The progress made by a number of companies to make the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) a viable and reliable product is indeed noteworthy. This concept[w1]&nbsp; has the potential of reducing dependence on traditional infrastructure requirements whilst dramatically increasing its deployment possibilities. As with most innovations in the domain of aviation, the VBJ can also trace its roots to the needs of the military. A large quantum of funds has been poured into Research and Development to acquire the capability to produce the tilt-rotor Osprey, the Harrier with variable jet nozzles and a number of other features. The challenge is to integrate various cutting edge technologies to have an economically viable aircraft that can meet with the prevailing safety standards, the sophistication expected and price of Business Jets operating in the six to eight seater, twin-engine category. Once this challenge is met with, the aircraft will find markets globally. &nbsp;[w1]

VERTICAL BUSINESS JET - A GAME CHANGER

The progress made by a number of companies to make the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) a viable and reliable product is indeed noteworthy. This concept[w1]&nbsp; has the potential of reducing dependence on traditional infrastructure requirements whilst dramatically increasing its deployment possibilities. As with most innovations in the domain of aviation, the VBJ can also trace its roots to the needs of the military. A large quantum of funds has been poured into Research and Development to acquire the capability to produce the tilt-rotor Osprey, the Harrier with variable jet nozzles and a number of other features. The challenge is to integrate various cutting edge technologies to have an economically viable aircraft that can meet with the prevailing safety standards, the sophistication expected and price of Business Jets operating in the six to eight seater, twin-engine category. Once this challenge is met with, the aircraft will find markets globally. &nbsp;[w1]

The China Daily, PLA&rsquo;s official mouthpiece, reported in an article on April 19, 2021 that China has deployed a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and the brigade is located 5,200m above sea level in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The report did not give the type or firing range of the weapon but said it was a system with a long-range rocket with precision strike capability and had entered service in 2019. Another publication referring to the report in China Daily wrote the move by the PLA is aimed at reinforcing China&rsquo;s border defence and acting as a deterrent to India, saying, &ldquo;An artillery brigade stationed 5,200 metres (17,000 feet) above sea level in Xinjiang military district has intensified its drills using a rocket system during full-wing combat-ready training.&rdquo;

China Deploys Long Range MLRS

The China Daily, PLA&rsquo;s official mouthpiece, reported in an article on April 19, 2021 that China has deployed a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and the brigade is located 5,200m above sea level in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The report did not give the type or firing range of the weapon but said it was a system with a long-range rocket with precision strike capability and had entered service in 2019. Another publication referring to the report in China Daily wrote the move by the PLA is aimed at reinforcing China&rsquo;s border defence and acting as a deterrent to India, saying, &ldquo;An artillery brigade stationed 5,200 metres (17,000 feet) above sea level in Xinjiang military district has intensified its drills using a rocket system during full-wing combat-ready training.&rdquo;

The Indian Navy's first MH-60R production helicopter conducted its maiden flight in Owego, New York in April 2021. The flight was carried out at Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) plant. In February 2020, India and the US had signed a deal for the procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Under the $2.12 billion deal, 24 x MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will be purchased. Delivery of the first six is expected to take place within 2021.

Indian Navy Getting MH-60R Seahawks

The Indian Navy's first MH-60R production helicopter conducted its maiden flight in Owego, New York in April 2021. The flight was carried out at Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) plant. In February 2020, India and the US had signed a deal for the procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Under the $2.12 billion deal, 24 x MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will be purchased. Delivery of the first six is expected to take place within 2021.

The Indian Army (IA) has issued a RFI (Request For Information) in April 2021 inviting responses from overseas and domestic vendors by June 18 for its planned procurement of 350 locally manufactured &lsquo;light tanks&rsquo; weighing less than 25 tons along with performance-based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements. The&nbsp; RFI dated April 22 and published on April 24 states that the light tanks are to be procured in a &ldquo;phased manner&rdquo; under the &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; category of the Defence Ministry&rsquo;s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020). Earlier in October 1999, the Indian Army (IA) had issued a RFI for 200 wheeled light tanks (armoured cars) and about 100 tracked light tanks. This was after the 1999 Kargil Conflict. The new RFI has been issued because of the 2020 Chinese aggression and the continuing standoff, with China refusing to disengage from Depsang Plains, Gogra and Hot Springs.

Light Tanks for Indian Army

The Indian Army (IA) has issued a RFI (Request For Information) in April 2021 inviting responses from overseas and domestic vendors by June 18 for its planned procurement of 350 locally manufactured &lsquo;light tanks&rsquo; weighing less than 25 tons along with performance-based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements. The&nbsp; RFI dated April 22 and published on April 24 states that the light tanks are to be procured in a &ldquo;phased manner&rdquo; under the &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; category of the Defence Ministry&rsquo;s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020). Earlier in October 1999, the Indian Army (IA) had issued a RFI for 200 wheeled light tanks (armoured cars) and about 100 tracked light tanks. This was after the 1999 Kargil Conflict. The new RFI has been issued because of the 2020 Chinese aggression and the continuing standoff, with China refusing to disengage from Depsang Plains, Gogra and Hot Springs.

The importance of aerial surveillance for India with hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan needs no elaboration.&nbsp; Aerial surveillance for airborne intelligence is being done by both the Research &amp; Analysis Wing (RAW) operating their dedicated aircraft, as well as the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is currently operating three Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) and two Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - Embraer Netra AEW&amp;C Airborne Early Warning and Control) jets. Two additional Phalcon AWACS are being contracted, which will raise the Phalcon AWACS fleet to five. The DRDO had also been developing an AWACS system based on the Airbus A330 platform but apparently that is still in the making or perhaps shelved.&nbsp;

ISTARs in the Sky

The importance of aerial surveillance for India with hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan needs no elaboration.&nbsp; Aerial surveillance for airborne intelligence is being done by both the Research &amp; Analysis Wing (RAW) operating their dedicated aircraft, as well as the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is currently operating three Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) and two Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - Embraer Netra AEW&amp;C Airborne Early Warning and Control) jets. Two additional Phalcon AWACS are being contracted, which will raise the Phalcon AWACS fleet to five. The DRDO had also been developing an AWACS system based on the Airbus A330 platform but apparently that is still in the making or perhaps shelved.&nbsp;

On February 21, 2021, India signed a pact with Maldives to develop, support and maintain a harbour for the &nbsp;Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Coast Guard for maritime security in the region during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India will also support development of other infrastructure needed for the harbour, support the development of communications resources and radar services, and provide training. During his visit, Jaishankar met Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of the Peoples&rsquo; Majlis, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam.

Boosting India-Maldives Security Relations

On February 21, 2021, India signed a pact with Maldives to develop, support and maintain a harbour for the &nbsp;Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Coast Guard for maritime security in the region during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India will also support development of other infrastructure needed for the harbour, support the development of communications resources and radar services, and provide training. During his visit, Jaishankar met Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of the Peoples&rsquo; Majlis, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam.

United States has secretly designed, built and test flown a prototype sixth-generation fighter jet under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. The last time an experimental fighter took off in the US was for a fifth-generation fighter 20 years ago. That contract eventually was won by Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s F-35 Lightning II. It took over ten years to complete and has become the most expensive American weapons programme ever. Other nations are still struggling to make their own fifth-generation fighters. But this unnamed sixth-generation jet has taken just a couple of years from the time serious work on the project commenced to actual flight. There are a handful of other sixth-generation programmes in various stages of development around the world. While the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to launch the first flight of its New Generation Fighter (NGF) in 2026 the British-led Tempest is expected to be operational by 2035. Both China and Russia are also believed to be working on their own sixth-generation combat planes. India&rsquo;s military-industrial establishment needs to get cracking on sixth-generation technologies like optional manning, swarm drones, DEW, hypersonic weapons and ensure that they are effectively built into the AMCA.

6th-Generation Fighters: Closer Than You Think!

United States has secretly designed, built and test flown a prototype sixth-generation fighter jet under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. The last time an experimental fighter took off in the US was for a fifth-generation fighter 20 years ago. That contract eventually was won by Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s F-35 Lightning II. It took over ten years to complete and has become the most expensive American weapons programme ever. Other nations are still struggling to make their own fifth-generation fighters. But this unnamed sixth-generation jet has taken just a couple of years from the time serious work on the project commenced to actual flight. There are a handful of other sixth-generation programmes in various stages of development around the world. While the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to launch the first flight of its New Generation Fighter (NGF) in 2026 the British-led Tempest is expected to be operational by 2035. Both China and Russia are also believed to be working on their own sixth-generation combat planes. India&rsquo;s military-industrial establishment needs to get cracking on sixth-generation technologies like optional manning, swarm drones, DEW, hypersonic weapons and ensure that they are effectively built into the AMCA.

With the battlefields getting swamped by drones, considerable research is on for the development of drones that can kill enemy drones and possibly eliminate the enemy swarm drone in its entirety without or in conjunction other air defence systems. But the missile threat has been there for long and a country like China has a concept of using missiles en-masse or in swarms as well to beat the enemy anti-missile systems. This is significant since China has an impressive array of missiles, the recent additions being three new cruise missiles (YJ-12B, YJ-18, and CJ-100), two ballistic missiles (JL-2 and DF-41), and a hypersonic glide vehicle (DF-17), in addition to the DF-31AG and DF-26.

Midflight Missile Interception

With the battlefields getting swamped by drones, considerable research is on for the development of drones that can kill enemy drones and possibly eliminate the enemy swarm drone in its entirety without or in conjunction other air defence systems. But the missile threat has been there for long and a country like China has a concept of using missiles en-masse or in swarms as well to beat the enemy anti-missile systems. This is significant since China has an impressive array of missiles, the recent additions being three new cruise missiles (YJ-12B, YJ-18, and CJ-100), two ballistic missiles (JL-2 and DF-41), and a hypersonic glide vehicle (DF-17), in addition to the DF-31AG and DF-26.

Bombers are large aircraft with a large radar cross-section (RCS) and, as such, vulnerable to both airborne and ground based air defence (AD) weapons. The major world powers have had strategic bombers since World War II. Even today the three largest air forces of the world of the United States, Russia and China operate strategic bombers. India, with the fourth largest air force has only fighter-bombers. With the H-6 bomber aircraft of the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China positioned in large numbers at Kashgar and also a few at Hotan, not too far from India-China border in Ladakh, it is time to understand the importance and role of strategic bombers and the implications of not having strategic bombers in the inventory.

Does India Need A Strategic Bomber?

Bombers are large aircraft with a large radar cross-section (RCS) and, as such, vulnerable to both airborne and ground based air defence (AD) weapons. The major world powers have had strategic bombers since World War II. Even today the three largest air forces of the world of the United States, Russia and China operate strategic bombers. India, with the fourth largest air force has only fighter-bombers. With the H-6 bomber aircraft of the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China positioned in large numbers at Kashgar and also a few at Hotan, not too far from India-China border in Ladakh, it is time to understand the importance and role of strategic bombers and the implications of not having strategic bombers in the inventory.

During the Army Commanders Conference held in October 2020, one of the issues discussed was to study the Tibetan history, culture and language on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the international border as part of countering propaganda and the spread of influence by China. The proposal is reportedly being examined by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on directions of the Chief of Army Staff.

Army Focuses on Tibetology

During the Army Commanders Conference held in October 2020, one of the issues discussed was to study the Tibetan history, culture and language on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the international border as part of countering propaganda and the spread of influence by China. The proposal is reportedly being examined by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on directions of the Chief of Army Staff.

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Ageing Helicopters

Adverse affects of decades of neglect of defence and negative defence budgets in actual terms under various governments are coming to fore. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out that the&nbsp;&nbsp; upgrade of 90x medium lift Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) proposed in 2002 could not be achieved even after 18 years. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) concluded a contract with Elbit Systems of Israel for the upgrade of these helicopters at Rs 618.23 crore only in January 2017 &ndash; 15 years after the IAF proposed it. CAG observed, &ldquo;After up-gradation, 56 of these helicopters would be left with less than two years of life. The expenditure of ₹222.92 crore being incurred on their up-gradation is not justified.&rdquo; For the upgrade, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited were to supply ₹1,720 crore worth of essential components. But the contract for this supply has yet not been concluded between the MoD and HAL, BEL. Thus even after 18 years, up-gradation of the helicopters has not been completed. Of the 90 x Mi-17 helicopters, 56 were inducted into the IAF during 1984-89 and have a &lsquo;total calendar life&rsquo; of 35 years.

On April 27, 2021, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) &lsquo;Tejas&rsquo; added fifth generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its weapon inventory. This test firing in Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios. The trials met all its planned objectives. The trials were also aimed to enhance the capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas. The Derby missile achieved direct hit on a high speed maneuvering aerial target and the Python missiles also achieved 100 percent hits, thereby validating their complete capability.&nbsp; DRDO tweeted, &ldquo;Tejas, India&rsquo;s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its weapons capability on 27th April 2021. Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM.&rdquo;

LCA Tejas Gets Python-5

On April 27, 2021, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) &lsquo;Tejas&rsquo; added fifth generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its weapon inventory. This test firing in Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios. The trials met all its planned objectives. The trials were also aimed to enhance the capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas. The Derby missile achieved direct hit on a high speed maneuvering aerial target and the Python missiles also achieved 100 percent hits, thereby validating their complete capability.&nbsp; DRDO tweeted, &ldquo;Tejas, India&rsquo;s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its weapons capability on 27th April 2021. Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM.&rdquo;

Indigenous QRSAM – Induction 2021

The indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is slated go for production in 2021 after completing user trials over the next six months. A DRDO official was quoted as saying, &ldquo;The QRSAM is the country&rsquo;s first indigenous mobile air defence system and meant for the Army&rsquo;s Strike Corps to be mobile on vehicles. The development activity is complete and preparations are on for user trials. The Defence Acquisition Council has given conditional approval. In the next six months we want to finish user trials and by next year we will be ready for production.&rdquo; Under Chapter 4 of the new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, if items are developed by a production agency there are single-stage user trials, which will further speed up the development process.

Indian Navy Submarine Arm

An important capability any Navy must have is a Submarine Arm. A modern submarine can conduct both overt and covert operations. In wartime a submarine can carry out a number of missions including, Sea Denial, Surveillance and information gathering, landing of special operations forces, attack of land targets by Land Attack Missile and protection of task forces and merchant shipping.

AIR FORCE ENTERING A TRANSFORMING ERA: IAF CHIEF

As China remains hostile, India is going in for boosting its combat drones capabilities. The Army, Navy and Air Force have collectively come to the conclusion that India should opt for a weaponised drone rather than reconnaissance and surveillance drones. India had first expressed its interest in the armed drones in 2015, and the procurement had been in the works since then. The Services now want the MQ-9B Sea Guardian, manufactured by General Atomics, USA, which has 40-hour endurance with a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and payload or weapon carrying capacity of over 2.5 tons including air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs. MoD officials, on conditions of anonymity said, &ldquo;We are in negotiations with the Trump administration, which is willing to provide India with the latest armed drone technology. In this, it is the prohibitive cost of the system that is a hurdle, not the Trump administration.&rdquo;

India’s 1st Private Jet Terminal Launched

The first General Aviation Terminal of India was inaugurated on September 17, 2020 at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi by the Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri. &nbsp;&ldquo;A general aviation terminal was the need of the hour at Delhi Airport, and this will be a significant boost to General Aviation. The terminal will help ease passenger movement, and contribute to the growth of civil aviation sector in the country,&rdquo; said the minister. This is the first fully integrated terminal for smaller aircraft and has been set up by Bird ExecuJet Airport Services (BEAS) Private Limited. BEAS is a joint venture between Bird Group and ExecuJet MRO Services. The terminal has a common lounge, two private lounges, one crew lounge, and other utilities. The facility has 57 aircraft parking bays, two aircraft hangars and two fixed-base operators (FBOs). The terminal can cater to 150 private movements daily and handle over 50 passengers every hour.

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