Pakistan to buy Multi-Role fighter jets and Missiles from China

According to the Pakistan sources, Pakistan Air Force is now looking to buy J-10CE (export version) fighter jets from China. Pakistan has asked to China for 30 J-10CE fighters and modern air-to-air missiles for its air force.

Pakistan Air Force again shown interest to buy J-10CE jets from China

Pakistan had asked for the J-10 in 2009 but with purchase of China and Pakistan jointly developed JF-17 fighters, the plan to buy J-10 placed in the backburner.

China and Pakistan have again begun a high-level government talks for the possible sale and purchase process for the J-10CE jets, PL-10 and PL-15, short-range and long-range air-to-air missiles respectively. The J-10CE  has the AESA radar, fire-control systems and Infrared technology.

The sources said that the purchase of Rafale fighters has created the panic in Pakistan side, aiming the balance with Indian forces they have reached out to China to buy 30 J-10CE jets, short-range PL-10 and long range PL-15 air-to-air missiles.

With the United States gradually getting close to India, China has become Pakistan’s only supplier of sophisticated weapons.

J-10C jet spotted carrying Chinese PL-10 short range and PL-15 long range Air to Air missiles

The Pakistan Air Force has not just worried about the Rafale but also with the Meteor air-to-air missile and the Mica missile that can be air-launched. The bigger worry is about the S-400 air defence system, which India has buy from Russia, has now considered to be the main threat for PAF fighters.

The PAF is dependent on its 124 JF-17 fighters, co-produced with China, it’s 70 F-16s and the Mirage 3A which has now become old with today’s combat scenario. If, or rather, when the J-10CE arrives with the missiles, it will be another Chinese made fighter in Pakistan air force after JF-17.

South Korea and Indonesia start assembling first prototype KF-X fighter aircraft

According to Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Thursday 03-09-2020, “Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) has commenced final assembly of a prototype jet at its assembly line in Sacheon, south of Seoul”.

Korean Aerospace Industries start first prototype assembly (Source: KAI)

Under the KF-X project worth 8.8 trillion Won (US$7.3 billion), South Korea start working in 2015 to develop a home-grown fighter aircraft to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets, KAI announced today quoting a DAPA statement.

The greenlight for final assembly came following the design confirmation last year and the local development of certain crucial technologies such as Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar.

The prototype is expected to be ready in the first half of 2021 and agency is eyeing 2026 to the completion of development after ground and flight tests, KAI said in a statement posed on its website.

South Korean home grown fighter jet will have own AESA radar (Source: KAI)

KF-X Features

• The aircraft is designed to be able to fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.81 with its flying range reaching 2900kms.
• The fighter will have 10 pods for missiles and fuel barrels.
• It will be able to carry several types of air-to-air missiles, such as Germany's IRIS-T and European developer MBDA's active radar guided Meteor missiles.
• Home grown Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar. 

South Korean KF-X fighter jet prototype come by 2021 (Source: KAI)

Prototype Testing

“KAI will roll out the first KF-X prototype by April next year. After the first prototype, the remaining five prototypes will come out one after another within the same year. Test flights are scheduled in 2022,” a KAI official had said in July 2020.

Of the six prototypes, one will be delivered to Indonesia, co-developer of KF-X project. The KF-X is expected to be slotted one level below the F-35 jets in the South Korean Air Force. Starting with the test flights in 2022, the prototypes will then undergo four years of trials, and the development is expected to complete by mid-2026.

South Korean KF-X (Source: Republic of KAF)

The first batch of mass-produced KF-X aircraft are expected between 2026 and 2028. They will be equipped with limited air-to-ground weapons in addition to air-to-air weapons. The second batch, which will be series-produced from 2029, will be capable of performing full air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.

The Last operating UAV of Series is now retired from Bulgarian Air Component

As announced in June, the Belgian Air Component (Air Force) has retired its last Israeli-built B-Hunter UAVs from service. On 28 August 2020, a ceremony took place at Florennes Air Base to commemorate this event and to thank the 80 Sqn for the many years of dedication, Aviation 24 reports.

Belgian Air Component retired its last B-Hunter UAV from service (Pic Source: Belgian Air Component)

The ceremony, which included a water cannon salute as performed for aircraft held in the presence of Major General Frederik Vansina, Commander of the Belgian Air Component, about to become Vice-Chief of Staff in charge of Strategy (ACOS Strat) after replacing Major General Thierry Dupont.

The 80 Sqn was formerly an artillery observation unit (80 Battery), before being transferred into the Air Force.

The current B-Hunter has low availability and no longer meets the standards and requirements of current operational theatres. Its early decommissioning will allow personnel to optimally prepare for the planned deployment in 2023 of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft and to strengthen other weapon systems.

Belgian Air Component's new UAV MQ-9B SkyGuardian (Pic Source: GA)

India’s next fighter jet will be available for production in half the time of Existing One!

The next fighter jet of India is on the design table in the final freezing state. Yes! Tejas Mk2 will have half the development time then Tejas Mk1. From the first flight in 2001 till the formation of the first squadron in 2016, LCA-Tejas Mk1 Program remain in slow pace of development and 15 years from first flight to the first squadron due to long developmental and testing cycle for higher safety issue and lack of experience.

India's next fighter jet TEJAS MK-II may complete design phase by end of 2021 

Prototype Development Phase

Tejas Mk2 program will skip Technology Demonstrator (TD) and Prototype vehicles (PV) stages and HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) to roll out start first Tejas Mk2 LSP aircraft in 12 month after final design freeze by 2021 and the first aircraft with Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) standard configuration slated to have its first flight by 2022 or 2023.

The adoption of computer simulations in a big way not only has helped ADA to perfect the design of the aircraft but it will also cut down on the required time to test basic flight characteristics of the aircraft.

HAL plans to outsource sub-assemblies of the aircraft like fuselage from Tier-2/3 suppliers. A fully equipped section of aircraft fuselage means that production line can hit 24 aircraft per annum mark from the first year itself instead of gradual increase in production rate as seen in Tejas Mk1 program.

ADA (Aeronautics Development Agency) and HAL plan to field 3 IOC Standard and 2 Full Operational Clearance (FOC) standard aircraft before the production by 2028-29.

Squadron Readiness

All LSPs will have all structures and panels of the aircraft and that will be interchangeable to Phase-out quality or spare issues, when aircraft enters production. Interchangeable panels and spares is must for the operational squadrons to ensure aircraft availability by 75% and above to meet IAF’s operational availability also to reduce downtime of the grounded aircraft.

The majority of the design work of the Tejas Mk2 has frozen and minor changes expected before the final freeze by end of this year. Tender documents issued to private sector companies by HAL show the final design of the wings for the Tejas Mk2 program. HAL to order cockpit simulators to train pilots shows that many of the groundwork has commenced before aircraft goes into assembling mode.

India will develop 5 Prototype before entering into Production of TEJAS MK-II  (Pic Source: Unknown)

Features of TEJAS MK-II

Many of the major components like Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC), Avionics, Navigation equipment, EW and Onboard Oxygen generator are already developed, but concern remains on availability of UTTAM AESA fire Control Radar which is still going through fine-tuning and testings and many of modes out of total 18 modes yet to be realized.

Around 8 F-414INS6 engine ordered to General Electric (GE) have already arrived in India and Tejas Mk2 will accommodate the F-414INS6 engines without any problems or extensive redesign to the enlarged air intakes, and that it will perform to its designed potential as validated by computer simulations. GE team will be in India to monitor the integration work of engine with the first Tejas Mk2 till the Ground Engine Run before it is cleared for its first flight.

India's Next Gen Astra MK-II IR enable will have reduced Range

A variant of the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile (BVRAAM) under development will have a shorter ranger than existing with a passive imaging IR seeker might be ready for initial trials from 2022 onwards said informed sources close to idrw.org.

ASTRA MK-1 missile tested on Sukhoi platform

Astra IR with a dual waveband, passive imaging IR seeker will provide terminal guidance that will be powered by a smoke-less solid propellant with higher impulse motor for improved performance at Within visual combat at the reduced range.

Astra IR minimum and maximum operating ranges likely will be 500 m to 60 km due to seeker track limitation found in IR air to air missiles world over. Astra IR will be capable of operating in lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch modes and IR seeker will allow the missile to autonomously detect, track and lock-on the targets.

Astra IR can be adapted on all fighter types in IAF since it doesn’t require deep integration with the aircraft’s Mission Computers (MC). Astra IR is an interim Medium range Air to Air missile which has been designed to supplement Astra MK1 RF (active radar homing head ) till work begins on a much shorter range Next Generation Close Combat (NGCCM) Within Visual Range (WVR) Air to Air missile to be developed by DRDO for Indian air force jets.

Sukhoi Platform will be used to test ASTRA MK-II missile by 2022 

DRDO also has two separate long-range Air to Air missile programs known as Astra Mk2 (With Dual-Pulse propulsion) and Astra Mk3 (With Air-breathing ramjet propulsion) and NGCCM will be developed post completion of this longer-range missiles first as IAF moves to equip most of the fighter jets in its fleet with MBDA’s ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) Close combat Missiles.

South Korea and Israel has developed new AESA Radar to find 1000? Targets Simultaneously!

South Korea has unveiled an indigenous active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar prototype for use by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) next-generation multirole fighter aircraft, which is being developed under the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) programme.

South Korea Unveiled new AESA Radar collaboration with ELTA Systems (Israel Aerospace Industries) for its new fighter jet KF-X 

The radar, which has been under development since 2016 by South Korean company Hanwha Systems and the country’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD), was unveiled in a ceremony held on 7-August-2020, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The radar will now undergo further ground performance and installation tests before being integrated with the first KF-X prototype for further testing, said South Korean officials, adding that Elta Systems – a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) – has collaborated on the programme and is assisting with the testing phase.

Very few details have emerged about the AESA radar, which officials have described as a “state-of-the-art system capable of detecting and tracking more than 1,000? targets simultaneously”. May be it become the first in the world to do so!

South Korean indigenous fighter jet programme KF-X will have new AESA Radar

The latest developments come after South Korean aerospace and defence company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) revealed in July that it plans to roll out the first KF-X prototype in April 2021. No further details were provided about the programme but Janes understands that the prototype is expected to conduct its first flight in 2022.

Russia will get first Attack Drone from Sukhoi: S-70

The first Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik (“Hunter”) attack drone should be delivered to the Russian military in 2024 after the Ministry of Defense demanded to speed up the experimental work on the upcoming unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). With the testing of the aircraft’s armament initially planned for 2024, the UCAV was supposed to enter service the following year.

Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik (Hunter) UCAV will be delivered to Defence forces by 2024

The deadline has now been reduced by a year. “We received an assignment from the Defense Ministry to speed up the experimental design work and maximally adjust the schedule in order to begin the deliveries already from 2024,” United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Head Yuri Slyusar said, as reported by TASS news agency. “That is why we are actively working with colleagues on this issue.”

Initially a MiG program, the S-70 was given to Sukhoi in 2011. The Okhotnik UAV is powered by an AL-31 turbojet engine and is equipped with electro-optical targeting, radio, and “other types of reconnaissance equipment,” according to the Defense Ministry. The demonstrator made its maiden flight on August 7, 2019. At the time the aircraft flew for 20 minutes and reached an altitude of 600 meters (1,970 feet).

Maiden flight demonstration of Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik UCAV takes place in August 2019.

The Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik (Hunter) is way bigger than its Western counterparts. With 20 meters in wingspan and a length of 14 meters, its mass is supposedly around 20 tons (against 4.9 for the Dassault nEUROn and 6.3 for the Northrop Grumman X-47B). It is expected to fly at a speed of 1,000 km/h, for a range of 6,000 km.

Its two internal bays should embark up to 2.8 tons of weapons. The S-70 is supposed to eventually operate in collaboration with the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet to extend the latter’s radar field. It should also be able to use its stealth abilities to designate long-range targets for its leader aircraft without being detected. In September 2019, the UCAV made its first sortie alongside the fighter jet.

Egypt will have new fighter jets from Russia!

"Egypt is now going to receive its first Sukhoi Su-35 fighter aircraft from Russia" ,Middle East Monitor on July 28, 2020. Egypt and Russia has a weapon deal of $US2 billion for the purchase of about 25 Su-35s fighter aircraft.

"It was announced that Russia has started production of Su-35 fighter aircraft for Egypt Air Force" ,Russian Press Agency TASS has published in may 2020. "The Gagarin Aircraft Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur has launched the production of Su-35.

Russian made fighter aircrafts- 4++ generation Su-35s, 5 generation Su-57, 4 generation MiG29 and 4++ generation Su-30

Russia’s Kommersant daily reported that Egypt had decided to purchase several Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets for about $2 billion. But deputy head of the Rosoboronexport Sergei Kornev denied the signing of any contract to supply Su-35s to Egypt.

The Sukhoi Su-35s carries a 30mm cannon, has 12 hardpoints and can detect targets at more than 400 kilometers, while its radar can track up to 30 targets simultaneously. The fighter has a maximum flying range of 3,500km without refueling. The world’s most powerful Fourth-Generation fighter’s standout features include new engines, avionics and radar.

Avionics and other equipment are integrated into a single cohesive system by an information processing and control system, which comprises two digital CPUs, interface and data conversion systems, and a head-up display (HUD) implementing the glass cockpit concept.

Su-35s fighter aircraft deal has signed in Egypt and Russia for possible 25 aircraft sell

The Su-35 has two MFI-35 large color multi-functional LCDs, a multi-functional panel with an integrated display processor, a wide-angle collimated head-up display superimposed over the windscreen and a control panel in the cockpit.

The state-of-the-art system enables Sukhoi Su-35S to detect quickly and track simultaneously up to 4 ground targets or up to 30 airborne targets, and engagement with up to eight airborne targets at the same time. Besides, the radar control system has the friend-or-foe identification capability for aerial and maritime objects, is capable of identifying the class and type of airborne targets and take aerial photos of the ground.

The Su-35 can fly at a maximum speed of 2,390 km/h at a maximum altitude of 18,000m. The Su-35 weighs around 18,400 kg and the maximum take-off weight is 34,500 kg.

The Su-35, NATO reporting name Flanker-E is a single-seat, twin-engine fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant. The first prototype made its maiden flight in June 1988 and the first Su-35 was delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2009.  China's PLAAF and the Indonesian Air Force have also placed orders.

Rolls Royce is working on new Engine Technology of Supersonic Passenger Plane

Rolls Royce has said that it is working on new engine technology of Supersonic Passenger plane claimed on their official website.

Concorde Supersonic Plane of British Airways

“We share a strong interest in supersonic flight and in sustainability strategies for aviation with Boom,” said , Simon Carlislector of Strategy, “We’re now building on our valuable experience in this space as well as our previous work together to further match and refine our engine technology for Boom’s Overture”.

For many people, supersonic travel is still synonymous with Concorde, which was a technological marvel of its time, but aerospace technology has advanced greatly since

Engine

Engine for more than 50 years ago, the world’s first supersonic airliner, ‘Concorde’ with four Olympus 593 engines. These were afterburning engines that were state of the art when designed, but Overture could benefit from the advances in engine technology we’ve made over the years. We’ll work together to explore options for the most efficient propulsion system possible. 

Materials

Concorde was constructed of Aluminium. Overture will use carbon composites which are not only lighter, but more easily shaped into aerodynamically optimal forms.

Aerodynamics

Advanced computing allows thousands of iterations of aerodynamic testing, whereas Concorde was designed using slide rules and costly wind tunnel models,  limiting the ability to optimise.

The next generation supersonic plane will operated on SAF for high efficiency

The use of explore in supersonic flight. We’re building on our work with the oil and gas industry to accelerate the use of SAF, while Boom has partnered with and supported a number of organisations focused on sustainability, including Prometheus Fuels, a company making road and aviation fuel from atmospheric carbon dioxide.

As members of both the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, Boom drives SAF adoption and has made sustainability a top priority.

Because supersonic airplanes will complement—not supplement—the subsonic fleet, Boom is keen to identify novel SAF sources that won’t compete with subsonic uses. Over the course of their engine development program, SAF from a number of pathways will be tested.

Most of our aircraft engines can already operate using blended Sustainable Aviation Fuels, and have already flown using them. We believe that all of our newer engines would probably be able to operate on 100% SAF, which we’re in the process of verifying.

Japan received first Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft for JGSDF

A V-22 Osprey aircraft bound for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) based at Camp Kisarazu departs Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan to mark the official delivery of the first V-22 to the Japan Self Defense Force.

Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey being cargo for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force at Camp Kisarazu Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni Japan (Lauren Brune Pic)

Japan has purchased the American V-22 to improve its amphibious and naval warfare capabilities. Many foreign countries have shown interest to purchase the V-22 including Israel, India, Indonesia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force plans to have 17 V-22 Ospreys for five years until they are permanently stationed to an airport in the southwestern for any Chinese threat. The GSDF will start flights of the Ospreys as early as August after undergoing a month of maintenance checks. Taking into account of strong local concerns on-base training and widen the flight area gradually.

Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey being cargo for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, at Iwakuni Japan (Source: Unknown)

In May 2020, Japan has taken delivery of the first two V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. In 2015, Japan ordered 17 units for $332 million of the V-22 osprey, and it was the first foreign customer of the tiltrotor aircraft. More than 200 have been built by Bell-Boeing and used by the U.S. Marines, Navy and Air Force.

The V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft manufactured by the American company Bell Boeing. It has both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft with a 10m approx. rotor system and engine or transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip. It can operate as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. Once airborne, the nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees for horizontal flight, converting the V-22 to a high-speed, fuel-efficient turboprop airplane. The wing rotates for compact storage aboard ship.

The U.S. Marine Corps is the lead service in the development of the Osprey. The Marine Corps version, the MV-22B Osprey is an assault transport for troops, equipment and supplies, and will be capable of operating from ships or from expeditionary airfields ashore.

The Navy's CMV-22B Osprey will provide combat search and rescue, delivery and retrieval of special warfare teams along with fleet logistic support transport. The CV-22B Osprey is the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) variant of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey. The mission of the CV-22B is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces.

Vietnam Military awarded a contract for Drones to Israel Aerospace Industries

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has agreed a deal to sell drones to Vietnam.

The Heron-type-1 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be used by the Vietnamese military for a range of routine missions including maritime patrols, the Asian media reports. Over the past few days, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has agreed a deal to sell three drones to the Vietnamese government for $160 million.

IAI Heron Type-1 surveillance and reconnaissance drone (Source: Internet) 

The Heron type-1 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be used by the Vietnamese military for a range of routine missions including maritime patrols. The UAVs will be equipped in such a way that they can take off and land automatically and will be capable of operating in extreme weather conditions.

The Heron UAVs being supplied to the Vietnamese will be able to operate up to a range of about 350 kilometers over periods of up to 50 hours and be able to carry payloads of up to 250kg, all according to the mission on which it has been sent.

The deal has finally been agreed after a protracted period of uncertainty and delays. The deal has been achieved after the personal intervention of Ministry of Defense (Vietnam) director general General Udi Adam.

Last month, IAI lost out in bids worth hundreds of millions of dollars for two major tenders for UAVs. The tenders had been issued by the Belgian and Australian militaries and both bids were won by US company General Atomics.

Korea Aerospace Industries awarded contract of 20 TA-50 Block 2 aircraft

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it had awarded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) a contract to build 20 TA-50 Block 2 aircraft.

South Korea's TA-50 Golden Eagle elephant walk (Source: Air Recognition)

The deal, concluded with Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, is worth around KRW688 billion ($573 million). The deal also covers support for the aircraft, which are to be delivered by 2024.

The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced trainers and light combat aircraft, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. The TA-50 variant is a more heavily armed version of the T-50 trainer, intended for lead-in fighter training and light attack roles.

In 2011, the first squadron with the TA-50, become operational with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The new planes will replace KF-16 fighters, according to DAPA officials.

The Block 2 is an upgraded variant of the TA-50 Block 1, 22 units of which are currently in ROKAF service. The TA-50 light attack variant and more heavily armed version of the T-50 trainer.

KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (Source: Ryabtsev)

It has a three-barrel cannon version of the M61 Vulcan mounted internally behind the cockpit, which fires link-less 20 mm ammunition. Wingtip rails can accommodate the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Compatible air-to-surface weapons include the AGM-65 Maverick missile, Hydra 70 and LOGIR rocket launchers, CBU-58 and Mk-20 cluster bombs, Mk-82, Mk-83, and Mk-84 general-purpose bombs.

Testing of home designed RTA-70 domestic aircraft!: India

The Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) project of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) known as Indian Regional Jet (IRJ) has entered in the Testing phase.

A wind-tunnel model of Regional Transport Aircraft 70 (RTA-70) undergoing test at National Wind Tunnel Facility IIT Kanpur.  The NWTF is a closed-return, continuous, atmospheric wind tunnel equipped with several auxiliary systems for different testing needs.

RTA-70 NAL designed Indian transport aircraft (Pic Source: NWTF IIT Kanpur)

The test section of NWTF is 2.25m high, 3m wide and 8.75m long and is split into two parts; an upstream (5.75m) and a downstream (3m) part. Air speed up-to 80m/s produced by a single-stage 12-bladed axial-flow fan powered by a 1000kW motor.

National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) jointly designed and developed a 70-seater civil regional aircraft. The RTA-70 is meant to fly short-haul routes and compete with planes of French-Italian aircraft maker Avions de Transport Régional (ATR), a leading exporter of turbo-prop aircraft in the region.

NAL had held discussions with Pratt and Whitney (Canada) and General Electric (U.S.) for an engine. The aircraft is claimed to offer 25% lower acquisition costs, 25% lower operating costs and 50% lower maintenance costs than existing turboprop aircraft.

 Design Prototype RTA-70 NAL designed Indian transport aircraft (Source: HAL)

The 70-seat aircraft will have a range of 1,350 nm (2,500 km), and require a take-off field length and landing field length of 900m (2,950 ft). The aircraft would have a length of 28.6m and a wing-span of 29.4m. The aircraft would have a service ceiling of 30,000 ft, a cruising speed of 300kt.

NAL is considering a composite airframe. The aircraft will be powered by two "next-generation turboprop engine". It would have an indigenous fly-by-wire control system, open distributed modular avionics, automatic dependence surveillance - broadcast navigation capabilities, and advanced displays.