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EXCLUSIVE: LOCKHEED MARTIN IS IN TALKS WITH NAVY FOR AEGIS AIR-TO-AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM

Lockheed Martin is in talks with the Navy for Aegis air-to-air defence system and with the BSF for the Hellfire missile system
Lockheed Martin, set up shop in India in 2008 and has won bids from the Air Force and the Navy. During a recent visit to Bengaluru, Phil Shaw, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin India Pvt. Ltd. spoke about the company’s plans.

Edited excerpts:

How has been Lockheed Martin's journey in India so far?

We are very pleased with our experience in India in the last ten years. We have got a very successful transport aircraft, the C-130 J Hercules, to service the Air Force. Six are in service and six more on order. As part of the Boeing Apache attack helicopter , we provide a large part of the machine capability to its fire control and weapon systems.

Our joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd has been making both for the C-130 aricraft and the helicopters for the last six or seven years in Hyderabad. Now that we [the parent company] have acquired Sikorsky, we also make for its helicopters and have essentially doubled our footprint in India. The Hyderabad facility is our sole supplier worldwide of the C-130J tail and the S-92B helicopter cabins. Every C130 aircraft or S-92 helicopter that we sell around the world has this component manufactured in India.

Recently the government revised the foreign direct investment norms . The talk in this context is that Lockheed will bring its F-16 fighter production unit to India. Do you concur?

The offer of F-16s has been made by the U.S. government to the Government of India. We are certainly very excited by the offer and very supportive of it. We would look to bring a lot of manufacturing capability into India if selected. We think it is a very strong `make in India' story to bring a production line such as F-16 with all that entails the ecosystem that will build around it.

When would it happen if it came through?

It really is a government-to-government discussions. I am not in a position to say anything about it.

Are joint ventures your strategy? Who are you in discussions with?

We are typically trying to partner a local company as it gives us confidence to do a lot more in India. But all of our activity won't be with one company. We are always talking with many public and private sector industries on various programmes and capabilities. I wouldn't name any particular company or sector.

What has been your investment here so far, including the Tata venture? What would it be in future? How does the revised norm on 100 per cent FDI make a difference to your plans here?

We do not typically provide that. What I can tell you is, as a result of the investments we have made, there are about 1,000 trained and highly skilled aeronautical engineers in Hyderabad who are of a [desirably productive] average age of 24 years. And beyond that there are people who provide and support that industry. And we would love to do a lot more.

On the FDI question, I am not allowed to comment. Just that coupled with the ease of doing business it is helpful to future investments. But I wouldn’t say if it has affected something here and now. As for future investments, Lockheed would look at each case on its merit before deciding how much investment is required to satisfy the business plans.

Do you plan to increase the number of recruits?

It would most definitely increase if we are successful with some of these programmes.

Would you expand beyond Hyderabad? At aerospace city Bengaluru, for instance, where large public sector defence companies are present?

We wouldn't be concentrated in one spot. Here too, as in the U.S., we would be keen to see investments in multiple states as projects develop. That would also depend on our partner.

We are looking at other states that are developing aerospace and defence policies and which wish to attract A&D companies; and at the infrastructure there.

And there are some areas outside of the military, such as cyber security, renewable energy and smart cities

Obviously we are in discussions with HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd], too, as one aeronautical company with another.

Which specific projects and opportunities are you looking at here?

With C130, hopefully there are some future possibilities. A good opportunity is with helicopters on the military and security side. The Indian Navy's Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) programme has multiple platforms. The Navy has selected the S-70B Sea Hawks for anti-submarine warfare. [Pending the ongoing cost negotiations] we hope to close the offer in a few months. We hope to supply 16 of these to the Navy with an option for eight more to replace the older Sea Kings.

There could be a future Navy MRH programme for additional anti-submarine and utility helicopters.The civil side is probably underdeveloped with a potential to grow.

We are very keen to support that with Sikorsky helicopters that are partly built here. We are talking with the Navy for Aegis air-to-air defence system; with the BSF for the Hellfire missile system that comes with the Apache helicopters;

On the land side, the Javelin anti-tank guided missile is offered through the Defence Trade & Technology Initiative between the two governments for co-development and co-production with Indian industry.

We have collaborated with Ashok Leyland for the design of a [Army] vehicle technology. We have partnered with VEM Technologies in Hyderabad on the vehicle or ship-mounted Gyros combat systems. Some of it can be co-produced here at some point.

http://www.thehindu.com/business/interview-with-phil-shaw-ceo-of-lockheed-martin/article8804292.ece
 
Indian authorities have again stalled a bid by French naval shipbuilder DCNS to invest in establishing a company in India to develop and produce air independent propulsion systems (AIP) for submarines.

New Delhi's Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) said in a notice on 6 July that it has deferred judgment on the DCNS proposal, although it gave no explanation for the delay. It is the FIPB's second deferral of the proposal: the first was announced in mid-May.

In its notice, the FIPB said the investment proposal features a bid by DCNS to set up a company in India to undertake "design and industrialisation studies, research and development activities, and manufacturing and maintenance in relation to air independent propulsion systems for submarines".

http://www.janes.com/article/62055/...s=1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
 
Indian authorities have again stalled a bid by French naval shipbuilder DCNS to invest in establishing a company in India to develop and produce air independent propulsion systems (AIP) for submarines.

New Delhi's Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) said in a notice on 6 July that it has deferred judgment on the DCNS proposal, although it gave no explanation for the delay. It is the FIPB's second deferral of the proposal: the first was announced in mid-May.

In its notice, the FIPB said the investment proposal features a bid by DCNS to set up a company in India to undertake "design and industrialisation studies, research and development activities, and manufacturing and maintenance in relation to air independent propulsion systems for submarines".

http://www.janes.com/article/62055/...s=1&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Stick to our Desi AIP Fuel Cell.
 
INDIA TO LEASE ONE MORE AKULA-CLASS NUCLEAR SUB FROM RUSSIAN NAVY

MOSCOW — In 2010, India began a 10-year lease of the nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine Nerpa. After joining India's Navy, the submarine was renamed to INS Chakra.
"India agreed to lease a project 971 submarine which will be withdrawn from the Russian Navy," the source told Kommersant newspaper.
Akula-class submarines feature very low acoustic signatures and can carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and a range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) in addition to anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.


http://sputniknews.com/military/20160712/1042804814/russian-navy-akula-sub.html
 
INDIA TO LEASE ONE MORE AKULA-CLASS NUCLEAR SUB FROM RUSSIAN NAVY

MOSCOW — In 2010, India began a 10-year lease of the nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine Nerpa. After joining India's Navy, the submarine was renamed to INS Chakra.
"India agreed to lease a project 971 submarine which will be withdrawn from the Russian Navy," the source told Kommersant newspaper.
Akula-class submarines feature very low acoustic signatures and can carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and a range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) in addition to anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.


http://sputniknews.com/military/20160712/1042804814/russian-navy-akula-sub.html
Is this Serious? Never liked the term "citing a source in the military"
 
Chief of the Naval Staff commissions INS karna - Marine Commandos get a new Base at Visakhapatnam

Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff commissioned the Marine Commandos Unit as ‘INS Karna’ in a solemn ceremony held at the Naval Base at Bheemunipatanam today, 12 July 2016. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command and senior naval dignitaries were also present on the occasion. The Marine Commando Force (MCF), also called as the ‘MARCOS’, was raised in February 1987 as the Indian Marine Special Force (IMSF), capable of operating in all three dimensions, at sea, in air and on land.


The event commenced with an impressive parade which was reviewed by the Chief of the Naval Staff. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command addressed the gathering which was followed by reading out of the Commissioning Warrant by Commanding Officer(Designate), Captain Varun Singh, SC. The ceremony was solemnised by an invocation in Sanskrit. Smt Reena Lanba, wife of Admiral Sunil Lanba, unveiled the Commissioning Plaque and named the Special Forces Unit as ‘INS Karna’. This was followed by hoisting of the Naval Ensign and playing of the National Anthem, in accordance with the time honoured customs and traditions of the Indian Navy.


Conveying his best wishes to the newly commissioned unit, the Chief of the Naval Staff said that MARCOS have established themselves as Special Operations Force of international repute in a short span and have won well deserved gallantry awards for their acts of courage and valour. He further added that the MARCOS proved their excellence wherever they have been deployed in various operations. Over the years, the Special Force has conducted numerous independent missions of direct action, reconnaissance and surveillance, and recovery operations.


Admiral Lanba emphasised the need to for all Marine Commandos to keep their “steel sharp and powder dry” as they would be the first into the battle and the need to be ‘Mission Ready and a Winner’ always. As the roles and responsibilities of the Indian Navy have expanded in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, Special Operations Force would be required to be deployed in future combat at the strategic and operational level, said the Admiral.


The commissioning of INS Karna, has added a new base to the Special Forces of the Indian Navy as they deploy to safeguard our nation’s vast maritime interests.
 
What happened to the Marine Expeditionary Force India was supposed to have ? I believe we saw some pictures of a batallion being set up in the last 2- years.

@PARIKRAMA @Abingdonboy @Capt.Popeye
It is a long term effort, don't expect any real results before 2025 and consider the fact the IN has pushed their LHD/LPD producrement down their priority list and they won't be in service before 2025.
 
Yet-to-be-resolved procurement decisions include those concerning the upgrade of the IN’s Sea King Mk.42B and Kamov Ka-28PL ASW helicopters, procurement of 16 ten-tonne shipborne NMRHs, procurement of 16 shallow water ASW vessels, procurement of eight GRP-hulled MCMVs, and the procurement of 15 mobile missile coastal batteries (MMCB) for defence of the coastline against attacks from the sea.

What is both absurd and surprising is that the DAC did not decide on whether to opt for a single design for both the NGMV and SW-ASW vessel requirements. While the IN will eventually acquire 12 NGMVs (to replace the existing 10 existing 477-tonne Project 1241RE guided-missile corvettes, of which the first five were acquired off-the-shelf from Russia between 1987 and 1991, while six were subsequently licence-built by Mazagon Docks Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd at a unit cost of US$35 million), the 16 SW-ASW vessels with heli-decks are meant to be a new capability accretion. The IN has specified that the range of the NGMV should be not less than 2,800nm at sustained economical speed and 1,000mm at maximum speed. Max speed of the NGMV, according to the IN, should not be less than 35 Knots, while the maximum sustained speed should not be less than 25 Knots. In addition, the NGMV must carry a minimum of 8 cruise missiles, while for air-defence, the vessel should be fitted with a SR-SAM-type point-defence missile system (PDMS) for providing credible near-360-degree anti-missile defence coverage. The PDMS should also be able to engage sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles with a maximum speed of Mach 3. In addition, a remotely-controlled, 15km-range 76/62 main gun within a stealthy, faceted turret and using both radar and optronic fire-control systems is also required, as is a close-in weapon system (CIWS) using similar fire-control systems for low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO). Also specified is a countermeasures dispensing system that should be capable of firing chaff in all-round direction in distraction, seduction and centroid modes. The IN will also in future install active-kill anti-torpedo systems.

For the SW-ASW vessel requirement, the same hull design of the NGMV can easily be used, with the only difference being the absence of cruise missiles on the former, which in turn creates the space for accommodating a light twin-engined helicopter or a VTOL UAV, plus remote-controlled autonomous surface or underwater surveillance vehicles equipped with acoustic sensors. In addition, there is scope for both types of vessels being equipped with identical integrated masts, PDMS and CIWS suites.

When it comes to cruise missiles for the NGMVs and the MMCBs, two indigenous vertically-launched options are available. The first is the projected BrahMos-NG, while the second is an anti-ship cruise missile version of the Nirbhay LACM. Both these missiles will in future house an indigenous X-band monopulse imaging seeker that can use different target recognition algorithms for attacking both hostile warships at sea, as well as static installations on land.

http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2016/06/thats-airpower-for-you-2.html

I'm so bumbed that we still don't have a standard PDMS and universal VLS. maitri SAM quard packed in a UVLS would have been great. 8-)

@Penguin What will be the tonnage if NGMV and SW-ASW choose to be one design ?
 
Yet-to-be-resolved procurement decisions include those concerning the upgrade of the IN’s Sea King Mk.42B and Kamov Ka-28PL ASW helicopters, procurement of 16 ten-tonne shipborne NMRHs, procurement of 16 shallow water ASW vessels, procurement of eight GRP-hulled MCMVs, and the procurement of 15 mobile missile coastal batteries (MMCB) for defence of the coastline against attacks from the sea.

What is both absurd and surprising is that the DAC did not decide on whether to opt for a single design for both the NGMV and SW-ASW vessel requirements. While the IN will eventually acquire 12 NGMVs (to replace the existing 10 existing 477-tonne Project 1241RE guided-missile corvettes, of which the first five were acquired off-the-shelf from Russia between 1987 and 1991, while six were subsequently licence-built by Mazagon Docks Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd at a unit cost of US$35 million), the 16 SW-ASW vessels with heli-decks are meant to be a new capability accretion. The IN has specified that the range of the NGMV should be not less than 2,800nm at sustained economical speed and 1,000mm at maximum speed. Max speed of the NGMV, according to the IN, should not be less than 35 Knots, while the maximum sustained speed should not be less than 25 Knots. In addition, the NGMV must carry a minimum of 8 cruise missiles, while for air-defence, the vessel should be fitted with a SR-SAM-type point-defence missile system (PDMS) for providing credible near-360-degree anti-missile defence coverage. The PDMS should also be able to engage sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles with a maximum speed of Mach 3. In addition, a remotely-controlled, 15km-range 76/62 main gun within a stealthy, faceted turret and using both radar and optronic fire-control systems is also required, as is a close-in weapon system (CIWS) using similar fire-control systems for low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO). Also specified is a countermeasures dispensing system that should be capable of firing chaff in all-round direction in distraction, seduction and centroid modes. The IN will also in future install active-kill anti-torpedo systems.

For the SW-ASW vessel requirement, the same hull design of the NGMV can easily be used, with the only difference being the absence of cruise missiles on the former, which in turn creates the space for accommodating a light twin-engined helicopter or a VTOL UAV, plus remote-controlled autonomous surface or underwater surveillance vehicles equipped with acoustic sensors. In addition, there is scope for both types of vessels being equipped with identical integrated masts, PDMS and CIWS suites.

When it comes to cruise missiles for the NGMVs and the MMCBs, two indigenous vertically-launched options are available. The first is the projected BrahMos-NG, while the second is an anti-ship cruise missile version of the Nirbhay LACM. Both these missiles will in future house an indigenous X-band monopulse imaging seeker that can use different target recognition algorithms for attacking both hostile warships at sea, as well as static installations on land.

http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2016/06/thats-airpower-for-you-2.html

I'm so bumbed that we still don't have a standard PDMS and universal VLS. maitri SAM quard packed in a UVLS would have been great. 8-)

@Penguin What will be the tonnage if NGMV and SW-ASW choose to be one design ?
Isn't design for ASW Shallow Water Craft already finalised & awarded contract to GRSE?
Specifications
Length: 70 metres (230 ft)
Beam: 10.2 metres (33 ft)
Draught: 2.7 metres (8.9 ft)
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h)+
Range: 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement: 7O 50S
EOI by GRSE
I think such vessel can't be used for NGMV as this is too small.
 
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