IAF pilots test F-21 simulator

Indian Air Force fighter pilots, including one of India’s first female pilots in this stream, examined and tested a cockpit simulator of the F-21 fighter aircraft of American aerospace giant, Lockheed Martin, here on Tuesday.

Lockheed Martin has been pitching its F-21 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement of 114 jets. It is among other top contenders in this field vying for the project. The others are Boeing's F/A-18, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian aircraft MiG 35 and Saab's Gripen.

Flight Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi was among some of the IAF fighter pilots who examined the F-21’s Cockpit Demonstration Simulator (CDS). Some of the pilots told ET that they ‘assessed’ the CDS and ‘it was good’, while others felt that they had a ‘mediocre’ experience with it. Questions were sent to the IAF on the matter, but it didn’t officially respond.

“Lockheed Martin sent the invite to the Air Headquarters and some of us pilots were sent here. Coming here to examine the CDS was an exhibition of sorts. It was to build awareness about the aircraft. We assessed the CDS and it was good,” said a pilot, on condition of anonymity.

“The CDS gave us a feel of the F-21. Taking off and landing the aircraft was just one part of the flying. This was just to see how the aircraft is and how it functions. Following this, there will be many more assessments. Emerging technologies are always welcome,” said another pilot.

Another pilot, however, said that his experience of the CDS was ‘ok’. “We have the same technology, as far as simulators are concerned. What they have is old,” he said.

The CDS was being examined on the sidelines of the third annual industry supplier conference hosted here by Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems. Lockheed Martin, Tata, Tier 1 suppliers and prospective Indian industry partners gathered at the event to discuss partnership opportunities for strengthening India-US defence industrial ties and Make in India partnerships.

“Lockheed Martin is fully committed to meeting India’s need for advanced, scalable defence capabilities,” said Dr. Vivek Lall, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “Our partnership with Indian industry on both the F-21 and S-76D proposals for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy will put India at the epicenter of the world's largest defence ecosystem and deliver unmatched sustainment and export opportunities.”

When asked how well would the Brahmos missile and other required weapons be fitted into the F-21 for cross-border strikes, Lall said, “We have a long history of weapons integration. I think this platform has over 130 different types of configuration. Its most versatile with new weapons integration. What kind of weapons capability will depend on the customer.”

Lockheed Martin during the Aero India show in Bengaluru in February had unveiled the F-21 multi-role fighter jet for India, to be produced locally.

 economictimes

If India chooses F-21, it will plug into 'world's largest fighter plane ecosystem': Lockheed Martin

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin on Tuesday said its offer of F-21 fighter jets is a very robust 'Make in India' proposition and if the country goes for the deal it will be "plugging into the world's largest fighter plane ecosystem".

Vivek Lall, the vice president of Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin, said the initial demand from India is for 114 aircraft, but expressed confidence that over time, it will continue to grow.

"Participation in the global production is what the F-21 has to offer," he said.

The global demand for F-21 aircraft, of course, would be fuelled from India, he said at the 2019 Supplier Conference organised by Lockheed Martin and Tata group here.

In April, the Indian Air Force issued an RFI (Request for Information) or initial tender to acquire 114 jets at a cost of around $18 billion, which is billed as one of the world's biggest military procurement in recent years.

The top contenders for the deal include Lockheed's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian aircraft Mig 35 and Saab's Gripen.

Lall said Tuesday their strategic partner is Tata and the collaboration is an engagement to build an ecosystem that is not just of few players.

Lall said the demand from India will create long-term value for F-21 fighter jets.

"What is very key and important is the after sales support...We have over 3000 F-16s flying all across the world and that ecosystem is the largest one in the world.

"So, when we talk about modifications and upgrades, spares, support equipment etc - this is really plugging into the world's largest fighter (plane) ecosystem as India looks into its long term needs," he said.

He said the firm is looking for a long-term partnership and asserted that F-21 is unique for India for various reasons.

"It is a very robust Make in India proposition," Lall said. He said that the company has got in touch with over 200 companies in India till date and the "list" of such companies keeps getting bigger.

If Lockheed Martin gets the contract for the jets, the F-21 'Make in India' would happen in a phased manner, he said.

He said the F-21 platform has over 130 different types of configurations with weapons that have been integrated over time and is the most versatile with respect to new weapons integration.

"Specific weapon capability will depend on the customer and what they want. Post the award of contract, there is a phased production plan. The RFI (Request for Information) mandates certain planes to come in a flyaway condition and then we would be going into various phases of production as more and more indigenous content comes on board," he said.

The idea of this suppliers conference is to get everyone together over a three-day period and make sure that executives from US can have a dialogue with the Indian industry, he said.

Lall had told PTI in May that Lockheed Martin will not sell its newly rolled out F-21 fighter jet to any other country if India places an order for 114 planes, in an offer aimed at pitching itself ahead of its other US, European and Russian competitors for the mega deal.

 livemint

India could sign LEMOA-like logistics agreement with Russia during PM Narendra Modi's Vladivostok visit

India signed the LEMOA or the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with the United States in August 2016. A similar agreement with Russia is likely in the next two months.

The Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (RLSA) is being readied and could happen in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Vladivostok for the East Asia Summit in September.

The RLSA will be a tri-service agreement, meaning that the Russians could not only use ports like Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for refuelling but also, airports after the agreement is signed. India, of course, could do the same, when it came to Russian ports and airbases. Interestingly, global warming makes the signing of the agreement with Russia, one of India's closest defence allies, more imperative.

A high-level government official pointed out that the "Northern Arctic could well be upon for longer periods because of global warming. And also, India is looking at an Arctic station in the near future." Currently, there are monitoring stations manned by Indian environmental scientists in Svalbard, in Norway.

Russia is looking for a greater Indian role during the East Asia Summit. They have requested India for the presence of a warship to be anchored off Vladivostok during the summit. This could well be a frigate or destroyer of the Indian Navy made by an Indian shipyard.

Russia apart, India is looking for logistics support agreements with other countries. They include Japan, South Korea, Australia and Britain. The agreement with Australia is likely later this year.

The RLSA is more evidence of India's refusal to abandon its 50-year-old defence ties with Russia, despite American pressure. The United States had expressed its disappointment after India purchased the S-400 air-defence system and frigates. During the last meeting with US officials during the visit by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, India pointed out that Russia had helped when no other country was willing to offer weapons and equipment.

 timesnownews

India Developing BrahMos-NG Missile for Project 75I Submarines

BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defense Research Development Organization and Russian rocket design bureau NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is working on a next-generation supersonic cruise missile, designated BrahMos-NG, for the Indian Navy’s new fleet of Project-75 India (Project-75 I) diesel-electric attack submarines (SSK).

A first test firing of the lighter and sleeker BrahMos-NG is expected to take place within the next two years. The new weapon system is expected to be operationally deployed by 2024. The submarine-launched variant of the BrahMos-NG is likely to take a while longer to develop and no firm date has been set.

According to the website defenseworld.net, the BrahMos NG will feature a digital fuel injection system enabling increases of the missile’s speed from Mach 2.8 to Mach 3.5. The missile will still have the same official operational range of about 290 kilometers. It will weigh about 50 percent less than the original BrahMos and will also be three meters shorter than its predecessor.
 The original BrahMos, named after the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia, is an upgraded variant of the Russian-made P-800 Oniks over-the-horizon supersonic anti-ship cruise missile. No specifics have so far been revealed about the submarine-launched variant of the BrahMos NG save that it can be launched from a sub’s torpedo tubes and will also have a land-attack/anti-ship capability.

The original BrahMos sub-launched variant was first test fired from a submerged platform in 2013. Unlike the BrahMos NG, its bigger predecessor can only be fired vertically from a modular launcher. To date, there are no plans to integrate the original BrahMos missile with India’s attack submarine fleet.

Under Project-75 I, Russia has been pitching India a new SSK class based on the Russian Amur-1650 boat, the export version of the Project 677 Lada class, emphasizing that it would be capable of firing the BrahMos NG supersonic cruise missile.

“The joint SSK project would reportedly involve a significant transfer of military technology from Russia to India that would go beyond usual license-production agreements,” I explained last week.

The Indian Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Defense Acquisition Council, the ministry’s principal procurement body, approved the procurement of the six new SSKs in January 2019 under the MoD’s strategic partnership (SP) model within the framework of the Defense Procurement Procedure 2016.

Russia will be competing with Naval Group (France), Kockums (Sweden), and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (Germany) for the contract.

The Indian government is not expected to make a selection of an international sub maker, referred to as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), for two to three years.

“The OEMs would be shortlisted primarily based on their submarine design meeting the Indian Navy’s Qualitative Requirements and qualifying the Transfer of Technology and Indigenous Content (IC) criteria,” the MoD said in a June 2019 statement.

Importantly, the new subs are expected to be fitted with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, something that the Russian shipbuilding industry has been struggling to build for years.

 thediplomat

Defence Ministry issues Rs 2000 crore tender for critical heavyweight torpedoes for submarines

Seeking to boost the Indian Navy's firepower, the Defence Ministry has issued a tender worth over Rs 2000 crore for buying around 100 heavyweight torpedoes which would be equipped on the force's six Scorpene-class submarines being built at the Mumbai-based Mazagon dockyards.

"The tender for acquiring around 100 heavyweight torpedoes for the submarines for the Indian Navy was issued 10 days ago by the Defence Ministry," Defence Ministry sources told ANI.

The French-origin Scorpene submarines are being built in India at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) and have now been named the Kalvari class. The first boat of the class called INS Kalvari has already been inducted into the Navy and is carrying out operational duties.

As per the details of the project, the immediate requirement of the Navy for heavyweight torpedoes would be met by the acquisition to be made through the foreign vendors while the long-term bulk requirement would be fulfilled through the 'Made in India' route.

The DRDO is also looking forward to using heavyweight torpedo as the next version of its light torpedoes for submarines and surface ships.

Global manufacturers from France, Sweden, Russia and Germany have been issued tenders for the heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy.

Italian firm Wass' Blackshark torpedoes were earlier selected for the project but the programme had to be cancelled due to the involvement of scam-tainted Finmeccanica group in the VVIP chopper scam.

The nuclear fleet of Arihant class boats also requires torpedoes. INS Arihant is the first indigenously-built and developed nuclear submarine of the Indian Navy which has successfully carried out a deterrence patrol in the Indian Ocean region.

The remaining five boats of the Kalvari class are expected to join the Indian Navy in next four to five years.

The next boat in line is the INS Khanderi which is likely to be inducted in the force in the next few months.

 economictimes

‘Pakistan relentlessly expanding nuclear and missile arsenal’

 

Highlights

• Pakistan is “relentlessly” expanding its armed forces, especially nuclear and missile capabilities, despite being engulfed in a financial crisis, says the Indian defence ministry (MoD)
• In its latest annual report, the MoD says Pak army has further “consolidated” its position as the “institution driving Pakistan’s foreign security and defence policies” after the Imran Khan government came to office in August last year

Pakistan is “relentlessly” expanding its armed forces, especially nuclear and missile capabilities, despite being engulfed in a financial crisis, even as it continues to “persistently target” India with state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, says the Indian defence ministry (MoD).

In its latest annual report, the MoD says Pak army has further “consolidated” its position as the “institution driving Pakistan’s foreign security and defence policies” after the Imran Khan government came to office in August last year.

The MoD’s assertion about Pakistan’s rapidly-growing nuclear and missile arsenals is in tune with international assessments that the country now has 140-150 nuclear warheads as compared to 130-140 of India.

With its expanding uranium enrichment and plutonium production facilities, Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile could realistically grow to 220-250 warheads by 2025 if the current trend continues, as per the Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists. Pakistan, of course, owes much of its progress in the nuclear and missile arenas to clandestine help from China and North Korea over the years.

Noting that there were global concerns regarding proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, which pose a “serious” danger to international security, the MoD said, “WMD terrorism will remain a potent threat as long as there are terrorists seeking to gain access to relevant materials and technologies for malicious purposes.”

The MoD report, turning to Pakistan army’s active support to anti-India terror outfits, said, “It has avoided taking action against jihadi and internationally proscribed terror outfits that target its neighbours.”
“Support to such groups persists. Such outfits continue to be encouraged to infiltrate into India under the cover of the massive cross Line of Control and cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas throughout the year,” it added.

Though there has been a 43% decrease in net cross-border infiltration into J&K so far this year, coupled with a recent decline in use of artillery and other heavy-calibre weapons in ceasefire violations, the MoD attributes it more to the “successful pre-emptive” aerial strikes against the “largest” Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26 as well as other retaliatory measures rather than a genuine change of heart in Islamabad.

India will “continue to take robust and decisive steps to ensure its national security” till Pakistan takes “credible and irreversible steps” to dismantle the terror infrastructure as well as stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from territories under its control, said the MoD.

Even as Imran Khan’s austerity plans dictated by the International Monetary Fund has led to widespread resistance in his country, the MoD says: “The political situation in Pakistan continues to remain challenging with a severe deficit of inclusive and balanced economic development.”

“The country has been torn by ethno-regional conflicts, with the zone of conflict expanding from tribal areas on Pakistan-Afghanistan border to the hinterland. Religious extremism is also on the rise,” it added.

TOI

Closed since Balakot strike, Pakistan reopens airspace for all civilian traffic

For the first time since February’s Balakot strike, Pakistan on Tuesday opened its airspace for all civilian traffic, as per the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.

“With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civilian traffic on published ATS routes,” read a notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by the authority.

The country had earlier claimed that it would not open its airspace for commercial flights until India removed its fighter jets from forward Indian airbases.

Pakistan had fully shut its airspace on the eastern border with India after the Indian Air Force carried out aerial airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

The strikes on the terror camp were in response to the JeM-perpetrated terror attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, on February 14, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.

In mid-April, Pakistan opened one of its 11 air routes for west-bound flights from India -- airlines like Air India and Turkish Airlines have started using it.

In March, the neighbouring country partially opened its airspace but did not allow Indian flight to fly over its airspace.

Since then, foreign carriers using Indian airspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan. The closure mainly affects flights from Europe to Southeast Asia.

Pakistan lies in the middle of a vital aviation corridor whereby the airspace restrictions, which have been continuing since a long time, impacts hundreds of commercial flights per day, extending flight timings for passengers, as well as fuel costs for airlines.

 hindustantimes

Border Roads Organisation complete 2300 kilometers of strategic roads along China

The country’s bid to develop the strategic road infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control and the International Borders with China is bearing fruits as Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed more than 2000 kilometers of road in the strategic areas.

MoS (Defence) Shripad Naik said that of the 61 roads identified to be of strategic importance the work is completed on a stretch of 2304.65 km.

Replying to a question raised by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Motilal Vohra Shripad Naik said, “The development of the strategic infrastructure along the border areas is undertaken in a holistic and comprehensive manner to include construction of roads, strategic railway lines, tunnels to ensure all weather connectivity and to enhance the defence preparedness along the border.

Accordingly, a revised Long Term Roll on Works Plan of Border Roads Organisation for five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) has been formulated for construction/improvement of 272 roads of length 14545 km. Out of these 272 roads, 61 roads of length 3323.57 km have been identified as strategic.

 newindianexpress

Rafale offset deal will help train Indians: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharman on Monday said the offset contract of the Rafale fighter jet deal will help train young people in India.

Speaking at an event on the World Youth Skill Day, the Union minister made an indirect reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s charge of irregularities in the offset contract of the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying that an agreement has been signed in front of everyone to detail what the jet maker Dassault would do as part of the contract. During the event, Dassault Aviation signed an agreement with ITI Nagpur.

“You all know about the discussion on Rafale. No money was given to any ‘bhai’,” the minister said, in a possible reference to charges made by Gandhi against Anil Ambani, whose company signed one of the offset deals. The Centre, Anil Ambani and Dassault have all repeatedly denied the charges.

She said the money from the offset deal was for training purposes and an agreement in this regard had now been signed with Dassault. Dassault is the manufacturer of Rafale fighter jets.

Sitharaman also said that during the general elections, a campaign was waged that said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given offset money to someone. “To whom he gave the money? The money is being given to you for training,” she said.

 hindustantimes

Uttar Pradesh govt lines up sops for defence corridor

The Yogi Adityanath government plans to modify its policy for the upcoming ‘defence corridor’ to make arms, ammunition and explosives manufacturing eligible for incentives and attract small and medium enterprises as well as foreign and domestic investors seeking to meet their offset obligations.

The foundation stone of the corridor, a project of UP government and the Centre, was laid by PM Narendra Modi in February and is set to come up on over 5,000 hectares around the six nodes of Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Jhansi and Chitrakoot.

Investments worth Rs 4,000 crore have already been received and the project is expected to attract Rs 20,000 crore. The UP government’s proposed changes to its Defence Policy-2018 take a leaf out of the policies of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

The incentives planned for companies include upfront payment of 10% for land, with the rest payable over 10 years at 12% simple interest, and reimbursement of 25% of the land cost at the purchase rate rather than the cost or circle rate.

A major change proposed is inclusion of the manufacture of arms, ammunition and explosives as an investment area for the defence corridor. These areas will be eligible for higher incentives as proposed in the new policy.

Another proposal is from Gujarat’s policy – to attract a big portion of fresh offset obligations to be discharged by companies in India over the next decade.

“Government will provide necessary support to industry for interaction with Defence Offset Facilitation Agency to encourage foreign/domestic investors to invest in UP Defence and Aerospace Parks/Clusters to meet their offset contractual obligations,” says the proposed policy, a copy of which ET has reviewed.

It proposes to offer 30% reimbursement of purchase price of land and full waiver of stamp duty for such units.

The UP cabinet will decide on the proposed policy, a senior state government official told ET.

A new feature is the setting up of a common facilitation centre to provide the support to micro, small and medium enterprises within the corridor. The UP government may become an equity partner in the CFC by providing land plus a soft loan.

Higher incentives are also on the anvil. For new projects and expansion, investments up to Rs 10 crore are proposed to be given a back ended capital subsidy at the rate of 10% for anchor units and 5% for vendor/MSME units.

Units established in the Bundelkhand region of the state will be provided an additional capital subsidy of 50% over and above these limits. Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul could get 50% reimbursement of state goods and services tax.

 economictimes

BDL plans to expand Vizag unit

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is planning further expansion by setting up of new facilities besides strengthening the existing unit in Visakhapatnam, Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, has said.

The CMD was here to participate in a programme organised at the Indo-German Institute of Advanced Technology (IGIAT) recently. “Our Visakhapatnam unit is getting a number of orders from the Indian Navy, apart from friendly nations for manufacturing of torpedoes and underwater weapons. We have plans to expand the existing unit in Visakhapatnam,” Commodore Mishra told The Hindu.

The main unit of BDL at Kanchanbagh in Hyderabad manufactures surface-to-air missiles and the second unit at Bhanur in Medak district produces anti-tank guided missiles.



These two are located in Telangana and third big facility is being created at Ibrahimpatnam, also in Telangana. This facility will also manufacture surface-to-air missiles but of the latest upgraded version, he explained.

“The Visakhapatnam unit manufactures underwater weapons and torpedoes. Varunasthra is being made here and we are planning to complete it in two years time. Our fifth unit will come up at Amravati in Maharashtra for production of very short range missiles,” Commodore Mishra said.

He, however, declined to give more details on the weapons or the nations that have placed orders with BDL for manufacture of missiles on the plea that it was ‘classified information.’


CSR activity ::

This year happens to be the golden jubilee of BDL and our thrust is on indigenisation and implementing the ‘Make in India’ policy of the Government of India. BDL is committed to the development of society through its CSR activities. “We have provided digital labs at IGIAT to empower youth, especially those from tribal areas and women through skill training,” he said.

Toilets have been provided to individual households at Gondupalem village in Visakhapatnam district, ₹2 crore has been earmarked for construction of building for the social welfare hostel in addition to undertaking repairs to existing buildings in Vizianagaram. We also have plans to develop the infrastructure at colleges in Military Madhavaram village in West Godavari district, he added.

thehindu

India has transferred 8 Mi-35 helicopters to Afghan Air Force: Pentagon

The Department of Defense or Pentagon has confirmed that India has transferred 8 Mi-35 gunship helicopters to the Afghan Air Force.

Pentagon released its latest report titled ‘Enhancing security and Stability in Afghanistan’, stating that India has transferred a total of eight Mi-35 helicopters to the Afghan Air Force, four during 2015/2016 and four more during 2018.

The report further adds that “This aid marks a significant departure from India’s previous policy of providing only non-lethal military assistance. Pakistani sensitivities towards Indian involvement in the country ultimately limited the assistance.”

Furthermore, Pentagon said “Additionally, the Indian military provides procurement and training support to help professionalize the Afghan military and to improve its vehicle maintenance capabilities.”

The report also added that India has traditionally had strong ties with Afghanistan and remains the largest regional donor to the country ($3 billion since 2001).

According to Pentagon Indian aid to Afghanistan focuses primarily on four main categories: humanitarian assistance, major infrastructure projects, small and community-based projects, and education and capacity development.

Meanwhile, Pentagon said India desires a stable Afghanistan that does not harbor terrorists who could target Indian interests and does not have close ties with Pakistan.

In addition, Pentagon said there are no reports indicating that India has taken any serious action during the reporting period that would affect the situation in Afghanistan.

However, Pentagon said in the 1990s, India supported the former Northern Alliance; and maintains contact with Afghan power brokers.

On the other hand, Pentagon said “In the event of a U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan, India likely will attempt to continue its support to Afghanistan and try to limit Taliban, Pakistani, and Chinese influence. A significant deterioration of security conditions in Afghanistan, however, may adversely affect the ability of India to provide aid.”

 khaama