Indian Navy News & Discussions

[RPK]

Tyre burst as MiG-29 develops snag


Panaji, Dec 6 (IANS) A MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy developed a technical snag and suffered a tyre burst after the pilot applied the emergency brakes, an officer said Monday.

'The fighter plane suffered from a hydraulic failure. We are enquiring to the incident,' an Indian Navy officer said.

'According to the pilot, the tyre burst when he applied the emergency brakes after realising the technical snag,' he added.

The Mig-29s, the first four of which were inducted earlier this year, were purchased by the Indian Navy as part of a $1.5 billion deal inked with Russia in January 2004 for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

Of this, $740 million was meant for the aircraft and the balance for the refitting the carrier. The price of the carrier has now been revised to $2.23 billion and its delivery is expected sometime in 2012.

Till then, the aircraft will be deployed at the shore-based INS Hansa located in Vasco, some 35 km from here.

The Indian Navy will eventually get 12 MiG-29K single-seater aircraft and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat trainer aircraft.

 

[jha]

Navy Launches Fourth Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel - NOPV Sumitra

The fourth of the new Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) was ceremoniously launched on 06 Dec 2010 at the Goa Shipyard.
The NOPV will help meet the increasing requirement of the Indian Navy for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operation in order to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.

This Vessel will be deployed for monitoring sea lines of communication, defense of offshore oil installations and other important offshore national assets. Besides this, the Vessel can be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations. Sporting a flight deck, the vessel also supports operation of helicopters.

The fourth of its class, NOPV Sumitra, is powered by twin diesel engines, each driving a controllable pitch propeller through a reduction gearbox. The Vessel is fitted with state-of-the –art Navigation, Communication and Electronic Warfare equipment. A 76 mm SRGM and two 30 mm Guns with associated fire control system together with four chaff launchers form the main weaponry package of the vessel.

Livefist - Indian Defence & Aerospace: Indian Navy OPV Sumitra Launched

 

[RPK]

Haveeru Online - Indian naval ship joins Maldives marine operation

Indian naval ship joins Maldives marine operation

MALE, December 7 (HNS) – An Indian naval ship has joined the ongoing joint operation by the Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard to patrol the Maldivian waters.

MNDF Major Abdu Raheem said the Indian naval ship and the Indian Navy aircraft, which arrived in the Maldives last week, are searching the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

MNDF and Indian Navy initiated the operation on Friday after eight Somalis were discovered in dinghies within Maldivian waters last week. The Maldives police, meanwhile, are trying to repatriate the 34 Somalis in custody.

“In this operation the area from north to south of the Maldives will be searched. So far, we have not found any Somalis or suspected activities in the Maldivian waters,” Abdu Raheem said.

He stressed that the operation will continue for an undefined period.

According to reports, Somali pirates operate in the Indian Ocean very far from Somalia.

 

[Dash]

Tyre burst as MiG-29 develops snag


Panaji, Dec 6 (IANS) A MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy developed a technical snag and suffered a tyre burst after the pilot applied the emergency brakes, an officer said Monday.

'The fighter plane suffered from a hydraulic failure. We are enquiring to the incident,' an Indian Navy officer said.

'According to the pilot, the tyre burst when he applied the emergency brakes after realising the technical snag,' he added.

The Mig-29s, the first four of which were inducted earlier this year, were purchased by the Indian Navy as part of a $1.5 billion deal inked with Russia in January 2004 for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

Of this, $740 million was meant for the aircraft and the balance for the refitting the carrier. The price of the carrier has now been revised to $2.23 billion and its delivery is expected sometime in 2012.

Till then, the aircraft will be deployed at the shore-based INS Hansa located in Vasco, some 35 km from here.

The Indian Navy will eventually get 12 MiG-29K single-seater aircraft and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat trainer aircraft.

This is not a good news...

 

[justanobserver]

Navy to acquire AIP technology for Scorpenes

New Delhi, December 7, 2010

The navy’s Scorpene submarines are likely to have increased operational range and also do away with surfacing to access atmospheric oxygen, thanks to the new Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.

The submarines, under construction at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Limited, are likely to get the AIP technology that will increase their operational range without having to surface to access atmospheric oxygen.

The navy is considering various options available with it to fit the last two of the six submarines under the project, codenamed P75, with the AIP including the proposal made by French defence company DCNS.

DCNS Chairman and CEO Patrick Boissier, who is part of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s delegation to India, told reporters here that his firm has made an informal proposal to the navy in this regard.

“We have made an informal proposal to the navy for AIP technology in the last two of the Scorpenes that will be built at MDL. Now it is up to the navy to take a call on this proposal. We have held informal discussions in this regard,” Boissier said.

“The navy is considering the proposal and will take a call on it. We have some options, apart from the DCNS one, including an indigenous AIP system that is under development,” a navy officer, unwilling to be named, said here.

AIP encompasses technologies that allow a submarine to operate without the need to surface or use a snorkel to access atmospheric oxygen and it usually excludes the use of nuclear power, but is about augmenting or replacing diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear vessels.

Several countries in the world currently adopt the AIP technology in the submarines that they build and these include the US, Russia, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

Though the Scorpenes, being built with DCNS and Tales help at MDL, did not envisage AIP for the six submarines under the P75 project, the navy’s second line of six conventional submarines, called P75I, which were recently approved by the government, will incorporate the technology.

Talking about P75, Bossier said DCNS was in charge of major transfer of technology (ToT) to MDL for the building of 6 Scorpene submarines.

“We are carrying out genuine transfers of technologies and know-how at an unprecedented level under the Scorpene project right from the first submarine, which is under construction at present,” he said.

DCNS is providing Indian partners with technical assistance to manufacture equipment through indigenisation programmes.

“MDL has today absorbed the demanding technologies associated to hull fabrication. The shipyard modernisation programme launched by MDL will allow it to deliver more than one submarine per year,” he added.

The Scorpene project is currently delayed by over two years now and the first submarine is expected to be delivered by MDL only in 2012, after which the remaining five are expected at the rate of one submarine every year.

Boissier said MDL had already done the work on the hulls for the first two of the six Scorpenes and the work on the third and fourth vessels’ hulls were in progress.

“The frame to receive the hull of the fifth submarine is in progress. As you know, the launch of the first submarine has been delayed. We are constantly working with MDL and Delhi authorities to achieve the earliest possible date of launch,” Boissier noted.

At present, the outfitting works on the first Scorpene are in progress and the delivery of combat system equipment for it would happen soon. The other five submarines would get the equipment at the rate of one per year.

For the upcoming stages of the building (outfittings, systems integration and trials), Boissier said an new approach was needed at the MDL and together with DCNS, the shipyard had set up a ‘task force’ to monitor quality and improve efficiency.

“MDL is the only Indian naval shipyard to have produced submarines in the past. However, the competencies developed have seen a dip in the last 15 years.

“Considering submarines technologies, this is a huge gap to fill. Human competences, when not maintained, disappear slowly but surely. Industrial capacities too become weak or obsolete. You, therefore, have to consider new investments and learning stages that cost both time and money. It is crucial to keep competencies and industrial capacities up to date to perpetuate the investments made,” he said.

 

[jha]

First indigenous anti-submarine rocket handed over to Navy

PUNE: The first lot of 20 anti-submarine missiles, designed by the Ammunition Factory, Khadki (AFK), was handed over to the Indian Navy at a function on Tuesday. This is India's first indigenous, anti-submarine rocket.

As per AFK officials, two variants of the rocket that can strike at a range of 1.5 km and 6 km respectively have been developed. Besides, the rockets have been classified into two categories -- practice ones and high explosive ones. The Navy needs 3,000 such pieces.

The factory has a capacity to produce 1,000 per year. The first lot of 20 practice rockets was handed over to Rear Admiral S Kulshrestha, Director General Naval Armament Inspection, Delhi, by B N Singh, senior General Manager of AFK. "The Ammunition Factory Khadki, under the Ordnance Factory Board of Ministry of Defence, has indigenously developed an anti-submarine rocket with the Indian Navy to meet their tactical requirement. The Ministry of Defence had given the mandate to OFB to make indigenous efforts for developing new products for defence forces. To accelerate the process of in-house development of ammunition stores, the OFB set up an ordnance development centre at the AFK," said B N Singh.

Singh said the work started nearly four years back. These surface to water anti-submarine missiles can be launched from the ship and can destroy any submarine plying in a depth of 30 meters to 300 meters under the sea.

Kulshrestha applauded the synergy between OFB and the Indian Navy. "The induction of these rockets will strengthen the fire power of Indian Navy and will reduce our dependence on foreign countries. This will also enhance the value of production of the ammunition factory by more than Rs 60 to Rs 100 crore per annum," he said.

The rocket can carry up to 23 kilogram to 28 kilogram tri nitro terylene explosive. Several environmental tests have been successfully carried out on the rockets.

First indigenous anti-submarine rocket handed over to Navy - The Times of India

 

[RPK]

Boeing team begins building Indian Navy's 1st P-8I aircraft

December 07, 2010

The Boeing P-8I team began fabricating the first part for the Indian navy's first long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft on Dec. 6 in Wichita. The P-8I, based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the US Navy.

Employees at Spirit AeroSystems -- where all Boeing Next-Generation 737 fuselages, nacelles and pylons are designed and built -- cut the P-8I's first part, a bonded aluminum panel that later will be installed on the fuselage's upper lobe to support an antenna. The panel and other fuselage components will come together on Spirit's existing Next-Generation 737 production line.

"Today marks the P-8I program's move from the design phase to the build phase," said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. "We're on schedule and the Indian navy is looking forward to receiving its first plane."

Spirit will ship the P-8I fuselage to a Boeing Commercial Airplanes facility in Renton, Wash., in mid-2011 for final assembly. After that, Boeing Defense, Space & Security employees will install mission systems and complete testing prior to delivery to India.

"P-8I fuselage sections are designed and built using the same processes we use on the commercial 737," said Mike King, Spirit AeroSystems Fuselage Segment senior vice president/general manager. "We've built seven P-8A fuselages to date and continue to increase efficiency as we move forward."

Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009. India is the first international customer for the P-8.

The P-8I will provide India with speed, reliability, persistence and room for growth to satisfy the country's maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements now and well into the future. The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

Boeing team begins building Indian Navy's 1st P-8I aircraft | Shephard Group

 

[RPK]

Creation of Two New Forward Naval Bases --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15:37 IST
The Government has accorded in principle approval to setting up of certain naval infrastructure at two places on the East Coast. Coastal security issue is the top priority of the Government and a number of measures are being taken separately. This includes enhanced surveillance and patrolling by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. Joint Operational exercises are taking place on regular basis among the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Coastal State Police, Customs and others to check the effectiveness of the integrated approach adopted for the security of coastal areas. Further the intelligence has been streamlined through the creation of Joint Operation Centres. Creation of naval infrastructure is based on naval requirements and threat perception and is an on-going process.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Parimal Nathwani in Rajya Sabha today.

DM/MMB


PIB Press Release

 

[AMCA]

​

[Excerpts from a Boeing press release]: WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 7, 2010 -- The Boeing P-8I team began fabricating the first part for the Indian navy's first long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft on Dec. 6 in Wichita. The P-8I, based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.

Employees at Spirit AeroSystems -- where all Boeing Next-Generation 737 fuselages, nacelles and pylons are designed and built -- cut the P-8I's first part, a bonded aluminum panel that later will be installed on the fuselage's upper lobe to support an antenna. The panel and other fuselage components will come together on Spirit's existing Next-Generation 737 production line.

Spirit will ship the P-8I fuselage to a Boeing Commercial Airplanes facility in Renton, Wash., in mid-2011 for final assembly. After that, Boeing Defense, Space & Security employees will install mission systems and complete testing prior to delivery to India.

Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009. India is the first international customer for the P-8

 

[GORKHALI]

EMALS Hopes for First Shot Before
Christmas
BY CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS |
PUBLISHED: 8 DEC 2010 17:49
The first launch of an aircraft by the
U.S. Navy's new electro-magnetic
launch system could take place by
mid-December, an event that would
mark a major step ahead for a
program with its full share of critics
and doubters.
"The shot should take place within a
couple of weeks," said Rob Koon, a
spokesman for Naval Air Systems
Command (NAVAIR). Asked if the
engineers were trying to make the
launch before Christmas, Koon
replied, "that's what they're hoping
for."
The Electro-magnetic Aircraft Launch
System (EMALS) is a critical piece of
technology that will be installed in
the new Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft
carriers, the first of which is now
under construction. If the system
isn't ready in time, the Navy would
have to revert to older steam
catapults to launch aircraft from the
ships, a move that would mean
costly delays and redesigns.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet strike
fighter is now being instrumented
for the launch, Koon said. Test data
is being analyzed for safety issues
to obtain the necessary flight
clearances.
The launch will take place at
NAVAIR's facility at the Naval Air
Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J.,
where the service and prime
contractor General Atomics have
built a full-scale test site replicating a
shipboard installation, including
major software and hardware
components.
The development team began
shooting test "dead-loads" from the
system in the spring, Koon said.
Since then, 722 dead-load launches
have been made at speeds of up to
180 knots, the highest end-speed
requirement for the system. The
launch tests are part of the
program's system functional
demonstration phase.
If the Super Hornet launch is
successful, other types of carrier
aircraft will be tested next year,
including C-2 carrier-on-board-
delivery planes and T-45 Goshawk
jet trainers.
Koon said the EMALS program
remains on track to deliver its first
components to the new aircraft
carrier in 2011.
The EMALS system would be the first
new launch system since the Navy
replaced hydraulic catapults with
steam-powered systems in the
1950s. An electro-magnetic system
has numerous advantages over
steam. EMALS, which involves
energizing a series of electro-
magnets, is less stressful on aircraft
and can launch a wider range of
aircraft. The new system also would,
theoretically, need less maintenance
and cost less to operate.
The efficacy of the EMALS
technology and particularly its test
program has long been a question
for the Navy, Congress and industry.
The program - like nearly all
technology development programs -
has had its share of setbacks, but
the service and General Atomics
continue to insist the new system
will be ready in time for installation
on the Gerald R. Ford.
General Atomics made something of
a statement of confidence on July
13, when it agreed to a $676.2
million fixed-price contract to
produce the EMALS system and a
new advanced arresting gear
installation for the carrier.
But nothing will quiet critics like the
launch of a front-line jet fighter.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet set for
takeoff from a carrier's steam
catapult. A similar aircraft will make
the first launch from a new
electromagnetic launch system. (Lt.
Reann Mommsen / U.S. Navy)

 

[RPK]

Navy gets nod for LPDs’ acquisition


Navy gets nod for LPDs’ acquisition

The Indian Navy is fast building up on its capabilities to sea lift and to launch assault on both water and land.

The central government has given approval for the acquisition of four landing platform docks (LPDs) to transport and land various elements of amphibious force to support ashore operations.

The amphibious warships, with helipads and capacity to move large number of troops and tanks or humanitarian aid, would be a match to the second largest combat ship in the Indian Navy’s flotilla INS Jalashwa (earlier USS Trenton).

The approval for LPDs has been given by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) ‘Buy and Make Indian’ clause of the the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP-9).

“Under the ‘Buy and Make Indian’ category, the defence ministry would invite proposals from those Indian industries that have requisite financial and technical capabilities to enter into joint ventures and also absorb technology and undertake indigenous.

 

[RPK]

Defence ministry talks deal with Russian firm to overcome MiG shortfall - India - DNA


Defence ministry talks deal with Russian firm to overcome MiG shortfall


The ministry of defence (MoD) is negotiating price for a draft supplement agreement (DSA) with Russia’s RAC-MiG Corporation to buy additional equipment to overcome the teething problems it is facing in keeping its MiG-29K fleet flying.

MiG-29K aircraft, which were inducted into Indian Navy in February 2010, have been suffering tyre bursts whenever emergency brakes are applied during landing. Emergency brakes are applied whenever there is hydraulic failure and DSA is expected to solve this problem.

A naval officer said, “Emergency application is jamming brakes and increasing the risk of tyre skidding, and eventually bursting.”
DSA will entail supply of ground support items and spares and ensure life-long serviceability.

MiG-29K have fly-by-wire controls with quadruple redundancy and are an all-weather carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft based on INS Hansa off Goa.

The navy has six such aircraft which are undergoing flying-training at its Goa-based intensive flying training unit. All these are under warranty.

As per MoD’s first contract with RAC-MiG, 16 such aircraft are to join the navy. A second contract for an additional 29 MiG-29K was cleared by the cabinet earlier this year, making it a fleet of 45.
DSA will be life long and apply to all MiG-29K.

Earlier this month, a MiG-29K suffered hydraulic failure, forcing the pilot to apply emergency brakes while landing on INS Hansa, which resulted in a tyre burst. But a source said such failures have been happening ever since the aircraft were inducted into the navy.

 

[RPK]

PIB Press Release


Admiral Nirmal Verma Visits Sri Lanka on the Occasion of Sri Lankan Navy’s 60th Year Celebrations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15:52 IST
The Sri Lankan Navy celebrates its 60th anniversary today. Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff is in attendance as a guest for the celebrations. IN ships Mysore and Tarangini are on a port visit to Colombo in association with the celebrations.

In addition to Admiral Nirmal Verma, the function is also being attended by the Chiefs of Australian Navy, Pakistan Navy, Bangladesh Navy, UAE Navy, and the Maldivian National Defence Force. The four day celebrations include a symposium on maritime matters, a sailing competition and other interactions between the various participants.

The Indian Navy has an enduring relationship with the Sri Lankan Navy. India’s commitment to the capacity building and the capability enhancement of the SLN is manifest in numerous ways. The Indian government has extended a line of credit of 100 Million dollars towards this effort. It may be recalled that India had gifted an Off shore Patrol vessel (OPV) to the Sri Lankan Navy, now operated as SLN Sayura. In addition two Coast Guard OPVs are also on lease to the SLN. The Indian Navy also provides extensive training support for the Sri Lankan Navy.

PVS

 

[RPK]

PIB Press Release


Admiral Nirmal Verma Visits Sri Lanka on the Occasion of Sri Lankan Navy’s 60th Year Celebrations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15:52 IST
The Sri Lankan Navy celebrates its 60th anniversary today. Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff is in attendance as a guest for the celebrations. IN ships Mysore and Tarangini are on a port visit to Colombo in association with the celebrations.

In addition to Admiral Nirmal Verma, the function is also being attended by the Chiefs of Australian Navy, Pakistan Navy, Bangladesh Navy, UAE Navy, and the Maldivian National Defence Force. The four day celebrations include a symposium on maritime matters, a sailing competition and other interactions between the various participants.

The Indian Navy has an enduring relationship with the Sri Lankan Navy. India’s commitment to the capacity building and the capability enhancement of the SLN is manifest in numerous ways. The Indian government has extended a line of credit of 100 Million dollars towards this effort. It may be recalled that India had gifted an Off shore Patrol vessel (OPV) to the Sri Lankan Navy, now operated as SLN Sayura. In addition two Coast Guard OPVs are also on lease to the SLN. The Indian Navy also provides extensive training support for the Sri Lankan Navy.

PVS

 

[RPK]

Daredevil stunts mark Navy Week celebrations in Gujarat

To mark Navy Week celebrations, officials of the Indian Navy put on a display of daredevil stunts and conducted mock rescue operations in the coastal city of Porbandar.

The celebrations included various performances by the Navy officers like shooting, mock rescue operations with the help of helicopters, shifting goods from one ship to another under emergency conditions.

Surendra Ahuja, a captain with the Indian Navy, said that the Indian Navy is ready to face any challenge.

"Our job is not only related to war. Whenever some tragedy takes place or some humanitarian issue like the Tsunami, at that time all the ships of Indian Navy helped in all places like Andaman and Nicobar, Visakhapatnam. Our Indian Navy ships also went to Indonesia. So our Indian Navy ships are used for other purposes other than just preparing for war," he said.

The civilian public is also permitted to be a part of Navy Week celebrations, and many visited the military ships and saw air displays.

Indian Navy Day is celebrated on December 4. (ANI)