Indian Build Up

[Contrarian]

Navy to commission INS Shardul on Jan 4
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 30
The Navy will commission its third tank landing ship, INS Shardul, at the Karwar naval base on January 4. The ship built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers has cost the Navy more than Rs 400 crore and was launched in 2001.

INS Shardul is of the Magar-class of vessels can carry 11 main battle tanks, 10 Army vehicles and up to 500 troops for amphibious operations.

The ships own crew consists of 11 officers and 145 sailors.

The ship's flight deck can accommodate a Seaking or Dhruv helicopter.

At the Karwar base, INS Shardul will share berths with aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, the Scorpene submarines and India's nuclear submarines.

Known in official parlance as the Landing Ship Tank (LTS) of the Navy, INS Shardul is third in line after INS Magar and INS Gharial. It will be equipped with two WM 18 Rocket Launcher Mountings manufactured by Larsen and Toubro.

Naval officials say the Magar class ships will be used to transport men and material for amphibious operations.

These ships may also be used to carry out commando operations on hostile territory and evacuation of casualties.

The Magar class series of ships will be completed following the commissioning of Kesari and Airavat which are in the process of being fitted out.

INS Shardul is 124.8 metres in length and has a displacement of 5600 tons.

 

[Contrarian]

India favours JVs for development of futuristic weapon systems

New Delhi, Dec 28: Asking scientists to speed up development of an air launched supersonic cruise missile, Defence Minister A K Antony today said India favoured going in for more joint ventures to develop futuristic weapons platforms on the pattern of Brahmos produced with Russia.

"India favours more joint ventures on the pattern of Brahmos cruise missile to develop world class defence products", he told Indian and Russian defence scientists during a visit to joint venture Brahmos missile complex in the cantonement area here.

India and Russia have invested over 10 Billion US dollars in the fifty-fifty JV to develop nuclear-capable Brahmos sea-to-shore, surface-to-surface and air-to-ground supersonic cruise missile which has a range of over 300kms.

Defence scientists are also currently engaged in developing a submarine launched version of these cruise missiles and also to extend their range.

Antony's remarks assume significance as a high-level Russian team was in town recently to ask for India to invest in co-development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft and more advanced versions of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

 

[Contrarian]

India tests pilotless aircraft

Balasore: India successfully tested an indigenously developed pilotless target aircraft (PTA) Lakshya from a defence base in Orissa on Wednesday, said officials.

It was test flown from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore, 215 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar, around 12.35 pm (IST), ITR director A Checker said.

Lakshya, a sub-sonic, reusable aerial target system, is remote-controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to pilots for weapon engagements.

Defence scientists had tested several PTAs from the same test range in recent months.

The test conducted Wednesday was a routine one, Checker said. Military officials and scientists were present during the test.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7999

 

[Bull]

KARWAR: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Thursday dedicated INS Shardul, a landing warship, to the nation at an event at the Karwar Naval Base, INS Kadamba, here.

This Landing Ship Tank (Large), or LST(L), which is the third of its kind to be commissioned into the Navy, has the primary role of transporting troops, vehicles and armaments for amphibious operations.

The Minister said the amphibious operation capability of the Navy was being augmented in order to safeguard the maritime interests of the country. He said a Platform Landing Dock (PLD), a large amphibious vessel to be named Jalashwa, would be inducted by mid-2008. The process of acquisition of the ship from the United States was on.

Two more warships of the LST (S) type would be inducted by December 2007. This would enhance the Navy's ability to conduct operational manoeuvres and assault operations from the sea.

Stating that modernisation of Indian Navy was an ongoing process, he said the construction of four anti-submarine corvettes and 10 fast attack craft was in progress. The defence shipyard would be modernised.

The Minister noted that the public sector and the private sector had joined hands in building INS Shardul. He complimented the Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers (GRSE) that built it.

Emphasis


Mr. Antony said the Government's emphasis was on adoption of indigenous technology in building warships and their spare parts. He said the Karwar Naval Base would become a major one. With the growth of the base there would be rapid development in the hinterland.

Earlier, Mr. Antony unfurled the White Ensign of the Navy. He unveiled the ship's name plaque to mark the commissioning of the ship. He was received with a ceremonial guard of honour by a Naval contingent at the jetty.

Capabilities

INS Shardul is an important auxiliary warship capable of transporting different kinds of combat equipment. It can carry 11 armoured tanks, 10 Army vehicles and 500 troops besides the crew.

Shardul stands for the Royal Bengal Tiger, symbolising agility, strength and valour. The motto of INS Shardul is `All for one, One for all.' It is the first ship to be commissioned at the Karwar Naval Base. The warship got its name from an earlier warship of the same class that was decommissioned in 1997.

The ship has expansive accommodation and storage, lift facility, ability to operate in shallow waters and beaching capability. It can act as a hospital ship and a modified fleet tanker for stern fuelling during a limited mission.

 

[Bull]

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday approved a Home Ministry proposal to nearly double the strength of the Indian Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to reduce stress and high-altitude related problems among its personnel.

With the addition of 20 new battalions to the existing 25, ITBP soldiers would be able to spend at least half of their career in low-altitude postings. At present, jawans spend up to two-thirds of their working lives at high-latitude postings, which is not considered desirable by medical experts.

 

[Neo]

India, Russia to ink major defence pacts during Putin`s visit

Saturday January 20, 2007

NEW DELHI: India and Russia are likely to sign a number of major agreements on defence cooperation, including the purchase of advanced version of T-90 tanks and more stealth frigates and Sukhoi-30 jets, during the forthcoming visit here of President Vladmir Putin.
The two countries are also likely to ink a deal for a joint venture to build a multi-role transport aircraft and further discuss Moscow`s offer to New Delhi to invest in the joint development of a fifth generation fighter, official sources said.

According to PTI decks would be cleared for these deals at the forthcoming meeting of the inter-governmental commission on military technical cooperation scheduled to be held here on January 24. The meeting will be co-chaired by Russia`s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and his Indian counterpart A K Antony.

The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared a deal to purchase an additional 30 to 40 Su-30MKI jets as an emergency step to offset the falling squadron strength of the IAF. It has also before it proposals to purchase 300 more T-90 tanks with advanced fire control and night vision systems, the sources said.

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?166541

 

[Contrarian]

Made-for-India MiG-29 test flight next week

NEW DELHI: Just before President Vladimir Putin comes visiting India next week, Russia plans to conduct the "inaugural flight" of the aircraft carrier-borne MiG-29 fighter jets being produced for India.

Through the sonic boom generated by the MiG-29, Russia intends to send a strong message that it's keen to retain the edge over other countries in supplying military hardware and software to India despite deep inroads being made by Israel, France and now increasingly, the US.

India, after all, intends to spend a whopping $30 billion on weapon imports during the 11th Plan (2007-2012) period. By notching up defence deals worth over $20 billion between 1998 and 2005, India has already emerged as the largest arms importer in the developing world.

As part of the $1.6 billion (Rs 6,900 crore) deal signed with Russia in January 2004, the Indian Navy will get 16 MiG-29s along with the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, now rechristened INS Vikramaditya. While 12 of these fighters will be the single-seat 'K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater 'KUB' trainer versions.

"The first test flight of MiG-29KUB is likely to take place on January 22, to be followed by the MiG-29K version later," said a senior officer. Armed with eight types of air-to-air missiles, the MiG-29Ks on board INS Vikramaditya will make the Navy capable of striking deep into enemy territory from the high seas.

"The MiG-29Ks will also be capable of mid-air refuelling from IL-78 tankers, as well as other MiG-29Ks, under 'buddy-tanking'. While INS Vikramaditya will join us towards end-2008 after a full refit, the MiG-29 deliveries will begin this year," he said.

While Putin will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, Russian deputy prime minister and defence minister Sergei Borisovich Ivanov will land in India a few days earlier for the sixth meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation with his Indian counterpart A K Antony.

As reported earlier by TOI, Indsia and Russia are likely to come to an agreement on joint ventures for the multi-role transport aircraft, as well as the fifth-generation stealth fighter, during the high-level visits.

 

[Bull]

India and Russia may move a step closer towards realising their long-pending goal of joint development and production of a fifth generation fighter aircraft during the visit of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bangalore next week.

Both sides will also sign an agreement for joint development and production of 18.5 ton class multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) at an estimated cost of Rs 2,675.6 crore and joint development of engines for MiG-29 fighters, sources said, adding that the agreement would be inked between HAL chairman Ashok Baweja and the director general of Russian conglomerate United Aircraft Corporation Alexi Fedorov.

The Russian defence minister is visiting HAL as a part of a ground preparation tour on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on January 25-26 during which some announcements on the fighter may be expected. Besides HAL, he would visit the Indian Space Research Organisation. Mr Ivanov will tour Delhi and Bangalore between January 23 and 24.


The two nations are expected to arrive at some sort of understanding on the fifth generation fighter project first proposed almost five years ago when George Fernandes was the defence minister.

Sources said that an inter-governmental agreement may be in the offing. But the details of the fighter are unknown though scientists from both sides have exchanged ideas on the project a number of times in the last few years. For the MTA project, both countries are expected to share the cost on 50:50 basis following the Brahmos model in which an effective cruise missile was co-developed and produced through a joint venture.

The Indian contribution of Rs 1,337.8 crore will come from the Indian Air Force’s capital acquisition budget.

The pros and cons of both deals featured prominently in the HAL board meeting here on Thursday. While the IAF is likely to procure 45 MRTA, the Russian side will pick up 100. The delivery schedule is expected to begin by 2015. India and Russia will manufacture the engines for MiG-29 fighter and an agreement will be signed during Ivanov’s visit.

The decision was taken on Thursday at a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

 

[Bull]

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will increase the production of Dhruv, it’s multi-role, multi-mission Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), in a phased manner.

Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) officials told reporters on Friday that 18 ALH were expected to fly out of the HAL stable in 2007. The targets for 2008 and 2009 were 24 and 33 respectively, they said. Around 65 Dhruvs are already in service with the defence forces, including the Coast Guard.

The weaponised version of Dhruv is tipped for a 2008 launch. Earlier, Chief Test Pilot Wg Cdr Upadhyay said 10 ALH that comprises the 202 Army Aviation Squadron will soon be delivered at Leh. Meanwhile, upgrading of helicopters with Shakti Engine, done by Turbomeca and HAL, is on at the ALH assembly unit. The upgraded copters have Multi Function Displays (MFDs) and have had their cold-weather trial in Leh.


“The ground runs will start by the end of January. The copters are scheduled for a late 2007 certification,” Wg Cdr Upadhyay said.

Cheetals for IAF

Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed an order for 10 Cheetals (former Cheetas, powered with ALH engines), Wg Cdr Upadhyay said. HAL is expected to deliver the helicopters by July, 2008. With the new engine, Cheetals are expected to bring in better fuel efficiency and an extra load capacity of 45 kg. In November 2006, the Cheetal had touched an all-time landing high of 25,500 feet in Saser Kangri in Ladakh.


ARDC EYES BIG

The ARDC is bidding for contracts on composite component assembly for Boeing 787s and A320s, Sounderrajan, AGM, told reporters on Friday. “Since composites involve labour-intensive work, India has great potential in the sector. Talks are also on for deals for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for military operations. The next three to four years could see us closing deals worth $ 10 million,” he said.

At present, ARDC has a design collaboration with Eurocopter. Firm orders with Bell and Elbit have been obtained, while talks are on with Pratt & Whitney and Airbus.

 

[Bull]

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed an order for 12 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Talking to reporters during a media visit to HAL’s ALH assembling facility, Chief Test Pilot Wg Cdr Upadhyay said the helicopters will have top-of-the-line medical infrastructure, including ventilators and two stretchers.

He however, pointed out that emergency operations in association with hospitals were not financially feasible for HAL, that runs an ambulance service on Chetan helicopters.


While Chetan’s charter rate is around Rs 55,000 per hour, the ambulance service comes at Rs 25,000.

“After our recent operation that rescued a Japanese woman in Bagalkot, her insurance company made the payment. In India, that’s not the norm and hospitals don’t pay either,” he said.

Stressing on the need to evolve a national policy in this regard, he said talks were on with various hospital managements.

 

[Bull]

NEW DELHI: India is close to concluding a contract with the US for acquiring six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, the first deal between the two countries for military aircraft, defence sources said.

A "request for details" for the deal was submitted to the US embassy here last month, and this was forwarded to the Pentagon so that the deal could be notified to the US Congress, the sources said here.

The deal, once approved by the US Congress and New Delhi, will be a one-off contract between the governments of the two countries under Washington's Foreign Military Sales programme.

There will also be an option for six additional Hercules aircraft manufactured by aviation major Lockheed Martin, the sources said. The sale is expected to be finalised in the next few months, they said.

The Super Hercules aircraft, which can carry a payload of 20 tonnes, are likely to be used for operations by Special Forces and strategic airlifts, the sources said.

The Indian Air Force is currently upgrading its fleet of about 80 Russian-made An-32 medium-lift cargo planes as well as 25-30 Il-76 heavy-lift jets, and officials have said there is a need for an aircraft like the Hercules which could fit somewhere between the two others.

The Hercules' ability to make short take-offs and landings from rough runways makes it suitable for operations involving Special Forces as well as emergency missions in areas affected by natural disasters, sources said.

Lockheed Martin is also in the race to sell India 126 multi-role combat jets and has offered the P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft to the Indian Navy.

 

[Contrarian]

Indian Army Chief Promotes $10B Wish List

The Indian Army needs to modernize to keep ahead of growing Pakistani capabilities, Army chief Gen. Joginder Jaswant Singh told reporters at an annual press conference Jan. 13.
A senior Army planner said, “250,000 troops deployed in the Kashmir valley lack the very basics in weaponry.”
Among the efforts already under way are:
• Arming the homegrown Advanced Light Helicopters.
• Replacing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.
• Buying intermediate-range helicopters.
• Buying short- and medium-range air defense systems.
• Improving troops’ ability to fight at night with night-vision sights and thermal imaging systems for small arms and tanks.
• Upgrading existing 135mm artillery guns.
• Buying Smerch and Pinaka multibarrel rocket launchers.
The planner said the Army plans to spend around $10 billion to buy more than 300 kinds of weapons through 2012.
The service also will spend $1 billion in the next three years to network its platoons and larger units with sensors, weapons, computers and communications, the planner said.
As part of a longer-term network-centric warfare effort, the service will also import weapons and gear, including mobile and static electronic warfare systems; high- and low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles; optical imaging systems on helicopters and aerostat radars; military intelligence communications, surveillance satellites with synthetic aperture radar and signals-intelligence systems; and electronic intelligence systems on ground vehicles, helicopters, aerostat radar systems and low-Earth-orbit satellites.
The service is also planning to spend more than $2 billion on arms for 450,000 infantry troops, including rifles, carbines, grenade launchers, Kornet E missiles and 84mm rocket launchers.
The Army will seek foreign suppliers of, among other things, hand-held thermal imaging systems, rifle-mounted optical sights, under-barrel grenade launchers, electronic warfare and radio transmission receivers, lightweight binoculars, digital compasses and Global Positioning System-equipped navigation gear.
The Army also intends to buy several thousand highly mobile, new-generation armored vehicles in the next two years.
In 2007, the planners said, the Army will order 500 self-propelled guns and 197 high-altitude multi-utility combat helicopters, and will order thermal imaging systems for about 1,200 T-72 tanks and 2,000 BMP-2s, and thermal imaging fire-control systems for about 900 T-72s. These vehicles will also get explosive reactive armor and nuclear, biological and chemical protection suites.
The service annually spends about $1 billion on weapons and ammunition, $600 million on combat vehicles and $300 million on communications equipment.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2485281

 

[Bull]

Moscow, January 22: The first fighter aircraft designed and developed in Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union — the Mig 29 K/KUB for the Indian Navy — took off on its inaugural flight at the Zhukovskiy test centre here on Monday.

The first flight version of the ship borne fighters, on order from the Indian Navy for its carrier INS Vikramaditya, took off on a cold winter morning with the tell-tale black smoke but dispelled all doubts after a flawless 20-minute test flight.

India will receive the first serially produced aircraft in June this year as part of the 16 fighter jets deal. While the deal provides that an extra 30 aircraft can be procured later, MiG expressed its willingness to supply as many fighters as India wants on the eve of the test flight.

“The deal is for 16 aircraft but we can give any quantity required by India,” Director of the ‘Mikoyan Design Bureau’ Vladimir Barkovskiy said.

While the multi-role air superiority fighter Mig 29 K is the first major project to come out from the drawing board to serial production in post-Soviet Russia, the MiG Corporation is confident of pitching in its MiG 35 fighter for the Indian Air Force’s Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) requirement of 126 fighters.

“It (the test flight) is important not just for MiG but the Russian aviation as a whole. We had to make the whole aircraft, including avionics, from the scratch,” Barkovskiy said.

While the naval aircraft is named similarly, it is very different from the MiG 29s serving the IAF.

“It is an amazing aircraft to fly with completely new systems and the new digital fly by wire system. I would be happy to fly it anyway with Indian pilots,” MiG test pilot Mikhail Belyaev said after the test flight.

With the delivery of the first aircraft in June, the Indian Navy will begin test flights to determine that all requirements are fulfilled. The first batch of six new MiG 29 K/KUB fighters will actually land in India to be based in Goa only by November. “We will be carrying out tests of all equipment on board the aircraft and will conduct flight tests by Indian pilots after June,” Officer in Charge of the Mig 29 K overseeing team, Captain J Mahapatra said.

Features of the aircraft include a fully digitised ‘glass’ cockpit, improved engine protection against ingestion of foreign particles (like birds), a multi-mode radar and increased range due to increase in internal fuel capacity. The aircraft, the first bought by the navy after the Sea Harriers, will also be capable of playing the role of an air refueller. The contract with MiG will ensure that the navy gets the entire spectrum of services, including a full mission simulator.

While the navy will be getting 12 MiG 29 K single-seater aircraft and 4 Mig 29 KUB double-seater trainer aircraft, officials say that all of them will have full operational capabilities. The trainer version will be 95 per cent similar to the single seater but with a slightly reduced operational range.

MiG 35 to be fielded at Bangalore Aero India

Moscow: Russia will field its entrant for India’s multi-billion dollar multi-role combat aircraft contract — the MiG 35 — at the Bangalore Aero India show in February to compete with the US, Swedish and French and European fighters. The MiG corporation, which is promoting the aircraft, made its move just ahead of President Putin’s India visit by announcing that the MiG 35 will carry out a ‘full scale presentation’ at the air show. After the maiden flight of the MiG 29 K for the Indian Navy on Monday Director of Mikoyan Design Bureau Vladimir Barkovskiy said, the Mig 29 K for the Indian Navy will also be present at the air show. He also hinted that MiG would be signing a ‘major deal’ during the air show.

 

[Bull]

HAL to Increase ALH Dhruv's Production in Phased Manner

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will increase the production of Dhruv, it's multi-role, multi-mission Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), in a phased manner.

Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) officials told reporters on Friday that 18 ALH were expected to fly out of the HAL stable in 2007. The targets for 2008 and 2009 were 24 and 33 respectively, they said. Around 65 Dhruvs are already in service with the defence forces, including the Coast Guard.

The weaponised version of Dhruv is tipped for a 2008 launch. Earlier, Chief Test Pilot Wg Cdr Upadhyay said 10 ALH that comprises the 202 Army Aviation Squadron will soon be delivered at Leh. Meanwhile, upgrading of helicopters with Shakti Engine, done by Turbomeca and HAL, is on at the ALH assembly unit. The upgraded copters have Multi Function Displays (MFDs) and have had their cold-weather trial in Leh.

"The ground runs will start by the end of January. The copters are scheduled for a late 2007 certification," Wg Cdr Upadhyay said.

Cheetals for IAF

Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed an order for 10 Cheetals (former Cheetas, powered with ALH engines), Wg Cdr Upadhyay said. HAL is expected to deliver the helicopters by July, 2008. With the new engine, Cheetals are expected to bring in better fuel efficiency and an extra load capacity of 45 kg. In November 2006, the Cheetal had touched an all-time landing high of 25,500 feet in Saser Kangri in Ladakh.

ARDC EYES BIG

The ARDC is bidding for contracts on composite component assembly for Boeing 787s and A320s, Sounderrajan, AGM, told reporters on Friday. "Since composites involve labour-intensive work, India has great potential in the sector. Talks are also on for deals for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for military operations. The next three to four years could see us closing deals worth $ 10 million," he said.

At present, ARDC has a design collaboration with Eurocopter. Firm orders with Bell and Elbit have been obtained, while talks are on with Pratt & Whitney and Airbus.

 

[Bull]

India working on development of missile shield for satellites

NEW DELHI, JAN 22 (PTI)

Fearing that its satellites could be under threat from missiles, India is working on development of a shield for which it is in talks with Russia and other countries having such technology.

"We have full spectrum of threat (to the satellites). So it is in our interest to use technology to protect our satellites," a senior official said here today.

He was referring to apprehension that satellites could be targeted by any enemy country with the use of missiles.

China has recently tested one such missile recently but the official underlined that India's desire to develop the shield was not prompted by that development.

"We have been discussing about developing the shield before Chinese test. So there is no link between the two," the official stressed.

He said India has been talking to "close friend" Russia and other countries having such technology for our interest.

Besides, Russia and China, the technology is available only with the US.