Indian Army to deploy K-9 howitzers in central, eastern sectors of LAC with China

 

 The Indian Army is planning to deploy indigenous K-9 Vajra howitzers in Uttarakhand and the Northeastern statThe plan is to acquire 200 more of these guns [K-9 howitzers] and deploy them in the LAC with China's central and eastern sectors," senior government sources told India Today.

The decision was made after the howitzers were successfully tested in the Ladakh sector, where they began to be deployed last year.

To increase firepower along the Chinese border, the Army first deployed a few guns before deploying an entire regiment in the high-altitude area.

The gun is capable of hitting targets at more than 45 km in high-altitude areas and has strengthened the force's artillery corps, sources saides of the country that share a border with China.The Vajra variant, developed by engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) with India specific features, emerged fully compliant to Indian Army's needs during the arduous and extended field trials, the statement said.

The ‘K9 VAJRA-T’ systems are being delivered with over 80 per cent indigenous work packages and above 50 per cent indigenisation (by value) at the program level, Larsen & Toubro said.

This entails local production of over 13,000 different types of components per gun system via a supply chain of about 1,000 industrial partners, mostly Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with about 150 of them based in Gujarat, L&T added.The company further said that it exceeded the indigenous manufacturing content by grooming a young team of engineers and specialising them in manufacturing automation and integration with the assistance of its in-house team of weapon system experts, as well as training at Hanwha facilities in South Korea.

 indiatoday

Quad assures Indo-Pacific free from coercion, condemns 26/11 attacks; asks nations to stop harbouring terrorists

 

 In a strong message to China and Pakistan, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) foreign ministers on Friday reaffirmed the Quad’s commitment to supporting Indo Pacific countries’ efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and also asked the countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks. The QUAD meeting was attended by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and foreign ministers of Japan and Australia.

The joint statements issued by the Quad foreign ministers summit stated that the group recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad reiterated the importance of adherence to international law to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas.

It also stated that it is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries.

Notably, ever since Quad was formed, China has been vociferously attacking it. Beijing has territorial disputes with many countries in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

Expressing grave concern over terrorism, the Quad members asked all the countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks.

“We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks,” the joint statement said.

The Quad summit also condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile tests.

We condemn North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea consistent with UNSCRs, and reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees, the joint statement stated.

Quad meeting: What Jaishankar said

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stressed that Quad has worked well as a force for global good due to strong relations between member countries.

Jaishankar assured the Quad members that his country was building an agenda which seeks to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

"We are keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues," the external affairs minister said.China strongly reacted to Quad terming it as a "tool" to contain Beijing's rise. "China believes that the Quad mechanism is only a tool to contain China. This is a deliberate move to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and cooperation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.  

timesnownews

Indian Army gets latest SiG Sauer rifles, ATVs along China border in Sikkim

 

 The addition of ATVs will enhance capacity and will enable soldiers, especially those posted in harsh and challenging terrain to undertake their operational tasks with ease.  
North Sikkim: Enhancing the capabilities of its troops deployed along the border with China, the Indian Army has provided the latest assault rifles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to soldiers deployed in the North Sikkim area which has seen clashes between the two sides in recent times.

The aim is to enhance capacity and enable soldiers, especially those posted in harsh and challenging terrain to undertake their operational tasks with ease. The Indian Army inducted sophisticated weapon platforms and modern equipment in the last couple of years, said the Army.

Mentioning its rapid capability enhancement drive, the Indian Army said ATVs and 7.62 mm SiG Sauers are inducted for soldiers deployed at high altitude areas.

Soldiers deployed in Muguthang Sub Sector in North Sikkim at an altitude of more than 15,500 feet, a super high altitude area, with ATVs and 7.62 mm SiG Sauers could be seen operating in that area.

"Indian Army is in stride with the future and ever ready to defend the Nation`s territorial integrity and sovereignty," emphasized the Force

Zeenews

As Indian Army Hunts For Light-Weight Tanks To Battle China, Hanwha Defense, L&T Could Collaborate On The Project

 

 Indian defense manufacturer Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is reportedly preparing to develop light tanks for the Indian Army in collaboration with Hanwha Defense of South Korea.

The two companies have previously teamed up to manufacture the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer (SPH) for the Indian Army, which is a derivative of the K9 Thunder. An L&T spokesperson told Janes on February 7 that the company intends to collaborate with Hanwha Defense on the development of light tanks.
India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has only released a request for information (RFI) for the light tanks, not a tender, the spokeswoman added. Details about the tank will be known when the tender comes out.

This classification will decide whether or not a foreign vendor will be engaged in the production of the light tanks, and to what extent. “Given this situation, I believe it is far too early for any global player to offer their product to India,” said the L&T spokesperson.
Need For A Light Tank

Last year, India issued an RFI for 350 light tanks, looking for potential manufacturers to meet the forces’ long-standing demand. The decision was apparently made after the first sighting of the new Chinese light tank, the Type 15 or ZTQ 15, in Eastern Ladakh, where the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA have been locked in a border dispute for almost 22 months now.

India had also stationed a fleet of T-90 tanks weighing around 46 tonnes in Ladakh. This was in addition to the T-72 tanks, which weigh roughly 45 tonnes and were previously deployed.The RFI called for a modern light tank with a maximum weight of 25 tonnes that is amphibious, easily transportable by air, road, and water, and has cutting-edge mobility, armament, and protection systems and which can operate in a variety of terrain, including high-altitude places.
“The advancement in technology also facilitates that the ‘Light Tank’ is having weapon systems and protection of adequate capacity and is equipped suitably to operate in current/future threat spectrum, to support combat operations as a weapon system,” the RFI issued in April 2021 said. Moreover, the light tank would be purchased under the ‘Make in India’ ethos and spirit of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

Ajai Shukla, a leading defense analyst, noted in his article that light tanks are useful not only on the high-altitude Sino-Indian border but also on the mountain frontier with Pakistan in J&K. They can also be employed to combat insurgents in the jungle and urban environments.
Options For India

Additionally, India is believed to be interested in Russian-made Sprut-SDM1 light tanks in order to confront China’s rugged terrain near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border.

The Sprut-SDM1 is the world’s only light amphibious fighting vehicle with a 125mm main gun and the firepower of a major battle tank. The capacity to fire a cannon while afloat is another unique future.The Chinese Type 15 light tank and the Turkish Kaplan MT medium tank are two other products that are comparable to their Russian counterparts. However, unlike the Sprut, which has a 125mm main gun, both these tanks have 105mm main cannons.

In addition, Sprut-SDM1 can launch guided missiles and possesses a formidable weapon package that comprises a 125mm gun, a 7.62mm remote-controlled machine gun, and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.The tank’s onboard guided missile weapon system can strike armored targets up to 5 kilometers away, including those armed with explosive reactive armor (ERA), while the roof-mounted machine gun can combat low-flying helicopters.

The Sprut is capable of going 500 kilometers without refueling and can be transported by military cargo planes, landing ships, and parachuted with a crew within it.Meanwhile, Larson & Toubro and the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were said to be in discussions to modify the K9 Vajra SPH into a light or medium weight tank. However, there is no further development in this regard.

Hanwha Defence is reportedly offering its K21-105 light tank to the Indian Army. This light tank is a potent system, with a 105 mm turret that can achieve nearly 42 degrees of elevation, useful for firing at targets on higher slopes, and a 10-degree depression angle.  L&T is most likely seeking a new collaboration with Hanwha Defence for the K21-105 light tank. 

eurasiantimes

US Clears $14B Sale Of F-15 Air Superiority Fighters For Indonesia A Day After Jakarta Signs Mega Deal For Rafale Jets

 

 When tensions between Indonesia and China peaked last December, some analysts remarked that Jakarta has been relatively muted in its response to Beijing’s aggression. However, Jakarta’s new military procuremeIndonesia has made significant strides towards improving its airpower. While it signed a massive agreement with France for multi-role Rafale fighter jets, the US State Department, approved the sale of its F-15ID.

According to France’s defense ministry, Indonesia has placed an order for 42 Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion as part of a series of deals that also include submarine development and ammunition, making Jakarta the region’s largest buyer of French weapons.

Shortly after this, the Pentagon said that the US State Department had cleared the potential sale of F-15ID aircraft and related equipment to Indonesia in a deal valued up to $13.9 billion. The aircraft is a variant of the F-15EX fighter jet.

For a long time, the Indonesian government has been trying to modernize its aging warplanes including the US-made F-16s and Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets procured from Russia.

Indonesia’s Air Force chief indicated in December 2021 that the government will opt for the US-made F-15EX Eagle II or the French-made Rafale over the Russian Sukhoi Su-35.

While Jakarta has not said why it made the decision, it could be related to concerns about being subjected to American sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act), as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
China-Indonesia Dispute

The dispute between China and Indonesia is related to the waters around the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. The areas north of Natuna Island are within Jakarta’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is recognized by the UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) as Indonesian waters, where the government can conduct resource exploitation.

During a months-long conflict in the South China Sea in early 2021, China had asked Indonesia to not explore oil and natural gas in contested maritime areas. However, fresh tensions were visible in late 2021 when Jakarta started work with international corporations to explore the EEZ for resources.

China’s claim over 80 percent of the South China Sea including waters around Natuna caused a rift, which would have potentially emboldened Jakarta to make a swift deal. A powerful fleet of 4.5-gen Rafale fighters would allow Indonesia to maintain an effective deterrence against China’s PLA Air Force.

Additionally, Indonesia’s geo-strategic location makes it a very significant state in the overall Indo-Pacific strategy that aims to counter Chinese expansion in the region.
French Rafales for Air Superiority

The agreement for Rafale comes as Paris, which sees itself as a global maritime power, tries to strengthen geopolitical connections in the Indo-Pacific following the AUKUS pact, a new strategic alliance between the US, the UK, and Australia last year.

According to France’s Minister of Armed Forces, Florence Parly, Indonesia will become the second country in the Indo-Pacific area, after India, to rely on the Dassault Aviation jet.

“We’re planning to acquire 42 Rafale,” said Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto as he met with Parly.

“Our strategic partnership will benefit from the deepening of our defense relations,” said Parly.

The first phase of the contract, consisting of six Rafale jets, will be completed in the coming months and the remaining 36 will arrive later this year or next year, he added.

Dassault Aviation said the agreement was the beginning of a long-term cooperation that would allow it to expand its presence in Indonesia quickly. The news of the arrangement boosted the company’s stock by almost 4 percent.

In addition to the fighter jets, Indonesia has also signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on submarine research, which is expected to result in an order for two Scorpene vessels from the Naval Group, according to the French defense ministry.
Rafale
Rafale Fighter Via Dassault Aviation

The arrangement will make Indonesia, which is presently ranked second behind Singapore, France’s largest military client in Southeast Asia.

The Rafale is a French twin-jet combat aircraft that can execute a variety of short and long-range missions, including air dominance and air defense, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes, and nuclear deterrence.

The arsenal of the Rafale fighter includes Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM, and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick, and PGM100 air-to-ground missiles, and Exocet / AM39, Penguin 3, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The Thales Spectra electronic warfare system, which includes solid-state transmitters, a DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detecting systems, and jammers, is also installed on the Rafale.
American F-15IDs approved

Apart from the Rafales, Indonesia could soon be equipped with one of America’s best dogfighters, the F-15ID. It is a derivative of the F-15EX aircraft.

According to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Boeing is the main contractor for the F-15 planes. The package will include 36 jets, spare engines, radars, night vision goggles training, and technical support.
Saudi F-15s
Two F-15SA Advanced Eagles escorted two US B-52 Stratofortress bombers while crossing
Saudi Arabia’s airspace on Dec. 10. 2020. (via Twitter)

According to claims in the media, Indonesia planned to buy more than 70 planes from France and the US.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress of the potential sale on February 10. However, despite the State Department’s permission, the release did not imply that a contract had been signed or that discussions have come to an end.

The fighter aircraft is outfitted with new electronic warfare (EW) system, enhanced cockpit systems, current sensors, and radars, as well as the most up-to-date mission systems and software. It has open mission systems (OMS) architecture with advanced battle management systems (ABMS), which allows for quick integration of the latest aircraft technology and ensures the platform’s relevance for decades.

The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls as well as the APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which will provide improved multi-target tracking and precision engagement capabilities.

The F-15EX Strike Eagle jet is powered by two F110-GE-129 engines, each of which produces 29,000lb of torque. The aircraft has a top speed of Mach 2.5, making it the fastest fighter jet in the world. It has a 1,200nm range, allowing it to hit deep targets.

    Indonesia’s Air Force chief indicated in December 2021 that the government will opt for the US-made F-15EX Eagle II or the French-made Rafale over the Russian Sukhoi Su-35.

While Jakarta has not said why it made the decision, it could be related to concerns about being subjected to American sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act), as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
China-Indonesia Dispute

The dispute between China and Indonesia is related to the waters around the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. The areas north of Natuna Island are within Jakarta’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is recognized by the UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) as Indonesian waters, where the government can conduct resource exploitation.

During a months-long conflict in the South China Sea in early 2021, China had asked Indonesia to not explore oil and natural gas in contested maritime areas. However, fresh tensions were visible in late 2021 when Jakarta started work with international corporations to explore the EEZ for resources.

China’s claim over 80 percent of the South China Sea including waters around Natuna caused a rift, which would have potentially emboldened Jakarta to make a swift deal. A powerful fleet of 4.5-gen Rafale fighters would allow Indonesia to maintain an effective deterrence against China’s PLA Air Force.

Additionally, Indonesia’s geo-strategic location makes it a very significant state in the overall Indo-Pacific strategy that aims to counter Chinese expansion in the region.
French Rafales for Air Superiority

The agreement for Rafale comes as Paris, which sees itself as a global maritime power, tries to strengthen geopolitical connections in the Indo-Pacific following the AUKUS pact, a new strategic alliance between the US, the UK, and Australia last year.

According to France’s Minister of Armed Forces, Florence Parly, Indonesia will become the second country in the Indo-Pacific area, after India, to rely on the Dassault Aviation jet.

“We’re planning to acquire 42 Rafale,” said Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto as he met with Parly.
“Our strategic partnership will benefit from the deepening of our defense relations,” said Parly.

The first phase of the contract, consisting of six Rafale jets, will be completed in the coming months and the remaining 36 will arrive later this year or next year, he added.

Dassault Aviation said the agreement was the beginning of a long-term cooperation that would allow it to expand its presence in Indonesia quickly. The news of the arrangement boosted the company’s stock by almost 4 percent.

In addition to the fighter jets, Indonesia has also signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on submarine research, which is expected to result in an order for two Scorpene vessels from the Naval Group, according to the French defense ministry.The arrangement will make Indonesia, which is presently ranked second behind Singapore, France’s largest military client in Southeast Asia.

The Rafale is a French twin-jet combat aircraft that can execute a variety of short and long-range missions, including air dominance and air defense, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes, and nuclear deterrence.

The arsenal of the Rafale fighter includes Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM, and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick, and PGM100 air-to-ground missiles, and Exocet / AM39, Penguin 3, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The Thales Spectra electronic warfare system, which includes solid-state transmitters, a DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detecting systems, and jammers, is also installed on the Rafale.
American F-15IDs approved

Apart from the Rafales, Indonesia could soon be equipped with one of America’s best dogfighters, the F-15ID. It is a derivative of the F-15EX aircraft.

According to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Boeing is the main contractor for the F-15 planes. The package will include 36 jets, spare engines, radars, night vision goggles training, and technical support.According to claims in the media, Indonesia planned to buy more than 70 planes from France and the US.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress of the potential sale on February 10. However, despite the State Department’s permission, the release did not imply that a contract had been signed or that discussions have come to an end.

The fighter aircraft is outfitted with new electronic warfare (EW) system, enhanced cockpit systems, current sensors, and radars, as well as the most up-to-date mission systems and software. It has open mission systems (OMS) architecture with advanced battle management systems (ABMS), which allows for quick integration of the latest aircraft technology and ensures the platform’s relevance for decades.

The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls as well as the APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which will provide improved multi-target tracking and precision engagement capabilities.

The F-15EX Strike Eagle jet is powered by two F110-GE-129 engines, each of which produces 29,000lb of torque. The aircraft has a top speed of Mach 2.5, making it the fastest fighter jet in the world. It has a 1,200nm range, allowing it to hit deep targets.

 eurasiantimes