June 2011 ~ Navy , Army , Airforce News and Technology

Monday, June 27, 2011

Russia to hold test launch of next generation N-missiles

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia will hold a test launch of its next generation ballistic nuclear missiles for the naval submarines next week, according to a media report Sunday.

"The decision to hold a test launch of the Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile on June 28 was taken by the State Commission for Flight Testing on Saturday," RIA Novosti quoted a defence ministry source as saying.

The launch will take place from a standard carrier, the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, in the Barents Sea.

The Bulava (Mace) missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).

So far it has displayed only 50 per cent reliability and Russia is planning to conduct at least four more Bulava test launches this year before deploying the missile on its new Borey class strategic submarines.

Source : http://www.brahmand.com/news/Russia-to-hold-test-launch-of-next-generation-N-missiles/7366/1/13.html

Indian Army raising new special forces battalion

NEW DELHI (PTI): Strengthening its capabilities to carry out special operations, the Indian Army is raising a new special forces battalion which will be deployed in the north-eastern sector.

A new battalion of the Parachute Regiment -- 11 Para (SF)--is being raised and will be first deployed in the north eastern sector, Army sources told PTI here.

This will be eighth special forces battalion of the Parachute Regiment and will be deployed in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in that region, they said.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Pakistan's JF-17 V/S India's LCA-Tejas; Comparison With Latest Figures

The major rival brothers in the world, who have been fighting against each other since their birth, earlier used to fight with foreign weapons. but now they want to fight in a new style, that is with their indigenous weapons.

Pakistan as a member of US led military pact CENTO and SEATO started receiving high tech weapons of that time with money to keep an eye on India and launch an assault when needed. Seeing this India began to import weapons from Soviet Union and starting upgrading its force. Both the countries started filling up their inventory at the same time and today both are facing the problems of their ageing fighters aircrafts.

India is in urgent need of replacing its ageing MiG 21 whereas Pakistan is in need of replacing its ageing Nanchang A-5 bombers, Chengdu F-7 interceptors and Mirage III/5 fighters.

India decided to start a project of making an indigenous fighter aircraft that can serve in all the purpose of the air force, whereas Pakistan joined later an already going on Chinese project of development of a fighter aircraft.

Both India and Pakistan claim their aircraft as indigenous, but as on April 13, 2011 none of the aircraft is 100% indigenous as India is using american GE engine to power the fighter and Pakistan is using almost all the technology from China and engine from Russia in their version of the fighter.

It is believed when India will complete its Kaveri engine project which was supposed to power LCA earlier, then LCA can be proudly claimed by Indians as an indigenous aircraft. India couldn't use indigenous engine in the prototype of LCA due to delay because technical difficulties in the development of the engine.

If India completes the engine, it will become the fifth country after US, UK, Russia and France who can make their own engine.

Today both LCA and JF-17 are reality and not on papers anymore. Tejas was inducted on 11 Jan, 2011 whereas JF-17 was inducted last year in Pakistani air force.

Both Indians and Pakistani have already started loving their new weapon, but in this new love they commit a mistake of comparing these two planes with each other. JF-17 will be Pakistan's main fighter accompanied by their upgraded F-16s, whereas LCA Tejas will be India's additional aircraft for medium role combat missions after Indo-Russian 5th generation fighter aircraft PAK-FA, Under development indigenous 5th Gen AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), Indo Russian 4.5 Gen Su-30MKI and to be imported 126 4.5 Gen MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft) that can be either MiG-35, F-18, Grippen, or EuroFighter Typhoon.

Comparison Comparison According to 2008 Aviation Source Book, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 28, 2008.

LCA vs JF-17 : Dimensional Comparison


Plane	JF-17	LCA


Length	14m	13.2m
Wingspan	9.45m	8.20m
Height	4.77m	4.40m
Wing Area	24.4m2	38.4m2

LCA vs JF-17 : General Characteristics


Plane	JF-17	LCA
Empty Weight	6,411 kg	6560 kg
Loaded Weight	9,100kg	10,500 kg
Max. Take off Weight	12,700 kg	13,300 kg
Powerplant	1 × Klimov RD-93 or WS-13 turbofan	1 × General Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan
Dry Thrust	49.4 Kn	53.9 Kn
Thrust with Afterburner	84.4 Kn	85 Kn
G-limit	+8.5 g	9 to (neg)3.5 g
Internal Fuel Capacity	2300 kg	2458 kg
External fuel capacity:	3 external fuel drop tanks (1× under-fuselage 800 litres, 2× under-wing 800/1100 litres each) for extended range/loitering time	2x1200 litre drop tank at inboard, 1x725 litre drop tank under fuselage.
Crew	1	1