Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
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Nirbhay launch likely by Sept; missile undergoes design changes
It's official! India is gearing up for the second launch of its subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay in the next three months. After the aborted maiden launch in March 2013, the first made-in-Bangalore missile is likely to be test-fired in September, post the monsoon season.
"We were disappointed that we could not complete the mission, but proud of what we could achieve with the first copybook launch. We have made a few corrections in the design and a couple of prototypes are getting ready for the next launch. The next few prototypes will be used to confirm the design parameters and demonstrate the overall mission capabilities of the system. Any flight vehicle undergoes fine tuning of its design during the development flight trials," ADE director Srikumar told Express.
It's official! India is gearing up for the second launch of its subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay in the next three months. After the aborted maiden launch in March 2013, the first made-in-Bangalore missile is likely to be test-fired in September, post the monsoon season.
"We were disappointed that we could not complete the mission, but proud of what we could achieve with the first copybook launch. We have made a few corrections in the design and a couple of prototypes are getting ready for the next launch. The next few prototypes will be used to confirm the design parameters and demonstrate the overall mission capabilities of the system. Any flight vehicle undergoes fine tuning of its design during the development flight trials," ADE director Srikumar told Express.
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From protecting own ships to tracking and attacking enemy ships and submarines, the use of a helicopter for a war-fighting force can be overlooked only at the cost of compromising national security.
A senior naval officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, "The manner in which the navy and the MoD went about this in the past proves their clear lack of vision. Simply inducting more and more ships is not enough. How well are we enabling these ships is as important."
Investigation revealed the navy has a mess on its hands.
Modern platforms, often built at a staggering expense to the exchequer, are roaming the seas without helicopters onboard. Many warships, which have two hangars onboard are steaming past without even a single helicopter onboard. For instance, between the six Talwar class frigates, which include the recently inducted frigates Teg, Tarkash and Trikand, only three carry a helicopter. Some other frigates don't have even one helicopter between them. Coming to larger ships like the destroyers, one Kamov helicopter is being shared between five Rajput class ships. Remarked a senior naval officer, "The availability of helicopters is at 20 per cent of what it should be. We are sharing helicopters to ensure the show goes on. It is a tragic situation."
With a requirement of over 100 helicopters across different categories, and yet going nowhere, the navy's predicament is clear. Said an MoD official, "The Indian Navy had to get 16 choppers as a direct replacement for Seaking 42A helicopters which came with the INS Viraat in 1987 and were decommissioned by the end of the century. Categorised as 'Multi Role Helicopter' acquisition, it is yet to take off even today." Then there is the Naval Multi Role helicopter deal to replace the Chetaks which were first introduced into the Indian armed forces in the 60s, and the Naval Utility Helicopter deal. It is all hanging in balance.
At present, officers from the navy say, their MRH quest has landed them with two shortlisted probable vendors of which one has a 'link' to Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland. "Though nobody will say so on paper, we have been asked to go slow on this," said a MoD official.
As for the NMRH, the navy shall soon float a Request For Information (RFI) whereas the NUH is not even there.
Facts and figures
-Delhi class of destroyers can carry two helicopters.
-Kolkata class of frigates can carry two helicopters.
-Shivalik class, Betwa class and Godavari class of frigates can carry two helicopters.
-Landing Ship Tank (Large) can carry two helicopters.
-Talwar class of frigates can carry one helicopter.
-Offshore Patrol Vessels can carry one helicopter.
-INS Viraat can carry eight helicopters.
-INS Vikramaditya can carry 12 helicopters.
-However, only 20 per cent of the requirement of these ships is being met in terms of availability of helicopters.
Just as i pointed out in my previous post. Indian navy and Coast guard are facing a crisis when it comes to Helicopters. They are getting new ships but with no helicopter to operate onboard.
This would just put further stress on sub surface and airborne ASW fleet to protect Capital ships and would definately result in more mishaps and accidents.
A senior naval officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, "The manner in which the navy and the MoD went about this in the past proves their clear lack of vision. Simply inducting more and more ships is not enough. How well are we enabling these ships is as important."
Investigation revealed the navy has a mess on its hands.
Modern platforms, often built at a staggering expense to the exchequer, are roaming the seas without helicopters onboard. Many warships, which have two hangars onboard are steaming past without even a single helicopter onboard. For instance, between the six Talwar class frigates, which include the recently inducted frigates Teg, Tarkash and Trikand, only three carry a helicopter. Some other frigates don't have even one helicopter between them. Coming to larger ships like the destroyers, one Kamov helicopter is being shared between five Rajput class ships. Remarked a senior naval officer, "The availability of helicopters is at 20 per cent of what it should be. We are sharing helicopters to ensure the show goes on. It is a tragic situation."
With a requirement of over 100 helicopters across different categories, and yet going nowhere, the navy's predicament is clear. Said an MoD official, "The Indian Navy had to get 16 choppers as a direct replacement for Seaking 42A helicopters which came with the INS Viraat in 1987 and were decommissioned by the end of the century. Categorised as 'Multi Role Helicopter' acquisition, it is yet to take off even today." Then there is the Naval Multi Role helicopter deal to replace the Chetaks which were first introduced into the Indian armed forces in the 60s, and the Naval Utility Helicopter deal. It is all hanging in balance.
At present, officers from the navy say, their MRH quest has landed them with two shortlisted probable vendors of which one has a 'link' to Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland. "Though nobody will say so on paper, we have been asked to go slow on this," said a MoD official.
As for the NMRH, the navy shall soon float a Request For Information (RFI) whereas the NUH is not even there.
Facts and figures
-Delhi class of destroyers can carry two helicopters.
-Kolkata class of frigates can carry two helicopters.
-Shivalik class, Betwa class and Godavari class of frigates can carry two helicopters.
-Landing Ship Tank (Large) can carry two helicopters.
-Talwar class of frigates can carry one helicopter.
-Offshore Patrol Vessels can carry one helicopter.
-INS Viraat can carry eight helicopters.
-INS Vikramaditya can carry 12 helicopters.
-However, only 20 per cent of the requirement of these ships is being met in terms of availability of helicopters.
Just as i pointed out in my previous post. Indian navy and Coast guard are facing a crisis when it comes to Helicopters. They are getting new ships but with no helicopter to operate onboard.
This would just put further stress on sub surface and airborne ASW fleet to protect Capital ships and would definately result in more mishaps and accidents.
The hull fabrication of the first Project-15B Bangalore-class DDG (follow-on order of P-15A with several improvements and supposed to be armed with BrahMos-II hypersonic ASCMs) is shaping up nicely. The following two images, taken in
October 2013 and May 2014 respectively, show the progress on the first ship INS Bangalore -
The keel of the first hull was completed in January this year. By May, as the picture shows, the hull is mostly
built up. Looks like MDL's newly adopted modular construction methods are indeed showing their pace. At this
rate, I believe the first P-15B DDG should be finished within 2017-2018, with the rest of them coming in at a
rate of one or two per year thereafter.
The BrahMos-II ASCMs should also get ready by then.
Credits for the find : shipone
October 2013 and May 2014 respectively, show the progress on the first ship INS Bangalore -
The keel of the first hull was completed in January this year. By May, as the picture shows, the hull is mostly
built up. Looks like MDL's newly adopted modular construction methods are indeed showing their pace. At this
rate, I believe the first P-15B DDG should be finished within 2017-2018, with the rest of them coming in at a
rate of one or two per year thereafter.
The BrahMos-II ASCMs should also get ready by then.
Credits for the find : shipone
P-15B was never intended to be any major leap over P-15A. It just comes with certain improvements, that's all.
BrahMos-2 won't be much bigger or smaller than BrahMos-1. However, it's the the actual VLS module's design
which will judge how it looks like, or what the dimensions are.
The SAM numbers are the most confusing. While two prominent analysts (Prasun K. Sengupta as well as Ajai Shukla)
are saying P-15A has 64 Barak-8 SAMs (32 ready-to-fire, and 32 for reloads), there is no clear evidence of
matter where these additional rounds are stored, and how they are reloaded exactly, if what they're saying is
correct.
Adding to the confusion, neither IN nor MDL or NDB have released any statement detailing the armament suite
of the DDG and how they exactly work.
--
That said, I believe P-15B could have additional 32 Barak-1 (or Maitri PDMS) close range SAMs in place of 2 x AK-630Ms.
I think even the P-15A would have had these straight from beginning if MoD hadn't blacklisted Rafael back then. Now,
thankfully, the ban is lifted and fresh orders for Barak-1 have been placed - which leads many to believe
P-15A could see 2 of it's 4 X AK-630Ms replaced with 4 x 8-cell Barak-1 VLS, just like how they did on
the older P-15 Delhi-class DDGs.
Other improvements to P-15B would possibly include the implementation of solid-state long-range AESA radar
on the rear mast, something like RAN-40L or S1850M. Some improvements to the decks to reduce signature
could also be implemented.
