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Indian Navy hopeful BJP will move on delayed procurements


The Indian Navy (IN) is expectant that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which assumes office on 26 May, will approve the purchase of urgently needed equipment such as heavyweight torpedoes for its under-construction Scorpene submarines and advanced towed array sonars (ATAS) for its warships.

"The navy anticipates that prime minister-designate, Narendra Modi's, new administration will be more receptive to the many gaps in its equipment profile," a three-star IN officer told IHS Jane's .

Naval headquarters, he added, is readying its list of long-delayed procurements to present to the new defence minister.

Following 2010 trials the IN opted to acquire 98 Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes over Atlas Elektroniks' Sea Hake for its six Scorpene submarines.

The first Scorpene boat, scheduled for commissioning in 2016, will be armed only with MBDA Exocet SM-39 anti-ship missiles following delays in signing the USD300 million deal amid complaints of wrongdoing in the selection process.

IN officials said subsequent Scorpenes, which will be commissioned at 12-14-month intervals by Mazagon Dockyard Limited in Mumbai, would also operate without heavyweight torpedoes unless the BJP government agreed to their immediate procurement.

"The MoD's [Ministry of Defence's] administrative delay in acquiring heavyweight torpedoes should never have been allowed to happen," former IN Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told IHS Jane's . "Far too much time is taken by the MoD in booking equipment and placing orders," he added.

In January the MoD reversed the approval by its Defence Acquisition Council to acquire Black Shark torpedoes from WASS, which is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. This followed the 1 January termination of the EUR750 million (USD764 million) purchase of 12 AW101 helicopters from AgustaWestland, another Finmeccanica company, over corruption charges. The MoD remains undecided on whether to blacklist AgustaWestland or Finmeccanica or both over the 2010 AW101 deal.

IN officers said that proscribing Finmeccanica would "seriously jeopardise" the Black Shark deal and force a fresh tender. This in turn would delay arming the Scorpenes by several years.

Meanwhile, the purchase of six ATAS systems from Atlas Elektronik for EUR40-50 million for three Delhi-class destroyers and three Talwar-class frigates has been pending since trials in 2010. At the time, the IN had selected Atlas' Active Towed Away Sonar (ACTAS) low-frequency sonar over rival models offered by Thales and L3 Communications.

The deal included Atlas transferring technology to the public sector Bharat Electronics Limited in Bangalore to build at least 10 additional ATAS systems to equip the IN's frontline warships. However, like the Black Shark deal, this programme was hampered by repeated complaints of wrongdoing in the selection process.

An MoD-appointed independent committee rejected the complaints earlier in 2014, but the ministry has since ignored repeated IN requests to sign the ATAS deal.

India's surface combatants are presently making do with locally designed towed passive and hull-mounted sonars that are unable to operate effectively in the warm and shallow waters of the Arabian Sea.
 
Definitely plans are afoot to increase transparency & cut down on the time needed by bureaucratic practices for
placing orders/securing ToT licenses etc.
 
P8I4Arrival_3862.jpg


This just in from Boeing:
[Has] delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India on schedule, fulfilling the first half of a contract for eight aircraft.The aircraft departed from Boeing Field in Seattle and arrived May 21 at Naval Air Station Rajali, where it joined three P-8Is currently undergoing operational evaluation.

“This marks an important milestone -- the halfway point for P-8I deliveries to India,” said Dennis Swanson, BDS vice president in India. “The Indian Navy is putting the first three P-8Is through their paces operationally, and the P-8I delivered today will begin flight trials in the coming months,” said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager.

Livefist: Indian Navy Gets 4th P-8I
 
New power projection capabilities sought for the Indian Navy- Fleet Support Ships

In a signal that the Indian Navy (IN) is looking to push further into the Southern Indian Ocean Region (IOR) besides being ready to operate for reasonable lengths of time even in areas such as the Mediterranean and the South China Sea (SCS), the service sent out request for proposals (RFPs) in April 2013 for the construction of five new fleet support ships (FSS). These new ships are to be procured under the 'buy global' category of the defence procurement procedure (DPP). The specifications laid out by the IN suggest that it is looking for serious underway replenishment capability from these ships which will have roles and capability beyond the standard fleet tankers of yesteryear. The decision to 'buy global' has apparently been guided by the fact that Indian defence shipyards are already overloaded and the ships are required on a priority basis. Indeed, any quick forward movement on this tender under Narendra Modi's dispensation may be indicative of the role the new Indian government intends to play in the Indo-Pacific.
The request for information (RFI) sent out in 2011 for these ships itself clearly spells out that the functions for the FSS include:
(a) Transfer FOLs to all Naval Surface units while underway at sea, using the abeam and stern transfer methods.
(b) Transfer all types of Stores, Victuals and Personnel to naval units, while underway at sea
.
Thus beyond the role of fuelling at sea (FAS) which involves delivering fluids such as low speed and high speed diesel (LSHSD), aviation fuel (AVCAT), fresh water and feed water these ships will also perform tasks typically carried out by combat store ships and ammunition ships by being able to deliver a variety of solid cargoes to serve as true replenishment at sea (RAS) vessels. As such the RFI calls for each ship to have a heavy Jackstay rig for transfer of a loads up to 2 tons ( which incidentally is quite standard for RAS ships) and specifies that a cargo drop reel (CDR) be provided for the heavy Jackstay. The ships will also have light Jackstay rigs on either side and these will be fitted with auto tension winches to transfer loads up to 250 kg. Furthermore, each ship will also have dedicated cargo lifts for cargo spare gear, ammunition and stores.
While the above refers to connected replenishment, the FSS naturally also has to be capable of vertical replenishment. This is accomplished by the use of a multi-role helicopter that the ship has to be designed to carry and operate. As per the RFI, the FSS should be capable of staging through helicopters with max take-off weight (MTOW) of up to 16 tons. It must also use a helicopter traversing system to secure and manoeuvre the helicopter from the landing area to the hangar in all weather conditions for which the ship is designed.
Now the projected size of these ships will make them only slightly smaller than the INS Vikramaditya which recently became fully operational with its complement of Mig-29ks. With an overall length of 200 m, a beam of about 25 m and and full load displacement of 40000 tonnes, the FSS will easily count among the IN's biggest ships. These FSSs will thus be more than 10000 tonnes larger than India's latest fleet tankers of the Deepak Class. Interestingly the RFI also says that the draught of these ships should not exceed 10m thereby rendering them easily capable of traversing the Suez Canal and even shallower navigable channels.
The relatively large size of the FSS should allow it to hold at a minimum 20,000 tons of LSHSD, 2500 tons of AVCAT, 1000 tons of Fresh water and 1400 tons of Feed water. Commensurately, the FSS according to the RFI must be able to perform a 60 day mission with the latent capability to operate for an extended mission on requirement. And the designed minimum endurance of the ship needs to be as follows (with 25 percent balance fuel left on board)-
(a) 12,000 nautical miles at 16 knots.
(b) 9,000 nautical miles at 20 knots.
The IN also wants these ships to have a high degree of automation and make do with a complement of about 190 with 24 officers. The RFI specifies that the IN is looking for "automation in hotel/domestic services, ship's husbandry, maintenance, logistics and management service is to be maximised." Power automation is also a requirement. Basically an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), is to be provided, capable of controlling and monitoring main propulsion system components, DAs, auxiliaries and ship systems including damage control systems.
Further in keeping with a contemporary integrated deck environment the ship will also have to host an advance composite communication system (ACCS) fusing together all external and internal communication equipment in all modes (voice, video, IP based data) and will be of commercial off the shelf (COTS) technology grade. The ACCS will consist of two L-band radars, one E/F band radar,one log, and two echo sounders. These ships will naturally be compatible with the IN's maritime domain awareness (MDA) network.
The on-board communication equipment will probably have several indigenous contributions that would help the primary contractor discharge mandatory offset requirements. Military grade indigenous content could be in the form electronic support measures (ESM) and communications intelligence (COMINT) equipment.
The fact that the IN is looking to acquire high end capability through the FSS program can also be gauged by the level of RAS capabilities sought. A RAS speed of 12-16 knots is specified in the RFI which is pretty much in keeping with the highest international standards. The FSS clearly cannot be like a sluggish auxiliary of old and must maintain a speed of 'not less than 20 knots of maximum continuous speed, at ambient temperatures of up to 40 degrees celsius, in fully laden condition up to Sea State 3 and while less than six months out of dock. It should also be capable of an economical speed of 15 knots. Minimum transfer rates for the FAS function will be as follows - 2400 tonnes per hour (TPH) for LSHSD, 1200 TPH for AVCAT, 750 TPH for both fresh water and feed water.
Clearly the FSS will keep pace with the IN's principal surface combatants and achieve underway replenishment even in trying circumstances. To facilitate this, the FSS's propulsion setup has to be of relevant capability. The IN wants these ships to have combined diesel and diesel propulsion (CODAD) in a single shaft configuration with controllable pitch propellers (CPP). The FSS must have bow thrusters commensurate with the size/ tonnage. The design will naturally be optimized keeping in mind overall power supply requirements that will be met through shaft generators and diesel generators of adequate capacity and required redundancy. Suitably rated emergency diesel backups must be located appropriately and should have double line shafting with CPP.
The requirements laid out in the RFI at some level show that the IN is also confident of the seamanship standards in its ranks and wants ships that can help it leverage those. The sea-worthiness requirements for the FSS which is expected to serve for at least three decades underlines the same. As per the RFI, the FSS:
(a) Should be sea-worthy up to Sea State 8.
(b) Should be capable of operating helicopter in Sea State 5 on favourable headings.
(c) The combat systems should be operable up to Sea State 5.
(d) Should be able to survive on the best heading up to Sea State 9.
(e) Should be seaworthy after discharging all fuel and stores onboard.
(f) Should possess ballast capability.
(g) Should be capable of carrying out RAS up to sea state 5.
(h) The ship should meet all stability criteria as stipulated in NES 109.
Naturally good sea-keeping will require maintaining high construction standards. The main hull would be constructed of all welded steel DMR 249A or equivalent. Modern polymer paints approved by IHQ MoD (N) are to be used throughout the ship. The ship is to be built in accordance with IRS Classification Society Standards which includes conforming to an amendment to MARPOL regulations (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and the Protocol of 1978) that requires tankers to be double hulled. The FSS will also have active anti-corrosion and anti-fouling measures.
The FSS's weapon systems will have high indigenous content. For instance, The RFI explicitly calls for the fitment of an 'indigenous Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS)' which could be the DRDO developed Mareech. One Expendable Conductivity Depth Temperature Profile launcher is also to be fitted in the aft section, besides a store for holding ammunition. The ship will also be fitted with two 30 mm Guns and two 12.7 mm guns in addition to four chaff launchers all of which will are likely to be supplied by the Ordnance Factory Board.
The IN wants the first vessel delivered with 36 months of contract signing with one ship following every six months. The RFP is likely to elicit responses from many major shipyards across the world. This procurement move alongside the IN's desire to build two large submarine tenders shows that its auxiliary fleet is coming of age. While the induction of new destroyers and frigates certainly improves the IN's striking power, it is a rapid augmentation of its support fleet that will obviously give it true 'staying power' in the Southern IOR and beyond.

Saurav Jha's Blog : New power projection capabilities sought for the Indian Navy- Fleet Support Ships

@Penguin @sancho @Capt.Popeye Is there any FSS with 40k tonnage ?
 
Navy to acquire five self-propelled Fleet Support Ships

To further bolster its blue water capabilities, the Indian Navy plans to acquire five self-propelled Fleet Support Ships (FSS) that should be capable of transferring all types of stores, ammunition, fuel and personnel to naval units while underway at sea.
Navy to acquire five self-propelled Fleet Support Ships - The Hindu

Essentially an AOR is being sought.. The Algol class was intended for use to reinforce US ground troops in the European theatre of operations.
 
The ALGOL class ships are Troop and Material Transport Ships, nothing to do with Fleet Supply/Replenishment.
Exactly. The Algol class has nothing to do with the FSS requirement. For one, the Algol class does not fullfil the role of refuelling and resupplying ships at sea. What you are looking for is a ship that replenishes the smaller AORs that operate in direct support of task forces. Thus you establish a logistics 'train', which allows you to operate 'out of area'.
 
Exactly. The Algol class has nothing to do with the FSS requirement. For one, the Algol class does not fullfil the role of refuelling and resupplying ships at sea. What you are looking for is a ship that replenishes the smaller AORs that operate in direct support of task forces. Thus you establish a logistics 'train', which allows you to operate 'out of area'.

Precisely.
To increase the Fleet(s) operational endurance: and achieve a greater standard of the popular catch-phrase: "Blue-Water Navy". :D
 
Thirty women to pass out from naval academy - Brahmand.com


NEW DELHI (PTI): 30 women cadets will pass out from the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala and join the Navy and the Coast Guard.

"The passing out parade of 268 cadets will take place on May 31. Of these cadets, 30 are women trainees and will go on to join the Navy and the Coast Guard," Navy's in-charge for training Rear Admiral SN Ghormade told reporters on Tuesday.

The officer was briefing about the ab initio training in the maritime force.

The newly-built academy was inaugurated couple of years ago during the UPA regime by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and can house around a thousand cadets.

The academy has also kept 15 reserved seats for foreign cadets from friendly nations such as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Tanzania and Maldives, to help them in enhancing their capabilities.

Ghormade said the widow of Commander Kuntal Wadhwa, who died in a mishap involving the under-construction INS Kolkata, will also undergo training at the academy where she will have to go through the same process as her male counterparts.

In a special gesture, Navy allowed her to apply for becoming an officer and she has already cleared the Services Selection Board for being eligible to join the maritime force.

Naval academy to get foreign cadets from December - The Times of India


NEW DELHI: The doors of the sprawling new Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in Kerala will be thrown open to cadets from several friendly countries, especially from the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), later this year.
As the Navy's ongoing endeavour to create an officer-cadre of "high-tech sea warriors", all armed with a B.Tech degree or a MSc (applied electronics) degree at the very least, gets going at the INA, it is moving to induct foreign trainees as well from December 2014 onwards.
Speaking ahead of the passing-out-parade of the third-batch of officers from the INA on May 31, which will include 30 women in a batch of 268 cadets, assistant chief of personnel (HRD) Rear Admiral S N Ghormade said the foreign cadets will come from countries like Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Tanzania. "Initially, we are looking at a small batch of 15-20 foreign cadets, which will be progressively increased later," he said.
The Navy does train around 900 foreign personnel, both officers and sailors, every year in its different training establishments. But this is the first time the INA - Asia's largest naval academy spread over 2,538 acres -will also help in training them.
The INA is geared towards producing "tech-savvy officers" because of the unprecedented expansion in warship and weapon technology, with state-of-the-art weapon and sensor systems becoming the norm. From an existing annual capacity of 1,180 trainees, INA will begin training almost 2,500 cadets from 2019 onwards.
 
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