Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Work on with its order book full and set to grow, state-owned shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) expects that its collaboration with Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri will help it improve efficiency and processes, said Rear Admiral Rahul Kumar Shrawat (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of MDL.

Fincantieri has been contracted by the MDL for technical collaboration on Project 17A, comprising seven stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. Four of these are being built by MDL, and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. “We will be using an integrated construction methodology. Construction begins next year. It is a two-year build period,” Rear Admiral Shrawat told The Indian Express.

He said the cooperation with foreign shipbuilders helped augment capacity through improved processes. “We have already modernised ourselves, improved efficiency, in order to do things faster. The collaboration will further boost that,” said Rear Admiral Shrawat.

The stealth frigates under Project 17A being built in India have been seen as a boost for the Make in India initiative through a focus on domestic defence manufacturing.

Asked if he sees Indian shipbuilders ever exporting, Shrawat said the capability was certainly available at institutions such as Mazagon Docks Ltd, but the reality was that the government’s point of view would naturally be to utilise indigenous capacity first for the large and growing requirements of the Indian Navy. “If any country were importing frigates and destroyers, we would be a worthy competitor given that we build world-class ships,” he said, adding that licencing norms for weapon intensive platforms and the fact that Indian ship builders were already busy with orders for the Navy would have to be considered.

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damitch300 said:

A question.

Has an harrier ever landes on the Vikramaditya? Would be a marvelous picture

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For the first time, India exhibited a 4+ generation fighter jet on a foreign land alongside some of the best-known names, and no one cared. The Old Media didn’t report it, the PM didn’t tweet, even the Indian Air Force kept quiet.

Why did the Indian media, politicians and the military minds sideline one of the historic events being scripted post-Independence? The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas flew for the first time outside Indian skies when it participated at the fourth edition of Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS-2016) from January 21-23, 2016.

It was eight minutes of history that was worth a live telecast, considering it was happening for the first time ever. After all, we are a nation that’s so obsessed with records. Considering that Tejas flew all the way from Bangalore to Jamnagar. Then to Muscat and finally to the Sakhir Airbase in Bahrain! It was an event worth chasing. Shocking that even Doordarshan too didn’t have any live shots. Not even borrowed.

This was for the first time that a home-grown Indian fighter jet flew at an international event, outside India. First time the largest military importer in the world exhibited a 4+ generation fighter-jet on a foreign land alongside some of the best known names.

As a biased journalist, supporting India’s defence programmes, I woke up with great interest for almost a week, three days ahead of the show and on all three days during the show and the day after the show (3+3+1 = 7 days) hoping to read something in the newspapers. My heart would have skipped a beat if it was reported on the front pages, but even the left-side obituary pages too never had anything mentioned on Tejas.

Even news channels had bigger things to report. On the Day-1 of the show, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal grabbed all the prime time slots visiting Hyderabad’s Central University.

Day-2 Breaking News was the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arresting a number of terror suspects across India.

Day-3 was completely grabbed by Netaji files being declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

And as I write this piece, two days after the BIAS-2016, French President Hollande has already landed in India and he will be our guest during the Republic Day. But, with Hollande in India, it was but natural for the Rafales to make news.

So, media had other things to chase and a desi metal bird flying for eight minutes each on three days is not worth reporting. And, even if someone did report, they might have no news sense like me. Or they might be biased, like me.

And then, what about our Breaking News Mantris? A tweet from PM Modi would have definitely lifted the spirits of Team Tejas. It would have cost the exchequer nothing. After all, a tweet is a tweet is a tweet! And, it’s sweet when it comes from the handle of your PM.

If the PM was busy, even External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who visited BIAS-2016 on the last day, could have tweeted. The MEA handle did tweet a photo of Sushma watching the Sarangs fly. But Sarangs flying is no breaking news and they have been flying all over the world since 2004. But, Sushma can’t be blamed as Tejas might have finished its quota of flying by the time she reached the venue. Sorry Tejas; seeing is believing!

What about Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the man who was responsible to make Tejas cross the Indian border. One statement from Ministry of Defence, after the historic flight, would have been ideal. But it never came.

Why did the Indian Air Force (IAF) keep quiet? Well, what to say! Tejas is not yet IAF’s. They have just got one aircraft (SP-1) and they have been waiting. And, waiting. And, waiting… They have their share of concerns before Tejas Squadron takes shape. Still, one comment from the Chief: “Well done,” would have meant a lot.

Interestingly, DRDO tweeted quoting Parrikar on the last day of the show, which said: “RM (Raksha Mantri) at NCC Republic Day camp said, as per my primary reports LCATejas has been appreciated by many other countries.”
There were press releases from IAF, MoD and HAL ahead of the show on India’s participation at BIAS-2016. Surprisingly, nothing after Tejas scripting history. What’s the big deal? After all, it was a demonstration and not any war!

The fact is, 24-minutes of historic three-day Tejas’ demonstrations did not find many takers in India, barring some biased journalists making noise! These journalists must be crazy. So, who is to be blamed? Well, who else now, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which failed to send their JF-17 Thunders. As per the earlier plan they were to come, to be parked alongside Tejas and Typhoons on the same bay. The media was all warmed up for the Tejas-Thunder ‘duel.’

But, with Thunder missing what will the lightning bird Tejas do? Just not done, PAF! Be there, next time.

So, what would have made headlines and prime time news hour? A tyre burst of Tejas in Bahrain. Maybe mosquitoes inside the cockpit! Yes. I got it.

Sorry Tejas, you proved your mettle. But, we ignored you.

It was a treat watching you. We are proud of you.

Take a bow.

Welcome back home, heroes.

Blue Skies and Happy Landings!

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Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. delivered the first Mirage 2000 upgraded by the HAL overhaul division to the Indian Air Force in September, three weeks earlier than the official schedule, Dassault’s inhouse magazine reported.

State-owned HAL is Dassault’s local partner on the Mirage upgrade.

That early delivery was due to a “successful first flight” and qualification completed in record time, the report said. Dassault completed midlife upgrade of the first two of 51 Mirages and handed over work for the remaining 49 units to HAL overhaul division in Bangalore, India.

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