HESA IrAn-140

IrAn-140

Assembling An "IrAn-140" In HESA Plant

The HESA IrAn-140 or Iran-140 (Persian: ایران-۱۴۰‎) is a short-range twin-turboprop airliner based on the Antonov An-140 and assembled under license by HESA of Iran. The Iran-140 is able to seat 52 passengers, land on a dirt airstrip and fly almost 3,000 km (1,900 mi) before refueling. It can be configured to carry passengers, cargo, or a combination of the two.

Production Capacity of HESA & Number Built

As of 2008, HESA has a stated production capacity of 13 aircraft per year. Iran plans to design and manufacture upgraded Iran-140s for maritime patrol (Iran140-MP) and freighter duties (Iran140-T).An additional 20 aircraft are to be manufactured in Iran for border patrol and surveillance. Overall, the Iranian government intends to manufacture 100 of these aircraft in different configurations over the next 8–9 years. On 9th Nov 2010, during his opening speech of the Kish air show, the Iranian transport minister announced that 14 IrAn-140 aircraft have so far been completed.

Two "IrAn-140" Passenger Aircraft of "HESA (Persian Gulf) Airlines"

The first eight aircraft entered commercial service on 19 February 2011, after a ban on the operation of the Tupolev Tu-154 came into effect.

Aircraft 90-05 to 90-10 have been registered as EP-GPA to EP-GPF on the Iranian civil register, by HESA (Persian Gulf) Airlines.

The aircraft is assembled from Complete knock-down kits manufactured in Ukraine.

Emergency landings & Crash Landings

12 August 2005: Airframe 90-01 experienced an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing in Arak. The aircraft went off the runway and was damaged. No fatalities. 15 February 2009: Airframe 90-04 on a training flight crashed near Isfahan/Shahin Shahr-Hesa Air Base (IFH) on landing approach with 5 fatalities (Instructor + 4 trainee pilots).

 An "Iranian Police Aviation"s "IrAn-140" Engine Failure

Specifications (IrAn-140)

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 52 passengers
Length: 22.60 m (74 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 24.505 m (80 ft 5 in)
Height: 8.23 m (27 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 51 m² (549 ft²)
Empty weight: 12,810 kg (28,240 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 19,150 kg (42,220 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Klimov TV3-117-SBM1 turboprops, 1,838 kW (2,466 shp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 575 km/h (310 knots, 357 mph)
Cruise speed: 460 km/h (250 knots, 290 mi)
Range: 1380 km (745 nm, 860 mi)
Ferry range: 3,680 km (1,990 nm, 2,290 mi)
Service ceiling: 7200 m (23600 ft)
Rate of climb: 6.83 m/s (1,345 ft/min)

 

Spec Info From:www.antonov.com

Operators In Iran  

Safiran Airlines - No longer operates aircraft.

Iran Police Aviation x 2 in service.

HESA (Persian Gulf) Airlines x 6

What Says Images About Mitshubishi ATD-X ShinShin - Japanese 5th Generation Stealth Fighter

Japan Begins Building Technology Demonstrator Fighter

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) announced it has begun assembly of a full-scale, structural-testing model of the prototype Advanced Technology Demonstrator ATD-X fighter, also called Shinshin, ahead of the prototype’s first flight scheduled in 2014.

Shinshin is being developed by the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Technical Research and Development Institute and MHI as a domestically produced, fifth-generation fighter to replace Japan’s fleet of some 49 Mitsubishi F-2 and 135 Mitsubishi F-15 fighters later in the decade. It would be an alternative to, or would supplement, the nation’s planned buy of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighters.

 

In December, in a contentious decision, the MoD decided to purchase 42 F-35s to replace the 1960s-era Mitsubishi F-4EJ Kai Phantoms starting in 2016 at a cost of $114 million per jet. But the deal quickly fell into difficulties this February, when international concerns reached Japan about the ability of the U.S. to lower F-35 costs. The issue arose after the Pentagon’s January decision to delay purchase of 179 F-35s, leading to publicly aired demands by Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka to the U.S. not to raise prices.

The origins of the Shinshin lay in Japan’s long-held desire to purchase Lockheed F-22 Raptors, but that was stymied when the U.S. Congress banned export of the fighter, leading Japan to buy the F-35 and develop its own alternative.

 

The project was launched in 2009 amid concerns about the technological progress made by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. China rolled out its Chengdu J-20 in January 2011, and the fifth-generation fighter is expected to go into service as early as 2017.

MHI said assembly of the full-scale static structural test model of the ATD-X is on track to produce a flight test model of the Shinshin, which expected to make its first flight in 2014. Project completion is slated for the end of March 2017.

Shinshin will feature a number of advanced technologies, including 3-D thrust-vectoring capability, a fly-by-optics flight control system, an active electronically scanned array radar, electronic countermeasures and possibly microwave weapon functions.

Iran Seeks to Deploy Special Forces to Yemen

Iran is seeking to deploy Iranian Special Forces in Yemen to protect its diplomats in the country, BBC Monitoring is reporting, citing a July 25 report in Baraqish, which it characterizes as a privately-owned Yemen newspaper (presumably located in the northwestern Yemen city of the same name).

According to the BBC Monitoring report, diplomatic sources (presumably from Yemen) told Baraqish that Murteza Abedi, Iran’s charge d'affaires in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, asked Yemen’s Foreign Ministry to allow it to recruit Iranian Special Forces to protect its diplomats inside the country. 

The Diplomat could not independently verify the report, which doesn’t appear to have been reported by other media outlets.

If accurate, the request came days after an administrative staff member at Iran’s embassy in Sana’a was kidnapped by armed gunmen in the Hadda neighborhood in the southwestern part of the city, near where the Iranian embassy is located.

According to Global Post, it was the first time that an Iranian had been kidnaped in Yemen, although foreigners are often kidnapped in the country by groups seeking to use them as bargaining chips with the Yemeni government.

On Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Iran would soon send a team into Yemen to investigate the kidnapping of the staff member, whose name is Nour Ahmad Nikbakht. Similar to earlier protests by Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Amir-Abdollahian slammed Yemen for failing to protect the Iranian embassy employee, which Salehi previously underscored is the responsibility of the host nation, according to international law.

A photo appearing on Press TV, Iran’s English-language news outlet purportedly showed a Yemen solider standing guard outside Iran’s embassy in Sana’a, although no date was given for when the photo was taken.

The BBC Monitoring report said that in making the request for Iranian Special Forces to be allowed to protect its diplomats in the country, Abedi had cited Yemen’s willingness to allow U.S. Marines to protect American diplomats as precedent.

The request, if accurate, is unlikely to be granted. Yemen and Iran have clashed over Tehran’s widely suspected support for separatist movements in the southern part of Yemen, as well as for the Houthi movement in the northern part of the country.

Iran’s alleged support for the northern-based Houthi movement is said to date back some time but has reportedly intensified greatly in recent years. The Houthis are Zayid Shi’a, the second largest Shi’a sect, which differs on significant and fundamental points from Twelver Shi’ism, the largest branch of the religion and the one most Iranians practice.

Since about 2004, the Houthis have alternated between being a legitimate political faction and being an armed insurgency fighting the government. Notably, they are located directly across the border from Saudi Arabia, prompting concern that Iran is seeking to establish a foothold alongside its regional rival by supporting the Houthis.

Despite frequent accusations that Iran is supporting the Houthis from the Saudi press and Yemen officials, it has long been disputed whether Iran is actually active in supporting the Houthis and, if so, to what extent. That being said, American intelligence officials that long dismissed the Saudi and Yemeni accusations now say that Iran does provide support for the group, according to the New York Times.

For years north and south Yemen were separate countries but they unified in 1990. Lingering hostilities have continued to simmer, however, and provoked a two-month civil war back in 1994.

In the south Iran is said to be working with Hiraaki [Southern Separatist Movement], one of the more outspoken proponents of southern secession from the Republic of Yemen.

For years north and south Yemen were separate countries but they united in 1990. Still, hostilities have continued to linger and provoked a two-month civil war back in 1994. They have intensified in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Hiraaki’s powerbase is near the Bab-al Mandab strait, a strategic chokepoint in the Persian Gulf, prompting fears that Iran hopes to use support for Hiraaki— which is a Sunni group— to gain control over Bab-al Mandab.

A June report in the Wall Street Journal quoted Qassem Askar, Hiraaki's secretary-general, as saying the group had been fracturing as of late, and that various elements deciding to seek arms and military and media training from Iran and Hezbollah, although he said senior Hiraaki officials demanded they stop doing so.

In January, Yemen’s Coast Guard intercepted a ship carrying sophisticated weapons on board, including 122 mm Katyusha rockets, anti-aircraft Strella 1 and 2 missiles (Manpads), Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers, materials to make explosives and night vision goggles. Yemen officials, all the way up to the president, said the weapons had originated from Iran and accused the government in Tehran of trying to arm the Houthis and Hiraaki groups. Iran denied any involvement in the shipment.

LCA Tejas resemblance with French Mirage 2000_Its Not A Unique Design of HAL At All

LCA shares in common feautures with the French Mirage-2000 is that both are delta winged single engined multirole aircrafts. Nothing more or nothing less than that. Mirage is a super fighterjet ofcourse.

Here is a comparative side by side showing the totally independent designs of the LCA and the Mirage (the image is not to scale).

the RCS of the LCA is 1/3 rd that of the Mirage !!!

India sought a tie up with French Snecma for the development of Kaveri Engine. They supplied a new core to the Engine.

During 1964- 1977 India attempted to build a supersonic fighter : HAL HF-24 Marut Mk 1T [D1695]) MARUT

Development of the Marut: (the HF-24, designed by the great German WWII Designer Kurt Tank). HF-24 was to use engines with more power. Some European manufacturers were not willing to supply matching engines to India for Marut HF-24. . A prototype was built(1961). HF24 Marut have close resemblance with French Mirage.

HF-24

Infact the LCA when inducted should be given a HF-xx designation, following the naming pattern (HF standing for Hindusthan Fighter). Infact the phrase LCA is equivalent to "ATF" of the F-22 programme...and Tejas is equivalent to the Phrase "raptor" or "maruth" of the F-22 and HF-24's. In most probability the LCA will be called the HF-84 Tejas.

Some History during 1970-1971 (IAF- PAF)

During Indo-Pakistan war 1971, IAF was using Folland Gnats (British - smallest fighter jet of 1970's ) against PAF.

The PAF's mainstay was the F-86F Sabre. The F-86F Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet). Sabrejets were a larger aircrafts when compared to IAF Gnats . In the intial stages of the war PAF scored some victories but in later stages of war, we witnessed a large number of PAF Sabrejets were shot down. News of the incident and the famous gun camera shots were splashed across /hit newspaper headlines the world over like lightning and the tiny Gnat acquired a reputation of being the Sabre killer. By the end of 1971, the Gnat proved to be a frustrating opponent for the technically superior Sabres and had lived up to its Indian Air Force nickname of "Sabre Slayers" since all its combat "kills" during the two wars were against Sabres. The success of the indigenously produced Gnats against the more sophisticated Pakistani-flown aircrafts were viewed as a significant achievement. Details of IAF 1971 operations can be viewed if you click on the links below.

An analysis: Sabrejet (PAF) was a successfull fighter jet during Korean war. Sabrejet was a fighter /bomber. These qualities contributed adding extra weight to the aircraft which subsequently affected Thrust to weight ratio. Sabrejet Engines could not develop/provide the required thrust for Indian battle front and to counter Folland Gnat's quick maneuverability. Folland Gnats were very hard to spot at low levels. The war scenarios in Korean & Indian sub-continents were entirely different. Can you imagine the size & maneuverability of a motor cycle with a large Cargo Trailer Truck? Sabrejet was little bit difficult to maneuver due to it's larger size, cannons & bomb load/weight.

Armament

(F-86F Sabre)

· 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on four external hardpoints,
· 2 × 200 gallons drop tanks to give the Sabre a useful range. A wide variety of bombs can be carried
· 2 × 1,000 lb bombs plus two drop tanks), napalm bomb /tactical nuclear weapon.

Armament

(Gnat)

2x 30mm ADEN cannons 

 
2x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or 18x 3 in (76 mm) rockets

Because of these key factors, maneuverability Sabrejet (PAF) decreased to a greater extend as per British experts/ Russian Military Review Magazine of 1985's. Gnat was only a Fighter jet with reduced bomb loads, easy to maneuver can be used like a motor bike. The Battle fields will never accept mistakes either technological or pilot errors. PAF was inactive during naval attack of Karachi harbour by Indian Navy (IN). 

 

The IAF Pilots rated the Mirage-III as the best PAF fighter & were afraid to confront. To their (IAF) surprise, they were not used in 1971 war !!. IAF Mig-21 fighter jets performance was also superior/decisive in the battle. It was the only IAF Fighter jet could catch up with PAF Mirages. This experience with small fighter jets made India to go for designing LCA Tejas.

History will repeat again ?? Wait & see !! "This is not pull ...mua. ha"

A Photo Comparison

SAAB Viggen+Mirage-2000 Vs LCA Tejas

SAAB 37 Viggen

LCA

Mirage-2000

 

LCA

 

Dassault Rafale

 

LCA

 

LCA Tejas - HAL's 30 Years Effort

 

Tejas, India's very own Light Combat Aircraft has achieved an important milestone by gaining Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). This has authenticated the Indian aircraft's airworthiness. The birth of India's first fighter aircraft is thus certified. Tejas is part of Indian presence in Aero Show 2011.

The Defence Minister A K Antony was proud to say that IOC to Tejas is a momentous occasion that the nation has been waiting for towards building our own multi-role combat aircraft. He Pointed out that a state-of-the-art indigenous combat aircraft would go a long way in enhancing national security and the pride of the nation. The Defence Minister noted that the country was poised for a major turning point with the declaration of IOC of Tejas. This is for the first time an indigenously designed and developed military fighter aircraft has been certified for Indian Air Force.

Tejas - Profile :

 

'Tejas' is the smallest, light weight, single engine, single seat, supersonic, multirole, combat aircraft, best in its class in the world. 'Tejas' Programme is spearheaded by Aeronautical Development Agency under the Ministry of Defence R & D, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as its principal partner and with participation of a large number of Laboratories of Defence Research & Development Organisation and Central Scientific & Industrial Research, certification agencies, Indian Air Force, academic institutions and Private/Public Sector Undertakings.

This fourth generation combat aircraft has Carbon Composites, light weight/high strength material for primary structures, quadruplex Digital Flight Control System, glass Cockpit and digital Avionics to give multirole capabilities with carefree maneuvering. These capabilities are further enhanced by several on-board Sensors, Communication and Navigation Systems that are supported by powerful Mission Computers and Cockpit Display System. 

Combat variant, Trainer variant and Naval variants of Tejas are being developed for land and carrier borne operations. Powered by GE-F404 Engine, Tejas has tailless compound delta configuration. It is aerodynamically optimized for good transonic manoeuvres and low supersonic drag. Tejas avionics has a unique built-in feature of monitoring health of on-board Systems and displaying appropriate warnings to the Pilot. A number of software packages as well as design and analysis tools have been developed under 'Tejas' Programme. During the last one decade two Technology Demonstrators, four Prototype Vehicles and five Limited Series Production aircraft were produced. The hot weather, cold weather, Sea level, high altitude conditions of the aircraft were successfully tested. It has completed over 1500 flights. The cost of each Tejas is around rupees 200 crores. 

Major achievements : 

Tejas incorporates a wide range of advanced Sensors, Weapons, Stores and Electronic Warfare suite for obtaining Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). Air-to-Ground Weapons and Air-to-Air Close Combat Missiles have been released from Tejas. Sea level trials were completed at Arrakonam & Goa. Hot weather trials, in two phases completed at Nagpur. Cold weather & high altitude flight trials carried out successfully at Leh. Phase I of Night flying trials is completed. The additional weapons beyond Visual Range, Gun, Rockets, Guided & Un-Guided Bombs on Tejas are integrated. 

Indigenization : 

Tejas is 65% Indian right now. But Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Dr.V K Saraswat has promised that by the time the aircraft gets Final Operational clearance, the indigenization will reach 75%. The main worry is the powerful engine required for the aircraft. Right now the aircraft uses engine made by an American company. But DRDO is developing a suitable engine for our aircrafts called Kaveri. The Kaveri engine is undergoing tests in Russia and will be brought back to India after certification. Dr. Saraswat disclosed that no country opts for 100% indigenization as it is not cost effective and needs huge infrastructure. Hence, he explained that the main structure and sub-systems of the aircraft are indigenized and the remaining parts are imported. 

 

 

The Roll out plan: 

Tejas Series Production Programme leading to production of initial batch of 20 aircraft is in progress. The limited series production aircraft 7 and 8 will be available for user evaluation by Indian Air Force from March onwards. Induction of series production aircraft would commence from July 2011 onwards. The Managing Director of HAL Ashok Naik has informed that by December this year four aircrafts will be produced. All the 20 aircraft would be delivered by 2013 and the next 20 aircraft in about 2 1/2 years after that. The next batch of 20 Tejas Series Production Aircraft for second squadron will be produced after getting the Final Operational Certificate. 

The Final Operational Clearance of Tejas Mark 1 is expected in 2012. The Trainer variant of Tejas is likely to get its Initial Operation Clearance by end of this year. Development of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft with alternate engine GE-F414 has been initiated. Tejas Mark 2 with higher thrust engines would have its first flight by December 2014. Maiden flight of Tejas Mark 2 is planned during this time. Production version of Mark 2 is planned in June 2016. IAF has projected a requirement of 83 Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. Overall funds allocation for development and production of Tejas is of the order of Rs 25000/- crores. The supersonic fourth generation fighter will form a 200-strong fleet for the IAF to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet and increase the squadron strength to 10 as a potent strike force over the next two decades. The two squadrons of 20 Tejas each will be stationed at Sulur near Coimbatore and Kayathur near Tuticorin both in Tamilnadu.

 

All the development product support equipment & facilities are progressing satisfactorily under the guidance of Indian Air Force. Extensive state-of-the-art design simulation and analysis facilities have been built for various sub systems design as well as aircraft design. Under the programme, aeronautical base is established in the country for future programme. The successful completion of the above programmes will lead the country towards self reliance thereby saving on cost and giving us an edge over others.

Mitsubishi A6M Zero - Was A Fury

Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Model 22 (NX712Z), recovered from New Guinea in 1991 and used in the film Pearl Harbor

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter (零式艦上戦闘機 rei-shiki-kanjou-sentouk), and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. 

The A6M was usually referred to by the Allies as the "Zero", from 1940 the year in which the aircraft entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke". When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was considered the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. 

In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a dogfighter, achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms.The IJNAS also frequently used the type as a land-based fighter. 

Divergence of trajectories between 7.7 mm and 20mm ammunition

By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the failure to develop more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer enemy fighters that possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero's maneuverability. Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it was never totally supplanted by the newer Japanese aircraft types. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in kamikaze operations. In the course of the war, more Zeros were built than any other Japanese aircraft.

Cockpit (starboard console) of a damaged A6M2 which crashed during the raid on Pearl Harbor into Building 52 at Fort Kamehameha, Oahu, during the 7 December 1941 raid on Pearl Harbor. The pilot, who was killed, was NAP1/c Takeshi Hirano; aircraft's tail code was "AI-154".

A6M3 Model 22, flown by Japanese Ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa over the Solomon Islands, 1943

A6M3 Model 32.

Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero wreck abandoned at Munda Airfield, Central Solomons, 1943

Carrier A6M2 and A6M3 Zeros from the aircraft carrier Zuikaku preparing for a mission at Rabaul

Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52s abandoned by the Japanese at the end of the war (Atsugi Naval air base) and captured by US forces

Mitsubishi A6M "Rei Sen" (Zeke) captured in flying condition and test flown by U.S. airmen

A6M taking off during Battle of Santa Cruz Islands (1942)

The Akutan Zero is inspected by US military personnel on Akutan Island on 11 July 1942.

A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 (front) on Shokaku. (Shokaku distinguishable from the white band on the fuselage just ahead of the tail) to attack Pearl Harbor during the morning of 7 December 1941. This is probably the launch of the second attack wave. The original photograph was captured on Attu in 1943

Cockpit of an A6M5 Zero Imperial War Museum

A6M2 Zero photo c. 2004

A6M2 Model 21 on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This aircraft was made airworthy in the early 1980s before it was grounded in 2002.

A6M5 on display at the National Air and Space Museum

Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 on the flight deck of carrier Shokaku, 26 October 1942, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" Model 21 takes off from the aircraft carrier Akagi, to attack Pearl Harbor.