IAF & REPUBLIC DAY

 

 

Republic Day Parade was well covered by India Today.

 

Had an interesting chat with Shiv Aroor.

 

Talked about the following:-

  1. Importance of Awards and Recognition.
  2. Women in Armed forces.
  3. IAF and self-reliance.

 

Please click on the link below:-

 

Contents of IAF press release on the occasion of Republic Day:-

 

INDIAN AIR FORCE PARTICIPATION IN

REPUBLIC DAY 2024

 

IAF officers

 

  1. Homage Ceremony at National War Memorial. The Republic Day Celebrations will commence with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial, where the Hon’ble Prime Minister will lay a wreath to pay homage to those who laid down their lives in service of the Nation. An Inter-Services Guard, comprising of one Officer and 21 Inner guards (seven from each service) and six buglers (two from each service) will be in attendance. The Inner guards from the IAF would include one Sergeant and six Corporals and below. The inter-services guards will present arms with a “Salami Shastra”, followed by “Shok Shastra”. Simultaneously, the buglers will sound the “Last Post”. Thereafter, a two-minute silence will be observed. This will be followed by the Guards again presenting a “Salami Shastra” with the buglers sounding a “Rouse”.

 

  1. IAF Marching Contingent. The Republic Day Parade starts after the flag hoisting ceremony at ‘Kartavya Path’. The IAF marching contingent will be led by Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur with Squadron Leader Sumita Yadav. Squadron Leader Pratiti Ahluwalia and Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil as supernumerary Officers. The Air Force Contingent will be marching abreast in a 12 by 12 formation to the tune ‘Sound Barrier’ played by 72 IAF musicians and three drum majors. The band will be led by Sergeant CA Daniel.

 

  1. Tri-Services Marching Contingent (AGV Women). In addition to the IAF Marching Contingent, a tri-services contingent of Agniveervayu (Women) will be participating in the Republic Day Parade 2024. A total of 48 Agniveervayu Women would be part of this contingent. Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Verma would be marching as supernumerary Officer of the contingent.

 

  1. Beating Retreat. The Beating Retreat ceremony will be carried out at Vijay Chowk. The IAF Band, comprising 121 musicians will be participating in the event. The band will be led by Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar.

 

  1. IAF Tableau. The theme of the 75th Republic Day Parade-2024 is “Samridh Bharat Sashakt Bharat”. Accordingly, the theme of the IAF tableau is “Bharatiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar”. This translates to “Indian Air Force: Potent, Powerful and Self-Reliant”. Flight Lieutenant Ananya Sharma and Flying Officer Asma Sheikh, both Su-30 pilots, would be present on the tableau. The tableau will have the following elements depicting these aspects of the IAF:-

 

(a) Rear Element: ‘Saksham’. The IAF has been at the forefront of rendering humanitarian aid, both within and across borders. Operation Kaveri was launched on 24 Apr 23 to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan, which was witnessing internal strife at the time. The IAF’s C-130J aircraft were used extensively towards rescuing 3,862 Indians from the country. The rear element of the tableau depicts one specific sortie of this mission during which an IAF C-130 extricated Indian nationals from Wadi Sayyidna in Sudan under extremely adverse conditions at night.

 

(b) Middle Element: ‘Sashakt’. The IAF Tejas and SU 30 flying over the IOR depict the ever-expanding reach of the IAF- over land, as well as over the sea. Such long range operations required the exploitation of the space domain for myriad reasons. Because of the possibilities that the space domain offers, it is getting increasingly enmeshed in the IAF’s peacetime and wartime functioning. The GSAT- 7A positioned on the tableau represents the IAF’s incorporation of space technology in its operations. The IAF’s gender inclusive approach to its functioning is reflected by the two women aircrew in full flying gear.

 

(c) Front Element: ‘AtmaNirbhar’. This element depicts an IAF C-295 transport aircraft being flown by two women aircrew in the cockpit. The C-295 is a transport aircraft that has recently been inducted into the IAF and will be manufactured in India. The presence of IAF Garuds also signifies the enhancement of IAF’s combat capability- both in air, as well as on ground. At the vertical portion of the front element, the new IAF Ensign is shown which reflects the current values of the IAF by inclusion of the IAF Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign. The IAF Crest has the national emblem, the Ashoka lions on the top, with the words in Devanagari below it. Below the Ashoka lions is a Himalayan Eagle with its wings spread, enclosed by a ring in light blue colour with the words, “भारतीय वायु सेना”. The motto of the IAF “नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्” is inscribed below the Himalayan Eagle in Devanagari.

 

  1. Fly Past. A total of 51 IAF aircraft comprising 29 fighter aircraft, eight transport aircraft, 13 helicopters and one heritage aircraft will participate in this year’s Republic Day flypast. Four aircraft from Indian Army and one from Indian Navy will also fly in two separate formations with the IAF aircraft. All these aircraft will operate from six different bases. The participating aircraft will fly in several formations, the details of which are as follows:-

 

(a) Dhwaj Formation. ‘Dhwaj’ formation comprising of four Mi-17 IV helicopters will be flying in an ‘Inverted Wineglass’ formation, trooping the National Ensign, as well as those of the three services. Helicopters of the formation will shower flower petals on the audience.

 

(b) Rudra Formation. The ‘Rudra’ formation would comprise helicopters from the Army Aviation Corps and would include one LCH Prachand and three ALH WSI helicopters flying in a four-aircraft ‘Diamond’ formation.

 

(c) Baaz Formation. Three MiG-29 aircraft will fly past in a ‘Vic’ formation.

 

(d) Prachand Formation. Prachand formation would have an LCH Prachand helicopter in lead, with two each Apache and ALH MK-IV aircraft together flying in a five aircraft ‘Arrow’ formation.

 

(e) Tangail Formation. Tangail formation, comprising of one Dakota aircraft in lead, with two Dornier aircraft in echelon, will fly in ‘Vic’ formation.

 

(f) Arjan Formation. A C-295 aircraft flanked by two C-130 aircraft in echelon, will fly as the Arjan formation.

 

(g) Netra Formation. Netra formation, comprising of one AEW&C aircraft and two Su-30 aircraft in echelon, will fly in ‘Vic’ Formation.

 

(j) Varuna Formation. An Indian Navy P-81, flanked by two IAF Su-30 aircraft will fly as the Varuna formation.

 

(k) Bheem Formation. Bheem formation comprising of a C-17 and two Su-30 aircraft in echelon (streaming fuel) will flypast in ‘Vic’ formation.

 

(1) Tejas Formation. Making its debut in the Republic Day Parade, will be the Tejas formation, comprising four Tejas aircraft in ‘Diamond’ formation.

 

(m) Amrit Formation. Amrit formation will comprise six Jaguar aircraft in an ‘Arrow- head’ formation.

 

(n) Vajraang Formation. Vajraang formation, comprising of six Rafale aircraft, will fly in ‘Inverted Wineglass’ formation.

 

(0) Trishul Formation. Trishul Formation, comprising of three Su-30 aircraft, will fly in ‘Vic’ Formation.

 

(p) Vijay Formation. The Fly-past will culminate with a show stopper manoeuvre of the Vijay Formation, comprising of a Rafale aircraft.

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

 

EXPANDING BOEING IN INDIA

 

 

Prime Minister of India will inaugurate American aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s new state-of-the-art global engineering and technology innovation campus (Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center {BIETC}),  in Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru on 19 Jan 24.

 

The 43-acre campus, built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crore, is said to be the largest such Boeing facility outside the U.S. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), it will be a cornerstone for partnership with the startup, private, and government ecosystem in India and will help develop next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.

 

Additionally, the PM will also launch the Boeing Sukanya programme, which aims to support the entry of more women from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector. For young girls, the program will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. The programme will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots.

 

Boeing

 

Boeing is one of the largest global aerospace manufacturers, with its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and it employs approximately 153,000 personnel. The company designs, manufactures and sells aeroplanes, aircraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunication equipment and missiles around the world. Besides military aircraft, it has over ten thousand commercial aircraft operating all over the world.

 

Boeing started 107 years ago when American businessman William E. Boeing started a company named Aero Products for the manufacture of aeroplanes. About a year later, its name was changed to Boeing Airplane Company. The first aircraft was designed in 1917 and the World War I was the biggest turning point for the company. After, WW I Boeing started making commercial aircraft and continued to expand.  The company has taken over 32 other companies so far.

 

Some of the military aircraft/helicopters manufactured by Boeing are:-

      • C-17 Globemaster III
      • CH/MH-47 Chinook
      • V-22 Osprey
      • AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter
      • AH-64D Apache
      • F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Navy fighter aircraft
      • F-15E Strike Eagle tactical fighter
      • Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight (Vertol Aircraft Corp.)
      • Boeing AH-6.
      • Boeing Vertol YUH-61.
      • Boeing Vertol XCH-62.
      • MH-139 Gray Wolf (with Leonardo S.p.A.)

 

India Engagement.

 

Boeing has been a partner of India’s aerospace sector for almost eight decades, both with the commercial and defence aviation sectors. Boeing’s relationship with India goes back to the 1940s when the Indian Air Force inducted the Harvard Advanced Trainer and DC-3 military transport aircraft.

 

Boeing’s India operations include headquarters in Delhi and field service offices in Mumbai, Hindan, and Arkonam.  

 

Military aircraft from Boeing inducted into the Indian Defence forces include:-

      • A fleet of 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs (India is the biggest operator of these aircraft in the world, outside of the US).
      • 15 CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter.
      • 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
      • Modified Boeing transport aircraft for VIP duties.
      • Poseidon P-8I aircraft for IN (designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions).

 

Besides Military aircraft, various versions of Boeing aircraft (737,747,757,777 and 787) are being used by Indian air carriers (Air India, Vistara, Blue Dart, and Akasa etc.).  Akaasa has recently placed an order for 150 aircraft.

 

Boeing has a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) – The Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL). This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has been producing aero-structures for Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for customers worldwide. Recently a new production line to manufacture complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes has been added.

 

Follow On Support, Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) And Logistics Supply Lines. Various follow-up support, logistics supply lines, training and other services for various platforms purchased by India are being offered by another division of The Boeing Company, viz. Boeing Global Services (BGS). In February 2021, Boeing has signed a strategic collaboration with aviation services provider Air Works for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its VIP transport aircraft fleet operated by the IAF. This partnership is a first under the newly launched Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative.

 

114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). Boeing is one of the contenders for the Indian acquisition plan, fielding its F-15 and F-18 aircraft.

 

Advantages

 

Boeing Engineering and Technology campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka will conduct core engineering and research for Boeing’s iconic products as well as future platforms. It will have future avionics manufacturing and assembly capability.

      • It will provide impetus to the Indian Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
      • It will provide a boost to “Make in India”, “Skill India” and “Make for the World” initiatives through investments in manufacturing, co-production, skilling, engineering, and innovation.
      • It will help the foray of the Indian defence industry into the world market and by co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence not just for India, but for the world.
      • It will generate employment opportunities. Today, Boeing India has 4,000 employees, and more than 7,000 people who work on dedicated supply chain jobs with Indian suppliers across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors.
      • It will provide much-needed technology infusion into the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem.
      • It will reinforce India’s status as a leading foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) engaged in making, engineering, and sourcing from India.
      • It will improve MRO, training and supply chain facilities.
      • It is a Win-Win situation for both.

 

Coming Up:- Boeing’s Current Woes.

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

  1. https://www.boeing.co.in/boeing-in-india/about-boeing-in-india.page
  2. ` https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-boeings-largest-facility-outside-the-us-in-bengaluru-on-january-19-12071891.html
  1. https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-fe-exclusive-boeings-vision-for-india-a-partner-in-progress-across-sectors-3237450/
  1. https://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id=3133&h=Boeing-Defense-A-Long-Standing-Journey-in-India

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

Live Interview on TEJAS

 

I Flew this beautiful Flying Machine on 18 Nov 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Post Flight by PM on Tejas aircraft, DD news recorded a live interview under its special program: RAKSHAK.

 

The Interview was about Tejas aircraft and the project.

 

 

Aspects covered:-

 

  • Importance of Tejas project.

 

  • Recent Impetuous given to the project.

 

  • Exportability aspects.

 

  • About the aircraft.

 

  • Engine development aspects.

 

  • Aspects related to Naval variant.

 

 

The interview is of 17 minutes (starting at 5min up to 22 min).

 

Please click on the link below:-

 

 

Suggestions and value additions are

MOST WELCOME

 

For regular updates, please register here

Subscribe

 

 

References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.