Indian Naval Aviation : Updates and Discussions

Given the specifications , the NLCA seems to be am overkill.
It seems they are offering a hybrid NLCA with more relevant avionics. Interestingly, this RFI is looking for a ground based trainer and doesn't require arrested landings or catapult launches so they will have to strip down the NLCA.
 
It seems they are offering a hybrid NLCA with more relevant avionics. Interestingly, this RFI is looking for a ground based trainer and doesn't require arrested landings or catapult launches so they will have to strip down the NLCA.
The stripping down entails practically designing a new plane. I wonder if the iHawk stands a chance. Perhaps not as the Goshawk themselves were derivatives of the Hawk. Any views on this ? @vstol Jockey
 

With China factor in play, Modi govt now open to Navy’s third aircraft carrier demand

Although the current focus is on submarines, there is a change in the government’s position regarding a third aircraft carrier for the Navy.

New Delhi: With China flexing its muscles, the Narendra Modi government is now looking favourably at the Navy’s need for a third aircraft carrier as the “situation of peace” has changed, ThePrint has learnt.

Top government sources told ThePrint that while the current focus is on submarines, for which the government will soon set the ball rolling for six more conventional submarines under Project 75I, there is a change in the government’s position regarding a third aircraft carrier.

“The times have changed. Earlier it was time of peace and now it is not,” a top government source said, in what appeared to be a reference to the current tensions between India and China in Eastern Ladakh.

The Indian Navy operates the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya and a second indigenously-built carrier is in the final stages of construction.

But even though the Navy has been firm on its plan to have a second indigenous aircraft carrier, the government wasn’t so convinced until now.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat in February had said that the approval for a third carrier would take time as, according to him, the Navy needed submarines and not aircraft carriers as “anything on surface can be picked up by satellites and knocked off by missiles”.

Explaining the new thinking, government sources said there is no doubt that future operations and requirements have to be kept while planning.

“The role of India in the global scene is increasing,” a government source said. “For us to have a larger presence in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond where trade and commerce is increasing, a third aircraft carrier is important.”

Navy’s pitch for another aircraft carrier

The Navy has been pitching for a third aircraft carrier.

Just last week, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh had emphatically come out in support of a third aircraft carrier.
Addressing the annual press conference, the Admiral said the Navy will formally move the proposal to the government for a third aircraft carrier after gathering technical information sought from various countries.

“As the Navy, we are absolutely clear of the utility of the carrier,” he said. “This is because air operations are integral to naval operations, and air power at sea is required since the Navy is all about reach and sustenance.

“If you are a nation that is aspirational and you want to become a $5 trillion economy shortly and you want to do well, you will have to go outwards and seek the world,” he said. “The nation does not want the Navy tethered to the shore. For that, aircraft carriers are absolutely necessary.”

Navy sources in February had told ThePrint that even if a decision is taken to have a third carrier now, it will come into action only by 2033 at the earliest.

They also said shore-based air operations were still limited by range, and this is where the aircraft carriers come into play.

They had said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had defined the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as including countries fringing the entire Indian Ocean, from the Strait of Hormuz to Reunion island, from East Africa to Australia, and from Lombok Strait to Malacca Strait.

This vast oceanic expanse, they said, was well beyond the capability of strike aircraft operating from the Indian mainland, which would barely cover even 20 per cent of this area and thus leave vast swathes of IOR unchallenged.

According to reports, China plans to have a six aircraft carriers by 2035 including nuclear powered ones.

 
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F-A-18-Super-Hornet-ski-jump-top.jpg


 
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@vstol Jockey @Picdelamirand-oil

How will the Rafale vs F-18 stack up in the following

1. Maintenance per flying hour on-board an aircraft carrier
2. Turn around time on deck between missions
3. Sortie rate for a sustained week long operation.
Both aircraft are pretty much same. rafale due to more advanced hardware and SH due to larger fleet size. The Turnaround time is also going to be same for both. The sortie rate from deck is dependent on number of catapults and launch positions for STOBAR deck.
STOBAR carriers have larger launch rate while the recovery rate is same for both as CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers.
 
Both aircraft are pretty much same. rafale due to more advanced hardware and SH due to larger fleet size. The Turnaround time is also going to be same for both. The sortie rate from deck is dependent on number of catapults and launch positions for STOBAR deck.
STOBAR carriers have larger launch rate while the recovery rate is same for both as CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers.

SH was rejected by the IAF citing some maintenance issues.

Although the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet remained America’s best shot at making the down-select in the MMRCA competition, the IAF ultimately rejected this aircraft on four grounds: the maturity of its engine design, the growth potential of its engine, assorted performance shortfalls, and issues related to special preventative maintenance.

SH probably can't predict problems beforehand.

Plus let's not forget the Rafale's engine is modular and any problems will not need engine replacement for most issues.
 
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Why? Did Dassault do it with load?
In general, Dassault does not carry out tests that do not prove anything: it has planned tests but on a runway in India where Indians will be able to measure all the parameters they want. It will be when the Indians want, we don't force anyone but we are available.
 
In general, Dassault does not carry out tests that do not prove anything: it has planned tests but on a runway in India where Indians will be able to measure all the parameters they want. It will be when the Indians want, we don't force anyone but we are available.
Does France even have a 'ski-jump' ramp?