INDIA: Building a Modern Arsenal in India

[rubyjackass]

breaking news indian army is ready to recruit me

c0ngrats dude. as what?

 

[i am your fear]

India will receive another Israeli-made Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) on Thursday, giving it the second 'eye in the sky' for enhanced surveillance that would virtually cover the entire nation.

The second AWACS will arrive in Jamnagar in Gujarat and will be deployed in Agra, IAF officials said here today.

With the arrival of the second AWACS, officials said the IAF can keep an eye on both the eastern and western front at the same time.

"After the induction of the third system, we would be able to virtually cover the whole nation at one go," they added.

The system, primarily used for detection of incoming hostile cruise missiles and aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away, can also direct air defence fighters during combat operations against enemy jets. It also helps detect troop build up across the borders

 

[1nd1a]

Arjun In Present Form Can Never Be Our MBT

I don't think any results of trials have been as closely guarded as the ones of the Arjun tank in the Thar desert straddling this month and the last, and which ended a little over a week ago. And while the trial team's report will only be submitted in the first week of next month, I had a candid chat with an Army officer who was part of one of the trial teams, and I have to admit he's the first Army tankman I've spoken to so far who's admitted that the Army is as much to blame for the Arjun's "situation" (his word) as DRDO. I can't go into everything he said, because he's requested me not to get into the details until the trial report is in, but here's a gist of what he thinks. Remember, these's aren't facts, but a considered assessment of an officer who was part of the latest trial exercise. A lot of what he said was obvious -- stuff that's been guessed at for years, so I'll put what he said on the table -- make what you will of it. Here's a list of some of the things he shared with me:

*
"The Arjun performed all its objectives to the full satisfaction of the trial team. I should point out that there was little doubt in our minds at this stage that any major issues would crop up in the platform. The Arjun has reached a level of maturity after several trial rounds, so we were quite confident that we would not encounter any developmental or serious technological issues."
*
"In its current form and configuration, I think the Army has already made it very clear that the Arjun cannot be the mainstay of the armoured corps. There are several reasons for this, including some intangibles which everyone is aware of, but to be fair to the Army, there is logic to the argument that the Arjun belongs to a certain design and configuration philosophy that the Army does not want in its future tank. These trials have given deep perspective into where the Arjun fits in our battle order."
*
"Although it is not definite at this stage, and may change in the course of the days ahead, several key decision-makers in the Army have in-principle agreed to the suggestion that the Arjun in its present form can occupy four tank regiments. But there is resistance to this idea from the field. The just concluded trials could support the possibility of a total of four Arjun regiments focused on desert operations."
*
"The Army should share the blame also for not expediting its requirements for a future main battle tank (FMBT). There have been internal studies for years, but to this day, there is no definite picture of what our FMBT should have, look like or be capable of. So when the people at DRDO blame us for indecision and mid-stream QR changes, they do seem to have a case. As they did with Arjun."
*
"The Army is quite clear. We need to close one chapter and begin another. Call it Mark-2, call it something else. But things need to move forward. It is unhealthy how things have progressed, though I can say in the last three years there appears to be a much greater empathy between the Army and DRDO about how to take things forward. Let's hope it continues."
*
"Admittedly, the trials may not go a long way in resurrecting Arjun as some quarters have been led to believe, but it has been a healthy exercise and the Army is in a strong position now to use the Arjun to the best of its abilities. The tank has been given its due."

 

[1nd1a]

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor versus Sukhoi T50 PAK-FA

 

[1nd1a]

Another one

 

[1nd1a]

Stealth Frigate INS Shivalik to get commissioned in April



25 Mar 2010: The Indian Navy is set to induct the indigenously built new class of frigate, INS Shivalik, in April this year after a five year delay. The Shivalik class frigate is being built by government owned - Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL) as part of the Project 17, under which the government has planned to build 12 such ships.

As of now the Indian navy has three Talwar-class stealth frigates brought from Russia. However, the induction INS Shivalik will enhance the attack and deterrent capabilities of the multi-role force as the new frigate is not easily detected by the electronic sensors that the navies use to scan the ocean. It’s very shape evades detection by radar; it is engineered to give minimal infra-red (IR) emissions; and every piece of equipment on board, from engines to toilet flushes, are designed to work silently so that the ship cannot be heard by the enemy’s sonar and acoustic sensors. These features will allow the INS Shivalik to sneak up on the enemy, undetected, and destroy them with a range of high-tech weaponry at the disposal of its gunnery officers.

Work on two other Shivalik class frigates – INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri is also reported to progressing well at MDL and they are expected to be commissioned in early 2011 according to a naval source. The second batch of four more frigates is being planned and work is expected to commence soon.

The newly constructed ship is 142 metres long and weighs 4,800 tonnes. Powered by GE gas turbine engines (in 2009 there was controversy around U.S. giving permission for this but it got resolved in India's favour), the ship has the capability to travel at speeds in excess of 30 knots. The onboard weapon systems include Radar-guided Shtil missile system, two Barak-1 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) Missile System and Two AK-630 Rapid Fire Guns (PDMS), Eight Klub Vertical Launch System (VLS) missiles cruise missiles, with a range of almost 300 kilometres, RBU 6000 rocket launchers, total 24 barrels. Also, two onboard helicopters, with sonar’s and torpedoes. The main gun of the ship OtoMelara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) can fire up to 15-20kms.

The Union cabinet approved the navy’s so-called Project 17 to construct the 12 stealth frigates almost 13 years ago. The navy ordered the first three vessels in 1999 and the construction of INS Shivalik was launched in 2003, while INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri began in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

In June 2009, retired U.S. Admiral Galrahn had commented that India may have paid way too much for these frigates. His analysis is based on a comparison of similar international projects. When the first pictures of the frigate were released there was also comments on forums like Bharat Rakshak that the finish-quality of the ship may be poor and raised the debate of private vs public sector shipyards.

 

[rubyjackass]

^^^
I don't like the ship.

 

[desiman]

IAF to hold joint exercise with France and UK

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be holding joint exercises with French and UK air force’s this year to enhance its military and diplomatic ties with the two European nations. PTI reports that firstly, the 'Garud' series exercise with the French would be held in France in June and the 'Indradhanush' series with the British Royal Air Force would be held at the Kalaikunda air base in West Bengal in October.

The IAF is expected to field its most advanced combat aircraft, Russian made Su-30s, in the fourth edition of the ‘Garud’ exercise. The transport fleet will be represented by Il-76 aircrafts. Also taking part in the exercise will be the Il-78 mid-air-refueller.

The French side is expected to field its latest Rafale fighters and various versions of the Mirage-200 fighters. The IAF has been participating in joint exercises with several air forces across the globe at regular intervals. Prominent among these air forces are UK, French and US. The first Indo-French exercise was held in 2003 at the Gwalior air base and the second one was organised in France in 2005. The third was held at Kalaikunda air base in 2007. The IAF also participated in air exercises with UK in 2006 held at Agra. This was followed by another joint exercise in 2007 held in UK.

 

[suryanaidu]

^^^
I don't like the ship.

when it`s complited u will like it.........

 

[1nd1a]

India successfully tests N-capable Prithvi II, Dhanush missiles on 3/27/2010

India successfully tests N-capable Prithvi II, Dhanush missiles - India - The Times of India

 

[1nd1a]

Four MMRCA Contenders Fail Leh Trials!

It's the latest tidbit on India's $12-billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition that's doing the rounds (and it was first reported by The Hindu on Tuesday). Four of the contenders that underwent cold-weather evaluation trials at Leh didn't meet performance requirements. OK, major understatement. Four of the contenders bit dust in Leh. Read that again: four aircraft. That's huge. It's still unclear which part of the Leh test the four aircraft types failed at, though it is quite clear that it was either the switch off/on after landing, or the take-off with meaningful combat load at that altitude. The only thing that appears true is that four aircraft failed the trial -- it is totally anyone's guess which these are. Any want to hazard a try?.......

 

[1nd1a]

EXCLUSIVE: IAF Floats Tender For Six Amphibious Aircraft

I used to wonder why companies like Beriev were so regular at Indian air and defence shows, with bold displays of their Be-200. Obviously they were expecting this one. The Indian Air Force has floated a brand new tender this month for six amphibious aircraft for "search and rescue missions, inter-island communication, rapid response duties and reconnaissance of islands". The IAF has set down a preference for a twin turboprop craft with a range of at least 800-nm. The IAF has also said it wants an aircraft with a short take-off capability, a cruising speed of about 200 knots and state-of-the-art avionics and EW kit, including RWR/MAWS. The Bombardier 415 (photo) and the Be-200 appear to be among the very few purpose-built amphibians still being built.

 

[1nd1a]

Agni-1 short range ballistic missile successfully test-fired

BALASORE(Orissa): India on Sunday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable, short range ballistic missile (SRBM) Agni-1 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here off the Orissa coast.

"It was a fantastic mission carried out by the Indian Army. The test-fire of the Agni-I missile met all parameters," director of ITR S P Dash said.

Blasted off from a rail mobile launcher, the surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, roared into the sky trailing behind a column of orange and white thick smoke at about 1305 hours.

"After piercing the sky, the missile re-entered the earth's atmosphere and its dummy warhead impacted in the waters of the Bay of Bengal in the down range," a defence official said from the launch site, adding that the guidance and re-entry system worked well.

User of the missile, the strategic force command of the Indian Army, executed the entire launch operation with the necessary logistic support being provided by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at the integrated test range (ITR).

Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15 metre tall Agni-1, which can carry payloads weighing up to one tonne, has already been inducted into the Indian Army.

Yesterday, two nuclear capable missiles, Dhanush and Prithvi (P-11), had a successful launch by the Indian Navy and Army respectively.

Dhanush was test fired from INS Subhadra about 50 nautical miles from Puri while Prithvi-11 was test fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.

On March 22, the super-sonic cruise missile BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, was successfully test-fired from INS Ranvir off the Orissa coast.

 

[1nd1a]

Three Fast Attack Craft To Be Launched Today(3/29/2010)

Stay tuned for details...........

 

[desiman]

Project 15A Destroyer INS Chennai To Be Launched Thursday


INS Chennai, the third of the Project 15A Indian-designed and built guided missile destroyers will be launched this Thursday at the Mazagon docks in Mumbai. The Chennai follows the Kolkata and the Kochi, which was launched last year. I was born and went to school in good old Madras (I still haven't gotten round to calling it Chennai) -- it's still home in many ways. Nice to see they've named a big mean hunk of metal out of my city.

India's first indigenous purpose-built stealth frigate, INS Shivalik gets commissioned next month. That's going to be something major to watch out for.

LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: Project 15A Destroyer INS Chennai To Be Launched Thursday