INDIA: Building a Modern Arsenal in India

[desiman]

India to have shipyard
The Indian government has decided to set up a new commercial shipyard on the eastern coast of India, through the joint venture (public-private partnership) route. The strategic partner from the private sector will be selected through a competitive bidding process.

The Indian government has given an in-principle approval for creating a new shipyard to make up for Hindustan Shipyard’s transfer, from Shipping Ministry to Defence ministry, to enable the Navy to build military vessels. Therefore, the new shipyard will be of international standard and will meet the merchant shipping requirements of shipbuilding and ship repair.
According to sources, the government is currently scouting for a location for the new shipyard in the east coast, and the venture will require a total investment of about $800 million. The Indian Defence ministry has plans to fund the unit and make it better-equipped for increased defence production.

This decision is a result of the Indian Defence Ministry’s plan to take over the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) in Vizag to use to build military vessels for the Indian Navy. This will significantly scale down the shipbuilding capacity in the public sector. Furthermore, a state-owned shipyard on the east coast is also imperative for India.

The transfer of the Hindustan shipyard Limited (HSL) to the Indian Defence Ministry has also been agreed upon by the Indian Shipping Ministry. According to Defence Ministry officials, HSL’s new role would be to build frigates, destroyers and submarines for the Indian Navy. The decline in the fleet of Indian Navy has led to the Indian government’s decision to build 100 warships over the next decade, and HSL will play a primary role in this exercise. HSL has already built around 150 ships and repaired over 1,800, as well as undertaking naval repairs since it was created.

 

[desiman]

KPMG Unveils Domestic Defence Industry Forecast
In a yet to be released study conducted by the global network of professional services firm, KPMG, and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), India’s premier Industry Association, the future of the Indian defence industry ,as well as the means to develop it, have been chalked out. “India needs to manage and fine-tune its policies, regulations, process and fiscal environment in order to ensure strong domestic growth and self-sufficiency”, the report stated.

The study indicates that the areas for focus will be the further development of the defence procurement process, the formulation of a defence industrialisation strategy to maximize the potential use of offsets, the transfer of technology, and the Foreign Direct Investment. As well as changes in the taxation regime and its incentives, the focus on the domestic, private and public defence industries is also needed. India has a complex tax regime and while tax laws make various exemptions and concessions applicable in the defence sector, these are restrictive and seldom defence-sector specific.
The study urges the government to consider further exemptions or concessions to the defence sector, the establishment of dedicated defence-specific SEZs, a tax equalisation subsidy linked to the value of goods and services supplied to the defence sector, and exemptions to offset JVs from Research and Development (R&D) Cess, etc.

The report has also stressed that the transfer of foreign technologies to India is essential to achieve self-sufficiency. At present, the receipt of technology assets under major procurements belongs exclusively to the defence public sector units (DPSUs). However, the report has stated that the Indian industry would instead like to see private sector companies competing with DPSUs for technology assets, and that technology assets should also be eligible for discharging offset obligations.

The report has also identified a support for extending the use of offset credit banking, allowing offset credit trading, and introducing the use of multipliers. The opinion on the introduction offsets seems divided due to the extent of the opportunity and limitations. The study has noted that the most debated issue of the raising of the FDI cap primarily rests on the transfer of foreign technologies and increasing investment.

It has been recommended that the government must ensure a level playing field between the DPSUs and private sector players. The study suggests that the DPSUs must be encouraged to focus on their core capabilities and strengths, and increase the quantum of ancillary business they outsource to the private sector and divestment of non-core capabilities. The greater role for a private sector is needed. The DPSUs continue to dominate domestic defence production and research & development facilities. The role of DPSUs and private sector companies needs to be appraised and aligned for better industry growth.

 

[desiman]

U.S. To Pitch Arms Sales of India During Gates Visit

U.S. defence secretary Robert Gates will visit New Delhi later this month to lobby for the sale of American weaponry though commercial and foreign military sale route, as well as boosting active engagement bilateral exercises between the defence forces of the two countries.

“On the top of his agenda is to put the sale of Javelin antitank guided missiles and ultra-light howitzers through a foreign military sales route.” said a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

Of late, New Delhi has made some reservation to The Pentagon about the rapid sale of military hardware from the United States to Pakistan; which India believes is Islamabad trying to reinforce its conventional capabilities against India.

“In addition, India does not want to be labelled as a sole arms market of American weaponry, as it has closed its military technical pact with Russia and defence cooperation with 45 other countries.” say sources in the Indian defence ministry.
Sources further pointed out that India has been victim to American military sanctions in the past, and that has somewhat blocked indigenous efforts in defence research and development.

In July last year, India and the United States had already decided to finalize a standard text for an end-use monitoring programme of military equipment that the US sells to India. Sources note that Washington now wants New Delhi to sign a Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and a Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). Currently India has strong reservations about CISMOA, but the LSA is under examination.

India has already contracted six Lockheed Martin-made C-130J Hercules aircraft for $1.1 billion, and six Boeing-made P8I maritime surveillance aircraft at a cost of $2.1 billion.

In addition, the two countries are also discussing the sale of Stryker ground-fighting vehicles. In November, the Indian Army issued requests for information to buy 100 armoured personnel carriers that can be transported in aircraft and by ships. The eight-wheeled Stryker all-terrain vehicles, made by General Dynamics, are estimated to cost upwards of $1.3 million each.

 

[ambidex]

India Launches $200M TECSAR Spy Satellite

Thanks for this^^ kind information.

Can you please tell me if India is planning to blast few more rockets into space positioning these spy satellite or only one is enough.

Thanks in advance.

 

[desiman]

Indian Spy Satellites

RISAT-2 and ANUSAT Successfully Placed On Orbit

In its fifteenth mission carried out from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota on April 20, 2009 ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C12) successfully placed two satellites - RISAT-2 and ANUSAT - in the desired orbit. RISAT-2 is a Radar Imaging Satellite with the capability to take images of the earth during day and night as well as cloudy conditions. At the time of launch, RISAT-2 weighed about 300 kg and was realised by ISRO in association with Israel Aerospace Industries. The satellite was placed in an orbit of 550 km height with an inclination of 41 deg to the equator and an orbital period of about 90 minutes. This satellite will enhance ISRO’s capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and in disaster management in a more effective way. Copyright © 2009 UPSC 2010 | UPSCPORTAL.COM - India's Largest Online Community for UPSC, IAS, Civil Services Aspirants.Syllabus, Exam, Toppers, Books, Chat.

The 44 metre tall PSLV-C12 weighing 230 ton was launched from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at SDSC SHAR in the Core Alone configuration without the use of six solid strap-ons. In this mission, in addition to RISAT-2, PSLV also carried A 40 kg micro satellite named ANUSAT, built by Anna University, Chennai. ANUSAT is the first experimental communication satellite built by an Indian University under the over all guidance of ISRO and will demonstrate the technologies related to message store and forward operations. In this flight, PSLV carried the indigenously developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced Telemetry System, which guided the vehicle from lift-off till the injection of the two satellites in the desired orbit.

The main payload, RISAT-2, was the first satellite to be separated in orbit at 1100 seconds after lift-off at an altitude of 550 km. With this successful launch, the versatility and the reliability of PSLV has been proved again underscoring its importance as the workhorse launch vehicle of India. This launch was the fourteenth consecutive success for PSLV. In these launches, PSLV has placed a total of sixteen Indian satellites and sixteen foreign satellites into Polar, Geosynchronous Transfer and Low Earth Orbits. It may be recalled that during its previous mission on October 22, 2008, PSLV had successfully launched Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which is now exploring the moon from lunar orbit.

FEATURES OF PSLV, RISAT-2 AND ANUSAT:
PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle employing both solid and liquid propulsion stages. PSLV is the trusted workhorse launch Vehicle of ISRO. During 1993-2008 period, PSLV had fourteen launches of which thirteen were consecutively successful. PSLV has repeatedly proved its reliability and versatility by launching 32 spacecrafts (16Indian and 16 for international customers) into a variety of orbits so far. It may be recalled that during its previous mission on October 22, 2008, PSLV had successfully launched Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which is now exploring the Moon from lunar orbit.

In its standard configuration, the 44 m tall PSLV has a lift-off mass of 295 tonne. It is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and the third stages as well as the six strap-ons surrounding the first stage using HTPB based solid propellant. PSLV’s first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in the world. Its second and fourth stages use liquid propellants. PSLV-C12 was launched without the six strapons in its ‘core alone’ configuration. PSLV-C12 weighs about 230 tonnes at lift off.

It may be recalled that PSLV in its core alone configuration had launched AGILE and TECSAR during 2007 and 2008 respectively. RISAT-2 is a Radar Imaging Satellite with all weather capability to take images of the earth. This Satellite will enhance ISRO’s capability for Disaster Management applications,ANUSAT (Anna University Satellite) is the first satellite built by an Indian University under the over all guidance of ISRO and will demonstrate the technologies related to message store and forward operations“Copyright

HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE:

The first artificial satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957, and initiating the Soviet Sputnik program, with Sergei Korolev as chief designer and Kerim Kerimov as his assistant. This in turn triggered the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Sputnik 1 helped to identify the density of high atmospheric layers through measurement of its orbital change and provided data on radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere. Because the satellite's body was filled with pressurized nitrogen, Sputnik 1 also provided the first opportunity for meteoroid detection, as a loss of internal pressure due to meteoroid penetration of the outer surface would have been evident in the temperature data sent back to Earth. The unanticipated announcement of Sputnik 1's success precipitated the Sputnik crisis in the United States and ignited the so-called Space Race within the Cold War.Sputnik 2 was launched on November 3, 1957 and carried the first living passenger into orbit, a dog named Laika.

In May, 1946, Project RAND had released the Preliminary Design of a Experimental World-Circling Spaceship, which stated, "A satellite vehicle with appropriate instrumentation can be expected to be one of the most potent scientific tools of the Twentieth Century. The United States had been considering launching orbital satellites since 1945 under the Bureau of Aeronautics of the United States Navy.

The United States Air Force's Project RAND eventually released the above report, but did not believe that the satellite was a potential military weapon; rather, they considered it to be a tool for science, politics, and propaganda. In 1954, the Secretary of Defense stated, "I know of no American satellite program." On July 29, 1955, the White House announced that the U.S. intended to launch satellites by the spring of 1958. This became known as Project Vanguard. On July 31, the Soviets announced that they intended to launch a satellite by the fall of 1957.

Following pressure by the American Rocket Society, the National Science Foundation, and the International Geophysical Year, military interest picked up and in early 1955 the Air Force and Navy were working on Project Orbiter, which involved using a Jupiter C rocket to launch a satellite.

The project succeeded, and Explorer 1 became the United States' first satellite on January 31, 1958. In June 1961, three-and-a-half years after the launch of Sputnik 1, the Air Force used resources of the United States Space Surveillance Network to catalog 115 Earth-orbiting satellites. The largest artificial satellite currently orbiting the Earth is the International Space Station.

TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE:

Anti-Satellite weapons/"Killer Satellites" are satellites that are armed, designed to take out enemy warheads, satellites, other space assets. They may have particle weapons, energy weapons, kinetic weapons, nuclear and/or conventional missiles and/or a combination of these weapons. Astronomical satellites are satellites used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.

Biosatellites are satellites designed to carry living organisms, generally for scientific experimentation.
Communications satellites are satellites stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. Modern communications satellites typically use geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or Low Earth orbits.

Miniaturized satellites are satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes. New classifications are used to categorize these satellites: minisatellite (500–200 kg), microsatellite (below 200 kg), nanosatellite (below 10 kg).

Navigational satellites are satellites which use radio time signals transmitted to enable mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location. The relatively clear line of sight between the satellites and receivers on the ground, combined with ever-improving electronics, allows satellite navigation systems to measure location to accuracies on the order of a few meters in real time.

Reconnaissance satellites are Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Little is known about the full power of these satellites, as governments who operate them usually keep information pertaining to their reconnaissance satellites classified.

Earth observation satellites are satellites intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc.

Space stations are man-made structures that are designed for human beings to live on in outer space. A space station is distinguished from other manned spacecraft by its lack of major propulsion or landing facilities — instead, other vehicles are used as transport to and from the station. Space stations are designed for medium-term living in orbit, for periods of weeks, months, or even years.

Tether satellites are satellites which are connected to another satellite by a thin cable called a tether.
Weather satellites are primarily used to monitor Earth's weather and climate.

 

[desiman]

Thanks for this^^ kind information.

Can you please tell me if India is planning to blast few more rockets into space positioning these spy satellite or only one is enough.

Thanks in advance.

India Building A Military Satellite Reconnaissance System

India is building up a satellite-based Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance System that will become operational by 2007, allowing it to keep watch on developments in its area. “The program is in the advanced stages of development and is planned to be operational by 2007,” Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Parliament recently.
The system was to be operational by 2005, but the defense minister said validation of technologies had taken more time than anticipated. While India’s procurement system has a reputation for being very risk-averse and missing deadlines most of the time, this sort of issue is not uncommon in American satellite programs either.
India has not launched any explicitly military satellites to date and the government remains tight-lipped, but experts believe the country has several options…

Civilian Stealth

First off, it’s important to note that these developments are not entirely a surprise.
An Indian government adviser hinted in 2002 at a new military satellite in the early stages of development, to be built by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from the launch facilitaites in French Guyana or Sritharikota Island.
At the time, sources in ISRO noted that it is not mandated to launch military satellites, unless there is a directive from the government or a major shift in the policy laid down when ISRO was set up in 1972.
In practice, however, this has not been an issue.
One reason is that ISRO’s activities have not always been entirely civilian. In May 1992, for instance, the U.S. Department of State imposed trade sanctions against ISRO for its missile proliferation activities in India.

Another reason is that several of India’s current civilian satellites have resolutions that would make them acceptable spy satellites.
ISRO launched the 1-meter resolution Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) in 2001, making it the only civilian space agency to possess this technology besides the American, privately owned Ikonos satellite. Although at the time of the launch former chairman of ISRO K. Kasturirangan said that the satellite was meant for “civilian use consistent with our security concerns,” it went on to successfully relay high-quality images of the war in Afghanistan and of Pakistani troop movements along the border.

Notes that 1-meter resolution means TES can distinguish objects and details on Earth as small as one square meter (about three feet square) To put that in vernacular terms: You can count the cars in a parking lot, and tell which are pickups and sedans, but it isn’t good enough to distinguish individual people or read automobile license plates.

India successfully launched Resourcesat-1 (IRS-P6) on October 17, 2003, which is considered their most sophisticated remote sensing satellite to date. Its maximum resolution is approximately 6 meters. On May 7, 2005, ISRO went on to launch the 2.5-meter resolution Cartosat-1 satellite, which has “two cameras able to point at an object from two different angles.” Cartosat-2 will have an expected 1-meter resolution and a 120 GB storage capacity for captured images, and is scheduled for launch at the end of 2005.
Officially, the Cartosat platforms will be used for cartographic purposes, as well as urban and rural development. Unofficially, they are effectively dual-use even though theyfall short of the 10-15cm (4”-6”) capabilities of the best military satellites today.

Integration: The Secret Weapon

One good way to leverage all of this work would be to build a facility to collect input from these diverse platforms, integrate it with other sensors and information, and display it for analysis and monitoring. This could provide a strong surveillance capability just by combining existing “civilian” assets already in place.
Alternatively, ISRO may indeed be preparing a military-quality high resolution satellite for launch. Even in this eventuality, however, a complementary integrated ground system may offer India the best option for immediate growth in their Satellite Reconnaissance and Surveillance (SRS) system’s overall capabilities.

The Israeli Option

Another option for India is to include elements of foreign cooperation in its system.
Israel has been considering an Indian offer to lease the Israeli Ofek-5 military remote-sensing satellite since September 2003. Israel’s Defense Ministry reportedly offered India the services of the dual-use 1.8-meter resolution Eros-A remote-sensing satellite in December 2003, but an agreement for the Ofek-5 (which is believed to have resolution below 1-meter) would allow India to obtain superior images.
Satellite Trends
India’s recent ambitions aren’t an isolated case. Rather, they’re outgrowths of global trends with implications for the USA.
Both satellite surveillance capabilities and electronic networking and synthesis of this information are the products of falling technology threshholds, with the computing element falling fastest. As Wulf von Kries notes:
“The French Spot system, although established as a civilian enterprise, from the outset was also planned to serve as a testbed for a later military system, i.e. Helios which came into being in 1995. Not surprisingly, therefore, both systems have a number of commonalities, e.g. the spacecraft “bus” and certain subsystems such as the data recorders. From a broader point of view it is interesting to note that the current civilian Spot system in terms of performance is equivalent to earlier US reconnaissance satellites, and that the first generation military Helios system will be matched by the planned commercial high-resolution US systems.”
Note, too, the U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency contract to Space Imaging for exclusive rights to all commercial Ikonos satellite imagery of conflict areas in Central Asia following 9/11, in a $1.9-million per month deal that had indefinite renewal options.
Buying up available capacity may work now, but increasing numbers of commercial and national “civilian” satellites with high-resolution capabilities will eventually render this option much less useful.
India’s progress is simply the early bellwether.

India: Into the Future

Though ISRO and DRDO officials were tightlipped about the project, Indian experts have said the set up of extensive ground-based surveillance and coordination systems, hooked up to India’s remote sensing satellites, would enable the country to keep a watch on all explosive spots, missile silos, any movements in the neighborhood, as well as sudden military build-ups.
Despite its limited resources, India has and is continuing to develop a broad-based space program with indigenous launch vehicles, satellites, control facilities, and data processing.
It would seem that the country may be ready to take the next step.

 

[desiman]

Indian spy satellite can see number plates of cars

New Delhi, April 22, 2009: Indian spy satellite launched two days ago can see even number plates of cars. This is a great achievement for a nation that has seen terrorist attacks very frequently. By using the satellite fully India may be able to foil attacks like Mumbai in future. RISAT-2 has been developed by India’s premier space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with Israel. India had launched a similar Israeli satellite last year to keep an eye on its Arab neighbors and Iran.

For ISRO and India the launch of RISAT-2 is a big achievement. ISRO had a very humble beginning. It was in fact close ties with the Soviet Union in early seventies and eighties that enabled ISRO to rapidly develop the Indian space program and advance nuclear power in India even after the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. The death of Homi Bhabha in an air crash on January 24, 1966 came as a blow to the Indian space program. Following Bhabha's passing, Sarabhai was sent to assume Bhabha's place as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. The 1960s also saw the founding of the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC), Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES, 1967), the Sriharikota base, and the Indian Satellite System Project (ISSP).[6] The Indian Space Research Organization in its modern form was created by Vikarm Sarabhai in 1969.[6] This body was to take control of all space activities in the Republic of India.

The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national tasks. The Indian space program was driven by the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, considered as the father of Indian Space Programme. As stated by him:

 

[desiman]

Pak will do everything to get own version of India’s spy satellite: Experts

With India launching its first spy satellite, RISAT-2, to keep an eye on all activities along Pakistan border, experts believe that Pakistan too would initiate a programme to counter the Indian move.

Experts are of the view that Pakistan would not remain insensitive over the issue and would soon follow India to boost its surveillance potential.

“Now with India taking the lead Pakistan would also expedite efforts to counter the Indian programme as soon as possible”, The Nation quoted a defense analyst, as saying.

According to sources, Pakistan Government has taken serious note of the developments and is preparing to balance out the situation in any circumstances.

Sources added that Islamabad is in the process of acquiring satellite launch vehicle technology, and may launch indigenous satellite in year or two.

Experts feel that the issue could further damage the already estranged relations of both the neighbouring countries.

“Since both the South Asian nuclear neighbours, India and Pakistan, always had tense relations because of Kashmir dispute, this development would add new dimension to their already estranged relations”, a defense expert said.

Pakistan has been working on space research programme from late 80’s. It had also launched two satellites, Badar-1 and Badar-2, on an experiment basis with help from one of the Central Asian country. (ANI)

 

[Veer]

'IAF to deploy some multi-role fighters in Eastern sector'
Last Updated: Jan 08, 2010

SHILLONG (PTI): The Indian Air Force has indicated that the ageing fleet of its fighter planes is a matter of concern and hopes that the massive deal to purchase the 126 multi-role combat aircraft would come through.

“A number of older generation aircraft like MiG-21 are operating since early sixties. We have problems with the ageing fleets and their maintenance,” Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Air Force's (IAF) Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Kishan Kumar Nohwar told a press conference here Thursday.

The Soviet-era MiG 21 fighters have been in operation in the IAF since 1963 and have been involved in a spate of crashes in recent years.

Under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme, IAF plans to induct 126 fighter aircraft at an estimated cost of $12 billion. Currently, trials are being conducted with aircraft of six manufacturers vying for the deal.

Once the deal is through, the IAF would deploy some of the squadrons in the Eastern sector which currently bases Sukhoi fighters, Nohwar said.

He said when a country has newer aircraft, the percentage of share of human error is more than technical defect. “Presently, the ratio is tilted more towards technical defects,” he said in the backdrop of frequent fighter jet crashes in recent times.

Nohwar said it was to the credit of IAF that the ageing aircraft, particularly MiG-21s, were being maintained in “flight-worthy condition and were ready to face challenge”.

“We have the technical capability to thwart any attack from any quarter. The old fleets are being replaced with newer aircraft,” he said.

 

[desiman]

IAF & Omani Jaguars Tango At Exercise Eastern Bridge

They still look amazing

 

[desiman]

US Soldiers Get Acquainted With The Dhruv Helicopter

 

[desiman]

Indian Army Fires Javelin ATGM

Under the instruction of a US soldier assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, "Strykehorse," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, an Indian Army soldier assigned to the 31st Armored Division fires a Javelin missile on October 24 as part of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 09. This is the first time an Indian army soldier has fired the Javelin weapon system. India is currently also evaluating the missile system for a potential buy.

 

[desiman]

India 'to remain top buyer of Russian combat aircraft until 2015'

April 20, 2009, Moscow -- India will remain the main purchaser of Russian-made combat aircraft for the next 15 years under existing and prospective contracts, a respected Russian think tank has said.

In its report, The Forecast for Combat Aircraft Deliveries to India, the Center for Analysis and Technologies outlined the prospects for Russian-Indian cooperation in the sphere of combat aircraft until 2015.

The report predicts that India will buy up to 90 Su-30MKI fighters under existing contracts and may also purchase additional Su-30 or modernized MiG-29K aircraft.

Russia's MiG-35 Fulcrum is also participating in the current $10.6-billion tender to supply 126 multirole fighters to the Indian air force.

Russian experts believe that the MiG-35 has an excellent chance of winning the tender because the Russian aircraft has superb performance characteristics and Russia and India share a long-standing partnership in strategic and military-technical cooperation.

In addition, Russia signed in March last year a contract with the Indian Defense Ministry to upgrade around 70 MiG-29 fighters, in service since the 1980s, and agreed to develop a fifth-generation fighter together with India.

India desperately needs to upgrade its fighter fleet, which includes Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, but mainly consists of obsolete Russian MiG-21 models.

 

[desiman]

Nishant UAV Powered By Indigenous Wankel Rotary Engine Takes Flight

The first ever indigenous Wankel Rotary engine, powering Nishant, the Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV), took off from a World War II abandoned runway near a village eight kilometres from Kolar in Karnataka. The maiden flight of the indigenous Wankel engine of a UAV, which took off yesterday morning, climbed to an altitude of 1.8 km effortlessly before cruising for 35 minutes.

The air vehicle was recovered safely at the intended place at a dried-up lake after a total flight duration of 40 minutes, a defence press release said here today. The event signifies achievements in many categories: It is the first time that a Wankel engine has been developed within the country and UAV flown with an indigenous engine.

The engine, a Wankel Rotary type, was a developmental project, which originated at the DRDO through VRDE, Ahmednagar, and was jointly designed and developed by NAL, a CSIR laboratory, VRDE, Ahmednagar, and ADE, Bangalore, it said. The Wankel engine is the first of its kind that was totally designed and developed in the country. Very few countries in the world have the capability to develop and master this technology, the release said.

This indigenous engine is expected to replace the present imported engine for Nishant.

Wikipedia: DRDO Nishant
The DRDO Nishant is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by India's ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) a branch of DRDO for the Indian Armed Forces. The Nishant UAV is primarily tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory and also for recce, surveillance, target designation, artillery fire correction, damage assessment, ELINT and SIGINT. The UAV has an Endurance of 4 hrs & 30min. Nishant has completed development Phase and User trials.

The 380 kg Nishant UAV requires rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher and recovered by a Parachute System. Launches at a velocity of 45 m/s are carried out in 0.6 seconds with 100 kW power and subsequent launches can be carried out in intervals of 20 minutes. The Mobile Hydro-Pneumatic Launcher (MHPL) system mounted on a Tatra truck weighs 14,000 kg and boasts of a life cycle of 1000 launches before requiring overhaul.

Nishant is one of the few UAVs in the world in its weight-class capable of being catapult-launched and recovered by using parachute, thus eliminating the need for a runway as in case of conventional take-off and landing with wheels.

 

[desiman]

Airbus A330 MRTT May Win USD 1.3 billion Indian Air Force Contract

Airbus is set to win contract to deliver six Airbus A-330 multi role tanker transports to the Indian Air Force in a deal worth estimated to be USD 1.3 billion.

Senior Defence Ministry officials confirmed that a 1-billion euro contract for six Airbus A-330 multi-role tanker-transports is close to being finalised. This despite the makers of the Russian IL-78 tanker, six of which the IAF has in service, offering a lower bid.

The Airbus A330 MRTT is being actively operated by up to five countries including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom.

The IAF chose Airbus for its larger fuel load and its dual transport capability. This decision has a bearing on the world's largest defence contract—the IAF's acquisition of 126 medium-range fighter aircraft worth over $10 billion where Russia's MiG-35 is a low-cost option.