Welcome to Indian Defence Information

Indian millitary system is a very well organized section of defence that we all feel proud of as Indians. Indian millitary forms the backbone of Indian Defence. Newer and improved weapons are needed by the army to fight back. To make yourself up to date and informed about the new developements of technology in Indian Military, browse through this blog. Know how technology has been highly embraced in our Indian Millitary System.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

India and UK to conduct Submarine Exercise

Indian and UK submarines, INS Shishumar and HMS Talent (Trafalgar class) submarine respectively, will conducted a 2 day exercise from 28th July to 30th July 2010 off the West coast of India.

‘KONKAN 2010’ the annual IN-RN bilateral exercise is already being conducted at Mumbai from 26th July 2010. Konkan 2010 is the seventh edition of the ‘KONKAN’ series of exercises. 2010 edition of KONKAN is being conducted as a ‘Table-Top’ exercise at the tactical simulator located at Maritime Warfare Centre, Mumbai. A ‘Table-Top’ exercise is an exercise without actual participation of ships, but with participation of Planning Staff of both countries.
 
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Government to set up chain of radar sensors along coastlines

The government has launched a project to set up radar sensors along the country's coastlines for surveillance in order to avoid a Mumbai-like terror attack during which Pakistani terrorists took the sea route to enter the city.


The Rs 350-crore project to set up the chain of radar sensors along the entire 7,517-km coastline, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep is implemented by the Coast Guard.

The radar sensors will be fitted on light houses at 46 locations, out of which 36 are in the mainland, six in Lakshadweep Islands and four in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Radar sensors use Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) to reliably detect moving or stationary objects even in the extreme weather conditions.

"The government has been on continuous basis reviewing the security arrangements of our coastline in the light of the emerging challenges, including those from the terrorists. The decision to set up a chain of radar sensors has been taken to strengthen the coastal security," an official said.

As a part of the overall coastal security, the navy has been designated as the authority responsible for the overall maritime security which includes coastal security and offshore security.
 
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tejas Pv-1 waits for Kaveri Integration

BY: Vinayak shetty

In a busy Hangar in Hal complex a lone Tejas Pv-1 in the corner of the Hanger waits for Integration with the Kaveri engine , mating should have taken place a decade ago but delays in kaveri engine by GTRE only delayed the whole event , this also shows how off track whole Kaveri engine Project really is .

PV-1 has been pulled out of the current rigorous Tejas Test program since it no longer has all the new avionics equipments and its subsystems , nor does it has weapons integrated to carry out weapons testing ,but it will not join the fate of TD-1 and TD-2 where both have been dismantled and usable parts already been removed from the aircraft and waits it last resting place neither in a museum or a IAF Base .

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News Source: IDRW

India's successfull test of Intercepter Missile

Read detailed information regarding Interceptor Missile on LiveFist

Livefist
By Shiv Arror

US and Israel Continue Joint Development of Missile Defence Technology


On Sunday, Israeli and US officials in Tel Aviv signed an agreement on funding the co-operative development and production of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile defence system. In accordance with this bilateral framework, signed by Brig. Gen. Ofir Shoham, the head of the Israeli defense ministry’s MAFAT Research and Development Directorate, and Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly, the head of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the development of the high-altitude interceptor is to be fully funded by the US and will be integrated into Israel’s missile defence system.


The agreement will disperse Israeli concerns that the US would end or significantly reduce funding of the Arrow programme due to necessary cuts to the US defence budget. The co-operation, involving the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the MDA, as well as an industrial team from both nations, is expected to cost an additional $100 million and provide an operational Arrow 3 missile defence system by 2012/13.

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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor

Friday, July 23, 2010

India will not buy Sukhoi Su 35s: Experts

BY: IDRW NEWS NETWORK

Recent report in a Russian News agency where Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow claimed that India will eventually buy 40 t0 60 Sukhoi Su-35S has not found many takers in India , defence Expert Rakesh sharma told idrw.org that  “Sukhoi Su35s will not inducted into IAF since its a complete different variant of Sukhoi” and “India is firm to induct 5th generation PAK-Fa fighter aircraft when they will be available after 2016 to India “.

Russian Air force will be inducting them has a Stop Gap measure until Pak-Fa starts getting inducting into their force , Russia has been trying to find a Export customer for the this new improved 4.5++ gen aircraft but had no export luck yet , Russia on many occasions have offered this aircraft to many of the current users of Sukhoi su 27 and Sukhoi su 30 fleet but most of countries including India choose to retain same fleet commonality .

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Comparison Of India's LCH Against Other Attack Choppers

News From LiveFist





The highlighted helicopters currently compete for India's 22 attack helicopter competition. The AH-64 is already in India and has begun trials. The Mi-28 will follow.


©Copyright SP's Aviation

Indian Army Orders One Million Shivalik Grenades

Vijay Mohan

About a decade after being designed, the Army has approved bulk production of lightweight modular hand grenades developed by DRDO for induction. An order has been placed with the Ordnance Factory Board for supplying one million hand grenades to the Army. Known as Shivalik, these would replace the existing M-36 HE grenades. Besides the Shivalik, the Army has also approved bulk production of the add-on 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) that is attached to rifles for increasing their firepower. The UBGL, which can be mounted on the INSAS as well as AK-47 rifles, was developed keeping in view the global trend in technology for small arms from the concept of point-target capability to area-target capability.

India may invest $80 bn in defence acquisitions: Report

India is set to become the favourite market for global defence firms as it is expected to spend about $80 billion on defence acquisitions in the next five years, according to a report. While developed economies like the US and UK are cutting their expenditure on defence in 2010-11, India's spending in this regard is budgeted at $32 billion. Also, a dramatic increase in investments may be seen in the Gulf countries, a report by Deloitte noted. "India is likely to spend nearly $80 billion over the next five years (2010-15) on new capital acquisitions," the report noted.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

India to now procure special mountain radars for borders with China

BY: TNN

IAF is finally going in for specialised and rugged mountain radars which can be deployed in high-altitude areas bordering China to ensure air intrusions by spy drones, helicopters and aircraft are detected in “realtime”.

This comes in the backdrop of continuing intrusions — the military likes to dub them “transgressions” — by the People’s Liberation Army all along the unresolved 4,056-km Line of Actual Control, from Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh to the “finger area” in Sikkim.

China, in fact, continues to needle India even in the middle sector of Uttarakhand-Himachal. Just last week, for instance, a PLA platoon on horses crossed over in the Barahoti region with sheer impunity. While most of these “transgressions” occur on land, violations of Indian airspace are not unknown.

“These light-weight mountain radars will be installed in difficult terrains like Ladakh since conventional radars cannot be deployed there. They should be able to pick up even small aircraft from a distance of 300 to 400 km away,” said an officer.

The RFI (request for information) issued to global armament firms specifies these “active aperture phased-array radars” should be able to provide 360 degree coverage in altitudes up to 5,000 metres in extreme weather conditions.

“They should be able to classify targets as large, medium and small fixed-wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) automatically,” it says.

With state-of-the-art ECCM (electronic counter-counter measures to prevent enemy jamming) features, the radars should also be capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously. The radars will be remotely operated from “operational shelters” around 3,000 to 5,000 metres away through “fibre-optic and redundant radio links”.

As earlier reported by TOI, IAF has already inked contracts for several other types of radars to ensure Indian airspace becomes more impregnable. These include 19 LLTRs (low-level transportable radars), four MPRs (medium-power radars) and 30 indigenous medium-range Rohini radars, apart from plans to induct nine additional Aerostat radars and two more AWACS (airborne warning and control systems).

To strategically counter China’s massive build-up of military infrastructure along the LAC, IAF has already reactivated ALGs (advanced landing grounds) like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama in eastern Ladakh. It is also upgrading eastern sector ALGs like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal.

Then, of course, in addition to basing Sukhoi-30MKI fighters in the North-East, Army is also raising two new specialised infantry mountain divisions (35,000 soldiers) and an artillery brigade for Arunachal.

India also plans to progressively base six surface-to-air Akash missile squadrons in the North-East to counter the threat posed by Chinese fighters, helicopters and drones.

Russia's Fifth-generation PAK FA Fighter to be Cheaper Than Foreign Analogues











Russia's fifth-generation fighters for export will be cheaper than their foreign analogues, the general director of the aviation companies Sukhoi and MiG said on Tuesday.

"The price of the fifth-generation export variant is an issue for discussion and negotiation. But I can say that we believe its main advantage will be a competitive price margin," Mikhail Pogosyan said, adding that the aircraft would be significantly more expensive than Russia's fourth-generation fighter model.

He said that the new-generation fighter will be presented at the 2011 MAKS air show outside Moscow.

"Next year you will be able to see how the fifth-generation fighter takes off," Pogosyan said.

Russia's only known fifth-generation project is Sukhoi's PAK FA and the current prototype is the T-50. It is designed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so far the world's only fifth-generation fighter, and the F-35 Lightning II.

In mid-June, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin observed the 16th test flight of a prototype model of the new fighter.

Russia has been developing the model since the 1990s. The country's top military officials have said the stealth fighter jet, with a range of up to 5,500 km, should enter service with the Air Force in 2015.

The PAK FA is to be armed with next-generation air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and has two 30-mm cannons.

FARNBOROUGH, July 20 (RIA Novosti)

India evaluating Patriot ground-based air defence system

BY: PTI



India is evaluating the advanced Patriot ground-based air defence system for its ballistic missile shield and the US has provided “classified” material to it on the weapon unit, which was successfully used during both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Patriot’s manufacturer Raytheon said today.

A number of exchanges have taken place between the government of India and the US and information has been given to India at the classified level,” Joseph Garret, Vice President of the company’s Patriot Programmes told PTI.

Replying to questions, he said tests of the Patriot system, which has been procured by 12 countries, by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and other agencies had been “highly successful”.

On India developing its own missile defence shield, Garret said, “Patriot system gives a major boost to any country’s defence capability. India may be developing its own system, but Patriot is a combat-proven weapon system.”

Another senior official of Raytheon, a defence and aerospace major, said Washington and New Delhi have also discussed the issue of India-specific end-user accords.

“If the US government gives a go-ahead, Raytheon will step in,” he said.

Since its production began in 1980, more than 170 Patriot fire units and over 9,000 have been delivered by the company.

The countries which have acquired the weapon system, were Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Japan, Israel, Taiwan, Greece, Spain, South Korea and the UAE.

The weapon system’s capabilities were demonstrated in 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

“Patriot’s performance against Iraqi SCUD missile attacks were impressive, even though the SCUD missiles exceeded Patriot’s design threat,” he said.

Top company official Taylor W Lawrence, President of Raytheon’s Missile Systems, said India is also looking at the ‘Javelin’ anti-tank and anti-armour missile ‘and a ‘letter of intent’ is expected to be issue soon.

“Javelin has been fully tested by the Indian land forces. We expect a letter of intent from the Indian government,” he said.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Russian Air Force to get 10 fifth-generation fighters by 2015

BY: RIA Novosti (IDRW News Network)

The Russian Defense Ministry will buy the first 10 fifth-generation fighters between 2013 and 2015 and then another 60 after 2016, a senior military official said on Monday.

Deputy Defense Minister for Arms Procurements Vladimir Popovkin said the first fighters will be purchased in 2013, while in 2015 the Air Force will start test flying them.

He did not explain what will happen between 2013 and 2015.

“We will start purchasing this fighter in series in 2016 and a total of 60 fighters will be bought under the state [arms procurement] program,” Popovkin said.

Air Force chief Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said last week the first batch of new fighters would be provided with older, “non-fifth” generation engines.

In mid-June, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin observed the 16th test flight of a prototype fighter.

The prime minister said 30 billion rubles (around $1 billion) had already been spent on the project and another 30 billion would be required to complete it, after which the engine, weaponry and other components would be upgraded.

He said the fighter would have a service life of 30-35 years if modernization and upgrades are factored in, and would be around three times cheaper than its foreign analogs.

Russia’s only known fifth-generation project is Sukhoi’s PAK FA and the current prototype is the T-50. It is designed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so far the world’s only fifth-generation fighter, and the F-35 Lightning II.

Russia has been developing its newest fighter since the 1990s. The country’s top military officials have said the stealth fighter jet with a range of up to 5,500 km should enter service with the Air Force in 2015.

The PAK FA is to be armed with next-generation air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and has two 30-mm cannons.

BrahMos hypersonic missile to touch Mach 5 to 7 speeds

BY: PTI


Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace is working on a hypersonic cruise missile that can touch speeds ranging from five to seven times that of sound. The cruise missile’s supersonic version for the land forces can touch speeds of two times the speed of sound and has a 290-km range.

“The hypersonic version of the BrahMos, to be called BrahMos-II, is in its design and technological development stage. It will take some time to mature. But our aim is for it to touch Mach 5 to 7 speeds, making it the fastest cruise missile in the world,” BrahMos’ Chief Executive Officer A Sivathanu Pillai told PTI at the DefExpo here.

“The hypersonic missile, which will be smaller than BrahMos-I, will definitely provide an advantage to the Indian armed forces in future warfare,” Pillai said when asked about the need for the missile.

The hypersonic version of the BrahMos would be built for its air platforms.

Already, the BrahMos is in the process of developing an air platform-based supersonic cruise missile and Sukhoi fighter jets of the IAF have been chosen as the platform for integrating the missile.

“The BrahMos will be integrated in to the Su-30MKI’s built in India. But the aircraft would be sent to Russia for fitting a modified structure for the missile’s integration. We plan to get it done by 2012,” he said.

MMRCA aircrafts to be deployed to face chinese threat in North East !!

BY:IDRW NEWS NETWORK


IAF is already working to deploy its front line primary air superiority fighter Sukhoi Su-30MKI in North Easter forward bases close to Indo-china border ,but also has made plans to deploy MMRCA aircrafts in the same sector which along with MKI will act has deterrence against Chinese air intrusions .

Sources close to idrw.org have also reported that IAF wants a long legged aircraft (More Range), Due to scarcity of airbase located in North eastern sector and also due to thousand of miles of Mountainous areas, aircraft will not only require to carry lot of internal fuel but also heavy air to air weapons combo , IAF currently unwilling to operate large tanker aircrafts from north eastern sector initially due to smaller airbases which might create logistical problems for the tankers .

If Sources are to be believed almost half the MMRCA (126 no) aircrafts will operate from forward North eastern and eastern sector .currently Mig-21 and Mig-27 aircrafts operate from North eastern sector , IAF also plans to operate LCA-Tejas in Western sector along with other remaining MMRCA aircrafts .

As per Idrw.org MMRCA aircraft which IAF want might be a twin engine aircraft since range requirement will a crucial factor which will determine the aircraft to be chosen along with other requirements

Eurofighter gets good vibes on MMRCA

BY: www.stratpost.com


The first spurts of information on the results of the trials conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender are starting to trickle out.

A confident Bernhard Gerwart, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Military Air Systems at EADS Defence & Security, mingled with reporters in an informal chat with reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday and told them, “I believe we are compliant with all the requests that they have made. Yesterday, I had some meetings with representatives of the IAF and the MoD (Ministry of Defense) and, personally, I left with the impression that we had done well in the flight trials.”

But Herr Gerwert did offer a caveat, saying, “Mind you it’s just a feeling,” while pointing out the IAF had made no official statement to him.

At any rate he confirmed separately to StratPost, he would be sleeping easier after getting these vibes. While this is hardly definitive confirmation of the Eurofighter Typhoon having performed well in the trials from the perspective of the IAF, it is perhaps indicative of the feedback given by the IAF to representatives of the company.

And while Gerwert didn’t know if the IAF would come up with a short list or a ‘long list’, the issue of a down select remains open to question. It remains unclear whether any possible shortlist issued by the IAF would merely be an indication of preference or would actually result in the elimination of any of the contestants.

German Ambassador to India, Thomas Matussek, too, weighed in. “We have to see this in the geo-strategic context. Your security is our security,” he said. Did he think that if the MMRCA comes down to being a political decision, the four-European nations backing EADS would have the political capital to compete with the US? “The simple answer is ‘yes’. We’re easily on the same par as the United States,” he said.

The IAF is expected to submit its report on its evaluation of the six aircraft imminently, and industry watchers have been actively trying to get a sense of how it will play out. With the IAF enforcing a robust lockdown on any seepage of information so long as the report remains in their domain, defense journalists have been reduced to speculation on the play-out of the tender process.

Not surprisingly, reporters are straining their eyes trying to read between the lines of the statements issued by personalities such as Herr Gerwert and cryptic comments of IAF officers in private conversation, in the absence of any official indications.

There are some who argue that it would be in the interest of the IAF to indicate the results of the trials and its preferences, to make sure their views are not deviated from when the matter is laid before the Ministry of Defense. There are others who think this would be irrelevant, anticipating the IAF to indicate no clear preference one way or the other. Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Saab’s Gripen IN, Dassault’s Rafale and the MiG-35 are the other aircraft competing in the tender.

But IAF officials admit to being eminently aware of the possibility of the conclusions of the report becoming public, once it is submitted to the ministry. And all concerned agree, some interesting times lie ahead, when that happens.

Monday, July 19, 2010

T-50 completes early flight and bench tests

BY: David Donald / www.ainonline.com

Sukhoi has completed its preliminary flight and bench trials program for the T-50 PAK-FA fighter. Three airframes were built for the initial campaign, comprising one static aircraft (T-50-0), one flying prototype (T-50-1) and an avionics testbed (T-50-2). A display flight by T-50-1 on June 17 in front of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin marked the 16th time the aircraft had flown.

Russia has a stated requirement for up to 420 PAK-FA aircraft, which may become the Su-50 in service. This number would equip 10 air regiments, each with 36 frontline aircraft and six reserves. However, it is likely that this total will not be reached. India, meanwhile, has a requirement for 250 of what it calls the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).

India has yet to join the T-50 program, but it has stated that it intends to do so and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will likely be given development work in the navigation, mission computer and other systems. FGFA is envisioned as a two-seater, but reports suggest that India could acquire single-seat T-50s pending development of the full FGFA configuration.

The T-50-1 was completed in the KnAAPO works at Dzemgi airfield near Komsomolsk-na-Amur. The first taxi tests were performed last December and high-speed tests were conducted in late January in preparation for the first flight. The maiden 47-minute sortie was flown on January 29 with Sergey Bogdan at the controls.

The aircraft flew again in early February to compete initial basic airworthiness and systems tests before being disassembled for transport to Moscow. On April 8 an Antonov An-124 Ruslan carried it to the Gromov Flight Research Institute at Zhukovsky, together with flight support equipment. The aircraft flew again from its new home on April 29.

Further T-50s will be constructed to support the flight test program, which Putin announced would encompass more than 2,000 flights. Initial production is scheduled to begin at KnAAPO in 2015, with limited service-entry to take place that year as well.

T-50 Technology

Sukhoi’s T-50 embodies a high degree of new technology and is intended to provide a “fifth-generation” capability in an aircraft that is considerably cheaper to produce than the Lockheed Martin F-22, its closest rival. Low observability in the forward hemisphere is a key driver in the T-50 design, which, in planform at least, resembles that of the F-22. The forward areas feature faceting (smooth, polished surfaces) and the design incorporates advanced radar-absorbent materials and coatings. The intake trunks are of serpentine shape, but whether they completely shield the engine compressor face and whether they incorporate some form of radar blocker has been the subject of considerable debate.

The engines themselves are the NPO Saturn 117, derived from the 117S intended for the Su-35BM. The first of these engines flew in the left-hand bay of the T-10M-10 (an Su-35 testbed) on January 21 this year, shortly before the T-50’s first flight. The engines incorporate 16-degree all-axis thrust vectoring, which combined with the relaxed stability and fly-by-wire controls confers outstanding maneuverability on the T-50. It is widely accepted that the T-50 will not match the Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter in terms of all-aspect stealthiness, but it is expected to be more agile. NPO Saturn and MMPP Salyut are working together on a definitive engine for the T-50, in the 16- to 16.5-metric-ton thrust class (that is, up to 36,375 pounds thrust).

An innovative feature of the T-50 is its SH121 radar complex from NIIP Tikhomirov. This comprises the N050 main array in the nose, with more than 1,500 transmit/receive modules, plus two side-facing X-band arrays in the lower forward fuselage sides. Conformal L-band arrays are mounted in the leading-edge root extensions. T-50-1 does not have radar fitted, but it does have a dummy infrared search-and-track turret installed. In service this is expected to be a development of the OLS-35 developed for the Su-35BM.

In terms of avionics, the T-50 represents a major advance for a Russian fighter and it has been designed to take full advantage of datalink and sensor-fusion technology. In the cockpit the pilot has two very large multifunction displays mounted side-by-side, with an upfront controller for a wide-angle head-up display. Control is by a center stick that incorporates advanced HOTAS controls. The pilot will have a helmet-mounted sighting system, perhaps based on the ZSh-10.

In its air-to-air role, the T-50 will have a wide range of weapons available, from internal 30-mm cannon to 400-km missiles. The aircraft’s huge internal bays can accommodate up to eight of the current Vympel R-77 active-radar missiles, but there are several developments under way to provide the PAK-FA with even more capable weapons.


Vympel is working on the Izdeliye 180/K-77M, a derivative of the R-77 with a double-pulse engine, new seeker and traditional tailfins in place of the R-77’s “chip-slicer” lattice fins. The Izdeliye 180PB/K-77ME is an air-breathing ramjet version similar in concept to the Meteor, but it appears that the solid-propellant version–roughly equivalent to the AIM-120D AMRAAM–offers greater potential in a shorter time.

The PAK-FA is also expected to carry a class of weapon unique to Russia–

a very long range air-to-air missile (VLRAAM), with a range of around 400 kilometers. Two designs are in development for the T-50 application: Vympel’s Izdeliye 810 and Novator’s Izdeliye 172/K-100. The T-50 will also carry short-range weapons.

A range of air-to-ground weapons is also intended for the T-50, including a new generation of anti-radiation missiles such as the Kh-36 and Kh-58Ush, and a variety of laser- and EO-guided bombs and missiles. Many of them can be carried internally, but the T-50 also has four underwing hardpoints for the attachment of external pylons for operations when stealth is not an overriding factor. The “tunnel” between the engine trunks also provides the space to carry extremely large weapons, such as long-range anti-ship missiles.

India to get two more AWACS, other radars to make airspace impregnable

BY: Rajat Pandit, TNN,

India will go in for two more AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), the “formidable eyes in the sky”, after the last of the three Israeli Phalcons already ordered is inducted in December.

IAF is also on course to induct a wide array of radars, from 19 LLTRs (low-level transportable radars) and four MPRs (medium-power radars) to four Aerostat and 30 indigenous medium-range Rohini systems, towards making Indian airspace as impregnable as possible.

All this is in tune with the crucial plan underway to set up five nodes of IACCS (integrated air command and control system) across the country, with the first one coming up in the western sector facing Pakistan, to plug existing gaps in the country’s air defence coverage.

Seamless data transfer from civilian and military radars as well as AWACS, all networked under IACCS, will make it possible to get the “air situation picture” at a central place in realtime. This will ensure that swift counter-measures can be mounted to thwart aerial threats soon after they are detected.

“We have already moved the case for two more AWACS,” IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told TOI. These will be in addition to the three Phalcon AWACS already contracted under the $1.1 billion project finalised with Israel and Russia in March 2004.

The complex project, under which the Israeli 360-degree Phalcon early-warning radar and communication suites were mounted on Russian IL-76 heavy-lift military aircraft was hit by several technical delays.

Consequently, the first AWACS arrived in India only in May 2009 and the second in March 2010. The third is slated to be inducted by this year-end.

“Phalcon AWACS are tremendous force-multipliers. We are having an excellent experience with them. They will get their final operational clearance by October-November,” said ACM Naik.

IAF’s capabilities to detect and track troop build-ups or aircraft movements even deep inside enemy territory, much further than ground-based radars, have certainly registered a quantum jump with AWACS.

Apart from detection of incoming cruise missiles and aircraft from over 400-km away in all-weather conditions, AWACS are also used to direct air defence fighters during combat operations against enemy jets.

Moreover, IAF and Navy are also on course to induct nine more Aerostat radars after getting two Israeli EL/M-2083 radars in 2004-2005 for $145 million. Similarly, IAF is slated to begin inducting 19 LLTRs from October 2011 onwards, while deliveries of light-weight LLTRs will commence soon. Four MPRs are expected to be delivered by December 2011.

Incidentally, India is also pursuing a Rs 1,800 crore mini-AWACS project indigenously. Under this, the indigenous AEW&C systems developed by DRDO will be mounted on three Embraer-145 jets, being obtained from Brazil for $210 million.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Future of the Global Military Aerospace Industry

News Published on Defpro 
Millitary Technology



On the occasion of the Farnborough Air Show, MILITARY TECHNOLOGY (MT), a media partner of defpro.com, asked the top leaders of military aerospace industries all around the world for their views as a regards the future evolution of the global market, and the prospects for their own companies. The questions MT circulated were as follows:

• What have you found to be the most challenging obstacles for businesses in your sector of the military aerospace industry in light of the current economic climate)
• Which steps have been taken under your leadership to overcome these difficulties and secure your company’s future as an innovative and influential force in the military aerospace industry (particularly with regard to R&D, product offerings, and cooperative programmes…)?

During the Farnborough Air Show week (19 – 23 July) defpro.com will subsequently publish the replies from worldwide leading defence and aerospace companies which will be linked in this defpro.daily entry. A link at the top of each statement will lead you back to this overview or to the related defpro.focus (see http://tinyurl.com/32cndrz). All statements can also be read it the current issue of MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.

To start this series of industry insights on the current situation and the future of military aerospace industry, we have chosen to publish the statements by Eurocopter and the Goodrich Cooperation. You will find the statements at the following links:

• Eurocopter - Dr. Lutz Bertling, President and CEO
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/16773

• Goodrich Corporation - Curtis Reusser, Segment President
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/16774
 

IAF report on MMRCA deal ‘by July-end’

BY: Thehindu.com

The evaluation report of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal will be submitted to the Defence Ministry by the end of July, confirmed Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik. He said the contract was likely to be signed this year.
Speaking at the ‘DARE Raising Day’ of the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) here on Friday, Mr. Naik said the response to the contending global fighters had been positive. He said the upgrading of SU-30 aircraft “is well on track.”

Chinese air base

Reacting to reports of China building an air base in Tibet, he said it was a matter of concern and said that the IAF was following the developments. The Air Chief Marshal spoke about the critical role DARE played in the IAF because of the close relationship between technology and electronic warfare. Hailing Bangalore as an epicentre of intelligence, he stressed on cutting-edge technology and punctual delivery being the most important functions of organisations such as DARE.

Naming obsolescence and technological gap as the main challenges faced at present, he said the IAF was looking forward to more fighter aircraft and helicopter projects from DARE.

Earlier, U.K. Revankar, Director, DARE, recalled the successes of the organisation — MiG-27 for which it had supplied avionics, Tarang RWR system, the Missile Approach Warning System and Multi-Sensor Warning System on AVRO and now on Cheetah helicopters and said they were now working on MiG-29, Dual Colour Missile Approach Warning System, and Light Weight EW Suite for helicopters.

G. Elangovan, Chief Controller of Research and Development, suggested that the IAF should make its requirements and operational capabilities known so that organisations could work on the given parameters.
30 employees were awarded for achievements in eight categories on the occasion.

Friday, July 16, 2010

India may ink MMRCA project of Rs 42K cr by mid-2011

BY : TNN



Even as the Americans, Europeans and Russians jostle to bag the “mother of all defence deals”, India too is now pressing the throttle to ensure the contract to acquire 126 new fighters under the Rs 42,000-crore medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) project is inked by mid-2011.

IAF, after all, wants to induct the first lot of these 126 fighters by 2014 to retain its combat edge. It is left with just 32 fighter squadrons (each has 12 to 18 jets) at present, down from the “sanctioned” strength of 39.5 squadrons. This when Pakistan is getting new American F-16s and Chinese fighters, while China assiduously builds new airbases in Tibet and south China.

“We are ready with the flight evaluation trials (FET) report of the six foreign fighters in contention. Based on it, we are right now generating the staff evaluation report. Both will be submitted to defence ministry by this month-end,” said IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, in an exclusive interview to TOI on Thursday.

The eagerly-awaited reports, which have evaluated the fighters on as many as 643 technical attributes after the gruelling field trials, will be followed by evaluation of offset proposals, opening of commercial bids and the final complex negotiations.

The hotly-contested race to bag the lucrative MMRCA project, the largest such programme around the globe, is among F/A-18 `Super Hornet’ and F-16 `Falcon’ (both US), Gripen (Swedish), Rafale (French), MiG-35 (Russian) and Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

“We definitely need the MMRCA, LCA (the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft) and FGFA (the fifth-generation fighter aircraft to be developed with Russia) without any delays to retain our combat edge,” said ACM Naik.

“We also have signed deals for 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters (over 110 have been inducted) with Russia. Another 42 Sukhois will be ordered soon. We want at least 42 fighter squadrons by 2022,” he added.

All eyes, of course, are on the MMRCA project. “The trials have been conducted in an exemplary, fair and professional manner. We have to be very transparent because the deal is very large,” said the IAF chief.

“The amount of data collated in our voluminous and exhaustive reports is phenomenal. They, in fact, can serve as a template to evaluate aircraft by any country,” he added.

As reported earlier, India is also likely to factor in its geo-strategic interests while deciding the MMRCA winner, with PM Manmohan Singh himself holding large defence deals must be leveraged to serve the country’s larger diplomatic ends.

This will be the first time that India will take into account “life-cycle costs” — the cost of operating the fighters over a 40-year period, with 6,000 hours of flying — rather than just pitching for the lowest bidder in a defence contract. While 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Russian Air Force to buy over 60 fifth-generation fighters



The Russian Air Force will receive more than 60 fifth-generation fighters from 2015-16, the force commander said on Tuesday.

"The Air Force will start taking delivery [of fifth-generation fighters] in 2015-16. The preliminary number is over 60," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said.

He also said the first batch of new fighters would be provided with older, "non-fifth" generation engines.

In mid-June Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin observed the 16th test flight of a prototype fighter.

Deputy Defense Minister for Arms Procurement Vladimir Popovkin said the Defense Ministry would purchase the first 6 to 10 aircraft after 2012, based on the outcome of initial tests. He said the fighter will be superior to similar U.S. models.

The prime minister said 30 billion rubles (around $1 billion) had already been spent on the project and another 30 billion would be required to complete it, after which the engine, weaponry and other components would be upgraded.

He said the fighter would have a service life of 30-35 years, if modernization and upgrades are factored in, and would be around three times cheaper than its foreign analogs

Russia's only known fifth-generation project is Sukhoi's PAK FA and the current prototype is the T-50. It is designed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so far the world's only fifth-generation fighter, and the F-35 Lightning II.

Russia has been developing its newest fighter since the 1990s. The country's top military officials have said the stealth fighter jet with a range of up to 5,500 km should enter service with the Air Force in 2015.

The PAK FA is to be armed with next-generation air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and has two 30-mm cannons.

ARDE developed 40mm UGBL enters Mass Production


BY:IDRW NEWS NETWORK


Armament Research Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune Developed Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) will finally enter Mass production .The 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) developed by ARDE is designed keeping in view the global trend in technology for small arms from the concept of point-target capability to area-target capability.

Indigenous developed UGBL was built on request from Indian Army and it has been under testing from 2006 and it was also given to Indian army for user feedback from 2007 onwards , after rigorous testing and suggested improvement given by army was carried out it has entered mass production at the ordinance factory in Trichy .main body and barrel of the UBGL are made of lightweight and high-strength aluminum alloy

The UBGL is a modular add on unit on Rifle 5.56 mm INSAS, which can be fitted very easily by removing hand guard of rifle and sliding the UBGL in its place and locking it. It can also be mounted on the Ak 47rifle.

UBGL fills the gap between maximum range achieved by a hand grenade and the minimum range of a mortar, and has better accuracy unlike a mortar or a hand grenade.

Iron Dome: India in talks to buy Iron Dome, David’s Sling

BY: GLOABES.CO.CL

“Defense News” reports that India is in talks to buy Israel’s ground-based rocket and missile interceptor systems Iron Dome and David’s Sling.

David’s Sling, designed to intercept medium-range missiles (70-240 kilometers range), is being developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). The system is also n the Ministry of Defense.

Indian Ministry of Defence sources told “Defense News” negotiations between the Israeli and Indian governments on a deal for David’s Sling had been going on for more than six months. The sources added that Israel was open to sales of David’s Sling, but that it would not transfer the system’s technology as part of a deal.

The sources said that India was developing its own missile interception system for short and medium range missiles (50-80 kilometer range), known as the PAD. However, this system cannot intercept low-flying cruise missiles. This may be the reason why India is interested in the Israeli system.

An Indian Ministry of Defence official said that neither its aging Russian-built air defense systems nor the PAD system can serve as the country’ sole line of defense against potential missile threats from Pakistan or China. He said that the procurement of David’s Sling or the Iron Dome would be a “pleasure”.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Akash missile is ready for production, induction

BY: The Indian Express Limited.

The research effort of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has begun showing rich dividends.

Senior officials in DRDO told FE, “The weapon system for the Akash missile is now ready for production and induction. This is a major milestone for DRDO and its industry partners. It is also an essential step towards indigenously developing more complex air defence weapons for the future.”

After the first order of the Akash missile system from the IAF, the DRDO has managed to secure a bigger order from the Army, taking the total volume of business to Rs 27,000 crore. The research organisation has been long under fire for having sunk large amounts of funds into research projects.

The Army has ordered 12 batteries of Akash anti-aircraft missiles. Each Akash battery has three launcher vehicles, a radar vehicle and several support vehicles. Each launcher is self propelled, carrying four missiles, and costs Rs 10 crore. Each search radar, which can support several batteries, costs Rs 40 crore and each battery has a weapon guidance radar, which costs Rs 50 crore.

While the Akash is tagged as the most expensive high-tech system ever developed, and put into service, by DRDO, senior officials of the organistion said, “Only around Rs 600 crore was invested in the R&D of the system but the volume of the business being generated is far more than what was expected.”

About 300 industries in public and private sectors contribute to the production of the weapon system. Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) will be the system integrator and nodal production agency for the Akash-Army variant.

Concurrent engineering practices have been adopted to minimize the learning curve in production. The vendors have been carefully chosen for their familiarity with critical technologies, manpower and quality management systems.

Each 701 kg/£1,543 Akash missile has a 60 kg/£132 warhead, a range of 27 km and can kit targets as high as 15,800 metre/49,000 feet, or as low as 20 metre. Akash is modeled on the older, but successful, Russian SA-6 system, and is meant to replace some very old Russian air defence systems India is still using. The country wants to build a version of Akash for use on ships, and is already looking into a longer range (60 km) version.

The combined order for Akash missile systems, is seen as a major victory for the country’s indigenous R&D efforts. In addition to the volume of business being…generated within the country, these orders will also create more jobs and help the industry to enhance technology.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

India to test Interceptor missile in August

India will launch in early August an interceptor called Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile to shoot down an incoming “enemy missile” as part of its efforts to build a credible ballistic missile defence shield.

After the “enemy” missile takes off from its launch pad at the Integrated Test Range, (ITR) Balasore, Orisssa, the AAD missile will pounce upon it midway, lifting off from the Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal, about 60 km off Balasore.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has built both the missiles and will launch them. Preparations are progressing apace for the launches.

V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, said the AAD interceptor “is not one of the existing missiles,” hinting that it has been newly developed.

The target “is a modified missile” and the interception would take place in endo-atmosphere. But the interception would be at a high altitude in the endo-atmosphere. While the endo-atmosphere is 50 km and below, the exo-atmosphere is above 50 km. Rains had led to the test being postponed from July to August.

Of the four interceptor missile tests so far, the first three were successful. The last one in March 2010 was a failure.

Dr. Saraswat, who is also Director-General, DRDO, said the test-flights of Astra, India's air-to-air missile on Tuesday and Wednesday were aimed at demonstrating its high manoeuvrability, and its control and guidance systems.

“The Astra is meant for destroying aerial targets. It is a gradual process of proving its control and guidance systems. Before we integrate the missile with an aircraft, we should prove all this. [However], we have flown the missile integrated with an aircraft and it was done in Pune,” he said.

The missile was integrated with a Sukhoi-30 aircraft. But the tests on Tuesday and Wednesday took place from the ground at the ITR.

The Astra is about 3.6 metre long and weighs 160 kg.

Nuclear Capability Of India And China: An Analysis

BY : Col. R. Hariharan / SAAG


A comparison of nuclear capability of India and China cannot be made in isolation. It has to be derived in the backdrop of their strategic vision, global ambitions and political and social ethos that condition their perceptions. Their strategic vision dictates the development of their nuclear capability (including nuclear policy, concepts, weapons capability and delivery systems) appropriate to the geo-strategic environment.

Strategic setting

Ever since the global economic downturn started around 2008, China’s economic clout had been increasing. And the Obama administration soon after it came to power made special efforts to woo China to seek help in stemming its own economic decline. Apparently China’s global ambitions were strengthened by this. So it was not surprising that it showed reluctance to play ball with Obama administration’s efforts to turn it into a partner in international affairs.

However, one of the important reasons for Chinese reluctance is the suspicion about the U.S. intentions in Asia, where the U.S. had been developing strategic convergence in its relations with India. This was made clear in China’s Defence White Paper 2008 that spoke of “increasing US military presence in Asia-Pacific.” China is wary of a US sponsored creation of an anti-Chinese axis extending from India to Japan. Though this was not referred to by General Ma Xiaotian, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA, while speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue 2010 he said “we believe that maintaining security in the Asia-Pacific region serves China’s interest, and it is also China’s responsibility.” Apparently, the Chinese Navy’s increasingly assertive posture in South China Sea is only an affirmation of this policy.

This power assertion has strong strategic connotations to its ASEAN neighbours in particular as China is likely to be embedded in their security architecture inn the coming years as indicated by Professor Zhuang Jian Zhong, Standing Vice Director, Center for National Strategic Studies, Shanghai Jiaotong University, at the Shangri La Dialogue 2010.

After the Indo-US civilian nuclear bill became a reality, US-India economic relations were poised to grow fast. However, this did not happen as Obama administration had its own hangups on India. However, US-India relations have recently been warming up for the first time after President Obama came to power. The reality is that this has come about only after the impasse in the US-China relations. Now US-India economic relations are poised to grow rapidly only because Indian economy, less dependant upon export market than China, is clocking a steady 8 % growth.

Moreover, even if the US pulls out of Afghanistan, it would perhaps like to retain Pakistan a strategic ally in the region. The Army is likely to continue to decide Pakistan’s strategic posture in the coming years. Perhaps this is the underlying reason for the $ 10 billion U.S. assistance to the Pakistan army. It should not be forgotten that Pakistan, a close ally of China, achieved its nuclear capability aided and abetted by China. These considerations are likely to influence the US form encouraging India to play a major strategic role in Afghanistan and beyond in the west. With such considerations, in the US foreign relations horizon China would continue to occupy a larger space than India in the coming years, regardless the ups and downs of US-China relations.

India dominates South Asian region physically and economically. Soft power of Indian culture spills over the region as well. During the cold war era, it had built strong relationship with Soviet Union, which still has a large residual content in Russia, particularly as a supplier of defence equipment and weaponry. India’s geographic location enables it to be a dominant power in the Indian Ocean region. So it is not surprising that China had been cultivating India’s smaller neighbours who have latent fear of Indian domination. China’s close relation with Pakistan is well known. Nepal and Sri Lanka are increasingly coming under Chinese influence. Except for Pakistan, present emphasis of China’s relationship-building with other neighbours of India appears to have more political and economic than military content.

Nuclear setting

Given India’s comparatively smaller economic and military clout, unlike China, India appears to nurse only regional ambitions. Unlike China, which signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a recognised nuclear weapons state, though India did not sign NPT, its nuclear capability got recognition only after it tested nuclear weapons in 1998. So India has fundamental limitations in augmenting its nuclear weapons capability although it is said to have enriched Uranium stockpile to produce another 30 warheads. India’s nuclear arsenal is estimated between 40 and 80 warheads. This is less than the number of warheads Pakistan has and probably one fifth of China’s holdings. Moreover, with limited nuclear tests carried out, questions about their operational performance have been raised.

But the main limitation of India lies in is weak nuclear delivery capability. India at present has only short and intermediate range ballistic missiles. Its naval missile development is aimed at refining its intermediate range capability only. Its first-ever nuclear submarine INS Arihant, now undergoing sea trials, is likely to become operational in 2012, if it keeps to its schedule. Thus at present it has no operational ballistic missile submarine. Its submarine fleet is aging and due to stilted naval procurement programme its fleet is likely to be reduced to half according to one estimate. So India’s nuclear weapon delivery at present is limited to nuclear-capable aircraft and surface ships of the navy only. At present this restricts the reach of India’s nuclear capability to South Asia and Tibet.

After its nuclear tests in 1998, India adopted a “no first use policy.” But according to its nuclear policy even though there will be no first-use of nuclear weapons by India, “nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage.” But how far these words can be given form remains to be seen. With India’s limited missile capability, second strike capability will have to be based upon its air force and surface ships. Thus India will continue to be vulnerable nuclear missile strikes beyond the intermediate range.

Only in 2003, India established the Strategic Nuclear Command. This join services organisation is responsible for holding all of India’s nuclear weapons, missiles and other assets. It has also executive responsibility for enforcing nuclear policy. However, it is the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) under the Prime Minister that will authorise response to any nuclear strike. Quick decision making under pressure had never been the strong point of CCS. Whether it can do so in real time to order a retaliatory nuclear strike is a moot question.

India’s key weakness is not only in strategic decision making process but tardy implementation of decisions. India has failed to use time as an irreplaceable resource. Thus the state controlled defence research and development programmes regularly fail to keep up their schedules. Defence procurement had become a hotbed of corruption and the bureaucratic procedure appears to be more focused on stemming corruption than on timely procurement of weapon systems. This has not improved despite the complaints of service chiefs; this has considerably weakened the modernisation of armed forces.

On the other hand, China has developed a clearly articulated long term vision for improving its strategic capability in conformity with its global ambitions. It has developed its large scale weapons research, development and manufacturing capability. It has become a major weapon producer and this gives it a powerful clout to favourably spread its influence.

China adopted No First Use nuclear policy well before India in 1964, with the affirmation not to be the first to use nuclear weapons “at any time or under any circumstances.” Though China has reaffirmed its NFU policy in 2009, China’s credibility to do so is low. For instance, there were reports that China had considered nuclear strikes against the Soviet Union in the event of a conventional Soviet attack. It has capability to deliver nuclear weapons from air craft, surface ships and submarines as well as missiles.

Its military modernisation programme is well on the way with focused development to improve its missile and naval capability while turning the huge PLA into a modern force with better mobility and fire power.

China is reported to hold the lowest number of nuclear warheads among the five nuclear weapons states. Though exact number of China’s nuclear arsenal is not known, the figure of around 130 nuclear warheads deployed in missiles and aircraft as given by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is probably correct. Probably 70 more are in storage. China has a variety of indigenously developed ICBMs including DF -5 ICBM which has a range of about 15000 Km has been in service since 1980. About 80 warheads are deployed in the ballistic missiles of DF-3, DF-4, DF-5 and DF-21. Of these China is estimated to have 25 DF-5 missiles. Under the military modernization programme, China is improving the missile portability, and performance capability. It has the potential to develop multiple warhead carrying capability in some of the missiles as well.

Though the PLA navy is ranked as the third largest in the world, it had only a defensive capability limited to its coastal region with only brown water capability. However as a result of modernisation efforts, it has now attained green water capability. That would mean it has offensive capability limited to about a thousand miles from its shores. It continues to suffer from weaknesses command C4 systems.

In keeping with increased strategic priorities Chinese navy is in the process of transforming into a blue water navy, though it is still a long way to go. It has developed Type 094 ballistic submarines armed with JL 2 SLBMs with a range of 8000 Km; this would make the western hemisphere within its range. It has developed a large submarine base in Hainan which has been cause of concern to the U.S. and India.

Since the last decade, Chinese naval presence in international waters has been on the rise. It has carried out joint exercises with over a dozen countries including India and Pakistan. In its first international foray, it is operating a flotilla on anti piracy duties in Gulf of Aden. Probably in during the coming decade we will be seeing large scale power assertion of Chinese navy in Indian Ocean region.

Chinese has been instrumental in contributing to the development of Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities, flouting international agreements. The two countries have close strategic links. This could result in the further growth of Pakistan’s nuclear capability in the future. The recent Chinese announcement to give two more nuclear power stations to Pakistan ostensibly under a 1991 contract is a case in point. Though the Bush administration had objected to it earlier, the US appears to have chosen to ignore it now due to political expediency dictated by its Pak-Af posture. Thus China enjoys enormous advantage with its proxy presence in Pakistan.

Conclusion

China enjoys definite advantage over India in three key aspects of exercising nuclear capability: decision making process weapons systems, and delivery options. However, Chinese capability is mostly based on its ICBM systems operating from both land and sea. Its green water capability is being augmented with the development of 094 ballistic submarines armed with SLBMs. This could overcome its limitations in blue water operations. Thus China’s nuclear capability is in tandem with its global ambitions.

Comparatively, India’s nuclear capability is circumscribed by the limits of its regional ambitions. This situation is unlikely to change unless India improves its ability to handle strategic security challenges. To give form to it, better nuclear weapons and missile capabilities are essential. In particular, it has to develop a strong anti-missile capability. India has a long way to go in doing so. India’s strength would depend upon building a win-win relationship with China; at the same time India has to develop closer strategic relations with the US without sacrificing its regional interests. Indo-Russian relations, a little stagnant at present, also need to be nurtured. More than all this it has to speed up modernisation of armed forces. In the coming years, Indian Ocean region is likely to become the scene of power assertion. This would imply the need for making Indian navy a powerful entity so that India does not lose its strategic advantage in the region.

New Taranis combat aircraft thunders into view

BY: MOD.UK

Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the concept demonstrator will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous, stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent.

Should such systems enter into service, they will at all times be under the control of highly trained military crews on the ground.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire, Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth said:

“Taranis is a truly trailblazing project. The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage.”

Representing the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design, Taranis is an informal partnership of the MOD and industry talents including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation.

Speaking on behalf of the industry team, Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Programmes and Support business, said:

“Taranis has been three-and-a-half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours.

“It represents a significant step forward in this country’s fast-jet capability. This technology is key to sustaining a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK’s leading position as a centre for engineering excellence and innovation.”

The Taranis prototype will provide the MOD with critical knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems. Flight trials are due in 2011.

Monday, July 12, 2010

IAF : Shrinking fleet , shrinking responsibility too ?

BY :IDRW NEWS NETWORK

Recently Indian Army has proposed Ministry of defence and defence minister to allow Indian Army to start and operate a Fixed Wing aircraft division for them , that will include operating Indo-Russian MTA or An-32 class fixed wing aircrafts for transport purpose and to move Armies equipments across the country , while this seems to have not gone well with the air force and has per sources have objected to such proposal of Army , IAF is keen to maintain its fleet of fixed wing aircraft and have told to Army that its their job to assist them when ever need arises .

Indian Army is still seems to pursuing their request and have for first time is planing to induct HAL developed LCH Attack helicopters ,army has only operated transport helicopter fleet and usage of attack helicopter is complete shift from their strategy , IAF is shown has the Prime user for LCH attack helicopter but HAL sources have already told media that Army accusation will be double that of IAF .

Navy is not left far behind with Acquisition of three aircraft carriers in next one decade , Navies own fleet of aircrafts is going to jump to more then 200 aircrafts , Indian navy has already planned to maintain 150 fighter jets for Land and carrier operations and will also be taking over its harbor and port security against enemy air attack from air force soon ,Navy is also keen to acquire DRDO developed AWACS into its force in near future and is also planning to acquire other surveillance aircrafts , Navy already operates UAV fleet of its own and its highly unlikely that Naval Versions of Pak-Fa/ AMCA / CUAV will be kept our of Navies reach in future .

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Six New-Generation Submarines for Indian Navy Worth Over Rs 50,000 crore

If you thought the Rs 42,000 crore project to procure 126 multi-role fighters for the IAF was the "mother of all defence deals", think again. The stage is now being set for an even bigger project—this one worth over Rs 50,000 crore for six new-generation submarines for the Indian Navy.

The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister A K Antony, has finally decided that three of the six submarines will be constructed at Mazagon Docks (MDL) in Mumbai and one at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, with the help of a foreign collaborator.
"The other two submarines will either be imported from the foreign vendor directly or constructed at a private shipyard in India. Fresh estimates show each of these six diesel-electric submarines will cost almost Rs 8,500 crore," a source said.

Under the programme—called Project-75 India (P-75I)—apart from stealth, land-attack capability and the ability to incorporate futuristic technologies, all the six new submarines will be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems to boost their operational capabilities.
Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries. With AIP systems, they can stay submerged for much longer periods, narrowing the gap with nuclear-powered submarines which can operate underwater for virtually unlimited periods.

The selection of the foreign collaborator for P-75I will, of course, take time because a RFP (request for proposal) will first have to be issued to submarine manufacturers like Rosoboronexport (Russian), DCNS/Armaris (French), HDW (German) and Navantia (Spain). Shortlisting and detailed technical and commercial negotiations will follow, before the actual contract can be inked.
Navy has reasons to be worried. By 2015 or so, it will be left with just half of its present fleet of 15 ageing diesel-electric submarines—10 Russian Kilo-class, four German HDW and one Foxtrot. Moreover, it has been hit hard by the almost three-year delay in the ongoing Project-75 for six French Scorpene submarines at MDL, under which the vessels were to roll out one per year from 2012 onwards, with price escalation pushing the total cost beyond Rs 20,000 crore, as was first reported by TOI.
For P-75I, the second line of submarines, the navy was keen on a private domestic shipyard to tie-up with the foreign vendor since it felt MDL was already "overloaded" with orders and quick delivery schedules were "critical".
But the DAC has decided otherwise, holding that the infrastructure and capabilities acquired by MDL in the Scorpene project could not be allowed to go waste. "Let’s hope thing go smoothly now, and instead of 10 years, the navy gets its first submarine under P-75I in six to seven years," an official said.
Submarines can be game-changers in any conflict. And if they are armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, they provide the most effective strategic deterrent available around the world at this point of time. The US and Russia, after strategic arms reduction pacts, in fact, plan to retain over 60% of their nuclear weapons in the shape of SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) fitted on nuclear-powered submarines called "boomers", or SSBNs.
Though India does not have nuclear submarines and SLBM capabilities at present to complete its "nuclear triad", it hopes to move forward by inducting the Akula-II class attack submarine K-152 Nerpa on a 10-year lease from Russia in October this year, and then the first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant by early-2012.
Pakistan, incidentally, already has its first Mesma AIP-equipped submarine, PNS Hamza, the third of the French Agosta-90B submarines it has inducted since 1999. It is now looking to induct three advanced Type-214 German submarines with AIP. China, in turn, has 62 submarines, with 10 of them being nuclear-propelled.
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