Modi visits England, Hawk trainers and EJ 200 Engines in wishlist

Modi visits England, Hawk trainers and EJ 200 Engines in wishlist

     Prime minister Modi all set to visit England to boost military and civil cooperation between New Delhi and London. During the visit PM Modi inks contracts with BAE systems for additional Hawk advanced trainers and modifying existing HAL build Hawks to carry weapons. Modi accompanied by HAL and Air force officials to discuss about the possibility of EJ 200 Turbofan Engine sale and requesting UK's help to design the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

   The Indian air force operates more than sixty advanced hawk trainer with an additional fifty on orders. India operates most advanced version of hawk trainers named 132. First batch of twenty four Hawk trainers directly delivered from England. While all others will be produced in HAL,India under Transfer of Technology. HAL delivering twelve Hawk trainers to IAF every year.

    Indian Navy also operates the Hawk trainer for advanced jet training purpose to train Naval air arm pilots to fly in the MiG 29 K fighters. Navy currently operates eight hawk's and another nine in orders. These too built by HAL. Navy also plans to increase the Hawk fleet numbers to thirty to meet their operational requirements.  

     Most of the Advanced jet trainers comes with light attack capability like Russian YAK 130 and Italy's M 346. All of them capable of guided missile firing capability and precision bombing capabilities. The same goes to Hawk too, However UK banned others to modify the Hawk to carry weapons. While BAE offered modified variant of BAE Hawk named Hawk 200 for light combat support. This has no training options but a pure attack aircraft.

     Nations like  Oman Saudi and Indonesia operating Hawk 200 for light attack missions. However they can't be used for jet training purpose. Modifying the Hawk trainers to carry IR guided missiles and laser guided bomb is the Indian Air force's option to modernize the Hawks into armed Hawk.

    Earlier this year during Aero India, HAL officials proposed the BAE officials for the modernizing options and it's reported that, BAE almost agreed the HAL's proposal and formally agrees HAL's modification works on Hawk trainers to carry missiles and bombs.

     Arming the Hawk only needed some mission computers, IFF Responders and IRST dome for target acquisition and guidance. This allows Hawk can fire UK based ASRAAM infrared guided missiles for combat air patrol missions and self defense, and can carry laser guided munitions for close air support. This will makes the hawk becomes good close air support aircraft, and can perform well as a counter insurgency aircraft.

   

  The IAF officials also hold talks with Euro jet officials to modify the EJ 200 Engines jointly to power the AMCA. India yet to select the engines for AMCA which is still on design phase, IAF and HAL  looking for foreign support to develop a engine to meet AMCA's require power and thrust. EJ 200 once bid with GE F 414 to supply engines to HAL Tejas. However it's lost when GE announced as a lowest bidder.

     HAL officials also visit BAE Systems to help designing the AMCA, as earlier Defense minister quoted that "it's required foreign help to design the AMCA". US, France and England shown interests in designing the AMCA. If IAF selects the EJ 200 engines to power AMCA. It's quite clear England will assist HAL to design and materialize the AMCA.        

BAE Archer 155mm mounted gun

     Also many reports suggests that India and UK will sign deals for more than $12 billions. However the details of the contracts still unknown. It's quite clear even if more civil deals signed Military also gets billions of amount for shopping.

    Some sources quoted that, India may selects the BAE systems Archer for long delayed 155mm wheeled self propelled gun tender. under this tender India plans to buy nearly five hundred such platforms under Make in India project. 

After Mi 35 Pakistan Eying Russian Yak 130 Trainer

After Mi 35 Pakistan Eying Russian Yak 130 Trainer

   The Pakistani Air force asks the Russians to offer the advance Jet Trainer Yak 130 A foreign source Defense world quoted. the Pakistani Air force don't have a Advanced Jet trainer which trains the Pakistani pilots to fly the most advanced 4+ or fifth Generation fighters, before adopting into a 4+ generation Fighters, one should trained in some modern trainer to study about the advanced facilities in the latest generation fighters, Pakistan earlier asked several countries to Supply the Advanced Trainer, however no one agrees to make a contract with Pakistan.

   As shining Relations with Russians, Pakistan slowly pitching the Russians for some advanced weaponry, as successfully signed the first batch of Mi 35 delivery, Russia offers much modern Tor M anti missile system to Pakistan, and Pakistan takes an advantage and ask the Russians to supply Su 35, as earlier reported by the Russian state owned Sputnik News. and now Pakistani's slowly pitching the Russians to supply some Yak 130 Trainers,

   The Yak 130 is the most advanced trainer compared to the Alenia Amerchi M 346, Northrup T 38 Talon and the British BAE Hawk, those advanced Trainer platforms also comes with Light attack capabilities too, compared to others, Yak 130 comes with pre -installed weapon suites, like Air to air and ground munitions, Reconnaissance pods, while other Trainers need some modifications before carrying the Ammunition load,

   Yak 130 comes with a fully digital glass cockpit, allows the Trainer to easily adopt the earlier mechanical compass into new generation digital readings, the Fully integrated Digital Fly by wire system allows the Trainee can control the Trainer very easily with the Trainer, Missile launching and guidance systems like Head up Display and Helmet mounted system allows the pilot to carry out simulated attack missions, which acts like actual combat missions.

   The Pre installed reconnaissance system like American GPS receiver and Russian GLONASS allows the Trainee to navigate and guide the simulated weapon to attack ground target in high precession, also the INS Inertial Navigation system allows the Trainee to fly very close to the designated path, also allows him to guide the Precession guided munitions to attack the ground targets,

    The Yak 130 can carry 3000 kilograms of External payload, which includes Guided and unguided weapons, with the support of Helmet mounted sight, the Yak 130 can fire R 73 IR guided heat seeking missiles, also it can launch precession guided munitions with the help of on board guidance systems like GPS and INS, unguided munitions like Dumb Bombs Rocket launchers also can be armed in the Yak 130, to increase the flight combat radius The Yak 130 can carry two external drop Tanks too.

   Yak 130 comes with two Al 225 Turbofan engines with the total output of some 49kN thrust, which brings the Aircraft at the speed of more than 900 kilometers, But same like others, The Yak 130 also a Subsonic Trainer, the Yak 130 can fly as much as height of some 42,000 feet, a good altitude to intercept unknown passenger Aircraft's.

   So far Pakistan uses some old Chinese model of Turboprop driven Trainers only, which makes some  difficulty to the pilots to touch the new generation fighter aircraft's, in Asia, Bangladesh also operating some Russian Jets include MiG 29 and the Yak 130 trainer,  Bangladesh receiving some Yak 130 from Russia, a contract made in early 2014 to deliver 24, Yak 130 to Bangladesh Air force,

   Yak 130 offered to India as well, In early 2012 the Russians formally announce that they will ready to supply the Yak 130 to Indian Air force, However during that time India taken delivery of BAE Hawk from England, so IAF thinks to order more number of Hawk from England, during that time Yak 130 wasn't completed it's sophisticated trails, that's also a major reason behind the IAF's refusal,

   Also Some western sources Reported the Turkish plans to gift some old American made Talon T 38 advanced trainers to Pakistan, However the gifting process not yet completed, that transfer need US approval, no more information found on the issue,  However It's clear Turkey hasn't yet starts the Gifting of T 38,

   As Pakistan requested this since days, Russians didn't responded about the Pakistani approach, It seems Russia might reject the Pakistani wish.  

Weaponizing HAL Built HAWK AJT

Weaponizing HAL Built HAWK AJT

The HAL Built HAWK shown with Dummy bomb carrier

     With the motto “It's all to do with the training, you can do a lot if you're properly trained” Indian Air Force has felt a strong need to the train its future guardians with top notch knowledge and flying experience. With the search for an advanced jet trainer aircraft and the IAF after negotiations with various companies finally narrowed in towards the world's most successful and proven advanced jet trainer aircraft, the Britain origin HAWK AJT fielded by the BAE systems. The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft. IAF on 26 March 2004 signed a contract with BAE systems to procure about 24 aircrafts directly from BAE systems and under ToT signed a contract for aircraft’s to be manufactured by the state run HAL.


        The Indian Air force currently operates about 90 HAWK advanced Jet Trainer. With 24 aircrafts being directly received in fly away conditions from BAE systems the state run HAL has successfully delivered the 75th Hawk ATJ to the IAF. Before any pilots gets a wing to fly guiding a mission on a advanced fighter jet the Hawk platform works as a platform to bring the pilot to speed with the advanced technologies of a fighter jet. The IAF was not the only force to induct these ATJ, Indian Navy have placed several orders with HAL for these jets to train their aviation wing. The navy has placed orders for a total of 20 Hawk ATJ’s. In a recent release the HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju was quoted saying “Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has absorbed the technology of British Advanced Jet Trainer "Hawk" completely and would be able to support the project for the next 40 years “

HAL built HAWK in flying

     

         The AJT aircrafts have been claimed to be versatile aircrafts. In fact various counties around the globe use AJT’s as their ground attack, Recon and CAS role aircraft, the Russian YAK 130, Czech L 30, Dassault Alpha aircrafts. The French built Dassault Alpha was used by Chadian Air force to drop ordinance on the Boko Haram and scored 100 of kills. Most of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) won't allow the end users to modify the end products from its planned role. The HAWK ATJ is an extremely versatile and agile aircraft for a combat role. Armed with Air to Air and Air to Ground laser guided precision missiles these jets can act as a main stay combat aircraft and can be a major force multiplier. The British version of HAWK ATJ, the Hawk T1A have already been armed with Sidewinder Air to Air missiles and a internal gun, but have never have had the opportunity to taste combat in their service history.

     The increasing national concerns with in the country with terrorists and the barbaric attacks by naxals has always time and again stressed the need for air support to ground forces within the country by the means of Light Attack fighter. The ongoing naxal operations have always required a decent Light Attack CAS fighter to give support to the force within the country.

HAWK armed with two Sidewinder and a Anti ship Training Missile

       The Indian Air force has always been approached by the Para military forces for air support in operation against state based terrorisms groups like Bodo and Maoists. The paramilitary have till now only been supported by the Army’s aviation wing with light and heavy attack helicopters. But with the areas of operation and number of operation against these organizations increasing with time a strong need has been felt to include a light yet agile attack aircraft in the force.IAF initially had drawn up plans to procure a COIN (counter intelligence) Aircraft to deal in demanding time. But a detailed feasibility study completes by IAF the HAWK have emerged as the best option. This plan can be realized only if the British based BAE system gives India a go ahead to Arm these trainer jets which have served IAF as an AJT. The IAF formally has sent a letter of request to BAE systems in regard to arming these AJT. With HAL having experience in arming jets has formally forwarded a plan of action to BAE systems and the same was proposed and showcased in Aero India – 2105. With BAE systems showing interest in the project HAL may receive a go ahead soon to arm the jets giving a major thrust to the dipping fighting squadron numbers.

        Arming a jet build for an all together new purpose requires lot of precision engineering. Basically rolled out as trainer the jet needs to refurbished with a cockpit and control system that can support the weapon systems. Hard-on points have to be integrated to the jet and yet the Weight: Thrust ration has to be maintained and the agility and safety has to be kept as vital point. HAL being involved in arming their various aircrafts should have enough knowledge to carry forward the project without the much should they receive a go ahead from BAE systems.

      The Initial plan drawn up for arming these HAWK’s are with a internal 30mm cannon, ASRAAM Air to Air Missiles, Rack of smart bombs and Litening Pod for Navigation and Target identification. With the base plan strong a HAWK can accommodate a single Internal 30 mm cannon, 2 ASRAAM and 4 PGM/LGB. The Hawk may possess the strength for putting up a combat radius of 500 kilometres and service height being ceiled at around 40,000 feet but this may change variably with the weapon systems integrated on the jet. With a light and short combat radius the jet is a perfect contender for CAS and Armed Recon Missions. If this project does get through it may serve as a back up plan to IAF until the newer generation Rafale/Sukhoi are inducted into the forces.


Editor Karthik Kakoor