Parrikar clears 2 more Prying Planes for IAF ahead of Japan visit

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, March 28: India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar cleared a proposal to build two ‘prying planes’ making use of the expertise of Bengaluru-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a premier lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

Ahead of his maiden foreign visit to Japan, Parrikar cleared the proposal to build two Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in India and sanctioned Rs 5,113 crore for the same. These two platforms are to be built on an Airbus A-330 for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The decision was taken at the high-power Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting on Saturday. The government plans to build a total of six AWACS in India in phases.

Currently the CABS is undertaking flight-testing and integration work of an Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System, on an Embraer (EMB-145I). Two such systems have already undergoing critical tests in various air bases in India. The first system is expected to be handed over to the IAF within the next three months.

As reported by OneIndia during Aero India 2015, the second AEW&C System is expected to be handed over to the IAF in September this year for user evaluation trials. DRSDO had announced that the third aircraft will be arriving in India by July 2015.

Full report on OneIndia.

#PlaneCarnival | Unsung heroes: Aero India Seminar team takes challenges with a smile

By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, Feb 18: The 10th Aero India 2015 International Seminar (Aerospace: Vision 2050) will conclude in Bengaluru today paving way for the air show and exhibition activities to go live at Air Force Station Yelahanka.

The seminar is conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who hands over the responsibility to a one of its labs in city, by making them the nodal agency.
This year, it was the turn of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), currently engrossed in the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system mission for the Indian Air Force.
* Teams for DRDO labs
* Record participation
* Precision and passion matters
* Make in India mantra all over
Photos: A Veeramani

Full report soon on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1Dxgzaw

OneIndia Aero India Photo gallery, here:  http://bit.ly/1yU4ma2

First prying plane to be handed over to IAF in June

By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, Feb 11: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive the first Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system – Prying Plane -- by June this year. Dr K Tamilmani, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director-General (Aero), said that the second aircraft will be handed over to the IAF in September for user evaluation trials. He said the third aircraft will be arriving in Indian by July this year.

The AEW&C systems are built on a modified Embraer EMB-145I aircraft from Brazil. The two aircraft had extensively undergone flight trials in air bases in Bengaluru, Jamnagar and Agra. The ‘Prying Plane’ project is a prestigious project for the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which has been mandated for the integration work. Currently, pilots from the IAF’s Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment, attached to the project, are flying the platform.

* Tejas MK-II first flight in 2018

* More talks on rotary UAV project at Aero India

Read the full report on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1zM34m7

DRDO set to acquire DO-228 as the new Flight Test Bed | HAL set to roll out modified Dornier

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all set to acquire a new flight test bed (FTB) in the form of a modified and custom-made Dornier (DO-228) aircraft. The DRDO hopes to reduce the dependency on foreign agencies to carry out the tests, once the desi FTB is rolled out. The platform, being manufactured by Kanpur-based Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), will likely to be with the DRDO by the first week of April. With all modifications, the FTB is expected to cost over Rs 100 crore. 

DRDO sources tell Express that many industries and government firms were on the hunt for a suitable platform to undertake standalone tests of critical components and systems. With the increase in indigenous aeronautical activities within the country, the initial plan was to go for a foreign aircraft and later equip it with Indian systems. "Embraer was one of the candidates we looked at. Generally the test and design data of an imported aircraft are not shared owing to the proprietary clause. We couldn't have flown our own FTB without knowing these details either. So the plane to import was shelved and DO-228 was the automatic choice. HAL's TAD Kanpur have all the expertise available with them in manufacturing the Dorniers," an official said. 

With the arrival of a new FTB, DRDO hopes that the development time for various projects will come down. "The FTB will come handy for all airborne system evaluations. We hope to test all systems of Tejas, unmanned air vehicles on the FTB. In addition, radars, antennas, radio altimeters, data links and ATOL systems (automatic take-off and landing) will now take the FTB route. So far some limited Indian radars were tested with Israeli help," the official said. DRDO has put two consoles on the yet-to-be-named FTB, with the potential for adding two more. 

The new FTB is expected to serve the needs to DRDO for the next 20 years. Currently, the Centre for Airborne Systems, DRDO lab, operates an Avro for limited tests. The new FTB will be on the rolls of Electronics & Radar Development Establishment, another DRDO lab, and it will be flown by the Test Pilots from Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment of the Indian Air Force.
Copyright@The New Indian Express

Fully-loaded prying plane ready to fly at Aero India | AEW&CS flight trials to commence soon: CABS

The prying plane undergoes system checks at Old Bangalore airport. (Below) Possibly a first glimpse (not sure!) of AEW&CS interiors with mission systems in place. 

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: After missing two opportunities to fly public for the first time in a span of last four months, India’s yet-to-be-named prying plane – the Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&CS) – is likely to make its maiden appearance at the Aero India 2013, starting next week. Scientists and engineers at the Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Bangalore- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab, which has developed home-grown systems for the plane, are currently involved in the ground checks of the aircraft, to ascertain the safe operation of the mission and aircraft systems, together. The Embraer-built (EMB-145 I) AEW&CS platform did not fly during the Indian Air Force Day celebrations at Hindon last October 8, and even during the recent Republic Day parade in Delhi. 

Talking to Express on Wednesday, DRDO Chief Controller (Avionics) G Elangovan said that in all probability the prying plane will hit Yelahanka for its first public flying appearance. “It will be a great morale booster for CABS and other aerospace firms who are part of the AEW&CS programme. As of now, the plane will have the company of three Tejas aircraft, which again is subject to changes. It will be flying at the air show with actual radars and mission systems,” Elangovan said.

When asked whether any of the features of the plane will be activated during its display flights at the show, Elangovan said that none of the mission-oriented systems will be operational. “We haven’t got that clearance yet and it would take some more time. At Aero India all the systems will be switched-off, during the flight. Right now the EMI (electromagnetic interface) and EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) tests are going on,” he said.

CABS Director Dr S Christopher confirmed that the AEW&CS will soon be ready for its flight trials. The first aircraft arrived in Bangalore from Brazil in August 2012 followed by the second one in December 2012. “The indigenous mission systems, developed by the various DRDO labs have been installed in the aircraft. The systems have been powered on in ground and their basic functioning ascertained. One set of these systems are undergoing test in the integration rig simultaneously. Once the ground-check mission parameters are established, the next step will be to take up the flight trials of the AEW&CS,” Christopher said.

He said that the eye-in-the-sky platform would soon commence its intense phase of flight-testing and system-proving validating compliance, to meet the operational requirements. “On completion of these trials the two aircraft will be handed over to the IAF. The installation of the mission systems in the second aircraft also is being carried out parallelly. It will be a significant moment for us when the plane files during Aero India,” Christopher added.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

GET REGULAR UPDATES FROM

 TARMAK007'S FB PAGE. CLICK

THE ICON AND LIKE THE PAGE

DON'T MISS THE FB DEBATE!

Prying plane makes a quiet touchdown at Bangalore

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, India’s most-awaited eye-in-the-sky aircraft, touched down at HAL airport on Wednesday night. On its arrival, the prying plane built on a modified Embraer platform (EMB-145I), was given a water canon welcome. Over 200 people, including scientists, engineers and technicians were present at the airport when the plane landed close to midnight.

Military sources tell Express that the aircraft flew through three continents over last the five days. On its arrival in Bangalore, it was officially received by the AEW&C development and user teams led Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) director S Christopher.

The aircraft was piloted by a flight crew consisting of two pilots, each from Embraer and the Indian Air force (IAF), along with one technician from Embraer. As reported by Express earlier, the aircraft left Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, on August 17. “Before leaving Brazil, the acceptance of the aircraft was completed over a period of 15 days at the Embraer facilities by a team of officials from India,” sources said.

Before landing in Bangalore, the EMB-145I had its last refueling at Ahmedabad on Wednesday. “We tracked every moment of its flight including at Casablanca, Alexandria and Dubai. It is a big day for military aviation scientists,” sources said.

The aircraft was ferried from Brazil with several mission system external components being built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, including the Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) antenna with passive electronics fitted on to the platform.

The focus now shifts to the integration of the DRDO-developed mission systems on to the platform, which will be followed by development flight trials in India beginning of 2013. The next aircraft is expected to arrive in December 2012.

Post-midnight, the yet-to-be-named aircraft was undergoing a series of emigration and customs clearances at HAL airport. “We have taken the plane into our hangar and the entire area is now cordoned off,” sources said. The security around HAL airport and CABS facility was high all through Wednesday, ahead of the EMB-145I’s historical landing in Bangalore.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Breaking on Tarmak007: EMB-145 lands in Bangalore

The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, India’s most-awaited eye-in-the-sky platform, touched down at HAL airport on Wednesday night. On its arrival, the prying plane built on a modified Embraer platform (EMB-145I), was given a water canon welcome.

(Detailed report in The New Indian Express later) 

Eye-in-the-sky likely to touchdown in Bangalore next week | AEW&C will be a force-multiplier to IAF: Major

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India took custody of the first Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft (EMB-145I) at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Built on a modified Embraer, the yet-to-be-named AEW&C aircraft was handed over by the Embraer Defence and Security officials to senior scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Military sources told Express that the AEW&C was expected to leave Brazil on August 18 and reach HAL airport next week. The focus will now shift to Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which will equip the eye-in-the-sky-platform with mission systems. Embraer says the delivery follows successful completion of ground and flight tests of the aircraft which met operational targets.

Embraer termed the project as a new chapter in Indo-Brazil ties, cementing the way for more future complex programmes. “We are very proud to meet the expectations of our clients in providing CABS and DRDO with this platform,” Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President, Embraer Defense and Security, said. “The EMB-145I features an in-flight refueling system and upgraded electric cooling equipment. The comprehensive set of structural changes in the aircraft will enable easy installation of advanced mission systems developed by CABS,” G Elangovan, Chief Controller, DRDO, said.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive three EMB-145Is as per the 2008 pact India inked with Brazil. The total cost of the project is now put at Rs 2,157 crore, after incorporating all additional requirements of the IAF. “CABS would require over six months to prove its mission systems on EMB-145I after which the IAF would officially induct the platform,” sources said. The fully-loaded EMB-145I would begin test-flying in Bangalore in October/November this year. 

 The ability of EMB-145I to detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance areas and act as a command and control centre to support air operations is expected to add teeth to IAF's network-centric warfare capabilities. Former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (retd) F H Major said that the EMB-145I will be a tremendous force-multiplier to the IAF. “It will augment the entire air defence surveillance system of the country and and also aid long-distance monitoring,” Major told Express from Delhi.

As reported by Express earlier, the EMB-145I could track aircraft, UAVs and even detect radar signals. It can scan up to 400 km, giving the IAF recognised air situations thereby enabling battlefield management. The aircraft can operate with a maximum crew of 12 people, including operators, rest crew, pilot, co-pilot and flight test engineer. It can fly non-stop for 10-12 hours with mid-air refueling.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Embraer delivers first EMB-145I to India

Embraer delivered the first EMB-145-I Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)  aircraft to India in São José dos Campos, Brazil, yesterday. Sources say that the aircraft will now reach an IAF base in India first, and then to the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bangalore. A detailed report in The New Indian Express tomorrow. (Search EMB-145 on the blog for earlier reports)

DRDO's production-version of IFF system released

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) shared yet another success story of collaboration with Indian private industries, with the release of the Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) System in Bangalore on Wednesday. Designed and developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), the IFF system is a spin-off product of India's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) programme. CABS began the design and development of IFF for the AEW&C project in 2004. 

Military sources tell Express that the need for IFF systems was projected in large numbers by the Tri-Services and DRDO pitched in with the idea of mass production by transferring the technology (ToT) to the private industries. “We were using the IFF systems manufactured by HAL Hyderabad and BEL. It was in 2010 we projected the need in large numbers following the Defence Acquisition Council nod and agreed to their (DRDO) proposal,” sources said.

DRDO on its part short-listed Chennai-based Data Patterns and Bangalore-based Alpha Design Technologies for the mass-production of the units, based on the IPR of CABS design. The IFF is a system required in all aircraft and is widely known as a secondary surveillance radar (SSR), when used onboard a commercial platform. In a military theater, the transponder and interrogator of the unit helps to decode encrypted signals, thereby helping to identify whether the sender or receiver is a friend or foe.

Sources say that depending upon the size of the fighter, the IFF units also differs. “In a large platform like an AEW&C, the IFF consists of separate transponder and interrogator units, while for fighter planes it comes as a combined package. The IFF system will be a standard-fit on all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in future, if they need to use civilian air space,” sources said. DRDO chief V K Saraswat released the production version of IFF in Bangalore on Wednesday.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) official predicts that the three arm of Services would need a total of 3,000 IFF systems in future. “This could be not an immediate requirement, but likely to be spread over the next 4-5 years. Each IFF unit costs around Rs 1 crore. It is an evolving product,” he says. A South African firm is said to have shown interest in marketing DRDO's IFF systems internationally, details the official refused to part with.

AEW&C arriving in July: India’s eye-in-the-sky AEW&C platform (EMB-145I) is scheduled for an official touchdown this July. Sources say that the platform would first arrive at Jamnagar Air Base enroute to its destination in Bangalore for system integration. The plane had its first official flight on December 7 (2011), in Brazil.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

CABS-Embraer in talks to advance prying plane's test flight schedules, post-June

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India’s dream of owning a prying plane with indigenous mission systems entered the next lap on April 4, with the successful first flight of the second aircraft at the San Jose dos Campos in Brazil. The Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) being built on a modified Embraer EMB 145I aircraft flew for 45 minutes signaling that project is now right on track, after the initial 10-month delay.
Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) is being entrusted with the job of integrating the missions systems soon after the first EMB-145 touches down in June. “The first aircraft will arrive in Bangalore this June and we would begin the integration work immediately. Today’s aircraft which flew would be the first to arrive in India and hence the flight was very significant,” DRDO Chief Controller (Avionics) G Elangovan tells Express from San Jose dos Campos.
During Wednesday’s maiden flight, the aircraft was fitted with dummy units including an Active Antenna Array Unit (AAAU), mission systems and components. “During the first EMB-145I aircraft’s maiden flight on December 6, 2011 there were lots of instrumentation systems onboard. In today’s flight, the new aircraft flew in the full final configuration. The chase aircraft was co-piloted by an Indian Air Force pilot,” Elangovan said.
DRDO hopes to have the fully-loaded plane to begin its test-flying in October this year. “We are in talks to advance this  flight test schedules in India. The second aircraft needs to undergo another 20-30 flights before it arrives in Bangalore. The detail data analysis of its first flight is currently underway. The initial reports are encouraging and the performance of the aircraft matching all mission modes,” said CABS Director S Chrishtopher.
As reported in these columns earlier, the IAF will receive three EMB-145Is in the next three years and once operational, India will join an exclusive club of nations owning home-grown eye-in-the-sky systems.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

More photos from Brazil

Embraer's second prying plane (EMB-145I) for India completes first flight

DRDO Press Release (Unedited)
Maiden flight of the second fully modified aircraft for the indigenously developed Indian Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) was held at 1930 IST on 4th April 2012 at the San Jose dos Campos in Brazil. The necessary Mission systems & components including the dummy AAAU (Active Antena Array Unit) are successfully fitted onboard Embraer EMB 145I aircraft.
“Good show, Well done & congratulations” said Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, SA to RM, Secretary Deptt of Defence R&D and DG DRDO, admiring the efforts of the project team and excellent work done by them.
This marks an important milestone in the AEW&C program as this aircraft will be delivered in June 2012 to India. The other mission systems will then be integrated on to the aircraft and Mission System flight trials are likely to commence from Nov 2012.
G Elangovan, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller Res & Dev (Avionics), DRDO in his message after the successful flight congratulated the entire team of CABS and associated work centres and the team at Embraer for their effort.
Dr S Chrishtopher, Director CABS & Programme Director AEW&C stated, “The AEW&C system has been indigenously developed in a consortium mode with the help of DRDO labs and Indian industrial partners. Apart from the external mission systems developed indigenously and fitted on this aircraft, rest of the internal systems will be integrated into the aircraft on arrival to India. DRDO has contracted to procure three EMB 145I from Embraer and this aircraft will be the first delivery towards meeting this endeavour”.
Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a premier DRDO lab is the nodal laboratory entrusted with the responsibility of delivering the AEW&C system, a force multiplier. CABS, is developing the system with sister DRDO labs, public and private sector units.

CABS touches 21 | Spirited scientists await prying plane | Sub-systems for surveillance getting ready

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore:  The Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS) touched 21 silently with a story matching that of the proverbial Phoenix. With a morale virtually reduced to ground-zero following the tragic crash of  their pet prototype plane Airborne Surveillance Platform (ASP) in 1999, today the CABS has made most of its detractors run for cover. Thanks to the decision-makers at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) HQ in Delhi, the CABS got a fresh lease of life in 2004, when they bagged the prestigious Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system project.
With the Indian defence R&D sector often riddled with morale-stripping tales of failed and delayed missions, the CABS workforce smartly chose to lie low, fixing their focus on business hours. In 2007 when its customer (air force) 'finally' made up their minds (operational requirements) as to how intelligent their prying plane should be, the scientists began tweaking technology that would eventually put  India into an elite club.
As this piece goes to print, Team CABS is at a striking distance from embedding smart systems onboard the Embraer-built EMB-145I AEW&C platform. The first plane will make a touchdown in Bangalore in June. When fully loaded, it would detect, identify, and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air defence operations.
Giving heads-up on the project to Express, CABS Director S Christopher said that all the sub-systems for surveillance are getting ready. “The primary radar, electronic support measure, communication support measure, line-of-sight and SATCOM data links have reached the final stages of development. They are now in the test and integration phase,” Christopher said. He said the lab is gearing up for a formal Raising Day event soon.
Through this programme, the CABS has gifted India critical gen-next technologies. “The core competence is generated in the field of Mark XII SSR systems, tactical software for network-centric operations and in design-development of complex avionics systems. A few of the building block, technologies and patents indigenously-realised can be used for several spin-offs and exports,”says G Elangovan, DRDO Chief Controller (R&D), Avionics.
Facilities established for the AEW&C project like the Planar Near Field Measurement (PNFM), System Test and Integration Rig (STIR), EMI/EMC Test Laboratory, Lightning Test Facility (LTF), Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT), Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) chamber and the Flight Test Centre could well aid CABS' future prime prying projects.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

HAL, CABS ready to inspire Brazilian Defence Minister Celso Amorim

Brazilian Defence
Minister Celso Amorim

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Aviation Capital will play host to Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim on February 7, after he touches down at the Old Bangalore Airport for a one-day visit. The charismatic leader from Brazil will then get into a huddle with the men from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who are polishing the power-points to showcase their might.

Part of his India five-day tour, Amorim's will get a glimpse of HAL's Hawk facility, Advanced Light Helicopter final assembly, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) hangar and finally the must-see export hangar. HAL sources say that Brazil could be a prospective customer for its star product Dhruv, after Ecuador. “Very nascent stages of thought-process, though we are keen to push the product as an affordable chopper with great operational abilities. There were some talks for the supply of aircraft doors in the past and we should now see how Amorim's visit would materialize into business later,” sources said.

The DRDO will host Amorim at the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which is currently engaged in the development of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) on a modified platform of Embraer (EMB-145I) of Brazil.

“We will be showing him the structural assembly of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)  radar. At this point we have no idea, whether we will have another partnership with Brazil for our future programmes,” DRDO sources said.

The quality inspectors and certifying officials from Brazil are already at CABS as part of the AEW&CS project. “More people-to-people cooperation is being talked about between the two countries and Amorim's visit would cement the plans,” sources said. 

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Prying plane co-piloted by ASTE CTP Gp Capt Tiwari

(L to R) Col. DK Singh, Defence Attache India, Brazil, Dr K Tamilmani, CE, CEMILAC, Dr S Christopher, PGD (AEW&C) & Director CABS, Srinivas, Consul General of India, Brazil, G Elangovan, CC (R&D) (Avionics) and R G Viswanathan, Addl. FA(R&D), DRDO soon after EMB-145I touched down after the maiden flight on December 6. Photo: Special Arrangement

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India's dream of having a plane embedded with home-grown prying technologies inched closer to reality when the modified Embraer-built Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) platform lifted off on its maiden flight from the Sao Jose dos Campos flight test facilities in Brazil on December 6 (IST 7.30 pm). As reported in these columns recently, the systems for the EMB-145I aircraft is being developed by Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility.

The first aircraft will arrive in Bangalore early June for CABS' integration and flight trials will be executed by Test pilots from the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). “The first flight concludes another important phase in this programme and starts the flight test campaign. We are moving towards the delivery of the first aircraft during the first half 2012,” says Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Senior Vice-President (Operations), Embraer Defense and Security.

Once operational, the EMB-145I will finally fly with close to 1000 Mission System Components provided by CABS, including the critical item – AESA (Active Electronic Scanning Antenna as can be seen on top of the aircraft) Radar Antenna developed  by  CABS and certified from ANAC, International FAR Certification  Agency.

DROD chief Dr V K Saraswat said that years of constant interaction between experts from the IAF, DRDO and Embraer coupled have finally shown the desired results. “We had an unfortunate experience in the past and we have put all that behind and concentrated on new technologies on a proven platform for meeting the requirements of the IAF. It will be a different experience when the aircraft starts flight trials with our own systems onboard in Bangalore,” Saraswat said.

The aircraft was piloted by Embraer pilot and co-piloted by Gp Capt N Tiwari, Chief Test Pilot, ASTE. “The aircraft took off smoothly and and flew for more than an hour without any hiccups and followed the simulated prediction closely. This critical milestone will put India in the elite class of countries who have developed similar systems,” G Elangovan, DRDO Chief Controller (Avionics) told Express from Brazil.

An elated CABS Director Dr S Christopher, said that the maiden flight is the result of close cooperation between India and Brazil. “This cooperation between the BRIC (Brazil Russia, India and China) countries should make way for fulfilling other international requirements through mutual collaboration,” Christopher told said.

Col D K Singh, Defence Attache India, Brazil, Dr K Tamilmani, Chief Executive CEMILAC, Srinivas, Consul General of India, Brazil and R G Viswanathan, Additional Financial Advisor (DRDO) were part of the Indian delegation who witnessed the maiden flight.

The EMB-145I is a member of Embraer’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) family of aircraft and systems, built based on ERJ 145, one of the most successful regional jet platforms in the world, with more than 1,100 units delivered and 1918 million hours flown.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express) 


Strongly Recommended 
1. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/12/breaking-on-tarmak007-indias-prying.html
2. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/indias-prying-plane-set-to-fly-in.html
3. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/tech-treat-awaits-iaf-emb-145i-to-ward.html
4. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/name-indias-eye-in-sky-and-win-fabulous.html (So far, Tarmak007 has received over 160 names for EMB-145I.) 

Breaking on Tarmak007: India’s prying plane hits the skies; all planned tests met: Embraer

 The first of three EMB 145I Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft platforms, ordered by the Indian government for IAF, had its successful ‘official’ maiden flight at Embraer’s headquarters, in São José do Campos, today. The flight is said to have performed all planned tests successfully. Stand-by for a detailed report in Express tomorrow.
Recommended 
1. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/indias-prying-plane-set-to-fly-in.html
2. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/tech-treat-awaits-iaf-emb-145i-to-ward.html
3. http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2011/11/name-indias-eye-in-sky-and-win-fabulous.html (So far, Tarmak007 has received close to 150 names for EMB-145I.) 

Tech treat awaits IAF; EMB-145I to ward-off conflicts in the region

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: India's foray into developing a homegrown Airborne Early Warning Control System (AEW CS), being built on a modified Embraer aircraft (EMB145 I), is seen as an ideal opportunity to ward off conflicts.

The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab in Bangalore, has made inroads into the indigenous development of systems for a compact AEW CS, which would complement the IL76 AWACS, currently being operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"The EMB145 I will add more teeth to us (IAF) with our network-centric warfare operations warding off any potential conflicts. Hence, all our assets will now get a new dimension and their operations a new meaning - be it on the ground or while flying," sources told The New Indian Express.

With the maiden flight of EMB145 I scheduled in Brazil on December 7, Embraer is ensuring stringent safety tests.  One of such tests is to put aircraft in steep drive or in a stall condition. Putting in stall condition means to reduce the aircraft speed to such an extent that the aircraft will no more sustain the flying and will start falling down. “When the aircraft starts falling due to any reason, then it falls rapidly owing to the earth’s gravity. Hence during the stall and spin tests, the test pilots then will have to respond fast and reverse the stall process to recover the aircraft flight,” sources said.

Hence in order to slow down the diving of the aircraft due to stall or spin during the testing, the modern aircrafts are tested with parachutes. These parachutes are deployed when the aircraft enters into steep dive, which then slows down the dive process, giving the pilots adequate time to increase the throttle, bring the aircraft out of the dangerous dive process.

Tech marvel: Once operational, the EMB-145 I will be a multi-sensor system providing for all aspects of air-borne surveillance. Here is a quick glance at some of the features:

1. ·   The primary radar (PR) detects, tracks and identifies targets, the other sensors carry out different functions.
2. ·       The secondary surveillance radar (SSR) helps identify the target as friend or foe. The electronics support measures (ESM) provides the bearing and location of hostile emitters and analyses their characteristics.The communication support measures (CSM) intercepts communication signals and scrutinizes them.
3. ·    The mission communications system (MCS) provides air-to-air and air-to-ground V/UHF voice and data channels.
4. ·   The self protection system (SPS) warns of enemy radars as well as approaching missiles and offers countermeasures.
5. ·       The data handling and display system (DHDS) facilitates total interfacing with the AEW&CS  and deriving operational information.
6. ·    The Line-of-Sight ‘C’-Band and SATCOM  Ku-Band data links (DL) help inter-operate with friendly fighters, other AEW&C aircraft and air-defence systems on the ground.
7. ·      The mission system controller (MSC), the heart of the AEW&CS, integrates data from all the sensors and facilitates the surveillance operations. 

In In addition to CABS, the AEW&CS programme is pursued by a core team comprising various DRDO laboratories, including Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE),  Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) with close participation of Indian air force (IAF), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA). Embraer, ANAC (the Airworthiness Certification Agency of Brazil) and a number of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the aircraft are linked to the programme.

Copyright@The New Indian Express 

NAME INDIA'S EYE-IN-THE-SKY

While chasing the EMB-145 I story (post here), the blogger was informed by IAF sources that they have asked the DRDO to name the platform before it enters the Indian airspace next June. Tarmak007 invites its members and visitors to name the aircraft keeping in mind the role the tech beast would play, once operational. It has to be an Indian name and if your suggestion(s)  is selected finally, you will receive some books in the form of prizes from the blogger. Email the names with your full address and telephone number to anantha.ak@gmail.com. Tarmak007 will forward the names to IAF/DRDO. (In the last two days, the blogger has received 65 names.)

Your turn now! Name India's eye-in-the-sky

While chasing the EMB-145 I story (below post), the blogger was informed by IAF sources that they have asked the DRDO to name the platform before it enters the Indian airspace next June. Tarmak007 invites its members and visitors to name the aircraft keeping in mind the role the tech beast would play, once operational. It has to be an Indian name and if your suggestion(s)  is selected finally, you will receive some books in the form of prizes from the blogger. Email the names with your full address and telephone number to anantha.ak@gmail.com. Tarmak007 will forward the names to IAF/DRDO. 

EMB-145 I: India's prying plane's first flight likely on Dec 7 in Brazil

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: India's prying plane is ready. Called the Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&CS), this tech beast comes in the form of a modified Embraer aircraft (EMB-145 I). Sources confirm to The New Indian Express that the first flight is officially scheduled on December 7 in Brazil. The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Bangalore-based less-talked-about wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is developing systems to make the EMB-145 I a mean machine.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive three such platforms in the next three years. The integration on ground-based systems on the lines of specifications, including the seating arrangements, is currently on at CABS. The first aircraft will make a touchdown in Bangalore coming June, with the second and third expected in October 2012 and December 2013 respectively.  “They (CABS) will need at least six months to integrate the sub-systems (total seven), after the first EMB-145 Iarrives,” sources said.

Once operational, India will join an exclusive club of nations owning home-grown eye in the sky systems. Currently, Wedge Tail (USA-Boeing), Phalcon (Israel-IAI) and Erieye (Sweden-Ericsson) are world leaders in prying-from-the-top-technology. India had inked a pact with Brazil in 2008 to modify the Embraer so as to integrate the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU) on the aircraft's fuselage. The platform could detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance areas and act as a command and control centre to support air operations. The project comes with an updated price tag of (to include new features for the IAF) of Rs 2,157 crore.

In an extremely crisp response to an Express email query, CABS Director S Christopher could only confirm that an Indian delegation is traveling to Brazil in the first week of June. When this paper spoke to G. Elangovan, DRDO's Chief Controller (Avionics) in Delhi, he said that the EMB-145 I will be a very cost-effective and cheapest platform, carrying mission systems, radar, communication units and electronic warfare systems.

The EMB-145 I will boost India’s network-centric warfare capabilities. Apart from surveillance duties, it could track aircraft, UAVS and even detect radar signals. It has the ability to scan up to 400 km, giving the IAF recognized air situations thereby enabling battle field management. The aircraft can operate with a maximum crew of 12 people, including operators, rest crew, pilot, co-pilot and flight test engineer. It can fly non-stop for 10-12 hours with mid-air-refueling. 

DRDO's earlier attempt to make a surveillance platform (Project Guardian/Airawat) met with disaster when the HS-748 turboprop test-bed aircraft crashed in 1999, killing several scientists and engineers.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express. The above report appeared in Express on Nov 19.)

NAME THE PLANE NOW!