INS Vishal design phase close to complete

INS Vishal design phase close to complete

The Indian Navy's next generation aircraft carrier dubbed as INS Vishal's designing phase almost close to completion with few other decisions still on pending, the major subsystem in the carrier, that's the aircraft launching system and the length of the aircraft carrier is completed. Both US and India will soon finalize the propulsion system too.

The proposed design shows the aircraft carrier has an length of some 280 meters, with two EMAL launchers developed by the US major General Atomics, some also confirms the aircraft also features the advanced arresting gear made by the same GA. Those systems can capable to launch and arrest lighter aircraft like surveillance UAV to heavy fighter jets like F 35.

India also plans to buy the F 18 E/F and the F 18 G from another US major Boeing, who is currently in talks with Indian government to start a assembly line in India, to supply Indian air force, However details also emerged that the INS Vishal carries the F 35 C once the carrier is ready.

Those carriers are smart nowadays capable to launch small aircraft's like UAV's to heavy fighter jets and support planes like E 2D for airborne early warning. India earlier operated a assisted launching carrier INS Vikrant junior, who decommissioned in 1997. It's the second time that IN going to operate the assisted launching carriers.

INS Vishal comes with two launching points, to simultaneously launch two aircraft's, both can capable to launch aircraft's weighing from one ton to 32 tons. The F 35 C is one of the heaviest fighter can be operated from aircraft carrier whose MTOW reported close to 32 tons. The IN's current MiG 29 K's MTOW reported at some 24 tons. More weight means more power and weapon carrying capability.

EMLAS is the better replacement for current generation steam catapults operated by both US and French Navy's today. The EMAL has lower operating costs, require fewer people to operate, improve catapult performance and expand the range of manned and unmanned aircraft that the aircraft carrier can launch.

The INS Vishal almost close to the same length of current INS vikramaditya, both will have the length of some 280 meters. however performance wise the Vishal is far better than the vikramaditya. The INS Vishal might comes with the displacement of some 50-60,000 tonnages only. Since the EMAL requires less space and power.

By assumption the aircraft can carry some 40 aircraft's, which include two to four E 2D AEW planes, and additionally 10 to 12 ton helicopters like S 70 and EC 725, the capacity is almost similar to the current French carrier Charles de Gaulle. The specifications are more enough for the Indian Navy, to act as a force multiplier.

It's the propulsion system issue is the only problem yet to be sorted out, Once it was cleared US and India will select a Shipyard to start constructing the carrier. The actual progress behind the propulsion based on nuclear reactor unavailable so far to public release. It's believed the issue to be sorted out before the fall of 2016. 

PAK FA or the F 35 for Indian Air force

PAK FA or the F 35 for Indian Air force 

    After issues found in PAK FA Russia slowly move away from the project and insists India to driven the money to continue the project. India also not ready to sign the $6 billion R&D project with Russia before evaluating the capabilities of PAK FA. The IAF's backbone fighter Su 30 MKI currently facing problems due to lack of spares and support systems which was originated from Russia. This resulted the IAF to ground nearly half of the Su 30 MKI in grounds. So IAF won't make another risk with PAK FA.

    India wanted to buy some 63 PAK FA units directly from Russia, and further plans to build some 127  FGFA. It's clear if India wants just the PAK FA Russians are ready to sell them. Not only to India countries like Iran also keen to buy the PAK FA. However developing the FGFA in India means India needs to provide $6 billion to Russia for research and development.

    Government sanctioned the IAF to keep 42 squadrons of fighter jets. However half of the IAF squadron is vintage MiG aircraft's and half of them won't fly due to upgrades and lack of spares. The new procurement plans like Tejas, Rafale and PAK FA is also in doldrums. Which makes India to speed up procurement of new generation fighter jets.

      China confirmed their induction of 5th generation aircraft J 20 by thia year. China may deploy upto ten J 20 stealth air craft by this year followed by mass production in coming years. India plans to induct squadron of PAK FA before 2020, due to the delay in FGFA project. However new reports mentions that option also out of hands. Since Russia plans to produce only one squadron of PAK FA fighters and keep them in reserve. and focusing Su 35 S for air superiority needs.

    The reason behind the PAK FA issue is due to the lack of money. Russia waits so far to get money from India. However India refused to sign the R&D project. The Recent prime ministers visit to Moscow didn't mentions about the PAK FA program. that's a surprise to the Russians and Indians. However It's clear some kind of official talks about PAK FA should taken place regularly between Russia and India.

    On the other hand F 35 is a good option to buy. The F 35 is a much good aircraft, However there is much difference between PAK FA and F 35. Same like Rafale and Su 35. There is only one mission does the Russians prefer is counter air, that is offensive and defensive air mission. While Americans and west prefers Counter Strike options. that is Offensive and defensive ground mission.

    In one vs one fight F 35 and Rafale may loose against PAK FA and Su 35 S respectively. since the PAK FA and Su 35 is designed as counter air platforms. However when comes to pin point ground attack and penetrate mission F 35 and Rafale can score where PAK FA and Su 35 S can't.

    West and Americans invested heavily in Air defense batteries for counter air missions. The Patriot missile and Aster missiles are good examples. Western air defense batteries are long range and reliable. The Russians do have similar systems S 400 is a good example.

    However the Air borne platforms are must need to scan the air space from high. Since many aircraft's can fly very low and hide themselves from the Radar by flying the Radar's blind side. most of the West and US fighters designed as fly very low, unlike Russians fighters

   During Iraqi war the missiles are short range and need guidance to approach the target. Nowadays long range air to air missiles with active seekers can perform long range interception of upto some 250 kilometers. European fighters like Rafale, Gripen and Typhoon American fighter F 35 can carry such long range missiles. 

   The powerful AESA Radar's in above said fighters can detect small air to air missiles launched from VLO - Very low observable aircraft's like PAK FA and J 20, Which expose the presence of Stealth aircraft thus allows the Rafale and other to use their long range missiles for Intercepting the stealth aircraft.

   A typical scenario like a Rafale against PAK FA is, The Russians are running a CAP mission somewhere in Syria. The French on the other side is coming with Rafale armed with cruise missiles and PGM's along with MICA and Meteor Long range BVR missiles. The Rafale deployed in a mission to destroy a high value target inside Syria. Once the Rafale breached the Syrian air space the ground based radars will detect the Rafale and share the data with PAK FA running for CAP Mission.

    The PAK FA comes with IR guided missiles as well as BVR missiles. PAK FA scan the airspace using the Byelka main AESA Radar. If the PAK FA uses the main radar the Radar warning receivers in the Rafale alert the pilot about the presence of unknown threat from exact location of the PAK FA. 

    The situational awareness system in Rafale may keep on the frequency for further identifying the Target, and probably can launch the Meteor missile for long range interception. The detection range of Byelka is known as some 200 kilometers. Meteor is known as 250 km range and the Rafale's RBE 2 AESA also have similar range.

    If the PAK FA didn't use the main radar, and relay's in the Infrared search and Track system. This also allows the PAK FA to launch IR guided missiles like R 74. however the issue is the range of IRST. The detection range of IRST is very minimal, that is less than some 50 kilometers, same the R 74 missile too. If PAK FA used the Infrared systems then there is no chance of Rafale to survive, due to less reaction time and unknown location of missile origin.

   One more is the situation can change, If the Rafale detects the PAK FA using it's much improved OSF - Front sector Optronics ( french version of IRST in Rafale ). Then Rafale shoots first and kills it. One more is the RCS, There is many analysis confirm the RCS value of PAK FA is very lesser, who can be detected using active radars in close range. So if PAK FA comes close to Rafale then there is a chance of 50-50 to each of them.

   The same also goes with F 35 vs PAK FA. Here F 35 gets more advantage of detecting the enemy aircraft's using the optronics. The EOTS ( American version of IRST in F 35 ) in F 35 has pretty long range compared to all other similar system. The Range of EOTS mentioned and demonstrated it's capabilities upto some 150 kilometers. 

    It's clear the F 35 may lock the PAK FA at some 120 kilometers and launch the IR guided missile when the PAK FA comes close to some fifty kilometers. The Americans are studying to develop a long range IR guided missile which can be assisted by F 35 EOTS system roumered to be CUDA missile. If they succeeded then it would be a break through in air combat mission. Here F 35 can fire the first shot and escape first.

    If PAK FA uses the Byelka Radar and the F 35 too aware of the presence of PAK FA using RWR ( Radar warning Receiver ). The F 35 too turn on the AN APG 81 and scan for activities. Here the interesting matter is who gets detected first, The Stealth F 35 or the Stealth PAK FA. 

   When comes to Su 35 S the F 35 simply detect the enemy first and launch it's missile and kills it. It's clear the missiles hit the target and destroys it completely. There is no word what if Su 35 S turned back by evading the missile. One must remember new generation air to air missiles are more intelligent than the Fighter jets. Maneuvering figures and speed is good example of that.

    Here India need to counter the J 20 first, the Chinese going to deploy very soon or already deployed. Once the capabilities of J 20 exposed the Chinese may buy the PAK FA and throw it against IAF. It's clear the IAF face two kind of Russian modern jets like Su 35 S and PAK FA another two kind of Chinese stealth fighters like J 20 and J 31 deployed by both Pakistani Air force and Chinese Air force. The only option to counter them is deploying the F 35 Jets in IAF.

    The another F 35's performance is the ground attack capability, The F 35 can carry variety of guided missiles in it's Internal weapon bay. The Internal weapon bay is larger enough to accommodate  Anti shipping cruise missiles too. The Internal weapon bay can carry number of anti armour missiles like Brimstone and JAGM ( modern Hell fire Missile ) too. A good option to conduct surprise mission inside Pakistan and China without being detected.

   Actually the problem with the F 35 is the Full rate production starts only after 2018, So IAF may gets  the first batch by 2020 and operationalize it only after 2021.    

The Chinese Chengdu J 20

The Chinese Chengdu J 20

    The J 20 program is the Chinese first fifth generation fighter program, that can designed to hunt down American stealth fighter jets and Bombers and gives an upper edge to the PLA Air force in aerial fighting, the actual program initiated later 1990's, with many ex Ukrainian aerospace engineers and downed American F 117 technologies, and many hacked source codes of American Joint Strike Fighter program, the J 20 appeared first in 2011, looks similar to the American F 22, with canards, and set a new milestone in global aerospace, the J 20 primarily designed as a Air superiority Fighter, by housing large number of sleek air to air missiles in it's three weapon bays.

    With bunch of resources, the Chinese almost managed to fast track the Fighter development program, after the first flight in 2011, within five years they almost build five more prototypes and using those for testing, even the new seventh prototype 2016 rolled out this month by performing aerial flight tests, six prototypes used for flight characteristics tests and one used for ground based tests, those appeared J 20 prototypes initially tested in long time, sometimes the test can go more than hours, that looks the J 20 has much long combat radius to perform long range missions and long period of aerial supremacy.

    The Chinese has only one major problem in the J 20 program is the Engines, they started the engine program way back 1990, still they are not matured enough to create a true turbo fan engines, countries like France, England, America and Russia are the only countries who developed a true fighter jet engines , and they keep the engine blades composite technology as secret, while China could able to absorb the tech, they tried the reverse engineered Russian AL 31 F engines dubbed as WS 10 in China, they used the WS 10 to build as much as Flanker clones,however the engine will not performed well in the J 20 test bed, so they plans to buy newer Engines from Russia. they tried to purchase the AL 41 117 engine who powers the Su 35 Super flankers and the prototype variants of PAK FA, Russia almost denied the Chinese request, how ever instead of selling the Engines, Russia prefer whole Su 35 Sale to China which gives more money to Russia rather just millions for some engines,  both of them almost signed the Contract, and earlier this year some media sources reported that Chinese Fighter pilots went to Russia for a Training mission to fly in the Su 35,

    The Chinese has a project based on the WS 10 to develop a improved version of AL 31 F, they concentrating the WS 15 engine to power the J 20, as per some leaked reports, Janes says the power output of the new engines is just 80 Kilo newtons, means twin engine provide some 160 kN, which is rated less powerful engine in the fifth generation fighter category,

    Same like other fifth generation fighter jets, the J 20 too comes with a  AESA Radar, China uses a much larger AESA compared to others with some 1856 modules for transmitting and receiving emitted signals, which is capable to detect and track targets up to some 200 kilo meters, however these are all come from Chinese media, not a analyzed or confirmed reports, because no one saw the Radar inside the J 20, foreign military watches aware of KLJ 5 AESA radar,while the real capabilities is unknown, unlike foreign AESA are usually X band LPI radars , means enemy radar warning receiver will not detect the radar waves emitted from such Low probability of intercept Radar, Radar's like AN/APG 77, RBE 2 and Byelka has such capabilities, It's believed Chinese AESA too has such LPI Characteristics,

   The real shocking is the J 20's Electro Optic Targeting system (EOTS) one of the most advanced technologies emerged from the known IRST, which allows the fighter detect and track, enemy low observable stealth aircraft's in long ranges, even without using the on board radar, the EOTS can allow the fighter to launch medium range IR guided missiles, means the hostile air craft even have no idea about, where those missiles are coming from. such modern systems are presents only in the F 35 fighter jet, the system known as EOTS and in the Rafale known as FSO- Front sector optroincs, even the PAK FA based IRST system too not much advanced than the above mentioned systems.

    With the use of J 20's modern Avionic suites, the J 20 can detect and engage Su 30 MKI fighters from long range, even without being detected by the Sukhoi Radar, due to the LPI capability and Stealth the IAF's ground based Radar's too don't have the capability to track such stealth planes, The Sukhoi too have IRST which can detect the Low observable stealth aircraft, however it can detect those fighters in very close ranges only. same like other EOTS the J 20 too guide the air ground missiles using it's EOTS, how ever the J 20's weapon bay will not accommodate heavy bombs, they need to carry those missile externally only.

    One more Shocking is, China almost completed J 20's trails, and planning to mass produce those fighters within next two years, as earlier planned 2016 deadline is almost is passing by, It's believed China will carryout weapon tests in coming days, before going to mass productions, and by 2017 Chinese Air force gets the J 20 in it's wings, the same year Russia too induct their PAK FA in it's VKS fleet.

After IAF Su30 spanks Typhoons,questions about F-35's ability to fight against Su T-50

After IAF Su30 spanks Typhoons, questions about F-35's ability to fight against Su T-50

 

  Earlier this year a damning report from an F-35 test pilot revealed the troubled $400 billion dollar single-seat stealth fighter was easily outmaneuvered by a two-seat 1980s vintage F-16D combat jet.

   As recently as last week, the success of modern Russian designs appear to have won some vindication when Indian Russian-made Su-30 combat jets went toe-to-toe with British Typhoon fighters in a competitive training exercise: It was a 12-0 clean-sweep victory, in favour of the Indians.

   The T-50 is the latest incarnation of Russian combat jet doctrine.

   It purports to blend stealth with extreme maneuverability, and an extensive suite of sensors and weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to have the jets operational by 2020, though an initial order for 50 of the aircraft has since been cut back to just 12.

   The Tu-50 is just one of several new fighter types the F-35 Lightning II may eventually face.

  Despite its advanced sensors and avionics, the fighter’s single engine simply isn’t powerful enough to push the bulky and overweight airframe through the air all that fast — or accelerate it away from danger.

   The F-35’s supporters argued that dogfighting was not what the next-generation stealth fighter was built for:

    “The F-35’s technology is designed to engage, shoot and kill its enemy from long distances, not necessarily in visual ‘dogfighting’ situations,” a Lockheed Martin statement reads.

   “The challenge, chivalry and thrill of ‘guns-only’ dogfighting is clearly of a bygone era,” a 2007 US Air Force article reads.

Detractors, however, point out we’ve heard that argument before — with near disastrous results.

    US Navy jets went into Vietnam without cannons, such was the confidence they had in their ultra-advanced new missiles. Every jet designed and built since then has had them included due to the lessons learnt at the hands of the Russian-build jets the US came up against.

Detractors also argue F-35s long-range, stealth fighting style is also suspect.

   To survive against a T-50, the F-35 must be stealthy. To be stealthy, the F-35 cannot carry any weapons or fuel under its wings. This reduces its capabilities and flexibility considerably.

    Even if the F-35 is able to evade new visual and heat-seeking sensors developed specifically in the past decade to find it, it is totally reliant upon the success of its two air-to-air missiles. These must find — and then hit — targets which are capable of both hiding through stealth and countermeasures while using extreme maneuverability to dodge.

    Once those two missiles are fired, the comparatively slow and sluggish F-35 is entirely dependent on its stealth capability to slink away from the battlefield to refuel and rearm.

And it’s not all that stealthy from behind.

If it’s spotted, the questions remain: Can it run? Can it turn? Can it fight?

 Article first published in news.com.au

INS Vishal

INS Vishal

           

      The Navy's most ambitious project is the Nuclear powered Super Carrier, not only for Indian navy the same applies to all other major Navy's, so far Americans and French have operational Super carriers, and Britain almost completed two Super carrier constructions which expected to sea trials this year.

       So far Indian Navy operates only conventionally powered Aircraft carrier for almost decades, while another Aircraft carrier in the making, Navy's dream about Nuclear powered Super carrier nearly comes real, while recent developments in the Navy where CCS okay-ed the project. earlier reports confirmed the IAC 2 comes with nuclear propulsion along with CATOBAR or EMALS, But some recent reports are not quite clear about the Super carrier, says all options on the Table.

     But the recent  eye opener, Tellis report mentioning US participation arming the Indians to fight against Chinese threats, the dream of EMAL again brighten, He not only mentions the EMAL but strongly pressed the possible sale of F 35 fighter jets along with the DTTI, where Delhi and Washington agreement about defense trade and technology.

       While Navy chief clearly mentions  the future of the Navy's blue water capability lies only on the Air Power, mentions carrier air power should be boosted, while current carrier's and it's air wing has it's limitations due to the launching systems, one need a Catapult or EMAL to launch heavier aircrafts with heavy payloads, current MiG 29K from INS vikky and future IAC 1 lacks, so navy needs a more powerful Carrier to launch much heavier air crafts.

        Also the current carriers has only helicopter based airborne early warning radar the Ka 31, who also lacks power, range and performance, while the E 2 D system works more than a AEW but have decent jamming support. earlier Navy asked the Gruman to brief about the E 2D while Navy has plans to operate from Shore based facilities.

      The Navy also described that the Carrier comes with three Air options like Navy's F 18 E/F Fighter Jets  with EA 18 G growler electronic attack Jet or The American F 35 C, otherwise the French Rafale M. all of them designed to work with super carrier also comes with longer range and heavier payload. unlike Mig 29K lacks ranges and payload due to ski jump Take off.

    The US def Sec Ashton Carter scheduled comes India early June to seal the much awaited Helicopter deal, also government plans to start the official Negotiations/agreement works with the US to start transferring the Technology of EMAL systems.

      During the Navy seminar in India May first some US Navy Top officials joined and explained the possibility of future super carrier technology and using it in the battle, the general atomics staff also speak about the EMAL systems technology and it's applications, the company who developed the EMAL for US super carrier Gerald R Ford.