July-August 2011 - Aeromag

Aeromag 

www.aeromag.in 

July - August 2011 Vol : V Issue : 4 

Asia 

DRDO 

Going from 

strength to strength 

A Publication in Association with the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI)

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A e r o m a g 4 

A e r o m a g 5


Asia 

A Bimonthly Publication 

Dedicated to 

Aviation & Aerospace Industry 

Editorial Advisory Board 

Dr. C.G.Krishnadas Nair, 

Air Chief Marshal S.Krishnaswamy (Rtd) 

PVSM, AVSM, VM & Bar 

Air Marshal P. Rajkumar (Rtd) 

PVSM, AVSM, VM 

Air Marshal Ajit Bhavanani (Rtd) 

PVSM, AVSM, VM 

Rear Admiral K. Mohanan (Rtd) 

AVSM 

Mr. Pushpindar Singh Chopra 

Dr . K. Ram Chand 

Mr. J.K.Sharma 

Mr. Arunakar Mishra 

Air Cmdre. (Rtd) Joseph Varkey 

Delhi 

Gp. Capt. (Rtd) H.C.Bhatia 

Secretary , AeSi 

Ashok Iyer 

E-mail : ashok.iyer@aeromag.in 

Mobile : + 91 9811831199 

Bombay 

P. A. Augustine 

Email : info@aeromag.in 

Germany 

Detlef Becker 

Email : dw.becker@arcor.de 

Phone : + 497 112317595 

Mobile : + 491 701626053 

New York 

Joseph J 


Dubai 

Rajan Joseph 

E mail : info@aeromag.in 

London 

Naresh Mohan Yadav 

Tel : + 44 208 989 1110 

ADVERTISEMENTS : 

Tel : + 91 80 25284145 / 65952377 

Mobile : + 9194490 61925 


Website : www.aeromag.in 

Aviation safety – An issue 

of paramount importance 

Air traffic in India has bounced back 

after a mild recession during the 

global economic slowdown, and 

is expected to grow in the current decade 

at a healthy 15 per cent per year. Domestic 

and international passenger traffic are 

projected to grow well beyond 500 million 

by 2020. Several regional airports are being 

upgraded and new ones built. 

With this impressive growth, focus also 

needs to be on aviation safety both on 

ground and air in no small measure. Safety 

audit has been made mandatory in all airports and special counters have 

also been introduced in many places for flight safety, airport safety and 

also passenger safety. But there is little doubt that strict implementation 

and enforcement is key and we need to redouble our efforts towards 

completely curbing any mishaps. 

Though a lot of new technologies are available to prevent Aviation 

safety hazards, interest levels need to go up several notches in India. Every 

year accidents involving bird hits on aircraft are increasing in addition to 

mishaps on the ground. In 2010, there were 372 incidents compared to 302 

in the previous year in Indian Airports according to DGCA statistics. 

In order to give an in-depth insight into Avition safety hazards and new 

technologies available to meet these kinds of mishaps, Aeromag Asia with 

the support of SIATI, Indian Air Force and other Aerospace organisations 

will organise the third international seminar during December first week 

in New Delhi. 

All stake-holders in this sector in India, Airlines, Airports, Ground handling 

Agencies, Pilots, Ornithologists, Aviation and Airport security companies, 

Aircraft and Aero Engine manufacturers, are expected to actively 

participate in this seminar. It will also be a great opportunity for overseas 

organisations specialising in Airport Safety, Aviation and Flight Safety, Fire 

Safety and Bird control to get associated with. 

Let us work together to build a strong foundation for Aviation Safety in 

India. 

Warmly, 

Dr CG Krishnadas Nair 

Honorary President, SIATI 

Printed and Published by Sunny Jerome, Managing Editor, Aeromag Asia, Aerosun Media Pvt. Ltd. B-2, SAPPHIRE, 1 st Block, 3 rd Street, 2nd Cross, 

Prakruthi Town Ship, Babusapalya, Kalyan Nagar Post, Bangalore -560043. Phone + 91 80 25284145 

Printed at Rashtrotthana Mudranalaya, 19/1, K.G.Nagar, Bangalore-19. 

Page 18 

Golden era for India in defence 

technology arena: Dr. Prahlada 

Page 20 

MIDHANI may set 

up second plant to 

meet booming demand 

Page 22 

Will grow rapidly in India, says 

Honeywell 

Page 26 

Haas India announces inaugural 

HaasTEC Open House 

Page 28 

Morpho unveils vision for aviation 

security solutions 

Page 32 

MathWorks working with 

academia as partnership 

Page 36 

HAL plans four new 

manufacturing plants 

Contents 

DRDO 

Going from 

strength to strength 

47 

T-50 stealth fighter 

makes public debut 

38 

Aerospace 

Engineers take up 

new endeavours 

Real-Time and Historical Situational 

Awareness of Birds with Avian Radar 

52 

Need 50 % stake 

for future venture 

in India, says 

Rafael 

12 

40 


A e r o m a g 7

India poised 

to become world’s third 

largest civil aviation market 

India is currently celebrating 

the completion of 100 years of 

commercial civil aviation in this 

country. A hundred years ago, a plane 

flew from Allahabad to Naini, carrying 

6500 mails. This marked not only the 

birth of commercial civil aviation in 

India but also the first airmail service in 

the world. 

India took to wings only seven years 

after the historic flight of the Wright 

brothers. It is believed that the first 

planes came to India and perhaps to 

Asia in 1910 though the first commercial 

civil aviation flight took off only on the 

18th February 1911. 

Since then India and Indians have 

never looked back. Through the 

eventful decades, Indian civil aviation 

has flown from strength to strength 

and is today one of the fastest growing 

aviation market in the world. 

Contributing to this growth has been the 

undoubting spirit of India’s entrepreneurs, 

pilots, engineers, crew-members and 

scientists. 

Civil aviation is a major driver of the 

economy. The International Civil Aviation 

Organisation estimates that every 100 

dollars spent on air transport produce 

benefits worth 325 dollars for the 

economy. Hundred additional jobs in air 

transport result in 610 new jobs in the 

economy. 

Exponential expansion 

The last hundred years have seen Indian 

civil aviation expand exponentially. From 

the days of the first flight when aircrafts 

landed on plain grounds without any 

navigational aids, India has traveled a 

long distance to modern and world-class 

airports of Hyderabad, Cochin, Bangalore 

and of course T-3. 

Today the handling capacity of India’s 

airports has reached to 235 million people, 

which is sufficient to fulfill its needs for 

the next few years. Airports are being 

improved not only in the major Metros but 

also 35 non-Metros, in a phased manner. 

During the last two decades from a 

fleet of only about 100, the scheduled 

operators today have 435 aircraft 

connecting the nation and the world. This 

growth is going to be further accelerated 

in the years to come and the government 

expects that in another decade or so India 

would have about 1000 more planes and 

500 more helicopters. 

The acquisition of these modern aircraft 

and the investment in airports is expected 

to generate business opportunities 

worth about 150 billion dollars that will 

revolutionize the sector. Civil Aviation is 

clearly the sunrise sector of the Indian 

economy that is likely to change the way 

Indians move, think and live. 

The last hundred years have posed 

innumerable challenges in the civil 

aviation sector which India successfully 

overcame. The new century that lies 

ahead of it, is also bound to throw up new 

challenges. It is necessary for India, as a 

nation, to foresee those challenges and to 

prepare itself to meet them effectively. 

One of the safest countries 

The increase in the number of aircraft 

is bound to put a heavy pressure on 

India’s regulatory and oversight systems. 

Today India is considered to be one 

of the safest countries in terms of civil 

aviation. Recently, the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) of America even 

cited India as a role model in the Asia- 

Pacific region. 

In order to retain this position and to 

assure all travelers the guarantee of safety, 

it would be necessary to redefine the 

parameters of regulation. Government 

is already looking into this matter and 

considering restructuring of the DGCA 

into a more comprehensive system, which 

works well above international standards. 

One of the biggest challenges before 

India is to lend renewed vibrancy to 

public sector undertakings like Air India 

and Airports Authority of India. These 

two organizations have rendered historic 

service to the nation and their continued 

vibrancy is critical for optimal growth of 

the sector. The Government is committed 

to support these organizations to ensure 

their healthy future. Civil aviation is a 

major employment creator and according 

to available studies it is expected that 

this sector will create new employment 

opportunities for nearly 26 lakh Indians by 

2025. 

Catering to this human resource need is 

in itself a challenge. India needs to strive 

to develop and nurture a strong world 

class training infrastructure in the country 

to ensure continuous production of skilled 

and professional manpower to fulfill the 

requirements of this sector. 

Sensitive to economic environment 

Civil Aviation industry is extremely 

sensitive to the economic environment 

in which it operates. Issues of taxation, 

investment policies and competition are 

vital to its survival. As the sector grows, 

there would be an acute need to fine-tune 

our system of competition management, 

taxation laws and investment strategies, 

while remaining socially responsible 

towards the aspirations of common 

Indians. The increase in civil aviation 

activity is bound to impact the 

environment too. It is necessary that 

India should nationally gear up to face 

this challenge and move towards better 

technologies and mitigation strategies 

to minimize the effect of aviation on 

environment. A socially harmonized 

growth of aviation alone will ensure its 

sustainability. 

While India is celebrating its continuous 

growth it is also necessary to be eternally 

cautious of the threats to its security from 

various quarters. It has to remember the 

tragedies of Kanishka and IC 814 to remain 

constantly vigilant of the dangers that lurk 

round the corner. 

Security is top priority 

Maintaining security is the priority that 

cannot be overlooked even for a single 

moment. It might have some effect on 

passenger facilitation but it is imperative 

in the larger interest of travelers as well as 

of the nation. 

Officials said Indian aviation sector is 

major economic driver for prosperity, 

development and employment and its 

airports today have become the symbol 

of India’s growth story. 

This sector with the growth of 18 per cent 

in domestic market is poised to emerge 

as the third largest aviation market in 

the world by the end of this decade. 

Huge potential in this sector is yet to be 

tapped and this is possible only with the 

cooperation and coordination among the 

partners; Centre, States and private sector. 

Issues of safety, security, infrastructure 

development and connectivity are most 

important in the aviation sector. There 

should be zero tolerance policy as far as 

safety is concerned. 

Security is indivisible and cannot be 

segregated between States and Centre. 

There is a need to harmonize the processes 

and procedures at all the Airports and to 

ensure that the State police staff is well 

trained and proficient in work as the CISF. 

Government’s role 

Government’s role in connectivity is 

limited to formulate socially equitable 

policies and ensure its implementation. 

The Civil Aviation ministry is considering 

restructuring the DGCA into a Civil 

Aviation Authority (CAA). 

In order to prevent repetitive accidents, 

an Independent Civil Aviation Accident 

Investigation Committee has been set 

up within oversight of Ministry of Civil 

Aviation to coordinate and oversee the 

investigation into accidents and also 

effective follow up of compliance of 

recommendations. 

Steps are under way to set up a 

full-fledged Independent Accident 

Investigation Board. 


A e r o m a g 9

SCHUNK’s 

thrust on optimised solution 

SCHUNK is a leading player in the 

field of precision tool holding, work 

holding and automation technology 

of over 65 years. The experience has resulted 

in unique, productive and many a times, 

proprietary advantages and niche which has 

always been guided by the corner stones of 

customer centric advantage for which, the 

brand commands today, a premium position 

for its products and services. The valuable 

experience is evident with its wide choice 

of products “one for every application”. 

SCHUNK believes that every application is 

specific and selective that needs a much 

optimised solution rather than a generic 

one. 

PRISMO, the tool grinding toolholder, is 

now available with manual actuation. It is 

attached as a substructure to the PRISMO, 

and allows stationary application at 

cylindrical grinding machines, tool grinding 

machines or lathes. This innovative tool 

grinding toolholder clamps every shank 

diameter between 5 and 20 mm. 

The TENDO SVL tools with a shank 

diameter of 6 mm, can be directly clamped 

without the use of intermediate sleeves, 

making them highly precise. The TENDO 

SVL transforms almost every precision 

tool holder into a flexible tool, perfect to 

use in confined spaces. The high torque of 

the TENDO SVL ensures a safe hold of the 

tool during drilling, reaming and finish 

milling. Instead of expensive special tools, 

the use of a TENDO extension is normally 

enough, and it can be equipped with 

various standard tools as required. 

The ROTA NCL lightweight lathe 

chuck defines efficiency for turning 

operations. The ROTA NCL steel version 

weighs about 35 % less compared to 

conventional power chucks of the same 

size. Therefore faster acceleration at 

reduced energy consumption is possible. 

A new type of double cylinder guidance 

of the base jaws ensures that the forces 

are evenly distributed on the chuck 

body. With its large through-hole, the 

lathe chuck is almost maintenance-free, 

completely sealed and permanently 

lubricated, making it perfectly suitable 

for applications in modern machining 

centers. In addition to the 3-jaw version, 

the ROTA NCS also has a high-precision 

6-jaw chuck. During clamping of thinwalled 

and uneven components, the 6 

oscillating jaws ensure maximum run-out 

accuracy and minimum deformation at 

the work pieces. The 3-jaw power chuck 

type ROTA NCD is particularly well suited 

for users who machine several work 

pieces on one machine and can reduce 

set-up times and costs with the highperformance 

lathe chuck. 

ROTA NCL lathe chuck is hermetically 

sealed against dust and coolant, and is 

mostly maintenance-free. Its low height 

leaves plenty of space in the machine 

room. With the sizes 185, 225, and 260 the 

lathe chuck is universal in purpose, and 

clamping forces between 75 and 140 kN 

are achieved. 

Air Marshal N A K Browne 

is Chief of Air Staff 

Air Marshal N A K Browne has taken 

over as Chief of Air Staff. 

Born in Allahabad on 15 

December 1951, Air Marshal Browne was 

commissioned into the Fighter stream 

of Indian Air Force on 24 June 1972. With 

about 3100 hours of flying to his credit, he 

has had a varied operational experience 

that included flying Hunters, all variants of 

MiG-21s, Jaguars and SU-30s. 

An alumnus of National Defence 

Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, he is a 

Fighter Combat Leader, who has also 

served as an instructor at the Tactics and 

Air Combat Development Establishment 

(TACDE) - a premiere flying establishment 

of the IAF and the Tri-services Defence 

Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington. 

A graduate of the Air Command and 

Staff College, USA, he had trained with 

the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the United 

Kingdom, on Jaguar aircraft and went 

on to command a Jaguar Squadron 

subsequently. 

During his long and distinguished career 

spanning 38 years, he has held various 

operational and staff appointments 

that include - Joint Director at Air War 

Strategy Cell at Air Headquarters, Chief 

Operations Officer and Air Officer 

IAF to receive license to 

issue Digital Certificates 

The IAF took another significant 

step towards its net-centric vision, 

when the Chief of the Air Staff, Air 

Chief Marshal NAK Browne was formally 

handed over the license to issue Digital 

Signature Certificates by the Controller 

of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Dr N Vijay 

Aditya at Air Headquarters . 

As a part of the AFNET (Air Force 

Network) Project, Digital Signatures 

issued by a license holder would provide 

the legal recognition to an electronic 

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne receiving license to issue 

Digital Certificate from the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Dr. N. Vijay Aditya, 

in New Delhi 

Commanding of a SU-30 base, Air-I at 

New Delhi based Western Air Command 

(WAC) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff 

(Intelligence) at Air Headquarters. 

He was also responsible for establishing 

the Indian Defence Wing in Tel Aviv, Israel 

in April 1997 where he served as the 

Defence Attache till July 2000. From March 

2007 to 31 May 2009 he functioned as the 

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) at Air 

Headquarters and was responsible for 

lAF’s major Modernization Programmes. 

Before taking over as the Vice Chief of 

the Air Staff (VCAS) at Air Headquarters 

on 01 January 2011, he was the AOC-in-C 

of Western Air Command, lAF’s most vital 

operational Command. Under his command 

and personal supervision, the first ever 

landing of an AN-32 (fixed wing aircraft) took 

place at Nyoma, advance Landing Ground 

(ALG), located at an altitude of 13,300 feet 

on 18 September 2009. 

Air Marshal Browne is recipient of Param 

Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishist Seva 

Medal (AVSM), Vayu Sena Medal (VM) and 

is appointed as one of the Honorary ADCs 

to the President of India. 

Married to Mrs Kiran Browne, they have 

a son, Omar, a fighter pilot in the IAF and 

a daughter Alisha, who is working with a 

multinational company. 

document under the IT Act 2000. With 

this, the IAF would be able to put in 

place a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), 

which is a practical strategy for achieving 

information security in today’s highly 

networked environment. An essential 

component for providing enhanced 

Information Assurance and Identity 

Management Capabilities, PKI would 

provide data integrity, user identification 

and authentication, user non-repudiation, 

data confidentiality, encryption and 

digital signature services for programs 

and applications on Air Force Network. 

It would also issue and manage software 

and hardware certificates on the stateof-the-art 

IP/MPLS (Internet Protocol/ 

Multiprotocol Label Switching) network of 

the IAF. With this system in place, the IAF 

becomes the first defence organization 

and the second Government body,[first 

being NIC (National Informatics Centre)] 

to receive the coveted license. 

Air Marshal KK Nowhar, Vice Chief of the 

Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Sharma, 

ACAS (Signals and IT), senior Air Force 

officials and luminaries from academia, 

private sector and public sector were 

among those who were present at the 

occasion. 


A e r o m a g 11

DRDO 

Going from strength to strength 

DRDO has been flying higher with 

significant success in recent 

times. The surface-to-surface 

Prithvi (P-II) Missile was successfully flighttested 

at Launch Complex-III, Integrated 

Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Balasore and 

Orissa, recently. 

Prithvi-II, the first indigenous surfaceto-surface 

strategic missile, capable of 

attacking targets at a range of 350 km, 

reaches the pre-defined target in the 

Bay of Bengal with a high accuracy of 

more than 10 m. All radars and electrooptical 

systems located along the coast 

monitored the flight path of the missile, 

and an Indian Naval ship located near the 

target. 

DRDO, in fact, has the vision to make 

India prosperous by establishing world 

class science, technology and systems 

engineering base and provide our Defence 

Services decisive edge by equipping them 

with internationally competitive systems 

and solutions. 

Agni, Prithvi, Akash! The three among 

five Panchtatva! However these names 

today, together with Tejas, Arjun, 

Dhanush, Varunastra, Sarvatra, Rohini, 

Bharani, Ashlesha, Samyukta, Sangraha, 

WLR (Weapon Locating Radar) among 

many others, symbolise the science, 

technology and system engineering 

strength of nation in the critical area of 

defence technology. 

DRDO had been the leader in the 

national effort along with its partners that 

include the armed forces, the industry and 

leading academic institutions. 

A giant organisation in its 54th year, i.e. 

DRDO, today is among the world’s largest 

and most diversified R&D institutions 

generating cutting edge technologies for 

reliable defence and credible deterrence 

against any potential misadventure. The 

innumerable obstacles to restrict India 

and DRDO in particular, in the field of 

various technology denial regimes by 

handful of technologically advanced 

nations, led to the DRDO scientists 

indigenously developing sophisticated 

weapon systems and technologies 

like Agni and Prithvi series of strategic 

missiles, Arjun- Main Battle Tank, Tejas- 

Light Combat Aircraft, nuclear powered 

submarine- Arihant, wide range of radar 

systems and electronic warfare systems. 

The DRDO has lived up to its tag line 

‘Balasya mulam vigyanam’ i.e. the source 

of strength is Science. It is Science that 

drives the nation in war and peace. DRDO 

has firm determination to make the nation 

strong and self reliant in terms of Science 

and Technology especially in the field of 

military. 

India now has the capability to develop 

any type of strategic missile. The Armed 

Forces now have Agni I (700 km), Agni II 

(2,000 km) and Agni III (3.500 km) in their 

arsenal. The DRDO now plans to test fire 

Agni-V by the year end and this missile 

enable hit targets at ranges of 5,000 km. 

The other missile systems now inducted 

into the Services include Prithvi (road 

mobile) and Dhanush (ship launched 

missile) series of surface-to-surface 

missiles. These nuclear capable platforms 

provide effective deterrence and credible 

second strike capability. 

An integrated life support system 

(ILSS) for fighter aircraft, a state of the art 

technology that enables the fighter pilot 


A e r o m a g 13

to venture to the limits of the aircraft 

capability in terms of flight altitudes and 

G-forces. This technology had been the 

hallmarks of the few highly advanced 

countries. Now Defence Bioengineering 

& Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) 

Bangalore, under DRDO, has taken a lead 

in this technology that, to start with, will 

go into Tejas aircraft. The engineering 

model of ILSS prototype has been rolled 

out from DEBEL, Bangalore. 

The Infrastructural facilities created by 

DRDO are national assets and include 

Integrated Instrumented flight Test 

Range, Structural Dynamics & Vibration 

Test facility for aircraft, electronic warfare 

Test ranges, Propulsion and Ballistics test 

facilities, underwater Weapon Test Ranges 

and Test Tracks for land systems etc. 

DRDO’S LIMELIGHT 

DRDO has been focusing on futuristic 

technology development and a roadmap 

‘Defence Technology Vision 2050’ is being 

framed. The DRDO is presently working 

on designing a 1500 horsepower engine 

and artillery guns of 155 mm calibre’. 

In terms of tangible outputs, DRDO had 

developed a wide range of strategic and 

tactical weapon systems and complex 

technologies associated with such 

systems. The production value of major 

DRDO systems inducted/under induction 

into the three Services during the last 

decade stands at over Rs 1,20,000 Crores 

with a modest R&D investment of about 

Rs 3,000 Crores per year. 

The DRDO scientists did India proud by 

indigenously and successfully producing 

series of strategic missile systems like Agni 

(intermediate range ballistic missiles), 

Prithvi Dhanush and Shourya, covering 

wide range (150 km to 3500 km). 

The DRDO had also carried out series 

of successful trials of Air Defence System 

against ballistic missiles of up to 2000 km 

class, for both exo- atmospheric (80 km 

altitude) and endo- atmospheric (15 km 

altitude) interception. 

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile for 

Army and Navy is a glowing example of 

the first ever joint design and production 

of a weapon system by India and Russia. 

Today Indian armed forces are the only 

one in the world possessing a BrahMos 

class missile. 

The DRDO had indigenously designed, 

developed and led the production of Tejas 

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Ten Tejas 

aircraft have completed more than 1,650 

flights. The first naval variant of LCA has 

also rolled out and will equip our aircraft 

carriers. With the success of Nishant (short 

range) and Rustom-1 (medium endurance) 

UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), it had 

demonstrated capability to design, 

develop and lead to the production of 

such platforms and various associated 

technologies, components and sub 

systems such as advanced structural 

composites, Flight Control Systems, 

Actuators, Sensors and so on. 

Two regiments of India’s first 

indigenously designed, developed and 

productionised Main Battle Tank “MBT- 

Arjun Mk-I” had been raised and inducted 

in the Army. With its excellent mobility 

& maneuverability especially in desert 

combined with state of the art armour 

and accurate firepower it is rightly called 

“king of desert”. 

The DRDO had attracted young 

students to take up defence, science and 

technology as career option. Competent 

manpower is inducted into DRDO through 

several schemes such as All India DRDO 

Scientist Entry Test (SET), Annual Campus 

Talent Search, induction of fresh PhD 

graduates, online selection fvor NRIs and 

selection of scientists under Lateral Entry 

Scheme. 

In addition to striving for accomplishment 

of goals, DRDO has undertaken several 

new technology initiatives in the areas of 

Cyber Security, Space Security, and Energy 

Security. In view of the growing threats 

of cyber attacks and data theft, there is 

a need to develop our own computer 

operating system so that the source code 

and complete architecture is known to 

it and any malicious attempts of cyber 

attacks are thwarted. 

There is a need to develop technologies 

for protection, detection, and mitigation 

of cyber threats. DRDO has launched 

projects covering development of 

indigenous operating systems, hardened 

network hardware, and network security 

devices. In the field of Space Security, 

it has launched programme for space 

surveillance and security. Under Energy 

Security, a 2-MW plant is planned for 

producing flexible CIGS-based solar cells. 

Initiatives have been taken to develop 

technologies to combat Low Intensity 

Conflict (LIC). 

DRDO is seeking to leverage the benefits 

of the offsets provision of Defence 

Procurement Procedures (DPP) 2010, with 

the aim of bringing in critical technologies 

into the country. The MoD is soon likely to 

amend the DPP to include collaborations 

with DRDO in R&D, joint development, 

and joint ventures as eligible offsets. 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Over a million pieces of 7.62 mm Ishapore 

Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) developed by 

DRDO, were produced till these rifles 

were replaced by 5.56mm INSAS series, 

DRDO developed ecosystem 

DRDO has contributed a lot towards development of Indian Private Industry in the 

defence sector. With the launch of the LCA (Tejas) Programme, DRDO has developed 

an ecosystem with the support of users, academia, and private and public industries 

for design, development and manufacturing of aerospace and aviation products. 

According to Mr Ravi Kumar Gupta, Scientist G & Director, Directorate of Public 

Interface, DRDO Hqrs Public Interface, DRDO, all the partners have benefited 

immensely by this DRDO initiative. 

In the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft programme, HAL, Indian Air Force, IITs, IISc, 

various DRDO labs, private and public sector industries actively participated as 

development partners. Now India has developed its own design capability and also 

design and development facilities. 

another DRDO product forming main stay 

of our armed forces as well as paramilitary 

forces. 

In the field of electronic warfare, 

communication and radars, Artillery 

Combat Command Control System 

(ACCCS), Indian Doppler Radar INDRA-I 

& II, Rajendra - multifunction phased 

array radar, Super Vision Maritime Patrol 

Radar (SV-2000 MPAR), Avalanche Victim 

Detector (AVD), Battle Field Surveillance 

Radar-BFSR, a man-portable, battlefield 

and perimeter surveillance radars have 

been produced in large numbers. 

T-72 Ajeya tanks were upgraded with 

indigenous technologies and equipped 

with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), 

Global Positioning System (GPS), 

Integrated Fire Detection & Suppression 

System (IFDSS) & reconfigured Smoke 

Grenade Discharger (SGD). Over 700 

such Combat Improved Ajeya Tanks has 

been produced. BHIM self Propelled 155 

mm gun is another notable product, 

designed and developed by DRDO, 

besides a wide range of battle support 

system such as mobile bridges, Armoured 

dozers, Armoured ambulances, Armoured 

engineering vehicles, NBC recce vehicles, 

counter mining flails, smart anti tank 

mines etc. 

Safety and efficiency of soldier, the man 

behind machines under the most diverse 

battlefield conditions (extremes of cold 

and heat, mountains, deserts, tropical 

forests and so on) is a high priority and 

DRDO has developed many Life Support 

Systems for Armed forces. Some of these 

products are Combat Free Fall system 

capable to withstand the harsh conditions 

of free fall from 30,000 ft., NBC Canister, 

Water Poison Detection Kit, Portable 

Decontamination Apparatus, NBC Filters/ 

Ventilation systems, Packaged ready 

to eat foods, High Altitude Pulmonary 

Oedema (HAPO) chamber, Heating Gloves 

& Socks for extreme cold conditions, Biodigestor 

for treatment of human waste 

in extreme cold conditions, NBC for high 

altitude medical products and Advanced 

H1N1 kit for detection of swine flu. 

A large number of Naval Systems, 

materials and technologies have been 

developed and inducted by Navy. Shipborne 

sonar HUMSA, Air borne dunking 

sonar MIHIR, Submarine-sonar USHUS, 

Torpedo Advanced Light TAL, Advanced 

Panoramic Sonar Hull mounted (APSOH), 

PACHENDRIYA - integrated submarine 

sonar and tactical fire control system, 

Auto-controlled Carbon Dioxide Control 

System, Poly-LIST Dockblock - a substitute 

for teak wood used for dry docking of 

ships, Heavy duty non-skid paint, AB class 

of steel for naval applications, Underwater 

Acoustic Communication System, Antitorpedo 

decoy system and Fuel cell 

based power generation systems are 

some examples. 

The most significant contribution of 

DRDO was the creation of a system 

conducive to development of cutting edge 

technologies by developing partnerships 


A e r o m a g 15

with academic/research institutions and with 

industries; creating exhaustive infrastructure, both, 

within the organization and the partners entities; 

creating centers of excellence and establishing high 

quality manpower resource. 

DRDO today possesses a wide spectrum of Core 

Competencies which include Systems Design & 

Integration of Complex Sensors, Weapon Systems 

The DRDO capabilities have allowed the country to 

enter into pacts with foreign countries comprising 

joint design and development of weapon systems 

and shift from the previous buyer-seller relation. 

Also, the defence infrastructure within the country 

now allows the manufacturers to demand transfer 

of technology thereby allowing the Indian industry 

to imbibe latest technology and develop at a much 

faster pace. 

& Platforms, Complex High-end Software Packages, 

Functional Materials, Test and Evaluation, Technology 

Transfer and Absorption. In addition, expertise and 

infrastructure have been built up for basic/applied 

research in relevant areas, Quality Assurance & 

Safety, and Project & Technology Management. 

The DRDO and the three Services carried out 

detailed analysis to identify the products and critical 

technologies that are required to be established 

within the country. The technologies are categorized 

into Buy, Make and Buy & Make categories, and 

strategies evolved to establish them in the country 

are by one of the following routes, namely, ‘In house 

development in DRDO’, ‘Joint development through 

National S&T labs and academia’, ‘Joint development 

through International collaboration’, ‘Acquisition of 

Matured Technologies through offset obligations’. 

The most valuable resource of the organisation is its 

highly trained and motivated human power. DRDO 

offers to its staff adequate professional ambiance in 

terms of flexibility of operation, autonomy, financial 

and managerial responsibilities. Advanced training, 

career and self development needs of the scientists 

are also given due attention. 

After the examination of the P Rama Rao 

Committee report by the Government followed by 

the directive to implement, DRDO has appointed 

an “Implementation Committee” to work out finer 

details for implementing its recommendations. The 

implementation process is progressing under the 

guidance of an Advisory Committee. 

The committee has also recommended for private 

sector participation in DRDO. The participation of 

private sector is primarily in the productionisation 

of developed systems, through concurrent 

engineering. 

There had been significant milestones along the 

way. 

A successful flight test of Rustom1 UAV was 

conducted recently. It was the second successful 

flight of “Rustom 1” being developed by the 

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a 

DRDO lab engaged in pioneering R&D work in the 

field of aeronautics. 

The “Rustom 1” has an endurance of 14 hours and 

altitude ceiling of 8000 metres. Rustom 1 has been 

achieved by converting a manned aircraft in to a 

UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) by removing pilot 

seat and making required electrical, mechanical and 

aerodynamic modifications. 

DRDO has also successfully flight tested its latest 

surface to surface Missile `PRAHAAR’ from Launch 

Complex III, off Chandipur Coast, ITR, Balasore, Orissa. 

The Missile with a range of 150 kms, comparable to 

ATACMS Missile of United States of America, fills 

the vital gap between Multi Barrel Rockets and 

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles. The Missile capable 

of carrying different types of warheads operates as 

battle field support system to the Indian Army. 

Nishant, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), had 

successfully completed the series of confirmatory 

trials conducted by the Indian Army at Chandan 

Range Pokharan recently. 

ADE had also conducted successfully the flight test 

of Lakshya-2 the Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA); was 

built to meet the anticipated users requirements 

for such a vehicle for testing out their guns and 

DRDO and Indian Air Force have signed 

an agreement for series production of 

computerised pilot selection system (CPSS). 

The embedded micro controller based CPSS 

having built-in security features captures 

accurate, reliable and high-speed data relating 

to the skills of the candidates appearing for 

selection as pilot. 

missiles. 

The state-of-the-art system is an outcome of 

collaborative efforts of DRDO and the IAF. It 

comprehensively evaluates the qualities required 

for a highly demanding job of a military pilot such 

as psychomotor skills, information processing skills 

(speed and accuracy), coordination, visualization, 

time-sharing, etc by subjecting the candidate to 

perform concurrent multiple tasks. The system has 

been designed with built-in diagnostic facilities for 

ease of maintenance. 

DRDO has flight tested fourth consecutive 

successful Interceptor Missile test against Incoming 

Ballistic Missile in Endo atmospheric regime at 15 

Km altitude and achieved direct Hit. 

LCA Tejas, the country’s first indigenously designed, 

developed and produced fighter jet has achieved 

the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). 


A e r o m a g 17

Golden era for India 

in defence technology 

private Industry. We are ready to guide them 

for improving the quality. We will support all 

our industry partners and we will take it as a 

responsibility of DRDO. We have instituted a 

tight quality management system from the 

production of prototype itself with industry 

help. 

arena: Dr. Prahlada 

Dr. Prahlada has just assumed charge as the Vice-Chancellor of the 

Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), a deemed university 

which is an autonomous organisation fully funded by the Department 

of Defence Research and Development Organisation. Before taking over, he 

was Distinguist Scientist and chief Controller of Aero Programmes, DRDO and 

had worked in the organization for the last 40 years. 

Dr. Prahlada, born on 5th Feb 1947 in Bangalore, is a Mechanical Engineer 

Graduate from University College of Engineering, Bangalore University 

(1969). Subsequently he got his Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering 

Department from IISc., Bangalore, with specialisation in Rockets and missile 

Systems and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru 

Technological University, Hyderabad. Since 1971 he has served in various ISRO 

and DRDO Establishments covering VSSC Trivandrum, ADE Bangalore, DRDL 

Hyderabad and DRDO HQrs at Delhi. 

As project Director for the mobile surface to air area defence missile system, 

AKASH, he has provided the technological and managerial leadership for about 1000 scientists/engineers working at various developmental 

centers over 20 years in the country. Large orders worth more than Rs.25,000 crores have been placed by Indian Army and Air force for 

production and delivery of Akash Missile System and associated radars. 

In his position as Director of the biggest DRDO laboratory, DRDL, during 1997-2005, he has provided leadership to many missile projects, 

new technologies and world class test facilities. He was Programme Director for the Joint Venture Project (Indo-Russia) BrahMos and 

contributed to Project formulation, management and conduct of initial flight trials. He has spearheaded commercialisation of DRDO 

technologies into civilian products through a customised programme with FICCI. 

Excerpts from an exclusive Aeromag Asia interview with him: 

You have taken over as Vice-Chancellor 

of Defence Institute of Advanced 

Technology. What’s your vision here? 

My aim is to transform this Institute as a 

world class institution in advanced defence 

technologies on similar lines as Naval 

Postgraduate School in USA. 

What’s the update on DRDO’s 

international cooperation? Could you 

talk about some of the recent important 

MoUs and tie-ups, and are there any new 

agreements in the pipeline? 

We are working in close cooperation with 

a number of countries and companies in 

the international scene. We have product 

development and technology collaboration 

with Israel, France, Brazil and Singapore. 

We have Advance research cooperation 

with Kyrgystan, Belarus, Czech Republic, 

Government institutions and private 

Industry in Germany. We are closely 

working with Russia for the development 

of fifth generation fighter Aircraft and 

BrahMos Missile. With USA also, we have 

technology collaboration. DIAT also have 

collaboration with NPS. So we can jointly 

work with any country or institution 

for Research and Development and 

Technology development. In the UK, we 

have technical collaboration with Academia 

and government. 

Could you share your thoughts on 

recent developments in the area of 

commercialisation of DRDO technologies 

into civilian products, and the road-map 

you see for this kind of activity going 

forward? 

We had identified 20 technologies for 

commercialisation in the last 10 years. We 

adopted an open and transparent system 

for giving licence for the manufacturing of 

10 products so far in India. 

Even some outside countries have also 

showed interest in our technology. USA 

has showed interest in the production 

of explosives detection kit developed 

by DRDO. A Korean company has come 

forward for our short range radar. Ten more 

technologies are also in pipeline and all 

the 20 technologies will be transferred to 

commercial use within this year. 

We will continue to identify another 20 

projects from 2012. 

Could you elaborate on DRDO’s focus 

on futuristic technology development? 

Some of the major areas where we are 

working for advanced weapons include 

Short range and long range Missile in 

collaboration with Israel and France. Similarly 

we are working on Air to Air and Ground 

to Air Missile development and Precision 

guided munitions for future applications. 

In Aero Programme, we have world class 

projects. We are developing Advanced 

Indian AWACS, Rustom – long endurance, 

UAVs, Solar powered Unmanned Air 

vehicles, Fifth Generation modern combat 

aircraft development in collaboration with 

Russia, the LCA project and Electronic 

Warfare Systems to all Combat aircraft 

with Indian Air Force including LCA, MiG29, 

Sukhoi, Jaguar and Mirage. 

We are developing Aerostat of two 

different size and capabilities. As a long 

term project we will have an Airship 

programme. Even though some of 

our projects are delayed, the end users 

including Army, Air Force and Navy have 

accepted all DRDO developed products 

and placed orders. This has confirmed 

users commitment to indigenously 

developed products once they meet their 

expectations. 

What details can you share with us 

on ‘Defence Technology Vision 2050’ 

roadmap being framed? 

For the next 20 years we will follow the 

LTIPP – Long Term Integrated Prospective 

Planning document of Defence Ministry 

for development of new products and 

technologies. New initiatives cover cyber 

security, low intensity conflicts and satellite 

based systems. 

We are working on combat aircraft, 

maritime Surveillance radar, Weapon 

locating Radars and Central Acquisition 

radars. Next technology communication 

and EW systems are on the anvil. 

Could you throw more light on the 1500 

horsepower engine and artillery guns of 

155 mm calibre that you are working on? 

Our own, we have taken a decision that 

with either foreign collaboration or with 

support from public and private sector, we 

will develop the tank engine of 1000hp and 

1500hp. We have also decided to make our 

own gas turbine engine for aircraft, marine 

gas turbine engine for Ship though these 

are highly complex technology challenges. 

Considering difficulties experienced by 

Indian Army in requiring artillery guns, 

DRDO has been requested by the army to 

taken up indigenous develop of 155 calibre 

guns. 

How is DRDO able to meet the high 

standards of quality and technology for 

its end-users? 

The quality of defence product during 

production comes from industry. The 

production part will be done by DPSUs, and 

What are the other new initiatives of 

DRDO? 

DRDO has already started supporting the 

innovations in a big way not only in science 

and technology but also administration and 

management. 

There should be synergy between Industry 

and academia. User, DRDO, Industry and 

Academia should work and should expand 

laterally for understanding each other. 

Horizontal integration, of these 4 entities 

while their deep specialization have to 

coexist. 

Unless it happens, we cannot have a 

synergy. For increasing the productivity 

and efficiency, DRDO should collaborate 

with academia for research and also user in 

operation. Industry should be a part from 

the development of prototype. 

There is no major defence programme 

going on in Europe or USA because of their 

current financial cries. Russian defence 

programme for the development of fifth 

generation fighter is also being done with 

India’s support. 

Thus, there is lot of potential in Europe and 

India should tap and utilise this opportunity. 

This is considered to be a golden era for 

India. Since there are no major defence 

programmes in developed countries will be 

ready to collaborate with India. 

We should exploit and utilise this golden 

opportunity to improve our capability 

and capacity in developing high tech 

engineering products. 


A e r o m a g 19

MIDHANI 

may set up second plant to 

meet booming demand 

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited - MIDHANI has 

embarked on an ambitious expansion plan funded by 

the MOD as well as with support from Customers, 

says its Chairman and Managing Director Mr. M 

Narayana Rao in an exclusive interview to Managing 

Editor of Aeromag Asia, Sunny Jerome. The new 

facilities will enhance MIDHANI’s capabilities to 

meet the stringent quality requirements and pressing 

demands of customers in terms of quantities. 

modern metallurgical facilities and high 

degree of technical competence for 

manufacturing a wide range of super alloys, 

titanium, special purpose steels and other 

special metals and alloys meeting stringent 

quality requirements for application in 

Aerospace, defense, Atomic energy, Power 

generation, chemical and other high tech 

industries. MIDHANI is unique in the sense 

that it is one of very few industries in the 

world to have multitude of equipment 

housed under one roof and this facilitates 

the production of hundreds of different 

alloys in different forms. Equipment apart, 

MIDHANI has a highly qualified and skilled 

workforce which is well versed in the 

manufacturing process. Apart from the 

regular bars, flats, sheets / strips, wires, 

MIDHANI has also been supplying near net 

shape components to various customers. 

What about the client base? 

Space, Defense, Atomic energy, General 

engineering and power sectors form the 

broad client base of MIDHANI. Our main 

Customers are ISRO, BARC, DRDO, NPCIL, 

Ordnance Factories, Gun carriage factory, 

Navy , BHEL, L&T, WIL, Areva, to name a 

few. 

Any new investment, expansion plans 

going forward? 

MIDHANI has embarked on an ambitious 

expansion plan funded by the MOD as well 

as with support from Customers. Primary 

melting furnace -20T, Electron beam 

melting furnaces, 6000T forge press, Ring 

rolling mill, Wide plate mill and numerous 

state-of-the-art equipment, are under 

procurement. These new facilities will 

enhance MIDHANI’s capabilities to meet 

the stringent Quality requirements and 

pressing demands of Customers in terms 

of quantities. In the recent past, MIDHANI 

has already commissioned two re-melting 

furnaces of enhanced capacity. 

What are the company’s medium and 

long term goals? 

With the growing demand of the 

strategic sector, MIDHANI is already in 

the process of expanding capacity for 

increase of production. But with the space 

limitation of the present plant, it may 

become imperative to set up a second 

unit to meet the ever increasing demands 

of the space, power and defense sectors. 

Plans are afoot to formulate a long term 

strategy to achieve this goal. 

What is the hiring strategy of 

MIDHANI ? 

MIDHANI has been recruiting 20-25 

Management trainees directly from the 

premier institutions of the country every 

year for the past five years, by way of 

campus selections, in order to replenish 

the declining strength of officers due to 

superannuation. As and when required, 

personnel are being recruited in middle 

and senior management levels. 

Could you share the operational 

highlights of Midhani in 2010-11 and 

what is the growth you are tracking in 

the current fiscal? 

MIDHANI has recorded a sales turnover 

of Rs 417 Crores during the financial year 

2010-11 and a net profit of Rs 50.4 Crores. 

The total tonnage produced is 3014 MT. 

This amounts to a growth of 12 % over the 

previous year. Growth envisaged in current 

year is about 13%. MIDHANI is aiming for 

a sales turnover of about Rs 471 Crores 

during the year 2011-12. 

What are the initiatives lined up in the 

near future? 

MIDHANI has an ambitious R&D 

program for developing new alloys 

for semi-cryogenic engine, special low 

alloy steels for armament and naval 

applications, titanium and special steels 

for missile program and special steels 

and superalloy for Ultra Super-Critical 

power plants. MIDHANI is also planning 

to contribute to the ambitious nuclear 

power program in a big way. In addition 

to alloy development, MIDHANI has 

also embarked on indigenization and 

modification of equipment which has 

resulted in fabrication of cutting machines, 

sophisticated melting furnaces etc. 

MIDHANI is also actively collaborating with 

research labs in developing new materials 

/ processes. 

Could you talk about the fastener 

plant that is coming up? 

Fasteners play a major role in machine 

building and the fasteners used in 

aerospace and other strategic sectors 

differ considerably from those used for 

general engineering purpose. The market 

potential for these fasteners is very high 

and many of our customers from the 

strategic sector have been sending us 

enquiries for various types of fasteners 

of different alloys. Presently, bulk of the 

requirements is being imported. 

The manufacture of these fasteners 

requires very stringent Quality control 

practices to be followed right from raw 

material stage to the finished component. 

MIDHANI has a quality system in place 

which adequately takes care of this 

requirement. In addition, MIDHANI has 

established manufacturing and processing 

routes for special steels, super alloys and 

titanium alloys required for manufacture 

of these fasteners. So it was natural for 

MIDHANI to get into this line of products. 

The fastener plant will be completely 

managed by women employees only. The 

growing demand for fasteners presents 

a novel opportunity where women’s 

skills and strengths can be captured 

in manufacturing these value added 

products. 

What do you propose to do as far as 

your MOU with SAIL is concerned? 

MIdhani is a high technology plant with 

know-how for many critical and strategic 

materials while SAIL is a giant in terms 

of capacities and capabilities. An MOU 

between two such companies can be 

beneficial in terms of production of critical 

alloys on a large scale, scaling down of 

processes during developmental stage and 

many more benefits, including availability 

of products at competitive costs, to both. A 

task force comprising members from both 

the stakeholders is already making an in 

depth study of the areas where profitable 

and meaningful contributions can be 

made. The MOU will go a long way in 

making available many strategic alloys for 

critical applications for the Indian industry 

indigenously. 

Could you briefly talk about the 

technological capability, facilities and 

products of MIDHANI? 

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Will grow rapidly in India, 

says Honeywell 

Honeywell expects to grow rapidly in India, Mr. Pritam Bhavnani, 

President , Honeywell Aerospace India , told Sunny Jerome, 

Managing Editor of Aeromag Asia, in an exclusive interview. 

The company is setting up a research and development centre in 

Gurgaon to address its European business. Honeywell currently 

has around 12,000 employees in India. A significant amount of 

R&D and engineering works, as well as development of aero plane 

products are done in Bangalore. Fight control system, avionics and 

engine modifications are some of the key areas of development. It is 

not like back office work; real work is done in Bangalore. Excerpts 

from the interview. 

How important is the Indian market 

for Honeywell? 

It is very important from multiple 

points of view. One, obviously, is people’s 

talent, skill and capability. It is the very 

important part. If you look at the number 

of employees Honeywell has, India is the 

number two in terms of the headcount 

after the US. 

The second is obviously the market, 

the volume of business that we can have 

in India. Honeywell’s revenue in India 

is around USD 500 million of the total 

revenue of USD 33 billion – USD 34 billion. 

So, half of the billion is coming from India. 

Not that big now, but we are expecting to 

grow very rapidly in the future. 

And also we do a lot of exports out 

of India – turbochargers for example. 

In Pune, we made turbochargers for 

companies like Tata and Mahindra. And 

also we export them to Thailand, Europe, 

and other places. Two years ago, we made 

400,000 and 800,000 last year, and this we 

will go up to 1.5 million turbochargers in 

Pune. So the volume has doubled two 

years in a row and most of this being 

exported to Thailand and Europe also. It is 

all coming out of Pune. 

What are the new initiatives coming? 

I told you that, in case of turbochargers, 

we are growing tremendously. In design 

and development engineering, we are 

growing tremendously. We are also adding 

a new research and development centre 

in Gurgaon for our European business, 

which is the petrochemical business 

where we will be going, what Honeywell 

does in Europe. 

We actually design the process and the 

catalyst that are needed to convert raw of 

feed stocks whether it is crude oil and L.G 

oil to convert to diesel, kerosene, petrol, 

jet fuel etc. That conversion process is 

what Honeywell’s knowledge is and we 

are experts at that. 

So we have done one big centre in US 

and we will be setting up one in Gurgaon 

this year. Crude oil in Saudi Arabia is 

different from the crude oil in Bombay 

High and in the US and or in Russia. Each 

crude oil has different properties. 

What are the new trends you are 

seeing in Indian Defence market? 

I think Indian Defence market is going 

to through certain changes. One of the 

elements is modernising of the aircraft. 

If you look at the aircraft previously, 

the transport aircraft of Russian origin 

designed from 70s and 80s that we 

purchased. Now the new transport aircraft 

which has been purchased C-130, C-70 

and they will start taking over the main 

responsibility because they are more fuel 

efficient, take off and land in a shorter 

runway. They don’t need any finished 

runway or concrete runway. So there 

is the advantage to those aircraft, they 

will get more use and there are a lot of 

Honeywell components on them. We are 

working with the airports to establish the 

maintenance requirements, maintenance 

facility for Honeywell products. 

In Hyderabad, we have done another 

R&D centre actually. R&D is a service 

centre, one of the key things we provide 

from Hyderabad is also, what we call, 

Flight support Services. Flight Support 

services is for example for the business 

aircraft. For these aircraft when they 

are planning a flight, let’s say it is going 

to fly from Mumbai to Dubai-so we will 

from this Hyderabad centre, will get the 

information on this date, on this time we 

want to leave and this time we will arrive. 

So they will then plan out around it, give 

them all the view points, identify them, 

get all the weather picture, getting all 

the clearance while the aircraft is in the 

air, to follow them to make sure whether 

there is any problem or not. 

If there is any problem, they will send 

to alternate airport, to book even hotel 

to help them. By the time they land, 

hotel will already be there and cars 

also will be ready to pick them from the 

airport, because for these people time 

is so precious. One of the main things 

is supporting the flights of business 

aircraft and that support is done from 

Hyderabad for flights all over the world, 

not just in India but all over the world. 

Business aircraft in the US are also using 

Hyderabad centre for this for example. 

If you go on air with a good control 

from all these big TVs, tracking all flights 

in US and Europe, Asia, India and the 

different parts of the world, they have all 

control over all these people, each one is 

monitoring, helping, planning for future 

flights of getting clearances and working 

with the Airports for landing time and 

arrangements 

What are you doing on modernization 

of Indian Airports? 

I will give an idea about what we had 

done in Hyderabad and Delhi Airport on 

the new terminals. For example: Delhi 

Airport T3. All the security systems -- that 

means from video camera to the control 

room to the badge readers, whether 

someone has to put badge to open the 

door or close the door before you enter 

the airport -- all those badge readers, all 

those control system for the full security, 

the preliminary security of airport were 

done by Honeywell. 

All the air conditioning control system, 

all the lighting control systems, and the 

runway lights are done by Honeywell. 

So a lot of equipment into these large 

buildings and structures to manage 

electricity, energy, and all those things are 

done by Honeywell. So Hyderabad airport 

is the same thing, Delhi airport is the same 

thing, all the new airport coming up, we 

are working on Chennai with AAI and will 

work like this in future. 

What are the short term, medium 

term and long term plans? 

Short term, obviously continue what we 

are doing now, grow and expand. Medium 

term would be to do more research, 

more development but also not only for 

products made and operated in western 

world but also new products for India 

specifically. Now we are starting to look 

at what is needed in India that we can 

design in India and make it in India for the 

Indian Market. This is a kind of medium 

term. Then long term is also when to take 

development from both areas -- western 

development and Indian development 

-- and apply it different places. We call it 

“Upon East for East and East for West”. 

East for east means India for Indian market 

and east for west means the things we 

develop for western market. 

What’s the update on the human 

resources front? 

I think it depends upon the business 

growth. It is hard to put numbers on that. 

In 2002 or 2003, we had 1000 employees 

in India, but today we have 12,000 

employees in India. That means the 

growth rate is quiet good, so based on the 

business growth, something like this will 

continue. I think there is no resistance on 

the part of Honeywell to grow on. 

What are the takeaways from Paris 

Air show? 

Two big very clear announcements we 

made, one was on the green fuel. This 

fuel was used first to fly from the US to 

Europe. It was on Honeywell’s business 

jet and it was used to 50-50 random of 

normal oil based jet fuel verses the green 

fuel. We have the process to convert 

this into eco-friendly jet fuel. There are 

several advantages of the fuel that we 

developed. 

All aero planes which use this fuel will 

have less carbon emission so they have 

to pay less carbon tax. They can save 

money this way. And the other thing 

in regard to this fuel is that, it is being 

tested and certified by ASTM (American 

Society of Testing Material). Once it is 

certified, then all the refineries can start 

producing it, so the oil companies can 

start delivering it to airfield use by the 

airport. 

This fuel has been tested on about 10 or 

12 different types of aircraft in different 

engines in different parts of the world 

like the US, Korea, Japan, and Asia. It 

has been tested on Boeing aircraft, Air 

force Aircraft, GE engine, Helicopters, 

Fighter aircraft of the military. All types 

of engines, aircraft, and requirements 

are tested for the last 20 years. After all 

these thorough testing, it is certified 

and now it is ready for the actual use. It 

is important from efficiency perspective, 

environmental perspective. 

Any joint venture? 

One we announced with SAFRAN for 

electric taxi system, which basically would 

take the electric power from observing 

power unit and use it to drive the wheels 

of the airplane so that there is no need to 

turn on the main engine. In India, we don’t 

have any joint venture. 


A e r o m a g 23

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony releasing the Raksha Bhoomi Data CD for 

services, in New Delhi. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, the DGDE, 

Shri Ashok Kumar Harnal, Secretary (Defence Production), Shri Shekhar Aggarwal and 

the DG, NIC, Shri B.K. Gairola are also seen. 

LDRA celebrates first year 

Operations Director. “With educational 

Technical Seminar 

programs throughout the country, the 

Date: September 7, 2011 

Software Technology 

Location: India Hyderabad, office India has taken the LDRA message 

of best-practice programming to our 

LDRA, a leading provider of clients, not only teaching them how to use 

automated 

Software Best 

software 

Practices 

verification, 

for the Defence 

the 

Market 

LDRA tool suite more efficiently, but 

source This one code day free analysis seminar and will focus test on tools, improving also the software ensuring they are well-equipped to 

development lifecycle and provide attendees with best practise 

has celebrated 

programming 

the first 

methodologies 

anniversary 

to show 

of 

how 

the 

to define, 

design 

build and 

and develop software for stringent 

launch of a local office maintain at Bangalore. 

all phases of development. verification.”Working with technology 

Building on LDRA’s 35 years in bestpractice 

partners, LDRA India has automated test 

Who should attend: 

programming, certification processes, seamlessly integrating with 

• Project Managers 

• Verification Engineers 

and testing, • LDRA Software India Engineershas developed 

• Process Engineers other design and development tools 

• System Engineers 

• Engineering Managers 

contracts with • India’s Software Technical defense, Leads aerospace, already in the client’s tool chain. 

nuclear and other government-owned “Studies indicate a strong correlation 

Agenda 

public sector industries. 

between software quality and solid 

Time 

Working 

Details 

with LDRA’s international corporate profitability,” added Hennell. 

8.45 am - 9.15 am Registration 

team of certification experts, LDRA India 

9.15 am - 9.45 am Welcome note by LDRA 

has brought 9.45 am - 10.15 the am same Best IV&V level Practices of by Oak standards 

Systems Pvt. Ltd 

“LDRA brings this level of global competency 

to local developers who are seeking the 

commitment 

10.15 am - 11.00 

to 

amindustry Achieve Compliance 

offices 

to the MISRA 

located 

C++ Coding Standard 

automated 

by LDRA 

software test and requirements 

11.00 am – 11.15 am Break 

in India. Working with Indian standards traceability that LDRA has become known 

11.15 am - 12.45 am Software Lifecycle Traceability (requirements, source code, test cases, 

committees, LDRA object India code) by plays LDRA an active for across all of their development centres, 

12.45 pm – 1.45 pm Lunch 

role in developing local industry. Domainspecific 

whether at home or abroad.” 

1.45 pm – 2.30 pm Building Secure Software in accordance to CERT C/CWE by LDRA 

2.30 Competency pm – 3.30 pm Case study Centres by LDRA have been 

established with major institutions and 

regulators in Military Avionics, Nuclear 

Local experts in standards, such as IEC 

61508, DO-178B, IEC 62304, ISO 26262, 

MISRA C, MISRA C++, and CERT C have also 

and Defence, resulting For more in information improved contact: drafted articles showing how to implement 

Tel: +91 80 4080 8707 Fax: +91 80 4204 3186 E-mail: india@ldra.com 

practices and strengthening of the local these standards into software development 

www.ldra.com 

regulatory framework in order to establish processes. Several of these articles have 

safer, more secure software systems. been published in American, British, 

Through a series of educational seminars, 

LDRA India has successfully educated 

programmers,designers and verification 

teams on the importance of incorporating 

German and local publications. Operations 

and Sales Director Shinto Joseph, an expert 

in critical software development, directs the 

LDRA office in India. 

better-quality practices into their product LDRA India will offer a series of 

development. Testing services and technology seminars on aerospace, 

partner training programs have enabled 

local companies to meet their certification 

requirements and contribute to industry 

development. 

“In just one year, LDRA India has 

achieved quite a number of successes,” 

nuclear and defence best practices and 

certification focused on issues relevant 

to India development starting the week 

of 5th September 2011. This series will be 

followed by technology trend seminars 

for medical, rail, automotive and security 

commended Ian Hennell, LDRA domains in Q4 of 2011. 

Soundar Rajan 

DARE Director 

P 

M Soundar Rajan has taken 

over as new director of Defence 

Avionics Research Establishment, 

a premier defence lab engaged in design, 

development and integration of mission 

computor and avionics systems for combat 

aircraft. 

Soundar Rajan commenced his 

professional career in 1973 with LRDE. 

During his tenure at LRDE he designed and 

developed digital communication systems. 

From 1978-1996, he was part of ADE 

contributing towards the Flight Testing 

and LCA Avionics Integration activities. He 

joined DARE (erstwhile ASIEO) in 1996. He 

contributed towards the development and 

integration of Mission Computer and other 

Avionics systems for the Su30 MKI aircraft 

under the project “Vetrivale”. 

As the Chief Designer and Project 

Director of the MiG 27 avionics upgrade, 

he has successfully upgraded the aircraft 

which is currently in Squadron Service. 

He is the recipient of AGNI Award for 

excellence in Self Reliance for the year 

2003 and DRDO Performance Excellence 

Award for the year 2008. 

Defence 

contractors to 

face pressure 

Defence contractors will face 

significant pressures thanks to 

the potential for 10% or greater 

cuts in the nation’s defence budget, as 

expected following the recent signing 

of the US Budget Control Act, says a new 

report by Moody’s Investors Service. Both 

larger prime contractors and smaller 

manufacturers will be affected over the 

next 10 years, says the report. 

BEML, 

Alenia Aeronautica 

join hands 

Bangalore-headquartered BEML Limited has signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding with aero giant Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A., Italy. 

Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A., is a global player in designing, building and 

integrating support complex system for both commercial and defence market 

worldwide. Its product portfolio includes proprietary aircraft products like the C-27J, 

the ATR42MP and the ATR72ASW. 

By this MoU, signed by V R S Natarajan, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML Limited 

and Mr. Alessandro Franzoni, Chief Operating Officer of Alenia Aeronautica, both BEML 

and Alenia will pursue a mutual collaboration for designing, manufacturing and selling a 

new primary/basic training aircraft on a new generation screener. This initiative will help 

Ministry of Defence in finding a reliable source for its requirements of Basic Trainer Aircraft 

(BTA) and also a befitting replacement for the existing HPT-32 Deepak Trainer Aircraft. 

BEML has recently diversified further its business into aerospace and acquired 

land at SEZ Aerospace Park near Bangalore International Airport for establishing an 

exclusive division for the manufacture of aerospace components and aggregates, 

fabrication of structural sub-assemblies, Jigs for Aircraft structures and migrate in 

manufacture of aircraft and helicopters in the years to come. 

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He has a vast experience of working in Home, 

Finance and Personnel Administration and has 

worked in all core areas of the Governments both 

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A e r o m a g 25

The President of ICCR, Dr. Karan Singh delivering the theme lecture entitled “Rajiv Gandhi 

a Visionary: Development and Growth of Indian Civil Aviation” at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial 

Lecture function, organized by M/o Civil Aviation, in New Delhi.The Union Minister for 

Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation, Shri Vayalar Ravi is also seen. 

Air Defence Ship to be 

launched in December 

The Indian Navy (IN) has one aircraft 

carrier i.e. INS Viraat. To maintain 

effective presence in “our area of 

interest”, IN should be capable of deploying 

carrier task forces in two geographically 

separated locations, according to Defence 

Minister A K Antony. 

The refit and modernisation works on 

board the Vikramaditya are progressing 

in an earnest manner. Consequent to 

signing of Supplementary Agreements 

in March, 2010, the Russian side has 

increased the manpower and material 

resources considerably for the project. 

A majority of the equipment/systems 

have been installed on board the ship. 

Haas Automation has announced 

that HaasTEC India will be held 

from October 11th to 13th, 2011, 

at the Chennai Trade Centre. This is the first 

time a HaasTEC open house is to be held 

in India, but the event will be modeled on 

the hugely successful HaasTEC that took 

place at the company’s factory and global 

headquarters in Oxnard, California, in 

March of this year. 

“We’ve chosen to hold the inaugural 

HaasTEC India in Chennai because we 

have a particularly large customer-base 

in the area,” says Haas India marketing 

coordinator, Ms. Melita Furtado. “We are 

The delivery of ship is scheduled in 

December 2012. 

Regarding the ‘Air Defence Ship’ being 

constructed at Cochin Shipyard Limited 

(CSL), 75 per cent of hull work has 

been completed and is expected to be 

launched in December 2011, after which 

further works will be undertaken prior to 

commissioning, Antony said. 

Augmentation of infrastructure at CSL 

is underway. With the infrastructure 

and experience, indigenous Aircraft 

Carrier-sized ships can be built at 

CSL. Additionally, India manufactures 

warship quality steel, which will reduce 

dependence on foreign countries. 

ss time with a high-performance 

swaps tools in 0.8 seconds, and its 

tapping to 5000 rpm, with up to 4-times 

pids and 1 G accelerations combine to 

All this – for a great price. 

Haas India announces inaugural 

HaasTEC Open House 

only directly attending one local show 

in the south of the country during this 

year, so this will be a great opportunity 

for companies in the region to see the 

very latest Haas products.” Like its US 

antecedent, HaasTEC India is expected 

to attract hundreds of visitors to see 

the company’s latest generation CNC 

machine tools, such as the all-new 

range of ST CNC lathes, including Y-axis 

models. Also on display will be the bestselling 

DT-1 Drill/Tap Center, a wide array 

of new generation Haas VMCs - including 

50-taper, high speed and mould-making 

models. Several vendors will also support 

tlet – India locations 

elephone – 022-27742181, 9320178231 

1179452 / 53 

| www.HaasCNC.com | Made in the USA 

NASA research shows 

DNA building blocks 

can be made in space 

NASA-funded researchers have 

found more evidence meteorites 

can carry DNA components 

created in space. 

Scientists have detected the building 

blocks of DNA in meteorites since 

the 1960s, but were unsure whether 

they were created in space or resulted 

from contamination by terrestrial life. 

The latest research indicates certain 

nucleobases -- the building blocks of 

our genetic material -- reach the Earth 

on meteorites in greater diversity and 

quantity than previously thought. 

The discovery adds to a growing 

body of evidence that the chemistry 

inside asteroids and comets is capable 

of making building blocks of essential 

biological molecules. Previously, 

scientists found amino acids in samples 

of comet Wild 2 from NASA’s Stardust 

mission and in various carbon-rich 

meteorites. Amino acids are used to 

make proteins, the workhorse molecules 

of life. Proteins are used in everything 

from structures such as hair to enzymes, 

which are the catalysts that speed up or 

regulate chemical reactions. 

In the new work, scientists analysed 

samples of 12 carbon-rich meteorites, 

nine of which were recovered from 

Antarctica. The team found adenine and 

guanine, which are components of DNA 

nucleobases. 

the event, with 

booths for, for 

example, major 

CAD/CAM, 

tooling, and 

work holding 

suppliers. 

Alongside the 

CNC machines, 

HaasTec India will also feature a selection 

of Haas rotary products on display, 

including the brand-new HRT160SS highspeed 

rotary table. The HRT160SS is the 

fastest rotary table Haas has built to date, 

providing a maximum speed of 570° per 

second – more than four times the speed 

of the standard HRT160. Its compact 

size and high speed make it the perfect 

complement for the DT-1 Drill/Tap center, 

and other high-speed Haas machines. 

Simple. Innovation. 


A e r o m a g 27

Morpho unveils vision for 

aviation security solutions 

The best in any language ! 

Latest technologies include hold 

baggage and liquid explosives 

screening solutions 

Newark, Calif. -- Morpho Detection, Inc., 

the detection business of Morpho, Safran 

group’s security unit is demonstrating its 

leadership in the aviation security space 

with a focal point on new, advanced 

technology explosives detection solutions 

as part of a complete Morpho vision for 

integrated security and customs/border 

control passenger screening processes. 

The Morpho vision is intended to drive 

greater screening effectiveness, operational 

efficiencies and increased passenger 

satisfaction through the use of new, 

advanced technology solutions and the 

combination of security and border control 

processes into a single, non-stop lane. 

Morpho’s state of the art, medium speed 

CTX 5800 hold baggage explosives 

detection system (EDS) has been evaluated 

by the European Civil Aviation Conference 

(ECAC) as meeting European Union 

Standard 3 requirements. The CTX 5800 

is also certified by the U.S. Transportation 

Security Administration. 

The successful ECAC evaluation gives 

European authorities and airports flexibility 

in meeting their security challenges with a 

choice of a powerful, but smaller-size EUcompliant 

computed tomography-based 

(CT) screening solution. EU regulations state 

all new EDS equipment purchases should 

meet Standard 3 requirements by 2012. 

Morpho Detection is a leader in the 

development and deployment of its CTbased 

CTX family of EDS with nearly 2,000 

units deployed to airports worldwide – six 

of them at New Delhi International Airport. 

One of the most interesting new aviation 

security technologies is Morpho Detection’s 

unique screening solution for liquid 

explosives at the passenger checkpoint… 

the X-ray Diffraction-based XDi. 

When available for deployment in time 

for the EU’s planned lifting of the current 

liquids ban, XDi will allow passengers 

once again to carry normal quantities of 

liquids onto passenger aircraft. The only 

known so-called “Type D” liquids screening 

solution, XDi will effectively identify liquid 

and other explosives in their containers and 

in passengers’ bags without the need to 

remove them for screening. 

Several airport security directors have 

stated recently that such a Type D solution is 

the “only” operationally viable approach to 

the lifting of the current liquids ban. 

The XDi X-ray Diffraction-based 

screening solution is under development 

for 2013 deployment in time to meet 

the EU requirement to reliably detect 

liquid explosives, and their components, 

in passengers’ carry-on bags at the 

checkpoint. XDi is being developed at 

Morpho’s XRD Center of Excellence in 

Hamburg. 

Morpho Detection’s desktop explosives 

and narcotics detection solution, Itemiser 

DX, has also been approved by six global 

regulatory agencies and has sold more 

than 3,000 units since introduction in 

2010. Among the approvers of Itemiser 

DX, Morpho Detection’s latest trace 

explosives detection solution are the U.S. 

Transportation Security Administration 

(TSA), the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the 

Italian Department of Transport, the United 

Kingdom Department for Transport and the 

U.K. Home Office Scientific Development 

Branch (HOSDB). 

Itemiser DX, and other Morpho Detection 

trace explosives detection solutions, are 

widely deployed in India including the 

New Delhi Airport and by several express 

shipping companies. More than 150 such 

trace units were recently deployed to help 

protect the Commonwealth Games and 

other sporting events like ICC Cricket World 

Cup and the IPL. All told, Morpho Detection 

has deployed more than 22,000 trace 

detection units to help protect people and 

high risk facilities around the world. 

For more on Morpho Detection and 

its security products, please visit www. 

morpho.com/detection. 

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from

Sqn Ldr (Retd) 

Baldev Singh is 

Director (Corporate 

Planning &Marketing) 

for HAL 

Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh has 

taken over the charge of Director 

Corporate Planning & Marketing of 

HAL. 

Earlier to this, he was Executive Director 

Flight Operations and the Chief Test Pilot 

(Fixed Wing) at HAL Bangalore Complex. 

Highly experienced in various facets of 

aviation, he has a total Flight Test experience 

of over 6000 hours on 55 different types of 

aircraft. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor 

and holds a diploma in Aviation Flight Safety 

from the Naval Post Graduate College, 

Monterey Bay, California, USA. Baldev Singh 

joined the National Defence Academy in 

1970 and graduated in December 1972 and 

was commissioned into the Indian Air Force 

in June 1973 as a fighter pilot. 

After doing operational flying on Hunter, 

Mig-21 and Mig-23 aircraft, he qualified as 

a Flight Instructor in July 1983, and was 

posted to Air Force Academy at Hyderabad 

for Instructional Flying Duties on the Kiran 

Aircraft. In 1984 he did his experimental 

test pilots course and was deputed to HAL 

in 1986. In 1989 and joined HAL. 

He was involved with the LCA Programme 

from 1990 onwards and was deputed to 

the Aeronautical Development Agency 

for this purpose. He carried out the flight 

evaluation of these flight control laws at 

the Real Time simulator at BAE Wharton 

in UK followed by the flight evaluation of 

these control laws on the F-16, Lear Jet 

and NT-33 aircraft in USA. He has extensive 

test flying experience on five prototype 

programmes and carried out the first 

flights of the HANSA aircraft and the 

Intermediate Jet Trainer. 

Raytheon’s AESA Radars 

continue to set the standard 

Raytheon’s active electronically scanned array radar technology achieved more 

than 250,000 operational flight hours. Used by customers around the world 

on multiple platforms, more than 300 radar systems have been delivered to 

domestic and international customers to help ensure their mission success. 

“We believe Raytheon’s AESA technology is the cornerstone of future fighter 

aircraft,” said Mark Kula, vice president, Tactical Airborne Systems, for Raytheon 

Space and Airborne Systems. “No one offers Raytheon’s level of operational AESA 

capability and mission support. Our leading-edge AESA technology is combatproven, 

in production, and available today.” 

Today’s changing threat environment drives warfighters’ need for technologically 

advanced sensors that will keep existing platforms relevant and operational at a 

moment’s notice. Raytheon’s AESA radars provide a significant advantage in the 

demanding fighter aircraft environment, ensuring customers remain at the forefront 

of tactical capabilities to complete their mission. 

Qantas reveals plans to expand 

fleet with A320 family 

Qantas has selected for the first time 

Airbus A320 aircraft to launch its 

new premium airline to service 

routes to/from Australia and the Asian 

region. In addition, Jetstar has selected 

the Airbus A320 to continue its growth in 

Australia and Asia. The commitment to 

order a minimum of 106 A320 Family aircraft 

includes 78 A320neo jets, making Qantas 

the latest airline to select the world’s best 

selling single-aisle aircraft. The decision to 

go with Airbus for its short to medium haul 

operations underpins the Qantas long term 

strategy to build up a fleet of the world’s 

most fuel efficient and reliable aircraft. 

“We are delighted to be investing in Airbus’ 

fuel efficient A320 Family, including the new 

A320neo as part of Qantas’ international 

transformation plan and Jetstar’s pan-Asian 

expansion.” said Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO. 

“The A320 Family’s outstanding operational 

efficiency and comfort, paired with its 

environmental credentials, make it the right 

choice for Qantas.” 

“Qantas is an exceptionally forward 

looking and pioneering airline and we are 

delighted to play such a significant role in 

the company’s future strategy.” said John 

Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, 

Customers. “In a fiercely competitive market 

this is a great endorsement for our ecoefficient 

A320neo and A320 aircraft with 

their unique passenger appeal thanks to 

their wider cabin.” 


A e r o m a g 31

MathWorks working with 

academia as partnership 

We view our work with academia more as a partnership, 

where everyone involved –students, professors and the 

industry, benefit from fostering long-term relationships, 

says Jon Friedman, the Aerospace & Defence and 

Automotive Industry Marketing Manager at the 

MathWorks in an interview to Aeromag Asia. MathWorks 

recognises and works with a number of universities 

worldwide to help professors teach students the skills 

required by industry. 

communications engineers require tools 

that offer: 

•A flexible environment to create the IP 

within the algorithms at the heart of the 

modern receiver and the waveforms that 

drive the modern transmitter. 

•The capability to design and analyze 

timing impacts on the receiver algorithm, 

such as signal synchronization and 

feedback within the design for phase 

lock. 

•A seamless path from floating point 

design to fixed point implementation to 

ensure that the component and system 

level performance requirements are not 

lost to quantization error. 

•An environment for system level 

executable modeling that captures the 

digital, RF and channel effects so that 

engineers can analyze and verify that 

system level performance is met a the 

design level before implementation. 

•A path to hardware implementation 

and testing. For example if the algorithm 

is modeled and simulated, engineers may 

want to automatically generate C or HDL 

code for implementation on a DSP or 

FPGA, respectively. 

using MATLAB and Simulink no longer 

test and verify that requirements are met 

only at the end of the design process. 

Rather, they test and verify throughout 

the process, which saves time and money. 

Can you share any examples where 

customers using MBD were able to 

improve their designs? 

Aerospace companies today are facing 

two major hurdles – they need to reduce 

development time while simultaneously 

improving quality and they need to meet 

demands for greater system complexity 

from customers and the government. 

Model-Based Design addresses these 

across a variety of scenarios. 

A great example is using Model- 

Based Design for flight controls. A large 

American helicopter manufacturer used 

Model-Based Design to develop the 

flight controls for a tilt rotor aircraft and 

realized a 40 percent saving in software 

development time compared to previous 

for your aerospace offerings? 

Aerospace companies with engineering 

centers in India need to compete 

internationally for system design, 

verification, and implementation projects. 

High-tech domestic projects for civilian 

aircraft, space exploration, and defense 

require the usage of development 

tools and methodologies that can 

reduce risk, cost, and development time 

simultaneously increasing productivity 

and enabling innovation. MATLAB and 

Simulink products are the industrystandard 

tools for Model-Based Design 

and Technical Computing and enable 

aerospace customers to move from 

internal research and development 

(IRAD) to design and implementation in a 

single environment. Using a Model-Based 

design development approach enables 

companies to mitigate program risk by 

sharing system specifications, analysis, 

and test data. 

What are the trends and innovations 

you are seeing in the aerospace 

industry globally? 

Across the globe, we are seeing 

engineers use commercial off-the-shelf 

(COTS) tools to develop and deploy 

embedded systems for sophisticated 

control and communications onto a 

wide variety of platforms, but mostly 

unmanned aerial systems (UASs)and 

satellite systems. Interestingly, all of this 

activity weaved through a move toward a 

Model-Based Design. 

For example, embedded controllers 

continue to grow in sophistication 

and criticality to the systems which 

they control. As a result, software 

development organizations must meet 

stringent software quality objectives that 

are mandated by the organization itself or 

required by customers or by government 

regulations such as DO-178b. 

For design teams to meet these 

objectives, and to ideally achieve zerodefect 

software, they are turning to 

state of the art testing and verification 

solutions. This has created a demand 

for COTS tools that can automatically 

generate code and provide code-level 

verification that help in compliance to 

requirements, conformance to standards, 

and traceability analysis. 

Similarly, aerospace communications 

systems today are expected to be mobile, 

work in harsh environments, overcome 

active and passive interference, and meet 

a variety of mission scenarios. Added to 

these requirements is the demand for 

flexibility interoperability requires, which 

needs to be balanced with the proliferation 

of multimedia data streams that need high 

throughput. Increasingly, the preferred 

way to meet all these requirements 

requires creating systems that combine 

software and hardware, using both 

programmable DSPs and FPGAs. To meet 

these market requirements, engineers 

are now exploring new paradigms 

for development to create, test, and 

deploy these types of systems, one that 

focuses on creating and testing models 

and prototypes before final hardware 

implementations, using COTS tools, 

saving both time and money. 

Applications for embedded controls 

and advanced communications include 

unmanned aerial systems (UASs), which 

continue to proliferate in the market. 

To meet the wide variety of civilian and 

defense missions the next generation 

of UAS’s will need to balance potentially 

conflicting performance and robustness 

requirements. These trade offs can be 

assessed using COTS tools that are no 

longer domain specific and instead 

capture the system-level behavior. 

Another segment of the aerospace 

market where embedded control 

and advanced communications are 

having an impact is in satellite systems. 

While the cost of manufacturing and 

launching scales down with satellite 

size, the engineering development 

cost for satellites does not. Engineering 

development cost is mainly driven by the 

new technology incorporated into the 

satellite and operational complexity both 

of which are increasing. 

What is driving the adoption of EDA 

tools in the aerospace and defence 

space? 

As described above, advanced 

communications are a significant trend in 

the aerospace and defence market place. 

In turn, this trend is driving the adoption 

of EDA tools because the complexity of 

the customer requirements, harshness of 

the operating environment, and resulting 

sophistication IP created is moving beyond 

what engineers are capable of developing 

by hand. Also, more system designs now 

need a combination of software and 

hardware solutions, which previously 

could have been implemented using 

predominantly software-based solutions 

that were deployed on programmable 

DSPs or microcontrollers. 

To meet the market need, 

What is Model Based Design? How can 

MATLAB and Simulink help engineers 

working in the aerospace industry? 

Model-Based Design, as its name 

implies, allows models to be reused 

throughout the design process. With 

Model-Based Design, engineers create 

and use executable models in the early 

design stages instead of relying on paper 

specifications. The models serve as 

executable specifications of the machine 

that enable engineers to validate and 

verify specifications against the machine 

requirements early in the process. 

Engineers also use the models to 

communicate specifications in an 

unambiguous manner with their 

colleagues who may be working just down 

the hall or at another company across 

the globe. Further, these multi-domain 

models allow the machine designer to 

evaluate the complex interactions across 

various engineering disciplines. Designers 

can perform rapid design iterations to 

make system level tradeoffs between 

various design parameters and optimize 

overall machine performance. This 

enables engineers to try innovative ideas 

and concepts for improving machine 

performance without the significant 

investment in time and resources 

that hardware-focused development 

processes require. Aerospace engineers 

programs. 

One of the trends we’re seeing is the 

need for code verification especially in 

high-integrity systems. Engineers at a 

multi-national aerospace manufacturer 

working on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) 

program developed three variants of the 

JSF using a common set of system models 

to simulate avionics, propulsion and other 

systems, and to automatically generate 

final flight code, which resulted in fewer 

engineering tasks when compared with 

traditional methods that rely on hand 

coding. 

We spoke about aerospace 

communications - here’s an example 

of that - a team within a British defense 

and aerospace company working on a 

software defined radio (SDR) system was 

able to reduce their rework and overall 

development time by a factor of 10 using 

Model-Based Design. It typically took 

645 hours for an engineer with years of 

VHDL coding experience to hand code 

a fully functional SDR waveform using 

the traditional design flow, whereas a 

second engineer with limited experience 

completed the same project using Model- 

Based Design in fewer than 46 hours. 

Please elaborate on the Indian market 

MathWorks products are also 

fundamental teaching and research 

tools in many of the world’s universities 

and learning institutions. Could you 

talk about some of the recent forays? 

We view our work with academia 

more as a partnership, where everyone 

involved –students, professors and the 

industry, benefit from fostering longterm 

relationships.MathWorks recognizes 

and works with a number of universities 

worldwide to help professors teach 

students the skills required by industry. 

Through our relationships with these 

universities, we have seen that students 

and industry alike benefit from students’ 

hands-on training of real software tools 

and approaches, such as Model-Based 

Design. 

Integrating software into the 

engineering curriculum helps students 

gain increased motivation and valuable 

experience; as a result, industry gains a 

ready-to-work, well-educated talent pool 

in the next generation of engineers. As 

a further step to our commitment in this 

space, we sponsor a number of student 

competitions, such as EcoCAR2 and ET 

Robocon, where students are challenged 

to solve problems they are likely to face in 

a work environment. 


A e r o m a g 33

Your reliable source for Special Metals 

and Alloys 

Critical applications in the Power, Atomic Energy, Aerospace, Telecommunications, 

Petrochemical and General Engineering Sectors call for special metals and alloys which 

guarantee a high degree of performance and reliability in demanding conditions like high 

temperature and corrosive environment. Whatever may be the special requirement and 

application, Midhani has the product. 

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited – Midhani at Hyderabad caters to these high reliability – 

high performance requirements by offering a diverse range of special metals and alloys. 

The product portfolio comprises of superalloys, titanium and its alloys, special purpose 

steels, electrical resistance alloys, softmagnetic alloys, molybdenum and a host of other 

alloys. 

Midhani is also geared to meet your specific requirements. Do use our long standing 

experience to solve your problems. For more details and for a complete list of products 

and services get in touch with our Marketing Division. 

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited 

PO: Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad – 500 058, 

Tel : 24340253, 24340634, 24340293, 24343531 

Fax: 24341250, 24340764, 24340214, 24340371 

E Mail : mktg.midhani@ap.nic.in 

URL:www.midhani.com 

DI gets major contract 

DynCorp International (DI) has 

announced that it has won a 

contract with the U.S. Naval Air 

Systems Command to provide aviation 

maintenance and logistic support at the 

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, 

Patuxent River, Md. 

“For 38 years, DynCorp International 

has proudly supported the U.S. Navy at 

Pax River under the Contract Field Teams 

program, and we are honored to continue 

that support under this new Navy 

contract,” said Catherine Gridley, vice 

president of DI’s Aviation business. “As 

one of the largest employers in southern 

Maryland, we have had a long standing 

presence in the area and are delighted to 

continue serving the U.S. Navy at one of 

our country’s premier aviation sites.” 

The competitively-awarded, cost-plusfixed-fee 

contract has a base year valued 

at $92.8 million, with a total contract value 

of $490 million if all four option years are 

exercised. DI will provide maintenance 

services for the Naval Test Wing Atlantic’s 

fleet of test and evaluation aircraft and for 

the prestigious U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. 

This includes all rotary, fixed, lighterthan-air, 

and unmanned aircraft on-site 

for project testing, as well as transient, 

loaner, leased and tested civilian aircraft 

assigned to the Naval Air Warfare Center 

Aircraft Division. DI will also perform 

supportability/safety studies and off-site 

aircraft safety/spill containment patrols 

and aircraft recovery services. 

DynCorp International is a global 

government services provider working 

in support of U.S. national security and 

foreign policy objectives, delivering 

support solutions for defense, diplomacy 

and international development. DI 

operates major programs in logistics, 

platform support, contingency operations 

and training and mentoring to reinforce 

security, community stability and the 

rule of law. DynCorp International is 

headquartered in Falls Church, Va. 

Contracts signed with US firms 

Procurement of defence items is made from various indigenous, as well as foreign 

sources including Unites States of America (USA) in accordance with the Defence 

Procurement Procedure, according to Defence Minister A K Antony. This is a 

continuous process undertaken for the modernization of the Armed Forces to keep 

them in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality. Contracts have been signed for 

purchase of various defence equipment including CI30J Transport Aircraft, VVIP Boeing, 

Harpoon Missiles, Sensor Fused Weapons, C-17 Globemaster III, INS Jalashwa, P-81 LRMR 

Aircraft etc. from the USA during the period from 2004 to 2011. 

Northrop wins USD 388 million contract 

Department of the Army Mission 

and Installation Contracting 

Command Center - Fort Eustis 

ha\s awarded Northrop Grumman 

Corporation a contract to provide training 

and technical services in support of the 

U.S. Army Mission Command Training 

Program (MCTP). 

The $388.4 million cost plus award fee 

contract includes a one-year base with 

four option years. Work will be performed 

at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and training 

facilities worldwide. 

“For more than 20 years, Northrop 

Grumman has provided the U.S. Army with 

the most realistic and challenging training 

support based upon lessons learned from 

the front lines,” said Tom Vice, corporate 

vice president and president of Northrop 

Grumman Technical Services. “We look 

forward to continuing to provide bestvalue, 

world-class support to this critical 

program that is so vital to our Nation’s 

warfighters.” The Northrop Grumman 

team provides critical training support 

based upon real world threat scenarios 

to U.S. Army and Allied commanders 

and staffs from battalion through Corps 

level. No U.S. Army brigade since Desert 

Shield/Desert Storm has deployed into a 

combat theater without going through 

an MCTP exercise. 

“We are excited to continue our 

legacy of superior performance for the 

MCTP customer,” said Greg Schmidt, 

vice president and general manager, 

Northrop Grumman Technical Service’s 

Training Solutions Division. “The team 

looks forward to providing high-quality, 

innovative training solutions to the US 

Army for current and future Mission 

Command requirements.” 

Chamola is HAL’s 

Director (HR) 

V 

M Chamola has taken over as 

Director, Human Resources, 

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). 

Previously, he was Chief General Manager 

(CGM) HR in BEML and he also has 

HAL’s exposure earlier as Addl. General 

Manager (HR). 

Having rich experience in various 

segments of HR coupled with unstinted 

efforts in streamlining the arena, HAL saw 

rapid changes during his previous term. 

He rationalised the transport services, 

brought in uniform system for canteen 

services and shift timings to name a few 

of his achievements. On assuming the 

elevated post, he said, “it is challenging, 

we need to focus on bringing in more 

transparent and uniform systems”. 

Chamola hails from Uttarakhand and 

did his post graduation in MA (Economics) 

from Garhwal University, LLB from APS 

University, MBA (HRM) from IGNOU 

and is pursuing Doctorate in Business 

Administration. 

His career started as Executive Trainee 

in NTPC in 1982 and reached the rank of 

Manager (P&A). Further he joined NJPC 

in 1992 and reached the scale of Chief 

Manager (P&A). He joined HAL in 1998, 

served as Deputy General Manager 

(P&A) and Addl. General Manager (HR). 

Finally he was with BEML as Chief General 

Manager (HR) before joining HAL now. 

His expertise includes Industrial Relations, 

Training & Development, Administration, 

Welfare, issues related to Establishment 

and manpower planning. 

He was instrumental in formulating the 

Employees Voluntary Benevolent Fund 

Scheme in 1991 providing an immediate 

relief of one lakh rupees to the deceased 

employees of NTPC. He was also 

responsible for building a Corpus Fund 

under Himachal Pradesh Human Rights 

Commission for providing medical help 

to the incapacitated contract labour 

working with NJPC. 


A e r o m a g 35

Subhananda Rao 

Chief Controller 

(Aero) of DRDO 

Dr A Subhananda Rao, 

Distinguished Scientist of 

DRDO, has taken over as Chief 

Controller (Aero) at Bangalore. 

A gold medalist in B.E [Mech. 

Engineering] from National Institute 

of Technology [NIT], Warangal (1973) 

and “Roll of Honour” awardee in M.E 

(Aeronautics) from IISc Bangalore 

(1975), Rao did his doctorate from 

Osmania University, Hyderabad 

(2005). 

Serving DRDO since 1975, he has 

contributed to the Missile Technology 

at A.S.L [Advanced Systems 

Laboratory], Hyderabad before he took 

over as Director H.E.M.R.L [High Energy 

Materials Research Laboratory], Pune in 

2004. 

Winner of many awards in the field 

of Aeronautics, Rao replaces Dr. 

Prahlada who moved to Pune as Vice 

Chancellor of D.I.A.T [Defence Institute 

of Advanced Technology], a deemed 

University. 

Rao is also holding concurrent charge 

as Director GTRE since June 2011. As 

most of the aero cluster labs are situated 

at Bangalore, Rao will be functioning 

at Bangalore to spearhead various 

technology development programmes 

of DRDO like LCA, UAVs, Kaveri, Avionics 

and Early Warning System. 

HAL plans four new 

manufacturing plants 

N C Agarwal 

HAL Director (Design & Development) 

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 

has plans to set up four 

manufacturing plants for the 

production of medium multi-role combat 

aircraft, light utility helicopter, fifth 

generation fighter aircraft and multi-role 

transport aircraft. 

HAL Director (Design & Development), 

N C Agarwal, said the Bangalore 

headquartered company, under the 

Ministry of Defence, is looking to set up 

a new complex for MMRCA. 

Government is to buy 18 aircraft under 

the MMRCA programme from a foreign 

manufacturer, with the remaining 108 to 

be produced by HAL under licence. 

He said the HAL is scouting for a 

location for manufacture of light utility 

helicopter (LUH), and once it’s identified, 

government approval would be sought. 

Separate factories have also been 

proposed for fifth generation fighter 

aircraft (FGFA) and multi-role transport 

aircraft, he said, adding, as per initial 

plans, MTA would be manufactured in 

Kanpur and FGFA in Nasik. 

Agarwal said work has started on the 

preliminary design of FGFA. “Russian 

team is here (in Bangalore) to train our 

people”, he said. 

FGFA is a USD six billion project, to be 

equally shared by India and Russia. 

FGFA would have advanced features 

such as stealth, super cruise, ultramanoeuvrability, 

highly integrated 

avionics suite, enhanced situational 

awareness, internal carriage of weapons 

and network centric warfare capabilities, 

officials said. 

A contract for preliminary design of the 

FGFA has already been signed between 

HAL, Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi. The 

Indo-Russian FGFA programme involves 

production of 200-250 aircraft. 

Agarwal said branch office of 

Bangalore-headquartered MTA Limited, 

the joint venture between HAL and 

Rosoboronexport & United Aircraft 

Corporation (UAC-TA) for the MTA 

project, would be opened in Moscow 

shortly. 

MTA is a USD 600.7 million project, to 

be equally shared between the Indian 

and Russian partners. 

On the LUH programme, he said the 

design has been frozen, the drawings 

are getting released and the parts are 

getting manufactured. 

On the armed variant of HAL’s advanced 

light helicopter (ALH), Agarwal said: “We 

have already done individual armament 

trials. Each one of them have been 

separately tried. 

Now, we have to do it in a joint, 

combined mode. And that is slated to be 

completed at the end of the year”. 

HAL would design and develop a new 

indigenous turboprop trainer, for which 

it has sought Government approval. 

Agarwal said HAL plans to offer 

performance based logistics (PBL) 

solutions to maintain the customers’ 

assets in optimum flying condition. 

It’s in final stage of discussions with 

IAF, he said. HAL is likely to start this 

initiative with the Hawk programme. 

He said huge manpower of several 

hundreds would be required to roll out 

such an offering. 


A e r o m a g 37

Aerospace Engineers 

take up new endeavours 

R.Sunder 

CEO 

Aerospace Engineers 

Aerospace Engineers is the 

Precision aerospace parts 

manufacturing industry certified 

with the prestigious AS9100B, established 

by R Sundaram to cater to aeronautical 

requirements. 

Its elaborate and accurate technical 

testing devices authenticated with 

systematic documentation have earned 

it the approval of Defence Research & 

Development Organisation. With steady 

growth, expansion and diversification, 

Aerospace Engineers commands a strong 

presence in the manufacturing of Precision 

parts and Non-Metallic parts. It also has 

vibrant businesses in the manufacturing 

sector. 

Aerospace Engineers today is dramatically 

different from the company created in 

2002. Aerospace Engineers, one of India’s 

most respected manufacturers of rubber 

products, is now a developer of critical, 

high precision aircraft components and 

global supplier in the area of aerospace, 

and defence. This constructive growth has 

strengthened the firm’s underlying values 

of entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Aerospace Engineers has manufactured 

about 5,000 parts that comply with 

Global Aviation requirements with 

rigorous quality standards endorsed by 

regulating authorities. The primary focus 

is to enhance customer value by making 

aircraft safer, more reliable and more costeffective 

through the company’s unique 

capabilities. 

Aerospace Engineers, operates in two 

segments: the Precision Parts Division 

- Group (PPD) and the Non-Metallic 

Manufacturing Group. The PPD Group 

designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, 

distributes and overhauls metallic parts 

& LRU parts that extend over the entire 

helicopter & aircraft, from the engines 

all the way to hydraulic, pneumatic, 

structures, and even interiors. 

The Non-Metallic Manufacturing 

Group produces all Synthetic Rubber & 

Engineering Plastic components serving 

niche segments of the aerospace and 

defence industries. 

By combining state-of-the-art 

technologies, a team of highly skilled 

members in both segments with an 

Systems, Honeywell, Snecma, Heico, Tyco 

Electronics, Eaton and Moog Aerospace. 

This enables Aerospace Engineers to 

offer advanced technological solutions 

competitively and competently. 

To take advantage of opportunities and 

to emerge as global brand, Aerospace 

Engineers has established one of its wings 

in Dallas, the USA. 

The participation of Aerospace Engineers 

in the NADCAP training programme proves 

its commitment to improvement and 

excellence in special process. Its pursuit for 

perfection is reflected in the establishment 

of NABL accredited Laboratory in the new 

plant launched recently. 

Aerospace Engineers’ recent remarkable 

triumph is the development of Main 

Gear Box Lubrication Oil Pump for 

Helicopter which has secured approval 

from Air Worthiness Authorities and an 

“AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN AEROSPACE 

INDIGENISATION” from SIATI. In addition, 

it has also developed Aerospace metallic 

& non-metallic hoses for Hydraulic 

& Pneumatic applications, Fittings, 

Connectors, Tail Rotor bearings, and 

indisputable commitment to quality, has 

constantly delivered invaluable solutions 

to customers over the years, helping them 

to position themselves as leaders within 

their industries. 

Aerospace Engineers, with steady growth, 

expansion, diversification and proven inhouse 

capabilities in Design, Development 

and Manufacturing, has been widening its 

scope for vibrant businesses by establishing 

ties with internationally reputed companies 

and OEMs such as HAL, Boeing, Airbus, 

Sikorsky, Meggitt, Goodrich, TATA Advanced 

Aeronautical Precision parts. 

The latest endeavour of Aerospace 

Engineers is to develop Elastomer Bearing, 

Fuel Pump, Fuel Dump Valve and Fuel 

Shut off Valve. 

Aerospace Engineers gratefully recalls 

the able guidance and helping hand 

extended by HAL, DRDO CEMILAC, 

DGAQA and DGCA, which have enabled it 

to take up successful ventures. 

Aerospace Engineers’ mission now is to 

work towards NadCap certification, NABL 

Certification, and FAA Certification. 


A e r o m a g 39

Real-Time and Historical 

Situational Awareness of 

Birds with Avian Radar 

Dr. Tim J. Nohara, 

Accipiter Radar Technologies 

Inc., 576 Hwy 20 West, P.O. Box 939, 

Fonthill, Ontario, Canada L0S 1E0, 

Tel:905-228-6888 Fax: 905-892-2249 

tnohara@accipiterradar.com 

Last year, two important milestones 

were achieved concerning the 

independent assessment of avian 

radars for use at military and civil airports. 

Small, airport-based, avian radars were 

extensively tested by the U.S. Department 

of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) and their 

ability to generate high-resolution, 

localized bird movement information 

was validated. Furthermore, guidance 

was generated on their acquisition, 

deployment, operation, and integration 

into military and civil airport operations. 

Accipiter’s avian radars played heavily 

during the multi- year testing, with over 

a dozen of its systems deployed at civil 

airports including New York JFK, Chicago 

O’Hare, and Seattle-Tacoma International 

Airport and at military airports including 

Elmendorf Air Force Base, Naval Air Station 

(NAS) Whidbey Island, NAS Patuxent River, 

and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. 

The results of these scientific assessment 

efforts, the most extensive ever carried 

out on commercial avian radars, are now 

available in two reports available from 

DoD1 [Brand] and the FAA2, respectively. 

The hardware design of these avian 

radars and their software algorithms which 

are responsible for clutter suppression, 

target detection and tracking, storage 

and distribution are well described in 

the literature. Their underlying target 

information extracted by the radar 

processor is the basis for analysis and 

visualization tools. For each bird/flock 

1. Brand, M., Integration and validation of avian 

radars (IVAR), Final Report. Department of 

Defense, Environmental Security Technology 

Certification Program, Project No. SI-200723, 

September 2010 

2. Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory 

Circular 150/5220-25 Airport Avian Radar Systems, 

23 November 2010 

tracked, target information 

includes date, time, Track-ID, and 

target latitude, longitude, altitude, 

speed, heading, and RCS updated 

every couple of seconds (see 

figure). These tracks are organized 

and stored continuously in our M3 

multi-radar, multi-mission, multiuser 

target information system 

while simultaneously providing 

real-time (tactical) and historical 

(strategic) situational awareness 

information products or tools for 

local and remote users. 

In recognition of the sheer volume 

of bird track data generated by 

Accipiter avian radars, a few realtime 

and historical tools derived 

from these data are examined to 

demonstrate improved situational 

awareness for airport stakeholders. 

Real-time tools 

Real-time tools are for tactical use 

and include real-time bird traffic 

monitoring, early warning alerts, 

and localized bird aircraft strike 

hazard (BASH) display and alerts. 

Wildlife personnel need to see 

birds approaching airport from all 

directions that may present a risk 

of being involved in a collision with 

an aircraft, allowing these safety 

personnel to disperse threats in 

real-time or communicate them 

to ATC and pilots. Knowledge of 

3D regions of bird concentrations, 

such as during migration, can be 

used to alter traffic patterns when 

necessary, minimizing the time 

aircraft spend there. 

Real-time monitoring displays 

(see figure) show live bird 

tracks, aircraft tracks, or both 

simultaneously, to local and 

remote users, providing immediate 

awareness of the location of birds. 

These displays are rich in content 

showing current (and recent past) 

bird locations overlaid on a map 

with speed, heading, size (RCS), 

etc. immediately viewable. 

For users that find the real-time 

monitoring display too rich or who 

do not wish to watch the screen but 

only be alerted to situations that 

pose a significant risk, real-time 

alerts can be issued automatically 

when such conditions arise. Alerts 

can be sent to remote users using 

text messaging or e-mails that 

indicate a particular, user-defined, 

safety exclusion zone has been 

breached by birds. For example, 

users could be alerted to the onset 

of migration or to the start of a daily 

commute of large flocks of birds by 

defining the spatial regions where 

the birds are expected to cross and 

setting alerting logic based on the 

desired density of birds. 

The BASH viewer display (see 

figure) is another plan-view tactical 

display that is easy to interpret, 

does not require a dedicated 

operator, and is ideal for providing 

situational awareness of localized 

threat conditions. For this display, 

several safety exclusion zones are 

tailored to cover important aircraft 

corridors reflecting local flight 

operations, and the BASH alerts are 

programmed to trigger on specific 

bird/flock characteristics such as 

the number of birds in a particular 

safety exclusion zone, the time 


A e r o m a g 41

they spend there, their speed, RCS (related 

to size), heading, etc. Moderate and or 

severe BASH alert logic are established and 

ground-truthed by the wildlife personnel 

in consultation with airspace managers for 

each and every safety exclusion zone to 

reflect local risk conditions. Such a display 

can be beneficial for airport operations 

rooms, the Wing and even in the tower 

cab for air traffic controllers. This tool is 

easy to interpret with just a quick visual 

glance and, hence, works well in situation 

rooms where operators are extremely 

busy with other tasks and cannot afford 

the time to stare at a screen or review text 

messages. A safety exclusion zone on the 

display lights up yellow for moderate and 

red for severe BASH levels in response to 

the respective alert logic. When a zone/ 

alert is triggered, the bird tracks that 

triggered the alert also appear on the 

display so operators know precisely where 

the birds are within the breached zone. If 

there are no zones that are triggered at 

the moderate or severe level, the display 

is blank indicating that the BASH is low 

everywhere. 

Historical tools 

Strategic tools include accumulated 

avian traffic patterns, bird abundance 

and distribution patterns, and an 

airport-based dynamic BASH advisory. 

Strategic tools exploit historical bird 

track data recorded minutes to years 

prior to characterize spatial and temporal 

patterns of abundance, movements, and 

their deviations from long-term baselines. 

Since avian patterns are related to the 

underlying geographic features of the 

airfield and surrounding areas, importing 

tracks into geographical information 

systems (GIS) can provide users with 

tools they are already familiar with to 

investigate patterns. 

Automatic generation of web-based, 

interactive, information products can 

quickly reveal patterns to users and 

provide them with quantitative metrics 

in support of their wildlife and airfield 

management efforts. For example, 

hourly, plan-view, track accumulations can 

be reviewed after the fact and can easily 

reveal visually resident bird movements, 

commuter movements, and migration. 

Temporal variations in bird activity are 

easily visualized and quantified using 

histograms (see figure). Daily abundance 

graphs (on a 24-hour scale, calculated 

every 15 minutes or every hour) reveal 

daytime and nighttime activity, with 

transitions around dawn and dusk. 

Standard Accipiter® AR-2 Avian Radar with dish and array antennas 

Interior workspace 

Real-time TrackViewer display showing bird tracks with size (units are dBm2) indicated 

on the head of the track. Can also display speed, height and Track-ID. Eight bird 

exclusion zones defined in this example around the pattern, each zone programmed to 

automatically issue BASH alerts. No alert is issued for a low. A particular alert is issued 

for a moderate or severe. Thresholds for each zone are programmed based on userdefine 

target behavior in each zone. Alerts from any number of radars are transmitted 

to the BASH Viewer software for integration and display. 

Graphs can be easily calculated for a 

particular day, or averaged over a month, 

for example. For longer term trends in 

abundance, yearly views by week or 

month reveal seasonal variations, and 

allow or comparisons from year to year 

to be used in measuring, for example, 

the effectiveness of habitat alterations in 

reducing bird populations. 

Height distributions can be presented in 

a similar fashion and provide an effective 

way to understand altitude concentrations 

around an airfield. 

In the same way that track data are stored 

indefinitely, 24/7/365, so are BASH alerts, 

suitably named and date/time stamped. As 

a result, spatial and temporal patterns (i.e., 

against time of day, season, year-to-year) 

associated with local moderate and severe 

alerts can be generated and analyzed in 

support of flight planning and wildlife 

management. The intrusion statistics are 

available for each safety exclusion zone so 

that a dynamic (i.e., automatically updated 

by the avian radar over time to adjust to 

long-term environmental and habitat 

changes), high-resolution, localized, BASH 

advisory system can be developed and 

maintained for each facility. After a year 

or two of data collection to establish an 

operating baseline, the BASH advisory can 

provide information for all stakeholders, for 

Real-time BASH Viewer display which receives automatically-generated moderate and 

severe alerts from any number of radars and integrates them into a single user display. 

Zones light-up yellow for moderate and red for severe in response to issued BASH alerts. 

Easy-to-interpret display gives immediate situational awareness of developing hazards. 

flight planning, for wildlife management 

planning, and for heightened situational 

awareness at the entire facility. Reduced 

numbers of moderate and severe, 

localized, BASH alert counts compared to 

Dish antennas provide 3D lat, long, 

height information and allow us to 

optimize radar coverage to cover 

complete aircraft pattern where 

hazards can occur. Resulting BASH 

alerts are localized in 3D space and 

hence alert to actual threats to 

aircraft. 

the baseline would be a strong indicator of 

risk reduction and improvement in flight 

safety. Increases, on the other hand, will 

direct managers to the local areas around 

the airfield that require attention. 


A e r o m a g 43

www.eurofighter.com 

Eurofighter Typhoon: The Best Multi-Role Capabilities for India 

Eurofighter Typhoon: the world’s most advanced new generation multi-role combat aircraft. Representing the combined strengths of 

Europe’s leading aerospace and defence companies, the Eurofighter Typhoon provides engineering and industrial benefits for all customer 

nations. Designed with an established technology insertion programme, Eurofighter Typhoon is an open platform offering industrial 

partnership, shared development and affordable logistics solutions. 

Mahindra Group 

and Eurocopter 

sign MoU 

Mahindra Aerospace and Mahindra Satyam – 

representing the aerospace manufacturing 

and engineering capabilities of the Mahindra 

Group – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MoU) for a trade partnership with the Eurocopter Group 

and its Indian subsidiary, Eurocopter India. 

The partnership will be focused on manufacturing of 

sub assemblies, engineering and customisation of civil 

helicopters and the joint development of specific market 

segments. Details of the scope and structure of the 

partnership will be decided in the coming months. 

Noting that Mahindra is a long established and 

respected multinational group with great engineering 

and manufacturing competencies, Lutz Bertling, 

President and CEO of Eurocopter pointed out that “the 

synergies between our two companies will enhance our 

contributions to the Indian civil helicopter market.” 

Mr. Hemant Luthra, Chairman of Mahindra 

Aerospace and President and Member of the Group 

Executive Board of Mahindra & Mahindra said, “We 

are delighted to work with the world’s leading 

helicopter manufacturer to contribute to the growth 

of the Indian aeronautical industry and civil aircraft 

market. Eurocopter has a solid, long term strategy for 

the growth of the India market, while we are already 

creating a niche for ourselves in the fixed-wing aircraft 

and aero-structures manufacturing space. We see this 

MoU as a significant step forward for both of us as well 

as the domestic aviation industry.” 

“Mahindra Satyam has been providing IT and 

Engineering Services to the aerospace sector, and has 

been providing solutions to Airbus for the last several 

years. We are already closely engaged with the EADS 

Group and feel proud to be associated with Eurocopter, 

to provide our engineering capabilities for their range 

of products. This underscores our commitment and 

ambition to be a leading provider of value added 

services for the sector,” commented Mr. C P Gurnani, CEO 

of Mahindra Satyam. 

In October 2010, with the launch of its India subsidiary 

– Eurocopter India Private Limited – Eurocopter 

demonstrated its commitment to the Indian market 

and industry. Eurocopter is the first and only foreign 

helicopter manufacturer to have a dedicated Indian 

subsidiary. One of the key priorities of the subsidiary is 

to identify synergies and opportunities for partnerships 

with local companies to strengthen the helicopter 

industry in India. 

Eurocopter, HAL to 

strengthen industrial 

cooperation, links 

Eurocopter, the world’s 

leading helicopter 

manufacturer, and Asia’s 

leading company Hindustan 

Aeronautics Limited (HAL), have 

reiterated their commitment to 

take their five-decade long relationship to the next level. The long-time 

partners are in the process of signing agreements to further strengthen 

their industrial cooperation and links. This association will focus on 

increasing existing collaboration and exploring new potential business 

areas to serve both Indian and international markets. 

“HAL is fast developing into a major player in the aerospace sector. 

With this increasing pace of growth, HAL welcomes opportunities for 

joining hands with a global player like Eurocopter. We look forward to 

corroborating this partnership further in the coming years,” said Mr 

Ashok Nayak, HAL Chairman. 

Since 1962, Eurocopter has partnered with HAL, through two cooperation 

agreements, enabling HAL to manufacture more than 600 

helicopters based on the Alouette 3 and Lama, more popularly known 

in India as the Cheetah and Chetak. This fleet has been the backbone of 

the Indian Armed Forces over decades. 

India was the first nation with which Eurocopter signed a license 

agreement which included technology transfer. In 1984, HAL has been 

supported by Eurocopter in the development of the Advanced Light 

Helicopter, a 5-tonne twin-engine transport helicopter. This industrial 

partnership was strengthened in 2005 with the manufacturing of 

composite assemblies. Today, HAL is manufacturing 100 shipsets 

of these assemblies per year for the AS550/AS350 helicopters, and 

contributes to Eurocopter global supply chain. 

Commenting on the Eurocopter-HAL association, Lutz Bertling, 

President and CEO of Eurocopter said, “HAL is one of the most important 

partners of Eurocopter Group. Giving continuity to our 50 years of 

successful relationship, we are proud today to reinforce and extend the 

scope of our association in India. We remain committed to work with 

HAL contributing to the expansion of the helicopter capabilities of 

India.” 

With the launch of its India subsidiary – Eurocopter India Private 

Limited – Eurocopter demonstrated its commitment to the Indian 

market and industry, in which one of the key priorities would be the 

extension of industrial cooperation, further building on the 50-year 

relationship with HAL. 

n o t h i n g c o m e s c l o s e 


A e r o m a g 45

Northrop Grumman 

marks mile-stone 

T-50 stealth 

fighter makes 

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently marked the 

completion of the 50th center fuselage for the F-35 

Joint Strike Fighter during a ceremony at the company’s 

Palmdale Manufacturing Center. 

Company officials praised employees for delivering the center 

fuselages on time and on budget – achieving a significant 

milestone early in the program while maintaining high standards 

of performance and affordability. 

“Completing the 50th F-35 center fuselage is something to 

be proud of; it’s a sign of a team that is committed to getting a 

very difficult job done, and done right,” said Mark Tucker, vice 

president and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman’s 

Aerospace Systems sector. “I’m proud that we’ve reached such an 

important milestone, but I’m even more proud of how we’ve done 

it. This team is always identifying ways to do an even better job of 

building the world’s most sophisticated multirole fighter. And, 50 

ship sets in, it’s working.” 

As a principal and founding member of the F-35 industry team 

led by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman is responsible for the 

design and production of center fuselages for all three variants of 

F-35 aircraft: conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL); short takeoff, 

vertical landing (STOVL); and a carrier variant. Northrop Grumman 

completes the F-35 center fuselages – the core structures around 

which the aircraft are built – at the Palmdale facility. The center 

fuselages then are shipped to Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, 

Texas, where they are integrated into the rest of the aircraft. 

In addition to producing the F-35 center fuselage, Northrop 

Grumman also designs and produces the aircraft’s radar and 

other key avionics, including electro-optical and communications 

subsystems; develops mission systems and mission-planning 

software; leads the team’s development of pilot and maintenance 

training system course materials; and manages the use, support 

and maintenance of low-observable technologies. 

Completion of the 50th center fuselage is the latest in a series 

of milestones the program has achieved in 2011. In March, the 

company launched its Integrated Assembly Line, a groundbreaking 

system that incorporates automation in the process of center 

fuselage production. 

More recently, the company completed the first center fuselage 

for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the second such delivery for 

an international customer. 

“Programs that are committed to quality and affordability are 

the ones that can demonstrate momentum and success, and that 

is especially true of the center fuselage work Northrop Grumman 

does for the F-35 program,” said Duke Dufresne, sector vice 

president and general manager of the Strike and Surveillance 

Systems Division of Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems 

sector. “Day in and day out, through our first 50 fuselages, we’ve 

made these concepts central to our work, just as we’re doing on 

all our programs. Our customers and our war fighters, deserve no 

less.” 

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company 

providing innovative systems, products and solutions in 

aerospace, electronics, information systems and technical services 

to government and commercial customers worldwide. 

Ghana orders two Airbus 

Military C295 aircraft 

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana 

has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the 

acquisition of two C295 aircraft. The aircraft are to be 

delivered from the beginning of 2012. Minister of Defence 

Lt Gen. JH Smith, said the C295 will enable the Air Force 

to move troops and other security agencies across the 

country and within the West African sub-region. The aircraft 

will also be used for medical evacuation, paratrooping, 

training and humanitarian operations including assistance 

to organizations such as National Disaster Management 

Organisation (NADMO) and the peace mission of the United 

Nations. The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana is 

a new Airbus Military customer. 

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana selected 

the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven 

operational capabilities in any environment, including 

desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability 

to the most varied type of conditions and operations were 

other key elements in the selection of the Airbus Military 

C295. Including this new order, today, 85 C295s have 

been ordered by 14 customers. Over 75 C295s currently 

in operation in 11 countries have accumulated more than 

100,000 flight hours. The new generation C295 is the ideal 

aircraft for defense and civil assistance missions to the 

benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime 

patrol, environmental surveillance missions, search and 

rescue, aerial photography, amongst others. All these 

special versions are already proven in service, confirming 

the C295 as the most versatile aircraft in its class. 

Elbit to supply DIRCM 

Systems to Italian Air Force 

Elbit Systems Ltd has announced that it was awarded a 

contract valued in excess of $15 million by Elettronica 

S.p.A to participate in a programme to supply the 

ELT/572 DIRCM (Directed Infra-Red Counter measures) system 

for installation on various platforms of the Italian Air Force, 

including the C130J, C27J and AW101. The contract will be 

performed over the next three years. Adi Dar, Elop’s General 

Manager, commented: “We are extremely pleased with our 

cooperation with Elettronica on DIRCM that has resulted in this 

initial contract for the Italian Air Force. The threat of MANPADS 

to military cargo planes, tankers and helicopters, as well as 

commercial aviation is increasing, and our family of DIRCM 

systems provides effective protection to the aircraft”. 

public debut 

T-50 stealth fighter jointly 

developed by Russia and India 

made its first international public 

appearance at the recent MAKS airshow, 

where Moscow unveiled its newest space 

shuttle, armed drones and a new range 

of upgraded weapons. Two prototypes 

of the single seater jet, estimated to cost 

USD 6 billion, flew over Zhukovsky air field 

on the outskirts of Moscow. 

“The co-development projects of the 

two countries will remain centerpiece of 

the Russian aviation industry”, declared 

Mikhail Pogosyan, President of the United 

Aircraft Corporation, makers of the 

aircraft. 

Sukhoi’s T-50 made its maiden flight 

in January 2010 and is expected to enter 

service by 2015. “The stealth fighter is 

progressing as planned and the new 

engine for the plane will be ready in time”, 

Pogosyan said. 

The fifth generation Sukhoi T-50, 

also called the PAK FA for its Russian 

abbreviations for a perspective frontline 

aviation complex, is meant to be a rival to 

the US joint strike fighter F-22 Raptor. 

Pogosyan had earlier said that Russia 

planned to develop up to 1,000 stealth 

fighters over the coming decade as 

aviation experts say that the Russian 

military orders will account for more 

than 50 per cent of the combat planes’ 

produce. 

He said that the Russian Air Force is 

expected to buy 20 new fighters annually 

in the coming years. 

Top Russian aircraft makers including 

Sukhoi and MiG have survived thanks to 

orders from India and China, but steady 

increase in government defence spending 

over the past few years have given 

new incentives to the nation’s aircraft 

industries. 

According to the local media reports, the 

Indian version of the FGFA will be a lighter 

derivative of the PAK FA. 

The projects for the joint development 

of Multimode Transport Aircraft (MTA) and 

deeper modernisation of Sukhoi Su-30 

MKI fighters under the ‘Super-30” project 

are among the key joint Indo-Russian 

projects. 

India has a larger footprint at MAKS-2011, 

the air show which is held at alternate 

years, with an expanded presence. 

Unlike in the past when BrahMos JV used 

to display its deadly missiles under the 

roof of its Russian partner, India has its 

exclusive stall displaying the models of its 

cruise missiles, including an outdoor lifesize 

mock-up of BRAHMOS cruise missile 

for the Sukhoi fighters. 

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited also has 

a bigger display exhibiting models of the 

helicopters and planes produced by it. 

This year’s new entrant is Bharat 

Electronics, with a whole range of its 

avionics and force multipliers. 

A huge IL-76 Flying Laboratory of 

Gromov Flight Research Institute with 

a Kaveri engine fitted on its test bed is 

also indicative of the scope of bilateral 

cooperation in cutting edge technologies. 

The plane also bears the Seal of India’s 

DRDO, showing an enduring interaction 

between the two organisations. 

In all, over 800 Russian and foreign firms, 

including Boeing and Airbus, took part in 

MAKS airshow. 

MBDA unveils 

concept missile 

system 

MBDA has unveiled the output 

of the Concept Visions process 

for 2011; CVS 401 Perseus 

concept missile system, which represents 

the group’s vision of a multi-role strike 

weapon system for 2030 and beyond. 

Perseus features multiple operating 

modes against a wide land and maritime 

target set with the added capability 

of being able to overcome the most 

effective of enemy missile defences. 

It is designed to be a tactical weapon 

system operated through an advanced 

Operations & Mission Planning System 

at the crossroads of naval, land and air 

warfare. The advanced supersonic (up 

to Mach 3), agile and stealthy airframe 

is powered by a revolutionary ramjet 

motor built around a highly compact 

Continuous Detonation Wave Engine. 

An advanced dual-mode sensor package, 

comprising an Active Electronically- 

Scanned Array or AESA radar combined 

with a laser radar or LADAR allows for allweather 

operations in all configurations 

of terminal engagement. Radar modes 

such as SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) 

and DBS (Doppler Beam Sharpening) 

allow for long range target detection and 

discrimination in complex land and naval 

tactical environments including those 

involving advanced counter measures. 


A e r o m a g 47

Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, 

Secretary Defence R&D and DG DRDO exchanging the MOA 

with Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary, Deptt of Agricultural Research & 

Education and DG, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, at 

DRDO Bhawan. 

DRDO, ICAR 

sign MoA 

DRDO and ICAR have signed a Memorandum of 

Agreement for conservation of plant genetic resources 

at ‘Permafrost Based Plant Germplasm Storage’ at 

Changla Top (5,360 m AMSL). 

The agreement was signed by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Scientific 

Adviser to Defence Minister, Secretary Defence R&D and DG 

DRDO on behalf of DRDO and Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary, Deptt 

of Agricultural Research & Education and DG, Indian Council of 

Agricultural Research, in a brief ceremony held at DRDO Bhawan. 

DRDO has established a prototype National Germplasm 

Repository at Changla, Leh- Ladakh. The facility was launched on 

25 September 2010 by Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju, Minister of State for 

Defence, Govt. of India, in the presence of Dr. Saraswat. 

Dr. Saraswat, addressing the gathering, stated that this facility 

will help to check the erosion of important germplasm by 

preserving them at naturally available low temperature for food 

and health security not only for our troops deployed in high 

altitude conditions but also for the citizens of this country. 

“We started (while creating the facility at Chang la) in a small 

way, today there is a lot of demand that is fast growing”, he said. 

Dr Ayyappan emphasized that this facility will provide an 

insurance against both incremental and catastrophic loss of the 

plant diversity. “The preserved diversity of the genes will serve 

as a safety net for current and future food security in an era of 

global warming and climate change. We are excited to have our 

own version of permafrost facility, the only other such facility in 

the world being at Svalband, Norway”. 

Speaking on the occasion Dr. W. Selvamurthy, DS & CC R&D (LS& 

IC), DRDO said the facility will be further expanded and opened 

for germplasm storage at international level. He also highlighted 

other areas of collaborative work, such as nano agriculture, 

climate change, biodiesel and the research on seabuckthorn. 

Dr. R B Srivastava, Director, DIHAR, described it as a historic and 

auspicious day. He also informed that DIHAR (Defence Institute of 

High Altitude Research), earlier known as FRL, was the brainchild 

of late Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, 

created with a vision of making the hostile terrain of Ladakh 

region reasonably green and productive. 

Those present on the occasion included DRDO’s CCR&Ds, 

directors, AFA, IFA and other senior officials, Dr. KC Bansal Director, 

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and ADGs from ICAR. 

EADS broadens its 

technology licensing reach 

with new Indian agreements 

Five agreements signed by EADS 

have extended the scope of the 

company’s technology licensing 

outreach with new industrial partners in 

India and Europe. 

These accords involve a contract with Germany’s Grenzebach 

Automation GmbH for metallic production technologies based on 

the friction stir welding solid-state joining process, along with four 

Letters of Intent (LoIs) with one German and three Indian companies 

for metallic and composite manufacturing processes. 

The agreements were arranged by the EADS Technology Licensing 

initiative, which is managed by EADS’ Corporate Technology Office 

and has the company’s top management support in offering a full 

range of leading-edge technologies that are proven, mature and 

available today. 

Several of the accords will benefit from engineering and 

application studies organised by the EADS Technology Licensing 

initiative, which provides assistance to industry partners in 

identifying business cases and tailoring a technology offer that 

is best adapted to customers’ specific needs. This supplemental 

engineering support is offered to facilitate a smooth transfer of the 

licensed technology into customers’ products and manufacturing 

processes. 

“Our new agreements underscore EADS’ ability to provide highly 

valuable technologies in both metallic and composites production, 

which will be applied to the aerospace industry as well as other 

sectors such as automotive and industrial equipment,” said Wulf 

Hoeflich, who leads the EADS Technology Licensing initiative. 

The licensing contract provides Grenzebach Automation GmbH 

with access to EADS Innovation Works’ technologies for the friction 

stir welding solid-state joining process, including utilisation of 

EADS patented tools that provide a high-quality weld surface 

and eliminate the requirement for post-weld machining. This 

agreement’s scope addresses the application of friction stir welding 

technologies in production of electronic products by Grenzebach 

Automation, which is part of the Grenzebach group of companies 

with production facilities worldwide. 

The Letters of Intent with India underscore the country’s ambition 

to evolve as a strong aerospace player, which has become a priority 

after the Indian government’s step to privatise the aerospace sector. 

“We now see a build-up in the Indian supply chain, which wants 

to become more capable and innovative – not only in supporting 

Indian aircraft programmes, but in the export market as well,” 

Hoeflich added. 

The Letters of Intent signed were with: 

• India’s Dynamatic Technologies Limited, for metallic 

manufacturing processes such as friction stir welding, as well as 

EADS patented composites production technologies. This will be 

supported by an EADS engineering services package. 

• Maini Precision Products Pvt. Ltd of India for metallic and 

composites technologies, backed by an EADS engineering services 

package. 

• Tata Advanced Materials Limited, covering a broad range of 

composites and related manufacturing processes, including the 

EADS-developed and patented Vacuum Assisted Process (VAP) and 

protective coatings for composite tools. 

Indian Defence sector 

aiming to be a part of 

global supply chain 

A 

new report by Deloitte Touche 

Tohmatsu Limited’s (DTTL) Global 

Manufacturing Industry Group, 

2011 Midyear outlook for the global 

aerospace and defense sector, indicates a 

sense of unease in defense and optimism 

in commercial aerospace. 

According to the report, it is anticipated 

that there will be an upswing in sales 

and production in commercial aircraft, 

principally due to the popularity of singleaisle 

aircraft, for which rate increases have 

been announced. With passenger and 

freight traffic expected to grow faster 

than global GDP for the next 20 years, 

the maturing economies of China, India, 

and the Middle East are expected to 

take a higher percentage of commercial 

aircraft sales and deliveries. In addition, 

with the introduction of new single-aisle 

manufacturers, as well as next generation 

twin-aisle commercial aircraft products, 

suppliers worldwide are expected to 

increase production. 

Regarding the global defense market, 

defense budgets in traditional markets 

are under pressure with lower budgets 

anticipated for the next few years. 

However, the report outlines technology 

requirements to address new adversaries 

and market opportunities in remotely 

piloted vehicles, cyber security, 

intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, 

mission operations, system integration, 

Sarkozy announces support 

to helicopter industry 

The French Helicopter Association has welcomed the 

strong support to the helicopter industry announced by 

President Nicolas Sarkozy but asked for its extension to 

operators and users. 

The Association (UFH – Union Française de l’Hélicoptère) has 

expressed satisfaction to the inaugural speech of Sarkozy at Le 

Bourget International Airshow, where he announced a set of 

specific measures to support the helicopter industry in France 

and boost its innovation with the goal to maintain its current 

worldwide leadership. 

data fusion, directed energy, precision 

strike, and energy security. 

The Indian Ministry of Defence has set its 

target of self-reliance in the Indian defence 

industry. Nidhi Goyal, Director, Deloitte in 

India says, “For meeting the target of selfreliance, 

Indian industry is not just preparing 

for building up a strong domestic industrial 

base but is also aiming to be a part of global 

supply chain”. “This will further promote 

economic development and job creation 

in India besides an improved industrial 

capability”, Nidhi adds. 

“Given the high cost of expeditionary 

campaigns, innovations that will be 

attractive include increasingly higher 

bandwidth, precision, and accuracy in 

multi-spectral sensing capabilities, as well 

as over-the-horizon strike platforms that 

keep war fighters out of harm’s way,” says 

General (USAF ret) Chuck Wald, Senior 

Advisor and Director, Deloitte Services 

LP in the United States. “Products that are 

more energy efficient as well as remotely 

piloted on land, sea, and in the air will 

have competitive advantage.” 

Traditional global governments face 

pressure to reduce defense budgets. 

However, according to Tom Captain, 

Global Aerospace & Defense sector leader, 

DTTL, there is a bright side for the global 

defense segment, with some markets 

showing promise. 

“As India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and the 

United Arab Emirates face security threats, 

and their economies allow affordability 

for improved defense capabilities, new 

market opportunities arise for global 

defense contractors,” says Captain. 

India in particular represents a nearterm 

opportunity for global defense 

contractors. 

“With increasing security requirements 

for more sophisticated weapons systems, 

overseas players could leverage programs 

within the Indian aerospace, defense, 

and security industries to gain a cost 

advantage. Also, the indigenous industry 

is set to grow and will look at building 

capabilities,” says Captain. 

CIT signs MoU with Airbus 

CIT Group Inc. has signed a MoU with Airbus for 50 

A320neo Family aircraft. 

The deal was signed at the 49th Le Bourget airshow 

by C. Jeffrey Knittel, President of Transportation Finance at CIT 

and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. 

This order brings the total number of aircraft in the Airbus 

order book for CIT to 241 aircraft, comprising 195 A320 Family 

aircraft (including the 50 A320neo aircraft), 39 A330s, and 

seven A350 XWBs. 

A long standing Airbus customer and leading leasing 

company such as CIT has placed its first order for the industry’s 

new benchmark in fuel efficient, single-aisle aircraft, the 

A320neo. 


A e r o m a g 49

Integrate Mass Interconnect 

 

 

 

 

to protect your 

 

investment 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every 

company that builds complete systems or 

at 

one time, simplifying the test process and preventing many 

 

 

 

 

manufactures printed circuit boards (PCB) does so with of 

the errors that occur with other types of connectors. 

 

 

 

 

the intention of delivering quality, error-free products 

Advantages of mass interconnect 

systems over test systems 

 

 

to 

 

their customers. As a result, the general test approach in the that 

use custom interfaces, include 

modularity, maintainability, 

 

 

PCB 

assembly industry continues to evolve. Many companies upgradeability 

 

and scalability. The 

modularity of a mass 

 

 

employ 

open software 

 

 

interconnect allows for a 

 

 

environments 

in a concept 

 

 

range of contact types to 

 

 

called 

the common core or 

 

be used together, whether 

 

 

standard 

platform tester. 

 

 

it is power, digital, RF or 

 

 

In 

 

the past, companies 

 

 

 

pneumatic, to name a few. 

 

 

might 

 

build one tester for 

 

 

 

The modules are selected 

 

 

 

 

each product they intend 

 

 

to match the I/O of the 

 

 

 

 

to produce. This would 

 

 

instruments in the tester. 

 

 

 

 

lead to inefficiencies as 

 

 

Hybrid modules allow 

 

 

 

 

testers break or workloads 

 

 

 

 

mixed signal types to be 

 

 

increase 

 

significantly, since 

 

 

 

used in one module, such 

 

 

one 

tester could not fill in 

 

 

 

as power and sense lines. 

 

 

for 

another tester. With 

 

 

 

This modular approach 

 

 

a 

common core tester, a 

 

 

 

makes maintaining 

 

company 

can build one tester 

 

 

 

and upgrading 

 

 

with a standard platform 

 

 

 

systems extremely 

 

 

from 

which all products 

 

 

 

easy. If a contact or the 

 

can 

be tested. Besides 

 

 

 

module that holds it 

 

 

the 

primary benefit of reducing complexity by requiring 

becomes 

 

damaged, the user can easily replace the module, 

 

 

only 

one tester, this also creates redundancy, with any 

keeping 

 

downtime to a minimum. Upgrading is as easy 

 

tester 

capable of filling in for any other tester should 

as 

 

 

adding additional modules to unused module slots. 

 

the 

same maintenance or workload issues arise. 

 

 

 

Mass interconnect systems are also scalable, ranging from 1 

Mass 

interconnect systems provide the critical connection to 

 

17000 points of contact. This enables engineers to select a 

 

 

between the tester and the unit under test (UUT). By 

system 

 

that works for the products they are testing without 

 

 

using 

a receiver on the tester side and mating it with an 

spending 

money on capability they do not need. Options for 

 

 

interchangeable 

 

test adapter (ITA) on the UUT, the mass 

mass 

interconnect systems, including platform support, slide 

interconnect 

 

allows multiple types of I/O to be easily mated kits 

 

for reduced wire length, and vertical hinged mounting 

 

 

 

frames, provide easy and flexible integration. These benefits 

 

are 

 

 

a primary reason why many companies are now choosing 

 

 

 

 

 

mass 

 

 

 

 

interconnects as part of their common core test strategy. 

 

 

 

 

 

For 50 years, Virginia Panel Corporation (VPC) has been 

building 

 

mass interconnect systems for both military 

and 

 

 

 

commercial applications. VPC’s mass interconnect 

 

 

 

 

product 

lines span 1 to 75 module solutions, with cycle 

 

lives 

 

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There will always be the need for a connection between 

 

 

 

 

the 

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of specialized testers you need. With a mass interconnect, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you can be assured of many years of error free testing. 

 

 

 

Learn more about mass interconnect at www.vpc.com. 

 

Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, 

 

 

 

 


Infrastructure, Transport and Technology 

 

 

 

A e r o m a g 51

Need 50 % stake for future 

venture in India, says Rafael 

The Secretary of Civil Aviation, Shri Nasim Zaidi addressing at the launch of the 3rd International Exhibition & Conference on Civil 

Aviation “India Aviation-2012”, organised by the M/o Civil Aviation & FICCI, in New Delhi. 

USIBC welcomes aviation agreement 

Lova Drori 

Executive Vice-President 

Marketing, Rafael 

Rafael Advanced Defense 

Systems Ltd, designs, develops, 

manufactures and supplies a wide 

range of high-tech defense systems for 

air, land, sea and space applications. 

Rafael was established as part of the 

Ministry of Defense more than 60 years 

ago and was incorporated in 2002. 

Currently, 9% of its sales are invested 

in R&D. Rafael know-how is embedded 

in almost all Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 

systems in operation today. The company 

has a special relationship with the IDF, 

developing products according to the 

soldiers' specific requirements in the 

field. Rafael has also formed partnerships 

with civilian counterparts to develop 

commercial applications based on its 

proprietary technology. 

Rafael has created partnerships with 

companies in Israel and with leading 

aerospace and defense companies 

overseas. Offset activities and industrial 

cooperation have been organised with 

over 20 countries worldwide. Over the last 

decade, international business activities 

have been steadily expanding across the 

globe, with Rafael acting as either prime 

contractor or subcontractor, capitalizing 

on its strengths at both system and 

subsystem levels. 

Rafael's highly skilled and dedicated 

workforce tackles complex projects, 

from initial development, through 

prototype, production and acceptance 

tests. It provides customer service and 

support, upgrading existing systems and 

offering turnkey projects involving the 

transfer of basic technologies or complete 

production facilities. 

Rafael's quality management system 

is certified to AS9100, ISO9001: 2008 and 

ISO9000-3, ISO 17025, ISO 14001, OHSAS 

18001, and complies with CMM and CMMI 

(level 3). 

Rafael aspires to strengthen its position 

even further in the international defense 

market, while maintaining its special 

contact with the IDF. It aims to enhance 

its acclaim as a world-class provider of 

quality defense products and excellent 

customer service. It will continue to 

predict the needs of future combat forces 

worldwide and provide the technologies 

and systems required by those forces. 

In India, Rafael has a joint venture 

with Bangalore-headquartered, Bharat 

Electronics Limited (BEL) in which the 

Israeli company has a 26 per cent stake, 

with the remaining held by the stateowned 

company. 

In an interview to Aeromag Asia, Lova 

Drori, Executive Vice-President Marketing, 

Rafael, said his company would consider 

technology transfer and joint venture 

in India if the cap on foreign investment 

which is currently 26 per cent, is raised to 

50 per cent. 

“If we have to stay in India, we need 

to have local presence in India. Local 

presence means ownership”, he said. 

“The higher share holding percentage we 

will have, the more encouragement we 

will have to provide to the technologies. 

The more shares we will have, the more 

willingness will be to have the 50% share”. 

He said the joint venture with BEL 

essentially means it is a governmentowned 

company, adding, Rafael is not 

keen on similar ventures unless there is a 

policy environment where it can pick up a 

50 per cent stake. 

“We don’t want that (another joint 

venture where Rafael gets only 26 per 

cent stake). Not because we do not trust 

the government but because managing 

a government-owned company is very 

complicated. We don’t want to have the 

same problem with India……”, Drori said. 

The US India Business Council 

has welcomed the signing of 

an aviation safety agreement 

between the two nations, noting that 

it will pave the way for greater bilateral 

trade in the sector. 

“India-US Bilateral Aviation Safety 

Agreement [BASA] will improve passenger 

safety and therefore caps the success of the 

2005 Open Skies Agreement, which opens 

more routes, includes more airlines, and 

greatly improves the ability for companies 

to engage in commerce between the US 

and India,” USIBC chief Ron Somers said. 

J Randolph Babbitt, Administrator of the 

US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

and Nasim Zaidi, Civil Aviation Secretary, 

signed the agreement recently. “This accord 

creates a safer, more positive environment 

for travel, resulting in a win-win situation for 

both economies,” Somers said. 

USIBC said it believed that a BASA 

between both countries would help India 

upgrade its technology to world-class 

standards and harmonise its regulatory 

and monitoring systems with international 

best practices. 

India Aviation-2012 

to be held in March 

Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation 

recently launched “India Aviation-2012”, the 3rd 

international Exhibition and Conference on Civil 

Aviation, which will be held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad 

from 14-18th March, 2012. Addressing on the occasion, Dr. 

Zaidi said that it would be necessary to redefine the parameters 

of regulation in order to assure travelers the guarantee of safety. 

BASA demonstrates that India has the 

capacity to develop FAA certifiable aircraft 

articles and appliances, USIBC said. 

The BASA, by providing a framework 

under which we can develop reciprocal 

acceptances of certain aviation articles, 

stands to promote the burgeoning civil 

aviation partnership emerging between 

our two countries,” noted Administrator 

Babbit at the USIBC’s roundtable 

discussion on ‘Building 21st Century 

Infrastructure,’ held in New Delhi. 

BASA allows aviation authorities such 

as the FAA and the Indian Directorate 

General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) to certify 

aeronautical products and systems to 

be introduced in American and Indian 

markets, respectively, USIBC said. 

The agreement also reduces 

maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) 

costs associated with compliance and 

foreign certification approval processes. 

This cost reduction will directly benefit 

passengers and industry alike, it hoped. 

The signing of BASA comes after an FAA 

team visited DCGA headquarters in New 

Delhi and performed a complete technical 

assessment and shadow certification 

procedure. They selected the Goodrich 

life raft which was designed, sourced, and 

built at the Goodrich facility in Bangalore 

under the oversight of the DGCA. 

Goodrich’s manufacturing and design 

center in Bangalore is also a Tier-1 supplier 

to Boeing, assembling observer seats and 

manufacturing evacuation systems for a 

large portion of Boeing aircraft. 

Both Goodrich and Boeing are USIBC 

member companies. 

USIBC said BASA enhances the case for 

further investment in the civil aviation 

industry and has far reaching implications 

for both Indian and US industry. 

The next stage for both governments is 

to sign the Implementation Procedures 

for Airworthiness (IPA) which will provide 

for airworthiness technical cooperation 

between FAA and its counterpart in India, 

USIBC said. 

The IPA provides guidelines related 

to specific activities such as approvals 

for design, repair data, production and 

export airworthiness as well as post 

design activities, it added. 

The ministry is considering restructuring the DGCA into a Civil 

Aviation Authority (CAA). In order to prevent repetitive accidents, 

an Independent Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Committee 

has been set up within oversight of Ministry of Civil Aviation to 

coordinate and oversee the investigation into accidents and also 

effective follow up of compliance of recommendations. Steps 

are under way to set up a full-fledged Independent Accident 

Investigation Board. Emphasising the passengers’ facilities and 

consumer protection, he said that the rights of the passengers 

need to be respected and protected at all times. The significant 

steps for consumer protection has been taken through CARs 

on disability related rights, refunds, cancellations, delays, overbookings 

and denied boardings. 


A e r o m a g 53

Berlin Expo Centre 

Airport for ILA to 

open in mid-2012 

 

 

 

 

Advanced Technologies 

from ISRO 

 

 

Pico Satellite Orbital Deployer 

(POD) Indian Space 

 

Research 

Organisation (ISRO) at its 

 

 

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) 

has developed the technology for 

a mechanism for ejection of box 

 

shaped satellite weighing upto 3 kg by 

remote command from an enclosure 

through the application of spring 

force. The mechanism includes holding 

 

and releasing the swing door of the 

enclosure, ejection of satellite after a 

delay from swing opening of door. The 

Nanosat Ejection System 

Nanosatellite being ejected 

system is designed, developed and Fig. ISRO Nanosat is willing Ejection to offer the System know– below. Fig. Nanosatellite being ej 

qualified for aerospace Fig. applications. Nanosat Ejection how to eligible System interested industries/ Fig. For Nanosatellite further details, please being contact: ejected 

Effectiveness of the mechanism has entrepreneurs in India who are in the Technological Transfer & Industrial 

been tried out through 

a large number field of handling similar technologies. Coordination Division 

of functional tests and on one of the Preference will be given to parties who Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 

PSLV flights. This technology 

 

– Nano have an understanding of demand Indian Space Research Organisation 

Satellite Ejection System is now available in international market. Parties Thiruvananthapuram – 695 022 

for transfer to industries. In addition interested in acquiring this knowhow 

may write with details of their Fax : 0471-256 4134 

Ph : 0471-256 5133, 256 5695 

to ejection of satellites 

 

from launch 

vehicles, this technology can be utilized present activities, international market E-mail: krm_ananthanarayanan@vssc.gov.in 

for other applications that require exposure, requirements, plans for Director 

ejection of hazardous substances by commercialisation, infrastructure and Technology Transfer & Industry 

remote command in a reliable and safe technical expertise available, market Cooperation (TT&IC), ISRO Headquarters 

way. 

assessment, export potential and “Antariksh Bhavan”, New BEL Road 

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM ISRO diversification plans to the address given Bangalore – 560 094 

A 

symbolic 

groundbreaking 

ceremony took place recently 

to mark the beginning of 

construction of the new exhibition 

grounds directly adjacent to BER, the 

capital’s new airport in Berlin for the Berlin 

Airshow ILA 2012. 

The multi-purpose exhibition grounds, 

bearing the name Berlin Expo Centre 

Airport, will be built close by the village 

of Selchow, and among other events 

will host the International Aerospace 

Exhibition ILA. The main section of the 

grounds will cover approximately 250,000 

square metres. Hall and chalet areas for 

aircraft displays covering some 50,000 

square metres, and an outdoor display 

area for spectators and access routes 

covering 100,000 square metres, will be 

built for ILA 2012. 

Messeimmobilien Selchow GmbH (MIS) 

was set up on 10 November 2010 in order 

to manage construction and marketing 

of the grounds. Messe Berlin GmbH and 

ZukunftsAgentur Brandenburg (ZAB) each 

hold a 50 per cent share in the company. 

MIS will invest 27 million euros in the 

development of the new grounds. 

Matthias Platzeck, Minister President of 

Brandenburg, said that the groundbreaking 

ceremony at the new exhibition grounds 

directly adjacent to Berlin Brandenburg 

Willy Brandt marks the beginning of a 

new success story. The decision to choose 

Schönefeld as the venue for ILA was correct. 

This is where the ILA is at home. The Berlin/ 

Brandenburg region surrounding the 

capital is one of the leading locations of the 

aerospace industry in Germany. Dietmar 

Schrick, Chief Executive of the German 

Aerospace Industries Association, said the 

construction of the new grounds directly 

adjacent to the capital’s new airport marks 

the beginning of a new era for ILA. 

Following the ILA’s great success after its 

move to Berlin in 1992 the new, compact 

exhibition grounds will offer an even 

better opportunity to expand. This will 

provide an adequate, contemporary 

response to the challenges which this 

trade fair presents at national and 

international level. 

The ILA is one of the world’s three largest 

trade fairs and air shows representing this 

sector, as well as an important economic 

factor as far as the Berlin/Brandenburg 

region is concerned. Every segment of the 

aerospace industry is represented at the 

ILA, which addresses the latest trends and 

developments in civil and military aviation 

and space flight. Nowhere is it possible to 

demonstrate the political significance of 

the ILA and our industry better than in the 

capital’s local region. 

The new exhibition grounds will 

boast all the ILA’s typical features, 

such as trade fair halls for the world’s 

aerospace industry, outdoor sites for 

displaying aircraft of every type and 

size, chalets for catering exclusively 

to VIPs, and a control tower for the ILA 

fair management. Other features will 

include numerous facilities providing 

services and catering, a conference 

centre with a large number of meeting 

rooms and a high-tech press centre. 

11 to 16 September 2012: ILA 2012 

ILA 2012 will take place from 11 to 16 

September. The first three days of the 

ILA (11 to 13 September) are reserved 

exclusively for trade visitors. The weekend 

open to the general public from 14 to 

16 September will feature a spectacular 

programme of flying displays. 

The Importance of Certification 

in the Aerospace Industry for 

SMEs and MSMEs 

In the global aerospace industry, there are several factors 

that procurement departments must evaluate when 

awarding contracts. Cost is the most obvious one and, in 

the context of the global marketplace, Indian companies can 

be competitive in this area. 

Other considerations may include ability to meet required 

timeframe, level of manufacturing competence, adaptability 

to specific customizations in product deliver and willingness to 

agree to confidentiality and intellectual property agreements, 

among others. 

Last, but by no means least important, is Quality. In fact, 

this may be the most important factor. This goes beyond 

competence – it describes an attitude of striving for 

continual improvement, rather than simply being capable 

of producing something. It is also tangibly demonstrable 

via a review of current and historical process and product 

testing data. Even if all the other factors are satisfactory, but 

Quality is not there, many major aerospace companies will 

still consider their risk mitigation needs the highest priority. 

So how can companies demonstrate their commitment 

to Quality and continual improvement? One of the ways is 

through an industry-recognized certification scheme. In some 

instances, ISO 9001 or AS9100 may be sufficient, but for special 

processors there is an additional way to evidence the quality 

of your operation and differentiate your business from your 

competitors. 

Nadcap is the globally recognized accreditation for special 

processes and products. A common question is: what is the 

difference between a Nadcap audit and a quality systems audit, 

like ISO? 

The Nadcap audit has been described as “an inch wide 

and a mile deep”, meaning that the scope of the audit 

is very specific and the detail the auditor is looking for 

is considerable. As an example, an audit with a general 

quality systems focus may include this question regarding 

calibration: 

Does the supplier define the process employed for the 

calibration of inspection, measuring and test equipment type, 

unique identification, location, frequency of checks, check 

method, acceptance criteria and the action to be taken when 

results are unsatisfactory? 

For Nadcap, however, that is too general. In Nadcap audit 

checklists, the questions are customized to the field being 

audited, as shown: 

Non-Destructive Testing: Are the FPI dryer ovens calibrated 

every three months at multiple points across the usable range? 

Heat Treating: Are furnaces used for heat treating 

aluminum parts surveyed at the required tolerance and 


A e r o m a g 55

Industry pushes for 

rationalising tax 

structure to encourage 

MRO units 

Leading industry body ASSOCHAM 

has called for streamlining 

various taxes to encourage 

aviation maintenance, repair and 

overhaul (MRO) facilities as the country 

has huge potential to become a major 

hub due to low cost benefits, favourable 

geographical location and sharp 

upswing in air passenger traffic. 

The Indian civil aviation sector is 

currently celebrating 100 years of 

existence but its share is just one per 

cent in the USD 50 billion global MRO 

market. 

Passenger traffic of scheduled airlines 

jumped from 73 million in 2005-06 

to 142 million in 2010-11, said The 

Associated Chambers of Commerce 

and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). “By 

a conservative growth rate of ten per 

cent, the throughput is expected to be 

540 million passengers by 2025,” said its 

secretary general D.S. Rawat. 

At the same time, cargo traffic is 

expected to touch nine million tonnes 

from 2.33 million tonnes in the last 

financial year. India’s scheduled airlines 

have 430 planes now. Industry estimates 

suggest this figure is likely to go up to 

1,500 by 2025. 

Besides, the general aviation comprises 

700 small planes and 300 helicopters. In 

addition, the business jet fleet has about 

140 aircraft. This is expected to grow to 

2,500 aircraft and 900 helicopters. 

“With a fleet size of Indian scheduled 

and non-scheduled operators likely 

to treble in the next one-and-a-half 

decade, the need for a strong domestic 

MRO industry gains ground. India’s 

unique geographical position offers an 

opportunity to become a global hub 

for international airlines as well,” said Mr 

Rawat. The minimum requirement for 

an MRO facility is about USD 100 million. 

Indian rules allow 100 per cent foreign 

direct investment for greenfield MRO 

projects through the automatic route. 

A full-fledged MRO unit doing all 

types of checks requires 35,000 to 

45,000 engineers. Besides shortage of 

skilled personnel, the country faces stiff 

competition from neighbouring MRO 

hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and 

China. 

Create a database of 

helipads: DGCA 

Mr. E.K. Bharat Bhushan 

DGCA 

A 

meeting was held recently by 

the DGCA, Mr. Bharat Bhushan 

with all helicopter operators to 

review the safety and operations issues of 

helicopters in the country. 

The meeting was attended by all 

helicopter operators, along with 

representatives of Rotary Wing Society 

of India (RWSI) and senior officers from 

Airports Authority of India and DGCA. 

Mr. K. Sridharan, President of RWSI, 

made a comprehensive presentation of 

analysis of the safety record, highlighting 

that barring the four accidents in the 

last two months, the helicopter accident 

record in India has been satisfactory 

and comparable to the rest of the world. 

The major causes of accidents have 

been ‘loss of control’ and ‘collision with 

terrain’, among others attributed to bad 

weather, human factors, pilot errors and 

maintenance etc. 

There are 271 helicopters in the 

country out of which 209 are engaged in 

commercial non-scheduled operations. 

A large percentage of the helicopter fleet 

(71 %) is of single engine helicopters. The 

helicopter industry has a tremendous 

growth potential as indicated in recent 

analytical studies. The growth brings 

challenges and safety is the paramount 

concern of DGCA. DGCA is committed to 

meet the target of reducing helicopter 

accident rate by 80 per cent by 2016. 

In the review, the helicopter operators 

expressed their views on a wide ranging 

issues related to helicopter operations. 

The DGCA summed up the suggestions 

with concrete action points and assured 

that periodic review meetings will ensure 

compliance of safety initiatives both on 

part of regulator and the operators. 

The action plan is to lay stress on 

analysis of accident and incident data and 

implementation of recommendations of 

inquiries; training of pilots in handling of 

emergencies with the use of simulators, 

introduction of safety management 

system which has proved successful 

in countries where it is practiced and 

addressing the deteriorated condition 

of helipads under the control of state 

governments. 

The Director General advised RWSI to 

create a database of all helipads available 

in the country and their features, obstacles 

etc., and publish the information for use 

by helicopter pilots. He also assured that 

separately, the matter will be discussed 

with AAI to review the special corridors for 

helicopters for operations from Juhu and 

Delhi. 

The Director General suggested that 

RWSI should start a culture of voluntary 

reporting of incidents or any significant 

occurrences on the RWSI website, which 

will evolve a culture of sharing of critical 

safety information by all helicopter pilots. 

DGCA has also reiterated instructions 

that in the event of any emergency faced 

by the pilots including bad weather, the 

pilot should immediately land at a suitable 

place and assured that no punitive action 

will be taken in case of unscheduled 

landing under such circumstances. 

He advised all operators to strictly 

adhere to safety in the election flying and 

hilly area flying. Stressing that safety is a 

shared responsibility of the operators and 

the regulator, he signaled that DGCA will 

be extremely strict in ensuring compliance 

with regulations. 


A e r o m a g 57

Independent accident 

investigation 

committee formed 

An aircraft accident provides information and evidence of hazards 

or deficiencies within the aviation system. A well conducted 

investigation identifies all immediate and underlying systemic 

causes of an accident and recommends appropriate safety action aimed 

at avoiding the hazard or eliminating the deficiencies. 

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been conducting 

investigation of accidents and serious incidents and providing support 

for the investigation by Court of Inquiry and Committee of Inquiry. 

In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) 

SARPs and to provide independence of investigation function from the 

regulatory function, it is necessary to create an independent investigation 

systems/Committee. 

With the growth of aviation and corresponding increase in occurrences 

to be investigated, it is necessary to identify the causes of accident in an 

independent manner. The creation of Committee shall also conform to 

the ideology stated in the State Safety Programme of India. 

To meet the above objective an Accident Investigation Committee 

is hereby established which will work under supervision of Ministry of 

Civil Aviation. The Committee will constitute of five posts viz. Director of 

Air Safety (one post), Deputy Director of Air Safety (one post), Assistant 

Director Air Safety (one post) and Air Safety Officer (two posts). The above 

officers may be identified and notified for working in this Committee 

from DGCA. On initial notification of accidents and incidents, respective 

Regional Air Safety Officer, in whose jurisdiction an accident/ incident 

may take place, will forward the details of the accidents and incidents to 

the Committee and would conduct necessary preliminary investigation 

and further would take necessary steps to preserve the evidence for 

facilitation of investigation by the Committee. 

After classification, minor incidents shall be referred to the DGCA for 

enquiry/ investigation while serious incidents and accidents would be 

investigated by investigator or Committee of Inquiry or Court of Inquiry 

to be set up or appointed by the Ministry on the recommendation of the 

Committee. 

The Accident Investigation Committee shall have following function 

and responsibilities: 

(i) Draw up a formal procedure for the notification of an accident or 

serious incident as per ICAO Annex 13. 

(ii) Assist Ministry of Civil Aviation in the formation of Court of Inquiry 

and Committee of Inquiry in case of major accidents. 

(iii) Carry out investigation of aircraft accident and serious incident and 

nominate teams/groups for the purpose. 

(iv) Coordinate and provide support for the working of Court of inquiry 

and Committee of Inquiry. 

(v) Follow-up/monitor the compliance of the recommendation made 

in the Accident and Serious Incident Investigation Reports. 

(vi) Accident/Incident Reporting in accordance with the ICOA ADREP 

Manual (Doc 9156-AN/900). 

(vii) It shall review periodic report of all occurrences for classification and 

further action required. 

(viii) It shall maintain a panel of experts in various fields of aviation 

such as accident investigation, airworthiness, meteorology, flight 

operations, air traffic management with background in investigation 

who may be associated with the investigation process. 

DSEi to generate 

new opportunities 

The defence and security Equipment International( 

DSEi) exhibition will be staged at ExCeL in London 

from 13-16 September 2011, to demonstrate how 

the global defence and security industry is responding to 

the diverse portfolio of threats facing virtually all nations 

. DSEi also provides an opportunity for visitors to develop 

international relationships and generate new business 

opportunities. 

Organiser Clarion Events is looking to attract delegations 

from both established and emerging defence and security 

spenders. This, together with features such as onsite 

facilities for government procurement agencies and new 

technology demonstration zones will,it claims, make DSEi 

the most effective platform yet for suppliers around the 

world. 

“DSEi is internationally recognized for showcasing the 

latest defence and security products and technologies,” 

said DSEi exhibition Director, Duncan Ried. “ The event 

is now increasingly perceived to be a valuable meeting 

ground where representatives of governments, militaries 

and industry can discuss everything from bilateral 

agreements to major individual programmes. 

First A & D suppliers 

summit in US 

In the first event of its kind in the United States, 

manufacturers and suppliers from major global 

aerospace and defence industries will come together 

in Seattle next year to help create business opportunities 

and share information on the industry growth trends. 

The Aerospace & Defence Supplier Summit, hosted by 

BCI Aerospace and supported by The Boeing Company 

and the Washington State Department of Commerce, 

is scheduled for March 12-15 at the Seattle Convention 

Centre. 

Four Boeing business units -- Commercial Airplanes; 

Defence, Space & Security; Engineering, Operations & 

Technology; and Shared Services Group -- will participate 

in the event. 

CIT signs MoU with Airbus 

CIT Group Inc. has signed a MoU with Airbus for 50 

A320neo Family aircraft. 

The deal was signed at the 49th Le Bourget 

airshow by C. Jeffrey Knittel, President of Transportation 

Finance at CIT and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer 

Customers. This order brings the total number of aircraft 

in the Airbus order book for CIT to 241 aircraft, comprising 

195 A320 Family aircraft (including the 50 A320neo aircraft), 

39 A330s, and seven A350 XWBs. A long standing Airbus 

customer and leading leasing company such as CIT has 

placed its first order for the industry’s new benchmark in 

fuel efficient, single-aisle aircraft, the A320neo. 


A e r o m a g 59

Action Against Fake 

Flying Schools 

Directorate General of Civil 

Aviation (DGCA) approves the 

flying club, which comply with 

the conditions stipulated in the Civil 

Aviation Requirements Section 7 - Flight 

Crew Standards Training & Licensing 

Series ‘D’ Part I. There are 41 flying 

training institutes approved by DGCA. 

The list of such institutes is available 

on DGCA’s website. 20 of these Flying 

Clubs have been audited by DGCA. 

The discrepancies found during the 

audit include not maintaining proper 

documents; non-completion of Flying 

training Dossiers; improper briefing 

and de- briefing; non - maintenance 

of dissemination registers for working 

engineers etc. Corrective action as 

per the nature of Audit Observation is 

taken with the concerned flying training 

institutes with an aim to improve the 

system. Further, inspection of facilities 

at the flying training institutes is carried 

out by DGCA to ensure compliance of 

laid down norms and procedures before 

renewal of approval. 

This information was given by the 

Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Vayalar Ravi 

in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha . 

Bombardier wins USD 

126 million firm order 

Bombardier Aerospace has 

announced that a European 

airline, which has requested to 

remain unidentified at the present time, 

has signed a firm order for four Q400 

NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners. 

The transaction includes options on an 

additional four Q400 NextGen aircraft. 

Based on the Q400 NextGen aircraft 

list price, the firm order is valued at 

approximately $126 million US. 

“The technologically advanced Q400 

NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet 

and fuel-efficient regional turboprop,” 

said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier 

Commercial Aircraft. “Airlines 

everywhere are today enjoying the 

full profit potential of the advanced 

capabilities of this high-performance, 

high-profit alternative to a jet, and 

benefit from the optimised aircraft for 

short-haul operations in the 70- to 80- 

seat segment.” 

BrahMos inks pact with 

Russian institutions 

Working on the hypersonic 

version of its supersonic 

cruise missile, BrahMos 

Aerospace has signed an MoU with 

Russian aviation institutions to establish 

a centre of excellence for developing 

technology for high speed aircraft and 

missiles. 

The MoU was inked with the Moscow 

Aviation Institute (MAI) and NPO 

Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM) corporation 

on the first day of the MAKS, 2011 (Moscow 

air show), BrahMos officials said. 

The MoU was signed by BrahMos CEO 

A Sivathanu Pillai, A N Geraschenko, 

Rector of MAI and Chief of NPOM 

Corporation Alexander Leonov. “It will 

The first indigenously-made Medium 

Power Radar (MPR) `Arudhra’ was 

recently inducted at Air Force station 

in Naliya, Kutch, near Pakistan border, at the 

hands of Air Chief Marshal P V Naik. 

Developed by Defence Research and 

Development Organisation (DRDO), 

`Arudhra’ replaces the ageing TRS-2215 and 

PSM-33 radars. 

The radar has a state-of-the-art 

technology, capable of detecting targets at 

ranges greater than 300 kilometres, and it 

is an important component as IAF plans to 

achieve `net centric operations’. The radar 

bring together best scientific minds to 

study the hypersonic technology which 

will eventually pave way for the advanced 

BrahMos-II missile system,” they said. 

Speaking on the occasion, Pillai said, “It 

is a remarkable step for BrahMos, NPOM 

and MAI to come together and work in 

this field.” 

BrahMos had earlier signed a similar 

MoU with the Indian Institute of Science 

(IISc) to mark the 10th anniversary of first 

launch of its missile. 

The MAI is one of the world-leading 

engineering universities dedicated to 

aerospace technologies and the NPOM is 

one of the leading aerospace enterprises 

in Russia. 

1st indigenous medium power 

radar inducted in Gujarat 

Agusta Westland, a Finmeccanica 

company, has announced that 

the Italian Navy has taken 

delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter. 

The Italian Navy has ordered a total of 56 

NH90s (46 NFH and 10 TTH units) which 

will replace old helicopters for a variety 

of roles including anti-submarine warfare, 

anti-surface warfare and utility. 

The NH90 NFH will give the Italian Navy 

a major increase in operational capability 

and mission effectiveness due to its 

outstanding technology and performance. 

is being inducted to strengthen air defence 

capabilities in the Saurashtra-Kutch region. 

Gujarat coastline has several economically 

important installations and the new radar 

will help in extending their security. The IAF 

fighters conducted a fly-past synchronised 

with the induction of radar by the Chief of 

the Air Staff. 

The Air Force unit in which new radar 

has been inducted was raised in October 

1966 in Jodhpur, and it moved to Naliya in 

June 1988. At Naliya the unit has played 

a pivotal role in air defence of Saurashtra- 

Kutch region. 

Italian Navy gets first NH90 NFH 

This achievement is also the result of 

the strong cooperation with the Italian 

Ministry of Defence in the development 

of the NFH variant for the Italian Navy. 

The Italian Navy is the second customer 

to receive the NH90 in Italy, following the 

Italian Army which has a total of 60 NH90 

TTH helicopters on order. Italy is one of 

the nations, selecting the NFH variant 

together with The Netherlands, Norway, 

France and Belgium. A total of 111 NH90 

NFH naval helicopters have been ordered 

by these nations. 


A e r o m a g 61

Lockheed Martin gets 

USD 47 m contract 

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $47 

million contract to develop, demonstrate and deliver 

autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems 

in support of in-theater unmanned cargo resupply missions. 

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace 

will demonstrate intelligent autonomous technologies 

for unmanned aerial systems using the K-MAX helicopter 

platform. 

The Army’s Aviation Applied Technology Directorate 

is investing in mature technologies that will enhance 

unmanned cargo resupply capabilities by improving 

autonomous operations, increasing delivery accuracy 

and reducing ground control station operator workload. 

Prior to being deployed for cargo resupply missions, the 

technology will be demonstrated in an operationally realistic 

environment on the unmanned K-MAX. 

“Lockheed Martin’s experience, resources and proven 

K-MAX platform will allow us to meet the Army’s objectives,” 

said Dan Spoor, vice president of Aviation Systems at 

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors. “We are 

eager to develop and demonstrate the latest autonomous 

technologies using the mature and low-risk K-MAX 

platform.” 

The 6,000 lb power lifter can fly at a higher altitude with 

a heavier payload than any other rotary wing unmanned 

system. With its four-hook carousel, the unmanned K-MAX 

can also deliver more cargo to more locations in one flight. 

Since partnering in 2007, Lockheed Martin and Kaman 

Aerospace have made significant investments to provide 

a rapid response to an urgent military service need. The 

team has met all milestones to date and recently began 

electromagnetic environmental effects testing at Naval 

Air Station Patuxent River, Md., as part of the Navy and 

Marine Corps Cargo Unmanned Air Systems program. 

Airbus and Rolls-Royce sign 

agreement for enhanced A350-1000 

The CEOs of Airbus and Rolls-Royce, Tom Enders and John 

Rishton ,signed the milestone agreement for the joint 

development of the enhanced Airbus A350-1000 airliner 

powered by a higher thrust Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofan. 

The enhanced version of the Trent XWB engine will be fully 

optimised for the largest member of the A350 XWB Family and 

will deliver up to 97,000lbs of thrust on takeoff, making it the 

most powerful engine ever developed for an Airbus aircraft. 

The extra thrust together with an increased aircraft takeoff 

weight capability of 308 tonnes will enable airlines to fly the 

new A350-1000 approximately 400nm further with a full load of 

350 passengers, or carry around 4.5 extra tonnes of payload at a 

given range. Moreover, the A350-1000 will save airlines around 

25% of fuel consumed and CO2emissions compared with its 

competitor. This will assure the A350-1000’s position as by far 

the most efficient aircraft in its category 

BAE Systems India appoints 

new Head of Communications 

BAE Systems has appointed Indu Anand as Head of 

Communications, for Delhi-based BAE Systems India. 

She joins the Company from Citigroup and replaces Guy 

Douglas who is returning to the UK to take up new responsibilities 

at the company’s UK headquarters. 

Indu, who reports jointly to Andrew Gallagher, Chief Executive 

and Managing Director, BAE Systems India and John Neilson, 

Director of Communications, International, BAE Systems, will 

join the Company’s India Management Board. She assumes 

responsibility for developing awareness of the global defence and 

security company’s business activities in India which are based 

largely on mutually beneficial partnerships. 

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Gallagher, said, 

“Effective communication, to a wide and varied stakeholder 

group, is critical to the successful build-out of BAE Systems India. 

Our strategic objective is to become an integral part of the India’s 

domestic defence and security industry and I am confident that 

Indu’s depth of communications experience from a range of 

sectors, including financial services, advertising and IT, will make a 

significant contribution.” 

India is one of BAE Systems’ five home markets, along with 

Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and the United 

Kingdom. 

The company firmly supports the Government of India’s objective 

of procuring 70 per cent of defence equipment domestically. The 

Company’s strategy focuses on serving the armed and security 

services as well as the local economy through the creation of high 

quality jobs, the development of innovative technologies and 

system integration skills, in partnership with India’s world class 

companies. 

Headquartered in Delhi, BAE Systems India takes pride in its 

partnerships with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), with which 

it has a Bangalore-based engineering services joint venture, 

BAeHAL, since 1993, and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd with whom it 

joined hands to form Defence Land Systems India in 2009 

3rd International Seminar on 

Aviation Safety 

Aeromag Asia along with Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries (SIATI) is 

organizing the 3rd International Seminar on Aviation Safety Hazards and New Technologies Previously 

Bird Strike India Seminar) at New Delhi on 9th & 10th December 2011. Airlines, Airports, Ground 

handling Agencies, Pilots, Ornithologists, Aviation and Airport security companies, Aircraft and 

Aero Engine manufacturers, are expected to actively participate in this seminar. It will also be a great 

opportunity for overseas organisations specialising in Airport Safety, Aviation and Flight Safety, Fire 

Safety and Bird control to get associated with this seminar . 

How to register 

Please send your details with registration fees : 

Name: ------------------------------------------- 

Organisation with full address: 

------------------------------------------- 

Designation: ------------------------------------------- 

Tel: ------------------------------------------- 

Cell No: ------------------------------------------- 

Email: ------------------------------------------- 

Seminar for 

Airlines & Airline Personnel 

Airports, Ground handling 

Agencies 

Engine & Aircraft Manufactures 

Designers, Engine Bird 

Insulators,Test Engineers 

Aviation and Airport security 

companies 

Ornithologists, Airport Bird 

Control Consultants 

Airport Operations & Safety 

Personnel 

Aircraft and Aero Engine 

manufacturers 

Airline & Helicopter Pilots 

Civil & Military Aviation Groups 

University Researchers 

Wildlife Agencies,Wild life 

Control Specialists. 

For more details - contact: 

Convenor , Aviation Safety Seminar, 

Aeromag Asia , Aeronautical Society of 

India Building, Suranjandas Road, 

Off Old Madras Road, Bangalore 560075. 

Tel : 080 25284145 / 080 65952377 

Fax:080 25292440 

Cell : + 91 94490 61925 

info@aeromag.in, www.aeromag.in 



A e r o m a g

Indian Limelight in London 

A large contingent of Indian Public sector Undertakings to showcase 

their products and services at DSEi Exhibition at London Excel from 

13-16 September 2011. 

Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) (Ministry of 

Defence, Government of india) Defence Pavilion, Pragati 

Maidan, New Delhi 110 001 (India) Phone: +91-11-2337 

1987/1623 Fax: +91-11-2337 0849. 

DEO was created as a nodal agency in 1981 as part of the 

Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence to 

promote export potential of Defence Public Sector Undertakings, 

DRDO and the Ordnance Factory Board. It has over the years 

immensely contributed towards export promotion activities on 

behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is the nodal and coordination 

agency for the conduct of two major expositions in India, viz; 

Aero India and Defexpo India, which have seen exponential 

growth over the years. DEO also coordinates the participation of 

Indian Defence industries in exhibitions abroad. Aero India has 

already carved a niche for itself globally as a premier aerospace 

exhibition, with eight successful editions organised between 

1996 and 2011. 

India’s opening up of the defence sector to foreign direct 

investment, the ongoing modernisation plans of its Armed Forces 

and enormous new opportunities in the civil aviation sector have 

opened innumerable new avenues for investment. 

Defexpo India 2012, the seventh in the series of biennial Land 

and Naval Systems Exhibition, will be held at Pragati Maidan, 

New Delhi in January 2011. Defexpo India is clearly steering the 

path of steady growth and has been receiving overwhelming 

and unprecedented international response with each edition. 

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) 

15/1, Cubbon Road Bangalore-560 001 (India) 

Phone: +91-80-2286 

5197/2286 5860/2286 1258 Fax: +91-80-2286 7140. 

E-Mail: marketing@hal-india.com 

HAL has 19 Production Divisions for manufacture and overhaul 

of aircraft, helicopters, engines and accessories/ avionics. It 

has also nine R&D centres to give a thrust to research and 

development. HAL has an impressive product track record – 12 

types of aircraft manufactured with in-house R&D and 14 types 

produced under licence. HAL’s supplies/ services are mainly 

to Indian Defence Services, Coast Guards and Border Security 

Forces. Transport Aircraft and Helicopters have also been 

supplied to Airlines as well as State Governments of India. HAL 

has made substantial progress in its current projects: 

- Dhruv, which is Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) 

- Tejas – Light combat Aircraft (LCA)- Intermediate Jet Trainer 

(IJT)- 

Various military and civil upgrades Dhruv was delivered to the 

India Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard in March 2002, in 

the very first year of its production. 

Defence Research Development 

Organization (DRDO) 

447, DRDO BhawanRajaji Marg, New Delhi-110 011 (India) 

Phone: +91-11-2301 6216 

Fax: +91-11-2379 3008 

DRDO is a network of 52 Defence Laboratories in India 

which are deeply engaged in developing critical defence 

technologies covering various disciplines like aeronautics, 

armaments, electronics, combat vehicles engineering system, 

instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, 

special materials, naval systems, life sciences, information 

systems and agriculture. Presently over 5,000 scientists and about 

25,000 other scientifi c, technical and supporting personnel back 

the organization. Several major projects for the development 

of missiles, armaments, light combat aircraft, radars, electronic 

warfare systems etc are on hand and signifi cant achievements 

have been made in several such technologies. 

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) 

International Marketing Division 

Outer Ring Road, Nagavara Bangalore-560 045 (India) 

E-Mail: imd@bel.co.in, www.bel.india.com 

BEL, established in 1954 to meet the specialized electronic 

needs of the country’s defence services, is a multi-product, multitechnology, 

multi-unit company. It serves the needs of domestic 

and foreign customers with the products/ services manufactured 

in its nine state-of-the-art ISO 9001/2 and ISO 14000 certifi 

ed manufacturing plants in India. BEL manufactures a wide 

repertoire of products in the fi eld of Radars, Naval Systems, 

Defence Communication, Telecommunication and Broadcasting, 

Electronic Warfare, Opto Electronics, Tank Electronics and 

Electronic Components. With the expertise developed over the 

years, the company also provides turnkey systems solutions and 

Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) on “Build to Print” and 

“Build to Spec” basis. BEL has become a US$1 billion company in 

the financial year 2007-08. 

Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) 

BEML Soudha 23/1, 4th Main SR Nagar, Bangalore-560 027 

(India) 

E-Mail: offi ce@export.beml.co.in 

BEML Limited, a Government of India Company, is one of the 

largest manufactures and suppliers of Earthmoving, Construction 

and Mining equipment in Asia. BEML is one of the premier 

engineering companies in India and plays a signifi cant role in 

providing vital inputs to the core sectors of the economy, apart 

from manufacturing a wide range of tailor-made equipment for 

the Indian Defence sector. BEML manufactures a wide range 

of sophisticated hi-tech equipment like bulldozers, rear-dump 

truck, front-end loaders, hydraulic excavators, rope shovels, 

motor graders, walking draglines, pipe layers, tyre handling 

equipment, aircraft towing tractor, heavy duty transportation 

trailers, heavy duty trucks and its prime movers, rail coaches 

including day coaches, sleeper coaches, postal vans, track laying 

equipment, overhead inspection cars etc. 

Indian Ordnance Factories possess the unique distinction of 

more than 200 years of experience in Defence production. Under 

the aegis of its corporate headquarters, the Ordnance Factory 

Board, the organization is currently engaged in production, 

logistics, research and development, and trade in the fi eld of 

defence. Ordnance Factory Board off ers comprehensive range 

in the areas of land, naval and air defence systems. These include 

small, medium and large caliber weapons and ammunition, 

mortars, explosives, pyrotechnics, armoured and soft skin 

vehicles, optical and night vision devices, parachutes and troop 

comfort items. 

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (Midhani) 

Superalloys Plant PO Kanchanbagh Hyderabad-500 

058 (India) Phone: +91-40-2434 0293/1228/3531/0253 

Fax:+91-40-2434, 1250/0764/0214/0371 

MIDHANI – an ISO 9002 company – caters to domestic and 

international customers with modern metallurgical facilities 

and high degree of technical competence for manufacturing 

its diverse product mix of super alloys, titanium alloys, 

Your special purpose reliable steels, source electrical resistance for Special and soft magnetic Metals 

alloys, molybedenum other alloys meeting the stringent 

requirements of the strategic and sectors Alloys like defence, aerospace, 

power and general engineering etc. MIDHANI employs its highly 

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Critical integrated applications and in the fl exible Power, manufacturing Atomic Energy, facilities Aerospace, to produce Telecommunications, 

a 

10-A, SK Bose Road, Kolkata-700 001 (India), 

Petrochemical wide variety and General of special Engineering metals Sectors and alloys call in for various special mill metals forms and alloys which 

Phone: +91-33-2248 9027/2103 Fax:+91-33-2210 8235/2248 guarantee such a high as ingots, degree forged of performance bars, hot and rolled reliability steels and in demanding bar. conditions like high 

1748 

Rolls Royce wins contract 

from Middle East 

Rolls-Royce, the global power 

systems company, has won 

contracts to supply Syncrolift® 

ship lifts to two shipyards in the Middle 

East. 

One order, from Damen Shipyards 

Sharjah FZE (DSS) will see a Syncrolift® 

designed and installed at Hamriyah Free 

Zone shipyard at Sharjah, in the United 

Arab Emirates. This installation, with a 

docking platform of 120 metres in length 

and a width of 26.5 metres will be the 

sixth Rolls-Royce Syncrolift® installed in 

the UAE and it will be operational by the 

temperature and corrosive environment. Whatever may be the special requirement and 

application, Midhani has the product. 

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited – Midhani at Hyderabad caters to these high reliability – 

high performance requirements Marine by offering - Middle a diverse East, range said: of special “These metals and alloys. 

The product portfolio comprises contracts of superalloys, underscore titanium the and proven its alloys, track special purpose 

steels, electrical resistance alloys, record softmagnetic Rolls-Royce alloys, Syncrolift® molybdenum systems and a host of other 

alloys. 

and their ability to meet a variety of 

commercial and naval requirements. 

Midhani is also geared to meet The your investments specific requirements. mean that these Do use two our long standing 

experience to solve your problems. new Middle For more East details shipyards and for will a complete be able list of products 

and services get in touch with our to Marketing build and repair Division. ships more efficiently, 

further enhancing their position within 

the global marine industry.” 

Mishra Dhatu 

As the 

Nigam 

world-leader 

Limited 

in shiplift 

end of 2012. 

PO: Kanchanbagh, technology, Hyderabad Rolls-Royce – 500 058, Syncrolift® 

The second contract, awarded Tel : by 24340253, systems 24340634, are installed 24340293, in 24343531 more than 

Zamil Offshore Services, involves Fax: the 24341250, 240 24340764, shipyards 24340214, in 70 countries. 24340371 These 

installation of a ship lift with a platform E Mail innovative : mktg.midhani@ap.nic.in 

systems enable the safe 

102 metres long and 32 metres wide lifting URL:www.midhani.com 

of vessels during construction, 

at a new shipyard, which is being maintenance and repair. Their capacity 

constructed in King Abdul Aziz port, ranges from 500 to 25,000 tonnes. 

Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Zamil Offshore The latest orders are for Syncrolift® 

already operate one Rolls-Royce ship lift, systems that can handle vessels weighing 

and this order will bring the total number up to 5,000 tonnes. Associated transfer 

of systems installed in Saudi Arabia to systems allow suspended vessels to be 

five. Commissioning of the Syncrolift® is moved around within the confines of 

planned for 2013. 

a shipyard, increasing efficiency and 

Ravi K, Rolls-Royce, General Manager, reducing drying-docking times. 


A e r o m a g 65

IN local_Aero Mag Asia(Aug)_Aerospace_205x280_03Aug:Anzeige 8/4/10 12:51 PM Page 1 

PARTNERSHIP. COMPETENCE. 

RELIABILITY. 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ As a market leader in the sector of 5-axis manufacturing 

technology, DMG/MORI SEIKI offers a unique product 

range of high-tech metal cutting machine tools for workpiece 

manufacturing The in the aerospace industry sector. is one of the most advanced industries 

of all time. High-tech, know-how, and quality hardly have such a 

distinctive share in any other business line. Our true partnership, 

high competence, and recognized reliability are key factors for 

your success. 

As a partner of cabin integration and a first tier supplier for 

avionic solutions, we offer a broad variety of systems and 

components which benefit the aerospace industry. 

OEMs and airlines all around the world value and trust our longstanding 

experience in equipping platforms from the cockpit to 

the cabin. 

www.diehl-aerospace.com 

www.diehl-aircabin.com 

www.dasell.com 

Diehl Aerospace and Diehl Aircabin are Joint Diehl Thales Companies. _ Complete machining thanks to 5-axis simultaneous 

Eurofighter Typhoon: the world’s most advanced new generation multi-role combat aircraft. Representing the combined strengths of 

milling and turning in a single setup 

Europe’s leading aerospace and defence companies, the Eurofighter Typhoon provides engineering and industrial benefits for all customer 

nations. Designed with an established technology insertion programme, Eurofighter _ Typhoon Patented is an open B-axis platform simultaneous offering industrial 5-axis milling 

partnership, AeroIndia2011.indd shared 1 development and affordable logistics solutions. 

_ 5X torqueMASTER ® * B-axis with 14.01.2011 gearbox 16:40:18 spindle 

DECEMBER 2008 VOL - 2 ISSUE 6 

_ 

HIGHLIGHTS DMU 125 FD duoBLOCK ® 

duoBLOCK ® the 3 rd generation for maximum stability 

and high continuous accuracy 

www.dmgmoriseiki.com 

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A joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. and NYCO S.A. France 

All DMG / MORI SEIKI news is available online at: Fax: + 91-11-23357671, e-mail: info@avi-oil.com, web.www.avi-oil.com 

A Publication in Association with the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (S I A T I ) 

www.dmgmoriseiki.com 

DMG / MORI SEIKI India: 

DMG MORI SEIKI India Machines and Services Pvt . Ltd. 

Parimala Tower, #64, Jalahalli Camp Cross, Off MES Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore 560 022, India, 

Tel.: +91-80-41131281, Fax: +91-80-41131285, info@dmgmoriseiki.com 

If your mobile phone is equipped with QR code recognition software, you will have direct access to our homepage. 

Vol: V Issue: 1 

Airshow Calendar 

Dubai Air Show 2011 

13 - 17 November 2011 

DEF Expo - New Delhi 

09-12 February 2012 

Singapore Airshow 

14- 19 February 2012 

Eurosatory 2012 

Paris 11-15 June 

ILA Berlin Airshow 

Berlin-Schönefeld, Germany 

19 - 24 Sept 2012 

Farnborough Airshow 2012 

09 - 15 July London 

MathWorks 

to host second 

annual user conference 

Continuing on the lines of the successful inaugural User Conference 

hosted by MathWorks India in 2010, the second annual MathWorks 

India User Conference offering a full day of insightful\ presentations 

and demonstrations relevant to engineers, scientists and managers at any level 

of proficiency from across the industrial spectrum will be held at ITC Gardenia in 

Bangalore on October 20 this year. 

Sessions will be presented by MathWorks technical experts as well as customers of 

MathWorks India. 

Richard Rovner, vice president of marketing, MathWorks, will deliver the keynote 

address entitled, “Driving Innovation and Efficiency with Model-Based Design.” This 

talk will highlight recent applications of Model-Based Design, expose the critical 

underlying technologies based on MATLAB and Simulink, overview new product 

enhancements from MathWorks, and touch on the extension of Model-Based 

Design into academia, ensuring the growth of the next generation of engineers and 

scientists. 

In addition, a MathWorks India customer will deliver a keynote address at the 

conference. 

For the detailed agenda, visit http://www.mathworks.in/company/events/ 

conferences/user-conference-india/index.html. 

A e r o m a g 

JUNE 2008 VOL - 2 ISSUE 3 

EUROFIGHTER 

WOOS INDIA 

A s i a 

Aerospace 

Visit 


us at hall G 43, India 2011 

Asia 

Every Team has a Goal ! 

Tejas 

India’s Pride 

February 2011 

A Bimonthly Publication Dedicated 

to Aviation & Aerospace Industry 

Indian 

Limelight 

in Berlin 

A e r o m a g 

India on 

Moon 

www.eurofighter.com 

Eurofighter Typhoon: The Best Multi-Role Capabilities for India 

A s i a 

PLEASE VISIT US A T 

HALL C, S T AND C17 

A Publication in Association with the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries (S I A T I ) 

Ours is.. 

Self-Reliance in Aviation Lubricants! 

AVI-OIL INDIA [P] LTD. 


A Publication in Association with the Society of Indian 

Aerospace Technologies & Industries (SIATI) 

A Publication in Association with the 

Society of Indian Aerospace 

Technologies & Industries (SIATI) 

www.aeromag.in 

Special issues 

for Def Expo 

Contact 

Aeromag Asia 

Aeronautical Society of India Building 

Suranjandas Road, Off Old Madras Road, 

Bangalore 560075. Karnataka, INDIA 

Tel - + 91 80 25284145 / 65952377 

Fax - + 91-80 -25292440 

E-mail : info@aeromag.in 


A e r o m a g 67

Rni reg. no: kareng/2008/26436 

A e r o m a g 

68

July-August 2011 - Aeromag

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