Indian armed forces woefully short of equipment: report

Indian army has completely lost its faith in Arjun MBT. IA should have inducted few MBTs and then should have pointed out its defects so in the next batch they get rectified, as they did in the INSAS program and others.

delaying induction in the name of end-less trials shows they are just dragging their feet from the weapon system.

Sid

maglomanic said:

.Long time ago i read somewhere some civis were outraged that IA asked for anti aircraft guns to use aginst bunkers.

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Anti-aircraft guns can be very useful against bunkers and buildings. Firing a thousand 30 mm rounds into a bunker would probably take less than a minute plus it's probably much cheaper than an airstrike or an artillery strike IMHO. Pakistani and Indian forces in Kashmir have always used AA guns for other purposes.

crazyinsane105 said:

Anti-aircraft guns can be very useful against bunkers and buildings. Firing a thousand 30 mm rounds into a bunker would probably take less than a minute plus it's probably much cheaper than an airstrike or an artillery strike IMHO. Pakistani and Indian forces in Kashmir have always used AA guns for other purposes.

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Yes thats exactly my point. The civilians who were supposed to allocate money for defence spending were appalled that why is army asking for Anti aircraft guns for use in Kashmire!!!! I was just pointing to the lack of knowledge and reality that this kind of 'commitees' display in their reports.

maglomanic said:

Yes thats exactly my point. The civilians who were supposed to allocate money for defence spending were appalled that why is army asking for Anti aircraft guns for use in Kashmire!!!! I was just pointing to the lack of knowledge and reality that this kind of 'commitees' display in their reports.

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that is because of missing Joint chief of staff in indian forces. that also implies that indian forces do not have any say in indian defence planning.

for instance IRIDIUM (US) offered to provide satellite and mobile services in J&K which indian army anad airforce whole heartedly opposed because that would give insugents a edge in communication and they would become hard to track and intercept.

but to every ones shock Indian government announced mobile services in the vally the very next week.

Siddharth said:

for instance IRIDIUM (US) offered to provide satellite and mobile services in J&K which indian army anad airforce whole heartedly opposed because that would give insugents a edge in communication and they would become hard to track and intercept.

but to every ones shock Indian government announced mobile services in the vally the very next week.

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Troops in Kashmir master new weapon: cell phones

By Sheikh Mushtaq
Reuters
Sunday, May 21, 2006; 1:53 AM

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Minutes after a bomb exploded recently in Kashmir and wounded Indian soldiers, a senior member of an Islamist rebel group called local newspaper offices to claim responsibility for the blast.

A few hours later, troops smashed the door of his hideout and arrested the militant "commander" after a brief gun battle.

Indian intelligence officers credited the bust in south Kashmir to the tracking of his mobile phone.

Until a few years ago, intelligence officials resisted attempts by the federal government to lift a ban on cell phone services in the region, fearing mobile phones would aid militants in planning attacks.

Now they know better and security officials say troops have eliminated many militants by tracking their mobile phones and tapping conservations, citing the example in south Kashmir.

"Such a quick strike operation was just impossible three years ago," a senior intelligence official told Reuters.

"We tracked the calls made from his mobile to local newspapers which led to his arrest and that of some other suspects."

India has been battling a 16-year Muslim separatist revolt in its part of Kashmir. Tens of thousands of people have died in shootings, bombings and other violence.

In 2003, New Delhi allowed mobile services, eight years after the rest of India, now the world's fastest-growing market for cellular services.

At that time, India said it was a move to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris, weary and alienated after years of conflict in India's only Muslim-majority state which is also claimed by neighbor Pakistan.

After three years, there are now more than 850,000 mobile phone users in a state of 10 million people. And the spin-off for anti-insurgency operations has enthused security officials.

"So far, we have arrested or eliminated dozens of them (militants) including many senior commanders through mobile-tracking," the intelligence officer said.

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all cell phone cant be monitored on regular basis. if that would have happned these guys would be arrested before any strike. cell network have provided them with more communication teeths and they are now better grouped.

also for cross border comm they use satellite phones which are hard to keep track on. satellite phones are tracked but all cant be intercepted.

Siddharth said:

all cell phone cant be monitored on regular basis. if that would have happned these guys would be arrested before any strike. cell network have provided them with more communication teeths and they are now better grouped.

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As mentioned by the J&K police, the capture or killing of millitants has significantly increaed since the introduction of mobile serivices in J&K.
Attacks cannot be prevented only if the militant group is suicidal i.e. anticipates ambush/arrest after using mobile services.


China and India to expand military ties

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

BEIJING: China and India are scheduled to sign an agreement to expand military cooperation during Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit this week, the Indian embassy said Monday.

Mukherjee, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday, will oversee the signing of the accord, which the Indian defence ministry had said would institutionalise training, exercises and other contacts between the two countries’ armed forces.

“During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on exchanges and cooperation in the field of defence,” the Indian embassy said in a statement issued Monday.

The agreement will aim to develop “a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity between India and China,” and at enhancing trust between the two militaries, the Indian defence ministry said ahead of Mukherjee’s visit. The agreement could become an instrument for a regular and sustained dialogue between the two countries on defence issues, China Daily said.

Li told Mukherjee that China wants to step up strategic and cooperative relations with India in 2006, the Xinhua news agency said.

Li said the common prosperity of China and India, with one third of the world’s population, would be a huge contribution to mankind, state-run Xinhua reported.

Mukherjee said cooperation between the two countries and their active involvement in world affairs will contribute to world peace and development, according to Xinhua. Mukherjee will call on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday.

“My efforts will be to have a much larger participation in joint military exercises, more exchange visits by armed forces personnel and an expanded mutual training program,” Mukherjee was quoted as saying by Indian media ahead of his trip, according to the China Daily. afp

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Surface-to-surface version of Brahmos tested
Press Trust of India
Thu, 1 Jun 2006, 01:16

Surface-to-Surface version of the Indo-Russian Brahmos cruise missile was today successfully test fired in "user configuration" in the Pokhran desert, giving India a new capability of mounting nuclear warheads on land-based supersonic missiles.

"The 12th land-to-land test firing of the missile was carried out by trained army personnel in the presence of Army Chief Gen J J Singh and other top brass," a defence ministry statement said here.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has already built a specialised wheeled launch vehicle for the missile and officials said that the supersonic missile with a range of over 300 km was test fired from this mobile launcher.

"The missile followed a pre-determined trajectory at a very low altitude impacting with precision on a designated land target," officials said .

Singh, who was present at the launch, termed the test as 100 per cent successful. Also present to witness the test firing were Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister Dr M Natrajan and Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive officer of the Brahmos Aerospace programme.

The Sea-to-Sea version of the Brahmos has already been installed on board leading Indian Naval warships with an upgraded advanced fire control system.

"Work is progressing satisfactorily on the Air-to-Ground version of the missile for which the Russian acquired SU-30MKI fighters are being specially modified," DRDO officials said.

Though the DRDO officials are tightlipped, highly placed sources said that Indian and Russian scientists had reached the breakthrough in producing the submarine launched version of the missile, which will make India one of the few nations in the world to field such a capability.

With today's test firing, sources said the Defence scientists and Army officers were sure of induction of the supersonic missile in the land forces.

Once inducted into the army, the Brahmos land-to-land version would give India the new option of mounting nuclear and conventional warheads on supersonic missiles.

Army presently has raised specialised artillery regiments equipped with solid and liquid fuel, 150 to 300 kms range Prithvi short range missiles and 700 to 2,500 kms Agni I and Angi mediums range missiles.

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Navy completes talks for stealth frigates

NEW DELHI: The Navy has completed price negotiations for a major defence import deal aimed at checking the erosion of its force levels.

Having wrapped up the deal for approximately Rs. 3,000 crore, the proposal for purchasing three `Talwar' class stealth frigates from Russia would be put up to the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval. The Navy already has three such frigates that were inducted in 2003 and 2004. They were the first to have some stealth technology to enable detection from enemy radars.{It must read as : They were the first to have some stealth technology to disable detection from enemy radars.}

The second lot of Talwar class frigates too will have some firsts to its credit. These will be the first brand new platforms to be fitted with the India-Russian cruise missile Brahmos. As was the case with the three commissioned Talwar class frigates, the new ones will also have Indian components. In addition to communication and electric warfare suites, the new boats could also have an indigenous air defence system replacing the Russian Kashtan. { I presently do not know which air-defence system is being refered to}

Official sources said the Navy was exercising the clause for placing of repeat orders when the first deal was signed so there was no question of calling for fresh tenders. The import decision was necessitated because while the order book for shipyards is full, the Navy would be unable to maintain its force level of 140 ships and submarines. The Navy retires six ships annually and indigenously produced ships cannot plug this gap. "We have to opt for foreign collaboration. This is one such case," said official sources.

My apologies to the webmaster for having to edit the URL of my previous post. I shall be more careful from now on.

Dhruv back in the skies with new tail rotors: HAL​

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9 (PTI)

India's indigenous pride, the Advanced Light helicopter, Dhruv, is back flying in the skies, Hindustan Aeronautics Chairman A K Baweja said here today.

He also said that the company was poised to roll out country's first Advanced light gunship.

"Most of the Dhruv grounded for the past two months after complaints of problems in the tail rotor are back in the skies" Baweja told PTI here saying that the choppers were now sporting "new tail rotors".

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Firmly rejecting reports that HAL had received any cancellation of orders for the choppers, Baweja said his company was pressing ahead with full speed for meeting firm orders for 72 Advanced light helicopters from the three services, Army, Navy and Air Force.

He also said that HAL was also pressing ahead for bidding for Chilean Armed forces order for light helicopters as also interest shown by Turkish armed forces in Dhruvs.

On the efforts to develop an indigenous Advanced Light attack helicopter, the HAL Chairman said that work on the project had been started and he expected the first prototype to roll out within the next two years. He said the gunships would be of six tonne class.

.......

He said HAL had received orders worth more than Rs 100 crores from Eurocopter and Rs 25 crores from the US company for manufacture of tail rotors and other vital helciopter components.

He said during the year 2005-06, HAL had produced upgraded twin seater Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopters for domestic and international customers, successfully launched first test flight of upgraded MiG-27 aircraft and developed the second prototype of Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT).

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