The gas turbine jet engines are the most widely used means of aircraft propulsion. The engine burns fuel in the combustion chamber to run a gas turbine to accelerate airflow and in turn create forward thrust. Both the fan and the jet contribute to the process. Normally large airliners and transport aircraft have large fansContinue reading “Aircraft Jet Engine Manufacturing Challenges”
Category Archives: Technology
The Formidable General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper for Indian Armed Forces
Two General Atomics “Predator B” drones, also called the MQ-9 Reaper Sea Guardian, has been leased by the Indian Navy, in November 2020, from the USA for extended surveillance in the Indian Ocean. These drones are operating from INS Rajali near Arkonnam on the east coast. They are under the operational control of Indian NavyContinue reading “The Formidable General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper for Indian Armed Forces”
Air Space Control – Challenges and the Way Ahead
The action in air and space continues to increase. The friendly and adversary platforms and projectiles are not only increasing in numbers but are also travelling at speeds many times faster than sound. Civil traffic is also increasing manyfold. Air space is a finite resource. It thus becomes imperative that appropriate control is exercised forContinue reading “Air Space Control – Challenges and the Way Ahead”
Lethal Autonomous Aerial Weapon Systems – Realities of the Future
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in late 2020, included the heavy use of missiles, drones, and rocket artillery. Clearly, Azerbaijani drones were the centre of attention in this war and helped Azerbaijan take control of the skies. Azerbaijani drones provided significant advantages in ISR as well as long-range strikeContinue reading “Lethal Autonomous Aerial Weapon Systems – Realities of the Future”
IAF’s Fighter Fleet Requirements and Options Ahead
The Galwan showdown of June 2020 and the continuing stand-off between the world’s two powerful nations India and China has brought the focus back on Indian Armed Forces capability building. Indian Air Force‘s (IAF) fighter fleet modernisation has been in discussion. The convergence of strategic interests between China and Pakistan and their rapidly modernizing airContinue reading “IAF’s Fighter Fleet Requirements and Options Ahead”
MILITARY AVIATION INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION – STRATEGY INDIA
India’s defence aviation industry is at times accused of not having significantly met the indigenous production needs of the air arms of the Indian armed forces despite being in existence for nearly seven decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), for long had master the art of license production, wherein they assembled aircraft from Original Equipment ManufacturerContinue reading “MILITARY AVIATION INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION – STRATEGY INDIA”
Chinese Wing Loong UAVs – Proliferating Across the World
The Chengdu Pterodactyl I, also known as Wing Loong, is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group of China. Designed for surveillance and aerial reconnaissance platform, the Pterodactyl I is capable of being fitted with air-to-surface weapons for use in an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) role.Continue reading “Chinese Wing Loong UAVs – Proliferating Across the World”
Drones – Security, Sovereignty and Identities
Drone attacks entered the mainstream news and gained prominence around the very beginning of the 2010s decade their increased usage by the Obama administration, even though it wasn’t the first time drones were used in the role. The use of drone strikes to eliminate supposed terrorist elements hurting the American War on Terror in AfghanistanContinue reading “Drones – Security, Sovereignty and Identities”
A Professional’s Rambling? Evolution of Airpower – Challenges, Questions, and Thoughts
End of Manned Figher Jet Era? During an informal chat with Lt. Gen John Thompson of US Space Command, Elon Musk made a very provocative statement and that too, in a room full of fighter pilots. He stated that the manned “fighter jet era has passed”. This happened during the annual US Air Force Association’sContinue reading “A Professional’s Rambling? Evolution of Airpower – Challenges, Questions, and Thoughts”
People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force – A Comprehensive Look
Red Echo, a hacker group affiliated with the Chinese government, repeatedly targeted the control rooms that manage India’s critical power grids in a massive campaign that could have caused widespread blackouts. The Chinese hackers, however, failed to break into the systems, and no data breach was detected because of the attacks, India’s power ministry saidContinue reading “People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force – A Comprehensive Look”
Air Power Asia 