February 2019

Aero India 2019 - Russian Display

MC-21-300

The MС-21 is a new generation family of narrow-body aircraft seating from 150 to 211 passengers.

The aircraft family is developed by Irkut Corporation - a United Aircraft Corporation subsidiary in wide international cooperation. The new liner is noted for its aerodynamic quality that is mainly achieved through the use of a high-aspect-ratio wing made from polymer composite materials.

Aero India 2019 – Interview Yury Slyusar, President, United Aircraft Corporation

1.    How do see India’s market for the coming year?

Yury - India is one of the major customers of the Russian aircraft and weapons systems. Both nations are also industrial partners. We see the trend continuing in the foreseeable future (2019 and beyond). One may not be able give exact numbers but there is massive opportunities to sell but also to participate in the Make in India.

 

AMCA definitely needs a new engine: Dr Satheesh Reddy

The stealthy Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project which the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on ‘definitely needs a new engine’ for the features the aircraft is likely to have, announced Dr Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and Chairman, DRDO. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the DRDO International Conference on future of aerospace here in Bengaluru, Dr Reddy said till the new engine is developed ‘we will have to look for an existing engine.’ He did not mention any engine. 

Aero India 2019-Armed Forces need urgently ‘low intensity conflict equipment’: Dr. V.K.Saraswat

In the background of the Pulwama terrorist strike, the former Scientific Adviser to Minister of Defence and presently a member of NITI Aayog, Dr V.K.Saraswat, urgently called for a major push to manufacture and equip the armed forces with ‘low-intensity conflict equipment’. In non-contact warfare, we need to deploy directed energy weapons for which there has to be a substantial contribution from industry, national laboratories and academia.

HAL: In urgent need of restructuring

The Indian Air Force lost two highly accomplished Test Pilots in a Mirage trainer aircraft crash, early this month, at the Bangalore complex of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The aircraft was on an acceptance test flight by the two pilots after HAL had completed its upgrade modification on the aircraft. The aircraft reportedly had a major malfunction on the take-off role, forcing the pilots to eject, which resulted in their unfortunate fatalities.