Posted on 12/17/2007 7:31:25 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
US willing to offer India advanced Hawkeye-2D spy plane
17 Dec 2007, 1319 hrs IST,
IANS
NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: The US is willing to offer its most advanced maritime spy plane, the advanced Hawkeye-2D, to India.
According to a report in the forthcoming issue of India Strategic defence magazine, the Indian Navy had issued an RFI (Request for Information) for the aircraft to the US government some time back.
Although Washington is yet to release this aircraft for export "it could be sold to countries like India, Egypt, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)", the report added.
The aircraft is still under development and Northrop Grumman, its manufacturer, should achieve initial operational capability in 2011. Its first test flight was conducted only in August.
The advanced Hawkeye-2D looks like the existing Hawkeye-2C but will be much different and better with improved performance.
It will feature the new APY-9 spy radar, radio suite, mission computer, integrated satellite communications capability, flight management system, improved engines, a new "glass" cockpit and the ability to refuel in-flight.
A Grumman-built AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar will form part of the spy radar system. This AESA will feature a 360-degree, all-weather rotodome antenna and space-time adaptive processing, digital receivers, Adaptive Detection System (ADS) -18/rotary coupler assembly with a co-aligned IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) suite.
Sources told India Strategic that the Indian Navy had no interest in the existing Hawkeye-2C but the fact that the US was willing to offer a system virtually at the same time as its own navy would induct it, was important. "The new technology is tempting."
Sources in Washington confirmed India's interest and said that "as and when a formal request is received from New Delhi, the answer should be positive."
The Indian Navy also wanted the aircraft to be capable of staying in the air for eight hours, instead of six in the existing aircraft.
"Suitable modifications are being planned in the new aircraft by adding wet wings, that is, wings capable of carrying fuel," the sources said. Besides, the midair refuelling capability would enhance this capability further.
Of about a dozen operators of the existing aircraft, only the US Navy and the French Aviation Navale use their Hawkeyes for shipboard operations, for which they have folding wings. For shore-based operations, as in the case for India, the wings could be conventional with fuel-carrying capacity.
It may be noted that unlike the Lockheed Martin P3C Orions, or the Boeing P8I - another modern aircraft under development - the Hawkeyes do not carry any weapons and are pure intelligence and command and control aircraft.
The Orions and the Boeing P8s are designed for much longer ranges and midair staying capability of 16 hours, and also carry anti ship and submarine weapons like the Harpoons.
According to a Northrop Grumman statement, "the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivers battle management, theatre air and missile defence, and multiple sensor fusion capabilities in an airborne system. These advances provide war fighters with the necessary situational awareness to compress the time between initial awareness and active engagement.
"The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a game changer in how the Navy will conduct battle management command and control. By serving as the 'digital quarterback' to sweep ahead of strike, manage the mission, and keep the net-centric carrier battle groups out of harms way, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the key to advancing the mission, no matter what it may be."
The new aircraft will have a crew of five, including the pilot, co-pilot and three mission operators. Two Rolls Royce T56 engines will power the propeller-driven aircraft.
Development costs for the aircraft are being funded by the US government, which will buy at least 75 of them for its navy.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30billion global defence and technology company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. It set up an India office earlier this year.
ping
I love the fact that we are getting closer to India.
India and Singapore, yes...U.A.E. and Egypt...U.A.E. is a close ally of our’s (especially in maritime interdiction in the Persian Gulf) and while Egypt is moderate and friendly to Israel (As friendly as they can be)...
I’ve been reading articles about how the Indian military hates our guts, etc using them as a counter agent vs China etc. For people who allow monkeys, rats and cows to walk and crap all over their city streets, maybe this ain’t a good idea.(I’ve been in new Delhi a couple of times).
The Phalcon deal faced some trouble way back in 2001-02 after tension between India & Pakistan.But it’s gone about rather well after that phase.If it faces any more trouble,it will probably come from the Russians who are offering the airframe.
If the Indian military doesn’t like the US,it wouldn’t be lobbying the government for more exercises with the US.About being a counter-’agent’,it’s always been a counter to the Chicoms-the thing is that the US only recognised that since GWB came around.
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India would be an outstanding place to have a bunch of these planes. It’s not a bad idea to cultivate stronger relationships with them either.
Let’s give ‘em a nice discount if they buy in bulk...
You are an uninformed loud mouthed idiot.
It is not the Indian Military but the Left-Commie parties of India and in my opinion, they dont hate your guts any more than your own countrymen, the Dims do...so temper your anger with information before you go about making a fool of yourself.
I am? LOL Could you please show us a link “oh mighty lord of all idiots.”?
You made the claim that the Indian Military blah blah...why don’t you start with a link yourself “Oh Omni(im)potent Idiot”?
Well nobody buys AEW/C systems in bulk so they will always remain expensive.Even the almighty USAF has only 30 odd E-3 aircraft!!
Well, oh mighty idiot...you started the name calling first, remember?
Why didnt you even show a hint of class unlike most here who EVEN if someone makes a general statement that they THINK is false, at least they dont resort to cheap name calling. It’s the perfect liberal answer to debates, start yelling and cursing becuase they have nothing good to say.
It almost sounds like you’re begging me to be nice to you by alluding to “class”. Your claims are not GENERAL, they are FALSE and I don’t THINK it, I KNOW it. A general statement is when it talks of a trend or of what is the mainstream opinion.
Anyway, I apologize for the name calling although i must say my opinion about you hasn’t gotten any better. Now for the link that it is the Indian Left that doesn’t like America, here goes:
1) On the Indian Left’s idiotic attitude to the USA: http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/29cpi.htm
2) On the growing ties between our 2 militaries:
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0503/157.html
http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/13/stories/2003091302411100.htm
http://meaindia.nic.in/bestoftheweb/2002/06/10bow01.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5368867.cms
Now its your turn. Lets see you back your GENERAL talk with facts. Personally, I don’t see why anyone should worry about PC talk when someone’s claims are blatantly stupid. Assuming it is that you THINK your claim is CORRECT, please share some independent assessment that the Indian Military DISLIKES the AMERICANS so that we all know how knowledgeable you are. If you are unable to do so, just ask me to be nice to you next time and ignore your unsubstantiated claims.
bkmark for later.
Ahhh, I see: you’re either from India (of Indian descent) or have a DEEP affection for India. And God no, I wasn’t being nice. I just don’t see why you have to be riled up against my “assessment” of India. I’ve said worse of Israel, Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia and those so-called ‘allies” of ours who will always sell us out to cover their behinds.
read Mark Steyn’s “America Alone”, it’s an eye opener. America (my country) will have to fight it out alone on the world stage, and I cannot 100% be confident enough that India will be there to cover us.
My argument isn’t for or against the merits of sharing American defense technology with India. And YES I am Indian.
My argument is the basis that enabled you to reach that conclusion. About the INDIAN MILITARY hating American guts. You said you have been reading articles. Now give me links to those articles. IF you can’t, quit replying assuming you have some “high ground” and accept the fact that you posted with the wrong assumption in hand.
Say please.
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