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Pictorial

This article discusses the changes taking place at the Indian aircraft maker, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The company is moving to branch out into civil products, emphasizing a smaller, better trained workforce and improving its relationship with the Indian military.

Tata Industries, one of India's largest business conglomerates, has scrapped plans to launch a domestic airline due to bureaucratic delays. The group, which wanted Singapore Airlines to be its partner in the venture, blamed India's Civil Aviation Ministry for dragging its foot on the matter. However, Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar said the government would not change its policy banning foreign investment in domestic airlines. Tata, nonetheless, said it could decide to push through with its aviation investment in the future.

Russia has offered the Indian Navy a modernized 44,500-metric-ton aircarft carrier Admiral Gorshkov in a $700-million transaction that include 24 MiG-29K carrier-baed fighters and a mix of Kamov Ka-28 anti-submarine and Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters. The modernization would involve the conversion of the carrier to a short-takeoff but arrested-recovery carrier with a ski ramp. The conversion plan for the Admiral Gorshkov include the removal of all forward armaments and plating the area with a 14.3-deg bow ski jump. One conversion plan suggested by the Nevskoye project design bureau is for the carrier to have 11 MiG 29s on deck, with the rest in hangars. Alternatively, the Russians are proposing to add two deck elevators to the carrier and equip it with a combination of 21 MiG-29Ks and 13 helicopters.

US sanctions on India due to its nuclear testing program are expected to hurt the Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) the most on its single-engine Light Combat Aircraft development program. The concept for the LCA, which was first hatched in 1983 but not funded until 1993, has been under criticism for cost and schedule overruns. Experts believe that the US sanctions will finish off the program. The first prototype was first introduced in 1995. While a second prototype is being assembled, the first one is going through a series of engine runs. Tests will proceed through 1998, with a first flight scheduled for 1999. The LCA, however, depends on US-made components for important functions.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is working on a turboprop trainer, a tandem-seat trainer, and a lightweight attack helicopter. The helicopter and tandem trainer will be designed in India, but parts will be manufactured abroad. The tandem trainer will be finished in 2005.

India is expected to spend $2.3 billion to develop a new stealth combat twin-engined, deep penetration strike aircraft that will replace the country's old Mirage 2000s and Jaguars. The aircraft will also have air defense capabilities.

The Indian Defense Ministry has postponed the flight-testing of its LCA until mid-1997. The LCA, which originally was scheduled to make its maiden voyage in Jun 1996, is being produced totally in India. The Ministry will give the LCA a 200-flight test before introducing the aircraft to market.

The Indian Defense Ministry is preparing its prototype ALH for weapons integration. The arsenal on the Army version of the ALH will include anti-tank missiles, a turret gun and air-to-ground rockets. The naval version will be armed with two anti-ship missiles or torpedoes or depth charges.

This article reviews the response of the MiG Aircraft Corp. to reports by the Indian Air Force that its high accident rates are due to the poor quality of MiG aircraft. MiG officials counter that the problem is low-quality spare parts. In the past five years 93 MiG jets ave crashed killing 23 pilots.

India's defense budget for FY 1998 has been set at $10 billion, and increase of 20% over FY 1997. The amount, however, is only 5% higher in real terms when weighed against revised 1997 expenditures. India's weapons and equipment budget is expected to remain the same for the sixth straight year.

Legal responsibility for a 13-month delay in finishing the modernization project at Delhi International Airport cannot be placed on Raytheon, the Airports Authority of India and others, according to a ruling by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation. The ruling notes that conditions under which Raytheon was to install equipment at the airport were not met.

The Indian cabinet has postponed making a final decision on whether foreign airlines can hold 40% stakes in domestic airlines. The decision was prompted by opposition by Civil Aviation Minister C.M. Ibrahim who argued that such a move will affect the viability of Indian Airlines, the state-owned carrier.

Reports on the Indian government's plan to open up the domestic airline industry to market forces. Promotion of the growth of air transportation; Privatization of Indian Airlines; Capital to be raised for the renewal of the airline's fleet; Unions' opposition to privatization; Denationalization plan as not applying to Air India; Government's relaxation of limits on bilateral agreements.

India's government allocated $7.94 billion for the 1996-7 military budget, an increase of $262 million, which was less than defense proponents had expected. It had been expected that a major increase would occur to boost procurement. The 3% increase does not outpace India's 5.2% inflation rate.

India's Ministry of Defense faces criticism for its mishandling of contracts with the former Soviet Union for purchase of MiG-29 fighters. The Indian government will pay increased costs, and maintenance problems plague the Russian fighters.

Five AV-8 Harriers that are being retired by the US Marine Corps may be purchased by the Indian navy to fill its need for additional two-seat Vertical Landing and Takeoff training aircraft. If India decides to go ahead and buy the planes, they are expected to be refurbished before being pressed into service. Meanwhile, India also is exploring the possibility of acquiring used British Royal Navy and Air Force Harriers.

The Indian Air Force has had reliability and maintenance problems with its fleet of Dassault Mirage 2000Hs since they were introduced in 1984. Mirages are currently being sent back to France for overhauls until a $24-million facility at the Hindustani Aerospace Ltd complex in Bangalore is completed.

Russia's MiG-MAPO plans to outfit India's MiG-21 bis fleet with state-of-the-art target acquisition equipment and sophisticated air-to-air missiles. The cost of the upgrade, which will also feature helmet-mounted sights, is estimated at $40 million.

Focuses on India's nuclear weapon doctrine which complements Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's policy of maintaining a credible minimum nuclear deterrence opposed by established nuclear powers. Adoption of the doctrine by the National Security Advisory Board in August 1999; Vajpayee's remark on the non-priority status of nuclear weapon development.

Focuses on the crash of a Saudia 747 and an Air Kazakhstan Il-76 on November 12, 1996 in Haryana, India. Number of casualties; The Indian government ordering a judicial inquiry to determine the cause of the crash; Description of the collision; Primary areas of inquiry to be aircrew error and India's air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure; Questions on the safety standards of Russian aircraft. INSET: Crews' last conversations with Delhi ATC.

Focuses on the urgency of privatizing government-owned Air India. Expectations of the airline's financial loss; Value of the total cumulative debt of the airline; Reduction of staff and operations slated for the airline.

Reports on the increase to be received by the Indian Armed Forces in their fiscal 2000 to 2001 budget. Support from the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Reaction of Pakistan's foreign ministry to India's defense budget; Flight testing of the Trishul surface-to-air missile and the Nishant remote-controlled missile; Increased allocation to the Indian Army.

Reports that an Indian MiG-21 jet fighter shot down a Pakistani Breguet Atlantic reconnaissance aircraft on August 10, 1999. Background on the incident; Indian government's assertion that the Pakistani aircraft intruded into India air space; Pakistan's denial of India's allegation; Implications for relations between the countries.

Looks at the proposed civil and military aircraft development program of India. Combat aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and the Aeronautical Development Agency; Scheduled rollout of the Light Combat Aircraft; Comments from Defense Minister George Fernandes on the sanction imposed by the United States.

Reports on talks between Indian and Russian aerospace officials regarding military aircraft sales. Russians' offer of 20 Su-30 aircraft on credit; Disagreement over the rupee-rubble exchange rate; Indian air force's preparations for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's reception of MiG-29s; India's plan to acquire 15 attack helicopters; Order for SS-150 Prithvi battlefield support missiles.

Report the possible strategic partnership agreement between India and Russia. Details on the agreement regarding nuclear nonproliferation; Concerns of Pakistan on the agreement; Effectiveness of the Indian navy.

Reports that the Indian government has disbanded the board of directors of the country's state-owned international and domestic airlines in response to their merger proposal. Effects of the action on domestic carriers; Condition of the airlines industry in the country; Information on Air India board members.

Focuses on the open criticisms which the upgrade program for Indian MiG-21 fighters are receiving from Sokol Aircraft factory officials at Nizhnyi Novgorod in Russia. Reason for the criticism of the upgrade program by Sokol Aircraft factory officials; Complaints made by Vladimir Metyolkin, a Sokol marketing official; Information on the upgraded MiGs.

Reports on the delay of India's prospective purchase of Russian Su-30MK combat aircraft due to political conflicts in the country. Allegations of wrongdoing and military infighting; Reflection of a factional clash within India's defense establishment.

Reports on the rollout of India's indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) in November 1995 with its first-flight target date in June 1996. Estimated cost per aircraft; General Electric F-404 as engine; Announcement of a firm financial backing for LCA's production stage; Introduction in the Indian Air Force in the year 2004.

Looks at the effects of the Indian government's airline deregulation policy that prohibits foreign airlines from investing in domestic carriers. The decision affecting Jet Air and a proposed alignment by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Indian conglomerate Tata.