Future of The Naval Air Arm
- HAL Tejas:The naval variant of the Tejas will have strengthened landing gear and other necessary modifications for service on an aircraft carrier. Two Naval prototypes will be built, the NP-1 (Naval Prototype-1) which will be a two seat variant and NP-2 (Naval Prototype-2), a single seat variant for carrier operations. The Tejas was expected to be delivered before 2012. The first flight of NP-1 was expected to take place by the end of 2008 but the carrier trials was delayed due to the delay in the delivery schedule of INS Vikramaditya. Hence the trials were to be carried out at the SBTF (Shore-based Test Facility) under construction at the naval airbase INS Hansa in Goa. Indian Navy plans to operate two squadrons (40 aircraft) of carrier borne Tejas aircraft from the two aircraft carries, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Indian navy has placed an order for six Naval LCAs. At an approximate cost of ₹150 crore (US$27.3 million) per aircraft, the Naval LCA programme will be provided ₹900 crore (US$163.8 million). The Navy has a requirement of 50-60 Tejas aircraft.
The first Naval prototype NP-1, was rolled out in July 2010. NP-1, which is currently undergoing taxi trials, was expected to make its first flight by July 2011.
- P-8I Neptune: New Delhi and Boeing have signed a $2.1 billion contract to deliver 12 P-8I Neptune for anti-submarine operations. The new aircraft will replace a fleet of Russian-manufactured Tupolev-142M planes. P-8I varies from the P-8A, with the Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) has been kept intact while an aft-mounted radar provides 360 degree aerial radar surveillance capability. The first flight of the plane is expected soon.
- Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft: The Indian Navy issued an RFP for six medium-range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft. The possible contenders are ATR-72MP/ ATR-42MP, EADS C-295MPA/C-235MPA, Dassault's Falcon 900MPA and Embraer P-99A platforms. The procurement number has been enhanced to 9 as per news reports in February, 2012.
- 17 Hawk Trainer
- HAL HJT-36
- 20 ASW Helicopters (to replace Sea King), extended to 60 helicopters
- 15 NAL Saras aircraft have been ordered, mostly to replace the Dornier Do-228. The Navy has a requirement for 25 Saras aircraft and design changes are being conducted on the aircraft for using it in maritime environment. The Naval Saras will start delivery by 2014.
- 40 Unmanned helicopters. This helicopter is under development and will be based on the HAL-built Cheetah helicopters.
- 56 naval utility helicopters are planned to be inducted from 2016. These will be used for surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, electronic intelligence gathering and search and rescue operations. In August 2012, an RFP was issued to AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Eurocopter, Kamov and Sikorsky for the helicopters, 3 simulators, 28 spare engines and associated equipment. The value of the contract is expected to be US$ 1 billion. These helicopters will have two engines, have a maximum weight of 4,500 kg and will be capable of operating from warship decks. The helicopters will be equipped with 70mm rocket launchers, 12.7mm guns, lightweight torpedoes and depth charges.
- 50 light helicopers
Read more about this topic: Indian Naval Air Arm
Famous quotes containing the words future, naval, air and/or arm:
“It is the future that creates his present.
All is an interminable chain of longing.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“The world was a huge ball then, the universe a might harmony of ellipses, everything moved mysteriously, incalculable distances through the ether.
We used to feel the awe of the distant stars upon us. All that led to was the eighty-eight naval guns, ersatz, and the night air-raids over cities. A magnificent spectacle.
After the collapse of the socialist dream, I came to America.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“A hook shot kisses the rim and
hangs there, helplessly, but doesn’t drop
and for once our gangly starting center
boxes out his man and times his jump
perfectly, gathering the orange leather
from the air like a cherished possession”
—Edward Hirsch (b. 1950)
“The point is that nationalism, even in its latest madhouse frenzies under Mussolini and Hitler, is still, like advertising, an arm of big business. Nations as we know them today, were the invention of business and it is natural that business should still consider itself slightly above patriotism and that the strongest international should still be the international of profits.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)