BECA to be inked soon between India & US? It is topping Sitharaman’s agenda in US next week

 Besides reviewing bilateral defence cooperation, regional issues related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) will be topping the agenda of Defence minister Nirmala Sithraman’s visit to the US next week.

Besides reviewing bilateral defence cooperation, regional issues related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) will be topping the agenda of Defence minister Nirmala Sithraman’s visit to the US next week.

During her three day visit starting Dec 3, sources confirmed to FE that, “The BECA is topping the agenda as this is will allow exchange of geospatial information between India and the US  for both military and civilian use.”

The two countries have been in discussions towards the early conclusion of the BECA which has been pending for a while.  “New Delhi has been during discussions insisted on India-specific assurances,” explained a senior officer on condition of anonymity.   Such an agreement between the two countries wills layout protocols for the sharing of mapping and other geospatial data securely between the two sides.

The defence minister during her meeting with her counterpart US Secretary of Defence James Mattis is expected to seek waiver on CAATSA for the recent deals including two Grigorovich-class ‘Project 1135.6’ frigates for the Indian Navy and the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system from Russia.

Reportedly, Mattis has been pushing for a waiver for countries like India, after the US President Donald Trump had signed a law last year which said that any country trading with Russia’s military sector would face sanctions.

Besides reviewing Afghanistan, Pakistan and China situations the two sides will also discuss an entire gamut of issues of interests to both sides.  Sources confirmed that the two sides during the meeting will discuss the Indo-Pacific Region.

In September this year, at the end of the first 2+2 India-US Strategic Dialogue, the two countries had concluded a third so-called foundational agreement to facilitate closer defense cooperation when they inked a Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA).

According to the joint statement released at the end of talks between Minister of External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman and both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis ,  the COMCASA agreement will facilitate access to advanced defense systems and enable India to optimally utilize its existing US-origin platforms. COMCASA will open up the possibility of India importing US systems unencumbered by possible limitations on guidance, communication, and sensor technologies.

Both countries have already inked the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002. The LEMOA agreement allows the use of each other’s land, air and naval bases for repair and resupply, a step toward building defense relations.

financialexpress

Upgraded SANT missile successfully flight tested

The upgraded version of the third generation anti-tank Helina missile — SANT missile (Spike anti-tank guided missile), the air to ground version, has been successfully tested, at the Pokhran field firing range in Jaisalmer district. The flight test of the missile was successfully conducted by DRDO and other officers of Indian Air force.

The SANT missile has been developed by DRDO’s research centre Imarat, in association with Indian Air force, and is an upgrade of Helina’s missile, which had a range of 7-8 km. The new missile has a range of 15-20 km and is equipped with a new nose-mounted active radar seeker, to help keep the launch platform at a safe distance, to evade defensive fire from the target area.

Sources said all the mission objectives were met during trials of the SANT missile, in which a dummy target of a tank was destroyed and the missile has been successfully flight tested for different ranges including the maximum range capability in Pokhran field firing range.

The missile is guided by an Infra-red Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Sources said the missile was tested for its Infra-red Imaging Seeker with a far greater resolution than what has been tested earlier, as per the demand of the users. A higher version seeker, with a much higher focal plane array as compared to the original plan, has been tested.

TOI

Pakistan selects Chinese VT4 main battle tank

The Pakistan Army Armoured Corps has selected the Chinese VT4 tank (previously known as the MBT3000) – produced by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) – to meet requirements for procuring hundreds of new main battle tanks.

A military analyst, Muzammil Hatami announced the selection of the Norinco VT4 for increasing of Pakistani armoured vehicle fleet.

“VT4 has confirmed for future Pakistan army tank and Alkhalid II main battle tank is in developing phase,” – said Muzammil Hatami during 10th InternationalIDEASdefense exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan.

The VT4 is a third-generation MBT offered for export by Norinco. It is an improvement over the Al-Khalid MBT (also known as MBT-2000), which is currently in service with Pakistan Army, although it retains the 125 mm main gun, carousel auto-loader, and crew configuration of the older vehicle.

Nevertheless, the Pakistani military refused to comment on the choice of the Chinese-made VT4 main battle tank (MBT) and asked to wait for an official statement. Despite the fact that the future tank’s tender details kept at a secret, it was reported that Pakistan might procure around 100 MBTs in order to meet the deficiency of MBT production in the country.

Also according to leaked images, the Pakistan Army (PA) already tested the Norinco VT4 MBT. Published on 6 January 2017 the photographs showed how PA personnel inspected a VT4 platform at an undisclosed location.

The VT4 is motorized with water-cooled turbocharged electronic-controlled diesel engine developing 1,300 hp (some source said about 1200 hp). The tank can run a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.

In addition to VT4, the Pakistan Army also evaluated the Ukrainian Oplot-P MBT produced by Malyshev Factory.

In July 2017, Pakistan’s delegation included Secretary Defence Lt General (R) Zamir ul Hassan Shah, also officially visited Ukraine where reviewed the production of modern Ukrainian armored vehicles. He mentioned that Pakistan values its relations with Ukraine and believes that the relationship will strengthen with the passage of time.

At that time some sources reported that Ukraine was on the verge of signing a deal to provide Pakistan with new and upgraded main battle tanks.

In April 2017, “Delovaya Stolitsa” interviewed Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ukraine Maj. Gen (retired) Athar Abbas, who told Delovaya Stolitsa that Pakistan could be interested in 100 Oplot-P main battle tanks.

 defence-blog

Air force will have first Rafale jets by 2019: Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa

Air force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said that the air force will have the first Rafale jets by 2019.

Dhanoa who was in Guwahati on Thursday to attend the programme of presentation Standards to 118 Helicopter Unit and Colours to Air Defence College while talking to media said that there is no delay in the Rafale programme.

He said, “Process on induction of 231 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is in pipeline. We are supposed to induct a number of fighters .We have floated request for information (RFI) for 114 fighter aircraft. There was a proposal to induct LCA in big numbers and with this total number of LCA squadron will go up to 12.”

He added, “LCA mark 1 in IOC configuration of one squadron of 20 aircrafts , LCA mark 1 in FOC configuration one squadron 20 aircrafts , LCA mark 1A four squadron 83 aircraft , LCA mark 2 six squadron 108 aircrafts. So total of 12 squadron and 231 aircraft , this will be the largest induction of indigenous aircraft ever in the country , in addition this is in RFI stage , from this we will come out with operational requirement and once the operational requirement is ready then we will go back to the government for acceptance of necessity based on which we will issue request for proposal( RFP) for the fighter procurement programme.”

 economictimes

US suspended a total of $3 billion in security assistance to Pak this year: Report

Highlights

• The $3 billion amount was calculated in the latest compilation of all figures coming from various funding streams from different fiscal years.
• The suspended figure of $3 bn is much higher than the $1.3 bn quoted by Trump this month and $1.66 bn reported by the Pentagon last week.

The US has suspended $3 billion in security assistance to Pakistan this year after it failed to rein in terrorist groups, a figure which is much higher than the $1.3 billion quoted by the Trump administration earlier, according to sources.

The $3 billion amount was calculated in the latest compilation of all figures coming from various funding streams from different fiscal years, PTI has learnt.

Not been made public yet, the suspended figure of $3 billion is much higher than the $1.3 billion quoted by President Donald Trump this month and $1.66 billion reported by the Pentagon last week.

The compilation of the figures coming from various wings of the US government is understood to have been done after the recent Twitter spat between President Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The US president this month said that Pakistan did not "do a damn thing" for the US despite billions of dollars in American aid for the South Asian nation.

Khan fired back, telling the president on Twitter that he "needs to be informed about historical facts."

Khan said that the US aid to Pakistan was a "miniscule" $20 billion, while the country lost 75,000 people and more than $123 billion fighting the 'US War on Terror'.

Over the past several years, senior US officials had been accusing Pakistan of playing a double game with the US and not taking satisfactory action against terrorist groups like Haqqani networks, the Taliban and Lashkar-a-Taiba.

During the second term of the Obama administration, US lawmakers started bringing in legislations that imposed stringent conditions on Pakistan for certain security assistance.

But Trump became the first US president to announce suspension of security aid to Pakistan.

"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump announced on January 1.

Since then, senior administration officials assert no security aid has been given to Pakistan. Among this also includes the coalition support fund.

Early this month, Trump charged Pakistan of harbouring Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida leader, and asserted that his country will not give any financial aid to Pakistan.

Trump told White House reporters last week that he wants to have a better relationship with Pakistan, but would not revoke suspension of aid unless he sees changes in the approach of Pakistan towards terrorist organisations.

TOI

Pro-Khalistani leader Gopal Chawla seen with Pakistan army chief

At the Kartarpur Sahib inauguration, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke at length of imrpoving ties with India.

But at the same event, presence of Khalistani terrorist Gopal Chawla stood as testimony to Pakistan's sympathy for extremist forces active against India. Pakistan state broadcaster PTV beamed images of Chawla shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Chawla had in the past shared dais with Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, and openly advocated war against India.

At an event in Pakistan in August 2017 + , Chawla talked of using organisations like Milli Muslim League, a political front for Saeed's banned Jamaat ud Dawa, to 'get rid of India.'

Saeed is a UN-designated global terrorist with a bounty of $10 million on his head.

India has made it clear that participating in the Kartarpur initiative is not a change of its stand on Pakistan.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat, when asked about Chawla and Bajwa being seen together, said that the Kartarpur initiative should be seen in isolation.

Any dialogue with Pakistan would be possible only once Islamabad stops support for terrorist forces active against India, New Delhi has repeatedly said.

 timesofindia

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems adds Indian office and executive

Eyeing future business with India’s military, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA ASI) opened an office in New Delhi and added an executive dedicated to securing defence deals with the country.

Pratesh Gandhi, a former Indian naval aviator, will serve as director of India strategic development and will pursue military sales to the country, including sales of GA ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned air vehicle and electromagnetic aircraft launch and recovery systems (EMALS) for Indian aircraft carriers, the company said 27 November.

“Establishing an office in New Delhi positions us to better collaborate with our Indian customers to deliver capabilities that address emerging security challenges in the region,” said Linden P. Blue, chief executive office of GA ASI.

GA ASI said in June 2017 that the US government had approved a $2 billion sale of 22 MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs to India. The drones are intended to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over the Indian Ocean, which has become a hotbed of activity as China expands naval activities, including the recent opening of a naval base on nearby Sri Lanka.

GA ASI also aims to get a slice of India's growing fleet of aircraft carriers. The Indian Navy operates one aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, which is a Kiev-class ship originally built and used by the Soviet Union as an aircraft carrier for helicopters and the vertical-take-off-and-landing Yakovlev Yak-38 Forger. It was purchased by India in 2004 and modified into a ski-jump ship. The country has another ski-jump aircraft carrier under construction, the INS Vikrant, but aims also to build a larger 65,000 tonne carrier called INS Vishal, into which GA ASI aims to integrate its electromagnetic aircraft launch and recovery systems.

 flightglobal

Pakistan has changed the demography of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: General Bipin Rawat

Pakistan has changed the demography of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and “eroded” the identity of Kashmiris there, said Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat here on Wednesday.

Rawat made the remarks after delivering the YB Chavan Memorial Lecture, wherein he pointed out Pakistan’s role in ‘hybrid warfare’ against India by perpetrating terrorist attacks.

While speaking about PoK, Rawat said, “On the other side the demography has changed. Pakistan has cleverly changed the demography of so-called Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. One is not very sure who is an actual Kashmiri. Is he a Kashmiri or a Punjabi who has come in there and occupied that area...So, if there is an identity between our side of Kashmir and the other side, then the identity thing has gradually been eroded.”

The Army Chief also underlined that the radicalisation of youth in Jammu and Kashmir is happening through falsehood. “People are back from schools and colleges and there is nothing else to do other than watch television and look at mobile phones. These messages (in phones) convey everything negative and falsehood,” he said.

“The other issue is job opportunity...today there are people with the same discrepancies in other parts of the country, but have they taken to the gun. They haven’t...In Kashmir it is only happening because of radicalisation and people who are taking to the gun are being treated as martyrs,” he added.

However, Rawat said that successful operations are happening in Kashmir through hard intelligence from locals. “It is being provided by the same people who feel that a terrorist should not be in my neighbourhood,” he said.

The army chief explained that the terrorists have to brought to a level where they are not able to “revamp” and have opportunities to come together. On the sidelines of the event, while commenting on the killing of Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Naveed Jatt by security forces in Budgam on Wednesday, he added that the army is planning to eliminate the terrorist leadership.

The Army Chief also said that by just having a string of successful operations does not mean that peace can be given a chance. “To think that by having just one good year you can give peace a chance that may not be the best option. You have to have repeated successes and then think of giving peace a chance. I think that is what we are doing now,” he said.

This was in contrast to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan pushing for peace with India at the foundation laying ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan. Rawat, however, pointed out that the corridor initiative should be kept in “isolation”, when asked by reporters if this was a sign of peace.

economictimes

Japan may buy additional 100 F-35 fighters

Japan is considering buying up to 100 F-35 stealth fighters from the US for more than USD 8.8 billion as it seeks to counter China's growing military presence in the region, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

The reported purchase comes as President Donald Trump pushes Japan to buy more military equipment and other US products, pointing to Washington's huge trade deficit with Tokyo.

Japan has already decided to buy 42 F-35 stealth fighter jets from the US and is now considering purchasing as many as 100 more, worth more than one trillion yen (USD 8.8 billion), according to the evening edition of the Nikkei daily.

The cabinet is expected to approve the plan in mid-December when the nation's defence programme guidelines are released, the business daily said.

A defence ministry spokesman declined to confirm the report, saying only: "Everything related to additional purchases is under consideration."

In September, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly told Trump: "Introducing high-spec military equipment, including US equipment, is important to strengthen Japan's defence."

Tokyo is also considering upgrading its helicopter carriers so that they can transport and launch fighter jets, Kyodo News reported, quoting a government source.

The government is looking to upgrade the Izumo, a flat-top destroyer that currently carries helicopters, to a fully fledged aircraft carrier that is critical in the face of China's maritime assertiveness, the local news agency said.

China is deploying its first stealth fighter into military service in the latest milestone highlighting the modernisation of the country's armed forces.

Izumo-class 19,500-tonne carriers -- Japan's largest postwar naval vessels -- are 248 metres (818 feet) long and can carry up to 14 helicopters.

The plan is also expected to be finalised when the guidelines are published next month, it added.

 economictimes

Nirmala may visit US, first after Indo-Russia S-400 deal

Two months after India ignored US sanctions to announce the S-400 “Triumf” air-defence missile deal from Russia, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to visit the US in December, making it the first high-level visit since then.
Sources confirmed to The Tribune that the Defence Minister is slated to travel to the US. Progress of the Indo-US military relations will be reviewed during the visit.

India has a strategic partnership with the US but has made it clear to Washington that India-Russia military relations stand separate from the India-US ties and that these are not inter-connected. On October 5, India-Russia announced the deal after the Narendra Modi-Vladimir Putin meeting in New Delhi, saying: “Both sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system to India.”

On October 10, US President Donald Trump during an interaction with journalists at the White House had said India would find out what action the US took against it for defence deal with Russia “sooner than you think”.

“India is going to find out, aren’t they,” Trump said while responding to a question about India-Russia S-400 deal. Trump’s comments were in contrast to previous remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis. Both argued for a waiver to India and not impose sanctions. Mattis had testified before a Congress committee favouring a waiver as the US views India as a key ally.

Ironically, in September, India and the US signed an agreement on exchange of military information — Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement.

The US, in June, passed the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act that requires imposing curbs on nations that have “significant” defence relations with Russia. There is a provision for a waiver and New Delhi has argued out its case to the US. “The waiver authority is not a blanket waiver. Waivers are considered on transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions,” the US had said after the deal.

 tribuneindia

India will help cash-starved Maldives make up its budget deficit

Highlights

• Maldivian foreign minister announced that Male's 'India First' policy is back on track
• “President Yameen tried to be a puppet master, to play India and China off against each other. He failed. We have a strong India first policy, but will engage with all other countries,” he said
• He said his government would decide on the free trade pact with China after a full review

India will help Maldives make up its budget deficit as immediate assistance to the cash strapped government. This was announced by Maldivian foreign minister Abdullah Shahid after his meetings with the Indian leadership.

Announcing that Maldives’ ‘India First’ policy was back on track, Shahid told reporters that the Ibrahim Solih government would undertake a review of the debt obligations by the Maldives to different countries, but mainly to China. “President Yameen tried to be a puppet master, to play India and China off against each other. He failed. We have a strong India first policy, but will engage with all other countries,” Shahid said.

Describing India as a time-tested and trusted partner, he said the government would decide on the free trade agreement with China after a full review. “The FTA was rushed through parliament. The parliamentary committee reviewed a 1,000-page document in 10 minutes and passed it. We were in the opposition then, we did not get a chance to look at it,” Shahid said.

However, he was clear that Maldives saw China as a friend, as one of the largest economies of the world whose assistance had benefited Maldives.

Maldivian finance minister Ibrahim Ameer said he believed some Chinese projects were taken at an “inflated” price but there was no scope of renegotiating them.

He added that the government was yet to fully assess the quantum of debt owed to China because most of the deals had been done in secret and there were no public accounts.

Shahid said he would be travelling to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China and The EU to revive engagement and look for aid.

He confirmed that there was no question of returning the advanced light helicopters to India, as threatened by Yameen.

Minister for economic development Fayyaz Ismail said Maldives had asked India to extend an existing currency swap agreement to six months from the present three months, and increase the amount from the current $200 million. He added, “We are looking to India to lead the IHavan project.” IHavan is a special economic zone and transshipment port in a strategically located northern atoll on the Indian Ocean’s busiest route. This is significant since Yameen had blocked all Indian attempts to participate in IHavan, instead looking to China.

Ismail told another group of reporters, “We are trying to put the past last five years of instability in the Maldives and we will try to resolve all differences between Maldivian and Indian investors. In that regard, we are hoping to strengthen our bilateral trade. We are hoping to enter into a bilateral treaty with India on increasing investment.”

timesofindia

India dismisses Pak ‘invite’ to PM Modi for Saarc meet as ploy

Highlights

• India is not a special invitee that Pakistan has the discretion to invite us. India is integral to the Saarc process, a government official said
• Sources said Pakistan probably wanted to garner PR points in the presence of Indian media at the Kartarpur corridor ceremony
• A Saarc summit is announced only after it has been decided upon by all members

India dismissed as “posturing” a Pakistan foreign office announcement on Tuesday that it would “ invite” PM Narendra Modi to a Saarc summit in Islamabad.

Coming on the heels of the two countries joining forces to build the Kartarpur corridor, a long-standing Indian demand, the Pakistani announcement would have raised the possibility of resumption of the Saarc process, which has been stalled since 2016, had it not been for a crucial detail — Pakistan cannot unilaterally “invite” for Saarc.

A Saarc summit is announced only after it has been decided upon by all members.

It is only after the date has been decided by member states that formal invitations are sent out.

“India is not a special invitee that Pakistan has the discretion to invite us. India is integral to the Saarc process,” a senior government official said. “The date for a Saarc summit is finalised with the consent of all members. And that has not happened,” the official added.

Pakistan, sources said, probably wanted to garner some PR points in the presence of a large Indian media contingent which has travelled for the Kartarpur corridor’s inauguration to paint India as the obstinate one holding up regional cooperation. However, sources in Delhi said Bangladesh, which is going to the polls, or Sri Lanka, which is embroiled in a political crisis, are hardly likely to agree to a Saarc summit just now. Another member country Afghanistan, was equally unlikely to agree to one, sources added.

Pakistani PM Imran Khan is expected to interact with Indian journalists where he is likely to raise this issue as one awaiting resolution.

The last Saarc summit attended by Modi was in Kathmandu in 2014. In 2016, after the terror attack on an Army camp in Uri, India refused to agree to a summit. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan followed suit, leading to the cancellation of the Saarc summit, which has not yet been revived. India and Pakistan have since had little official engagement.

Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mohammed Faisal recalled that Khan, in his first address to the nation, had said that if India took one step forward, Pakistan would take two. He said Khan, in his response to Modi’s letter, had expressed Pakistan’s openness to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. “We fought a war with India, relations cannot be fixed quickly,” he added.

The raised expectations of an India-Pakistan thaw was fuelled by Modi’s own remarks that if the Berlin Wall could come down, the Kartarpur corridor could do the same.

 timesofindia

Nations Who Might Buy Russia's Deadly Armata Tank

While Russia’s next generation Armata has not yet officially entered service, buzz has already been created on what countries other than Russia might field it.

In 2018, Russians are no stranger to cooperative weapons development ( as seen in the Brahmos missile ) and even offering to export products before they are finished ( as seen with the Su-57 ).

What countries might field the Armata in the future? Here is a few ideas:


1. India:

India is looking to be the primary export partner for the T-14 Armata, with the Armata fulfilling the requirements for India’s FRCV open contract.

Other tanks that could compete against the Armata within the FRCV contract requirements are the Korean K2 Black Panther and Ukrainian BM Oplot. Most current Western tanks like the Leopard 2A7 and M1A2 Abrams are too heavy for Indian terrain.

The Armata also faces domestic opposition in the Arjun Mk. 2, but it’s unsure if the latest version of the Arjun can overcome the poor reputation and controversies of its predecessor.


2. China:

Despite its own burgeoning arms industry, China continues to acquire advanced Russian military equipment such as the Su-35S and the S-400 .

In doing so, it’s continuing a relationship that began in the 1990s in which China buys expensive and close to cutting edge equipment from Russia then incorporates its features into its own products, as it has done with the J-11B and HQ-9.

As such, China will likely try to buy Armatas, if only in limited numbers to evaluate them, adopt what technology they think is good, and perhaps produce their competing version of the Armata for export.


3. Algeria:

Algeria has a long standing defense relationship with Russia and fields some of the most advanced Russian weapons in its military. They operate T-90s, S-50, and Su-30MKAs, which are an advanced variant of the Su-30.

They even have bought more recent Russian developments such as versions of the BMPT infantry support tank and Yak-130 fighter trainer.

Russia appears to trust them as a partner in advanced weapons development programs, and has asked them to be partners in the PAK FA (Su-57) project and appears to be willing to export the advanced fighter to them.

Algeria acquiring Armatas would ensure their supremacy as one of the most powerful militaries in their region and the Maghreb, and even Africa. However, given the large number of already advanced (for the region) T-90s they field, it’s unlikely Algeria will acquire more than a handful of Armatas due to the expensive cost.


4. Egypt:

Similar to Algeria, Egypt has gravitated towards purchasing Russian equipment recently, including T-90s and MiG-35s. Interestingly, both Egypt and Iraq have shifted from using U.S.-made export versions of the Abrams back to Russian-manufactured armor in their recent T-90 purchases.

For Egypt, this ends an almost thirty year relationship with the United States, in which they first bought M60 Pattons and then M1A1 export Abrams. Despite the recent pivot towards Russian products, Russia appears to trust Egypt and has offered the Su-57 to export to them as well.

As such, Egypt is a likely Armata export customer. That being said, they’re unlikely to procure them in the near future. The Egyptian Army placed an order for T-90s to augment their Abrams fleet in 2017, so they are unlikely to make another order for modern tanks for quite some time.


5. United Arab Emirates:

Similar to Algeria and Egypt, the United Arab Emirates has been cited as a potential export customer for the advanced Su-57 fighter, indicating a Russian willingness to cooperate on military and technical affairs.

Russia has been attempting to align the UAE’s armament procurement towards it more recently, offering it access to the Russian GLONASS GPS-equivalent satellite network.

With regards to armor, the UAE fields both Russian BMP-3 tracked infantry fighting vehicles and Ukrainian BTR-3 wheeled armored personnel carriers. Its entire tank fleet is comprised of French LeClerc Main Battle Tanks, which are of a fairly advanced type and which have been receiving considerable upgrades since being adopted.

According to this French blog , the type has performed satisfactorily in Yemen, suffering minimal losses.

Despite the strategic successes of the LeClerc, it was noted that the tank was penetrated on the frontal arc by an old Konkurs anti-tank guided missile. The projectile killed the driver and wounded the tank commander.

As a result, the UAE looked into upgrade kits for the LeClerc, including soft and hard-kill systems. However if France is unable to deliver or if the Armata’s solution to these problems is evaluated to be superior, the UAE might find itself procuring the Armata in the near future.

 nationalinterest

Indian Navy Chief in Russia to Explore Co-op in Nuke Submarine Construction

Admiral Sunil Lanba is scheduled to visit the Nakhimov Naval School and Admiralty Shipyard that is building Lada-class submarines of project 677. The non-nuclear Amur-1650 submarine - an export option of the Lada-class submarine - is one of the contenders in India’s project p75I for six non-nuclear submarines for the Indian Navy.

India and Russia are exploring newer avenues for defence cooperation. In this connection, Chief of the Indian Navy Admiral Sunil Lanba is currently on a four-day visit of Russia starting Monday. On the first day of his visit, Lanba is holding bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN).

"At Moscow, the Admiral will have discussions with General VV Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation and Mr. Dmitriy Shugaev, Director, Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of the Russian Federation," the Indian Navy's statement read.

The Indian Navy's statement indicates that the two countries remain undeterred by US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and is likely to soon clear pending deals in the maritime domain.

Earlier this year on July 6, Sputnik reported that India and Russia had started discussions on joint construction and development of a nuclear submarine at a very cost effective rate at an Indian shipyard. Going by the proposal, the two countries intend to develop a prototype for under $200 million following which the Russian firm would transfer the technical know-how and related documents to the Indian shipyard.

Only last week, India and Russia concluded a $1.5 billion guided missile frigate deal under which two 3,620-ton Admiral Grigorovich-class vessels will be purchased off the shelf by India while two other frigates will be built at a state-owned shipyard in Goa, southern India. India has so far leased two nuclear-propelled submarines from Russia, including the Chakra, which is currently in service.

Admiral Lanba will also visit the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and will deliver a talk on the "Indian Navy's Perspective on Maritime Security." He will also lay a wreath at Piskarev Memorial Cemetery in memory of the victims of the Siege of Leningrad.

 sputniknews

China is doing to Pakistan what East India Company(British) did to Indian sub-continent

As per reports, China is building a city for 5,00,000 Chinese nationals in Pakistan at a cost of $ 150 million in Gwadar as a part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This will be the first such Chinese city in South Asia. According to a report by the Economic Times, the proposed city housing half a million Chinese will come up by 2022. It will help China to house its workforce for the financial district that it is planning to set up in the port city of Gwadar.

This city is set to be a gated zone, and only the Chinese will live in this zone. This virtually means that China is going to own a colony in Pakistan. China-Pakistan Investment Corporation has reportedly bought the 3.6 million square feet international port city and is going to start building the gated zone for the anticipated 5,00,000 strong Chinese workforce which will be located here by 2022. China already has such sub-cities which exclusively cater to the Chinese nationals in Africa and Central Asia. It is being alleged that it is now acquiring such territories in eastern Russia and northern Myanmar as well. Such exclusive zones for the Chinese have also been led to resentment among the local. It seems that our terrorist neighbour is also becoming increasingly vulnerable to dangerous Chinese influence.

CPEC is the most important project as far as Pakistan’s spluttering economy is concerned. Pakistan is at the mercy of China in order to revive its economy which is in shambles. China in turn is looking at this as an opportunity to gain considerable influence in the region. Beijing has been investing in Pakistan’s pipelines, railways, highways, power plants, industrial areas and mobile networks in order to advance the geographical mid-way link for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Moreover, about 20 CPEC projects worth over $27 billion are under the process of implementation across Pakistan.

China has gained unprecedented influence in Pakistan and now the setting up of an exclusive Chinese zone within Pakistan much like a colony shows how China is directly impinging upon Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty and integrity. The Chinese move of setting up its colony in Pakistani port city of Gwadar resembles to a large extent the manner in which the English came to colonise India. The Chinese exclusive zone in Gwadar could very well turn out to be Pakistan’s Fort Williams. The 70-hectares Fort had turned out to be the foundation of the English imperialism in India and the Chinese colony in Pakistan bears striking similarity to the same.

The way this gated zone is going will make Pakistanis feel like foreigners/ intruders on their very own soil also suggests the birth of apartheid in Pakistan. The Chinese are going to assert their supremacy over Pakistani locals and natives. But Pakistan will have to tolerate the Chinese excesses and even blatant discrimination. It is too weak to do anything about it. Pakistan which never kept economic and social progress in mind is trapped in a debt crisis and is totally at the mercy of Chinese. In the fiscal year 2017-18, Pakistan received $4.5 billion worth of loans from China apart from $ 1.5 billion trade facility. In the preceding year, China had extended $ 3.9 billion worth of loans from China. Therefore, in the garb of CPEC China has been doling out loans to the Islamic nation and has been crippling its sovereignty. Notwithstanding its shoddy and brief history, Pakistan is moving towards its darkest phase.

 rightlog

IAF to select 110 fighters after multi-role combat aircraft results

The process to select 110 fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will draw upon the field evaluation results of the now-cancelled Medium Muti-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) purchase deal to shorten and hasten the process, senior officials in the ministry of defence who aren’t authorised to speak to the media said.

In 2015, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre scrapped the US$ 20 billion (approx INR 140 billion) MMRCA project. Instead, it opted to buy 36 Rafale aircraft from French defence manufacturing giant Dassault through a government-to-government contract with France. The Rs 58,000 crore deal has triggered a major political controversy, with the Opposition alleging corruption and wrongdoing in the purchase of the aircraft which the government has vehemently denied.

Strapped with an ageing and depleting fighter fleet, IAF had  floated a Request for Information (RFI) – a global tender – to buy 110 fighters. Of the 110 jets, around 85% will have to be built in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme in partnership with an Indian manufacturer under the Strategic Partnership (SP) route.

“What was tested earlier and proved will not be put to test again,” the officer said. “When we evaluate fighters now, only new additions, systems of the aircraft, and modifications made to the aircraft, if any, will be put to test. We have decided not to go through the entire process again. This will substantially cut down the time,” the first defence ministry officer said.

What may come as a relief to IAF is that all six global manufacturers who have responded to the RFI – Lockheed Martin F-16 and SAAB Gripen with single-engine fighters, and Boeing F-18, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and United Aircraft Corporation MiG-35 with twin-engine fighters – were also contenders for the previous MMRCA deal.

The air force is now in the process of finalising the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR) – a list of must-have capabilities and parameters – for the aircraft. “We are ensuring that ASQR takes into account the disruptive and transformative technologies that are likely to be a reality in the coming decades. The ASQR will be complete in the next few weeks,” a second official involved in the acquisition process said.

“We hope to get a nod from the Ministry (of Defence) by March 2019,” the officer added.

With a new government expected to be sworn in next May, the IAF is keen to complete as much of the process as possible before that.

“We hope to start the process of field evaluation by next June and complete it as early as possible, so that commercial negotiation can start,” the second officer said.

Commercial negotiations are precurser to signing a contract.

The IAF spokesperson was not available for comment. Experts and former IAF test pilots who were involved in the acquisition of aircraft, however, said “using previous test results” is practical but advised caution at the same time.

“It is not necessary to test proven points in the QSR again; all previous points on which a platform was found to be non-complaint should be checked,” Air Marshal RK Sharma (retd), former Vice Chief of IAF and test pilot, said.

“Importantly, when checking fresh add-ons, modifications to a platform the IAF must ensure is that they check all parameters that the modification will affect,” he said

“The process that follows the selection of the aircraft like commercial negotiations, etc, should also be completed quickly,” he said.

 hindustantimes

Multi layered air defence: How S-400 fits into India's scheme of things

The peace at the border is to a large extent dependent on how well a country is prepared to retaliate attacks. It may seem like irony, but strategic assets like nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles, which can wreak havoc if used, are developed to serve as deterrents.

If the ability of a country to strike back is key in the current geopolitical situation, then the capability to defend against the incoming aerial attacks is equally important. The purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia would not only help India to thwart incoming aerial threats like cruise missiles, UAVs, helicopters etc, but it will allow India to combine it with existing defence mechanism and come up with a multi-layered air defence system.

India is already working on two-tier Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program and has Aakash Missiles to take on aerial attacks. The S-400 Triumph missile defense system is a significant strategic upgrade in India's military hardware. In fact India badly needed such a system given the hostile surroundings and growing capabilities of China and Pakistan.

Defence and strategic matters expert Major General PK Sehgal told OneIndia that India's air defence capabilities badly needed an upgrade. He said S-400 deal was the need of the hour given the growing threats from China and Pakistan.

"Given its (S-400 Triumf) powerful radars which can pick up any movement in the air upto a distance of 600 kms. Any aircraft taking off from its (Pakistan's) airfields can be picked up by us and we can knock it down before it comes anywhere near the border. This is one system which can track more than 300 aerial objects concurrently and can destroy upto 30 of them. It can prioritise which is more threatening and take appropriate action. It also gives you the capability of overlapping air defence systems," he said.

"We did not have anything (in terms of air defence) between 400 kms and 25 kms. This is a system which can take on the enemy from 30 kms to 400m kms. Then you are also buying Israeli Barack 8 systems which has a range of 70 kms extendable upto 100 kms. So, you will have a layered air defence to take take on threats from China and Pakistan," said Major General PK Sehgal.

The system if deployed along Pakistan border will provide India an edge of 600kms radar coverage with option of shooting down incoming aircraft from 400kms from its territory. The system has a multi-function radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers besides a command and control centre.

 oneindia

Indigenous bomb for Air Force by March

By early next year, the Indian Air Force could be having a new indigenously produced bomb for use against high-vale targets like airfields, railway yards, fortified bunkers and docks.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a 500-kg class bomb that would be manufactured by the local industry. “The design and development of the bomb has been completed and flight trials from Jaguar aircraft have already been undertaken,” a senior scientist said. “Certain trials of the bomb with the SU-30 fighter have been carried out and the remaining parameters would be evaluated in the coming weeks,” he added. Christened as the ‘500-kg General Purpose Bomb’, it is expected to be inducted into service by coming March or April.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation is looking at the private industry to transfer the technology for its commercial production. This is the heaviest bomb to be designed in the country so far. The bomb primarily consists of two main parts — the main body that would house the warhead and fuze and the tail unit with its fin assembly to stabilise its downward ballistic flight trajectory after release from the mother aircraft.
The bomb, made of specially forged high-grade steel, is about 10-ft in length and a little over a foot in diameter. It is expected to be armed with Torpex-4B type high explosive.

 tribuneindia

Army aims to cut troop strength by 1 lakh

Finer details emerging on restructuring of the 13.50-lakh strong Army indicate that the force’s strength is likely to be brought down by 1 lakh, the downsizing including cutting down the authorised number of officers by around 4,500.

As modern technology takes charge and several defence operations get automated, most modern armies have been going in for “right-sizing”. China too cut its numbers by 3 lakh in 2014.

As on January 1 this year, the Army had 42,365 officers in its cadre against the authorised strength of 49,933. If the downsizing plan gets the go-ahead — the Union Government and the Ministry of Defence will take the final call — the authorised count of officers will be capped at 45,000 (a cut of around 4,500).
Some quarters, however, have suggested against reducing the authorised strength and advised a cut in recruitment to control over-staffing, if any, top sources told The Tribune.

Similarly, the formula suggests cutting the number of soldiers per unit to achieve an overall reduction of about 90,000-1 lakh, this again resulting from automation of various Army units, communication equipment, better managed logistics, etc.

In order to check stagnation, the Army, meanwhile, is looking to promote more officers from the post of Lt Colonel to Colonel by raising the promotion percentage from the current 35 to 55.

The selection for Colonel takes place when an officer is around 35 years of age. Those who don’t make the cut at this stage can continue serving till 54 years of age and, thus, attain the rank of Colonel at around 46 years of age. The suggestion is to reduce the percentage of officers who will be promoted from Colonel to Brigadier —at present, some 35 per cent get promoted and the plan is to bring it down to 25 per cent. The Army currently has around 4,300 Colonel-level posts and 1,100 of Brigadier. The proposal is to automatically promote Brigadiers as Major General after two to three years of service.

Another proposal is to curtail the direct entry of officers through the Indian Military Academy (after graduation) and keep it only through the National Defence Academy (NDA), which takes in cadets immediately after school.

The Army is also looking to have more of Short Service Commission entry where officers serve for 10 or 14 years. The suggestion is giving 25 per cent of such officers a permanent commission. However, an irritant remains that the career progression of commissioned officers will still be lower than what the government provides even in civilian group-B service, which is lower than group-A category comprising IAS, IPS and other central services.

 tribuneindia

Pakistan backed by China behind influx of Bangladeshis into Assam: Army chief

A “planned” influx of people from Bangladesh into the Northeast is taking place as part of a proxy warfare by Pakistan with support from China with an aim to keep the area disturbed, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday.

Referring to reports of increase in Muslim population in several districts of Assam, the Army chief also talked about Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) in the state, observing that its growth has been “faster” than that of other political parties.

“A planned immigration is taking place because of our western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over, playing the proxy dimension of warfare,” Gen. Rawat said, talking about influx of people from Bangladesh into the Northeast.

He was addressing a conference on bridging gaps and securing borders in the Northeast region.

“I think the proxy game is very well played by our western neighbour, supported by our northern border (China) to keep the area disturbed. We will continue to see some migration happening. The solution lies in identifying the problem and holistically looking at it,” he said.

Influx of illegal Bangladeshis is a major issue in Assam and the state government is now coming out with a national register of citizens to find out those living illegally in the state.

“The AIDUF is moving at a faster pace in Assam.” The AIUDF, which was formed in 2005 with an aim to champion the cause of Muslim community, currently has three parliamentarians in Lok Sabha and 13 legislators in the state assembly.

The Army chief said the solution to the problem lies in ensuring development of the region by taking a holistic approach. “I do not think you can now change the population dynamics of the area. If it was five districts to eight to nine, inversion has taken place whichever be the government,” he said while referring to reports that Muslim majority has increased from five to nine districts in Assam.

The Army chief said efforts should be to “amalgamate” the people living in the region and then try and “start identifying those creating trouble for us”. “The government is looking at the Northeast in correct perspective, and if that happens, time will not be far that we will be able to amalgamate the region and ensure development. And with development comes the control of the people who are residing in this area,” he said.

Gen. Rawat said the Centre is seriously taking several measures to ensure development of the region. “The development will finally happen in the area. That should take care of lot of things.”

He said, “We will have more problem in segregating people. Yes some people will have to be identified who are creating trouble for us.”

The Army chief said migration is also taking place from Bangladesh because of shrinking land space in the country due to various reasons including floods. He said the government must send a message that peace will lead to development in the region, adding enough development has not taken place in Mizoram though it is a peaceful state.

 livemint

$1.66 billion security aid to Pak is suspended: Pentagon

Highlights

• The US has suspended $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, following Trump's directive in this regard early this year, the Pentagon has said.
• According to experts in US, the blocking of military assistance to Pakistan, which began in January of this year is a strong signal of American frustration.

The United States has suspended $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, following President Donald Trump's directive in this regard early this year, the Pentagon has said.

"$1.66 billion of security assistance to Pakistan is suspended," Col Rob Manning, spokesman of the Department of Defense told reporters in an email response to questions on Tuesday.

No further breakdown of the suspended security assistance to Pakistan was provided.

According to David Sedney, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia during the previous Obama administration, the blocking of military assistance to Pakistan, which began in January of this year is a strong signal of American frustration.

"But, so far Pakistan has taken no serious steps to address the core US concern - that Pakistan tolerates and often encourages groups which use violence against Pakistan's neighbors," Sedney told PTI.

"Pakistan's leaders have promised cooperation, but beyond words, serious cooperation has not happened, therefore President Trump is frustrated and so are most Americans," he said in response to a question.

"This frustration does not ignore the suffering that Pakistani people have undergone. It just asks Pakistan to recognise that it should act to help stop the suffering of others," said the Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.

Previously, Sedney was at the Department of State and the National Security Council, as well as Acting President of American University of Afghanistan.

He was a part of the Pentagon when Osama bin Laden was killed in a daring raid by US commandoes in Abbottabad.

Over the last few days Trump has said that people in Pakistan knew about the presence of bin Laden.

"On Osama bin Laden, I agree with the views of Carlotta Gall of the New York Times who reported in her book, 'The Wrong Enemy' that a very small group of very senior Pakistani military leaders knew about Osama Bin Laden's presence in Pakistan. I have not seen any evidence that his presence in Abbottabad was widely known by many in Pakistan," Sydney told PTI in an interview.

While Pakistan has suffered terribly from terrorism by Islamic extremists, Islamabad has also enabled extremists groups that attack its neighbours, he observed.

After years of dithering, in recent years Pakistan's security forces have moved strongly against the extremists that threaten the Pakistani state, he added.

"What the US seeks, what President Trump is asking for, is for Pakistan to take the same kind of measures against the Taliban, against Lashkhar-e-Taiba, and against all groups in Pakistan that threaten Pakistan's neighbors," he said.

"But, we still see the Taliban moving weapons, fighters and money through Pakistan. We still see Taliban commanders taking refuge in Pakistan, keeping their families in Pakistan, holding meetings and conducting training in Pakistan, and shipping explosives from Pakistan into Afghanistan," Sydney alleged.

We see leaders of sanctioned organisations acting freely in Pakistan and speaking publicly in favour of violence, he said.

"If Pakistan would take some strong measures against the Taliban, peace would come to Afghanistan quickly," he argued.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has roped in former top American diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad for peace talks with the Taliban.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan would benefit from a huge "peace dividend", he asserted.

"Similarly, if Pakistan would take strong measures against groups which act against India, Pakistan would harvest huge economic benefits from better economic ties with India," Sedney said.

 timesofindia

Indian Army will have to wait some more, fresh RfP for close-quarter carbines

Despite efforts of the Indian Army to fast track the procurement of small arms, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering to issue a fresh request for proposal (RfP) for the procurement of 93,895 close-quarter-battle carbines (CQB), a deal worth $553.33 mn.

The Indian Army which has been trying for long time to replace age-old ‘INSAS’ rifles which has reliability issues, has so far failed in finding the right replacement either from foreign OEMs or from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

After receiving a series of complaints against Caracal of the UAE which was shortlisted as the lowest bidders for the CQBs, from the other bidders including French Company Thales and S&T Motiv of South Korea, the MoD is mulling on cancelling the previous RfP.

As has been reported earlier by FE, a nine-member committee headed by an Army brigadier has been receiving complaints regarding non compliance of Caracal of UAE.

The UAE Company has failed to submit its response as per the format of the commercial bid and the amount of Rs 70 crore was not reflected in the bid format which is used for determination of L1 vendor.

Concerns have also been expressed to the nine member committee about the ability of Caracal to supply 96,000 weapons within a period of 12 months as required under the RfP.

Officials confirmed that the UAE based company started its commercial production in 2014 and till date does not have a lot of orders to indicate that it has the capacity to produce 93,895 CQBs.

Adding, “This, in turn will also impact the life cycle of the weapon as the company has no previous data to establish the reliability of the CQB.”

As has been reported earlier, the procurement of 93,895 CQB for the Indian Army had run into rough weather, when after stiff evaluations two companies — Caracal of the UAE and S&T Motiv of South Korea —had been declared non-compliant by a nine-member committee headed by an Army brigadier.

This left Sig Sauer of the US, Kanpur-based MKU with French company Thales in the race.

Caracal of the UAE and Reliance Armaments with S&T Motiv of South Korea were competing for this deal. It may be recalled that the Embassy of South Korea in New Delhi had protested against being declared non compliant in spite of meeting all the requirements laid down in the request for proposal.

The nine member team had gone to facilities of the competing companies before being invited for the extensive trials in India for testing with the Indian ammunition and in different terrains and temperature.

Representatives of the S&T Motiv, producers of small arms for the last four decades were part of the delegation when South Korean President Moon Jae-in had visited India in July. The company had offered to transfer technology to produce the CQBs under Make in India initiative when the defence minister of that country had visited close on the heels of President Moon Jae-in.

 financialexpress

Russian Firm Emerges as Lowest Bidder for Army's Short-range Air Defence Missile Systems: Sources

Russian defence major Rosoboronexport is understood to have emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army's tender for procurement of a batch of short-range air defence missile systems, official sources said Monday.

The other contenders for the deal were Swedish firm SAAB and French military firm MBDA.

The sources said all laid down procedures were followed in the bidding process and an official announcement on the lowest bidder is expected in the next few days.

Rosoboronexport has emerged as L1 (lowest bidder), said a senior military official.

The Indian Army plans to procure hundreds of short range air defence missiles as part of its efforts to enhance its overall strike capability.

If Rososboronexport is awarded the contract, it will be one of the mega contracts to be won by Russia after the S-400 air defence deal.

In October, India and Russia finalised the S-400 air defence missile system deal for the Air Force.

Air Force chief B S Dhanoa had last month said procurement of S-400 missile systems and 36 Rafale jets are like booster shots for the force.

latestly

"Fools Never Told Us He Was There": Trump Hits Out At Pak Over Bin Laden

Donald Trump repeated Monday that Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, killed by US Navy Seals in May 2011, should have been captured much earlier, casting blame on his predecessors and Pakistan.

"Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did," the US President tweeted, echoing remarks he gave to Fox News Sunday that drew the ire of Pakistan, where Bin Laden had been hiding.

"I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center," he continued.

"President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!"

Ten years after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Bin Laden was found to be hiding in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, where he was killed in a raid by US Navy Seals.

The assault sent relations between the wayward allies to a new low.

In his interview on Sunday the Republican leader had said he cancelled assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan earlier this year because "they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us."

Trump had also told Fox News that Bin Laden had lived "beautifully in Pakistan and what I guess in what they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer."

Pakistan leader Imran Khan hit back Monday at Donald Trump's claim, calling on the president to name an ally which has sacrificed more against militancy.

"Pakistan suffered 75,000 casualties in this war & over $123 bn was lost to economy. US "aid" was a miniscule $20 bn," Khan tweeted.

ndtv

Indian Air Force moves ahead on private sector deal to manufacture transport aircraft

Despite a series of hurdles, including differences on a pricing benchmark, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is moving ahead on a major deal for manufacturing transport aircraft by the private sector.

There has been a flurry of meetings in the past few months and the stage is being set to take a final call on buying the C 295 transport aircraft to be manufactured by a Tata-Airbus combine. The deal has been in discussion since 2012 but gathered pace from March this year when commercial bids for the contract were opened. While the air force was initially taken aback by the offer price that is believed to have been double the projected cost of Rs 11,900 crore for 56 aircraft, sources said a draft contract is now being processed.

Since commercial bids were opened, bidders have been in discussions with the contract negotiating committee to resolve a number of issues from pricing to the indigenous content on the Indian made aircraft, offsets and performance based logistics. Given the of concerns that came up during negotiations and the fact that the contract was expanded from the original requirement of 56 aircraft to include a requirement of the coast guard for six a Multi Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA), a final call on signing the deal will need to be taken by the defence minister led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). When contacted, Airbus refused to comment on the developments.

The contract is being processed under a single vendor scenario as the Tata-Airbus combine was the only bidder for the tender. As reported by ET, the ambitious project was in danger of being shelved in 2015 after concerns were raised on it being a non-competitive process.

An independent committee under the ministry was set up to review the project which greenlighted continuing with negotiations despite it being a single vendor case.

 economictimes

Why India wants to buy the MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters from the US

India wants to buy 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters from the United States at an estimated cost of $2 billion.

Quoting defence industry sources, a PTI report Saturday said the government-to-government deal is expected to be finalised in a few months.

This follows a letter from India to the US for an “urgent requirement” of the 24 helicopters for the Indian Navy. In August, the Defence Acquisition Council had approved the procurement of these helicopters, as well as 111 utility helicopters.

Here’s all you need to know about the ‘Romeo’ helicopters, and why India needs them:


What are ‘Romeo’ helicopters?

The MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters are advanced naval machines equipped with sophisticated combat systems – sensors, missiles and torpedoes – to track and hunt enemy boats.

According to Lockheed Martin, the top American manufacturer of the MH-60 choppers, they are deployed by the US Navy as its primary anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface weapons system for open ocean and littoral zones.

Naval forces of many countries, including the Royal Australian Navy, also deploy these choppers.

For the Indian Navy, the choppers are set to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.

The submarine hunters will have anti-surface warfare capabilities too, which means they will be capable of detecting surface threats and taking action against enemy ships.

The choppers are also capable of performing other non-combat maritime roles such as search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation and surveillance. They will be able to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.


How will they benefit India?

The helicopters are expected to be delivered between 2020 and 2024, if the deal is finalised soon.

However, this attempt has been made after a delay of almost a decade, despite repeated push from the Indian Navy.

The helicopters are expected to provide a big boost to the navy, which is grappling with a dwindling and ageing British-built Sea King fleet.

The deal is also crucial because China has been making aggressive forays into the Indian Ocean Region while expanding its naval forces, in order to become a “blue water navy”.


Long-term plan ::

Last year, the Indian Navy had issued a global request for information for 111 utility and 123 multi-role helicopters.

According to reports, while the emergency procurement of the 24 ‘Romeo’ helicopters will be done under the US Foreign Military Sales programme, the deal will also have an offset requirement, entailing the long-term manufacture of 123 multi-role helicopters in India.

 theprint

Maldives set to pull out of China free trade deal, says senior lawmaker

Highlights

• The new President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih declared the state coffers have been "looted" and warned that the country was in financial difficulty after racking up debt with Chinese lenders.
• Former President Abdullah Yameen signed the free trade agreement during a visit to Beijing in December, and the same month his parliament ratified the treaty despite opposition protests

The Maldives' new government will pull out of a free trade agreement (FTA) with China because it was a mistake for the tiny nation to strike such a pact with the world's second biggest economy, the head of the largest party in the ruling alliance said.

It is the latest sign of a backlash against China in the Maldives, best-known for its luxury resorts on palm-fringed coral islands.

"The trade imbalance between China and the Maldives is so huge that nobody would think of an FTA between such parties," said Mohamed Nasheed, the chief of the Maldivian Democratic Party, which leads the ruling federal alliance. "China is not buying anything from us. It is a one-way treaty."

On Saturday, as he took office, the new President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih declared the state coffers have been "looted" + and warned that the country was in financial difficulty after racking up debt with Chinese lenders.

Former President Abdullah Yameen, who lost the election in September, signed the FTA during a visit to Beijing in December, and the same month his parliament ratified the treaty despite opposition protests that he had rushed through the 1,000-page document in less than an hour without any debate.

Nasheed, a former president and now an adviser to Solih, said parliament would not pass the law changes required for the zero tariffs agreement to come into force.

"It was ratified by parliament, but fortunately it calls for different sets of legislation. We are not going to have this further legislation. We can't go with that," Nasheed told Reuters in an interview in the capital Male.

China's embassy in Male did not respond to a request for a comment on the trade pact.

But China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Culture and Tourism Minister Luo Shugang, President Xi Jinping's special envoy to the inauguration, told Solih that China paid great attention to developing relations with the Maldives.

The Maldives is among a number of small countries where China has invested billions of dollars building highways and housing as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Through that initiative, Beijing hopes to improve trade and investment flows with much of Asia and parts of the rest of the world.

China was willing to work with the Maldives to consolidate their traditional friendship, plan their practical cooperation and promote Belt and Road to inject "new impetus" into their future relationship, the foreign ministry cited Luo as saying during Sunday's meeting with Maldivian president.

The statement cited Solih as expressing appreciation for China's long-term support of the Maldives and that he was willing to further deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road framework.


Striking Deals ::

Critics in the Maldives say a China-led infrastructure boom has left the tiny country of a little more than 400,000 people debt-ridden, and a free trade pact would only make the situation worse given the lopsided nature of the relationship.

Between January to August this year, the Maldives' imports from China were $342 million, while its exports to China were just $265,270, according to Maldives customs data. The island nation bought meat, agricultural produce, flowers, plants, electronics and toys from China among many other items.

It imported $194 million worth of goods from India, its traditional partner, during the same period, while exporting $1.8 million of products including scrap metal such as copper, aluminium and steel.

The Yameen administration said at the time that the FTA with China would help diversify the $3.9 billion economy and boost fisheries exports from the Maldives, crucial since the European Union declined in 2014 to renew a tax concession on them.

The two countries would open up services such as finance, healthcare and tourism, China said at the time. The Maldives has no free trade pacts with any other country.

If the Maldives turns away, it would be the latest setback for China, which is facing opposition for its projects in countries stretching from Malaysia to Nepal, and even from its all-weather ally Pakistan.

A proposed free trade agreement has been held up in Sri Lanka over Colombo's demand that it have the option to leave after 10 years.

A member of Solih's transition team also said the administration was thinking of cancelling the pact.

"It makes no business sense," the official said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. "This is not something we are going to pursue, we expect the cabinet to meet and take a formal decision on this."

The new administration plans an audit of the deals signed by the Yameen administration, but it said it had no plans to suspend or cancel any of the projects, such as airport expansion and housing contracts, given to Chinese firms.

 timesofindia

For Bigger Subs and Longer-Range Missiles

With the INS Arihant completing its maiden deterrence patrol, India took its first steps towards establishing the third leg of a nuclear triad: the ability to launch nuclear weapons from under the sea. It now joins a small group of countries — United States, Russia, China, France and United Kingdom — that have this capability. This is a big moment in India’s quest for strategic independence; it is, however, no giant leap.

Successive Indian governments have committed to the doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use. A submarine capable of launching a nuclear missile from somewhere in the expanse of the ocean gives India assured second-strike capability. It is meant to deter adversaries from nuclear misadventure.

However, India’s nuclear sub is equipped to carry short-range missiles, which limits its deterrence potential. Clearly, subsequent additions to the navy’s arsenal will focus on longer-range missiles and larger submarines capable of carrying them. Augmenting capability, however, will require higher allocation of funds.

Even if defence gets more funds, rejigging the defence budget is inevitable. Too much of the defence budget goes to manpower costs: salaries and pensions. Defence allocation in Budget 2018-19 was to the tune of Rs 4,04,365 crore, of this, defence pensions accounted for Rs 1,08,853 crore.

It is imperative that the government revisit manpower costs, particularly pensions and benefits, if it is to increase funding for defence research and development. Indigenising defence production is another way to get more bang for every defence rupee.

Augmenting naval strategic capabilities is an imperative for India, especially considering the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region. The region is central from a strategic and security point of view, given China’s growing ambitions and activities, as well as from India’s own rise as a key player in the region, in Africa and as a strategic partner to other key countries.

INS Arihant is a major achievement, but India now needs to focus ahead and move fast, if it is to fully secure and advance its cherished strategic autonomy.

economictimes

India seeks to buy US helicopters worth Rs 13,500 crore

Highlights

• The government-to-government deal for the MH-60 choppers, manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, under the US foreign military sales programme is likely to be inked within a year.
• The US has already notched military sales worth $17 billion to India since 2007, even overtaking Russia for three to four years during the last decade.

With the US waiver for India’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 Triumf missile systems hanging in the balance, New Delhi has kicked off the formal process for yet another mega defence deal with Washington as a sweetener for the Trump administration.

The NDA government on Thursday issued the “letter of request” to the US government for the Rs 13,500 crore acquisition of 24 naval multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, armed with torpedoes and missiles for potent anti-submarine warfare capabilities, said top sources.

The induction of these heavy-duty choppers in the 2020-2024 timeframe will come as a shot in the arm for the Indian Navy, whose warships are virtually bereft of such helicopters at a time when Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines are making regular forays into the Indian Ocean Region.

The government-to-government deal for the MH-60 choppers, manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, under the US foreign military sales programme is likely to be inked within a year. The US has already notched military sales worth $17 billion to India since 2007, even overtaking Russia for three to four years during the last decade.The FMS route is considered much swifter and cleaner than the cumbersome global tender process, which takes several years and is often derailed by allegations of corruption in India. India has brought most of its weapon systems from the US, like the C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifters, C-130J “Super Hercules” planes and M-777 ultralight howitzers, through FMS programme.

Acquisition of new multi-role helicopters has been pending for well over a decade, with the Navy identifying them along with submarines and minesweepers as the top three “critical operational necessities” for it. The 140-warship force has just about a dozen old Sea King and 10 Kamov-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters.

The preliminary “acceptance of necessity” for the MH-60 choppers and the $1 billion acquisition of the American National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II (NASAMS-II), slated for deployment as a missile shield for New Delhi, was accorded by the Nirmala Sitharaman-led Defence Acquisitions Council just before the inaugural “two-plus-two” dialogue between India and the US here on September 6.

Both US defence secretary Jim Mattis and secretary of state Mike Pompeo have strongly argued India’s case for a “national security waiver” under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act), which seeks to prevent countries from buying Russian weapons or Iranian oil, for its $5.43 billion S-400 missile deal.

But the final call still has to be taken by President Donald Trump, who will need a transactional quid pro quo in terms of a major Indian defence deal as well as India’s strategic commitment to progressively reduce its dependence on Russian weapon systems.The US, of course, is in contention for more Indian defence deals. Washington, for instance, is aggressively hawking its F/A-18 or F-16 fighter production line for the IAF’s over $20 billion “Make in India” competition for 114 jets as well as the Navy’s quest for 57 carrier-capable fighters.

India and the US are also in advanced talks for 22 armed Predator-B or weaponised Sea Guardian drones. Then, after the first 24 multi-role helicopters, the Navy also has long-term “Make in India” projects for another 123 such choppers as well as 111 armed light utility choppers.

 timesofindia