indian engineers to work with UAC engineers to produce a very versatile aircraft. The design is also believed to be developed into a civilian variant in the future. The aircraft design has taken wings with India and Russia finally deciding to power the aircraft with the Russian developed PS-90 with turbofan engine. The aircraft can support a maximum payload of around 20 tonne and will enjoy a operational range of 2500 km.

   

        The preliminary design work for the project has already been started in Moscow by HAL and UAC. India had shown its displeasure with the PD 14 engines and had requested for a more powerful engine. The PD 14 was powerful and extremely efficient in sea level conditions but as the altitude went up the performance of the aircraft was reduced greatly. With India being landlocked by the Himalayas, the aircraft was expected to operate at FOB’s which are one of the highest operational airbases. India finally selected the PS 90 owing to its performance track records.

      The MTA is a versatile platform and can be used in for transporting cargo and troops at extremely less turnaround time. The aircraft can also be used as a medievac platform thus boosting the capabilities of the IAF. The aircraft can also be refueled mid-air thereby boosting the operational radius of the aircraft. The aircraft is capable of supporting about 90 fully battle ready forces and also be used as para drop platform which is instrumental for any special force operations.

     The aircraft can attain speeds up to 800 kmph and can fly at altitudes around 45000 ft thus avoiding enemy air-defense system. Under Medivac missions the MTA can be reconfigured with 58 stretchers or beds to evacuate wounded soldiers. The aircraft can also perform STOL missions thus can serve right from the center of the battlefield.

       With the aircraft capable of lifting around 20 tonne it can easily hoist and transport infantry combat vehicles and troop support vehicles. The vehicles can also be para dropped thanks to the unique ramp configuration planned for the MTA. The aircraft is being powered by an turbofan engine, it has to be seen how well the aircraft can perform STOL missions against the conventional rotor powered jets. At the same time the turbofan engines are a major boost to the altitude and the speed of the aircraft.






       If HAL and UAC sticks to the planned schedule than the aircraft is expected to enter the trial phase by 2017. After the completion of tests in Russia the aircraft will be handed over to HAL for further testing in Indian conditions and the aircraft is slated to enter the forces by 2018. HAL will be manufacturing this aircraft at its Kanpur facility.

      With a change of guard at UAC the project is on the move with the new CEO making holding multiple talks with HAL officials to expedite the design process. HAL and UAC delegation met in the ongoing Paris air show and discussed about measures to expedite the process and iterated that the project was running on schedule and the first aircraft is expected to enter service by 2018 and the first prototype will take to skies by 2016. 

     HAL on the other hand is also under pressure to deliver with Tata and Airbus also pitching in C-295 into the Indian forces. The MTA project is a major boost to the dipping capabilities of the IAF and is sure to boost the response of India for any misadventures along the borders in the least possible time.

Editor Karthik Kakoor

Operation Maitri - Restoring and Rebuilding Nepal

 Operation Maitri – Rebuilding Nepal

   At around 12’0 on 25th the April, the earth shook in Nepal and across northern and eastern India. Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earth quake which reduced the nation to rubble's, Eastern India bear the brunt with the several buildings across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The earth quake triggered avalanches across the Himalayan range. Landslides were witnesses and major roads were taken out.

       Aftershocks continued for several days, the highest measuring almost up to 7.1 on the Richter scale. The earth quake had left a trail of destruction and several villages across Nepal were left inaccessible. Going by the magnitude of the earthquake it was sure that the casualties suffered in the calamity was very high and the rescue missions were the need of the hour.

      Nepal was overwhelmed by the scale of destruction and with a limited military and para-military force was forced to look out for a multi-nation rescue operation. Being Nepal’s immediate neighbor India responded with in minutes to the request. PM Modi promised a full scale rescue mission would be mounted within the shortest possible span.

        It was decided that the immediate response team would consist of rescue and medical teams which were formed by the NDRF and Ghurkha regiment officers. The first C-130J carrying NDRF officials and 3 tonnes of medical and emergency supplies took off by 4:00 PM. Air force, Army and NDRF assets were immediately put on standby for any eventuality. GOI planned further missions once the airport in Nepal was declared safe for operations.

      The NDRF was charged with carrying out the rescue and relief mission and the army was charged with setting up facilities for relief operations. By the evening ten teams from the NDRF consisting of almost 500 personnel and sniffer dogs were ordered to be flown to Nepal with the assistance of IAF. With the KTM airport being declared safe for operations, IAF rolled out the gigantic C-17 Globe master III.

     The C-17 on the first day was dispatched to KTM with NDRF teams, Rapid Action Medical Teams (RAMT) and Medical teams. The aircraft also carried essential supplies which consisted of blankets, food packets, water, medical supplies, tents and transportable operation theaters for the RAMT. The IL-76 heavy lifters were also pressed into action. By the first day Indian Air Force had carried out more than 20 sorties and had evacuated thousands of survivors which included citizens from US, UK and many other nations.

      IAF had operated sorties throughout the night flying to and fro from KTM. By the second day the operation was officially code named “Operation Maitri “, IAF by then had pressed more than 10 aircraft into action which included the C-17 Globemaster III, IL-76, C-130J and An-32’s. Sunday morning flights were dedicated to transporting urgent medical supplies and medical teams. Engineering teams were also dispatched which were instrumental in setting up forward field hospitals and tents to accommodate the survivors.

           The second half of the day saw IAF making sorties with additional NDRF teams and engineering teams. Almost 50 tons of water and 22 tons of food supplies were stacked up in KTM airport. India also started mounting a huge scale evacuation operation and operated 35 buses from Nepal. Bad weather and repeated aftershocks forced IAF to hold back pressing the helicopters into service.




          On the ground the NDRF and the Army jawans had started searching for survivors. NDRF teams were pulling out survivors from debris. The injured were being treated in first aid centers setup across the nation. To treat the critically wounded were being taken care of in forward field hospitals which included OT’s and ICU’s.

         The engineering teams primarily started constructing as many field hospitals possible and then concentrated on pitching up tents for the survivors. The engineering team was also put in charge of clearing debris and clearing roads, which could then help gain access to remote villages. With the tents setup the army started with the process of distributing food and water to the affected and the process of rehabilitation to the centers started.

         With roads being rendered inactive many villages remained inaccessible, to access these villages IAF pitched in their helicopters. IAF initially deployed 8 Mi-17 and 2 Dhruv’s to assist in the operations. The Mi-17 and Dhruv dropped relief supplies to the worst affected valleys where landing was not possible. Several wounded and stranded people were evacuated in the helicopters from the remotest areas. Dhruv under the Army Aviation corps was also pitched into service.

      The rotary crafts served the remotest areas of Nepal and helped save thousands of injured and survivors. The Mi-17 were based at Pokhara and Kathmandu. These Mi-17’s were part of the large scale relief and rescue operations in inaccessible areas like Barpak, Gorkha, Aroghat and Lukla.

       The combined Indian forces worked in Nepal for well over 40 days. The Air force and army together flew more than 2223 sorties in a span of just 38 days. About 11200 people were transported to safer places and about 1700 tonne of relief material was dropped for people in distress. The Rapid Action Medical Teams (RAMT) cared for almost 4762 injured people and conducted more than 300 successful operations.

  
  The NDRF worked tirelessly to restore human life in Kathmandu. NDRF saved thousands of life’s even as the earth shook when they deep inside buildings. The Engineering Task Force (ETF) cleared many routes which were rendered inactive because of the quake and landslides. The ETF were instrumental in help re-connect villages which helped in relief operations. The ETF also restored several hundred buildings and bridges across the nation.

      The earth quake was the worst calamity to have struck Nepal after the 1934 earth quake. More than 9000 people lost their life and the quake left 22000 people injured. The earth quake left a trail of destruction rendering thousands of Nepali’s homeless, homes and buildings were razed to the ground. After shocks has continued to rock Nepal keeping its people in constant fear. More than 450000 people have been displaced and have lost their livelihood.

        Widespread avalanches and landslides were reported across the nation further endangering human life. The economic loss Nepal has suffered cannot be calculated at the movement but with its limited resources it is extremely hard for Nepal alone to fund reconstruction programs. US, India and the World Bank have stepped forward to assist Nepal with the rehabilitation programs. With the help of India and the world fraternity, Nepal has promised to be back on its feet. I sincerely wish Nepal regains its status and thrives as India’s most reliable neighbor.

Article - Karthik Kakoor

Broad Range of Air lifter from Indian Air force

Broad Range of Air lifter from Indian Air force

     The Indian Air force operates several kind of Air lifters include Fixed and rotary wings, for both Transport and Resupply. the Indian Air force operates some types of Air lifters which is best in it's Field, Like C 17 for Strategic An 32 for Tactical and  C 130  for Specail operations.

C 17 Globe Master III

         To boost Strategic Air operations IAF decided to buy the Best Strategic Air lifter C 17 from US, as of now IAF operates ten C 17, which makes IAF  second bigger operator of C 17 outside USA. where IAF also requested the Ministry to buy another six  C17, since the Induction of C 17 almost shows it's performance all over the world evacuating Indian personals in case of emergency. from Libya to last Yemeni Evacuation IAF used the C 17 for round a clock operations, and the C 17 performed very well without any glitches.

         With the quick change of cargo and Transport options by removing or Adding passenger seat, the C 17 performed very well during Maldives water crisis and Nepal Earth Quake, the C 17 can carry some  77 tons of payload with the Range of 4000 kilometers, or it can carry 134 Troops with the Range of 10,000 kilometers, makes them a True Strategic Air lifter.

IL 76 Candid

   

        The IL 76 also a Strategic multipurpose Air lifter, IAF operates 17 of them for transporting and Cargo handling, the IL 76 is made by Ilyushin Russia, the IL 76 also used in many situations, but It's mostly used for Support and Logistics delivery for IAF fighter Aircrafts,  but it can also act as a Troop transporter and Resupply during war time, since the peacetime operating costs are much higher compared to the C 17, Indian Air force uses the IL 76 for extreme purpose only.

         IAF operates six IL 78 MKI refulers for aerial Tanker, and another two were modified to carry rotating radar dome for Airborne control center, three more in order, makes the IL 76 numbers to 17+6+2 and optional three more. The IL 76 MD can carry 60 tons of cargo with a Range of more than 3500 kilometers.

         some IL 76 can carry two 23mm cannon in the back side to shoot any threats, since it's obsolete, IAF didn't use th Guns, or they removed it,  where the details still not available for Public release.

C 130 J Super Hercules

         One of the finest Tactical air lifter in the world which can do amazing mission, land and Take off from any kind of unpaved runways, It can take off and Land in beaches, it can land in world' highest Air Strip Daulat Beg Oldie. so far IAF operates five C 130 where one was lost in a mission where IAF pilots doing practice how to fly low and maneuver, the lost one will be replaced by newer one where Ministry cleared to Purchase, Also IAF plans to acquire additional 6 C 130 J to boost the strategic Air lift and Special operational Quick Deployments.

     the C 130 can do amazing operations, since it is very useful for conducting special operations inside or outside friendly territories. the C 130 also used in several humanitarian efforts like sending NDRF peoples and delivering aid and resupply during Heavy flood in Uthrakhand also in Nepal Earth quake C 130J did awesome missions, 

     The C 130 is an Tactical air lifter which can carry some 90+ Airborne Paratroopers with the Range of some 5000 kilo meters, and with reduced range it can carry 20 Tons of cargo.

An 32 Cline

     

    Indian Air force's another work horse is the Ukrainian made An 32 twin turboprop tactical air lifter, the An 32 did some awesome air lift during emergency situations and war times. He is the lone super hero by performing missions over Kashmir and High Altitude Air strips, Since it's very good for Tactical support only, IAF will not use for other Purposes.

     IAF operates nearly 100+ An 32, which were recently upgraded in Ukraine with new avionics, modern oxygen supply system and improved crew seats, which makes the An 32 too keep the arrival of Medium Transport Aircraft The HAL UAC MTA.

       The An 32 can carry some 40+ paratroopers for special operations with the range of some 2500 Kilometers, also it can carry some 8 tons of payload with reduced Range.

Dornier Do 228-201

        The IAF uses some 40+ Do 228 for logistics and resupply purposes, with more than 14 such aircrafts in orders, the Do 228 is a good less weight utility Aircraft, can operate in any rough conditions, which makes the Do 228 is a STOL capable aircraft,

       Since it's primarily used for logistics, IAF used for certain utility purpose only, the State owned HAL assembles the Do 228 and delivering it to Coast guard, and Navy makes the most efficient utility platform in Indian Conditions