India's buying of S-400 from Russia will have serious implications on defence ties: US

India's decision to buy the long-range S-400 missile defense system from Russia will have serious implications on defence ties, the Trump administration has warned.

The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.

India and Russia signed a $5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October last after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A senior State Department official told a group of reporters on Thursday that New Delhi's decision to buy S-400 air defence system from Moscow was significant, disagreeing with the view that it "isn't a big deal".

The official disagreed with the view that India's buying of S-400 from Russia might not have an impact as long as it increases its military purchase from the US.

"I disagree. The S-400 is significant because of CAATSA sanctions. It's also significant because of what it precludes, in terms of future high-tech cooperation," the official said.

The S-400 missile defence system deal could result in US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia.

The official said if India went ahead with its decision to buy the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, it will have serious implications on the defence ties.

The Trump administration has been very clear that the acquisition of advanced Russian technology sends the wrong message to Russia at a time when it continues its aggressions, the official said.

"Those concerns we hold high," said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"You can look at the very serious conversation that's taking place with our NATO partner Turkey and the same concerns will apply should India proceed with an S-400 purchase," the official said.

"We don't commingle highest technology systems. There are threats posed by the purchase of an S-400. So that conversation you're seeing played out in Turkey right now," the official said, asserting that those same concerns would apply to India as well.

Noting that there is no automatic waivers under CAATSA legislation, the official said that there is a provision that allows for presidential determination.

"Every case would have to be looked at individually. But I think the broader issue is where are India's military relations headed? With whom is it going to share the highest technology and that operating environment? Because certain choices preclude other choices," the official noted.

"As we have discussions about a combat aircraft sales and other advanced systems, the decisions that India makes with regard to S-400 will have an impact on those conversations," the senior State Department official said.

India has been diversifying its weapons supply over the years. The US estimates that probably 60 to 70 per cent of its hardware is of Soviet/Russia origin.

There is still a significant dependence on Russia. But the jump in India's purchase of military equipment from the US from zero to $18 billion is significant, the official said.

"We do more military exercises with India than with any other country in the world. Through these exercises, through the enhanced cooperation we have, whether it's in the disaster assistance and humanitarian relief area or whether it's on this joint sailing that we did in the south China Sea, there's natural interest and also increasing the interoperability of our military equipment."So we, we certainly look forward to ongoing discussions about a variety of ones," the official said.

Asked that India took the decision to buy S-400 from Russia as the US was not willing to share such hardware with it, the official said: "There's another message from the United States and let's talk. We have systems that are effective. There are other platforms that are very effective".

There are other considerations at play as well, the official said.

"But I think there's also a very positive message. We are now able to cooperate in ways that we could not before. We are now reaching agreements that we did not have before that allow us to consider sales that were incomprehensible only five years ago," the official said.

"So, we look forward to continuing the conversation because this really is a conversation. Choices that are made now will establish the framework for the future and we certainly have the ambitions for the broadest possible, deepest possible military relationship with India," the official said.

The official underscored that the US was ready to discuss the full array of equipment available to address India's concerns.

timesofindia

Turkish consortium to sign pact with HSL to build five Fleet Support Ships

In a major boost to develop Indian Navy , Hindustan Shipyard Limited, a Ministry of Defence Enterprise, will sign a contract with a consortium formed by five leading shipyards in Turkey for technical collaboration to construct five Fleet Support Ships worth more than Rs 16,000 crore.

A high-level delegation from Turkey held talks with the HSL top management here on Tuesday prior to the exchange of documents. The steel cutting is expected by end of 2020.

Earlier, HSL had shelved the plan for forging a strategic partnership with Hyundai Heavy Industries owing to the insistence for building the first ship in South Korea and source major components required for the project from there.


After building the first ship in four years, the remaining will be built in a gap of 10 months each.


Global Bidding ::

In the global competitive bidding process for technical collaboration, eight companies had responded and three of them were found technically qualified.

The Fleet Support Ships will ferry dry items such as food and ammunition for replenishment.

“As per the latest development, the Turkish conglomeration named TAIS and HSL will roll out the first ship in four years. The project will give a big fillip to the MSME sector. All the five ships will be built in Visakhapatnam,” HSL Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral L.V. Sarat Babu told The Hindu.

He further said that they would sign the contract with TAIS in a month followed by a formal agreement with the Navy for building the ships.

Technical Support ::

Anadolu Shipyard, the lead member of TAIS with more than 30 years of experience will offer support to HSL for designing and building the Fleet Support Ships. Each ship will have a displacement capacity of 45,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage). As part of the deal, the ‘know-how and know-why’ will be transferred to HSL.

The project will increase the manpower by three-fold and give a big boost to local fiirms nvolved in fabrication, blasting, piping, cable installation and outfitting to meet requirement for the HSL project.

 thehindu

India’s Air Force to arm Russian-made Su-30MKI fighters with BrahMos-A missiles

About 40 Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets of India’s Air Force will be armed with BrahMos-A air-launched missiles in the next two or three years, CEO and Chief Designer of Russia’s Research and Production Association of Machine-Building Alexander Leonov said on Tuesday.

"As for the plans, the serial production has been launched and rearmament will be carried out, as our Indian colleagues have promised on many occasions. About 40 planes as the first batch will be equipped with BrahMos missiles. Of course, this will require some time, no less than two or three years, to re-equip the planes and produce air-launched BrahMos missiles," the chief executive said.

Manager for Marketing at the Russia-India BrahMos Aerospace Joint Venture Praveen Pathak told TASS last week that the BrahMos-A air-launched missile, which the JV was developing, had hit a ground target for the first time during a test launch. In 2017, the BrahMos-A missile was test-launched for the first time, successfully hitting a naval target.The chief executive of the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building said that the two test launches were "very important" as they had been held both against a naval and a ground target. "The universal nature of the BrahMos missile has been fully confirmed," Leonov said.

The BrahMos missile has been developed by Russia’s Research and Production Association of Machine-Building (the town of Reutov near Moscow) and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The missile’s name comes from the names of two rivers: the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. The missile’s first launch took place on June 12, 2001 from a coastal launcher. The missile’s production has been arranged at enterprises in Russia and India.

TASS

Outgunned By Pak F-16s, IAF Plans To Re-Arm Its Sukhois With Israeli Missiles

The Indian Air Force is looking at the I-Derby variant of the Israeli missile which was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in 2015. 

In two years from now, the Indian Air Force's frontline Sukhoi-30 fighters may be re-armed with Israeli Derby air-to-air missiles after the jet's Russian-made R-77 missiles were found wanting in air combat operations over the Line of Control on February 27 this year.
Sources in the Indian Air Force told NDTV, "We already have the missile as part of the SPYDER (Surface-to-Air Missile) system. Integration (with the IAF's Su-30s) is the next step.''
Retaliating to the IAF strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility in Balakot on February 26, the Pakistan Air Force aggressively positioned a large formation of 24 fighters near the Line of Control (LoC). A handful of these jets managed to cross the LoC to fire precision-guided glide bombs towards Indian military positions in the Rajouri sector
.
Eight Indian Air Force fighters, including two Sukhoi-30 MKI jets, were vectored to intercept the Pakistani formation when they detected the launch of several US-made AIM-120 C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) in their direction.
''The PAF surprised the IAF by launching air-to-air missiles from inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," says Sameer Joshi, a Kargil veteran. ''The AMRAAM effectively outranged the IAF air-to-air missiles which did not get a command to launch," he said.

Among the Indian Air Force's fighters which were targeted were two Sukhoi-30s which managed to evade the AMRAAMs which were fired at close to their maximum range of 100 kilometres. Fully defensive and desperate to escape the incoming AMRAAMs, the IAF Sukhoi-30s escaped being shot down but were unable to retaliate the F-16s because they were out of position and their own missiles, the Russian R-77s, did not have the range to realistically engage the Pakistani fighters. IAF sources told NDTV that the Russian missiles do not match its advertised range and cannot engage targets which are more than 80 kilometres away.
To meet its requirements, the IAF is looking at the I-Derby variant of the Israeli missile which was unveiled at the Paris Air Show in 2015. Integrating the missile into the Russian fighter will be a challenge and, according to sources, will require Israeli expertise, particularly in developing a data-link between the Sukhoi-30 and the missile, once it is fired.A fighter jet communicates with the missile through the data link and passes on updated vectors (location) of the fighter which has been targeted.
The Indian Navy was the first to integrate an older variant of the Derby missile with its now-retired fleet of Sea Harrier fighters. The missile is also the primary air-to-air weapon of the indigenous Tejas fighter which has entered service with the Indian Air Force. The Derby is also a component of the IAF's SPYDER surface-to-air missile batteries, and are considered several generations ahead of the legacy Russian systems which it has replaced.
However, the I-Derby missile, now being looked at, is a considerably more advanced that the missiles presently in service. An article in Aviation Week says, ''The new (missile) seeker is lighter and more compact than its predecessor, thus clearing valuable space which has been used by the missile designers to increase the propulsion system. This new addition increases the range of the I-Derby ER beyond 100 km., significantly more than its current "short/medium" range capability.''
The I-Derby isn't the only missile the air force is looking at to modernise its Sukhoi-30 fleet. The European MBDA manufactured Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), the first of which were acquired for the air force's Jaguar fleet in 2014 as part of a 250 million pound deal, has been tested in wind tunnels on models of the Su-30 by the National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru.
Once fully integrated, it will replace the R-73 short range air-to-air missile presently in use on the Sukhoi-30 fleet.
Simultaneously, the IAF is evaluating the indigenous Astra air-to-air missile for the Sukhoi-30. IAF sources told NDTV, ''The Astra is in development. We have ordered fifty (missiles) of the limited series production.'' Ultimately, though, the air force wants an extended-range variant of the missile. ''It will take ten years to get the Astra Mk2 in our inventory," say sources, a reason why integration of the I-Derby is being seen as a priority.

 NDTV

Indian Army deploys US-, Italy-trained snipers with deadly new rifles along LoC

Elite units of the Indian Army, equipped with deadly new sniper rifles, have been deployed along the Line of Control with Pakistan after special training from American and Italian experts.

Sources in the Army told ThePrint that units carrying the Beretta .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT and the Barrett .50 calibre M95 have been deployed at the LoC ahead of the infiltration season, which is expected to start soon.

Specials units, along with some regular soldiers from the LoC battalions, have been trained by experts from abroad on the use of these weapons and the different kinds of ammunition to be used based on operational requirements.Sources said since these rifles have a much longer range and power than the ageing Russian Dragunov that the soldiers were using until now, specialised training had to be given so that targets could be taken out at over 1,000 metres with precision.

What’s Special About The New Rifles ::

The US-made Barrett M95 is an anti-material rifle which has a range of 1,800 metres. An anti-material rifle means the bullet can actually pierce through metal.

The gun, which is in use with many special forces around the world, is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in a .50 Browing Machine Gun cartridge (12.7×99mm).

With an unloaded gun weighing about 10 kg, the M95 first came out in 1995, and is part of the Barrett M82 family, the first notable American made .50 calibre anti-material rifles introduced in 1982.

The rifle feeds from a five-round detachable box magazine, and is lighter and more compact than earlier products.

The other rifle handed to troops along the LoC is the Victrix Armaments .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT, owned by Italian firm Beretta.

The Scorpio TGT uses the .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm), a rimless, bottle-necked, centre-fire rifle cartridge.

It was developed in the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the Afghanistan war and the Iraq war.

Although the .338 Lapua Magnum was initially developed to penetrate body armour at 1,000 metres, it has been used effectively to 1,500 metres and beyond, and holds the distinction of being part of some of the record-breaking sniper shots in war.

At least 30 countries use the .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles, and over a dozen manufacturers produce guns, in multiple configurations, in this calibre.

The print

DRDO successfully test fires new version of Akash SAM

DRDO on Monday successfully test fired the new version of the Akash surface to air defence missile system with a new indigenously-developed seeker. The missile was test-fired in Balasore off the Odisha coast.

This is the second successful test of the missile in last two days as a successful test was done by them on Saturday also.

This is a new version of the missile fitted with an indigenous seeker. Akash missile is a medium range Surface to Air Missile with multi-target engagement capability.The missile was developed as part of Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) other than Nag, Agni, Trishul, and Prithvi missiles.

The supersonic Akash missile has a range of around 25 km and up to the altitude of 18,000m.

The missile uses high-energy solid propellant for the booster and ramjet-rocket propulsion for the sustainer phase. The missile system is said to be highly mobile.

Several variants of the missile- Akash MK1, Akash-MK2 with improved accuracy and higher ranges are under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Akash missile system was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on July 10, 2015, and in Indian Army on May 5, 2015. In September that year, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared seven additional squadrons of the missile for the Air Force.

However, the missile system has been bogged in controversies with a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in 2017 stating that as many as 30 per cent of the missiles failed when tested.

The Indian Army too had said in 2017 that the missile does not meet its operational requirements due to higher reaction time.

India is slowly plugging holes in its air-defence elements by developing advanced surface-to-air missile named MRSAM- Medium Range Surface to Air Missile in collaboration with Israel.

Besides that, five regiments of renowned S-400 air defence system are under procurement from Russia. The delivery is slated to begin in 2020.

TOI

India’s old friend Russia offers to transfer technology and produce MiG-35 in India: MIG CEO

In an exclusive interaction, Ilya Tarasenko, CEO, MiG Corporation of Russia shares with Financial Express Online, his company’s offering of MiG-35 for the Indian Air Force and plans for Make in India and setting up of an aerospace ecosystem.

 Russia and India have reached such an outstanding level of confidence after decades of fruitful cooperation in the field of defense. In an exclusive interaction, Ilya Tarasenko, CEO, MiG Corporation of Russia shares with Financial Express Online, his company’s offering of MiG-35 for the Indian Air Force and plans for Make in India and setting up of an aerospace ecosystem. Following are excerpts:

Is the company offering MIG 35 for the IAF? Have you identified your Indian partners who will work on the production here?
JSC “RAC “MiG” is participating in tender process for supply of aircraft to the IAF through Rosoboronexport. The Corporation is offering its newest lightweight Russian fighter MiG-35, in accordance with “Make-in-India” program requirements. Aircraft complex enables to use the full scope of air weapons, both already existing and future, of Russian or foreign origin, including the ones designed for heavy fighters.
For more than half a century we have been shaping a common understanding with the Indian partners. During decades of cooperation we have created vast infrastructure, supporting the operations of MiG type of aircraft in India, as well as their production and after-sale support.
We have set up simulator and service centers in India. But the most important thing is that we have learnt to understand the philosophy, spirit and the real needs of the IAF. This experience helps us to have an open and meaningful communication both with Indian military personnel and the industry.
We are about to finalize an agreement with our Indian industrial partner and at the same time we are having negotiations with a wide range of industrial enterprises to elaborate a unique and advantageous offer to participate with in the IAF tender. We are in the process of concluding several technical issues. After it is officially signed and, of course, given the consent of our Indian partner, we will be able to disclose more information on the parameters of the offer we are making.

How is the MiG-35 compared to the American F-16s and the F-18s and the Swedish Gripen?
MiG-35 is a new aircraft complex, with all the technologies applied in it that enable us to attribute this aircraft to the fifth generation. We have focused on achieving maximal parameters of its avionics and today I can confidently say that it demonstrates better combat effectiveness than its competitors for range and efficiency of use. New Russian avionics is used in MiG-35, software system has been upgraded, new cockpit with multifunctional display, connected with avionic complexes, has been installed.
Moreover, we have designed modern airborne radar – AESA. The radar is noted for increased range and provides for detection, tracking, recognition and acquisition of air, ground and surface targets in front and back semi-spheres, day and night at the distance of 190 km.
The fighter will be equipped with new types of guided and unguided air weapons, enabling to perform combat tasks with maximum efficiency. Moreover, the new MiG-35 digital weapons control system enables to also integrate any future weapons of Russian or foreign design that will fully interface weapons of Indian produce.

“MiG” Corporation has implemented a completely new navigation and target acquisition system with a special weapons control system, and a new onboard communication complex, all of which, will be of particular interest to our Indian partners.
While developing MiG-35 we used the aerodynamic configuration of MiG-29 and it was our designers’ sensible and successful decision. Several number of surveys and comparative analysis of modern complexes (including the ones you are asking about) were conducted and we found that the “wing-fuselage platform” of MiG-29 is much better in comparison with its competitors’ platforms in terms of maneuverability and low visibility.
In order to achieve lowest visibility possible or, as our competitors call it the “stealth” effect, we have made airframe modification and have used innovative proprietary Russian coating, providing MiG-35 the maximal low radar-locating visibility.
Taking into account long years operational experience of the IAF and their requirements we have been analyzing through many decades of cooperation, “MiG” engineers have considerably modified the onboard defense complex and opto-electronic reconnaissance system stations used only in the most up-to-date 4++ and 5 generation aircrafts.

Make in India: Are you willing to transfer the critical technologies for making in India?
Of course, we are ready for that too. We fully understand India’s aspiration to be one of the first defense importers to shift from buying ordering not just the standard systems that are already in serial production, but also the state-of-the-art systems designed in accordance with India’s individual requirements.
Russia, like no other defense exporter, has been always willing to transfer technology along with the product to our time-tested partner. Our first under license production was set here, in India, back in the 1960s with the production of fighter MiG-21 being established in India. Since then there have been many lines of defense products of Soviet and Russian design set up in India. In fact, Russia offered `Make in India’ almost half a century back long before it became an established trend.
Yes, we are ready to transfer technology and necessary documentation to partner enterprises for production of our fighters in India. Above that we are ready to participate setting up the required infrastructure in India required to provide maintenance and support to our jets through their whole life-cycle.

Any plans on setting up a new ecosystem for the aerospace industry?
As mentioned earlier, we are interested in development of industry of India. That’s why we are working out a number of options how to improve the local infrastructure to better MiG-35 operation during the whole life cycle. Our vision is implemented in our new concept of MiG aircraft post-sale support, which is based on international PBL principles.
New post-sale support model implies transition from rendering separate on-request services and spare parts supply to a more comprehensive system of ensuring a set of final performance standards that among other things include set levels of armament serviceability, material operational reliability and full cost of armament system for the customer. This system will require closer cooperation with the Indian industry and localization of some key technological skills in India.
For quality aircraft support a team of Russian specialists needs to be present in the country for the whole post-sale support contract period. “MiG” is also planning to train and include into the technical team Indian professionals. This will help create new qualified jobs in the real sector of the Indian economy. As an example we are now launching a MiG-29UPG service center that will do the repair and maintenance of units and aggregates. We can carry out more centers of the kind typically in cooperation with the IAF and Indian companies.
What about the Offets?
In accordance with tender requirements and the Indian legislation we offer India an offset program that will include a range of works executed jointly with the Indian partner as well as transferring our production and maintenance technologies on a stage-by-stage basis. The final concept of offset program is to be approved by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the contract signing stage.
I will reiterate we are ready to share our modern technologies and train staff, contributing to a better combat operability of the Indian Air Force and creating work places in India.
Do you think the Indian companies can absorb the Transfer of technology and build specific subsystems?
Indian specialists have already proved they can quite well and fast master technologies of Russian aircraft production. They know our equipment very well too: MiG—21 aircraft was manufactured in India under license, as is now MiG -29UPG being upgraded in India. No doubt, the already existing experience gives us a solid platform for a successful and smooth transfer of MiG-35 production technologies to Indian companies, which is, indeed, to our mutual advantage.
How expensive is MiG-35 compared to the others?
MiG-35 is a better offer from the point of view of “cost-effectiveness”. The cost of the aircraft operation within its life cycle is 20% lower that competitors’, thanks to the fact that in the last years the Russian aviation industry has optimized many processes by which we have succeed in achieving effective result at lower cost.
I would also like to stress that we are offering not only a fighter, but the whole aircraft complex. By which I also mean infrastructure, computer-aided training system, most modern simulators, as well as modular system of post-sale support. Introducing the MiG-35 aircraft complex into its inventory, the IAF will get the new aircraft with many 5-gen capabilities, high fleet serviceability set up to required parameters and levels and a modern industrial infrastructure at an optimal cost as at the initial stage we can benefit from adjusting and building upon the existing infrastructure.

US Sanctions: what would be the mode of payment?
I am sure that given a long and glorious history of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India on a wide range of weapons systems we will find the forms of future cooperation that will be suitable and beneficial for both parties.

 financialexpress

Elbit wins $127m Indian army tactical radios deal

Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) announced today that it has been awarded a $127 million contract to supply vehicular tactical radio systems to the Army of a country in South Asia. The contract will be performed over a three-year period.

Elbit did not mention to which country the tactical radios will be sold but market sources say that it is to India.

The radios to be supplied will include several configurations for integration onboard a range of armored fighting vehicles and tanks at the battalion and company levels.

Elbit Systems president and CEO Bezhalel Machlis said, "We are pleased with this contract award which shows that customers recognize the advantages of our radio systems. We believe that there is a significant growth potential for our communications and command and control solutions as armed forces increasingly seek to build up their networked warfare capabilities."

 globes

American Romeo Helicopters: Best Acquisition for Indian Navy

Multi-Role Helicopters are an essential part of any modern naval fleet. They have a critical role in the fleet’s anti-submarine capabilities. The Indian Navy’s capabilities in the area of anti-submarine warfare is limited by its lack of modern helicopters to undertake the crucial role. It’s after more than a decade that we seem to have reached a point where we can expect the MH 60 R Romeo of Lockheed Martin to be procured. The author analyses the Navy’s requirements, current holdings and the MH 60R helicopter’s capabilities.

In any operation at sea today modern Multi – Role Helicopters (MRH) are crucial eyes, ears and long arms of the Fleet. The only platform that can strike fear in a submarine Captain’s mind is the Fleet’s integral air element of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters. For India, with neighbours who are consolidating their Navies with potent submarines, lack of a capable MRH in adequate numbers is a critical operational capability gap in the vital area of Indian Ocean Region (IOR), more so because the Chinese presence in the IOR has risen sharply in terms of both submarine and surface activity.
 This vulnerability was starkly visible at last year’s annual cooperative naval exercise, ‘Malabar’ where the Indian Navy operated alongside the US and the Japanese Navies in the Philippine Sea. One of the key elements of this exercise was the ‘Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare Work-Up’, where the Indian Navy found itself vastly handicapped. While the US and Japanese Navies strutted around their modern fleet of ASWs in terms of the erstwhile Sikorsky, now Lockheed Martin’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ model and S-70B Seahawks, the Indian Navy had to be content with the 1960 era Chetak helicopters for ‘Search and Rescue’ operations.

The last attempt to acquire this class of helicopters was thwarted in 2017, after nine years of deliberate efforts, when negotiations broke off with US manufacturer Sikorsky over differences in pricing with the procurement process being finally foreclosed. The helicopter selected was Sikorsky’s S-70B Seahawk, wherein the proposal was to acquire sixteen helicopters initially, with an option for eight more.

Under these circumstances when India’s integral naval ASW capability is at an all-time low, the recent US approval for the sale of 24 Naval Multi-Role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters to India in a Government to Government deal has come at the right moment and as a great relief to the Navy, though the actual contract is likely to be inked later this year.


Present Status: Naval Helicopter Fleet ::

While the Indian shipyards continue to roll out stealth frigates and guided missile destroyers with the latest radars, sensors and weapon systems, their hangars remain bereft of the most crucial component, the helicopters, especially the ASW category. Helicopters form a key element of a naval fleet at sea due to its ability to easily operate from frigate size ships and carry out diverse roles from ASW to Electronic Warfare, Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Search and Rescue.

Presently The Indian Navy operates a helicopter fleet consisting of the Sea King-42B and Kamov-28 ASW helicopters, the Kamov-31 AEW helicopter and the modified Chetak-MATCH (Mid Air Torpedo Carrying Helicopter). In addition, they have a fleet of Chetak helicopters for shipborne operations. These helicopters are old vintage and in inadequate numbers, with most of them needing replacement and upgrade.

The HAL manufactured Dhruv (naval variant) was inducted into the air arm in March 2002. However, the Navy found the Dhruv unsuitable for its role as an ASW platform, though they may continue to procure limited numbers for employment as multi-role utility platforms- 16 Dhruvs are now part of the naval fleet. The Kamov-31 AEW helicopters acquired from Russia in the 1990s have proved to be a versatile platform for airborne operations at sea but their numbers are limited. However, the main workhorse’s in the ASW category, the British Sea King-42B and Russian Kamov-28 are old and lack availability of spares to keep them flying and their much required replacement process has floundered for over a decade plus.

Presently, the Navy has a highly limited inventory of 12 Sea King-42B and 10 Kamov-28 ASW helicopters to look after the 150 plus warships, leaving a critical void in this vital segment of ASW. In fact, the Kamov-28 ASW helicopters held are currently undergoing an upgrade under a $294 million deal inked with Russian Helicopters in 2017. Some of these helicopters have already been upgraded. The upgrade involves engine overhaul and fitment with state of art sensors and avionics. The Navy requires at least 123 Naval MRH and had released a global request for information in August 2017. As usual, no progress has been made on this critical project till now, due to bureaucratic lethargy in failing to finalise the ‘Strategic Partnership Model’ under the ‘Make in India policy’.


Case for MH-60R ‘Romeo’ MRH ::

Keeping in mind the dire need and critical requirement of the Navy for helicopters that can undertake missions ranging from anti-submarine operations to fire support and early warning at sea, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the procurement of 24 MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters in August 2018. Thereafter, in November the Government made a formal request to the US Government for the purchase of these helicopters under the ‘Foreign Military Sales’ (FMS) route.

Accordingly, a ‘Letter of Request’ was given to the US Government for the acquisition of these helicopters as an urgent requirement. The US in April this year has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion, under the FMS route–these Sirkorsky/Lockheed Martin-built helicopters will replace India’s ageing fleet of British-Westland Sea King Mk 42B and Russian Kamov Ka-28 helicopters.

The twin-engine MH-60R is the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter armed with Hellfire Missiles, MK-54 Torpedoes and precision kill rockets for potent ASW capabilities and is currently deployed with the US Navy as the primary anti-submarine warfare/anti-surface weapon system for open ocean and littoral zones. According to industry experts, it is the most capable naval helicopter available today, designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers, with the capability to handle numerous contacts in confined spaces, as well as for open-water operations.

MH-60 Romeo Seahawks will add lethal capabilities to the Indian Navy, which indeed is the need of the hour, given the aggressive behaviour of China in the Indian Ocean region. According to US Naval Air System Command, the MH-60R Seahawk missions are anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance, communications relay, combat search and rescue, naval gunfire support and logistics support.

The helicopter has a fully integrated mission system which builds complete ‘Situational Awareness’ and ‘Actionable Knowledge’ enabling target engagement both close-in and over the horizon. The MH-60R is also fitted with a suitable ‘Cargo Hook’ for vertical replenishment missions. The helicopter has dual controls and is equipped with a digital integrated glass cockpit. More than 300 of these helicopters are in operation with the Australian, Danish, Saudi and Qatar Navies including the US and have accumulated over 60000 flight hours.

In addition to the helicopters, the purchase will include a multitude of support and embedded equipment like engines, multi-mode radars, sonobuoys, weapon systems and other essential associated equipment. In addition, the US will provide night vision devices, high-frequency radios and identification friend or foe transponders as part of the deal. India will also receive personnel and equipment training, as well as support for engineering, technical and logistics support services.


MH-60R Seahawk Characteristics ::

The Seahawk is powered by two General Electric T-700 turbo-shaft engines with a rating of 1425 kW. It has a maximum speed of 267 km/hour, a range of 834 km and a service ceiling of 3435 metres. With regards to weapon systems, the helicopter can be equipped with a range of weapons on the four weapon stations, with the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles for anti-surface missions and the ATK MK-54 active/passive lightweight torpedoes for ASW- it can also be mounted with a 7.62mm machine gun for self-defence.

The helicopter is fitted with a modern and advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) suite and state of art sensors. For anti-submarine operations, it is equipped with a Sonobuoy Launcher and an advanced Airborne Low-Frequency Dipping Sonar. The MH-60R is also fitted with a detecting/tracking system which includes a FLIR and laser rangefinder. The MH-60R Seahawk incorporates all such features which enhance survivability. It can withstand small arms fire and medium calibre high explosive projectiles and has a self-sealing fuel tank. The flight controls have dual redundancy, with the upper controls and hub being ballistically tolerant. The helicopter is fitted with high energy absorbing landing gear and its high mass components are retained in case of a high impact crash. The survivability features of the MH-60R rank amongst the best in helicopters.

The Navy is inducting four to five warships every year, in tune with its plan to become a 212 strong warship force by 2027 and has virtually run out of the MRHs to operate from their decks to detect, track and kill enemy submarines. Most of the warships have been operating with a Chetak helicopter instead, for multi-purpose duties, a helicopter that is even older than the limited Sea King helicopters held and is itself awaiting replacement for over a decade.

The critical shortage of helicopters has emerged as the most alarming operational gap in the Navy today. Given the critical situation, the US approval for the sale of 24 MH-60R Seahawk under the FMS route could not have come a day later – the contract for the same needs to be signed at the earliest. Navy’s requirement is of 123 Naval Multi-Role Helicopters (NMRH) for which a global Request for Information (RFI) was released in August 2017. However, despite the critical operational situation, the NMRH programme has not progressed as fast as the Navy would have liked and currently runs the risk of getting stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire if a clear strategy is not evolved.

Under the circumstances the MH-60R Romeo Seahawk is a suitable NMRH platform. Going in for 24 of these next-generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopters is an excellent plan. It would be practical to pursue additional induction of theses helicopters under the Strategic Partnership Model of the Defence Procurement Procedures.

 bharatshakti

Army starts final user trials of ATAGS Gun, before orders for 150 Guns

India’s first high capacity indigenous long range 155mm/52 gun and Dhanush’s supplement ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System) firing user trials of next stage began from Friday. The trials began at Pokhran field firing range of Jaisalmer district.The Indian Army has begun finalising the preliminary specifications qualitative requirements (PSQR). Defence Research & Defence Organisation (DRDO) and senior army officers were present at the trials.

The gun during its last trials had fired 47.2 kms long distance which was world’s longest distance. Source said that on Friday 48 rounds were fired and on Saturday 12 rounds were fired. Two guns are currently undergoing trials and two more guns will have their trials in a month. The PSQR should be ready by July. Till now there is a sanction for production of 10 guns as part of the development process. The gun currently weighs about 18 tonnes while the ideal weight for the army would be 14-15 tonnes.

Sources said ATAGS is being developed by DRDO on two parallel tracks – one prototype in partnership with Tata Power and another with Kaveri Group (Bharat Forge).Sources said once the PSQRs are approved, the process for formulating the final qualitative requirements would begin. Guns from both Bharat Forge and Tata Power would be evaluated and based on the commercial bids, the order would be split between them with the lowest bidder getting a larger order. The defence ministry has already approved in-principle purchase of 150 of these guns at an approximate cost of 3,365 crore.

At the moment the firing capacity is being checked on different parameters such as climate, terrain, range accuracy, etc and these guns are performing as per the expectation. The ammunition is also being checked. The gun has world’s longest hitting capacity. The user trials will go on for four more days.

The ATAGS, India’s first indigenous 155mm/52-caliber towed artillery gun will be a joint project of two private-sector corporations. This is a reversal of the usual practice of giving only state-owned companies these kinds of orders.

 timesofindia

Decision on jets, subs awaits govt

As a new government is set to take over, the task at the Ministry of Defence is well cut out. The decisions, especially those on induction of critical military equipment, will define the level of military readiness for India in the coming years.

Projects, are at various stages, a decision is pending on six new submarines, 400 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, 57 jets for the Navy, 800 helicopters for the Army, Navy and IAF, new warships and unmanned aerial platforms.

The manufacturing process for getting new AK 203 rifles has started, it needs to be speeded up. Artillery guns have started coming in, the numbers need to be ramped up quickly. The projected schemes on “Make in India” will need a push. Indian military establishment sits on a cusp of change. About 16 per cent — the highest by any ministry — of the country’s Budget is spent by the MoD.
 The “strategic partnership” model announced last year will form the core of “Make in India” initiative. On this hinges the production of new submarines, helicopters and fighter jets. The selection process to make the next generation ones is pending and the submarine action plan announced in 1999 is running years behind schedule.

The three forces collectively need some 800 helicopters. The request for information—the first step to acquire equipment—has been sent out for 234 helicopters for the Navy. The production of 197 Kamov 226-T copters, to be made under the Indo-Russian joint venture for the IAF and Army, is set to commence.

Some 400 fighter jets are needed to be produced over the next 10 years for the IAF. These include 284 Tejas of various variants and 114 fighter jets for which the MoD has invited global bidders.

The Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, drawn up in 1999 for acquiring 2,800 guns by 2027, is years behind schedule. Delivery of 145 ultra-light howitzers has begun. The delivery of 100 tracked self-propelled guns has also begun. The projects in the pipeline relate to 1,580 towed guns, 814 truck-mounted guns, 180 wheeled self-propelled guns. The MoD will need to speed up gun making.
 Acquisition on cards ::

- Six new submarines
- 400 fighter jets for IAF
- 57 jets for the Navy
- 800 helicopters for the Army, Navy and the IAF
- Unmanned aerial platforms and new warships
- Process for getting new AK 203 rifles has started

 tribuneindia

Consortium formed to build six submarines

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (Midhani) have joined hands to form a consortium for building six conventional submarines under Project 75(I).

The project is envisaged by the Ministry of Defence under the strategic partnership Make in India model. Representatives of HSL, BHEL and Midhani have signed an MoU in the presence of Rear Admiral LV Sarat Babu, CMD of HSL.

The agreement between the three companies is a step to fulfil the ‘Make In India’ initiative of the government in the defence sector.The agreement aims at harnessing the complementary expertise of the three companies and provide the country with a credible domestic alternative for construction of submarines.The consortium will jointly stake claim with the Ministry of Defence for being considered a prospective bidder for the proposed P-75 (I) project of the Navy.

 newindianexpress

Fighter jets, submarines, carbines: The wish list of IAF, Navy and Army

Indian defence forces need a range of latest weaponry to ensure a strong deterrence capability against China and Pakistan. They are awaiting the formation of the new Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government following Lok Sabha election 2019. While the Indian Navy needs lethal submarines and fighters for its aircraft carriers, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is expecting 114 jets to make up for the depleting squadron strength. Now, their hope hinges on the new government under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

Indian Army needs new and technologically advanced Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) i.e. armoured vehicles to ensure faster transportation of troops in the event of a war. The Indian Army now uses approximately 1200 Russian BMP armoured vehicles bought more than three decades ago in 1987. The Indian Army is waiting for the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) for the last decade. Hopefully, the new government will speed up the acquisition of the much-needed FICV.

Similarly, the Army needs more than 3.5 lakh carbines and about 36,000 light machine guns for. These weapons are expected to arrive soon after the new government is formed. The Army is facing a severe shortage of rifles for the last two years. The IAF is in need of 114 fighters in order to handle the situation of a two-front war. The IAF needs 42 fighter squadrons but currently, it is down to only 31.

A squadron consists of 16 to 18 fighter jets. The IAF had started the process of buying 126 fighter jets during the Congress-UPA government but it never culminated. The 36 Rafale jets ordered by the previous Narendra Modi government under direct purchases will be of help to some extent. While the IAF is already scouting for 114 more jets, it is important to complete the purchase fast.

The Indian Navy has got many modern warships in the last few years. But the most important requirement of the Indian Navy is of a nuclear submarine. The Navy currently has a nuclear submarine INS Chakra, taken on lease from Russia, and the indigenously developed nuclear submarine INS Arihant. Besides it also has 9 Sindhu and Shishumar class submarines each. The indigenously developed first submarine INS Kalvari, of the Kalwari class, was recently inducted into the Navy.
 But Indian Navy needs to increase it's submarine strength fast as both China and Pakistan are adding similar warships at a great pace. Navy had set a target of 24 new submarines by 2030, but only INS Kalvari has been commissioned. In addition to the 6 Kalvari Class submarines, there were six modern diesel-electric, 6 nuclear attack submarines and 6 ballistic nuclear submarines planned in collaboration with foreign companies i.e. Strategic Partnership Model.

The entire plan to have more submarines has been going on for quite some time now. Apart from this, the Indian Navy needs fighter jets for the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. There is a possibility of INS Vikrant joining the Navy in the next two years but the force is waiting for fighter jets for the same.

 zeenews

US sends LoA to India for 24 MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters for the navy

The US Government has formally sent the expected Letter of Agreement (LoA) for 24 MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters, to the Indian Government earlier this week. In view of China’s expansion of its presence in the India Ocean, the helicopter deal estimated at around $2.6 billion, will help in boosting the Indian Navy’s anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations.

The 24 MH-60R fourth generation helicopters will come to the Indian Navy will come armed with torpedoes and missiles which will be used for anti-submarine warfare. US President Donald Trump and his administration consider India as a major partner and sales of these helicopters will ensure stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Confirming this highly placed source told Financial Express Online that “The letter was received earlier this week and the two governments are expected to negotiate and sign the final contract by the fourth quarter of this year.” Adding, it is expected to have a 30 per cent offset contract as well.This LoA will help in expediting the process of acquiring these helicopters from the US-based Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, which is coming through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

Globally renowned aerospace scientist, Dr Vivek Lall, who joined Lockheed Martin last year, has spearheaded game-changing US- India bilateral defence trade, joined Lockheed Martin last year. Once the sale goes through it will further deepen the India-US defence sales and will support the foreign and national security policy of the US which will help to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship.

Financial Express Online was the first to report that the deal will be finalised in later this year and the helicopters will be inducted over five years. These helicopters are expected to replace the ageing British-made Sea King helicopters.

Last year, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given approval for the US-based Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky MH-60Rs `Romeos’ fitted with sensors through the FMS route from the US.

Sources have also confirmed that the proposed package along with the helicopters includes related anti-submarine warfare equipment and weapons, anti-surface warfare weapons, and air-to-ground weapons, as well as spares, training, and support.

Post this procurement, the Indian Navy requires123 naval multirole helicopters in due time. These are required to be manufactured in India under the ‘Strategic Partner’ model of the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP), by a domestic private company with technology transfer from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The total value of this procurement would be estimated at about $ 10 billion.

 Financial Review

The F-21 Could Be One Tough Fighter (With F-35 DNA). Here's the Problem.

For the purposes of Lockheed's marketing campaign, the F-21 is a new fighter, although it shares many of its major features with the F-16V the company has sold to Bahrain, Greece, Slovakia, South Korea and Taiwan. Lockheed can build new F-16Vs or upgrade older F-16s to the V-standard.

Lockheed Martin is developing a new variant of its iconic F-16 single-engine fighter in order to compete in India’s 2019 tender for 110 new warplanes.

But don’t count on the American firm’s “F-21” to win the contract.According to journalist Angad Singh, the likely winner is French company Dassault’s Rafale twin-engine fighter.

Singh explains his rationale in the May 2019 issue of Combat Aircraft magazine. India previously ordered 36 Rafales as part of an earlier fighter tender. “With 36 aircraft already on order and the infrastructure in place for an additional 36, a case could certainly be made that training, basing and sustainment costs for additional aircraft would not be an impossible burden.”

Other candidates for the Indian tender are the Saab Gripen from Sweden, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, the MiG-35 from Russia and the Boeing Super Hornet from the United States. Whichever fighter New Delhi selects, it needs the new jets now, according to Singh.

“The government-approved strength of the Indian Air Force, given the country’s well-publicized security scenario and the possibility of a ‘two-front’ threat of combined Pakistani and Chinese air action to the west and northeast, is 42 fighter squadrons,” Singh writes.

“There is little clarity on how this exact number was arrived at, but nonetheless, the IAF hasn’t come close to this strength for two decades, and has never approached anything near a force entirely equipped with modern aircraft.”


In 2019 the Indian air force maintains just 30 fighters squadrons. The units operate, among other plane types, 244 1960s-vintage MiG-21s and 84 MiG-27s that are only slightly younger. The MiG-21s, in particular, are accident-prone. Since the first of 874 MiG-21s entered Indian service in 1963, around 490 have crashed, killing around 200 pilots.

But the MiG-21s remain active. On Feb. 26, 2019 Indian planes crossed the line of control at India's border with Pakistan and bombed what New Dehli described as a terrorist training camp near Balakot.


Several days of aerial fighting followed the bombing raid. On Feb. 27, 2019, Pakistani F-16s and other planes crossed the line of control to attack Indian forces, New Delhi claimed. Indian MiG-21s and other fighters intercepted the Pakistanis and shot down one plane, according to the Indian government.
 The U.S. government reportedly counted Pakistan’s F-16s after the battle and concluded that none was missing, casting doubt on New Delhi’s claim.

Islamabad stated its forces shot down two Indian MiG-21s, but New Delhi copped to losing just one jet. Pakistani forces captured the MiG-21 pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, and held him for two days before handing him over to Indian officials.

Now New Delhi wants to spend around $18 billion acquiring 110 new fighters to replace the old MiGs. The new planes would fly alongside European-designed Jaguars, French Mirage 2000s and Rafales, Russian MiG-29s and Su-30s and India's own indigenous Tejas fighter in what Lockheed described as "the world’s largest fighter aircraft ecosystem."

For the purposes of Lockheed's marketing campaign, the F-21 is a new fighter, although it shares many of its major features with the F-16V the company has sold to Bahrain, Greece, Slovakia, South Korea and Taiwan. Lockheed can build new F-16Vs or upgrade older F-16s to the V-standard.

Still, renaming the F-16V isn't only semantic. An F-16V or F-21 is a radically different warplane compared to the F-16A that first flew in 1978. The F-16A is a nimble, eight-ton fighter with an unsophisticated radar and short-range weapons. The F-16V weighs 10 tons, boasts a cutting-edge radar and other sensors and carries a wide array of long-range weaponry, all at the cost of maneuverability.

Lockheed initially implied India could follow an acquisition of F-21s with a separate purchase of the company's F-35 stealth fighters.

"The F-21 has common components and learning from Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-22 and F-35 and will share a common supply chain on a variety of components," Lockheed stated on its website on the morning of Feb. 20, 2019.

A few hours later, that claim disappeared from the site. Despite Lockheed’s stealth tease, the French Rafale might be the frontrunner in the Indian fighter contest.

 nationalinterest

India must move out of the crossfire between Russia’s S-400 and US’ THAAD

In response to India’s purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, the United States has counter-offered the Theatre High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) missile to India. On the face of it this would seem like a simple commercial counter, but a deep dive shows the US is misreading Indian intentions very badly, something that does not bode well for the bilateral relationship as it reflects a severe communication gap, as well as a lack of analytical rigour in Washington.

The S-400 is formidable. Its long range (up-to 400 Km depending on the missile chosen) means that even when stationed a 100 km inside Indian territory, it can take down planes up to 300 Km in Pakistani territory. Due to this the Indian Air Force believes that the S-400 is the most potent system it can buy against the F-16 and other US fighters — especially given its stellar role in Syria, where after the initial shoot down of Russian fighters by Turkey, the deployment of the S-400 deterred any further Turkish misadventures.

Sadly that is only half the story, with the other half being, the ability of NATO aircraft and cruise missiles to infiltrate Syrian airspace at will, fooling the S-400. Moreover, it cannot integrate comprehensively into India’s mix of western and eastern equipment. Clearly, then the F-16 deterrence story isn’t the full picture.What the US fails to understand is that the deal has been signed under duress, the duress of not buying enough from Russia, after India cancelled its participation in the ill-fated (and atrociously designed and built) Su-57 programme. This was a major blow to Russian industry, given that it was counting on India to buttress its flagging sales, but on the other hand India could simply not digest a badly designed product that would have been obsolete even before it entered production.

Consequently, the only solution was the buy a product that was deemed suitable to the Indian military. However, as discussed above, the S-400 has at best a mixed record in Syria. So why was it considered suitable when the Su-57 fighter was not?

This brings us to the third and only plausible explanation. The purchase was not done entirely to use the missile against adversaries, but rather to understand its capabilities thoroughly, simulate how to go up against it, how to jam it and to understand what its limitations are. As such its main use will be testing the Rafale’s ability to penetrate Chinese airspace guarded by the system. In this, it is money well spent as it fulfils our quota with Russia, and indirectly meets our requirements, as it prevents several billions of dollars’ worth of our aircraft and missiles being shot down by the Chinese.

It is in understanding this complex and multi-causal problem that the THAAD offer seems off mark. For starters, THAAD is an anti-ballistic-missile (ABM) system that the S-400 is not optimised for (despite what its sales brochure says). Second, the Americans failed to understand Indian political compulsions regarding the purchase. Third, they seem to have missed the opportunity for using the purchase as an excuse to supply complementary systems that will help India deal with the Chinese S-400 menace, instead offering us a competing system that leads to duplication, and answers a requirement that India has not put out.

It is imperative then that India reaches out to the US and clarifies its position in a spirit of cooperation rather than the usual diffidence that much of our JNU-trained bureaucracy display towards ‘western imperialists’.

What has to be kept in mind here is that the S-400 is a potent enough system to significantly sour bilateral ties with the US. After all the S-400 is one of the reasons that Turkey’s participation in the F-35 programme has been halted; and Turkey, unlike India, is a privileged NATO ally.India’s rationale for buying the S-400 is solid, however, diplomatic diffidence cannot be allowed to poison the well.
The ball, therefore, lies in India’s court to explain how the S-400 purchase serves common goals, and suggest avenues of cooperation complementary to the S-400, rather than competing with it.

 moneycontrol

India must have permanent seat in UN Security Council: German envoy

India must have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council as its absence hurts the credibility of the UN system, Germany's new Ambassador to India Walter J Lindner said Tuesday.

Lindner presented his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind in Hindi on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after presenting his credentials, Lindner said the G4 grouping -- India, Germany, Japan and Brazil -- is fighting for the enlargement of the Security Council permanent membership.

"India must have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council...India with 1.4 billion people is not yet a permanent member, this is unheard of. This can't go on like this because it hurts the credibility of the United Nations system," he said.

At present, there are five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.

The German envoy also said that his country was supportive of the listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar at the UN as a global terrorist.

"We were in close contact with India and other nations (over the listing). We will continue to work on this (anti-terror) cooperation because terrorism has to be removed from the surface of this planet," he said.

Asked about the prospects of working with the Modi government if it comes to power, Lindner said he does not want to answer hypothetical questions and would like to wait for the outcome of the polls.

"It is such a great country, whoever will win will continue the great relationship with Germany. We are happy to work with whoever Indian people elect and in two days we will know who that is," he said.

On whether EVMs were more suited or ballot papers, especially keeping in mind the European experience, he said: "Whatever system you seem to be working seems to be a very good one."
Asked about the Iran nuclear deal and the US sanctions, Lindner said Germany is a strong supporter of the nuclear agreement with Iran because it keeps the country away from a nuclear weapon.

 economictimes

Indian Army in hunt for 12,000 telescopic sights for assault rifles

The Indian Army jawan on the Line of Control (LoC), constantly threatened by Pakistani sharpshooters, will now fight fire with fire. A proposal for the purchase of nearly 12,000 telescopic sights for new assault rifles is likely to be cleared by a high-level committee very shortly.

These telescopic sights will be fitted onto the new generation Sig Sauer assault rifles that India wants. A contract for 72,000 rifles have already been signed and the delivery is likely within a year. These 7.62 x 51mm sights will cost about Rs 170 crore.

The purchase of the sights comes in the wake of reports of Pakistani jihadis being given sniper training. The new rifles and the telescopic sights are expected to be an effective counter. Besides the sights, 50 Field Artillery tractors are also likely to be bought, to add to the 100 already acquired and also, for the Indian Air Force (IAF) crypto modules for its Software Design Radios.

timesnownews

IAF officer set to face criminal case for missile that downed Mi-17 chopper

On February 27, even as Indian and Pakistani jets were engaged in a dogfight in the Nowshera sector, a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter of IAF crashed. All six airmen on board the helicopter were killed.

 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has removed the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Srinagar Air Base, the senior-most officer of the base, for circumstances related to the crash of an Mi-17 helicopter near Srinagar on February 27 after it came under friendly fire, even as a Court-of-Inquiry (CoI) continues to investigate the matter. 

A final report is yet to be submitted.

An IAF spokesperson declined comment on the matter.
On February 27, even as Indian and Pakistani jets were engaged in a dogfight in the Nowshera sector, a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter of IAF crashed. All six airmen on board the helicopter were killed. The helicopter was downed by a surface-to-air missile of IAF which mistook the aircraft to be hostile, initial inquiries have revealed.
As the inquiry nears completion, IAF is considering whether or not it should slap criminal charges against those found lacking. “There will be no tolerance of lapses,” said a senior defence ministry official who asked not to be named. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder is one of the charges that IAF is contemplating pressing against those found guilty by the CoI. “Unprecedented as it might be, IAF leadership is clear that such lapses are not repeated,” the official added.
The AOC has been removed because the incident happened on his watch.
The preliminary inquiry into the accident has allegedly indicated several lapses leading to the tragic accident. For instance, the air traffic control called the helicopter back even as air engagement between Indian and Pakistani fighters intensified. “Ideally, the helicopter should have been sent away to safer zone instead of it being called back to the base,” said a second senior defence ministry official who did not want to be named. “The incoming helicopter should have been vectored into the pre-designated zone meant for friendly aircraft to hold till the alert was called off,” the official added.
All bases have designated airspace for friendly aircraft in case of an air-defence-alert. “Air defence platforms such as missile systems, air defence guns etc. are kept free; they are free to engage any aircraft which doesn’t identify itself as a “friendly” either through the IFF or by remaining confined to the airspace designated for friendly aircraft,” the second senior officer added.
In this case, the Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) – a transponder-based identification system that informs the air defence radars whether incoming aircraft is friendly – was switched off, against the laid down protocol.
After a “near-air-miss” incident in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 between a C-130 J, a US-made transport aircraft, and a Russian-made Su-30 fighter aircraft, IAF Headquarters directed all aircraft coming into land to have their IFF systems on. Surprisingly, the Srinagar Air Base had issued contradictory orders. “Had the IFF system been on, air defence radars would have at least identified Helicopter as a friendly aircraft,” the second senior defence ministry official said.

The Mi-17 helicopter — one of the sturdiest in its category — under the command of squadron leader Siddarth Vashistha took off from Srinagar airbase at about 10 am. The air intrusion alert was sounded almost at the same time as Indian fighters took on Pakistani Air Force fighters over Nowshera. The helicopter crashed around 10.10am over Budgam.
In addition to the six IAF personnel, a civilian was killed on the ground.

 hindustantimes

Indian Army begins 3 nation hunt for new LMGs for infantry

The Indian Army has begun its hunt for new light machine guns (LMG) as an army-led team is visiting three countries to procure about 17,000 such guns for the infantry under the fast track procedure, officials said.

The team, which left India a few days ago, is first visiting Bulgaria, where it will meet representatives from Arsenal, a gun and ammunition manufacturer. It will then go to Israel for the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) and then to South Korea for S&T Motiv. It is visiting these manufacturers because they had responded with their bids to the army’s request for procuring 16,400 LMGs under the fast track procedure (FTP).

US-based Sig Sauer had also submitted its bid and the team had planned to visit it, but the company later said that because it has an existing order for 72,400 assault rifles for the Indian Army under the FTP and a few more orders, including from the US Army, it won’t have the production capacity for the new LMGs. So, the team decided to visit only Bulgaria, Israel and South Korea. Last February, the Defence Acquisition Council led by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had cleared the procurement of the LMGs under the FTP. The FTP is to ensure expeditious procurement for urgent operational requirements of the regular and special forces. It is applied to cases where there has been an unforeseen delay, which is adversely affecting the capacity of the forces. The team, which also has officials from the defence ministry, will evaluate the LMGs produced by the manufacturers.

Officials explained that the army is looking at procuring an LMG with a calibre of 7.62x51mm, which will replace the in-service INSAS LMG that has a calibre of 5.56x45mm. The higher calibre means that the new LMG will be more lethal.

“It will also have belted ammunition, which means that it will have a sustained rate of fire, unlike LMGs wherein the magazine has to constantly be changed,” explained an official.

After the visits, the team is expected to return to India by May end. It will then ask the manufacturers to come to India to carry out compatibility tests with Indian made ammunition (produced by the Ordnance Factory Board) at some firing ranges.

The FTP, unlike the normal procurement route, doesn’t have lengthy user trials and only has short demonstrations like the ones to be done in India. It looks at procuring equipment which are already in service, so the time required for evaluation is minimised. The team will then submit a report to the defence ministry’s acquisition department. The lowest bidder will be selected and the contract will be signed.

“It could take about seven to eight more months for procuring the LMGs,” said an official.

 Economictimes

5 countries vying for RM36 billion RMAF deal, says report

Politics may be the deciding factor in a RM36 billion deal to supply light combat aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force over the next 10 years, according to a Singapore news report.
The aircraft on offer are believed to be the F-50 by Korea Aerospace Industries of South Korea, Tejas by Hindustan Aeronautics (India), YAK-130 by Irkut Aerospace (Russia), JF-17 Thunder (Pakistan) and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master (Italy).
According to the Straits Times newspaper in Singapore, defence industry executives believe that the RMAF top brass is partial towards South Korea’s FA-50 jets, but its critics contend that the single-seater aircraft is not suitable because it does not have the capability for air-to-air refuelling.

A decision is expected in the coming months, the report said. It noted that the intended purchase of 30 light combat aircraft was turning out to be a policy challenge as arms suppliers with strong ties to the previous government face competition from new suppliers.
The tussle to secure the contract is being waged by local agents of the manufacturers and are “typically little-known private entities whose well-connected shareholders hide behind business proxies to shield their involvement”, the report said.
The ST quoted unnamed defence industry executives as saying that the FA-50 is being represented by a little-known private entity Kemalak Systems, Tejas by Forte Drus, JF-17 by Kharisma Wira, the YAK-130 by Sarawak-based Sovereign Strategic. Aermacchi’s representative was not known.
“The armed forces always have their wish list but it is politics that will decide what Malaysia buys,” a senior executive of a local defence agency is quoted as saying.
There was also a strong lobby from Pakistan, whose prime minister Imran Khan enjoys close ties with prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. However, Pakistan could fail because Malaysia intends to link the arms deals to purchases of palm oil.
India, one of Malaysia’s largest buyers of palm oil, has reportedly offered to acquire Malaysia’s retired MiG-29 fighter jets to boost its chances.
The RMAF currently operates a mixed fleet of supersonic fighters and multi-role combat aircraft, comprising 13 Russian-made MiG-29s (now retired) and 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKM “Flanker”, and eight F/A-18D Hornet made by Boeing of the United States. There are also 13 British-made Hawk 208 light attack aircraft.
The air force also operates five Hawk 108 and seven Aermacchi MB-339 jet trainers.

 freemalaysiatoday

IAF successfully test fires anti-tank guided bomb

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test fired 1,000 pound (450kg) Smart Anti-Tank guided bomb CBU-105 through upgraded Jaguar fighter aircraft at Pokhran Test Firing Range in Jaisalmer on Sunday. The bomb successfully destroyed a dummy enemy tank brigade target.

During the test firing the officials of American production company, Textron Defence System and senior officials of Indian Air Force were present to observe the accuracy of the guided bomb. During test firing two upgraded Jaguar fighter aircraft dropped guided bomb from air on dummy targets and successfully destroyed group of dummy tanks.

Defence sources said that CBU-105 is a sensor fused weapon of 1,000 pound (450Kg) which is dropped with the help of GPS. The best part of the weapon is that it can be used during day or night and even in adverse weather conditions. In 2010 the Indian government placed an order of 512 bombs which were delivered by company. To use them the Jaguar fighter aircraft were upgraded with new Drain III Navigation and Combat system. Upgraded Jaguar fighter aircraft can carry 4-6 sensor fused bomb (CBU-105) on enemy targets.
 Source said that upgraded Jaguar have new Drain -III navigation and combat system and now will get Smart CBU-105 sensor fused weapons procured from the USA. Now upgraded Jaguar will be termed as Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft. With this Jaguar can destroy surface targets like terrorist camps, airbases and warships with its onboard weaponries including new generation laser guided bombs and Lethal Textron CBU-105 sensor fused weapon.

Source said that SFW are unique and deadly weapons. Initially SFW were developed as cluster bomb units-97 which were unguided and quite inaccurate whenever released from high altitude. It was modified and improved version is CBU -105 equipped with GPS and tail guidance fins, which made it very accurate precision guided munition (PGM).

TOI

Indian Air Force Can Strike JeM Headquarters In 60 Sec Via BrahMos-A Missile Fired From Sukhoi Su-30MKI

A deadly combination of BrahMos missiles penetrating behind the enemy lines at a speed of over 3,000 km/hr, launched from a platform of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI which flies at a speed of over 2,100 km/hr, would enable the Indian Air Force to carry out Balakot like anti-terror operations, while staying at least 150 km within Indian territory, as per an analysis in Business Today.

The IAF is steadfastly the fitting of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to its Sukhoi 30 MKI air superiority fighters. BrahMos missiles have an operational range between 300-400 km and are undergoing a range augmentation programme that seeks to increase the striking radius by 150 km.

Such an exponential enhancement in capacity would make it all the more possible for a BrahMos-A releasing from the IAF to strike the terror facility in Bahawalpur hardly a task of 60 seconds.This leaves very little room for the Pakistani Air Force prevent the strike. With such a modification, IAF can also hit Pakistani targets even while flying on the waters of Arabian Sea and if required, BrahMos-A can also be nuclear tipped.

Combined development of the computer, positioning systems and propellant technology by the BrahMos corp would allow the cruise missiles to strike targets with pinpoint accuracy that enables to carry out cross-border anti-terror ops even in densely populated regions, avoiding any collateral damage.

IAF is planning to get two squadrons of Sukhoi Su-30MKIs to BrahMos-A by 2020-21. Such an addition should bring all of Pakistan’s command and control centres of its tri-services, nuclear arsenal and manufacturing units, terror hubs and strategic assets such as dams, airports, railway stations, airports; within the striking range of the IAF.

A leaner and meaner version of the BrahMos, in all likeliness, will be fitted to the MiG-29Ks of the Navy, Rafales, Mirage-2000s and Tejas as a standard air-to-surface missile. India's entry into the MTCR has made it possible to increase the range of BrahMos to 800 km.

 swarajyamag