INDIA: Building a Modern Arsenal in India
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desiman
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Indian Coastguard For Major Firepower Purchases
The Indian Coastguard is in the market for a large number of marine guns, and has invited information from global vendors. Its shopping list includes 100 12.7-mm marine guns, 70 20-mm marine guns, 36 30-mm marine guns and 36 40-mm marine guns, all for integration on existing and future vessels. The ICG has also floated tenders for six new 2,000-ton offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), 14 fast patrol vessels and 20 new interceptor boats.
The Indian Coastguard is in the market for a large number of marine guns, and has invited information from global vendors. Its shopping list includes 100 12.7-mm marine guns, 70 20-mm marine guns, 36 30-mm marine guns and 36 40-mm marine guns, all for integration on existing and future vessels. The ICG has also floated tenders for six new 2,000-ton offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), 14 fast patrol vessels and 20 new interceptor boats.
desiman
SENIOR MEMBER
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- Sep 21, 2009
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France suspends tech sale to Pak, Indian Mirage upgrade deal likely
France has suspended a Euro 6 to Euro 8 billion sale of high tech equipment to Pakistan. While most reports (Read Reuters) attribute this to Pakistan's inability to pay and pressure from India, StrategyPage provides another angle. They report that the U.S. has convinced France that any technology they will supply to Pakistan's JF-17's will end up in the hands of the Chinese and hence will be pirated across Chinese platforms. Corruption in Pakistan will ensure that no assurance they give the French will be worth the paper it is written on.
Strange, considering U.S. is giving Pakistan all its technology including the latest drones and F-16s. Also there is bad blood and unresolved issues between France and Pakistan... According to France24, in Feb 2010 a French judge ordered a detailed probe in to allegations that a 2002 attack on a bus with 11 DCNS engineers was not linked to Islamic terrorists as first claimed. They suspect that the blasts were meticulously planned by Pakistani Army/ISI/Politicians because France had cancelled a promised $33 million kickback on a 1990's DCNS (then know as DCN) Agosta submarine deal. See the coverage in Rediff and Wall Street Journal. This is one of the highest profile cases of defence corruption in the world because it involves, if not serving French President Sarkozy himself at least his aide and former PM Edouard Balladur and the current serving President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, popularly known as Mr 10%.
Back to the current deal, according to StrategyPage it was U.S. pressure that led to France suspending the deal for supplying key components for the Chinese JF-17 combat aircraft being used by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). While the exact contours of the upgrade package was not known, it was thought to include Thales RC400 fire-control radar and the MBDA Mica medium-range family of air-to-air missiles, as well as air-to-surface weaponry.
There is no doubt that France values its increasing relations with India. The French Ambassador had made it clear to a meeting of French companies during a dinner at Defexpo 2010 that France faces tough competition in India and they need to work hard and stick together to win it big in India. And it is working. India’s price negotiation committee has reportedly given the go-ahead to sign the US$2.2 billion deal with France for the upgrade of 52 Mirage-2000 aircraft. The formal signature on the deal is expected to be during the visit of French President Sarkozy to New Delhi this year.
An IAF official told 8ak that as part of the deal, first five to six aircraft will be upgraded in France and the rest would be done in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Transfer of Technology (ToT). The deal for the aircraft upgrade, which the IAF has been operating since the 1980s, was stuck for over two years primarily due to the difference in opinion on the price quoted by the French manufacturers Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA (consortium). It is believed that the original price quoted by the companies for the upgrade was US$58 million per aircraft but after tough negotiations the price has been reduced to US$43 million a unit. Sources say that the Israelis were very keen to do the upgrades at a lower cost but obviously this would not go down well with either the original equipment manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, or the French government.
The upgrade will include new avionics including an advanced navigation system, new mission computers with increased capacity and processing speed, helmet-mounted displays, glass cockpits, internal electronic warfare suites and, better armaments & weapon systems making the aircraft battle-worthy for another 15 years.
Earlier, 8ak had reported that the French President Sarkozy had personally thrown his weight behind the deal and sent French defence minister Hervé Morin to New Delhi in December 2009 to push the deal, before his Indian visit. Defence Ministry sources say that the deal is important from strategic and diplomatic point of view as well. After the cancellation of the A330 mid-air-refueller deal and the US$1 billion deal for purchase of 197 helicopters from Eurocopter, the European partner countries including France were unhappy with the decision making process.
France has suspended a Euro 6 to Euro 8 billion sale of high tech equipment to Pakistan. While most reports (Read Reuters) attribute this to Pakistan's inability to pay and pressure from India, StrategyPage provides another angle. They report that the U.S. has convinced France that any technology they will supply to Pakistan's JF-17's will end up in the hands of the Chinese and hence will be pirated across Chinese platforms. Corruption in Pakistan will ensure that no assurance they give the French will be worth the paper it is written on.
Strange, considering U.S. is giving Pakistan all its technology including the latest drones and F-16s. Also there is bad blood and unresolved issues between France and Pakistan... According to France24, in Feb 2010 a French judge ordered a detailed probe in to allegations that a 2002 attack on a bus with 11 DCNS engineers was not linked to Islamic terrorists as first claimed. They suspect that the blasts were meticulously planned by Pakistani Army/ISI/Politicians because France had cancelled a promised $33 million kickback on a 1990's DCNS (then know as DCN) Agosta submarine deal. See the coverage in Rediff and Wall Street Journal. This is one of the highest profile cases of defence corruption in the world because it involves, if not serving French President Sarkozy himself at least his aide and former PM Edouard Balladur and the current serving President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, popularly known as Mr 10%.
Back to the current deal, according to StrategyPage it was U.S. pressure that led to France suspending the deal for supplying key components for the Chinese JF-17 combat aircraft being used by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). While the exact contours of the upgrade package was not known, it was thought to include Thales RC400 fire-control radar and the MBDA Mica medium-range family of air-to-air missiles, as well as air-to-surface weaponry.
There is no doubt that France values its increasing relations with India. The French Ambassador had made it clear to a meeting of French companies during a dinner at Defexpo 2010 that France faces tough competition in India and they need to work hard and stick together to win it big in India. And it is working. India’s price negotiation committee has reportedly given the go-ahead to sign the US$2.2 billion deal with France for the upgrade of 52 Mirage-2000 aircraft. The formal signature on the deal is expected to be during the visit of French President Sarkozy to New Delhi this year.
An IAF official told 8ak that as part of the deal, first five to six aircraft will be upgraded in France and the rest would be done in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Transfer of Technology (ToT). The deal for the aircraft upgrade, which the IAF has been operating since the 1980s, was stuck for over two years primarily due to the difference in opinion on the price quoted by the French manufacturers Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA (consortium). It is believed that the original price quoted by the companies for the upgrade was US$58 million per aircraft but after tough negotiations the price has been reduced to US$43 million a unit. Sources say that the Israelis were very keen to do the upgrades at a lower cost but obviously this would not go down well with either the original equipment manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, or the French government.
The upgrade will include new avionics including an advanced navigation system, new mission computers with increased capacity and processing speed, helmet-mounted displays, glass cockpits, internal electronic warfare suites and, better armaments & weapon systems making the aircraft battle-worthy for another 15 years.
Earlier, 8ak had reported that the French President Sarkozy had personally thrown his weight behind the deal and sent French defence minister Hervé Morin to New Delhi in December 2009 to push the deal, before his Indian visit. Defence Ministry sources say that the deal is important from strategic and diplomatic point of view as well. After the cancellation of the A330 mid-air-refueller deal and the US$1 billion deal for purchase of 197 helicopters from Eurocopter, the European partner countries including France were unhappy with the decision making process.
desiman
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- Joined
- Sep 21, 2009
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Indian Army Scouts For Smart Shells
The Indian Army has invited information from global contractors for Sensor Fused Munitions (SFMs) for its 155mm calibre guns. The Army's RFI says it is looking to "enhance the accuracy of existing in-service ammunition.
---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 PM ----------
Kargil war hero - Lt Manoj Pandey 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
On the night of 2/3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective; it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Lieutenant Pandey was tasked to clear the interfering enemy positions to prevent his battalion from getting day lighted, being in a vulnerable position. He quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire, sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and he proceeded to clear the enemy positions from the left. Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel and destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was injured on the shoulder and legs while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injuries, he continued to lead the assault on the fourth position urging his men and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal burst on his forehead. This singular daredevil act of Lieutenant Pandey provided the critical firm base for the companies, which finally led to capture of Khalubar. The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries.
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, thus, displayed most conspicuous bravery, indomitable courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
For his brave act and display of unparallel courage, Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the nation’s highest gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. His father, Mr. Gopi Chand Pandey, received the award from the President of India on the 52nd anniversary of Indian Independence.
Born on 25 July 1975 in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey, was the son of Shri Gopi Chand Pandey. The gallant officer did his early schooling from UP Sainik School based at Lucknow and subsequently joined the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) to achieve his goal of becoming an army officer.
After completing his three year tenure, Pandey joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) to complete his final phase of training and was commissioned into 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, a unit renowned for its heroics and bravery. One of the most interesting anecdotes related to Pandey comes from the time he was being questioned by the interviewing officer during his SSB. The officer had asked him as to why did he want to join the Indian Army, to which, the bright Pandey had replied: “I want to win the Param Vir Chakra.”
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------
No IAF, only UAVs for insurgency operations
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik has clearly stated that the Air Force was not in favour of using air power in anti-Naxal operations, after 76 CRPF jawans were massacred by the Naxal guerrillas in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference in Ghandinagar on Wednesday, Naik said, “All the three services, be it the Army, Navy or Air Force are trained for lethal operations, with maximum lethality as the prime objective, they are not trained for limited lethality and the weapons that we use are for enemy across the border. Therefore, use of air power in situation like these is not recommended by the IAF.”
Discussing a possible scenario of what may happen if the IAF is pressed into action Naik said, “Let us say that air force is called in for attack in Naxal locality and it needs to fire a rocket, which is fired at a minimum distance from 1500-1800 metres...from that distance we are not able to visualise what the target is," Naik said. "Unless we have 120 per cent intelligence that they (Naxals) are enemies, it is not fair to use air force within our borders. The basic thing is Naxals are our own citizens," he said.
IAF does deploy helicopters, transport aircraft and spy drones to help paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations but their use has been largely restricted to logistical, casualty evacuation and surveillance duties.
Soon after taking over the reigns from General Deepak Kapoor, the new army chief General V.K. Singh had also stated on 03 April that the army was not in favour of getting involved in direct conflict with the Naxals. On the contrary he said that the Police and the Paramilitary were being provided adequate assistance in the form of training and logistics. See ToI.
Senior officials told 8ak that the government was apprehensive of sending in the military into the conflict because it may lead to failed state-like situation and cause large scale unrest. On the part of military, they were reluctant because the possibility collateral damage in such situations is extremely high and in a state like ours, no one would spare the military if innocent civilians are accidently killed.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has clearly stated that the government had not taken any call on the possible use of air power against the Naxals, the statement comes few hours after Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the government would have to review its strategy on the possible use of air power and may also use it if necessary reports EcoTimes.
A retired brigadier commented that the IAF decision was wrong because this is a very narrow 'shooting missiles from fighter jets' view of the IAF. Instead the IAF can provide critical surveillance functions. This role will now be done with the proposed induction of UAVs in the paramilitary forces with trials starting next week.
Unfortunately, India has failed miserably in developing our own so these will be imported from Israel or the U.S.. A good report on Asia Times on the proposed purchase of attack UCAVs. In the U.S. Army Times reports "Since 2000, the Pentagon has increased its inventory from 50 UAVs to nearly 7,000 —4,300 of them belong to the Army. In the next five years, the Defense Department wants to spend $24 billion more on UAVs."
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
NSG quick response base becomes in New Delhi becomes operational
A new NSG airbase near IGI airport in New Delhi has been operationalised with the objective of reducing the reaction time of the commando force in emergency situations. "The operationalisation of the complex is a step forward for the NSG in achieving better operational preparedness by reducing the time taken to respond to a terror situation," a press release from the NSG said.
The complex established on a five-acre plot of land handed over by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the NSG was inaugurated by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Also present on the occasion were Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken, NSG Director General N P S Aulakh and other senior officials, including the chiefs of Central Police Organisations.
The complex has been named 'Sudarshan'-- the NSG symbol signifying the mythological 'Chakra' of Lord Krishna which destroys the enemy and comes back will have a crack commando unit comprising of 60 personnel drawn from 51 and 52 SAG. These units will only have to open a door and enter the tarmac of the IGI airport in case of a terror attack or a hijack attempt, thereby saving crucial time.
The government had come under severe criticism after the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, as it was felt that the mobilisation time of the NSG was too long. Four new NSG regional centres have also been established by the government at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, over the last year, in order to reduce expand the presence of the counter terror force and minimise the response time.
---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
Indigenous jet engine “Kaveri” to be tested next month, Gas turbine R&D fund set up
India is all set to flight-test its first indigenously built jet engine “Kaveri” next month, Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Director T. Mohan Rao told the reporters in Bangalore. 'Kaveri Engine will be put to test in one-and-half months, maybe after the middle of May. It took almost two decades to develop the engine,” said Rao.
Defending the delay in the development of the engine, Rao said that gas turbine engine technology is most complex and that is the reason for the delays. The testing would be done in Russia using the heavy lift Il-76 transport aircraft. It is significant because even after spending Rs 3,000 crore and over two decades, the DRDO run lab has failed to provide a suitable engine for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) “Tejas”.
Terming the February altitude tests in Russia a grand success, Rao said that the engine meant for the LCA, had undergone all the simulation and altitude tests and the focus now was to reduce the weight of the engine from 60kg to 50kg.
Kaveri was first conceived as an engine for Tejas, the light combat aircraft developed by Aeronautical Development Agency based in Bangalore. However, due to delays and the IAF's need for new combat aircraft to arrest the gradual decline of combat squadrons, the government had initially decided to power the LCA using General Electric-404 engines. Subsequently, however India floated a tender for which the main contenders are an upgraded GE engine on Eurojet engine for Tejas, whereas, the Kaveri engine would be used for future versions of the fighter aircraft. GTRE, which is engaged in R&D development of gas turbines for military aircraft, has so far developed nine Kaveri engines and four Kabini (core of Kaveri).
The Machinist reports that the Aeronautics Research & Development Board (AR&DB) of DRDO has taken a new initiative called “coherent directed research” in the area of gas turbines. As part of the long term strategy, the AR&DB will support, nurture, encourage and partner think tanks and other R&D agencies across the country to develop futuristic gas turbine engine system. This program called “GATET” envisages about Rs 100 Cr investment in 3 years and participation of 100 R&D centres and as many as 1,000 scientists, engineers and technicians.
---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------
ISRO preparing to launch GSLV-D3 using indigenous cryogenic engine
The GSLV-D3 (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-D3), India’s first satellite launch vehicle having an indigenously built cryogenic (super cooled fuel) engine, is all set for a 4:30pm launch on 15 April. bISRO successfully tested the cryogenic engine recently when the engine was tested for the full flight duration of 720 seconds at the liquid propulsion test facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
A successful launch of the GLSV-3D, which was scheduled for December 2009 originally, will propel India into an elite league select nations like US, China, Russia, France and Japan to have developed this sophisticated technology. It will be launched carrying the two-tonne communication satellite GSAT-4 from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The GSAT-4 will carry a multi-beam Ka-band bent pipe and regenerative transponder and navigation payload in C, L1 and L5 bands. The satellite can guide civil and military aircraft.
Thiruvananthapuram–based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has built the GSLV-3D, whereas the GSAT-4 has been built by the ISRO Satellite Centre situated at Bangalore. For all the five earlier GSLV missions, ISRO had used Russian cryogenic engines. The last GSLV went up on Sep 2, 2007, carrying the 2,130 kg INSAT-4CR satellite. The development of a cryogenic engine is crucial for ISRO to build more powerful GSLV rockets that can carry four-tonne satellites. ISRO is lagging behind in launching its GSAT series due to not having an indigenously-developed cryogenic engine. GSAT was supposed to have gone up two years ago.
In a cryogenic engine, super cooled fuel – typically, hydrogen and oxygen – are used. Hydrogen and oxygen must be below 20 degrees Kelvin (-253 degrees Celsius) and 90 degrees Kelvin (-183 degrees Celsius), respectively, to remain in liquid form. A cryogenic engine, which develops a thrust of 73 kilo Newton’s (kN) in vacuum with a specific impulse of 454 seconds (7.56 minutes), can carry 2.2 tones.
The cryogenic engine, working on a staged combustion cycle with an integrated turbo-pump, will have 42,000 rotations per minute (rpm). It also has 2 steering engines that develop a thrust of 2 kilo Newton’s (kN) each in order to enable 3-axis control of the launch vehicle during its flight.
India has embarked on a very ambitious space technology development program. In the years to come, the premier space agency plans to launch its first manned space mission in 2015 for which an investment of US$ 2.5billion is envisaged. ISRO plans a 3-ton capsule to orbit the Earth at 248 miles in altitude for up to seven days with a 2 member crew on board. ISRO is also planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 in 2013. The Chandrayaan-2 comprises a motorized rover and a lunar orbiter. The motorized rover weighing between 30 kg – 100 kg will run on solar power, and have a life-span of 30 days in operation. The total funds allocation for ISRO in 2009-10 fiscal is Rs.4,959 crore (About US$1billion), up from Rs.3, 499 crore, which is an increase of around 41%.
In the meantime even as ISRO gears up for a land mark launch of the GSLV-D3 using indigenous cryogenic engine, Economic Times reports that the newly appointed chief of the ISRO, Dr K. Radhakrishnan has revealed that the space agency is exploring new strategies and technologies for human space flight programmes, low-cost access to space tourism and the colonisation of Mars and the Moon.
The Indian Army has invited information from global contractors for Sensor Fused Munitions (SFMs) for its 155mm calibre guns. The Army's RFI says it is looking to "enhance the accuracy of existing in-service ammunition.
---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 PM ----------
Kargil war hero - Lt Manoj Pandey 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
On the night of 2/3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective; it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Lieutenant Pandey was tasked to clear the interfering enemy positions to prevent his battalion from getting day lighted, being in a vulnerable position. He quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire, sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and he proceeded to clear the enemy positions from the left. Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel and destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was injured on the shoulder and legs while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injuries, he continued to lead the assault on the fourth position urging his men and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal burst on his forehead. This singular daredevil act of Lieutenant Pandey provided the critical firm base for the companies, which finally led to capture of Khalubar. The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries.
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, thus, displayed most conspicuous bravery, indomitable courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
For his brave act and display of unparallel courage, Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the nation’s highest gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. His father, Mr. Gopi Chand Pandey, received the award from the President of India on the 52nd anniversary of Indian Independence.
Born on 25 July 1975 in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey, was the son of Shri Gopi Chand Pandey. The gallant officer did his early schooling from UP Sainik School based at Lucknow and subsequently joined the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) to achieve his goal of becoming an army officer.
After completing his three year tenure, Pandey joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) to complete his final phase of training and was commissioned into 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, a unit renowned for its heroics and bravery. One of the most interesting anecdotes related to Pandey comes from the time he was being questioned by the interviewing officer during his SSB. The officer had asked him as to why did he want to join the Indian Army, to which, the bright Pandey had replied: “I want to win the Param Vir Chakra.”
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------
No IAF, only UAVs for insurgency operations
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik has clearly stated that the Air Force was not in favour of using air power in anti-Naxal operations, after 76 CRPF jawans were massacred by the Naxal guerrillas in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference in Ghandinagar on Wednesday, Naik said, “All the three services, be it the Army, Navy or Air Force are trained for lethal operations, with maximum lethality as the prime objective, they are not trained for limited lethality and the weapons that we use are for enemy across the border. Therefore, use of air power in situation like these is not recommended by the IAF.”
Discussing a possible scenario of what may happen if the IAF is pressed into action Naik said, “Let us say that air force is called in for attack in Naxal locality and it needs to fire a rocket, which is fired at a minimum distance from 1500-1800 metres...from that distance we are not able to visualise what the target is," Naik said. "Unless we have 120 per cent intelligence that they (Naxals) are enemies, it is not fair to use air force within our borders. The basic thing is Naxals are our own citizens," he said.
IAF does deploy helicopters, transport aircraft and spy drones to help paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations but their use has been largely restricted to logistical, casualty evacuation and surveillance duties.
Soon after taking over the reigns from General Deepak Kapoor, the new army chief General V.K. Singh had also stated on 03 April that the army was not in favour of getting involved in direct conflict with the Naxals. On the contrary he said that the Police and the Paramilitary were being provided adequate assistance in the form of training and logistics. See ToI.
Senior officials told 8ak that the government was apprehensive of sending in the military into the conflict because it may lead to failed state-like situation and cause large scale unrest. On the part of military, they were reluctant because the possibility collateral damage in such situations is extremely high and in a state like ours, no one would spare the military if innocent civilians are accidently killed.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has clearly stated that the government had not taken any call on the possible use of air power against the Naxals, the statement comes few hours after Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the government would have to review its strategy on the possible use of air power and may also use it if necessary reports EcoTimes.
A retired brigadier commented that the IAF decision was wrong because this is a very narrow 'shooting missiles from fighter jets' view of the IAF. Instead the IAF can provide critical surveillance functions. This role will now be done with the proposed induction of UAVs in the paramilitary forces with trials starting next week.
Unfortunately, India has failed miserably in developing our own so these will be imported from Israel or the U.S.. A good report on Asia Times on the proposed purchase of attack UCAVs. In the U.S. Army Times reports "Since 2000, the Pentagon has increased its inventory from 50 UAVs to nearly 7,000 —4,300 of them belong to the Army. In the next five years, the Defense Department wants to spend $24 billion more on UAVs."
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
NSG quick response base becomes in New Delhi becomes operational
A new NSG airbase near IGI airport in New Delhi has been operationalised with the objective of reducing the reaction time of the commando force in emergency situations. "The operationalisation of the complex is a step forward for the NSG in achieving better operational preparedness by reducing the time taken to respond to a terror situation," a press release from the NSG said.
The complex established on a five-acre plot of land handed over by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the NSG was inaugurated by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Also present on the occasion were Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken, NSG Director General N P S Aulakh and other senior officials, including the chiefs of Central Police Organisations.
The complex has been named 'Sudarshan'-- the NSG symbol signifying the mythological 'Chakra' of Lord Krishna which destroys the enemy and comes back will have a crack commando unit comprising of 60 personnel drawn from 51 and 52 SAG. These units will only have to open a door and enter the tarmac of the IGI airport in case of a terror attack or a hijack attempt, thereby saving crucial time.
The government had come under severe criticism after the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, as it was felt that the mobilisation time of the NSG was too long. Four new NSG regional centres have also been established by the government at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, over the last year, in order to reduce expand the presence of the counter terror force and minimise the response time.
---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
Indigenous jet engine “Kaveri” to be tested next month, Gas turbine R&D fund set up
India is all set to flight-test its first indigenously built jet engine “Kaveri” next month, Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) Director T. Mohan Rao told the reporters in Bangalore. 'Kaveri Engine will be put to test in one-and-half months, maybe after the middle of May. It took almost two decades to develop the engine,” said Rao.
Defending the delay in the development of the engine, Rao said that gas turbine engine technology is most complex and that is the reason for the delays. The testing would be done in Russia using the heavy lift Il-76 transport aircraft. It is significant because even after spending Rs 3,000 crore and over two decades, the DRDO run lab has failed to provide a suitable engine for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) “Tejas”.
Terming the February altitude tests in Russia a grand success, Rao said that the engine meant for the LCA, had undergone all the simulation and altitude tests and the focus now was to reduce the weight of the engine from 60kg to 50kg.
Kaveri was first conceived as an engine for Tejas, the light combat aircraft developed by Aeronautical Development Agency based in Bangalore. However, due to delays and the IAF's need for new combat aircraft to arrest the gradual decline of combat squadrons, the government had initially decided to power the LCA using General Electric-404 engines. Subsequently, however India floated a tender for which the main contenders are an upgraded GE engine on Eurojet engine for Tejas, whereas, the Kaveri engine would be used for future versions of the fighter aircraft. GTRE, which is engaged in R&D development of gas turbines for military aircraft, has so far developed nine Kaveri engines and four Kabini (core of Kaveri).
The Machinist reports that the Aeronautics Research & Development Board (AR&DB) of DRDO has taken a new initiative called “coherent directed research” in the area of gas turbines. As part of the long term strategy, the AR&DB will support, nurture, encourage and partner think tanks and other R&D agencies across the country to develop futuristic gas turbine engine system. This program called “GATET” envisages about Rs 100 Cr investment in 3 years and participation of 100 R&D centres and as many as 1,000 scientists, engineers and technicians.
---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------
ISRO preparing to launch GSLV-D3 using indigenous cryogenic engine
The GSLV-D3 (geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle-D3), India’s first satellite launch vehicle having an indigenously built cryogenic (super cooled fuel) engine, is all set for a 4:30pm launch on 15 April. bISRO successfully tested the cryogenic engine recently when the engine was tested for the full flight duration of 720 seconds at the liquid propulsion test facility at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
A successful launch of the GLSV-3D, which was scheduled for December 2009 originally, will propel India into an elite league select nations like US, China, Russia, France and Japan to have developed this sophisticated technology. It will be launched carrying the two-tonne communication satellite GSAT-4 from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The GSAT-4 will carry a multi-beam Ka-band bent pipe and regenerative transponder and navigation payload in C, L1 and L5 bands. The satellite can guide civil and military aircraft.
Thiruvananthapuram–based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has built the GSLV-3D, whereas the GSAT-4 has been built by the ISRO Satellite Centre situated at Bangalore. For all the five earlier GSLV missions, ISRO had used Russian cryogenic engines. The last GSLV went up on Sep 2, 2007, carrying the 2,130 kg INSAT-4CR satellite. The development of a cryogenic engine is crucial for ISRO to build more powerful GSLV rockets that can carry four-tonne satellites. ISRO is lagging behind in launching its GSAT series due to not having an indigenously-developed cryogenic engine. GSAT was supposed to have gone up two years ago.
In a cryogenic engine, super cooled fuel – typically, hydrogen and oxygen – are used. Hydrogen and oxygen must be below 20 degrees Kelvin (-253 degrees Celsius) and 90 degrees Kelvin (-183 degrees Celsius), respectively, to remain in liquid form. A cryogenic engine, which develops a thrust of 73 kilo Newton’s (kN) in vacuum with a specific impulse of 454 seconds (7.56 minutes), can carry 2.2 tones.
The cryogenic engine, working on a staged combustion cycle with an integrated turbo-pump, will have 42,000 rotations per minute (rpm). It also has 2 steering engines that develop a thrust of 2 kilo Newton’s (kN) each in order to enable 3-axis control of the launch vehicle during its flight.
India has embarked on a very ambitious space technology development program. In the years to come, the premier space agency plans to launch its first manned space mission in 2015 for which an investment of US$ 2.5billion is envisaged. ISRO plans a 3-ton capsule to orbit the Earth at 248 miles in altitude for up to seven days with a 2 member crew on board. ISRO is also planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 in 2013. The Chandrayaan-2 comprises a motorized rover and a lunar orbiter. The motorized rover weighing between 30 kg – 100 kg will run on solar power, and have a life-span of 30 days in operation. The total funds allocation for ISRO in 2009-10 fiscal is Rs.4,959 crore (About US$1billion), up from Rs.3, 499 crore, which is an increase of around 41%.
In the meantime even as ISRO gears up for a land mark launch of the GSLV-D3 using indigenous cryogenic engine, Economic Times reports that the newly appointed chief of the ISRO, Dr K. Radhakrishnan has revealed that the space agency is exploring new strategies and technologies for human space flight programmes, low-cost access to space tourism and the colonisation of Mars and the Moon.
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Lankan Ranger
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