Just did a tour of Boeing’s Philadelphia rotorcraft facility where part of the V-22 Osprey is built (the rest is built at Arlington, Texas by Bell Helicopter). Mike Rolecki, director of the programme, says the Indian government has been given a couple of introductory presentations on the programme and system, and that Bell-Boeing was awaiting guidance on any concrete requirement (nobody’s holding their breaths). Boeing, which says it hopes to wrap up the first international sale of V-22s by the end of this year, believes the V-22 could serve in a variety of roles with the Indian forces. Will update this post later tonight. Leaving for Seattle in an hour where I’ll be filming the Indian P-8I and some other kit.
Photo / US Marine Corps.
V22 as awacs platform for our navy can be a good choice due to its VTOL. But again the hitch of CISMOA can result it just an ordinary stuff.
1 question Shiv, apart from sensitive communication & sensor equipments, does the firepower of the defence stuff also gets affected due to non-compliance of CISMOA.
V-22 Ospreys are very accident prone and have the most difficult handling of any aircraft. But I guess given the size of our Aircraft carrier and the fact that its a STOBAR AC and not American CATOBAR, V-22 Osprey is probably our only option. A naval AWAC V-22 Osprey might actually be a great idea.
India appears in love with Boeing. I would be worried given the mishaps with harrier accidents. One has to wonder if it would be better investing in new updated harrier purchases or even license building as the functionality given issues with the JSF and non availability of a Yak product may prove useful in protecting Indian Ocean interests.
India appears in love with Boeing. I would be worried over the Osprey given the accidents linked to the harrier. I feel India should focus on license building the newest harrier configurations given its functionality to her Indian Ocean interests and the problems with JSF and lack of a Yak product.
http://youtu.be/LthLfiM2HZ4
http://youtu.be/LthLfiM2HZ4
can u giv a few examples as to what roles it can play for the indian armed forces which the cheaper helicopters can't?
it seems like a very expensive mule without the proposed chin gun.
Joy@12:59
Your comment regarding V-22 being accident prone. I think you are basing that on the early days of its operation. Remember this is kind of a new tool altogether and thus there was a very steep learning curve. Once those issues were ironed out, and training programs implimented, the V22 has been great in performance and an safety.
"can u giv a few examples as to what roles it can play for the indian armed forces which the cheaper helicopters can't?
it seems like a very expensive mule without the proposed chin gun."
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/MV-22B_combat_radius_in_Iraq_compared_with_CH-46E_combat_radius.svg
MV-22 is the ultimate transport helicopter. Can hover, deply spec ops like a helicopter but has 2-3* the speed and 3-5 the range compared to helicopters.
For India 4example for specops or an AEW variant would be awesome.