Defence Street

Author: Defence Street Editor

  • Bullet Proof Jackets and Helmets

    Bullet Proof Jackets and Helmets

    New Delhi, 24th March. The Government undertakes procurement of Bullet Proof Jackets and Helmets for Armed Forces and other law enforcement forces from time-to-time from domestic manufacturers. These are procured as per laid down specifications and authorisation after due testing and evaluation.

    Bullet Proof Helmets procured by Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces are compliant to the specifications and National Institute of Justice of USA (NIJ) protection/threat levels approved by the competent authorities. The upgradation, procurement and provisioning of improved version of Bullet Proof Jackets and Helmets is a continuous process for which necessary steps are taken regularly.

    This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma in Lok Sabha 24th March.

  • Airbus Final Assembly Line in China delivers its first A321neo

    Airbus Final Assembly Line in China delivers its first A321neo

    • An A321neo aircraft to China’s Juneyao Air
    • Flight operated with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

    Tianjin, 24th March 2023. Airbus has delivered the first A321neo aircraft assembled at its Final Assembly Line Asia (FAL Tianjin) to China’s Juneyao Air in Tianjin, China. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and features 207 comfortable seats, 8 in Business and 199 in Economy class. Its delivery flight is to use a ten percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend in support of the green aviation strategy in China.  

    “Since we announced the commissioning of the first A321 aircraft at FAL Tianjin last November, the relevant final assembly activities and tests went on smoothly, showcasing the maturity of FAL Tianjin to quickly adapt to new products,” said George Xu, Airbus Executive Vice President and Airbus China CEO. “The successful delivery of the first A321 aircraft enables Airbus to honour the popularity of the aircraft for the China market and beyond – and the consistent trust and support from our customers. Airbus continues to expand and enhance its comprehensive cooperation with China’s aviation industry, underlining its long-term commitment to China to ensure customer proximity while supporting the global commercial aircraft production ramp-up.”

    Airbus has four A320 Family final assembly facilities around the world: Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France; Tianjin, China; and Mobile, United States. With the conversion of the Tianjin facility last year, and with the newest facility about to complete its transformation in Toulouse, the global industrial system will be fully A321-capable, creating flexibility and agility to meet Airbus’ ramp up objectives and the rising market success of the A321 model.

    Inaugurated in 2008, the FAL in Tianjin was the first Airbus commercial aircraft assembly line outside Europe. In the same year, the first aircraft sections arrived on site. Since its first A320 delivery in 2009, Airbus’ FAL in Tianjin has delivered more than 600 aircraft over its 14 years in operation. The A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling, single-aisle A320 Family, comfortably seating as many as 244 passengers, with a longest range reaching 4,700nm/8,700km. Featuring the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the A320neo Family offers at least  20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 as well as a 50 percent noise reduction compared to previous generation aircraft, thanks to incorporating the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets. By the end of January 2023, the A320neo Family had received over 8,600 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide.

  • Raytheon Technologies awarded $320 million for StormBreaker smart weapon

    Raytheon Technologies awarded $320 million for StormBreaker smart weapon

    TUCSON, Ariz., 23rd March, 2023. The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Technologies a $320 million contract to produce and deliver 1500 StormBreaker® smart weapons, which are air-to-surface, network enabled weapons that can engage moving targets in all weather conditions using its multi-effects warhead and tri-mode seeker.

    “Having StormBreaker in the warfighter’s arsenal provides unprecedented capability against moving targets, regardless of conditions,” said Paul Ferraro, president of Air Power at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “It also expands our production line and reinforces our commitment of ensuring the warfighter has the next-level munitions they need to safely and successfully accomplish the mission.”

    StormBreaker is fielded on the F-15E Strike Eagle with testing underway on the F-35B and F/A-18; between the three platforms, StormBreaker has had hundreds of successful operational test shots to date.

    Click here learn more about the StormBreaker smart weapon.

  • Raytheon Technologies completes delivery of 23 Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems to the U.S. Navy

    Raytheon Technologies completes delivery of 23 Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems to the U.S. Navy

    ARLINGTON, Va., 23rd March, 2023. Raytheon Technologies delivered all 23 contracted Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems low-rate production units to the U.S. Navy on time or ahead of schedule.

    JPALS is a software-based GPS navigation and precision approach landing system that guides aircraft onto carriers and amphibious assault ships regardless of sea state or weather conditions, bolstering safety and operational capability. It is integrated on the F-35 and was recently sold to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

    “This is a significant milestone for the JPALS team and highlights the incredible efforts of hundreds of our teammates over the past decade who developed and now have fully delivered these critical systems that our Warfighters and International Partners need,” said Capt. Kevin Watkins, program manager for Naval Air Traffic Management Systems (PMA-213) at the Naval Air Systems Command. “This team overcame many barriers over the past several years, successfully achieving the required outcome to deliver all of the capabilities needed, on time and affordably.”

    “Since contract award in 2019, our team has worked closely with Naval Air Systems Command to outfit the fleet’s carriers and ships with JPALS to ensure pilots can land safely and successfully anywhere in the world,” said Mark Maselli, Raytheon Technologies’ JPALS program manager. “Their mission became our mission, and our team committed to ensure every single system was delivered to the customer on time or ahead of schedule.”

    JPALS is deployed on all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, as well as all F-35 aircraft. In addition, JPALS is deployed on two international platforms: the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth, and the ITS Cavour, an Italian aircraft carrier, to support their F-35 squadrons. JPALS is expected to be deployed on the JMSDF’s JS Izumo in 2024.

    Raytheon has also developed an expeditionary variant of JPALS called eJPALS, which is a smaller, portable system that could be packaged in ruggedized cases, mounted on small vehicles and deployed in austere, remote locations for precision landings. The system could establish up to 50 different landing points within a 20-nautical-mile radius.

    Work for this program has been executed in Fullerton, California, and Largo, Florida.

    About Raytheon Technologies

    Raytheon Technologies is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

  • Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Platform Agnostic In-Flight Connectivity for US Air Force

    Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Platform Agnostic In-Flight Connectivity for US Air Force

    Northrop Grumman’s multifunction communications solutions connect the U.S. Air Force. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

    SAN DIEGO, 23rd March, 2023. Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated the technical capability to connect a full aircraft ecosystem. The company showcased its Software Programmable Open Mission Systems Compliant (SPOC) multifunction processor in a flight test for the U.S. Air Force, highlighting the ability to integrate existing and future platforms using advanced data links.

     “With the maturity of our technology, we have the solutions today that will provide unparalleled mission effectiveness,” said Jenna Paukstis, vice president, communications solutions, Northrop Grumman. “We are connecting platforms that will benefit the joint force and provide them with real-time battlespace awareness across air, space, land and sea.”

    Advancing technology in solutions like SPOC provide the Air Force with a low size, weight and power radio that is scalable, upgradable and flexible to fit in any platform. The SPOC design also provides an integration environment for next generation communications that can reduce cost, risk and time to deploy.

    Flown on Northrop Grumman’s flying test bed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, SPOC connected with a ground station in a live, over-the-air test using advanced waveforms. This flight test is part of a contract with the Air Force to develop and demonstrate a solution to help define the Air Force’s next generation radio approach. Developing SPOC using Northrop Grumman’s software development kit and open architecture will allow the Air Force to introduce new capabilities at speed to meet evolving threats.

    Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

  • Raytheon Technologies to improve global student learning

    Raytheon Technologies to improve global student learning

    • Raytheon BBN’s Cyrus software selected by Pratham USA for large-scale educational deployment

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 22nd March. Raytheon BBN’s Cyrus speech recognition software was selected by Pratham USA, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of education, for integration into Pratham’s Oral Reading Fluency tool.

    Cyrus is a real-time speech processing and command extractor for human-machine interfaces. Once integrated into the ORF tool, it will automatically evaluate a child’s reading level in multiple languages, identifying children who may need assistance with reading and comprehension so that additional resources may be provided to support them. Using Cyrus, the ORF tool will also help flag children with dysfluency in speech such as stammering or stuttering.

    “When integrated with Cyrus, the ORF tool will be able to reach communities in developing countries that lack internet connectivity and will be easily adaptable, allowing educational institutions and their partners to scale worldwide,” said Stavros Tsakalidis, Raytheon BBN lead scientist. “Cyrus enables data entry, completely on-device, meaning the data is never sent to third parties and most importantly, does not require a network connection. Users may further define ‘grammars’ that specify the allowable voice inputs or phraseology recognized by the system.”

    Pratham will deploy the tool across its locations in India, potentially reaching more than 4.5 million learners. The enhanced ORF tool has the potential to assess and improve the reading levels of children in low-income communities across India, where the technological divide is high and the teacher-pupil ratio is low. It will also be contextualized for multiple countries and shared through Pratham’s global network of partner organizations and beyond, to include locations in Africa, South Asia and Latin-America.

    Cyrus’ wide and diverse range of deployments showcases its advanced features, flexible customization and installation. These deployments cover applications that include:

    • Training and simulation (Air Traffic Control).
    • Command and control (autonomous systems, avionics, and the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System).
    • Dispatch and direction.
    • Air Traffic Management.
    • Natural Language Interface of the next-generation NASA spacesuit.

    Work on Raytheon BBN’s Cyrus software was conducted in Cambridge, Mass.

    Raytheon BBN is a subsidiary of Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Raytheon Technologies.

  • Japan Airlines Selects 737-8 to Grow Sustainable World-Class Fleet

    Japan Airlines Selects 737-8 to Grow Sustainable World-Class Fleet

    • Japan Airlines announces firm order for 21 fuel-efficient 737-8 jets to support fleet renewal
    • Optimizing JAL single-aisle operations while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions
    Boeing and Japan Airlines (JAL) have finalized an order for 21 super-efficient 737-8 jets.

    SEATTLE, 23rd March. Boeing and Japan Airlines (JAL) have finalized an order for 21 super-efficient 737-8 jets.

    The versatile 737-8 will position JAL to strengthen its domestic and regional network as passenger traffic continues to return to pre-pandemic levels. JAL intends to begin introducing the airplanes into its fleet from 2026.

    “We are delighted to select the Boeing 737-8, a member of the very latest 737 MAX family, to replace our Boeing 737-800s, which make up the largest proportion of the JAL Group’s fleet,” said Yuji Akasaka, president of Japan Airlines. “We look forward to carrying our passengers in the utmost safety and comfort and to moving closer to our 2050 carbon-neutral goals, thanks to a combination of these super-efficient aircraft, operational innovations and new fuel-saving technologies.”

    The 737 MAX will provide JAL with greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing both fuel use and carbon emissions by 15% compared to the airplanes the airline is replacing. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane, creating a significantly smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.

    “The integration of the new 737 MAX will provide JAL with greater efficiency across its short-haul network, as the airline continues to upgrade its world-class fleet,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Partnering with JAL to introduce 737-8s into its operations is the latest milestone in our longstanding relationship.”

    The 737 MAX family has the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other aerodynamic enhancements to improve performance. More than 50 airlines globally are operating over 900 737 MAX airplanes, which have made over 1.4 million revenue flights totaling more than 3.5 million flight hours since late 2020.

  • Indian Navy to Conduct the ‘Sam No Varunah’ Coastal Car Rally

    Indian Navy to Conduct the ‘Sam No Varunah’ Coastal Car Rally

    New Delhi, 22nd March. The Maritime trade has played an important role in Nation’s Economy and the same was emphasised by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his speech, on occasion of 59th Maritime Day on 05 Apr 22. While ensuring the safety and security of the Nation, Indian Navy plays a crucial role in protecting our Maritime trade too.

    Surrounded by seas from the three sides, India has a vast coastline of approximately 7500 Kms, which is more than the length of land borders we share with China and Pakistan combined. To awaken the maritime nation and encourage Sea Consciousness, the Indian Navy in association with Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) is undertaking a maritime awareness coastal motor car expedition, “SAM NO VARUNAH” covering the entire Indian coastline in March 2023. The objectives of the expedition include:-

    1. Celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
    2. Conduct awareness drives along the route about various career opportunities that the Navy offers including the Agnipath Scheme.
    3. Showcase ‘Naari Shakti’ by participation of serving women officers and naval wives.
    4. Instill a sense of adventure and motivate young generation to join the Indian Navy.
    5. Interact with Naval Veterans/ Veer Naaris enroute.
    6. Spread awareness about the rich maritime heritage and revival of maritime history by covering various Ports, Forts, Light Houses, Heritage Villages, Beaches etc.

    Towards this expedition it is planned to: –

    1. Flag off the rally from INS Netaji Subhas on 26 Mar 23 from Kolkata and terminate the rally at Lakhpat Gujarat on 19 Apr 23.
    2. Arrive INS Chilka on the historic occasion of Passing Out of first batch of Agniveers of Indian Navy (28 Mar 23).
    3. Conduct awareness campaigns at cities/ villages enroute with the aim to provide information about employment opportunities in the Navy including the Agnipath Scheme.
    4. Conduct NWWA outreach activities at various old age homes, orphanages, school for special children in keeping with the ethos of community development and empowerment.
    5. Undertake coastal cleaning at beaches enroute and spreading environmental awareness.
    6. Visit forts/ light houses/ places of maritime importance along the rally route and spread awareness of our rich maritime heritage.

    The expedition planned over 25 days covering approx 7500 Kms passing through all coastal states is partnered with by M/s Mahindra who are providing a fleet of 12 vehicles along with Mastercard India and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (as fuel partner).

  • INS Sujata Visits Port Maputo, Mozambique

    INS Sujata Visits Port Maputo, Mozambique

    New Delhi, 21st March 2023. INS Sujata, a ship based at Southern Naval Command, Kochi, visited Port Maputo, Mozambique as a part of Overseas Deployment from 19 to 21 Mar 23. The ship was received by Captain Nitin Kapoor, DA Pretoria, Commandant NRN Siva Babu, Coast Guard Afloat Support Team and Captain Florentino Jose’ Narciso from Mozambican Navy amidst the fanfare of Mozambican Navy Band and traditional dance performances at the jetty.

    The Commanding Officer, INS Sujata called on Rear Admiral Eugenio Dias Da Silva Muatuca, the Commander of Mozambican Navy, Mr Eneas Da Conceicao Comiche. Mayor of Maputo, His Excellency Sri Ankan Banerjee, High Commissioner of India and several other military and civilian dignitaries.

    About 40 personnel of the Mozambican Navy visited the ship for Cross deck training, which included walk around of training facilities, briefing about diving ops, training on VBSS and light weapons, visual communication and maintenance of machinery and hygiene onboard. Various other activities such as combined morning yoga session, soccer match were organised between the personnel of both the Navies. A reception was also hosted onboard Sujata which was attended by several Indian/ Mozambican dignitaries/ diplomats.

    The visit by INS Sujata at Maputo, Mozambique further enhanced the mutual cooperation and bilateral ties between the two Navies.

  • Launch of ‘Androth’, Second Ship of ASW SWC (GRSE) Project on 21 Mar 23 at M/s GRSE, Kolkata

    Launch of ‘Androth’, Second Ship of ASW SWC (GRSE) Project on 21 Mar 23 at M/s GRSE, Kolkata

    New Delhi, 21st March, 2023. ‘Androth’, the second of 08 x ASW Shallow Water Craft (SWC) Project, being built by M/s GRSE for Indian Navy was launched on 21 Mar 23 at M/s GRSE, Kolkata. The ship made her first contact with water of Hooghly River at 1430 Hrs at the Launch Ceremony presided over by VAdm Dinesh K Tripathi, FOC-IN-C (West). In keeping with the Naval traditions, Smt Shashi Tripathi launched the ship to the chanting of invocation from Atharva Veda. Mr Arun Lal, former Indian cricketer and head coach of Bengal cricket team, was the Guest of Honour for the ceremony. The ship has been named Androth to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Androth, located about 170 Nm north-west of Kochi, in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

    Contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 29 Apr 19. Arnala class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying operations including subsurface surveillance in littoral waters. The ASW SWC ships are 77.6 m long, have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots.

    Launch of two ships of the same class in a span of three months reinforces our resolve towards indigenous shipbuilding as part of Prime Minister’s vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’. The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered to Indian Navy by Dec 23. The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, thereby ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.