Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Defense News said:

July 24, 2013

NEW DELHI — Boeing could snare yet another big order from India as the Indian Army has asked the Defence Ministry to acquire an unspecified number of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, according to an MoD source.

Last year, the Indian Air Force purchased 22 Apaches for US $1.3 billion. Beyond the Indian Army request, a third order of helicopters could be in the offing for India’s planned Mountain Corps.

Boeing executives in New Delhi were unavailable for comment.

US companies have already won contracts worth more than $8 billion over the past four years, and most of the weapons and equipment supplied to India have come through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. India has bought 10 Boeing C-17 aircraft, 12 Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft and six Lockheed Martin C-130J transport planes.

The Indian Army wants its Apaches to be exclusive to the service and not associated with the Air Force’s 22 helicopters.

The MoD source added that, instead of inviting fresh bids, the MoD is considering a repeat order, which he said could be finalized by the end of the year. The size of the order is not known.

Meanwhile, an Indian Army official said the newly sanctioned Mountain Corps of roughly 30,000 troops, which could be deployed along the China border, would also be equipped with yet another purchase of attack helicopters.

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no_name said:

I was originally gonna put this in the funny thread..

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No long ago the Indian army complained to their Chinese counterpart that there is drone spying going on in the border area. The Chinese replied that the Indians can shoot the intruding craft down if they so wish, the latter replied that the objects are too high.

Well, about the last bit they had been right..

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The Hindu said:

New Delhi
July 28, 2012

India’s second aircraft carrier, the 45,000-tonne INS Vikramaditya — a retrofitted Russian carrier formerly named Admiral Gorshkov dating back to the 1980s — has successfully completed sea trial of achieving top speed of 32 knots, reports received from Russia said on Sunday.

It will now head for the White Sea where aviation trials will be conducted, informed sources said. INS Vikramaditya was supposed to have been delivered five years ago, but the Navy will now receive it by this year-end.

The extensively modernised Soviet-era carrier had set sail from the Sevmash shipyard for its first comprehensive sea trials in the summer of 2012. Russian MiG-29K fighter pilots had successfully completed take-offs and landings on its deck. The crew tested the aircraft carrier for its top speed but it simply stopped at 30 knots. It turned out that the boilers needed better insulation, which had given way due to extreme temperatures. It took several months to fix the glitch and send the vessel for sea trials again, sources said.
The aircraft carrier, which can easily hold about 30 fighter jets and helicopters, will now go for aviation trials. “Touch-and-go exercises by fighters and various other flight profiles will also be undertaken,” officials said.

The towering 284 metre-long and 60-metre-high Vikramaditya is fitted with modern communication systems, a protective coating, a telephone exchange, pumps, hygiene and galley equipment, lifts and many more facilities. Officials said that at any given time, there would be a 2,000-strong staff on the completely remodelled aircraft carrier, which has an extended flight deck and a full runway with a ski jump and arrestor wires. The vessel has new engines, boilers, generators, electrical machinery, communication systems and distillation plants.

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The Indian Tribune said:

New Delhi
July 28, 2013

Indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arihant, is finally set to sail out from its base at Vishakhapatnam. The 6,000-tonne submarine, to be armed with nuclear missiles, is ready after years of efforts interspersed with sanctions in 1998 and impediments due to non-availability of cutting-edge technology.

“The nuclear reactor that will power the submarine can be formally declared ‘critical’ now,” sources said.

“Everything is ready,” a functionary said. “The wait is for the monsoon to subside before Arihant (slayer of enemies) dives into sea. A certain amount of calm is needed at sea when the vessel goes out the first time. The monsoon on the East Coast starts weakening by the middle of August, meaning the submarine will slither out in a couple of weeks from now,” he added.

“Around 95 per cent of harbour trials are over,” sources said. Once the submarine is out at sea, it will run on nuclear-powered 80MW pressurised water reactor (PWR). The PWR was developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with assistance from a Russian designing team. It uses enriched uranium as fuel and light water as coolant and moderator.

Once at sea, the vessel will be gradually loaded with weapons and missiles. All parameters will be tested after each addition. “Each test will be conducted underwater for two months or more. This will include the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM)”, sources said.

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Defense News India said:

According to sources close to DefenceNews.in, a second Arihant-class nuclear submarine which is to be named INS Aridaman is shaping up and plans are to have the launch by mid of next year. INS Aridaman will also be integrated soon with a nuclear reactor. It will however require another two years before it is handed over to Indian navy for sea trials.

Work on the hull of still to be named third Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine has begun and the launch is expected at the same time when INS Aridaman goes to sea trials. Development of the third submarine will be at much faster rate than other two submarines since production will be stabilized by then. Displacing about 6,000 tonnes, the 112 metre-long Arihant-class of boomer submarines are powered by an indigenously-built 80-MW nuclear power plant. Each submarine is said to store 12 K-15 missiles besides torpedoes and torpedo-launched cruise missiles.

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no_name said:

A recent pic of the Indian home built carrier:

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asif iqbal said:

It's still a long way from launch

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(June 2013 picture of INS Vikrant Construction Progress)
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NDTV said:

New Delhi: India will launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, on August 12 from the Kochi shipyard. This will make India only the fifth country after the US, Russia, Britain and France to have the capability to build such vessels.

"About 83 per cent of the fabrication work and 75 per cent of the construction work will be over when the ship goes into water," said Indian Navy's vice chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan.

Admiral Dhowan also said that the 40,000 tonne indigenous aircraft carrier is one of its most prestigious warship projects and unprecedented in terms of size and complexity. It has been designed by Indian Navy's design organization.

INS Vikrant will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires capable of operating a STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery). The main stay fighters positioned on board would be Russian made MiG -29K fighter jets. The naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) produced by India is also scheduled to be positioned on the warship. However, it would depend on how quickly and effectively Navy variant of the LCA is produced and cleared for active duty.

"It will be equipped with a long range surface-to-air missiles system with multi-function radar and close-in weapons system (CIWS)," Admiral Dhowan said.

Apart from joining a select group of nations that build aircraft carriers, the major achievement for India has been the ability to fabricate weapons grade steel. "After our initial difficulty in procuring weapons grade steel, our own laboratories were able to crack the code. Steel Authority of India is now producing the requisite quality of steel" Admiral Dhowan said.

The ability to produce weapons grade steel is a big plus since majority of Indian warships will now be produced in India.

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Jeff Head said:

India set to officially launch its first indigenous carrier, INS Vikrant, August 12, 2013.

(June 2013 picture of INS Vikrant Construction Progress)
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