V 22 Indian Options

V 22 Indian Options

  

        Designed by Bell and Boeing, the V22 is a unique aircraft which was evolved after clubbing the functionality of helicopters and turbo-prop aircraft. A strong pitch was made within the DoD for an aircraft that could take off and land vertically and also enjoy a decent speed, which the helicopters lacked. With the key capabilities of rotary and propeller aircraft clubbed, an aircraft with enhanced capability that could perform STOL and VTOL missions was obtained. 

       Developments began in 1998, and the aircraft entered service in 2007. The V-22 Ospery has been one of the front line machines involved in special operations for the US forces. Though relatively new to the battle field the aircraft has enjoyed a very distinguished service life and has seen its share of battle in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Libya where it has performed as a versatile platform for medivac operations. 

For ARC (Aviation Research Center)

      Aviation Research Centre (ARC), the agency which works under RAW is responsible for electronic surveillance and signals intelligence along the Pakistan and China border. Reports have emerged that ARC is planning to acquire 4 V-22 for special operations and to augment its logistical capability. ARC currently operates Boeing 757 and Bombardier platforms which are equipped with the latest ELINET and SATCOM modules. ARC will also acquire advanced surveillance planes which are being developed with the Israeli’s.

Special Operations.

    The main reason ARC is looking forward to acquire the V-22 is to supplement its logistical capabilities. ARC doesn’t operate a dedicated troop transport aircraft, with the V22 capabilities the operations will receive an boost. The troops along with their heavy equipment can be ferried to the front-line and using its unique abilities can be dropped down right close to the front line. It has performed several missions in Libya, Afgan and Iraq where the aircraft has been the primary transport aircraft for US forces.  On the onset of Libyan unrest, V 22’s successfully evacuated US diplomatic officers and also became a key part in a SAR mission to help an F-18 pilot in Iraq.

     V-22 has not been part of any major operations, thus raising questions about its reliability. The famous US SEAL operation to take out the world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden only saw Black Hawk’s and Chinook’s in action. The recently concluded operation in Syria to terminate, ISIS top command saw only the Black Hawk’s in action and the V-22 were circling way back outside in friendly territory.

        Even though the V-22 was part of the Nepal rescue operations the aircraft failed miserably in proving their capability. The high powered rotors of the aircraft were responsible for several houses to suffer structural damages. Hence the V-22 was pulled off from the operations.

Naval Operations

     The V 22 can be used effectively as a naval platform, with high endurance, high speed and enough space to fit in heavy equipment it can act as an AWACS platform. The current platform used by Indian Navy is Ka 31 which has limited range and speed. Royal Navy has already requested Bell-Boeing for equipping the aircraft with an rotating radar dome to perform AWACS mission. These aircraft will be part of the aviation wing on board the under development QE Class Aircraft Carrier. India currently operates two STOBAR carriers, with limited launch capabilities, navy relies only on Ka 31 but if inducted the V22 can be a game changer.

        Another advantage of the V-22  is its capability to conduct Aerial refueling. With STOBAR the carrier has a short take off length, hence the jets launching from the deck have to use full power there by consuming heavy fuel. To enhance this the navy was currently using the MiG 29K in buddy refueling configuration. The same can be operated by the V-22 and operating costs will reduce drastically with the V-22 induction. 

       If inducted the V-22 can be a good platform for naval operations only, with such heavy investments and operations costs it is not really advisable to operate these jets in Indian conditions.

Editor Karthik Kakoor 

  

US to supply Missile Warning Systems to India

US to supply Missile Warning Systems to India

The IAF C 130 showing It's AN AAR 47 MAWS in the Tail

Detailed Image representation of AN AAR 47 Fittings

         With the new government keen on developing the relationship of India with the global power USA has help forge several hundred deals. The governments have adopted the new motto --- "Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go". The governments have stressed on bilateral ties in trade, commerce, banking, industries and military systems. 

  The US-India military forces and command believes in freedom, democracy, and government by rule of law, and to increase security trough out the globe. These interests also include maintaining security and stability, defeating violent religious extremism and terrorism, preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and associated materials, data, and technologies, and protecting the free flow of commerce throughout the globe prospering every country.

        The Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) that reliably warns on incoming missile attacks and allows timely activation of countermeasures to increase the platform’s survivability. Using the MAWS the countermeasures like the chaff or the flares can be automatically deployed diverting the incoming missile away from the platform. The MAWS is a fourth generation warfare system which is under production and can be used on virtually every platform ranging from helicopters, Fighter jets, AEW&C aircrafts and wide bodied jets.

     With the Indian government showing renewed interest in remote missile protection platforms the US government has come in terms with the Indian counterpart to provide Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) under the Foreign Military sale (FMS) contract. These systems are designed and developed by US based “Ortbital ATK” which is a pioneering company in threat assessment and neutralization systems. The MAWS is a crucial system to be incorporated on Air borne platforms specially the slow moving platforms. These slow platforms cannot be expected to follow a fixed course of evasive action when a SAM is fired towards them. With MAWS enabled these platforms can effectively out manoeuvre the intercepting missile and thereby saving the platform and the lives contained within.

      The Indian armed forces operate an array of Air borne platforms that perform crucial tasks involving troop movement, essentially supplies transport, surveillance aircrafts, drones, helicopters, AEW&C aircrafts and an array of other systems. Most of these platforms operate with extremely dangerous proximity to hostile forces. Hence these platforms are always vulnerable to be attacked by the hostile forces using SAM (Surface to Air Missile). Most of these platforms are huge aircrafts or slow moving under powered helicopters, these systems when fired upon cannot engage in an effective way of out manoeuvre these missiles. But these platforms are equipped with the state of the art Counter measures which when used in a effective way can easily mislead these missiles. The very main purpose of implementing MAWS is to integrate these counter measures to a digitized platform that automatically engages the missile using the build-in counter measure systems on board the platform.

         The MAWS developed by the Orbital ATK is the primary such system to be incorporated on various platforms that are being operated by the US Navy and US Air force. The system has been integrated with more than 16 air borne platforms. These platforms which include the rotary and fixed aircrafts like CH 53, C 5 have adopted the AN/AAR 47. A recent release of the Pentagon documents have confirmed the offer USA has made to India but there has been no mention of the contract values or numbers.

            The AN/AAR 47 basically works with an digitized and integrated warning system that is in turn integrated to the communication module of the pilot or the control command of the platform. The AN/AAR 47 is an radar based warning system. The system used the primary radar of the platform to effectively track any incoming hostile air borne missiles. When the system does detect a threat to the platform immediately alerts the operator of the platform of the possible in bound threat. The system is also capable of warning the user of any possible acquiring methods being deployed by the enemy their by providing the user time to perform required evasive manoeuvres. With the implementation of this system on a platform it enables the user platform to automatically dispense the counter measures that are in built to a platform.

            The main feature of this system is to provide timely warning against Infrared MAN Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS). Detecting a MANPADS is an extremely demanding task and these MANPADS do not signal their presence till the launch of the missile, they do have a detectable radiation since they do not rely on active IR, radar guidance or a laser designator. These fire-and-forget systems and lock on and engage a target, speed to the target and destroy it in seconds. But these systems however, have a very small but still visible radar signature and also since propelled by propellant a IR signature. But this signature can be visible only for a very short period of duration. To counter these missiles if the old counter measures are to be used they may be hampered by the decisions of a pilot. But if the counter measures are integrated with the MAWS the system automatically deploys the flares without any delay thereby saving the platform from a possible attack.

Components of AN AAR 47 MAWS system

         The AAR-47 missile warning system consists of 4 Optical Sensor Converters (OSC), a Computer Processor and a Control Indicator. A single optical sensor converter is positioned towards each side of the aircraft and is integrated with an infrared camera which can detect any incoming missiles. With the space on a aircraft being very limited the whole size of the component has to be extremely compact and yet powerful the AAR-47 is a very compact system and is around 32 pounds and takes very negligible space on board a aircraft.

      The system has a good combat proven record. The system was incorporated by 2006 in the US forces and has helped the forces several times from the time of induction. During the Iraq war operation a V 22 which was preparing to land was engaged by the rebels and a RPG was fired, with RPG being fired from a very close proximity the pilots had a very short time of frame to react to the threat. But the ‘V 22’ was integrated with the MAWS and the AN/AAR 71 had picked up the threat even before the pilot could implement a action plan. The MAWS simultaneously fired the counter measures which saved the helicopter and mainly crew on board.

        As of now the HAL manufactured Rudra ALH under the service of the Army uses the SAAB supplied IADS (Integrated Air Defence Suite) and the Older and heavier Mi 24 helicopters uses the Ukrainian supplied ADROS DIRCM system. But the recently inducted transport aircraft “American C 130 J “uses the Orbital ATK AN/AAR 47. There has been no information regarding the MAW the Indian Light Combat Helicopter would be using. The system can be seen being integrated on various current platforms and for the next projects implemented by HAL.

Recently Upgraded USAF A 10 showing it's AN AAR MAWS

Editor Karthik Kakoor

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V 22 Osprey

V 22 Osprey

V 22 in a AEWCS Config . fan art

        As of now the world's one and only VTOL Aircraft is the Bell Boeing V 22 Osprey forget the AV 8 Harrier which is a VTOL Fighter/Bomber. The US Marines is the Primary Operator of the V 22 which is primarily built for their purpose to quick insertion in any kind of worst forntiers. The US Airforce Special forces also uses the V 22 while they previously used the S 70 and the Boeing CH 47. the Primary use of the V 22 is nothing but quickly transport the Troops at far range compared to other helicopters and provide Logistics supports to the friendlies fighting in the frontier.

           Due to the Capablity of VTOL it can be land any kind of LHD, and Aircraft carriers. This impressed the English Navy to think add something the V 22 and place it in the Future Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. Yes the QE can carry bunch of F 35 B VTOL Aircrafts along with the NH 90 for ASW support but it doesn't have any AEW and Refueler Platforms to enhance the performance of the Carrier Flight Ops. unlike other Ski Jump and Flat top carriers they use the Russian based Ka 31 AEW platform. But England need more Spohicicated Platform can perform what the American and French E 2D is doing the carrier borne complete AEWCS ( Airborne Early Warning and Control System ). so they plans to add a  AESA Radar in the V 22 and add some more Jamming devices and Support systems into the V 22 to make a Lethal AEWCS System. due to the Flat top model the QE can't able to support the E 2D. which works only on the CATOBAR platforms.

Possible Mission package of V 22 AEWCS

          The same problem for India too operating two Big sized carries both STOBAR platform. Their Primary  AEW is a limited due to the Ka 31. which is a Child compared to the American E 2D System. also the only available Air refueler is the Mig 29K buddy Refeuling system. but placing four V 22 in each of our carrier two V 22 configured as a Dedicated AEWCS and two V 22 in a Aerial Tanker Configuration. both sets perfectly hold the INS Vikramaditya and the IAC 1 Vikranth. Don't worry about the IAC 2 Vishaal Navy plans to add EMALS (Electro Magnetic Assisted Take off and Landing System )  and Nuke Propulsion. so which can easily house the E 2D Hawkeye and the C 2 Greyhound logistics Support Aircraft. 

V 22 Refeuling a Navy Hornet

         As of Now Indian Special forces too shown interests in the V 22 system which can be used for Special operations in Jungle's and Other tough Terrains. where they get it or not Surely the Navy's plans will be better for Enhance the Carrier Operating Capability.

       The Indian officials get briefed by the Boeing team twice  about the performance and evaluation of the V 22. But the Government still didn't shown any signals on to it.      

The Official Performance Characteristics from Wikipedia

• Crew: Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers/crew chiefs)
• Capacity:
  
  • 24 troops (seated), 32 troops (floor loaded), or
  • 20,000 lb (9,070 kg) of internal cargo, or up to 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) of external cargo (dual hook)
  • 1× Growler light internally transportable ground vehicle
• Length: 57 ft 4 in (17.5 m)
• Empty weight: 33,140 lb (15,032 kg)
• Loaded weight: 47,500 lb (21,500 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 60,500 lb (27,400 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 knots (509 km/h, 316 mph) at sea level / 305 kn (565 km/h; 351 mph) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
• Cruise speed: 241 kn (277 mph, 446 km/h) at sea level
• Stall speed: 110 kn (126 mph, 204 km/h) in airplane mode
• Range: 879 nmi (1,011 mi, 1,627 km)
• Combat radius: 390 nmi (426 mi, 722 km)
• Ferry range: 1,940 nmi (2,230 mi, 3,590 km) with auxiliary internal fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)

Folded wing house good for Field in Carriers

The US Navy E 2D AEWCS system