What on earth is that aircraft? - Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.
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Friday, 6 February 2009

What on earth is that aircraft?


HAL, Bangalore
6th Feb 09

Well folks, here I am back in HAL Bangalore. Lots of stuff seems to have transpired since I went to Arunachal last September.... all of that coming up on Broadsword over the next few days.

But while I go around the HAL  hangars, here's something for you all to chew on. What on earth is that aircraft... the one behind that sad old man.

One brownie point and two gold stars for all those who guess correctly!!

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25 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 06:17

    That's the weaponised version of HAL's Dhruv (aka Trishul?). Looks nice! What happened to your moustache?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 06:25

    ajai, that's a keeper !!

    we missed you man !

    and we will be waiting on your take on the current state of the LCA, lots of confusing info flying around.

    cheers !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 06:31

    WSI-Dhruv
    You have grayed a lot ajai,
    looks like arunachal suits you, you have put on quite some weight. you might start giving shiv aroor competition if you go on like this ;D
    see you at aero India

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 06:35

    That is a WSI (Weapons System Integrated)Dhruv for the India Army.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bhramastra6 February 2009 at 08:23

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bhramastra6 February 2009 at 08:33

    Thats WSI-Dhruv

    I hope they unveil LCH at Aero India

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 09:39

    Ajai,
    Welcome Back to the real world :-)

    Please post a picture of this golden leopard without that old man in fornt. Make it Several pictures, preferably a walk-around. Amazingly beautiful bird !

    PS: You're looking macho without the Dadhi and Mooch . rotfl

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sparsh6 February 2009 at 11:49

    Col. Shukla,

    Welcome back!

    If I may extend your offer: An extra brownie point for anyone who can explain whether the WSI-Dhruv in that picture is complete or not.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 13:01

    That Dhruv is not complete. You can see where the self defense equipment will be attached. The bump out over the flare launchers will recieve MAWS and RWR and bumps on the nose will get LWS and RWR as well, I believe.

    Will the Dhruv-WSI get a DIRCM system?

    ReplyDelete
  10. smith6 February 2009 at 16:27

    is it cheeta the weaponised ALH or the testing platform for LCH. which means we are going to miss the LCH for now atleast. also waiting for more info of HALs indigenious future programs and much more from you

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 23:17

    Ajai, nice to see you back. What was the minimum temperature that you experienced in Arunachal?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 06:58

    The build quality on that helicopter is atrocious. You can even see the sloppy weld lines from a distance. Even the panels aren't even fit as tight as they should be.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 07:13

    Yes, the build quality looks bad.
    1. Is this bird bulletproofed for crew safety? From the looks of the sliding pilot door glass it seems it is not. Bad idea.
    Then it looks like this is an interim machine for HAL to test the features for the LCH - even though they are to be inducted in numbers.

    2. How do they paint that leopard on the chopper. It is even on the glass window. Is it a sticker? How do they make it fit even on the flare dispenser and other outcroppings on the chopper? Shiv-ji Please Please, find this out. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 07:43

    Gosh! we are not selling that to LTTE? are we??

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 09:32

    LTTE is TIGER, not cheetah. (DUH !) learn to see before you type.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 11:09

    any pic of LCH?? INS Shivalik???

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 21:04

    Definitely that is a WSI DHRUV.

    I think this black cameo is specially for operations in northern sector. But that lion is making me feel that it has been specially painted for Aero-Shows

    ReplyDelete
  18. Broadsword7 February 2009 at 22:40

    Lots of gold stars and brownie points! That is indeed the Dhruv WSI, and it has been painted for Aero India 2009.

    And as someone correctly pointed out, and as I've written earlier, the systems that will go onto the LCH are being evaluated on the Dhruv WSI.

    Will post more pics starting tomorrow.

    btw, can someone please post some links to articles written on the LCA while I was in Arunachal Pradesh. Have any pics been posted anywhere of an LCA with weapons loaded?

    Thanks in advance. I haven't read a newspaper for some four months now.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous8 February 2009 at 01:37

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEPY/SY1nh6Y0PgI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/D0qUYOEYd0M/s1600-h/AERO+INDIA+2009+(2)-747354.JPG

    this is from livefist, it shows with the regulation wingtip R-73s and drop tanks.
    no weapons pic till date.

    here are the links for recent news items:
    credit for gathering goes to the folk @ bharat-rakshak.com
    http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4697&sid=f140489388467a8d041bc89aac5d805f&start=0
    http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/28/stories/2009012857481400.htm

    http://www.idrw.org/2009/01/28/boeing_droped_and_ead_
    brought_in_to_speed_up_tejas_
    programme.html

    http://www.idrw.org/2008/08/04/boeing_delaying_consultancy_
    for_tejas_programme.html

    http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050961481300.htm

    http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3922101&c=AIR&s=TOP

    http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/01/29/asia/OUKWD-UK-INDIA-DEFENCE.php

    http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050961481300.htm

    http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-02-03/504327news.html

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/With_international_engines_DRDO_
    fast-tracks_LCA_project/
    articleshow/4072071.cms

    http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/05/stories/2009020560511000.htm

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEPY/SXiMggHTpiI/AAAAAAAAFqo/ztP6TfJF1FU/s1600-h/3-758180.JPG

    http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/05/322084/indias-lca-unlikely-to-use-kaveri-engine-until-late-next.html

    http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200902061122.htm

    http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20090206_lca_programme.html

    highly recommended reading

    *****************************
    http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20090206_lca_programme.html
    ****************************

    ReplyDelete
  20. Broadsword8 February 2009 at 04:06

    Thanks for that, fighterclass.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous8 February 2009 at 11:02

    UNACCEPTABLE!!
    Where are the hairs on the sad old man's face?

    ReplyDelete
  22. sumit khedkar8 February 2009 at 16:02

    nice to see you back ..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous9 February 2009 at 09:39

    all looks good except for the gun mounting. now wheres my prize for being the first person to answer correctly!!!???

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous10 February 2009 at 02:02

    looks like you got some good food at arunachal pradesh... you look fatter than what you used to be..

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous10 February 2009 at 05:26

    Why has HAL opted for the FLIR pod on the top of the nose unlike almost all the other helos. It just limits field of view (FOV). However the FLIR pod at the lower part of the nose could in theory give a 360 degree view. Hmmmmmmmmm....
    Maybe the Canon or it's turret are coming in the way??
    Any ideas if the LCH has the same arrangement as well.

    THx

    ReplyDelete

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