DRDO at Aero India 2017

41 Pages·2017·3.66 MB·English

Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre
Metcalfe House, Delhi - 110054
Sat, 11 Feb, 2017
First IOC Version of AEW&C System Aircraft to Be
Handed Over During Aero-India
India’s Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) will hand over the first Initial Operational
Capability (IOC) version of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft during the upcoming
Aero India air show on 14th of this month, DRDO Chairman said Saturday.
The second IOC version will be handed over in the month of May-June this year, Chairman of DRDO, S.
Chirstopher said during a press conference on Aero-India international seminar-2017.
DRDO had purchased three EMB-145 aircraft from the Embraer in 2008 and customized them for serving are
air-borne radar system known as AEW&CS for the Indian Air Force.
“Presently, our estimate is for the first two AEW&Cs will be about 9200 crores (USD 1.3 billion) followed by
four numbers will be about similar number. So on an average, the production cost of an AEW&Cs will be
about 2.6-2.7 thousand crores (USD 404 million),” Chirstopher said.
“We are in the process of clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) this month, negotiations are
over, and CCS will have a final approval. With that we shall be able to proceed,” he said.
This Indian spy-in-the-sky will be protected by a comprehensive self-defense system. The plane can act as a
command-and-control center to support air defense operations like the AWACS aircraft India got from Israel,
and can monitor multiple target aircraft and areas.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017
DRDO looking at optimising defence products
DRDO Chairman S Christopher said besides bringing in economical advantage, it will also help India build
its might in the region.
Giving thrust on exports, Defence Research and Development Organisation today said it is looking at
optimising defence products for which the advanced versions have been developed, by exporting them to other
countries. DRDO Chairman S Christopher said besides bringing in economical advantage, it will also help
India build its might in the region. “Apart from importing the foreign defence goods, if we can make a small
change in terms of delivering or exporting some of our defence goods, that will be the happiest movement for
the nation, and DRDO should strive to do that,” Christopher said. He said “thereby we will enhance the make
in India policy, and the guidelines given by the Defence Minister and the Prime minister will be fully
honoured.”
Christopher was interacting with reporters at the curtain raiser of eleventh biennial Aero India International
Seminar to be held from February 12 to 14 here, as a prelude to the eleventh edition of the Aero India
Aerospace Exposition.
He said DRDO with an intention to optimise the product that is already there, is looking at opportunities to
export previous versions of defence products, as it makes better or advanced versions for indigenous
consumption.
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“When we are going for a large platform, much more evolved, capable systems having longer endurance,
higher ranges, and more number of absorbents; smaller platforms can be probably exported to other
countries.We can even design and develop exclusively for somebody at lower costs,” he said.
Citing ‘Pinaka’, a multiple rocket launcher, as an example, Christopher said “when you have Pinaka Mark-lll
obviously the user will have interest on it rather than Mark-l or ll, so instead of abandoning l and ll we should
produce it at a reasonable cost and export it to neighbouring countries and thereby we can get back the returns
of the amount that has gone into their development.”
“If there is an interest elsewhere, we will give the technology also, because today no country wants just the
product, they also wants to have their own production within the country,” he said.
Responding to a question on countries of export, Christopher said “with Vietnam a USD 21 million contract
has been concluded for naval products; Myanmar we have already supplied sonars..there are many other
countries but it is confidential on their request,” he added.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017
Aero India seminar to showcase aerospace technologies,
military products
India will showcase its aerospace technologies and products for military applications on Sunday ahead of
the Aero India 2017 air show starting in Bengaluru from Tuesday, said an official on Saturday.
"A three-day international seminar on 'Aerospace: Technology Collaboration and Self-reliance' is being held
as a prelude to the 11th edition of the biennial air show where we will showcase technologies and products
developed by our defence labs and the aerospace industry," Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) Chairman S Christopher told reporters.
The state-run DRDO and its various aerospace arms like Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE),
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) have developed
technologies and applications for aircraft systems, unmanned platforms, C4ISR (Command, Control,
Communications, Computers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), avionics, space and missile
systems, propulsion, materials and manufacturing.
Speakers from Airbus, CIAM, Eurojet, GE, Honeywell, Opal-RT, Pulse Electronics, Rolls Royce, Siemens,
SAAB and UAC will address the gathering while specialists from Britain, Canada, Germany, India, Russia,
Sweden and the US participate in the seminar.

The Indian delegates will represent the state-run research and development centres and organisations such as
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Iandian Air Force (IAF), Navy, Army, Defence Institute of
Advanced Technology (DIAT) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Organised by the DRDO in association with the Aeronautical Society of India, the brain-storming event has
attracted about 900 delegates, including 73 speakers from global aerospace majors, technocrats, policy
makers, defence experts and students.
"The seminar will provide opportunities for synergetic interaction among aerospace experts from the world
over, including scientists, designers, manufacturers, operators and academia. We expect the event to result in
collaborative programmes in research, development and manufacture in view of the government's aMake in
India' flagship programme for greater indigenisation and self reliance," added Christopher.
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Niti Ayog member and senior defence scientist V K Saraswat will inaugurate the seminar on Sunday
while ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar will address the delegates on Monday.

Sun, 12 Feb, 2017
DRDO’s V-Day gift to IAF: An all-weather ally
This news couldn’t have come at a better time than this. On February 14, the day Aero India 2017 begins, the IAF will
be the proud owner of its very own indigenous allweather airborne early warning and control system popularly known as
the AEW&C. This aerial platform is meant to be a force multiplier that will guide the IAF's fighter aircraft during
combat. It will have the capability to detect incoming fighters, cruise missiles and even drones from both Pakistan and
China. For DRDO chairman Dr Christopher, it will be a fine day indeed.
He was the programme director (airborne early warning and control system) and director of Centre for Air-Borne
Systems in the DRDO before being elevated to the topmost Speaking exclusively to India Today, he said his association
with the early warning system programme goes back to 1985 when it all started. He also had a narrow escape having
flown on the same test aircraft as a flight engineer that crashed in January 1999.
“I flew on that same test aircraft, the previous sortie, the last but one sortie before it crashed,” he told India Today. The
indigenous AEW&C system has been developed by Bengaluru-based CABS and integrated onto a Brazilian built
Embraer-145 aircraft. It is equipped with a 240-degree coverage radar and can detect, identify and classify threats in the
surveillance area and also act as a Command and Control Centre to support air defence operations. Director general of
Aeronautical Systems (Aero) Dr CP Ramanarayanan participated in the final trials of the AEW&C. “I was onboard this
flight in Jodhpur and it was so heartening to see all the functional performance requirements were met meticulously,” he
says. According to him the users (IAF) observed that this was such a trial they have never undergone. So while the
second AEW&C will be handed over to the IAF in a few months time, the third which was initially to be with CABS,
will also be handed over to the IAF. China today has more than 20 AWACS and Pakistan has 8 AWACS, India on the
other hand has just this one AEW&C and 3 Phalcon systems. To play catch up, in March 2016, the Defence Acquisition
Council cleared the building of 2 AWACS-India.

These systems will be much more powerful and capable than the AEW&C and will involve mounting an indigenous
360- degree coverage AESA radar on an Airbus A-330 jet. “As far as the functionality is concerned, both are identical.
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However, the new one is much more capable with extended range and better angular coverage,” Dr S Christopher says.
The requirement of the IAF is for 8 AWACS-I aircraft.
Dr Christopher has said the file will be moved to the cabinet committee on security and they are hoping to secure
clearance anytime soon with a developmental time frame of close to seven years.

Sun, 12 Feb, 2017
IAF to induct DRDO’s early warning setup
Bengaluru: The first Initial Operational Capability (IOC) version of Airborne Early Warning and Control
System (AEW&CS) will be inducted into the Indian Air Force during Aero India 2017, said S Christopher,
Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
At a press briefing on Saturday, Christopher said an international seminar would be held from Sunday to
February 14, organised by DRDO in association with the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).
The theme of this seminar is ‘Aerospace: Technology Collaboration and Self-reliance’.
AEW&CS will enable armed forces to communicate with fighter jets, allows for search and rescue operations,
mission planning, and will help in post-mission analysis as it comprises record and replay.
AEW&CS was developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru and integrated on a
Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft.
20 foreign speakers
A DRDO release stated, “About 20 speakers from foreign aerospace, research development and industry sector
are participating. These include Airbus, GE, Rolls Royce, Siemens, SAAB. Technical specialists are from US,
Canada, the UK, Russia, Germany, Sweden and India.”

Sun, 12 Feb, 2017
Surveillance aircraft to join IAF at Aero India-2017
The indigenously equipped small surveillance plane, AEW&CS, will be inducted into the Air Force during the
first day of Aero India-2017.
DRDO chairman and Defence R&D secretary S. Christopher said on Saturday that the aircraft, built on the
platform of the Brazilian Embraer plane, has achieved the initial operational certification. The radar on it will
be indigenously developed. Its pair, the second AEWC&S, will be similarly equipped and inducted around
June, he said.
This plane would also fly and demonstrate its capability during the show.
The DRDO is also ready to inaugurate its Advanced Test Range at Challakere in Chitradurga as soon as either
of the Defence Ministers can find the time, he said.
Preliminary work has begun in the fifth-generation stealth fighter, the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat
Aircraft or AMCA, at the ADA, Bengaluru. An LCA version with higher thrust is being developed.
The AEW&CS has been developed at a cost of ₹2,400
development, Dr. Christopher said.
The Rustom-2 / ‘Tapas’ MALE (medium altitude long endurance) UAV will reach its full capability by the
end of the year. A policy is being readied on UAV capabilities that must endure up to 2025, he said.
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DRDO seminar begins today - The DRDO will showcase its combat aircraft, missiles, unmanned air
vehicles, avionics, radars and surveillance devices during the Aero India air show and exhibition, which begins
in the city on February 14.
As many as 25 defence labs or almost half of the total centres are participating in the exhibition.
The DRDO’s customary seminar of three days will begin on Sunday and will highlight national security with
indigenous technology, said Cdr C.D. Balaji (retd), director, Aeronautical Development Agency, said on
Saturday. The ADA is the lead agency developing the light fighter and its versions and follow-ons.
A real Light Combat Aircraft or ‘Tejas’ in static and flying display, the UAVs Rustom 1 and 2, and missiles
will be the pride of the nationally developed defence products and technologies at the air show.

Sun, 12 Feb, 2017
(Online)
Indian defence products ripe for export: DRDO chief
After years of developing defence goods, the focus of the country’s military R&D establishment is now on
pursuing export of a host of Indian products and technologies, said S. Christopher, chairman of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on Saturday.
Efforts are on to find overseas buyers for homegrown products and technologies such as the light combat
fighter (LCA), pilotless aircraft Rustom-1 and Rustom-2/Tapas, the small AEW&CS plane for surveillance,
and the Astra and Pinaka missiles, he said at a customary news briefing ahead of the three-day Aero India
Seminar, which begins here on Sunday.
As part of this strategy, DRDO will encourage potential overseas customers to fly in the LCA’s trainer version
during the Aero India, which begins on February 14. For the first time, the DRDO outdoor display will
showcase a real Tejas LCA aircraft.
Export of its products is the DRDO’s key agenda this year, Dr. Christopher said, adding, “We are geared up to
do it. We have come to the extent of showcasing our fighter aircraft to the world and [to] demonstrate the LCA
to customers. It will be a good return on the investments if we produce them at a reasonable cost and export
them. It will also do the nation good.”
As the organisation’s labs move towards upgrades of their products, the early versions could be customised
and offered along with technologies to friendly and neighbouring countries. The Astra missile and the Pinaka
Mark 1 and 2 versions are strong possibilities.
Already the government has cleared development of eight surveillance planes on the bigger Airbus A330
platform. As such, the government is considering exporting the smaller surveillance plane or the Airborne
Early Warning & Control Systems (AEW&CS) built on the Embraer base.
Some progress has already been made in the way of naval torpedoes for Vietnam and sonars for Myanmar.
The LCA, the fourth generation fighter that is the world’s lightest, has stirred the interest of a few countries, he
said.
‘LCA-Navy will meet its goal’
Recent statements that the Indian Navy has rejected the LCA-Navy fighter aircraft meant for it because it was
‘overweight and unsuitable’ refer only to the first version, which was a technology demonstrator, the heads of
the DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency said on Saturday.
Cdr. C.D. Balaji (retd), director of ADA, which is the lead developer of a fighter version each for the air force
and the Navy, said the December statement attributed to the Chief of Naval Staff should be “restricted to Mark
1, which we know is a heavier platform.”
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The Navy’s requirements are being fully addressed in the second version, Mark 2. By mid-2017, ADA is
expected to achieve the crucial ‘arrested recovery’ or landing of the fighter on a ship-like platform, and this
would signal fruition of the product, Cdr. Balaji and Dr. Christopher said.
About the Navy seeking 57 fighters through a global search or RFI (Request for Information), Cdr. Balaji said
it probably pertains to the force’s immediate requirement.

Sun, 12 Feb, 2017
(Online)
Surveillance aircraft to join IAF at Aero India-2017
The indigenously equipped small surveillance plane, AEW&CS, will be inducted into the Air Force during the
first day of Aero India-2017. DRDO chairman and Defence R&D secretary S. Christopher said on Saturday
that the aircraft, built on the platform of the Brazilian Embraer plane, has achieved the initial operational
certification. The radar on it will be indigenously developed.
Its pair, the second AEWC&S, will be similarly equipped and inducted around June, he said. This plane would
also fly and demonstrate its capability during the show. The DRDO is also ready to inaugurate its Advanced
Test Range at Challakere in Chitradurga as soon as either of the Defence Ministers can find the time, he said.
Preliminary work has begun in the fifth-generation stealth fighter, the twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat
Aircraft or AMCA, at the ADA, Bengaluru. An LCA version with higher thrust is being developed. The
AEW&CS has been developed at a cost of ?2,400 crore, which is still within international costs of
development, Dr. Christopher said. The Rustom-2 / ‘Tapas’ MALE (medium altitude long endurance) UAV
will reach its full capability by the end of the year.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
DRDO looking at optimising defence products
Giving thrust on exports, Defence Research and Development Organisation has said it is looking at optimising
defence products for which the advanced versions have been developed, by exporting them to other countries.
DRDO Chairman S Christopher on Saturday said besides bringing in economical advantage, it will also help
India build its might in the region.
Apart from importing the foreign defence goods, if we can make a small change in terms of delivering or
exporting some of our defence goods, that will be the happiest movement for the nation, and DRDO should
strive to do that," Christopher said.
He said "thereby we will enhance the make in India policy, and the guidelines given by the Defence Minister
and the Prime minister will be fully honoured."
Christopher was interacting with reporters at the curtain raiser of eleventh biennial Aero India International
Seminar to be held from February 12 to 14 here, as a prelude to the eleventh edition of the Aero India
Aerospace Exposition.
6
He said DRDO with an intention to optimise the product that is already there, is looking at opportunities to
export previous versions of defence products, as it makes better or advanced versions for indigenous
consumption. "When we are going for a large platform, much more evolved, capable systems having longer
endurance, higher ranges, and more number of absorbents; smaller platforms can be probably exported to other
countries. We can even design and develop exclusively for somebody at lower costs," he said.
Citing 'Pinaka', a multiple rocket launcher, as an example, Christopher said "when you have Pinaka Mark-lll
obviously the user will have interest on it rather than Mark-l or ll, so instead of abandoning l and ll we should
produce it at a reasonable cost and export it to neighbouring countries and thereby we can get back the returns
of the amount that has gone into their development."
"If there is an interest elsewhere, we will give the technology also, because today no country wants just the
product, they also wants to have their own production within the country," he said.
Responding to a question on countries of export, Christopher said "with Vietnam a USD 21 million contract
has been concluded for naval products; Myanmar we have already supplied sonars..there are many other
countries but it is confidential on their request," he added.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
AERO India International seminar inaugurated by VK
Saraswat
The 11th edition of the Aero India International Seminar, a prelude to the Aero India 2017 was inaugurated
today at Yelahanka, Bengaluru by Dr. VK Saraswat, Member NITI Aayog, Govt of India and President
Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI). The seminar is being organized by DRDO in association with the AeSI,
from 12 – 14 February.
Dr. Saraswat in his inaugural address applauded the wonderful work done by DRDO in the field of Aerospace
and said self-reliance will remain elusive without indigenization. On this occasion, Dr. Saraswat released the
Seminar Souvenir and the Special Issue of the Indian Defence Research and Technology (IDR&T) on “Missile
Technology” jointly published by IDST (Institute of Defence Scientists and Technologists) and DRDO.
The theme of the seminar is ‘Aerospace: Technology Collaboration and Self-Reliance’. The seminar will
provide a platform for synergetic interaction amongst aerospace professionals from across the globe to share
their ideas, views and opinions to promote R & D in the Aerospace and the Defence sector.
Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr. S Christopher in his
Presidential address said the seminar will provide opportunity to explore possibilities of establishing
collaborative programmes for research and technology partnerships. He also released the special issue of the
Journal of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies brought out by the Aeronautical Society of India on this
occasion.
Dr. CP Ramanarayanan, Director General (Aeronautical Systems) in his welcome address briefed about the
three-day seminar.
More than 900 delegates including 25 foreign delegates from seven countries are participating in the event. 73
speakers from India and abroad will deliver talks and will present papers during the three days of the seminar.

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Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
Aero India 2017: India Steps UP AEW&C Procurement
The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has delivered its first indigenously made
airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft – designated Netra – to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
As per India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Netra is a complete system centered on an active
electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar developed by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS). IHS
Jane’s reports that the Netra has a range of 250-375 km with 240-degree coverage.
The AEW&C system also comprises of communications systems enabling for line-of-sight (LOS), beyond
LOS communication, and voice communication. It has a secondary surveillance radar and “electronic and
communication countermeasures.”
The Netra uses a software engine fusing information gleaned from sensors, providing the user with a
comprehensive understanding of the combat environment.
The Netra system is mounted the Embraer ERJ-145 business jet, which DRDO equipped with a standard self-
protection suite and in-flight refuelling probe.
At a press conference at Aero India, DRDO’s Chairman, Dr. S. Christopher, told media that each AEW&C
would cost US $400 million a unit (via Defense World).
In tandem to procuring the ERJ-145-based Netra, the IAF is also setting in motion its plans for a next-
generation AEW&C, with Airbus Defence & Space (DS) expected to supply the platform.
According to the Economic Times, the next-generation AEW&C will have a higher detection range than the
Netra and will demonstrate true 360-degree coverage and longer flight endurance. It will be based on the
Airbus A330. The expected cost of the next-generation AEW&C program (for up to six aircraft) is US $3
billion.
The completion and delivery of the CABS AEW&C is a significant step for the Indian defence industry and
the Indian armed forces. Localization of sensitive technologies, such as AESA TRMs, has enabled India to
absorb the bulk of defence expenditure within its own economy, enabling it to save substantially by using its
own currency and cost dynamics. It is possible that with additional procurement, not just of the AEW&C but
the underlying technology as well, will enable India to reduce the cost of the system. It should not be long
before an export variant of the Netra becomes plausible, which will enable India to compete against Saab and
Israel Aerospace Industries in many prospective markets.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
Ex-DRDO chief Saraswat slams Navy’s Tejas rejection
Dr V.K. Saraswat, Member of Niti Aayog and former chief of DRDO, slammed the Indian Navy for putting
down the naval variant of indigenous ‘Tejas’ combat jet.
“The decision defies logic,” he said while addressing an international seminar here on Sunday on the eve of
Aero India 2017, and that decision-makers were poorly informed.
"When they projected Gripen as an alternative for LCA Navy, I was surprised. LCA MK2 (which is under
development) and Gripen, as platforms, have no difference. The GE F-414 is powering both aircraft, so where
is the question of low thrust? All that people, who are at the helm of the affairs, have done is bad mouth
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institutions which have done a wonderful job. Is this the approach to make ourselves self-reliant? Any number
of Aero India(s) can take place, but unless you have conviction and faith in your own capabilities, you can't
achieve self-reliance," he added.
Without naming outgoing Chief of Naval Staff Sunil Lanba, who made a controversial comment “present LCA
does not meet the carrier capability required by the navy”, in December 2016, Dr Saraswat said many
decisions by poorly informed decision-makers defy logic, and that they indulge in bad-mouthing of indigenous
projects without any technical background.
In December, Adm. Sunil Lanba had stated that the naval variant of LCA does not have the capabilities
required by the Navy. He said that while the Navy would continue to support manufacturing agencies in
development of naval fighter aircraft, they would lookout for 57 multi-role fighters for its aircraft carriers from
the global market. SAAB’s Gripen and Boeing’s F/A-18 Superhornet aircraft are already in the race to meet
the Navy’s new requirement.
Later, Dr Saraswat said the Niti Aayog does not advise the Union government on defence-related issues and
therefore would not be able to make a case of the naval version of ‘Tejas’.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
QuEST keen to double its headcount in India
Singapore-headquartered QuEST Global Engineering is in talks with Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) to explore possibilities to work on India’s aero engine project.
With many opportunities in the Indian defence sector opening up, the company, which is mainly into design
and development of high technology products for defence and aerospace sector, plans to double its headcount
in India in the next 3-4 years.
Of its 8,200 employees working from 11 countries, 4,500 work from three centres in India — Bengaluru,
Belagavi and Thiruvananthapuram.
According to Raman Subramanian, Senior Vice President-- Strategic Initiatives and Marketing, QuEST Global
always encourages local talent. “In next three to four years, we will be focusing more on India,’’ said Raman,
an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Bangalore. Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a DRDO laboratory, had worked
on developing the aero engine Kaveri which was meant to power the indigenously designed and developed
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. However, it failed to met the requirements and DRDO had to opt for an
US-made aero engine.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017
Surveillance aircraft to join IAF at Aero India-2017
The indigenously equipped small surveillance plane, AEW&CS, will be inducted into the Air Force during the
first day of Aero India-2017. DRDO chairman and Defence R&D secretary S. Christopher said on Saturday
that the aircraft, built on the platform of the Brazilian Embraer plane, has achieved the initial operational
certification. The radar on it will be indigenously developed. Its pair, the second AEWC&S, will be similarly
equipped and inducted around June, he said.
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