Indian Build Up

[Contrarian]

Lol mate, Pakistan does not have the economy to compete with India in an arms race let alone China. Dont bother posting otherwise. As India has plainly listed its ambitions, it has to have a military to match its economy and aims.

 

[IceCold]

Lol mate, Pakistan does not have the economy to compete with India in an arms race let alone China. Dont bother posting otherwise. As India has plainly listed its ambitions, it has to have a military to match its economy and aims.

First of all who said pakistan is gonna match india, weapons with weapons. No we cant do this neither can we afford it nor is the need for it. But that does not mean that pakistan will go un notice about india's growing military and political interests in the region and beyond. To speed up the military buildup doesnt mean that we are matching india weapon for a weapon.
As for economy, seriously you need to check it again, because pakistan has a well stable economy now to support her defence needs, current e.g the rise in the military budget of the armforces of pakistan. Pakistan can and will support her military to counter the growing threat within the region.

 

[Bull]

Bofors re-enters Indian arms market after two decades

After almost two decades, Swedish armaments major Bofors has re-entered the Indian market in its new avatar, BAe Systems SWS Defence, by signing an agreement with the Ordnance Factories Board to upgrade air defence guns.

This will be the second upgrade of the 40mm L-70 guns inducted by the Indian Army in the early 1960s. The guns are currently produced by ordnance factories under licence from the Swedish company.

Over 600 such guns are currently in the Army's inventory. Though India's armed forces are increasingly opting for missile-based air defence systems, the army wants to retain gun-based systems too.

Besides upgrading the air defence guns, BAe Systems, the world's third largest defence company, is aggressively looking for manufacturing partners in India to make light, medium and heavy-calibre howitzers, naval guns, armoured combat vehicles and missile launchers.

According to a senior BAe executive, the company is in talks with major private Indian players in the defence sector, like Larsen and Toubro, Tata Power and others, as it scouts for technology transfer partners.

 

[Bull]

India’s defence sector is likely to see a lot of action in the coming months. It has been reliably learnt that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — Lakshya and Nishant — through joint ventures with private companies — Tata Power and Larsen and Toubro.

The state agency has initiated talks with both the companies for the design and development project, estimated to cost around Rs 1,000 crore, said company officials. DRDO is looking for private participation in the maintenance of the airborne early warning and control system projects.

The strategic electronics division of Tata Power and the heavy engineering division of L&T have shown interest in this project which is worth around Rs 1,200 crore. State-owned Bharat Electronics is also believed to be in the race for this project. DRDO plans to complete Lakshya and Nishant by 2012. The Indian Army has already agreed, in principle, to buy almost 100 UAVs.

“We have shown interest in these projects, but nothing has been finalised,” said L&T’s director and senior executive vice-president MV Kotwal. “The required volume and investment needed for the projects will have to be identified primarily. After that, DRDO will select their partners for these projects,” he added.

A Tata official said: “Given our decades of experience in working for DRDO and the armed forces, we are pursuing a number of business opportunities with them. Considering the sensitive nature of these technologies, it is not appropriate to disclose our areas of interest.”

DRDO is also considering a tie-up with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics for developing the components for UAVs. The Centre for Airborne Systems in Bangalore (CABS) is developing the airborne early warning system which involves a flying platform and mounted sensors like radars to provide battle-management functions.

CABS is also planning to build a radar system on an imported Embraer executive jet. The government has already sent out a request for proposal to Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.

Defence minister AK Antony recently said that imported arms often do not meet local conditions. The government’s aim is to replicate the South Korean model in which the industrial arms base was developed by the private and public sectors, foreign investments and technology transfers. India’s import of military hardware and software is expected to touch $30 billion within the next five years.

“Tata’s SED had partnered the ministry of defence, the armed forces, defence public sector undertakings and DRDO for the development and supply of sub-systems. SED has now evolved into a systems integrator for programs such as the Pinaka MBRL system, launchers for the Akash Air Force and Army Programs, Samyukta Electronic Warfare Program, Command and Control Systems for Air Defence and Naval Combat,” said the Tata official.

Separately, engineering giant L&T is also looking to bid for the $15-billion production contract for a submarine fleet for the Indian Navy. The company is also working on the hull fabrication of India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine and Pinaka rocket launchers. L&T is looking to tap international defence and aerospace markets in partnership with Boeing and EADS.

 

[su-47]

Landing docks on Navy’s periscope

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian Navy has plans to build three Landing Platform Docks (LPD) on its own after 10 years. Till then, INS Jalashwa (formerly ‘USS Trenton’) would bridge the ‘capability gap’ in ship-to-shore movement of stores.

INS Jalashwa was purchased from the US for a throwaway price of Rs 200 crore whereas a new ship of the same category will cost not less than Rs 2,000 crore, said Eastern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice-Admiral RP Suthan.

Addressing a press conference onboard INS Jalashwa here today, Vice-Admiral Suthan said though INS Jalashwa was originally commissioned into the US Navy in March 1971, it is as good as a new one and it adds punch to the Indian Navy.

It was inducted in the Indian Navy at Norfolk on June 22, 2007. India has the technology and resources to build a LPD but it purchased INS Jalashwa from the US as it was the best bargain.

India is in need of such a ship and it found USS Trenton as suitable to its requirements. It was like any other defense procurement.

INS Jalashwa is an Austin class amphibious assault ship that transports and lands elements of force to support shore operations during war and undertakes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief functions.

Malabar-07:

As regards the five-nation joint Naval exercises Malabar-07 held in Bay of Bengal, Vice-Admiral Suthan said it was a great opportunity to observe the practices of some of the world’s best navies and, the Indian Navy is looking forward to similar engagements in the future.

The Western Navy is about to participate in exercises with the French off Red sea soon.

Vice-Admiral Suthan has dispelled the notion that Russia was kept out of Malabar-07, as wrong, saying that Russia had a different agenda. It was only in April this year that the Indian and Russian navies took part in joint exercises at Vladivostok.

No threat from LTTE:

The ENC chief did not foresee any threat to the Indian Navy from the LTTE, stating that it is a local conflict restricted to the Sri Lankan coastal waters.

However, there are Intelligence reports of the ‘Sea Tigers’ getting arms supplies through the Bay of Bengal.

Eastern Fleet Flag Officer Commanding Rear Admiral RK Dhowan and INS Jalashwa Commanding Officer Capt BS Ahluwalia were present.

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

 

[Contrarian]

Armed forces place Rs 2,000 crore orders for anti-nuke systems

Trichy (TN), Sep 21 (PTI) India's armed forces have placed orders worth over Rs 2,000 crore for specialised equipment and systems to prepare the country against nuclear, biological and chemical weapon strikes.
The equipment and systems to be purchased on fast track, include gear to protect against nuclear and chemical radiation, systems to detect any early threat of nuclear and biological weapons and an advanced medical management system to deal with nuclear fall out, top defence scientist W Selvamurthy said.

"These products are being produced by 30 DRDO and ordnance factories and would be supplied within a period of one year," Selvamurthy, who is the Chief Controller, Research and Design in DRDO told reporters on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists here.

He said the products also include nuclear shelters, specialised protective clothing, ruggedised combat weapons, medicines and preventive drugs.

Over 300 top scientists from across the world are participating in the three-day conference that began yesterday.

Selvamurthy also said that DRDO had produced Di-Ethyl Phenyl Acetamide (DEPA) -- which can be used both as body or room spray -- to fight epidemics like chikungunya and dengue fever.
PTI

 

[Bull]

India to launch satellite with military applications

Bangalore, Sept 21: India has built an advanced remote sensing satellite with military and other applications and its launch is expected in the next few weeks onboard a home-grown rocket, with an Israeli spacecraft as its likely co-passenger.

"Cartosat-2A is ready for launch," an ISRO official said.

Meanwhile, Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, G Madhavan Nair, indicated that if it`s technically feasible, Cartosat-2A and Israel`s Polaris would be launched together onboard India`s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

"There are some technical issues that have to be resolved. We are in discussion with them (Israeli space Agency).... (We will go for simultaneous launch) if its technically feasible. There are some questions to be discussed," Nair said here.

"We have not yet finalised the date for the launch. We want to do it before the end of the year. That`s our target".

ISRO officials brushed aside suggestions in some quarters that Cartosat-2A is India`s first dedicated military satellite but gave enough indications that it could be used for military purposes.

"The pictures which we get from this satellite (Cartosat-2A)...What applications use...Left to the imagination of the user. We don`t put a restriction on anybody using it," Nair said.

 

[Bull]

India wants UAV that can be missile
NEW DELHI: India might still be some years away from inducting combat UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) but is on the verge of acquiring spy drones which itself act like cruise missiles.

Defence ministry sources say the Army, Navy and IAF are now drafting a combined proposal to purchase Israeli Harpy UAVs, which are designed to detect and attack enemy radar.

"Indian teams went to Israel to see the Harpys in action last year. Their purchase has now been approved in principle," said a source.

This comes after the use of armed UAVs like the Predators -- which let loose Hellfire missiles with devastating effect during the US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -- came as an eye-opener for the Indian military brass.

While it will take time to acquire Predator-like UAVs, which are remotely controlled through satellite communication from thousands of miles away, India is now actively seeking Israel's help to gain some much-needed muscle in this arena.

Incidentally, the Army is also looking to acquire miniature Israeli UAVs like 'Skylite-B' and 'I-View', which are man-portable and quite stealthy in nature, for its special forces.

But coming back to the Harpy, it first tracks and verifies hostile radar emissions after being launched in any kind of weather. It then enters into an attack mode to dive almost vertically and finally, detonates its warhead just above the enemy radar to effectively "kill'' it.

Treating Harpy basically as "an anti-radiation missile", Indian forces plan to mount it on the long endurance, medium-altitude ‘Heron' strategic UAVs already acquired from Israel.

The "lethal" system will then be used as a combination of seeker and killer drone, which will even make it possible to attack enemy targets even after their emitters are turned off.

Incidentally, China had procured some Harpy anti-radar UAVs from Israel in the 1990s in a secret deal, which left the US fuming. Washington, in fact, even asked Tel Aviv to block such deals in the future.

Washington, for instance, had also managed to put pressure on Tel Aviv to cancel a signed deal with China for Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems). India, incidentally, will progressively get three Israeli Phalcons from mid-2008 onwards under a $1.1-billion deal signed in March 2004.

As for spy drones, since the 1999 Kargil conflict, Indian forces have inducted well over 60 Israeli Searcher-II, Heron and other UAVs as "force-multipliers'' in reconnaissance missions as well as for precision-strike operations.

The Army, for instance, is soon going to operationalise two new UAV squadrons of Herons, with eight drones each for Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Leh-based 14 Corps.

The Navy, on its part, is using its eight Searchers and four Herons for medium-range surveillance up to 200 nautical miles over the seas, greatly boosting its maritime snooping capabilities.

The IAF has also bolstered its UAV force to over five squadrons now, with the last three being procured from
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) for Rs 576 crore during 2003. And now, the aim of all the three Services is to move towards inducting combat UAVs.

 

[Bull]

The Indian Army will within months ask for bids to supply 56 Quick Re¬action Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) mo¬bile launcher systems worth more than $1.5 billion. The deal will include the licensed pro¬duction in India of more than 4,000 missiles over 20 years.
Defense ministry officials granted permis¬sion for the global tender in mid-September, after the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the Rafael Spyder surface-to-air missile does not meet the Army’s mobility requirements.
But the Israeli missile remains the Indian Air Force’s choice to replace Russ¬ian OSA self-propelled anti-aircraft inte¬grated systems.
Senior defense ministry officials said they have allowed the Army to buy foreign mis¬siles because DRDO’s homegrown Akash missile, slated to replace the Russian Kvadrat missile, has been delayed by more than a decade with no completion date in sight.
Firms to be invited to bid are likely to in¬clude Israel’s Rafael, Canada’s Oerlikon Contraves, the U.S. Boeing and Raytheon, Russia’s KPB Tula and, for the first time, the DRDO.
The Indian design agency is working with MBDA of France on a $500 million effort to develop the 35-kilometer Maitri quick-reac¬tion missile, a blend of the French Mica and DRDO Trishul. Design will be carried out at Defence Research and Development Labo¬ratory facilities in Hyderabad.
MBDA will develop an active homing head, thrust-vector controls and missiles. DRDL will handle software, command-and-control, and integration.
The all-weather, tracked-chassis QRSAMs, which are to defend Army formations oper¬ating in the plains and semi-desert areas, should be able to engage all kinds of targets, including aircraft up to 9 kilometers high, hovering helicopters, missiles up to 800 me¬ters per second and low-flying targets, in¬cluding those that suddenly appear at close range, a senior Army official said.
The QRSAM’s radar should be able to track while scanning out to 28 kilometers; provide 3-D, 360-degree coverage; recognize identifi¬cation-friend-or-foe beacons; detect ballistic and cruise missiles; and guide four missiles to separate targets.
The 900-meter-per-second missiles should be able to hit targets 12 kilometers out and 6 kilometers up within six seconds of detection.
The launchers should be able to operate 24 hours a day, move 150 kilometers a day with¬out refueling and have nuclear-biological-chemical protection.
The Army currently uses Russian OSA-AK, Kvadrat, Shilka and Tunguska air-defense systems. å

 

[Bull]

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will buy a large number of Eurocopter Fennec AS 550 C3 helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters.

This was indicated by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major in an interview here with India Strategic. He did not name the make of the helicopter, but as the Indian Army has already chosen the Eurocopter over Bell 407 this year it is apparently going to be the same machine for the IAF as well as the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

It may be noted that former defence secretary Shekhar Dutt, who introduced the offsets concept in defence procurement, has also ensured that the three services and Coast Guard go in for the same system if their required specifications are the same or nearly the same.

Earlier, each service could buy a system from the same manufacturer individually under different contracts. Now, the overall requirement is negotiated and options are kept.

The air chief said the IAF was working on acquiring various types of helicopters for different roles, from combat to light to medium and heavy lift machines, and that it would take about 10 years to complete their acquisition programme.

Like the combat jets, most of the helicopters with IAF are also nearly 20 or more than 20 years old, and need upgradation or replacement.

'IAF's requirement of helicopters will be met by induction of additional helicopters for various roles in a phased manner during the next two five-year plan periods. This will offset the force-depletion due to phase-outs,' he said.

Air Chief Marshal Major indicated that the Request for Proposals (RfP or tender) for the heavy lift machines would be floated in the next fiscal year beginning April to 'who ever makes them'.

There is an initial, and immediate, requirement of about a dozen heavy lift helicopters and the machines should be inducted after thorough technical trials and examination of financial details as per the DPP 2006, possibly within three years after that.

Boeing's Chinook CH 47 is the only 20-tonne helicopter available today. The US company had displayed this massive twin-rotor machine at the Aero India 2007 at Bangalore to demonstrate its capabilities. A formal presentation was also made recently at the Air Headquarters, which does periodic exercises to update its international information base as a matter of routine.

IAF has executed major relief missions admirably during calamities like tsunami and snowstorms but it is hampered badly by the lack of heavy lift helicopters that can carry substantial load on the one hand and withstand the mountain drafts on the other.

It had acquired a small number of Mi 26 heavy lift helicopters from the Soviet Union in the 1980s, but their manufacture was stopped in the disintegration process of that country. There is a big problem now in their maintenance as no spares are available.

IAF pilots swear by the reliability of the eight-rotor Mi 26 helicopters though, the biggest ever in the world but, of course, Russia does not make them any more, times have changed and technology has improved towards digital systems for optimised performance.

The air chief said that 'as the helicopter is a versatile machine and has multi-role capability during peace and war', IAF's operational philosophy gives due emphasis on what is required and in how many numbers.

IAF also needs combat helicopters to replace and augment its fleet of Mi 25s and the air chief said that due attention was being given to this aspect also.

IAF is very keen to acquire helicopters with high-altitude (25,000 feet-plus) capability but they are not available in the global market. India's requirements are typical due to the tough terrain in the Himalayan heights and HAL has promised to design and deliver them within 10 years.

But for routine combat operations, Boeing has offered its famed Apache AH 64 and Eurocopter, its Tigre (Tiger in English) EC 665. The Apache offer was disclosed only last week in New Delhi by Boeing's visiting Vice President and General Manager for Rotorcraft Systems Chuck Allen.

Both these helicopters make extensive use of reinforced carbon composite materials, kevlar and titanium. Their service ceiling is around 16,000 feet.

As for the Eurocopter Fennec, it would replace the nearly 400 Alouettes and Lamas (designated Chetak and Cheetah) currently in operation with the Indian armed forces as well as private organisations. But eventually, as the assembly and progressive manufacture of the aircraft is done at HAL, around 600 of these machines could be made in India, depending upon the price and required rate of production.

Fennec also makes substantial use of composite materials, in body, rotor and rotor blades and tail rotor. These materials are described by the company as 'rugged, low cost, efficient and corrosion-free.'

Indications at the recent Paris Air Show were that Safran, which makes the helicopter's Turbomeca Arrius engine, will further fine-tune the system for better performance. The engine has Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) for optimised performance.

 

[Bull]

Indian defense authorities are expected to invite global bids for medium to heavy-lift helicopters by the middle of 2008, Boeing Co.'s (BA) vice president and general manager for Rotorcraft Systems said Friday.

"We responded to their request for information for our Chinook helicopters sometime around July," Charles Allen said, referring to the twin-rotor Chinook CH-47, which can fly up to 20,000 feet and carry up to 55 soldiers. "They say they will invite bids in the early part of next year or by mid-year, " said Allen, who is part of Boeing's military business called Integrated Defense Systems.

In February, Boeing said it had informal talks with the Indian Air Force for the sale of 12 Chinooks in a deal that would be worth $600 million including the cost of aircraft, support systems, logistics and training. The heavylift Chinook is a multi-role chopper with military and civilian uses, including humanitarian relief operations.

Separately, a senior Indian Air Force official, who didn't want to be identified, said India may initially buy up to 25 attack-role helicopters -- a deal that could be worth about $700 million. The air force official also said bids for both the medium to heavyliftand the attack helicopters will be invited from April 2008, the first month of the new fiscal year.

 

[Bull]

India's armed forces have placed orders worth over Rs 2,000 crore for specialized equipment and systems to prepare the country against nuclear, biological and chemical weapon strikes.

The equipment and systems to be purchased on fast track include gear to protect against nuclear and chemical radiation, systems to detect any early threat of nuclear and biological weapons and an advanced medical management system to deal with nuclear fall out, top defence scientist W Selvamurthy said.

"These products are being produced by 30 Defence Research and Development Organisation and ordnance factories, and will be supplied within a period of one year," Selvamurthy, who is the Chief Controller, Research and Design in DRDO told media persons on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

He said the products also include nuclear shelters, specialised protective clothing, combat weapons, medicines and preventive drugs.

Over 300 top scientists from across the world are participating in the three-day conference that began on Thursday.

 

[Bull]

RAMANATHAPURAM: The air wing of the Navy has begun joint exercises with the Indian Coast Guard off the Palk Bay.

Four helicopters from the Indian Naval Air Stations at Rajali, Arakkonam, and Uchipuli are taking part in the exercise.

Besides work boats, the Coast Guard has deputed ICGS Rani Jindan, an inshore patrol vessel, and two interceptor crafts IC-109 and IC-138 for the exercise.

Personnel from the Coast Guard station, Mandapam, are participating in the exercise.

The station will provide surface support to the men and material involved in the exercise.

The exercise will increase the efficiency of naval and Coast Guard pilots in ensuring maritime security.

The personnel will be involved in search and rescue operations, stationary formation, manoeuvring, transfer of mail and material, wet winching and evacuation, sources told The Hindu.

The exercise will enhance the knowledge of young pilots on coastal patrolling, transferring personnel from helicopters to ships, rescuing men in distress from sea, combat first aid and monitoring illegal vessels and subversive activities. The programme will continue till Monday.

The exercise will also be utilised to step up aerial patrolling over the Palk Bay and the Palk Strait.

 

[Bull]

VISAKHAPATNAM: ‘Varunastra’ an electric torpedo being developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), will be ready by 2009. The torpedo will target ships and will be the first heavyweight to be inducted into the Navy. The 7.6 m, 1,500 kg torpedo will be more lethal and has a range of up to 30 km.

A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will be fully developed in two years. Once developed, the 1.5 ton AUV will be able to carry a payload of 500 kg. The vehicle will have an ‘intelligent’ system and will be self-propellant and can also hover at a particular spot but the enemy cannot detect it. Like an unmanned aircraft, it will intercept the target. A Thermal Tarpedo is also indigenously developed at the NSTL.

These are some the new developments explained to a team of reporters on a visit for ‘A day at NSTL’ organised as part of the new public relations policy of the DRDO.

NSTL Director V. Bhujanga Rao and Principal Associate Director S.V. Rangarajan took the team around and explained some of the unique R&D facilities at the laboratory.

The High Speed Towing Tank is a premier research facility for carrying out studies on the hydrodynamic performance of ships, propellers and submerged bodies through model experiments. The cavitation tunnel tests propellers, torpedoes and weapons in simulated underwater conditions. The tests validate designs and modify them for ships, submarines and torpedoes. The pump jets being made for submarines are manufactured only by the U.S., the U.K. and Russia. “This facility can take care of needs for the next 50 years. New trials will improve efficiency. It is open for one or two other countries too as well,” said Mr. Bhujanga Rao.

The Shock, Noise and Vibration Centre is specially designed to carry out underwater explosions. It is the only one of its kind in the country. The process called “ruggedisation” will measure the impact of explosion on ships and what kind of damage it could cause. Ships will be equipped with rubber mounds to withstand the shock of the explosion. The Acoustics Test Centre of the NSTL has an anechoic room with wedges of 1.5 m all around. It’s ‘room within a room’ where the sound level is as low as 25 decibels. It is used to identify where sound comes in equipment and reduce it using a robotic arm.

 

[Bull]

Bareilly, Sept. 30 (PTI): The Indian Air Force is developing state-of-the-art infrastructure here, including a world class avionics lab, for the most potent fighters in its combat fleet - Su-30MKI squadron - in a bid to counter threats especially from China.

A modern tech flight hangar, the biggest in the country, is also coming up at the base which will house the Sukhois and other allied equipment for its servicing.

"Bareilly is strategically located, and we are in the process of converting it into a major hub for the Su-30MKIs," Chief Administrative officer of the base Group Captain, P V Gadgil, told a group of visiting journalists.

The multi-role Sukhoi fighters, which have a cruising speed range of 3,200 km coupled with advanced beyond-visual range combat capabilities, are capable of striking deep inside China, said another official.

Chief Engineering officer of the base Group Captain, Rajiv Gandotra, said "the defence of the nation requires the aeroplanes to be available all the time and in highest numbers."

Gadgil said the base was strategically very important as "after the Chinese aggression in 1962, it was realised that the area was left out without having any credible air defence capability."

"Our army is in the hills now after that aggression. We had to deploy the army more or less continuously and if there is war, somebody has to support the army, whether it's close air support by fighter aircraft or by helicopters," he said.

Gadgil said the Eight Squadron which is also based at the air force station will be flying Su-30MKI, once they are delivered by Russia.

It would take anywhere from six months to a year to equip the Eight Squadron with Sukhoi fighters though "lot of uncertainties" are involved in it, Gadgil said adding the Eight Squadron exists without any assets here.

India had signed a deal in early 2007 for purchase of another 40 Su-30MKI to tackle the depleting strength of its fighter squadrons. Another 140 of these fighters, will be built at HAL facilities at Nashik by 2013-2014.

He said the upcoming infrastructure here like the new hangar and the avionics lab would be vital for IAF'S operations.

"It is going to be the biggest hangar in the IAF. It's going to be huge. The hangar will house all allied equipment for servicing. We took help from IIT Kanpur and other agencies to design the hangar," Gadgil said.

He said the avionics lab is one of the best in the country. "The highly-sophisticated avionics lab will service almost all the equipment in the Su 30 MKI aircraft".

Gangotra said equipment from Russian, Israeli and French are installed in the lab where third line of maintenance including structured repairs due to battle damages like bullet hits could be carried out.

"Its a vital infrastructure for us. Now we are capable of even repairing the engines of the aircraft. The aircraft can fly the next day itself after facing any kind of problem. Earlier, we have to send the engines to Russia," he said.