Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

The Indian Navy's second Kolkata-class destroyer Kochi enters service on September 30 in Mumbai. Ahead of that day, here's the first official literature on the ship, made available exclusively to Livefist.

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NEW DELHI, SEP.23, 2015: India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today claimed it has successfully developed the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which gives conventionally-powered submarines longer endurance to stay underwater.



This was announced by the DRDO chief Dr.S.Christopher at the annual DRDO Awards function presided over by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the Indian Navy and the Air Force.



Dr.Christopher said the indigenously-developed AIP technology has been demonstrated on a land-based prototype. Talks are on with the French DCNS to examine the possibility of incorporating the AIP plug in the 5th and 6th Scorpene submarines being constructed at Mumbai's Mazagon Docks Limited under a technology transfer.



The technology demonstrator has been developed by the DRDO's Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL) at Ambernath in Maharashtra.



If the technology works, it'll rule out import of AIP plugs. AIP is being looked upon as a significant game changer in conventional diesel-electrical submarine operations. AIP-fitted submarines can stay underwater much longer than those without it.

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In New Delhi on Wednesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar startled the defence industry by targeting the export of $1 billion (Rs 6,600 crore) worth of DRDO-developed indigenous defence equipment in two-to-three years.

This represents a ten-fold increase over current export levels. On November 28, 2014, the government revealed in parliament that defence exports were: Rs 512 crore in 2011-12; Rs 447 crore in 2012-13, and Rs 686 crore in 2013-14.

In 2014-15, exports are likely to be only marginally higher. On July 24, Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, told parliament that exports during the year had included Cheetal helicopters and Stallion trucks to Afghanistan; a Dhruv helicopter and bullet proof jackets to Nepal; Dhruv helicopter spares to Ecuador; Sukhoi-30 avionics and MiG fighter and helicopter spares to Malaysia; hull mounted sonars to Myanmar, and other odds and ends.

The defence minister has often talked up the need for higher exports. He has told parliament that a “Defence Export Strategy has been formulated and put in public domain. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for issuing NOC (no objection certificates) for export of military stores has been simplified and made online.”

At last year’s DRDO awards function, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for empowering younger scientists, an implied criticism that led on in January to the removal from service of Dr Avinash Chander, the DRDO’s chief who had already received two service extensions.

This year, Parrikar fired a warning to the DRDO’s “cluster heads”, the seven director generals who direct R&D in the organisation’s seven technology verticals.He said the cluster heads should “avoid duplication, or overlapping of activities by laboratories for greater economic efficiency”.

Parrikar went on: “Cluster in-charge has a very important role to play. They should not think, ‘This is my last two years, why should we speed up development’”.

Speaking before Parrikar, the DRDO chief, Dr S Christopher had asked the defence ministry to quickly approve the hiring of 436 more scientists, which the DRDO had requested.Noting that DRDO’s strength had remained stagnant since 2001, he said, “A top-heavy organisation with a narrow base is not appropriate.”
Christopher pointed out that the annual DRDO budget of five to six per cent of the defence allocation was inadequate for developing new equipment for the forces, when China was spending 20 per cent of its budget on R&D. He said that India’s military had so far ordered Rs 1,79,071 crore worth of equipment developed by the DRDO.

In a shot across the bows of the air force and the army, Parrikar pointed to the navy’s success in establishing a “close interface” with the DRDO. He called for a similar level of interface between the DRDO and the army and air force.

Christopher made an intriguing revelation while listing out the DRDO’s achievements during the year, mentioning the development of “air independent propulsion” (AIP) for submarines, which he revealed would soon be tested.
AIP is a state-of-the-art propulsion system that makes submarines quieter, and gives them longer endurance since they need not surface for as long as two weeks. In contrast, conventional diesel-electric submarines must surface far more often, since they require air to run their engines. When surfaced, they are vulnerable to detection.

The defence ministry is currently processing the acquisition of six AIP-equipped submarines under Project 75I. With the DRDO claiming to have developed AIP, it might well lobby for Project 75I vessels to have indigenous AIP.

Amongst the awards presented to DRDO laboratories and personnel was one for the successful design of the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), with a range of 3,500 kilometres. This SLBM, which is being developed for India’s underwater nuclear deterrent, will replace the K-15 missiles that currently equips Arihant-class nuclear submarines. The K-15’s range is just 750 kilometres.

The longer range K-4 missile would add greatly to the survivability of Arihant-class submarines, which could fire them from longer ranges without needing to venture too close to enemy shores.

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The Cabinet Committee on Security, on Tuesday cleared an almost Rs 8,000 crore project for extension of the IAF's fully-automated air surveillance and defence network to the entire country.

The IAF has already established five nodes of the IACCS (integrated air command and control system) in the western sector facing Pakistan at Barnala (Punjab), Wadsar (Gujarat), Aya Nagar (Delhi), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Ambala (Haryana) with help from defence PSU Bharat Electronics.

Now, as was first reported by TOI, four new major nodes and 10 sub-nodes will come up under Phase-II of the IACCS. While three nodes will be in eastern, central and southern India, the fourth is meant for the strategically-located Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago.

By progressive integration of all airborne and ground-based civilian and military radars around the country, the aim is to ensure any intrusion by a hostile aircraft, helicopter, drone or micro-light can be detected and tackled as soon as it takes place. "The composite air picture will be available in real-time at centralised locations and the national command post," said a source.

Some of the new nodes will be located in underground complexes to improve survivability in face of enemy attacks, even as the entire IACCS infrastructure is also being upgraded with advanced early-warning, jam-resistant radars and the like.

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The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), which is being developed as the second rung of the Indian Air Force’s three-level training programme for rookie pilots, is set to undergo its most critical ‘spin' test this month, according to a top executive of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).

The spin test, which is at least eight months behind schedule, is seen as an ‘agnipariksha’ when it comes to safety of the pilot and the aircraft during combat.

Success will mean HAL can start planning series production “and we are confident of it (success),” HAL Chairman & Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju told The Hindu .

Work on the twin-seat IJT (or HJT-36) started in 1999. Admitting that the spin test had been an issue, Mr. Raju said, “We expected to spin the aircraft about eight months ago and clear it for series production. We could not spin or stall the aircraft. It is a very crucial job that should be done very carefully, as there is a lot of risk for men and material.”

In the last few months, HAL consulted UK aerospace major BAE Systems on certain design changes. The aircraft was modified and assessed many times over by mathematical modelling and wind tunnel tests.

After the engine stall test, “we are re-assessing the spin characteristics. We are close… after carrying out modifications. I am waiting for the happy news [in the next 20-30 days],” Mr. Raju said.

The IAF requires 85 IJTs. Currently into limited series production, the two prototypes have flown around 1,000 hours since the first flight in March 2003.

Delayed



The spin test was planned for 2013, but was delayed over deciding the engine, delivery from Russia and accidents in 2007, 2009 and 2011. “Today, we are confident that that every problem has found a solution. The aircraft that is going to come out of all this is going to be really worth flying,” Mr. Raju said.

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FORBIN said:

Yes very good site !

...also unusual only Indian warships without SSM.

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Business Standard learns that the Khemka-owned Sun Group, which enjoys influence with leaders in Moscow, has recommended to Russian Helicopters the names of four-five Indian companies from which to select a partner for manufacturing the Kamov-226T light helicopter in India.

With the Sun Group scion, Shiv Khemka, on the board of Russian Helicopters, the Indian group regards its role as “shepherding the Russian company” through the process of establishing a production line in India, say sources close to the company.

The prospective Indian partners include public sector giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence and Aerospace (RDA).

It is learnt that a team of Russian Helicopter officials will visit India shortly to evaluated the capacities and capabilities of the Indian corporations recommended by the Sun Group. Based on their evaluation, Moscow would finalise an Indian partner.

The Russian government hopes to sign an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with New Delhi when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Russia later this year for his annual summit meeting with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.

An IGA would constitute a firm commitment for New Delhi and Moscow to oversee the building of the Kamov-226T in India. An IGA would also release the acquisition from the restrictive provisions of India’s defence procurement procedure (DPP).

So far, there is no written agreement to procure the Kamov-226T, only a statement by Mr Modi after Mr Putin requested him in their annual summit meeting last December to choose the Kamov-226T for India’s requirement of 197 reconnaissance and support helicopters (RSH).

In that statement on December 11, 2014, Modi said: “I am pleased that Russia has offered to fully manufacture in India one of its most advanced helicopters. It includes the possibility of exports from India. It can be used for both military and civilian use. We will follow up on this quickly.”

This effectively shut down a tender, issued by New Delhi last October, for buying 197 helicopters in the “Buy & Make (Indian)” category of the DPP. In responding to that, HAL had partnered Russian Helicopters in offering to build the Kamov-226T in India.

Separately, Russian Helicopters has a Memorandum of Understanding with Reliance Group’s RDA. Dismissing the Sun Group’s mediation, RDA sources claim Russian Helicopters has already decided to partner the Ambanis in building the Kamov-226T. They say Russian Helicopters has written to the ministry accordingly.

Defence ministry officials say no such intimation has been received from Moscow. The Sun Group and the Ambani Group have declined comment.

Top Russian officials, including Sergey Chemezov, the powerful chief of Rostec, say New Delhi will choose the Indian partner, not Moscow. “It is up to the Indian government to decide who to grant this project, who they feel is better suited for this. For us this is no different, we could work with either”, Chemezov told Business Standard at last month’s MAKS 2015 air show in Moscow.

Aerospace industry experts say the estimated one billion dollar order for co-producing 197 Kamov-226T helicopters in India is crucially important for Russian Helicopters. With falling oil prices and western economic sanctions over Ukraine stalling Russia’s rearmament plan, galvanised exports are essential for the Russian aerospace industry.

India, a traditional buyer of Soviet and Russian weaponry, has been an especially big customer of Russian Helicopters, the state-owned monopoly for helicopter design and manufacture. Since 2011, India has bought 151 Mi-17V-5 helicopters, of which the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 139. In July, the IAF revealed it would order another 48 Mi-17V-5s for an estimated Rs 6,980 crore. These “medium lift helicopters” supply army pickets on the Himalayan border that are unconnected by road. They are also used for VVIP travel.

In addition, the navy relies heavily on Kamov-28 and Kamov-31 helicopters, which operate from warship decks on anti-submarine warfare missions and for airborne early warning and control.

In contrast, the smaller and lighter Kamov-226T will replace the IAF’s aging fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, which carry 3-5 passengers each. To enhance its high altitude performance, it has been modified with the Turbomeca Arrius 2G1 engines.

Separately, HAL is designing and manufacturing 187 “light utility helicopters”, which would serve the same purpose.

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