Chinese Air Force redeployed J-20 fighters near LAC days before fresh intrusion bid

The Chinese Air Force redeployed its J-20 fifth-generation fighters close to the Indian territory, days before the Chinese troops attempted to carry out fresh transgressions near the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh.

“The J-20 fighter jets have been operating close to the Indian territory in the last few days and the move was taken by the Chinese Air Force just a few days before their Army attempted to do incursions into newer areas in Ladakh,” top government sources told India Today on Monday.

As per sources, fighter aircraft are still carrying out extensive flying near the LAC.

India released a statement on Monday saying the Army blocked Chinese attempt to carry out "provocative military movements" to "unilaterally" change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake.

The J-20s reportedly operated from the Hotan airbase in Xinjiang province of China where strategic bomber and other fighters’ operational deployment is also on, the government sources added.

India Today TV’s OSINT team was the first to report on August 25 the second deployment of J-20s at Hotan airbase. Through satellite images provided by Planet Labs, we found that China sent two of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fifth-generation stealth aircraft J-20 to Hotan.

The aircraft with new ammunition building having proper environmental protection and all-around revetments indicate that both are probably related developments.

The Hotan airbase is 250 km from Karakoram Pass and 380 km from the Finger 4 area of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh.

The aircraft have probably arrived from the Dingxin base, which now has about eight J-20 aircraft deployed.

The move by the Chinese Air Force to redeploy their latest aircraft at airbases near Ladakh comes after India started operationalising the Rafale fighter jets, five of which have joined the Air Force.

Sources said the Indian Air Force and other agencies concerned have been keeping a close eye on the Chinese Air Force activities and have taken all measures to thwart any misadventure in air.

India is keeping a close watch on seven Chinese airbases along the LAC opposite Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

According to top government sources, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has upgraded a number of these bases in recent times, including the construction of hardened shelters, the extension of runway lengths and deployment of additional manpower.

Sources had told India Today that these military airbases under Indian watch included three opposite eastern Ladakh -- Kashgar, Hotan and Ngari Gunsa. The other bases include Shigatse, Lhasa Gongkar, Nyingchi and Chamdo Pangta, the sources added.

“Satellites and other forms of surveillance are being used to keep an eye on the seven Chinese military bases which are situated in Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous Military Region,” government sources had said.

India Today 

India to start bidding process by October to procure 6 submarines costing Rs 55,000 crore

India is all set to launch the bidding process by next month for a Rs 55,000-crore mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy to narrow the gap with China's growing naval prowess, government sources said on Sunday.

The submarines will be built in India under the much-talked-about strategic partnership model that allows domestic companies to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms in the country and reduce import dependence.

The sources said the groundwork like specifications of the submarines and other critical requirements for issuance of the RFP (request for proposal) for the mega project, named as P-75 I, has been completed by separate teams of the defence ministry and the Indian Navy.

The RFP will be issued by October, they added.

The defence ministry has already shortlisted two Indian shipyards and five foreign defence majors for the project, being billed as one of biggest "Make in India" ventures.

The shortlisted Indian entities were L&T group and state-owned Mazagaon Docks Ltd (MDL) while the select foreign entities included ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany), Navantia (Spain) and Naval Group (France).

Initially, the defence ministry will issue RFPs to MDL and L&T and the two firms will have to submit their detailed bid after receiving the document. Subsequently, the L&T and MDL will have to select a foreign partner out of the five shortlisted entities, the sources said.

The Indian Navy plans to acquire 24 new submarines, including six nuclear attack submarines, to bolster its underwater fighting capability. It currently has 15 conventional submarines and two nuclear submarines.

The Navy has been focusing on significantly bolstering its overall capabilities in view of China's growing efforts to increase its military presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to the country's strategic interests.

According to global naval analysts, Chinese navy currently has over 50 submarines and about 350 ships. The total number of ships and submarines is projected to go past 500 in next 8-10 years.

The Indian Navy is also in the process of procuring 57 carrier-borne fighter jets, 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) and 123 multi-role helicopters under the strategic partnership model.

The policy envisages the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian defence majors through a transparent and competitive process wherein they would tie up with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers.

Initially, the strategic partners will be selected in four segments - fighter aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armoured fighting vehicles/main battle tanks. It is expected to be expanded to other segments.

In the last few months, the government has unveiled a series of reform measures and initiatives to make India a hub of defence manufacturing.

On August 9, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will stop the import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024.

In May, the government announced increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route in the defence sector.

India is one the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around $130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years.

The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing.

The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of $25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of $5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware.

TOI 

More ‘Eyes In Sky’ For IAF: India To Acquire Two More Phalcon Airborne Early Warning Systems From Israel

In a move to bolster the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) surveillance capabilities, India is going to sign the long pending deal to acquire two additional Israeli-made PHALCON airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft from Israel, reports Times of India.

The deal valued at around $1 billion presently, was derailed at least a couple of times in the past due to the high costs involved.

The report quotes several highly placed sources as stating that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is all set to give its final nod to the deal after extensive inter-ministerial consultations.

The deal would entail acquisition of the two AWACS, with the Israeli PHALCON early-warning radar system mounted on Russian Ilyushin-76 heavy-lift aircraft, which will be delivered in three to four years.

The two new Phalcons will add to the existing three Phalcon AWACS acquired by IAF between 2009-2011 under a $1.1 billion deal inked by India, Israel and Russia in 2004. However, the new aircraft would be more advanced than the older phalcon aircraft.

The Phalcons are powerful “eyes in the sky” which can detect and track incoming fighters, cruise missiles and drones much before ground-based radars meanwhile directing defence assets to tackle any breach of air space.

The decision to procure more such surveillance aircraft is being felt due to the fact that Pakistan already has seven such aircraft in service, while the IAF only has five.

Post-Balakot, Pakistan was able to cover its territory with round-the-clock AWACS surveillance, while India could only have AWACS up for 12 hour stretches at the northern and western borders.

The Israeli-built PHALCON system comes equipped with a high-tech Green Pine radar system, which has a range of 300 to 500 kilometres. The same aircraft was used to direct operations against a Pakistani squadron in Nowshera on 27 February.

On the other hand, Pakistan Air Force has at its disposal three SAAB-2000 and four Shaanxi Y-8 turbo-prop AWACS. The SAAB aircraft have altitude limitations due to the use of turbo-prop engines.

Swarajya

China fires 'aircraft-carrier killer' missile in warning to US

China has fired two missiles, including one dubbed an "aircraft-carrier killer", into the South China Sea, according to a news report, in a pointed warning to the United States as tensions in the disputed sea lane rise to new levels.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Thursday that Beijing fired one intermediate-range ballistic missile, DF-26B, from Qinghai province and another medium-range ballistic missile, DF-21D, from Zhejiang province on Wednesday in response to US aerial activities in a "no-fly zone".

In response, Mark Esper, the US defence chief, said China has repeatedly fallen short of promises to abide by international laws, noting China seems to be flexing its muscles the most in Southeast Asia.

The two missiles were reportedly fired in the direction of the area between Hainan province and the disputed Paracel Islands, the Hong Kong-based publication added, quoting an unnamed source.

According to the newspaper, a US U-2 spy plane had reportedly entered a Chinese-designated "no-fly zone" on Tuesday without permission during a live-fire naval drill conducted by China in the Bohai Sea off its north coast.

In a social media post, Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the United Kingdom, said the US move "severely disrupted" China's normal exercises and "training activities".

Zhao Lijian, China's foreign ministry spokesman, described the spy plane overflight as "provocative actions" and urged the US to stop. 

China's military will neither "dance to the tune of the US" nor allow the United States to "cause trouble", defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Thursday.

Amid rising tensions between both militaries, he said China hopes the United States can take practical measures to create a "positive atmosphere" for high-level exchanges between their two militaries.

The DF-26B missile, which was formally launched earlier this month, is capable of hitting moving targets at sea, making it an "aircraft-carrier killer", according to the state-owned Global Times.

Chinese defence ministry spokesperson, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, was previously quoted as saying the missile can carry conventional or nuclear warheads and is capable of launching precision strikes on land and sea targets.

With its range of 4,500km (2,800 miles), DF-26 can reach the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean, as well as American facilities in Guam, the British island of Diego Garcia and even the Australian city of Darwin. 

The Pentagon chief Esper, in a thinly veiled swipe at China, said the United States has a responsibility to lead in the Pacific and "won't cede an inch" to other countries that think their political system is better.

China had not lived up to promises to abide by international law, rules and norms, and Beijing wants to project its power globally, he added.

"To advance the CCP's agenda, the People's Liberation Army continues to pursue an aggressive modernisation plan to achieve a world class military by the middle of the century," Esper said, referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

"This will undoubtedly involve the PLA's provocative behaviour in the South and East China Seas, and anywhere else the Chinese government has deemed critical to its interests."

'Within accepted rules'

The DF-21 has been described as an anti-ship ballistic missile system, also meant for attacking moving ships at sea. 

In July, two US aircraft conducted freedom of navigation exercises and military drills with its allies in the South China Sea, prompting an angry response from Beijing.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity to Reuters, a US official confirmed the firing of the two missiles on Wednesday adding an assessment was under way to determine the type of missile launched.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, confirmed the U-2 overflight, adding the activity in the Pacific region was "within the accepted international rules and regulations governing aircraft flights".

News of the missile launches come as the US announced it was blacklisting 24 Chinese companies and targeting individuals it said are part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such sanctions move against Beijing over the disputed seas.

The US Commerce Department said the two dozen companies played a "role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea."

Separately, the State Department said it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese individuals "responsible for, or complicit in", such actions and those linked to China's "use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources".

In July, Washington said it could sanction Chinese officials and enterprises involved in coercion in the South China Sea after it announced a tougher stance rejecting Beijing's claims to offshore resources there as "completely unlawful".

China claims virtually all of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of an area, through which more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

The US accuses China of militarising the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.

US warships have gone through the area to assert the freedom of access to international waterways, raising fears of confrontation.

A spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington condemned the US sanctions as "completely unreasonable," and urged the US to reverse them.

"[South China Sea Islands] is an integral part of China's territory, and it is fully justified for us to build facilities and deploy necessary defence equipment there," the spokesperson said.

The Chinese government has firm determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Alzazeera

Indian Army Gets Russian IGLA Air Defence Missile To Counter Chinese Attack Helicopters

After China deployed its advanced helicopters close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, Indian forces have been equipped with shoulder-fired air defence missiles in the volatile region.

Indian troops armed with the Russian-origin Igla air defence system have been deployed on the crucial heights along the border to take care of any enemy aircraft trying to violate the Indian air space there,” said sources quoted by ANI.

The Russian-origin Igla air defence missiles are possessed by both the Indian Army and the Air Force and are meant to counter low-flying aircraft as the last line of defence against flying objects in a multi-layered air defence system.

It is designed to engage all types of visually observable aircraft and helicopters as well as pinpoint air targets like cruise missiles and UAVs, both head-on and receding, at any time of day, against background clutter and decoy flares

As reported earlier by EurAsian Times, China is keeping a vigilant eye on India’s strategic facilities in the eastern sector, notably Tezpur Airbase in Assam and Abdul Kalam Islands in Odisha. In response, India has also enhanced surveillance by deploying radars and surface to air missile systems keeping track of the enemy air movement there.

In addition to the new missiles, Indian Air Force has also deployed its Su-30MKI, MiG-29, and MiG-29K fighters in the border region and could also eventually deploy newly arrived Rafale jets in the future to counter a possible airspace violation by Chinese helicopters in the Eastern Ladakh.

India is also keeping a watch on the Hotan, Gar Gunsa, Kashgar, Hopping, Dkonka Dzong, Linzhi and Pangat airbases of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in the Xinjiang and Tibet region.

Two Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets were recently spotted at Hotan airbase in the Uighur autonomous region of Xinjiang. China had also deployed its at least six H-6 bombers with KD-63 cruise missiles at Kashgar airport, also in Xinjiang, around 500 miles from Ladakh. Looking at the ongoing disengagement process, experts believe that the process will take longer to reach the point of total disengagement.

Euroasiantimes 

Will India Acquire Su-57 Jets To Match Chinese J-20s

The export version of Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation multirole fighter will be unveiled for the first time at the Army-2020 international military and technical forum. It has been organized by the Russian Defence Ministry and will be held from August 23-29 at the Russian Armed Forces’ Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center reported Tass.

The Su-57E export version of the fifth-generation fighter will be demonstrated for the first time at the Army forum as part of its static show and will also take to the skies under the flight program,” announced the press office of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec. The plane will also take part in the forum’s flight demonstration program, it added.

The spectators at the forum will also witness flights of a MiG-35 light multirole fighter, a Ka-52 reconnaissance and attack helicopter, and an upgraded Ka-27M deck-based gunship.

The Berkuts (Golden Eagles) aerobatic team will also display the capabilities of a Mi-28N helicopter in solo and formation flying.

The Su-57 took its first flight in 2010. Combining the capabilities of an attack plane and a fighter jet, the use of composite materials and innovative technologies and the fighter’s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature. 

As reported earlier by EurAsian Times, the Su-57 fighter jet is designed to have supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics to overcome the prior generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defenses.

Last year, Russia deployed pairs of Su-57s to Syria for what it claimed were combat trials. However, there’s no evidence to prove that the fighters actually participated in front-line missions. The sources that TASS cited didn’t specify the place and date of the experiment. The report also failed to describe what ‘real combat conditions’ meant.

The fighter aircraft features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage. It is designed to destroy all types of air, ground, and naval targets.

The fifth-generation fighter jets will be first received by the Western Military District of Russia. India has shown some interest in Russia’s Su-57 next-generation heavyweight fighter, although with the aircraft having yet to enter service in the Russian Air Force, New Delhi is likely to wait and assess its performance before making any commitments.

Experts talking to The EurAsian Times stated that the possibility remains that India could seriously consider exploring an initial batch of ‘off the shelf’ Su-57 jets from Russia to evaluate their capabilities – before entering into a contract for joint production.

Additionally, to counter Chinese build-up in the Ladakh region and challenge their J-20 stealth jets, you never know if the Modi government could make a surprise move. 

This would be consistent with its acquisition strategy for the Su-30 – as before the joint manufacturing of the Su-30MKI India purchased and evaluated the Su-30K from Russia.

The capabilities of the jointly manufactured Su-30MKI variant were far superior to the Su-30K, but operating the jet familiarised the Indian Air Force with the airframe and its performance limitations – much as a Su-57 could do to precede a joint next-generation program.

Euroasiantimes 

BSF to undergo tech upgradation, to get 436 drones and new anti-drone systems

With Rakesh Asthana taking over as full-time Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), technological upgradation of the force has started with approval for 436 small and micro drones for border surveillance and anti-drone system being currently tested on India-Pakistan border to shoot down any drone carrying weapon-load for terrorists in Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management (CIBM) plan, all 1923 border outposts manned by BSF on Pakistan and Bangladesh border will be equipped with sensors, CCTV and drone feeds from the sector headquarters with as many as 1,500 posts (as rest are in remote locations) being able to fly drone to recce the border and use anti-drone system to shoot any weapon pay-load transportation from across.

According to senior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials, while the cost of small and micro drone will come around Rs 88 crore, the BSF with the help of security agencies is currently testing an indigenous anti-drone system on the sensitive Punjab border with Pakistan. In the past one year, Pakistani deep state is using Chinese commercial drones to transport assault rifles, pistols and grenades to the Khalistani terrorists in Punjab as well as jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir.

By killing five Pakistani intruders carrying assault rifles and Afghan heroin on Friday morning, the new DG has made his intentions clear that the BSF will be pro-active on both the borders and will not allow any anti-India activity. It is understood that the BSF chief personally spoke to the company commander who carried out the successful operation in Taran Taran sector.

As Rakesh Asthana also holds the charge of DG, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the G Branch or the intelligence branch of the BSF is also being revived so that Afghan drugs do not make their way across the Pakistan border or the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. In this context, a common strategy will be adopted between the BSF and NCB to bring big cross border drug kingpins to book as the narcotic trade funds the cross border weapons smuggling and terrorism both in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. In the past decade, India has not only become the hub of drug transhipment but also a major consumer of narcotics like heroin and cocaine from Afghanistan.

HT

First rockets produced by private sector successfully test fired

In a major boost for Make in India, the first ever rockets fully manufactured by the private sector have been successfully test fired by the army, signalling that single source dependency on Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will soon be a thing of the past.

The Pinaka rockets were tested at a firing range in Pokharan on Wednesday and achieved the desired results by accurately hitting targets. The rockets have been manufactured by the private sector after a technology transfer agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Sources said that six Pinaka rockets were test fired as part of the final developmental trials. The rockets have been manufactured by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) and are the first munition of its kind made by the private sector in India. They are also a success story for DRDO that has been engaging with the private sector to transfer manufacturing technology for home developed systems.

In the past, munitions of this class have either been imported or have been manufactured by the public sector, with repeated complaints of failure by the armed forces. As part of the Make in India drive and push for the private sector in defence manufacturing, the Pinaka technology was transferred five years ago, with a decision taken to split further orders evenly with OFB. The army has a large requirement for rockets of this class, which is pegged at over 1,000 units annually. The Pinaka is a home developed multi barrel rocket launcher system that is already in service with the Indian Army. An order for two additional Pinaka regiments has been under process since 2017, which will be made by L&T and Tata Aerospace and Defence for an estimated Rs 4,500 cr.

The armed forces have been looking at creating alternate sources for munitions to reduce dependency on OFB that has had a mixed track record. Industry estimates peg that privately manufactured munitions of different variety would cost 20-30% cheaper than the OFB fixed pricing.

DRDO has also successfully tested an extended range guided Pinaka rocket that can hit targets at a distance of 75 km, a significant boost from the current range of 40 km

Economic times 

As Tejas begins flying near Pakistan border, IAF & HAL join hands to boost LCA availability

About half-a-dozen Tejas aircraft are doing stints at various bases in the western sector, including at two locations that will host Tejas Mk 1A squadrons in the future.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are working together to ensure a high “availability ratio” for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, which is doing flying stints nears the border with Pakistan.

Availability ratio is the average number of aircraft that are available for flying at any point in time, taking into account servicing and spare parts issues.

In view of the Chinese aggression in Ladakh, the IAF has deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan — which are allies to each other — since India is preparing for a possible collusive threat from them.

Accordingly, about half-a-dozen Tejas aircraft, all of the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) standard, have been doing stints at various bases in the western sector, including at two locations that will host Tejas Mk 1A squadrons in the future.

However, these stints of the aircraft, which are otherwise based in Sulur, Tamil Nadu, are more for training purpose, although sources said they can be deployed for operations if the need arises.   

“Technically, they have been operationally deployed amid rising tensions with China in Ladakh, but the flying is primarily for pilots to get used to border dynamics,” said a source, adding that the aircraft have been doing the stints since June.

Even though the aircraft are IOC variants, the sources added, “they do carry limited air-to-air missile and bombing capabilities”.

The initial lot of Tejas, they said, is meant more for close-in protection of India’s own bases rather than actual combat in enemy territory

First deployed operationally after Balakot strike

The first time the Tejas went in for “operational deployment” was after the Balakot strikes against a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan last year.

At the time, the IAF had deployed nine Tejas aircraft at the Jaisalmer base but had to eventually make do with two because of low availability, sources said. 

“Out of the nine aircraft, only two were available the last time,” a source added.

Both HAL and IAF are working together to ensure higher availability, the sources said.

The IAF is currently in the process of inducting Final Operational Clearance (FOC) aircraft, which are more advanced than the IOC ones. “FOC aircraft imbibe a lot of manufacturing improvements, which were based on the operational feedback of LCA IOC fleet with IAF,” the HAL had said in March this year.

Besides their capability to carry weapons, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) ones, another major difference between IOC and FOC variants is fuel capacity.

The IOC Tejas currently carries two fixed tanks of 1,200- and 800-litre capacity. The FOC variants, meanwhile, not only get larger tanks but also mid-air refuelling capability.

The IAF is expected to finalise the deal for 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year.

The print 

India not to give in to any PLA demand over disengagement. Restore status quo ante is the mantra

With the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) drawing up optical fibre cables to the transgressions spots at Pangong Tso and Gogra-Hot Springs, the Indian Army has decided to stay put at dominant positions on the ridge-lines of the Kugrang River till such time China does not restore status quo ante on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Even though PLA’s air activity over Ladakh and occupied Aksai Chin has become negligible, the Chinese army is present in strength across the 1,597-km LAC in Ladakh and showing no signs of any de-escalation. “ While we can see the Chinese intent to turn transgressions into intrusions in both the friction spots, the Indian Army has been directed to foil this PLA design even if it means sitting on the forward positions for time to come,” said a senior military commander.

National security planners are quite clear that the May transgressions by PLA in the Ladakh sector had the approval of Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC), headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, as it involved both the Tibetan as well as Xinjiang Military district with troops being inducted from outside the Western Theatre Command.

Deciding to put an end to Chinese unchecked expansionism, the Indian Army draws parallel to the 1984 Operation Meghdoot to claim Saltoro Ridge and Siachen Glacier. “We are used to sitting on heights since 1984. Even 36 years later, a full Indian brigade is sitting on the heights and guarding all the ingress points to Siachen glacier from any Pakistani attack. Any unilateral change in ground position on LAC is unacceptable to the Indian Army,” said an Indian diplomat.

While Chinese diplomats talk about peace and tranquillity on the LAC, their interlocutors are making unacceptable demands on the Indian Army like asking removal of an old administrative base in Pangong Tso or coming down from heights in Kugrang ridgeline. It is these demands that are couched in diplomatic jargon of meeting India “half-way.”

Despite a number of meetings at both military and diplomatic level, the Xi Jinping regime is adamant on its positions and posture on LAC with all dialogues showing hardly any progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech virtually made it clear that India was ready for two front aggression—from the Line of Control with Pakistan to LAC expansion by China. The speech was also signal to both the neighbours that India will not back down and stand up to aggression on its own. And in both the cases, the border flare-ups have been coupled with the progress (in this case regress) in bilateral ties.

“Whether China wants the $80 billion bilateral trade with India which is hugely tilted in favour of Beijing to steadily come down is a call that Xi Jinping’s military ambition has to take. The ball is in the Chinese court,” summed up another Indian diplomat.

HT

India, Russia Could Sign Whopping $15 Billion Inter-Governmental Defence Agreements

India and Russia are set to ramp up their military cooperation by executing contracts worth almost $ 15 billion, and also ink an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) under which the two sides are expected to go in for joint development and production of military platforms and spare parts.

However, the cooperation was briefly stuck over pricing and production issues for Kalashnikov AK-203 7.62 mm Assault Rifles 200 series.

According to FE sources, India and Russia are set to sign a joint venture agreement to manufacture Kalashnikov AK-203 7.62 mm Assault Rifles 200 series to fulfil Indian security forces’ requirement for small arms.

“Later this week, there is an IGA between the two countries related to the manufacturing of the world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series. There were issues related to the pricing of these rifles and the full local production.

Those issues have been resolved and most likely there is a certain number of assault rifles which will come from Russia. And the balance will be produced here.” “There is an IGA in place already, but there were some issues, that have now been sorted out,” said the source quoted above. 

Last year after the annual summit, both the countries had decided to extend the agreement for mutual military and technical cooperation by almost 10 years and will now end in 2030. Under the agreement, the two countries will ensure that there is no delay in the production of spare parts and the production will take place in India with the help of Russia.

“The foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the Deputy Russian foreign minister had a talk recently. The talks were related to the recent exchanges between the top leaders of the two countries,” stated Anurag Srivastava, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

As reported earlier by EurAsian Times, in a recent press release by the Ministry of Defense, the Defence Acquisition Council gave approvals which are “likely to speed up” the procurement of AK-203 rifles and upgrades for UAVs- expectedly the arming of Israeli Heron TP drones operated by the Air Force and the Army.

Besides the India-Russia Annual Summit later this year, there will be other two major meetings including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the BRICS. The defence ministers are expected to meet soon as well. No date has been decided yet.

India and Russia have already inked contracts for the S-400 Triumf ‘SA-21 Growler’ long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems under which Russia will supply five Triumf regimental kits to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The deal is worth $5.43 billion. Along with that, there is a joint venture between the two sides to manufacture Kamov Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ light utility helicopters. Around 140 helicopters are expected to be produced locally and they will be the main light utility helicopters for the IAF. 

Both countries have been in talks for the anti-tank capabilities to protect the troops. The Konkurs-M ‘AT-5b Spandrel’ anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), is being manufactured under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

Euroasiantimes 

In self-reliance push, Rajnath Singh launches weapons system made by Ordnance Factory Board

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday launched a number of weapon systems developed by different factories of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) as part of the Atma Nirbhar Week programme.

At a programme in Delhi, Singh remotely launched Namica, a missile launching platform for the third generation anti-tank fire and forget missile “Nag”, a new 8.6x70mm sniper rifle developed by the Rifle Factory Ishapore, a dual calibre anti-material rifle developed by the Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli and an upgraded commander’s thermal imager-cum-daysight for T-90 tanks developed by the Opto Electronic Factory Dehradun.

The OFB said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Kolkata that Namica uses an indigenously produced infantry combat vehicle with amphibious capabilities. It has been jointly developed by Ordnance Factory Medak and DRDL. The platform can fire six missiles with a gap of 20 seconds between the shots.

The 14.5/20mm anti-material rifle is a dual calibre modular weapon used for destroying enemy bunkers, light armoured vehicles and radar systems.

The upgraded thermal imager-cum-daysight for T-90 tanks has a range of detection at 8,000 meters at night. “It will also be retrofitted in T-90 Tanks already in service and will lead to substantial foreign exchange savings,” the OFB said

Hindustan times 

Chinese PLA Tests New 122mm Light wheeled Howitzer, Anti-tank weapon in Himalayas

The Chinese PLA has tested a new lightweight 122-millimeter caliber wheeled howitzer besides a wheeled vehicle mounted HJ-10 anti-tank missile system.

The two new weapons made their first public appearance in live-fire drills in a high-elevation region in the Himalayas. The tests come in the backdrop of the arms build-up between India and China following the deadly clashes between troops of the two sides in the border region of Galwan valley.

The new 122mm howitzer looks similar to the PCL-181 155-millimeter caliber wheeled howitzer buthas a shorter barrel and four wheels instead of the PCL-181's six wheels, Shanghai-based news website eastday.com reported.

The two new weapons are characterized by high mobility.A combined arms brigade attached to the PLA Tibet Military Command recently conducted a series of live-fire artillery exercises in the middle section of the Himalayas, which has an elevation of about 4,600 meters, China Central Television reported on Tuesday.

The drills featured anti-aircraft shooting and precision artillery strikes on hostile headquarters, missile installations and communication hubs using long-range rocket launcher systems. This was followed by live-fire coverage of hostile positions, bunkers and camps with howitzers, according to the report.

The new 122mm howitzer is more mobile and better-suited for air transport via tactical cargo planes like the Y-9. At the cost of range and firepower, the new howitzer's smaller and lighter ammunition is easier to transport and reload, Wei, a military expert was quoted as saying.

The vehicle-mounted version of the HJ-10 anti-tank missile system has shed a lot of weight compared with the original version that uses tracks and is loaded with four missiles. The new version uses four wheels and is loaded with two missiles, eastday.com reported.

Besides tanks and armored vehicles, the HJ-10 can destroy low-speed aircraft like helicopters within a 10 kms radius, reports said.

Defence world 

Rs 42,000 Crore P-75I Stealth Submarine Project Set To Kick-Off As Defence Ministry Likely To Issue Tender By Next Month

The long-pending Rs 42,000 crore Project P-75I to manufacture six new-generation stealth submarines for the Indian Navy is finally set to kick off as the Ministry of Defence is gearing up to issue the tender or request for proposal (RFP) by next month,  reports Times of India.

The project gains significance as it will be the first project to be launched under the Modi government's strategic partnership (SP) policy which had been unveiled in 2017 to give a fillip to indigenous production under Make in India initiative.

The RFP will be issued next months by the Defence Ministry to two Indian shipyards - state-owned Mazagon Docks and private sector major Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

The two shipyards will then have to submit their technical and commercial bids after they tie up with one of the five foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that have already been shortlisted by the Ministry of Defence.

The five foreign OEMs include Rubin Design Bureau (Russia), Naval Group-DCNS (France), ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany), Navantia (Spain) and Daewoo (South Korea). Once the RFP is out, the two companies will have to submit their technical and commercial bids after they tie-up with one of the five OEMs.

Swarajya

Newly acquired Rafale jets are practising night flying in high altitude

India’s newly-acquired five Rafale fighters are practising night flying in the mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh so that the Golden Arrows squadron with its Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and SCALP air-to-ground stand-off weapon will be ready if the situation deteriorates on the 1,597 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector, people familiar with the matter said.

The first batch of Rafale fighters, which landed at the Indian Air Force air base at Ambala on July 29, are “fully operational” with the first 18 platforms to be placed in Ambala and the next 18 fighters to be based in Hasimara air base near the border with Bhutan. India has contracted to purchase 36 jets made by Dassault Aviation, South Block officials said.

A government official said the top-of-the-line fighter jets are staying away from the LAC lest the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) radars in occupied Aksai Chin identify their frequency signatures and use it to jam in the worst case scenario.

Military aviation experts, however, say that Rafales can also be used for training in Ladakh sector as all these fighters are equipped with programmable signal processors (PSP) or the capacity to change signal frequencies in the event of hostilities.

“Even though the Chinese PLA have placed their electronic intelligence radars on mountain tops in the occupied Aksai Chin area for a clear line of sight, the war-time signature of Rafale will be different from that in practise mode. The PLA aircraft detection radars are good as they have been manufactured keeping the US air force in mind,” said an expert.

The Rafale jets are armed with Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, MICA multi-mission air-to-air missiles and Scalp deep-strike cruise missiles — weapons that will allow fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets from standoff ranges and fill a significant capability gap.

The Meteor missiles have a no-escape zone believed to be three times greater than that of current medium-range air-to-air missiles. The missile system, powered by a unique rocket-ramjet motor, has a range of over 120 kilometres.

The SCALP is a deep-strike cruise missile with pinpoint terminal accuracy through its highly accurate seeker and target recognition system.

Even though the India-China diplomatic and military interlocutors are in constant dialogue for total disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, the three services are not only focused on western sector but also the remaining part of the LAC as well as the high seas. Last week, Army Chief General MM Naravane made it clear to central and eastern army commanders that they should not be caught by surprise by the PLA on the LAC and should be in the highest state of military preparedness.

The Indian Navy has also been told to monitor the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean to ensure that Chinese PLA warships are kept at bay from the Indian seaboard and island territories. The surface and undersea assets are on operational alert with Chinese ships being monitored from Malacca Straits to Gulf of Aden.

Even though the Chinese PLA air activity has reduced in the Ladakh sector as compared to the first week of July post Galwan flare-up, the Indian Air Force is taking no chances and is tracking the air movements, particularly at Lhasa Gonggar airbase in the Tibet region and Hotan airbase in China’s Xinjiang region.

Hindustan times 

India inks for six Swathi home grown radars

In a boost to Make in India in the defence sector, six more Swathi weapon-locating radars developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are likely to be procured for Indian Army.

The case for acquisition of six Swathi weapon-locating radars worth over ₹ 400 crore is scheduled to be taken up in a defence ministry meeting likely to be held tomorrow, defence sources said.

The weapon-locating radars developed by the DRDO and built by Bharat Electronics Limited had achieved major success as they were supplied to a foreign country also.

The Swathi weapon-locating radars will provide fast, automatic and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets in 50-kilometre range. The radar can simultaneously detect multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations.

The Indian Army has been using the radars for its operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The system was given for trial to Army in 2018.

Indian Army has been giving a major push to the indigenisation and has given orders for many equipment like self-propelled artillery guns to Indian vendors.

NDTV

China Has Doubled Its Fighter Jets On India’s Border

China has doubled its fighter jets on India’s disputed northern border, according to American analysts.

As of July 28, China has 36 aircraft and helicopters at the Hotan air base in China’s Xinjiang region, near the disputed northeastern Indian territory of Ladakh, according to an estimate by the U.S. Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI). This includes 24 Russian-designed J-11 or J-16 Flanker fighters. In addition, there are now six older J-8 fighters, two Y-8G transports, two KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, two Mi-17 helicopters, plus a number of CH-4 strike/reconnaissance drones.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had just 12 Flankers and no support aircraft at Hotan before the June border clashes between Chinese and Indian troops that left scores of soldiers dead on both sides. CASI’s estimate is based on open-source imagery from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 Earth observation satellite.

The imagery “suggests that there is at least some flight activity, so these aircraft are not just parked for show,” CASI research director Rod Lee tells me.

However, Chinese airpower in Ladakh seems to be defensively focused on gaining air superiority to protect Chinese ground troops from Indian aircraft, as well as performing reconnaissance missions and blocking Indian recon flights. While Chinese fighters could strike Indian airfields to suppress Indian airpower, the composition of the PLAAF contingent doesn’t appear oriented toward conducting air strikes on Indian troops, supply lines and infrastructure.

“The focus does appear to be oriented towards counter-air missions, although this could be a function of the relatively small scale of the clashes,” Lee says. “Presently, the PLAAF’s role is likely to provide ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] support and help deter India from escalating by its presence alone. If things were to escalate into the shooting war, the present force is well suited to create the conditions necessary for the PLA Army’s mountain offensive campaign by specifically establishing information and air superiority.”

China’s fighters would face a reinforced Indian force in Ladakh, which now includes five newly arrived French-made Rafale fighters as well as less advanced MiG-29K fighters. India experts assert that the Rafale is superior to all Chinese fighters, while Chinese media claims that the Rafale is no match for China’s J-20 stealth fighter.

Indeed, for now China has a strong disincentive to base too many aircraft in Ladakh, which would inevitably spur additional Indian reinforcements and risk a war that neither nation wants. Tensions escalated in June when Chinese and Indian troops engaged in several mass fistfights in the disputed Galwan River valley, resulting in 20 Indian deaths and reportedly more than 40 Chinese casualties.

The region already witnessed war in 1962, when China defeated badly unprepared Indian forces in a brief conflict that gave China control over the Aksai Chin area. The war resulted in a demarcation line that China is now trying to push back, after India built a new road to supply the desolate region.

Both Chinese and Indian aircraft can reach Ladakh from airfields outside the region, but India has the edge there. The closest Chinese bases to the disputed border are Kashgar, 350 miles northwest of Ladakh, and Ngari Kunsha 190 miles to the southeast. “Both of these locations have even less apron space than Hotan and could only support a small number of aircraft,” Lee notes. There are larger airbases in Xinjiang and Tibet, but they are 600 miles away, which means dispatching fighters would strain China’s limited aerial refueling capacity.

Forbes

China sends fighter jets as US health chief Alex Azar visits Taiwan

Chinese air force jets briefly crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait on Monday and were tracked by Taiwanese missiles, Taiwan's government said, as U.S. health chief Alex Azar visited the island to offer President Donald Trump's support.

Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday, the highest-level U.S. official to visit in four decades.

China, which claims the island as its own, condemned the visit which comes after a period of sharply deteriorating relations between China and the United States.

China, which had promised unspecified retaliation to the trip, flew J-11 and J-10 fighter aircraft briefly onto Taiwan's side of the sensitive and narrow strait that separates it from its giant neighbour, at around 9 am (0100 GMT), shortly before Azar met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's air force said.

The aircraft were tracked by land-based Taiwanese anti-aircraft missiles and were "driven out" by patrolling Taiwanese aircraft, the air force said in a statement released by the defence ministry.

China's defence ministry did not immediately comment.

A senior Taiwan official familiar with the government's security planning told Reuters that China was obviously "targeting" Azar's visit with a "very risky" move given the Chinese jets were in range of Taiwan's missiles.

The incursion was only the third time since 2016 that Taiwan has said Chinese jets had crossed the strait's median line.

The Trump administration has made strengthening its support for the democratic island a priority, amid deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing, and has boosted arms sales.

"It's a true honour to be here to convey a message of strong support and friendship from President Trump to Taiwan," Azar told Tsai in the Presidential Office, standing in front of two Taiwanese flags.

Washington broke off official ties with Taipei in 1979 in favour of Beijing.

'HUGE STEP'

Azar is visiting to strengthen economic and public-health cooperation with Taiwan and support its international role in fighting the novel coronavirus.

"Taiwan's response to COVID-19 has been among the most successful in the world, and that is a tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan's society and culture," he told Tsai.

Taiwan's early and effective steps to fight the disease have kept its case numbers far lower than those of its neighbours, with 480 infections and seven deaths. Most cases have been imported.

The United States, which has had more coronavirus cases and deaths than any other country, has repeatedly clashed with China over the pandemic, accusing Beijing of lacking transparency.

Tsai told Azar his visit represented "a huge step forward in anti-pandemic collaborations between our countries", mentioning areas of cooperation including vaccine and drug research and production.

Taiwan has been particularly grateful for U.S. support to permit its attendance at the World Health Organization's decision-making body the World Health Assembly (WHA), and to allow it greater access to the organisation.

Taiwan is not a member of the WHO due to China's objections. China considers Taiwan a Chinese province.

"I'd like to reiterate that political considerations should never take precedence over the rights to health. The decision to bar Taiwan from participating in the WHA is a violation of the universal rights to health," Tsai said.

Azar later told reporters that at Trump's direction, he and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had sought to restore Taiwan's status as an observer at the WHA.

"But the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization have prevented that. This has been one of the major frustrations that the Trump administration has had with the World Health Organization and its inability to reform."

Economic times 

Amid tensions with China, armed forces push case for arming Israeli drone fleet with laser-guided bombs, missiles

Amid border tension with China, the armed forces are pushing a case for arming their Heron UAVs with laser-guided bombs, precision-guided munitions and anti-tank missiles for taking out enemy positions and armoured regiments.

The proposal named Project Cheetah has been revived by the armed forces after being pending for a long time and is expected to cost over Rs 3,500 crores to the government.

"Under this project, around 90 Heron drones of the three services would be upgraded to be armed with laser-guided bombs, air to ground and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles," government sources told ANI.

The case is going to be considered by a high-level Defence Ministry body including Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who is now the in-charge of all capital procurements for the three services.

In the proposal, the armed forces have proposed to equip the drones with stronger surveillance and reconnaissance payloads for keeping an eye on enemy locations and stations and take them out, if required.

The Indian fleet of medium altitude long endurance drones also known as unmanned aerial vehicles includes mainly Israeli equipment including the Herons.

They have been deployed by both the Army and Air Force in the forward locations of Ladakh sector along the China border there. The drones are also helping in verifying the disengagement by Chinese as well as knowing their troop build up strength in-depth areas.

The project on upgrading the drones for carrying out offensive operations against the enemies would involve a number of Indian-developed solutions too.

The upgraded UAVs can be used against conventional military operations as well as in counter-terrorism operations in future, if required, sources said.

With the upgrade in reconnaissance capabilities, the forces on the ground would also be able to get pin-point intelligence about hideouts in areas where men have to be involved in operations.

The upgrades would also enable the Armed forces' ground station handlers to operate these aircraft from far-off distances and control them through the satellite communication system.

TOI

IAF Flies Chinook Helicopters To Daulat Beg Oldi At Night As Chinese Presence Across LAC Increases

In a major development, the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew its top-notch heavy-lift capable Chinook helicopters to the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), which is situated at a height of 16,000 feet from the sea level, in the night time, reports Hindustan Times.

DBO marks Indian Army's last outpost near the Karakoram Pass. The decision to fly the Chinook over to DBO's advanced landing ground was taken to test the Indian Army's capability to rapidly insert the special forces and infantry combat vehicles in case the situation against Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) vitiates.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has already deployed lethal T-90 battle tanks and artillery guns at the DBO.

This comes as the Chinese PLA has increased its deployment of troops in the area across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and has also been pursuing road building activity aggressively.

It should be noted that the United States (US)-built Chinook helicopters have a proven record of night flying in Afghan mountainous terrain and has been widely used for rapid military retaliation by the special airborne forces. It is also equipped with two heavy calibre machine guns deployed at the front and back to suppress the ground fire.

By Swarajya Staff

China offers a new normal to end Ladakh border standoff. India shoots it down.

The Indian Army will continue to sit it out along the 1,597 km Line of Actual Control in East Ladakh till China restores status quo ante, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times after China’s People’s Liberation Army made an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate a new normal at the border.

India has told China on more than one occasion that restoration of the pre-April 20 position at the friction points in east Ladakh is a prerequisite for normalisation of bilateral ties. But China hasn’t given up.

“The PLA has made it out to be a staring match and wants India to blink. We are also prepared to wait it out and take other steps to make Beijing realise the adverse impact the boundary dispute has on the bilateral relationship,” a top government official familiar with discussions within the government on the standoff said.

India has already banned over 100 Chinese mobile applications and its clones, changed the rules to bar Chinese firms from getting government contracts and is next taking a hard look at tie-ups with Chinese universities to ascertain if they comply with existing norms.

The message, even if not explicitly spelt out, has been that the longer the PLA led by commander-in-chief Xi Jinping takes to disengage at the border and restore status quo, the more damage it will cause to the India-China relations.

China, however, hasn’t given up and appears to have rested its hopes on the Indian government coming under pressure from its domestic constituents to end the standoff.

Like the political row that erupted on Thursday after a defence ministry note that spelt out India’s position on the continuing standoff made its way to the government website. It transpires that an official, tasked to compile the ministry’s activities to be placed on the website, adopted a shortcut and put out the Defence Secretary’s monthly report to the Cabinet Secretary without removing operational details of the standoff.

China has been betting on India taking the easier way out, even putting out statements that told the world that the standoff was over and the disengagement completed at Ladakh. The Indian government didn’t take the bait, prompting Beijing to shift its stand and speak about the positive progress being made.

On the ground, the Indian army has told the government, China’s PLA is dragging its feet both at patrolling point 17 and 17A (General Area Gogra) and on the finger features on the banks of the Pangong Tso.

At the meeting of the military commanders from the two sides, the PLA has been attempting to persuade the Indian Army to yield to a new normal. “The PLA wants a military reward from the Indian army despite being the aggressor that triggered the border tension and plunged ties between the two countries to their lowest point in decades,” an army commander said.

The PLA, the senior army officer said, wants India to move back from its traditional points where it has had an advantage before it vacates locations where it had moved in April-May.

For instance, the PLA wants to hold its new positions on the first ridge-line next to the Kugrang River near Gogra so that the Indian domination on the ridgeline gets reduced comparatively.

At Pangong Tso, the PLA is still sitting on the upper heights of finger 4 relief in lesser numbers and wants Indian troops to withdraw behind its established old base at Dhan Singh Thapa post around Finger 3. The PLA also wants Indian Army to yield to new normal on general area Gogra and has linked its withdrawal from finger feature 4 to 8 in depth at the Pangong Tso.

The Chinese proposal, the army officer said, reflected that it had not been able to accurately assess New Delhi’s determination not to cede ground. Militarily, China’s effort is clearly an attempt to position the PLA on dominating heights to add more depth to their bases in the Aksai Chin area.

Hindustan times