Second submarine line for Mazagon Dock

By- Business Standard

With public sector shipyard Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, years behind schedule in building six conventional Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is handing Mazagon Dock another lucrative order to build three more submarines. Although private sector shipbuilders — especially L&T and Pipavav Shipyard Ltd (PSL) — argue that Mazagon Dock already has more than it can handle, MoD insists the public sector shipyard can execute this order.

The MoD’s Secretary of Defence Production, R K Singh, talking exclusively to Business Standard, has detailed Mazagon Dock’s road map for simultaneously executing the Scorpene order (Project 75, as it is termed) and the three additional submarines that are a part of the six-submarine Project 75I order.

Business Standard had reported yesterday that the MoD’s apex Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had ruled out India’s private sector from Project 75I. The first two submarines of Project 75I will be built abroad in the foreign collaborator’s shipyard. The other four submarines will be built in MoD-owned shipyards: recently acquired Hindustan Shipyard Ltd will build one, while MDL builds three.

R K Singh explains, “First, the Scorpene delay will be trimmed down to less than 18 months. The original plan was for the first Scorpene to be delivered in December 2012; and the other five submarines at one-year intervals till December 2017. While the first Scorpene will only be ready in August 2015, Mazagon Dock will deliver the others faster, at nine-month intervals, and finish the last Scorpene by May 2019.”

MoD sources say Mazagon Dock is being pushed towards an even more ambitious delivery schedule: Of one Scorpene every seven months. On August 11, Defence Minister A K Antony told Parliament that Project 75 would complete work by the second half of 2018.

But Project 75I, argues R K Singh, does not have to wait till then; it can begin as early as 2012. By that year, with all six Scorpene hulls fully built, the specialised hull workers and welders of Mazagon Dock could begin fabricating hulls for Project 75I.

Singh explains, “Two Scorpene hulls are already built and MDL is close to completing the third. By early 2012, all six Scorpene hulls will be ready. MDL’s hull fabrication shop — which cuts steel for the hull, rolls it, fabricates hull segments and then welds them together into a complete hull — will be sitting idle from 2012, and ready to be diverted to Project 75I.”

The Department of Defence Production also points out that Project 75I cannot begin for another five years. At least 12-24 months are needed for a Cabinet sanction for building the first two Project 75I submarines abroad. Selecting a foreign shipyard as collaborator for Project 75I will take another 24-36 months and then one year for price negotiations.

The six Project 75I submarines will be built on a new production line, on which work has already begun. During a visit to MDL in 2009, Business Standard was shown a 16-acre plot, adjoining MDL’s facilities in Mazagon, Mumbai, which the shipyard had acquired in the 1980s from Gujarat state PSU, Alcock Ashdown.

R K Singh confirmed, “We are going to execute Project 75I in a new yard, the Alcock Yard, on which MDL is building a second submarine production line.”

Private sector shipbuilder Larsen & Toubro finds the MoD’s decision to patronise Mazagon Dock inexplicable. L&T sources say the company was given to understand that they would participate in Project 75I as the second submarine line. Now, L&T’s experience and infrastructure would lie idle.

Global giants line up for $10-bn IAF aircraft deal

BY: The Indian Express Limited

Top leaders of the world are lining up for a $10-billion Indian order for 126 fighter aircraft. Companies from the US, France and Russia have put in their bids for the 126 MMRCA for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the visiting leadership are expected to lobby with their counter parts. The US President Barack Obama’s visit in November will be followed by the French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s in early December and later by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Sources told FE on conditions of anonymity that, ‘‘the six contenders have yet to be shortlisted. The defence ministry can decide on shortlisting the contenders only once it have the technical offsets evaluation committee report along with the Field Trial report.’’

‘‘After it goes to the Cabinet Committee on Security for a final decision, there will government-to-government negotiations in an effort to get additional benefits for the country,’’ the source added.

American companies, Lockheed Martin F-16IN, Boeing F/A-18, French Dassault Rafale, EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen and Russian MiG-35 are in the running for the 126-aircraft programme.So far the IAF has had a meeting with Lockheed Martin and the French ‘Dassault’ of Rafale.

According to sources, ‘‘Vendors who are compliant rule wise, Defence Procurement Policy and Technical offsets will ultimately be opened for consideration. Also, the lowest bidder, designated L1, will be selected as the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).”

The whole procedure is expected to take a couple of months and by then Obama will be here. ‘‘While the MMRCA deal will be topping the agenda. Several other pending deals including the medium weight helicopters where the RFP is likely to be scrapped will be talked about. It is expected that India could ask the US for encryption technology too.’’

French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni will arrive on a two-day visit on December 6-7. ‘‘Definitely MMRCA deal come up for discussions. Eventually the selection of the MMRCA will be political decision,’’ said officials.

Apart from inking pact for the supply of two reactors, India and France will also sign a $2.2-billion deal to upgrade its Mirage fleet. The upgrade deal, which had been hanging fire for the past two years due to differences over the price, is now ready to be inked, sources in the defence ministry said.

France is also keen that India approve the Maitri air-to-surface Low-Level Quick Reaction Missile (LLQRM), which has been jointly developed by the.DRDO and France’s MBDA. While the missile’s final design has been locked up, the government is still to give a go ahead for the joint project.

Though India and Russia are implementing several joint military programmes, the most important are the production and upgrading of the BrahMos missile and the construction of fifth-generation supersonic fighters, among other things.The MiG-35 is one of the contenders for the MMRCA is a MiG-29. The presence of MiG-29 infrastructure and a new plant for licence-building RD-33 Series III engines in India makes compliance with industrial offset requirements easier. The Russians are keen to sell the MiG-35 to the IAF, and could possibly on the agenda of talks.

US pushes defence as ‘central pillar’ in ties

BY: BUSINESS STANDARD

The battle to re-engine the Indian Air Force’s 128 Jaguar fighter jets is in full throttle, with Britain’s Rolls Royce and US’ Honeywell International taking the war back home right inside the rarefied offices of South Block.British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent comments in Bangalore on the “export of terror” by Pakistan have enormously pleased the Indian strategic establishment, but the fact is that India is already gearing up for the November visit of US President Barack Obama and is keenly aware that there is nothing like a defence deal to sweeten the mood.For example, the Jaguar engine deal is worth an estimated $670 million, a lucrative sum in the recession-hit economies of the US and the UK and definitely welcome in an era of rising unemployment, emptying treasuries and never-ending body bags from the AfPak war front.

On the other hand, as India prepares to overhaul, upgrade and buy new defence equipment for its armed forces — by 2022, military equipment worth $100 billion is likely to be purchased, besides another $9.7 billion on homeland security by 2016 — and the world’s top defence companies make a beeline for New Delhi’s door, it is aware that defence cooperation is becoming its chief instrument in the pursuit of its foreign policy objectives. That is why, as India and the US prepare for Obama’s four-day India visit, Washington DC is pushing New Delhi to recognise that “defence cooperation is the central pillar” in the expanding bilateral partnership, the president of the US-India Business Council Ron Somers said.

According to Somers, deeper defence collaboration would not only generate thousands of jobs in India and the US (because of India’s offset policy), but would also signal that the US is no longer an “unreliable supplier of defence goods as well as open up technological collaboration” in every sector.Defence Minister A K Antony is visiting Washington DC towards the end of September, and even though India typically shies away from concluding defence deals during political visits, many Americans feel it’s high time India compensates the US for the “heavy-lifting” it performed by pushing through the Indo-US civil nuclear deal from 2005-2008.

Typically, however, the government has followed the middle path so far, awarding the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer deal to UK’s BAE Systems, besides an additional $350 million to Rolls Royce for engines for the Hawk — both for the IAF as well as for the Navy.“For a middle power like Britain, that is good money,” said an Indian official on the condition of anonymity.Meanwhile, over the last year, India has also bought nearly $6 billion worth of defence goods from the US, including six C-130 J “Super” Hercules transport planes (with the option to sell six more), 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic lift aircraft worth $3 billion (with the option to sell 10 more) as well as eight Boeing maritime surveillance P-8I aircraft worth $2.1 billion.

But since the jewel in the crown of the Indian defence market — a 126-fighter jet order for the IAF’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) worth $11 billion — is not going to be decided by the time Obama visits India, the US government is hoping that India will also favour Honeywell’s F125IN thrust class engine over Rolls Royce’s Adour MK 821engine for its Jaguar fleet.“An enhanced defence relationship is of huge symbolic importance,” one US official said, adding, “it sends a powerful political message on the marriage of doctrine and strategy.”

Indian officials admitted that although Russia continued to supply 70 per cent of the IAF’s hardware, the MMRCA deal was significant not only because of the large number of new fighter jets IAF would buy, but because entire platforms worth many more billions would have to be purchased so as to sustain the proper use and maintenance of the jets. But the US officials also admitted that the heightened interest in selling sensitive defence equipment to India was not limited to “transactional gains”, but was also impelled by shifting strategic considerations in other parts of Asia.

The officials were not willing to name either Pakistan — despite the exposes by Wikileaks of Pakistan’s “double-game” on the AfPak warfront — or China’s recent belligerence in the Yellow Sea as serious causes of concern, but it’s clear that for the first time since the Obama administration came to power, the US is both confused and bewildered about the manner in which it should confront China’s rising power or Pakistan’s blunt blackmail.

Beijing’s warning that the US aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, should not exercise in the Yellow Sea has gone down very badly in Washington, and is being perceived a direct challenge to the security and safety of its treaty ally, South Korea. In recent days, a compromise seems to have been struck, with Korea stating it would conduct exercises on its own.On Af-Pak, conversations between India and the US are now dominated by considerable frankness, but the Sino-US relationship remains a far more complex issue. US officials, pointing to China’s incredible rise, say they would like India’s help in maintaining Asia’s security and stability, especially to keep the sea-lanes open for navigation.

It is not clear whether Antony will sign three key pacts the US has been pushing for, like the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), the Communication Inter-Operability Agreement (CISMOA) or the Basic Change and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation.

The US is keen that at least the CISMOA and the BECA be inked soon, arguing it will only pave the way for removing key Indian entities from the US export control list or that the transfer of high-tech avionics to India may not be possible.But India remains unfazed, arguing that Indian entities like DRDO, ISRO and BEL should be removed on their own merit and that the “time has not yet come” for pacts like the LSA which envisage US and Indian militaries providing logistics support, refuelling and berthing facilities for each other’s warships and aircraft.

IAF Recommends Rafale & Eurofighter For MMRCA-Times Now

After exhaustive trials of six fighter jets, Indian Air Force (IAF) has made its choice clear to the Government on the kind of fighter jets needed. Frontrunners for the force are French fighter Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon built by the European consortium. Bernhard Gerwert, Chief, EADS, says “If you are taking into account the portfolio of EADS we can bring the bridge between civil aviation and military aviation.” But the Americans and Russians have lost out. Boeing’s F18 no longer a frontrunner and Sweden’s Gripen too falling off the Indian radar.

Despite MiG 35s big thunder, its engine failing to impress while the F-16, according to the IAF has no future. Another reason favouring Rafale and Eurofighter is political. Thomas Matussek, German Ambassador, “We regard India as a strategic security partner and this is why we do not insist on an end user monitoring agreement period.” So when the mother of all defence deals is signed for the 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft either Rafale or the Eurofighter will fly away with the Rs 42,000 crore deal.

$ 10 bn combat jet deal eyes strategic 'leverage'

By India Today

The Indian Air Force is set to acquire 126 medium, multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) and the current talk in the Vayu Sena Bhavan is to "leverage strategic gains" out of the $ 10-billion deal.As the compilation of the flight test results nears completion, the process of hard bargaining is set to begin.

A senior air force officer told Mail Today: "We should use the deal to get concessions on enrichment technology, and accessing dual use technologies that we are denied at the moment." However, before negotiations on these aspects are addressed, a few steps need to be taken first.

The first shortlist for the six types of aircraft-MiG-35, Rafale, Gripen, Eurofighter, F-16 and F/A 18 Super Hornet - will be prepared by the air force on the basis of "complying with the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force", an official explained.

As is the norm, senior air force officers have remained mostly tight-lipped about which aircraft have or haven't made the cut in terms of fulfilling the operational requirements, although some information seems to have trickled out regarding the flight tests wherein one or two of these six aircraft failed to develop "enough thrust" in the high altitude tests held at Leh.

After the air force lists the aircraft that have complied with its "technical" requirements, the ministry of defence will judge the "offset compliance" of the selected manufacturers. In simple terms, that would mean how much of the money would be ploughed back into the Indian economy.The 'offset' requirement for the MMRCA deal is 50 per cent. This means that close to $ 5 billion would have to be reinvested into India by the company winning the bid.

After this, the "commercial bids" of each would be opened by the defence ministry mandarins, who will, for the first time, examine the commercial offers made by the companies more than two years ago.

For the first time, a new system of costfixing has been introduced that not only takes into account the unit prices but also calculates the 'life cycle costs'-which takes into account the cost of maintenance and spares for the period, estimated at 40 years, the aircraft would remain operational.

On the basis of this, the lowest bidder (L1) would be determined by a commercial negotiation committee headed by an additional secretary of the ministry. The committee will also have members of the service headquarters of the army, navy and air force. They would then conduct price negotiations with the L1 bidder to improve upon the initial offer.

Finally, a paper would be prepared for the Cabinet Committee on Security that would have to give its seal of approval and award the contract. It is at this stage, before the contract is awarded, that government-to-government negotiations would be conducted to get the best additional benefits for the country.

The sheer size of the MMRCA deal ensures that India will get a high level of attention from each of country vying for the largest defence contract in recent memory.

India is evaluating the advanced Patriot ground-based air defence system

By PTI

India is evaluating the advanced Patriot ground-based air defence system for its ballistic missile shield and the US has provided “classified” material to it on the weapon unit, which was successfully used during both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Patriot’s manufacturer Raytheon said today.

A number of exchanges have taken place between the government of India and the US and information has been given to India at the classified level,” Joseph Garret, Vice President of the company’s Patriot Programmes told PTI.

Replying to questions, he said tests of the Patriot system, which has been procured by 12 countries, by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and other agencies had been “highly successful”.

On India developing its own missile defence shield, Garret said, “Patriot system gives a major boost to any country’s defence capability. India may be developing its own system, but Patriot is a combat-proven weapon system.”

Another senior official of Raytheon, a defence and aerospace major, said Washington and New Delhi have also discussed the issue of India-specific end-user accords.“If the US government gives a go-ahead, Raytheon will step in,” he said.

Since its production began in 1980, more than 170 Patriot fire units and over 9,000 have been delivered by the company.The countries which have acquired the weapon system, were Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Japan, Israel, Taiwan, Greece, Spain, South Korea and the UAE.The weapon system’s capabilities were demonstrated in 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

“Patriot’s performance against Iraqi SCUD missile attacks were impressive, even though the SCUD missiles exceeded Patriot’s design threat,” he said.Top company official Taylor W Lawrence, President of Raytheon’s Missile Systems, said India is also looking at the ‘Javelin’ anti-tank and anti-armour missile ‘and a ‘letter of intent’ is expected to be issue soon.“Javelin has been fully tested by the Indian land forces. We expect a letter of intent from the Indian government,” he said.

India in talks for buying 57 additional Hawk advanced trainers

BY: PTI

India is in the process of finalising with the UK the terms of reference for buying an additional 57 Hawk advanced trainer for the Indian Air Force, minister of state for defence MM Pallamraju said today.“The government has decided to exercise the option of buying an additional 57 Hawk trainer jets manufactured by the British Aerospace. Details of the contract and the terms of reference of the deal are being negotiated with the UK,” Pallamraju, who is leading Indian delegation to the Farnborough Air Show, the biggest in the world, told PTI.

India, which had earlier signed a deal for purchase of the two-seater Hawk trainer planes, has already received 24 of the single-engine aircraft in a fly-away condition. Of the another 42 of the planes, which were to be produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, six have been supplied to the IAF.The Hawk, which can also be used as a combat aircraft, provides advance stage three training to IAF pilots. It can fly at a maximum speed of 1.2 times the speed of sound.

The minister, who is on a six-day visit to the UK, refused to give a time-frame for finalising the terms of reference of the multi-billion dollar deal.The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force and 900 of them have supplied to 18 countries so far.Pallamraju, who has been interacting with top armament manufacturers in Farnborough, said he told them that they stand a better chance of bagging orders from India if they agree to make the country self-reliant in weapon systems.

The minister, who arrived in London on Saturday, had met top brass of Russian weapons manufacturers, British Aerospace, EADS, Saab, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. He has also had a meeting with Prince Andrew, who is Britain’s ambassador for industry.Many of the firms Pallamraju interacted with are bidding for the 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) India is proposing to buy. He also had meetings with Israeli arms producers.Pallamraju said he conveyed to international arms producers that India has initiated the “buy and make policy” under which any Indian company entering into a contract with a foreign firm has to manufacture 50% of its systems in the country in terms of value to allow job creation. The rest 50% can be imported, he said.

“The modes of acquisition have been several. One is to buy directly from a foreign company, another is to purchase and ensure transfer of technology while yet another is to buy and make in India. We have given a message to the defence public sector undertakings to get the latest technology under the buy and make policy without involving outright purchases,” the minister said.

The buy and make policy also involves availability of spares for weapon systems in times of emergency and ensures that India becomes self-reliant, he said, adding that the effort is to ensure that the best available technology comes in.

“I have had an opportunity in Farnborough to see the the technology offers by armament manufacturers. I have also had occasions to discuss a number of issues which had been outstanding,” Pallamraju said.

Boeing ready to work on Next Gen cockpit ,Conformal fuel tank for F-18SH

BY: IDRW NEWS NETWORK

Boeing in recent presentation “The Strike Fighter Evolution” have promised to further improve F-18SH platform for Export customers , New improved F-18 SH will have Next Generation Cockpit , Conformal Fuel tanks, Enhanced engine performance,internal IRST and Enclosed weapons pod ,Yes you heard it right “Enclosed weapons pod” is very similar to conformal weapon bay but mounted on a pylon .

Biggest military deal: Six subs for Rs 50,000 crore

By Times Of India

NEW DELHI: If you thought the Rs 42,000 crore project to procure 126 multi-role fighters for the IAF was the "mother of all defence deals", think again. The stage is now being set for an even bigger project—this one worth over Rs 50,000 crore for six new-generation submarines for the Indian Navy.

The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister A K Antony, has finally decided that three of the six submarines will be constructed at Mazagon Docks (MDL) in Mumbai and one at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, with the help of a foreign collaborator.

"The other two submarines will either be imported from the foreign vendor directly or constructed at a private shipyard in India. Fresh estimates show each of these six diesel-electric submarines will cost almost Rs 8,500 crore," a source said.

Under the programme—called Project-75 India (P-75I)—apart from stealth, land-attack capability and the ability to incorporate futuristic technologies, all the six new submarines will be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems to boost their operational capabilities.

Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries. With AIP systems, they can stay submerged for much longer periods, narrowing the gap with nuclear-powered submarines which can operate underwater for virtually unlimited periods.

The selection of the foreign collaborator for P-75I will, of course, take time because a RFP (request for proposal) will first have to be issued to submarine manufacturers like Rosoboronexport (Russian), DCNS/Armaris (French), HDW (German) and Navantia (Spain). Shortlisting and detailed technical and commercial negotiations will follow, before the actual contract can be inked.

Navy has reasons to be worried. By 2015 or so, it will be left with just half of its present fleet of 15 ageing diesel-electric submarines—10 Russian Kilo-class, four German HDW and one Foxtrot. Moreover, it has been hit hard by the almost three-year delay in the ongoing Project-75 for six French Scorpene submarines at MDL, under which the vessels were to roll out one per year from 2012 onwards, with price escalation pushing the total cost beyond Rs 20,000 crore, as was first reported by TOI.

For P-75I, the second line of submarines, the navy was keen on a private domestic shipyard to tie-up with the foreign vendor since it felt MDL was already "overloaded" with orders and quick delivery schedules were "critical".

But the DAC has decided otherwise, holding that the infrastructure and capabilities acquired by MDL in the Scorpene project could not be allowed to go waste. "Let’s hope thing go smoothly now, and instead of 10 years, the navy gets its first submarine under P-75I in six to seven years," an official said.

Submarines can be game-changers in any conflict. And if they are armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, they provide the most effective strategic deterrent available around the world at this point of time. The US and Russia, after strategic arms reduction pacts, in fact, plan to retain over 60% of their nuclear weapons in the shape of SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) fitted on nuclear-powered submarines called "boomers", or SSBNs.

Though India does not have nuclear submarines and SLBM capabilities at present to complete its "nuclear triad", it hopes to move forward by inducting the Akula-II class attack submarine K-152 Nerpa on a 10-year lease from Russia in October this year, and then the first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant by early-2012. Pakistan, incidentally, already has its first Mesma AIP-equipped submarine, PNS Hamza, the third of the French Agosta-90B submarines it has inducted since 1999. It is now looking to induct three advanced Type-214 German submarines with AIP. China, in turn, has 62 submarines, with 10 of them being nuclear-propelled.

CCS nod for project for nuclear, biological, chemical defence

By The Economic Times

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared a Rs 285 crore defence ministry project for developing systems and equipment for protection against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons and leakages. "Under the project for NBC defence, DRDO has been tasked to develop quick and fast detection systems in case of an NBC attack on our vital installations and cities or leakage in any of the installations dealing with these materials," defence ministry officials said in New Delhi.

"In case on any attack or leakages, such detection systems will help in finding the exact sources of contamination and the authorities concerned would be able to react in a much more effective manner," they added. The DRDO is also working on developing and increasing the number of systems for providing individual protection for soldiers in NBC environment.

Sources said to protect human beings from getting exposed to NBC radiation, "Unmanned Ground Vehicles and robots are also being developed to go to the contaminated zones. We are also looking at the medical management in times of such incidents." Inflatable structures are also being developed in which people can take shelter during any such incident, they added.

Till now, the focus was on building underground shelters while preparing for such eventualities. The project got the CCS nod in a recently held meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and work on developing the systems has already started as different labs have already been told about the systems to be developed. With the increasing threat of use of NBC weapons by state and non-state actors, Indian armed forces have been preparing themselves by deploying protection suites for their personnel.

French Rafale jets for 2011 wargames

BY: TNN

The French Air Force may field its latest Rafale fighters for an Indo-French military exercise in India next year. The Rafale’s presence in such a setting would come at a time when competition for IAF’s mammoth MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) contract, in which the French fighter is participating, would enter the final lap.

An Air Force officer said talks are underway for the next Indo-French exercise, and French officials have “expressed their desire to bring the state-of-the-art Rafale aircraft for the next Indo-French air exercise” to beheld in India.

The reports of the move come as the two sides, along with Singapore, enter the final stages of the exercise ‘Garuda 2010′, presently underway at Istres Air Base in France.

During the ongoing exercise, India’s six SU-30MKI fighters along with France’s Mirage-2000-5 and Rafale and Singapore’s F-16 were engaged in various air defence manoeuvres such as implementation of “no-fly zones” and large force engagements during day and night.

“The SU-30 also took part in the high value airborne asset protection as well as their protection busting missions. The IL-78 refuellers of the IAF and the KC-135 refuellers of the French Air Force also participated in various missions carrying out cross-refueling,” an IAF statement said.

The IAF said a unique feature to which the SU-30 were subjected during the exercise was the “swing roles”, meaning the same aircraft simultaneously carried out both offensive and defensive roles.

Besides its Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters, the IAF also fielded its special force Garuds, who carried out day and night jumps along with French special forces, the IAF said.

India’s LCA AESA Radar Programme Detailed

BY: http://livefist.blogspot.com

Air-to-Air: Multi-target detection and tracking / Multi target ACM (Air-to-Air combat mode) / High resolution raid assessment

Air-to-Ground: High Resolution mapping (SAR mode) / AGR – Air to Ground Ranging / RBM – Real Beam Mapping / DBS – Doppler Beam Sharpening / Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) / Ground Moving Target Tracking (GMTT) / Terrain Avoidance (TA)

Air-to-Sea: Sea search and multi target tracking / Range Signature (RS) / Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)

As I’ve reported here before, the development partner that LRDE identifies will be responsible for “detailed design, development and realisation” of (a) antenna panel constisting of main antenna, guard antenna and sidelobe cancellation antenna, (b) transmit/receive modules/groups, (c) RF distribution network consisting of RF manifold/combiners, RF interface, (d) antenna/beam control chain consisting of T/R control and T/R group control, and (e) array calibration/BITE among other areas.

EADS awarded support contract for AEW aircraft program by DRDO

BY: DEFENCEWORLD

EADS Defence & Security (DS) will supply consultancy services to the Indian Armed Forces in developing the system architecture of its Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) programme.

EADS has been awarded yesterday a two-digit-million Euro contract by the Indian Defence Research Design Organisation (DRDO) to provide support in the development of system architecture with particular regard to certification and mission equipment optimisation.

“From our systems responsibility for the overall Military Management System of the A400M transport aircraft we have thorough experience in certification of aircraft according to civil and military rules,” explains Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics, an integrated Business Unit of DS. “This, together with our broad technology base in sensors and data fusion makes us the ideal partner for DRDO.”

Iran masters production of UAVs

By RusNavy.com

Iran will develop and produce submarine-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), reported FNA citing Mohammad Sadri, the head of industry research department of Iranian armed forces.As for Sadri, nowadays the world is about to create UAVs controlled by submarines, semi-submerged vessels, and surface ships, so Iran also flirts with this idea.

According to him, Iran already uses domestically made UAVs at sea for testing new weapons and targeting.

Sadri outlined unique features of Iranian UAVs which are stealth technology and small size.

Last week Iranian Air Force's Lt. Cmdr. Mohsen Darrebaki said to FNA that it was planned to form one UAV battalion at each air base.

Each fighter base will have one UAV battalion; four bases are forming such battalions, pointed out Darrebaki.

According to him, Iranian Air Force has been using UAVs for many years; presently, they are used for reconnaissance, but in future UAVs will be used in combat.

In Feb 2010 Iran declared launching of serial production of two domestically made-produced unmanned aerial vehicles Ra'd (stands for "Thunder") and Nazir ("Forerunner") for reconnaissance, patrolling, and delivery of precision strikes .

Last June Iran successfully tested stealth UAV bomber. In 2008 Iranian fighter jets Saeqeh (stands for "Thunderbolt") and Azarakhsh ("Lightning") went into batch production; also, construction of a factory was started which is to produce UAVs for civil and military purposes.

INS Sindhurakshak to be delivered in Severodvinsk for refit late July

Text: ITAR-TASS
Photo: INS Sindhurakshak. dailynews.lk

Indian diesel electric submarine Sindhurakshak (stands for "Sea Giant") will be delivered to Zvezdochka shipyard (Severodvinsk) for modernization late July, said Nadezhda Scherbinina, the head of Zvezdochka press service.

According to her, a dock vessel with the submarine on board sailed off Indian port last weekend and laid a course for Severodvinsk. "Estimated time of the cruise is 40 days", specified Mrs. Scherbinina.

Delegations of Zvezdochka shipyard and Indian defense ministry signed a contract on June 4 in Delhi providing overhaul and modernization of INS Sindhurakshak which will take 2-2.5 years.

"The contract on submarine's upgrade was for the first time signed without intermediary of Rosoboronexport", pointed out the yard's representative.

Being specialized in overhaul and utilization of nuclear-powered submarines, Zvezdochka has upgraded four Indian diesel electric submarines since 1997 which are INS Sindhuvir, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhughosh, and INS Sindhuvijay. The shipyard also continues repair and modernization of similar submarine INS Sindukirti in her home base Vishakhapatnam, India.

All these submarines are Russian-made Project 887EKM (Kilo class) developed by Rubin design bureau, St. Petersburg. They are designed for antisubmarine and antiship warfare; defense of naval bases, coastal and sea lines of communication; reconnaissance and patrol operations. Such submarines have displacement of 2,300 tons; length of 72.6 meters; submerged speed of 19 knots (about 35 kph); test depth of 300 meters; crew of 52; endurance of 45 days. Armament includes six 533-mm torpedo tubes. In the course of modernization subs are equipped with advanced Russian Club-S cruise missile system (developed by Novator Design Bureau) with firing range of about 200 km, Indian sonars USHUS and radio communication systems CCS-MK. INS Sindhurakshak was built in 1997 at Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard (St. Petersburg) by order of Indian Navy.

India To Roll Out Tejas Naval Variant Soon

BY: AVIATION WEEK. / PICTURE tarmak007.blogspot.com

The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft’s (LCA) naval prototype (NP-1) will be rolled out for the first time on July 6 here in Bengaluru, with Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Nirmal Verma on hand, sources tell AVIATION WEEK.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is in charge of the design and development of Tejas variants, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), ADA’s principal partner and main manufacturer, are currently giving the aircraft a final structural fine-tuning at HAL’s Aircraft Research and Development Center.

“The rollout of the aircraft signals that the platform is structurally complete, equipment installed, and plumbing and wiring completed,” a source says. “It will be on its wheels and can be moved by assisted power. A rollout is also a precursor to the next phase of ground-based system integration testing, engine ground run, taxi trials and the first flight.”

The NP-1 will have almost the same system architecture as the Tejas Indian air force trainer version.

The NP-1 trainer is scheduled to make its first flight by the end of this year and the NP-2 fighter one year after that. Both can operate from an aircraft carrier with the ski-jump takeoff and arrested recovery concept.

“The aircraft will get airborne in about 200 meters over the ski jump on the ship, [versus] a land-based takeoff run of about 800 meters,” a source says. “Landing on the ship is with an arrester hook on the aircraft engaging an arrester wire on the ship. The aircraft then stops in 90 meters, which is about 1/10th of land-based stopping distance. This makes the Tejas naval program extremely challenging, and we are happy with what the Naval Project Team based out of Bangalore has done so far.”

The 14-member NPT is headed by Cmd. C.D. Balaji (ret.), program director for LCA Navy, operating out of ADA.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanctioned development of LCA Navy in April 2003, and in December 2009 the CCS also approved a Mark-II version with a new engine. NP-1 will fly with a GE-404 power-plant, with 40% of the funding coming from the Indian navy and 60% from the Defense Research and Development Organization. The Tejas naval variant will replace the aging fleet of Sea Harriers, and the navy is said to have made an initial commitment to 50 Tejas after the platform proves 

Videos of Dhruv,Testing its Weapons

“Maitri” SR-SAM is still a French Proposal for JV

BY: IDRW NEWS NETWORK/ PICTURE FROM  LIVE FIST

“Maitri” SRSAM (short range surface to air missile ) seems to be  pet project of MBDA for joint development with DRDO and still talks are been held with Indian DRDO and Government of India regarding it , Maitri will incorporate design structure of   VL-MICA and navigational input and other technological input from failed Trishul programme , its still not clear if joint development will start on this new missile , French company has already secured permissions from the French government regarding Technology transfer and the joint development of such missile .

DRDO is still evaluating the French proposal and has been taking constant feed back from all three armed forces of India , since missiles requirements will be in thousands and joint venture will make it little expensive then a local development, Final decision is expected from government of India regarding joint development of this systems.

Maitri will have a range beyond 15km and BDL will be the prime contractor to produce and integrate this missiles , BDL is already manufactured more then 30 thousand variants of MILAN 1,2 Anti-tank missiles for India Army and has already signed contract for further orders of 4000 missiles of newer Milan 2T anti tank missile .

idrw.org has been told that DRDO is working on its own plans of developing a VL (Vertical launch ) version of under development ASTRA BVR (Beyond visual range missile) missile for all three armed forces 

APG-81 Radar Performs Flawlessly On First Systems Flight on F-35 Aircraft

BY : Northrop Grumman PR

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s  new APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar met and exceeded its performance objectives successfully tracking long-range targets as part of the first mission systems test flights of Lockheed Martin’s  F-35 Lightning II BF-4 aircraft.

“Over the last five years, Northrop Grumman has demonstrated unparalleled levels of program success with the APG-81 radar,” said Jeff Leavitt, vice president of combat avionics at Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector. “During the F-35 flight, the Northrop Grumman APG-81 radar met and exceeded performance expectations, tracking long range targets at all aspect angles with excellent stability. We look forward to working with Lockheed Martin in demonstrating the APG-81′s high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and other advanced capabilities on subsequent test flights.”

In August 2005, the APG-81 radar was flown for the first time aboard Northrop Grumman’s BAC 1-11 airborne laboratory. Since then, the radar system has accumulated over 300 flight hours, maturing all five blocks of software. The first radar flight on Lockheed Martin’s CATBird avionics test bed aircraft took place in November 2008.

Severodvinsk to be the world's most silent sub – NF Command

In spite of being built for 17 years, nuclear-powered submarine Severodvinsk will be armed with most advanced weapons and, perhaps, will become the world most silent sub, said Capt 1 rank Alexei Poteshkin, Northern Fleet (NF) submarine force executive officer.

"State trials of the submarine will be held this year. Hopefully, upon their results Severodvinsk will be recognized the most advanced and silent – which is the main feature of submarines – ship in the world", said A. Poteshkin at Tuesday's press conference.

He pointed out that despite 17 years have passed since the sub's keel laying, arms and equipment were installed in the very recent time. "Basically, 17 years is only the hull's age, but filling is the most up-to date", Poteshkin said.

The submarine has been considerably changed, noted the officer. "The sub will be equipped only with the newest arms and hardware", underlined Poteshkin.

Answering the question of tasks for SSGN Severodvinsk, Poteshkin said it would be escorting strategic ships and performing other functions ordinary for attack subs.

Launching ceremony of SSGN Severodvinsk was triumphantly held on Tuesday at Sevmash shipyard in the presence of Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation.

Source: http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=9762

Text: Interfax-AVN

Photo: Launching ceremony of SSGN Severodvinsk. kremlin.ru

Yantar shipyard to launch hull of second Indian frigate

Hull of the second Project 1135.6 frigate built for Indian Navy will be launched on June 23 from slipways of Yantar Shipyard (Kaliningrad).

"The shipwrights are completing last preparations for launch the hull of frigate Tarkash (stands for "Quiver") which is the second in series being built for Indian Navy", reported Interfax citing Sergei Mikhailov, the shipyard's press secretary. He underlined that "this event will become another evidence that Yantar masterfully executes the important contract between Russia and India in the area of military industrial cooperation".

According to him, the yard actively works on the first frigate Teg (stands for "Saber") which was launched in Dec 2009. The work on the hull of third frigate Trikand (stands for "Bow") is also in progress at the shipyard's slipways.

"Building of these three ships is a principal task for the yard which is being thoroughly performed by whole staff of Yantar", S. Mikhailov said.

Delivery of the frigates to the orderer is scheduled in 2011-2012. The shipbuilding contract of three frigates was signed on July 14, 2007 in Delhi; its overall cost is about $1.6 bln.

Yantar shipyard is specialized in building of various warships and civil vessels with launching weight up to 10,000 tons; and also in ship-repair works. Totally, the yard has built over 100 large and about 400 small ships, and repaired over 430 vessels.

Source:  Interfax-AVN 

Photo: Project 1135.6 frigate. exponet.ru

IAF planning to procure new air defence systems

New Delhi (PTI): Looking to strengthen its capabilities to tackle aerial threats, Indian Air Force is planning to procure short-range air defence systems.In a recently issued Request for Information (RFI), the IAF has said that the air defence system "will be employed for providing terminal air defence to selected vital assets and points in plains, deserts, semi deserts, hilly and mountainous terrain as pertaining in our country."

Planning to procure a system with a strike-range between 500 metres to three kilometres, the IAF wants the new air defence guns to be capable of engaging targets such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, official sources said.

It has specified that the air defence systems should be able to strike targets at an effective height of 1,500 metres.

Source: PTI

Indian Navy pilots to get training in US soon

The Indian Navy is planning to send pilots to United States of America by 2012 as part of the exchange programme agreed between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters, after reviewing the 74th passing out parade of 19 pilots who successfully completed their helicopter conversion course at INS Rajali, Rear Admiral Karambir Singh, chief of staff, head quarters Eastern Naval Command, on Saturday said the programme would see a set of pilots sent from both the countries to get trained in various areas which in turn would help them to equip and deal with different situations.

“It is at the preliminary stage and the number of pilots to be sent is yet to be decided,” he said without giving many details.

When asked about the induction of women pilot officers in the Indian Navy, he said the decision had not been taken. However, he noted that the Navy is absorbing lady officers undergoing training in the Air Force and any decision will be taken as per the outcome.

Addressing the 12 Navy pilots and seven Coast Guard pilots who have passed out, Mr Karambir Singh urged the cadets to set high standards not only as a pilot but also one who be fully committed to the service of the nation.

“Our Navy as indeed the Coast Guard is building upon a modern and potent air element in order to protect our nation’s economic success. Naval aviation today is poised at a very interesting threshold with many new, advanced and capable aircraft due for induction,” he added.

Later, he awarded Sub Lt Rohit Tanwar with the Governor of Kerala rolling trophy for the best all-round pupil pilot, while Sub Lt Kunte received the memorial book prize for standing first in ground subjects.

Source: DECCAN CHRONICLE

India plans to put 5 satellites into orbit next month

India plans to put five remote-sensing satellites into orbit in the first half of next month after fixing a rocket “anomaly” that forced it to delay launches in May.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will carry India’s Cartosat-2B, Algeria’s ALSAT-2A and two small satellites from the University of Toronto, PS Veeraraghavan, director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said over the phone on Thursday from the southern city of Thiruvananthapuram. The fifth unit will be a one-kilogram satellite built by Indian students, he said.

The agency, based in Thiruvananthapuram, has corrected the anomaly which was in the second stage of the rocket, according to Mr Veeraraghavan. The delay had disrupted India’s challenge to China, Japan, and South Korea as it competes for commercial-satellite launches.

In April, India also failed in its bid to join a group of five nations using their own rocket technology to launch large satellites into higher orbits when scientists lost control of the 50-meter (164 feet) GSLV-D3 spacecraft minutes after blastoff. “The reasons for the failure are still being analysed and we expect a report in a month’s time,” said Mr Veeraraghavan.

India is planning a $2.5 billion unmanned mission to space by 2015 and is slated to launch a second unmanned moon craft, Chandrayaan II, at a cost of $87.5 million before March 2013. India launched its first space rocket in 1963 and its first satellite in 1975. The country’s satellite program consists of 21 orbiters, of which 11 are currently in service.

Source: BY: Bloomberg