MBDA in talks with DRDO, Bharat Dynamics for making missiles

 

MBDA has also started initial discussions with Indian officials to co-develop and locally produce the fifth generation anti-tank guided missile.

European missile manufacturer MBDA is in talks with the state-run Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and public sector firm Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) to co-develop and manufacture a short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) for the Indian Navy through extensive technology transfer, said Loïc Piedevache, India head of MBDA Group.
SRSAM will also have significant export potential—an added incentive for the government’s Make in India project, said Piedevache in an interview. “SRSAM will be designed by DRDO, made by Bharat Dynamics assisted by MBDA’s longstanding and recognised expertise and know-how.”
Piedevache said MBDA Group has been working with India for more than 50 years. “The company started its make in India strategy even before the Modi government started its Make In India campaign,” he added.
The Make in India programme is now more than 18 months old. Launched on 25 September 2014, it was the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote India as the world’s next manufacturing destination and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Twenty-five sectors were identified—from automobiles to aviation to pharmaceuticals to tourism and wellness.
Under the programme, the government has awarded 56 defence manufacturing permits to private sector entities in the past one year, after allowing 49% FDI in the defence sector in August 2014, compared with 47 granted in the preceding three years.
“We sell products to all around the world. But India is the only country where we are offering co-development and ToT (transfer of technology) of cutting edge missile technology. MBDA’s office in Delhi is growing and is already the company’s largest overseas set up,” Piedevache said.
On the new defence procurement procedure or DPP 2016 , he said that already the government is clearly aiming at making the procurement process quicker and easier. The DPP 2016 aims to bring into effect measures to promote indigenization and self-reliance in defence. DPP also has enabling provisions for utilization and consolidation of design, development and manufacturing infrastructure available in the country are included in the proposal.
On the lower defence allocation in the Union Budget 2016-17, Piedevache said the group is in India for the long term, and its strategy is not based on annual budgets.
Piedevache said MBDA has started initial discussions with Indian officials to co-develop and locally produce the fifth generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), drawing on some of the highly advanced technology already being developed for the French army’s new Missile Moyenne Portée or medium range missile.
He did not disclose more details but added that the ATGM will be suitable for India’s own operational requirements.

livemint

Enough of Akash, says Army as it opts for Israeli missiles

 

The Army is likely to go for Israeli quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs) to take on enemy fighters, helicopters and drones after firmly rejecting any further induction of the much-touted indigenous Akash missiles.

Defence ministry sources said the Army has made it clear that it does not want any more Akash regiments after it gets the first two ordered earlier for Rs 14,180 crore, with six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles each.

This marks a major blow to the 'Make in India' policy, especially since the Navy is turning to France for similar requirements after dumping the Akash missiles for its warships due to "stabilisation problems".

"The Army holds Akash area defence missile systems do not meet its operational requirements for defending its strike corps against enemy air attacks in forward areas. Instead, it wants the global route for procurement of four QR-SAM regiments," said a source.
 While missile systems from Israel, Russia and Sweden have undergone extensive field trials conducted by the Army, sources said the Israeli Spyder QR-SAMs has virtually emerged the winner in the race.

IAF, incidentally, is already on course to induct four Spyder units from February 2017 onwards. But the force is also progressively inducting 15 Akash missile squadrons, worth around Rs 10,900 crore, six of which are meant for the northeast to counter China's build-up of military infrastructure across the Line of Actual Control, as earlier reported by TOI.

But the Army contends IAF is inducting Akash squadrons to guard its airbases that are located in "depth areas" inside the country, while it wants QR-SAMs to defend its formations in the "forward tactical battlefield area".
 "Neither does Akash have the requisite 360 degree coverage, nor the 3-4 second reaction time the Army wants. Moreover, Akash has a large radar ground signature with several vehicles required for its missile launchers, multi-function radars and the like," said a source.

With an interception range of around 25 km in all weather conditions, Akash is the first advanced tactical (non-nuclear) missile to be made almost fully indigenously. Both the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile developed with Russia as well as the Barak SAM systems with Israel have an import content of 60-65%.

 timesofindia

Likely to tie up with Humvee; keen on JVs: Baba Kalyani

Almost a year after the government introduced the Make in India programme, Kalyani Group has four artillery platforms that are fully designed and manufactured in the country, says Group’s Chairman & Managing Director, Baba Kalyani. Speaking from the sidelines of Naval and Homeland Security Exhibition, Defence Expo 2016, Kalyani says the company will be launching new products including American company AM General’s Humvee for the domestic market. The industrial group will tie up with AM General, he says, adding: ”We need to produce it at a price point, which is suitable for the Indian market.” The 2016 Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) is a good policy platform to work with, says Kalyani.
 The newly-introduced Indigenously Designed, Developed & Manufactured (IDDM) category is a certain positive move, he added. The major challenge for the Defence Ministry is adopting the new framework quickly, he said. The company is keen on joint ventures (JVs) and will announce atleast 2-3 JVs this year, he added. The company will also target an opportunity of 4,000 guns needed by the Army in next 20-25 years, Kalyani said. Below is the transcript of Baba Kalyani’s interview with CNBC-TV18’s Rituparna Bhuyan.
 Q: It has been about one year of Make in India. What is the Kalyani Group doing as far as defence is concerned? Why don’t you start with this platform which is at display?
A: First of all as a company hardly any company hardly any company has done what we have been doing. We believe in Make in India, we have now four artillery platforms that are 100 percent designed and manufactured in India. You can see all of them including the Ultra Light Howitzer and we have some newer products which is the famous American HUMVEE which AM General wants to now manufacture in India for the armed forces in India as well as for exports. So, yes, there is a lot of excitement.
Q: Will you be tying up with HUMVEE for their platforms in India?
A: Yes, certainly. It is their product, it is not our product. But we need to produce at a price point which is suitable for the Indian market and for the South East Asian markets. I think we can make that happen.
Q: If you can also give us some idea about the kind of platforms that is under development as of now because indigenous design development and manufacturing (IDDM) that is a new category which has been introducing Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). What is your comment on DPP and IDDM?
A: We are very happy that we have a category called IDDM. Designed and developed and manufactured in India. We have four platforms right there, we have the 105 light gun which is 100 percent indigenous. We have the Ultra Light Howitzer which is 100 percent indigenous. We have the 52 calibre 155 millimetre gun which we made out of the first platform we made and even exhibited during the last defence expo which is 100 percent indigenous.
Now that platform has undergone firing trial and firing test and come out with flying colours. Now we will give a product to the army for field trial. So, this is what the new category will provide us and if what is written in the DPP that indigenously designed and developed products they are talking about 40 percent indigenous content, our is 100 percent indigenous content. It also makes us very competitive because when we manufacture everything our costs are much lower and it makes us very competitive. We have now a good policy platform to work with. We have products ready, we just have to find a way to test them and take them to the market.
Q: Does it mean that we could see more capital expenditure (capex) from the Kalyani Group as far as the defence is concerned?
 A: Yes, capex will be related to orders that we get. We have already spent a lot of money and built capabilities, built the manufacturing capabilities. We now have manufacturing capabilities to manufacture 100 guns a year of 155 calibre and we can make them ultra light, we can make them 52 calibre, we can make them truck mounted, we can make them towed. We have all the designs ready with us. So, that is something that will happen pretty quickly.
 Q: From your side you were ready as far as design and development part is concerned. So, going forward what kind of programs will you be targeting, if you can give a brief idea of the kind of programs that you will targeting?
A: The army requires 4,000 plus guns in the next 20-25 years. That is what is in their perspective plan. So, obviously even if we were to do half of them or one third of them it is a lot of guns and a lot of value. So, we are going to be there.
Q: The new defence policy explicitly says that if foreign guys want to come into India they will have to tie up with Indian companies like you. Going forward are you exploring joint ventures and tie ups with foreign companies?
A: We have joint ventures. We have a joint venture with Rafael, we have a joint venture with Elbit Systems, we are talking to three four other companies, AM General for example. The next thing we want to do is ammunition. So, yes, the days of imports are over for India. That is clear from the Prime Minister’s Make in India policy and defence minister’s new DPP 2016.
The import regime is over. We have a lot of things in the pipeline from the previous processes and now we have a new procurement policy. The challenge in front of the ministry of defence is how quickly they adopt themselves to the new policy.
Q: So, do we see the new joint ventures this year itself? A: Yes, you will see at least two or three new joint ventures announcements this year and formation this year.
Q: This is the platform, it has obviously got me excited. So, as far as the HUMVEE is concerned what can you tell us, when do we see production, will there be a new production line that will be set up here?
A: Yes, once we pass through the process of meeting qualitative requirements (QR) etc and that is all done and we get a cost number which we feel is competitive we will set up a production line

moneycontrol

The company will also target an opportunity of 4,000 guns needed by the Army in the next 20-25 years, says Group's Chairman & Managing Director, Baba Kalyani.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/likely-to-tie-uphumvee-keenjvs-baba-kalyani_6029201.html?utm_source=ref_article

India Willing To Export Tejas, Akash, BrahMos: Manohar Parrikar

India is willing to export Tejas fighter jets, Akash missile system and even the BrahMos missile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday, but added that it will happen only after the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirements are met. On defence exports, the minister said: “Once IAF requirements are taken care of, we can export Tejas, Akash, BrahMos.” Tejas is an indigenously developed light combat aircraft.
The Akash missile system is a mid-range surface-to-air missile developed by DRDO, and BrahMos is a short range supersonic missile, jointly developed by Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Mr Parrikar said clearance can be given for exporting up to 10 percent of what is manufactured.
 On the Tejas aircraft, the minister said it was likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force by the end of 2016 or early 2017. He said the fly-by-wire system — an electronic control system that replaces conventional mechanical flight — of Tejas was one of the best. “Its manoeuverability is superior,” he said.

ndtv

India's New Stealth Fighter to Get Mach 3 Super Missile?

 

India’s version of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA stealth fighter will likely be armed with the Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. However, the weapon—which is based-on the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile—will have to be modified to be carried onboard the fifth-generation warplane. “We are presenting BrahMos to many Indian public and private defense companies, from some of them we get a technical job,” Sudhir Mishra, the head of BrahMos Aerospace, told the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti.
“We presented it also to developers of the FGFA — they asked to adjust the size of the missile, so it can be placed on board the aircraft. Such work is ongoing.” While the Indians and Russians have been having disagreements on work share and the price tag of the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)—as the Indian PAK-FA is known—the addition of the BrahMos to the jet would afford New Delhi a potent new capability. One the stealthy new aircraft has completed development, the FGFA—assuming the project materializes—would enable the Indian Air Force to penetrate into hostile airspace and strike at even the most heavily defended targets.
 The jet would use its stealth and speed to get into launch position and launch the BrahMos from standoff ranges. With its Mach 3.0 speed and 180-mile range, the BrahMos missile used in combination with the PAK-FA would enable India to hit Chinese and Pakistani targets with relative impunity. A Mach 3.0-capable cruise missile is difficult to counter. According to U.S. Navy sources, the BrahMos has a particular terminal phase that makes it particularly difficult to intercept.

nationalinterest

India’s version of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA stealth fighter will likely be armed with the Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. However, the weapon—which is based-on the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile—will have to be modified to be carried onboard the fifth-generation warplane. “We are presenting BrahMos to many Indian public and private defense companies, from some of them we get a technical job,” Sudhir Mishra, the head of BrahMos Aerospace, told the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti.“We presented it also to developers of the FGFA — they asked to adjust the size of the missile, so it can be placed on board the aircraft. Such work is ongoing.” While the Indians and Russians have been having disagreements on work share and the price tag of the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)—as the Indian PAK-FA is known—the addition of the BrahMos to the jet would afford New Delhi a potent new capability. One the stealthy new aircraft has completed development, the FGFA—assuming the project materializes—would enable the Indian Air Force to penetrate into hostile airspace and strike at even the most heavily defended targets. The jet would use its stealth and speed to get into launch position and launch the BrahMos from standoff ranges. With its Mach 3.0 speed and 180-mile range, the BrahMos missile used in combination with the PAK-FA would enable India to hit Chinese and Pakistani targets with relative impunity. A Mach 3.0-capable cruise missile is difficult to counter. According to U.S. Navy sources, the BrahMos has a particular terminal phase that makes it particularly difficult to intercept.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India's No 1 Defence News Website and not at Copycat Websites , We lead others follow us. http://idrw.org/indias-new-stealth-fighter-to-get-mach-3-super-missile/#more-91102 .

India’s version of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA stealth fighter will likely be armed with the Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. However, the weapon—which is based-on the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile—will have to be modified to be carried onboard the fifth-generation warplane. “We are presenting BrahMos to many Indian public and private defense companies, from some of them we get a technical job,” Sudhir Mishra, the head of BrahMos Aerospace, told the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti.“We presented it also to developers of the FGFA — they asked to adjust the size of the missile, so it can be placed on board the aircraft. Such work is ongoing.” While the Indians and Russians have been having disagreements on work share and the price tag of the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)—as the Indian PAK-FA is known—the addition of the BrahMos to the jet would afford New Delhi a potent new capability. One the stealthy new aircraft has completed development, the FGFA—assuming the project materializes—would enable the Indian Air Force to penetrate into hostile airspace and strike at even the most heavily defended targets. The jet would use its stealth and speed to get into launch position and launch the BrahMos from standoff ranges. With its Mach 3.0 speed and 180-mile range, the BrahMos missile used in combination with the PAK-FA would enable India to hit Chinese and Pakistani targets with relative impunity. A Mach 3.0-capable cruise missile is difficult to counter. According to U.S. Navy sources, the BrahMos has a particular terminal phase that makes it particularly difficult to intercept.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India's No 1 Defence News Website and not at Copycat Websites , We lead others follow us. http://idrw.org/indias-new-stealth-fighter-to-get-mach-3-super-missile/#more-91102 .

India’s version of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA stealth fighter will likely be armed with the Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. However, the weapon—which is based-on the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile—will have to be modified to be carried onboard the fifth-generation warplane. “We are presenting BrahMos to many Indian public and private defense companies, from some of them we get a technical job,” Sudhir Mishra, the head of BrahMos Aerospace, told the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti.“We presented it also to developers of the FGFA — they asked to adjust the size of the missile, so it can be placed on board the aircraft. Such work is ongoing.” While the Indians and Russians have been having disagreements on work share and the price tag of the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)—as the Indian PAK-FA is known—the addition of the BrahMos to the jet would afford New Delhi a potent new capability. One the stealthy new aircraft has completed development, the FGFA—assuming the project materializes—would enable the Indian Air Force to penetrate into hostile airspace and strike at even the most heavily defended targets. The jet would use its stealth and speed to get into launch position and launch the BrahMos from standoff ranges. With its Mach 3.0 speed and 180-mile range, the BrahMos missile used in combination with the PAK-FA would enable India to hit Chinese and Pakistani targets with relative impunity. A Mach 3.0-capable cruise missile is difficult to counter. According to U.S. Navy sources, the BrahMos has a particular terminal phase that makes it particularly difficult to intercept.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India's No 1 Defence News Website and not at Copycat Websites , We lead others follow us. http://idrw.org/indias-new-stealth-fighter-to-get-mach-3-super-missile/#more-91102 .

IAF plans to acquire aerial target drones soon

The IAF is planning to acquire “manoeuvrable expendable aerial target” drones with flares at the tail-end that will serve as targets for laser-guided bombs and missiles fired from fighter aircraft that will give a more visibly accurate account of the outcome of firing at exercises such as the one that was held last week over the deserts of Pokhran in Rajasthan.
 Sources said the IAF wants these drones to be acquired so that it can move to a more modern system of hitting targets from the current “archaic” system of firing at flares. They said the IAF had moved a proposal before the ministry of defence about six months ago for the acquisition of these drones that can be used as targets during an air-exercise. Sources said that currently if a missile explodes even very near a flare instead of hitting it directly, it can be counted as a success since the missile would have hit the target had it been an aircraft instead of just a flare.
The IAF said that it was looking into one incident in which a laser-guided bomb malfunctioned during the recent exercise that had been dropped from an indigenous “Tejas” light combat aircraft.

 asianage

India keen to buy F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jets for IAF

 

India is keen to consider Boeing’s offer to supply F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Sources said that New Delhi will take a hard look at the proposal in April when a high-level delegation will engage the Indian officials on the construct of the offer. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will be in India on April 10 in a visit that is expected to take lift cooperation to a new level. Boeing has offered F/A-18 Super Hornets under the “Make in India” framework of the Indian government. Sources said the proposal is worth considering as IAF is facing acute shortage of fighter jets.
The IAF has already made it clear that the 36 Rafale fighter jets that are being negotiated with France are inadequate to meet its operational requirement. There is a view emerging in the Indian security establishment that F/A-18 Super Hornets can also negate the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan by the US. Super Hornet is a carrier based multi-role fighter which can be used by the Indian navy as well. Sources said the aircraft can meet both the IAF and Indian navy’s operational requirement. India had considered F-18 Super Hornet during the earlier hunt for 126 medium multi-role fighter jets.
But the US entry lost out to the French Rafale. With the government scrapping the proposed contract which could not be sealed even after prolonged discussions with the French side, it opened doors for other fighter makers to make fresh bids. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has said the government is working out the best deal with the French.
The contract, said to be in the final lap of negotiations is stuck over the price of 36 jets being sought by the French side. Sources said the deal is working out to be worth Rs 60,000 crore. There is a sense of urgency in acquiring new aircraft as IAF’s force levels are depleting due to an ageing fleet. Sources said the “Make in India” proposal of F-18s will solve the problem on the long term basis. Boeing’s proposal also involves significant transfer of technology with a substantial indigenous content.
The proposal will also benefit the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas” programme which needs to be resurrected after prolonged delays. Sources said the acquisition can be put on fast track considering the urgency. The government has already stressed on going for direct military sale the route which is faster instead of inviting global bids.

indiatoday

India may not buy Rafale? 'Build F16s, supply to Pak,' taunts French official

 

Paris is beginning to acknowledge the possibility that India might not buy the Rafale fighter because of sharp differences over the price, and New Delhi’s insistence on enforceable guarantees regarding the fighter’s delivery, performance and availability. 

A senior French official with a close view of the on-going negotiations between New Delhi and Paris for 36 Rafale fighters told Business Standard on condition of anonymity: “If some people in the MoD do not want to allow the Rafale deal to go through, so be it. We are currently building it for Egypt and Qatar, and we could have another customer in Malaysia.”

 

Underlining the irritation at repeated US offers to set up an assembly line in India to build the American F-16 Super Viper, the French official taunted: “If you don’t want the Rafale, go ahead and build the F-16 here. You can build it in India and supply it to Pakistan also.”

He was referring to Washington’s announcement last month of the sale to Pakistan of eight advanced Block 50/52 F-16 fighters for $699 million. Simultaneously, a senior Lockheed Martin official had publicly offered to “move our [F-16] production line from the US to India.”

Reminded that France too was supplying submarines to both India and Pakistan (DCNS is building six Scorpenes submarines with Mazagon Dock, after earlier selling Pakistan three advanced Agosta-90B submarines with air independent propulsion), he retorted, “That is different. Pakistan is getting a different submarine from what we are providing to India.”

The official dismissed the notion that an Indian order was critical for Dassault to break even in the Rafale project, in which tens of billion Euros have been spent on developing the fighter and establishing a production line. The official claimed, “The Rafale project is commercially viable based on the numbers that the French military requires, even if there is not a single export order.”

In fact, defence budget cuts have forced the French military to slash Rafale orders from over 300 originally planned to just 180 ordered so far. That is a small order, given that the Eurofighter Typhoon has over 700 aircraft on order; while more than 4,500 F-16s have been built over the years.

On New Delhi’s demands for sovereign guarantees from the French government, or a bank guarantee from Dassault, to cover the possibility of delivery or performance shortfalls in the Rafale, the official declared that the two countries would soon sign an inter-governmental agreement (IGA), which would function as a sovereign guarantee.

“The government of France is standing behind the sale. Surely India is not asking for a bank guarantee when it has the word of the French government?” asked the official.

When it was pointed out that the IGA would only outline a supply agreement in broad terms, without detailed binding clauses and penalties, the official responded that the IGA was a strategic agreement between Paris and New Delhi, and that “a phrase here or a sentence there would make no difference.”

“In 1917, when the United States abandoned its isolationism and sent a division of troops to France to fight in World War I, it was not because there was some document with a clause that required them to fight. It was because of a common strategic aim. New Delhi and Paris must have a common strategic aim on the Rafale.”

French officials argue that, if Dassault is required to provide a bank guarantee against possible shortfalls in delivery and performance, India should cover that cost, which is normally 3-4 per cent of the guarantee amount.

Meanwhile, the Cost Negotiation Committee on the Rafale has made little headway in bridging the gap between the French demand and Indian counter-offer, which are believed to be around Euro 12 billion and Euro 9 billion respectively. Issues of liability are further complicating the likelihood of a deal soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while visiting Paris last April, had requested for 36 Rafales, after a breakdown in negotiations for a much larger order for 126 Rafales. The Indian Air Force had chosen the Rafale on January 31, 2012, after an exhaustive evaluation of six fighter aircraft.

 

businessstandard

L&T plans to step up defence equipment exports to Southeast Asia

Larsen & Toubro plans to step up export of defence equipment to Southeast Asian countries and is hopeful of bagging a deal soon in Vietnam, even as the engineering conglomerate sees its domestic order book for defence equipment reach Rs 50,000 crore in three years, a top official said. “India has potential for Rs 4.5 lakh crore for defence orders over the next decade and typically we should get more than half of it,” said Jayant D Patil, head of defence and aerospace at L&T. “In the short term, we hope to book orders worth Rs 20,000 crore in the next 12-18 months,” he told ET. L&T pegs potential of the Indian defence market at Rs 1.5 lakh crore by 2021 and Rs 4.5 lakh crore by 2016, driven by the current government’s thrust on local sourcing.
The company is currently manufacturing and supplying different components for missiles to Indian armed forces and has the capability to make missile. To meet the country’s growing demand for defence equipment locally, L&T invested heavily in a portcum-shipyard unit that is capable of building submarines. It also set up a nuclear forging unit.
These new businesses are yet to see the orders that justifies the investment and like L&T’s other fledgling business of power equipment they continue to be a drag on the company. But L&T is upbeat on the defence sector, thanks to the central government’s policy and proactive stance. Patil said that there is also $3-billion export opportunity for Indian defence equipment makers to tap in Southeast Asia.
He said the firm is in talks with the government to smoothen the process and offer financing to these countries. “We bid for projects earlier and lost because Chinese makers also offered low-rate financing. This is a big challenge because the capital cost in India is high and we can’t, on our own, offer low rates,” Patil said.”This will help India achieve exports target as well.” L&T is close to bagging a project to supply interceptor boats in Indonesia.
These boats were developed by it in-house after the government ordered a series of offshore patrol vessels and interceptor boats in response to the terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008, when the gunmen entered the city through sea.

 economictimes

Larsen & Toubro plans to step up export of defence equipment to Southeast Asian countries and is hopeful of bagging a deal soon in Vietnam, even as the engineering conglomerate sees its domestic order book for defence equipment reach Rs 50,000 crore in three years, a top official said. “India has potential for Rs 4.5 lakh crore for defence orders over the next decade and typically we should get more than half of it,” said Jayant D Patil, head of defence and aerospace at L&T. “In the short term, we hope to book orders worth Rs 20,000 crore in the next 12-18 months,” he told ET. L&T pegs potential of the Indian defence market at Rs 1.5 lakh crore by 2021 and Rs 4.5 lakh crore by 2016, driven by the current government’s thrust on local sourcing. The company is currently manufacturing and supplying different components for missiles to Indian armed forces and has the capability to make missile. To meet the country’s growing demand for defence equipment locally, L&T invested heavily in a portcum-shipyard unit that is capable of building submarines. It also set up a nuclear forging unit. These new businesses are yet to see the orders that justifies the investment and like L&T’s other fledgling business of power equipment they continue to be a drag on the company. But L&T is upbeat on the defence sector, thanks to the central government’s policy and proactive stance. Patil said that there is also $3-billion export opportunity for Indian defence equipment makers to tap in Southeast Asia. He said the firm is in talks with the government to smoothen the process and offer financing to these countries. “We bid for projects earlier and lost because Chinese makers also offered low-rate financing. This is a big challenge because the capital cost in India is high and we can’t, on our own, offer low rates,” Patil said.”This will help India achieve exports target as well.” L&T is close to bagging a project to supply interceptor boats in Indonesia. These boats were developed by it in-house after the government ordered a series of offshore patrol vessels and interceptor boats in response to the terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008, when the gunmen entered the city through sea.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India's No 1 Defence News Website and not at Copycat Websites , We lead others follow us. http://idrw.org/lt-plans-to-step-up-defence-equipment-exports-to-southeast-asia/ .

Larsen & Toubro plans to step up export of defence equipment to Southeast Asian countries and is hopeful of bagging a deal soon in Vietnam, even as the engineering conglomerate sees its domestic order book for defence equipment reach Rs 50,000 crore in three years, a top official said. “India has potential for Rs 4.5 lakh crore for defence orders over the next decade and typically we should get more than half of it,” said Jayant D Patil, head of defence and aerospace at L&T. “In the short term, we hope to book orders worth Rs 20,000 crore in the next 12-18 months,” he told ET. L&T pegs potential of the Indian defence market at Rs 1.5 lakh crore by 2021 and Rs 4.5 lakh crore by 2016, driven by the current government’s thrust on local sourcing. The company is currently manufacturing and supplying different components for missiles to Indian armed forces and has the capability to make missile. To meet the country’s growing demand for defence equipment locally, L&T invested heavily in a portcum-shipyard unit that is capable of building submarines. It also set up a nuclear forging unit. These new businesses are yet to see the orders that justifies the investment and like L&T’s other fledgling business of power equipment they continue to be a drag on the company. But L&T is upbeat on the defence sector, thanks to the central government’s policy and proactive stance. Patil said that there is also $3-billion export opportunity for Indian defence equipment makers to tap in Southeast Asia. He said the firm is in talks with the government to smoothen the process and offer financing to these countries. “We bid for projects earlier and lost because Chinese makers also offered low-rate financing. This is a big challenge because the capital cost in India is high and we can’t, on our own, offer low rates,” Patil said.”This will help India achieve exports target as well.” L&T is close to bagging a project to supply interceptor boats in Indonesia. These boats were developed by it in-house after the government ordered a series of offshore patrol vessels and interceptor boats in response to the terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008, when the gunmen entered the city through sea.

..http://idrw.org . Read more at India's No 1 Defence News Website and not at Copycat Websites , We lead others follow us. http://idrw.org/lt-plans-to-step-up-defence-equipment-exports-to-southeast-asia/ .

What will the Indian Navy’s new carrier look like?

The Indian Navy has sought tenders from Russia, France, Britain and the United States to build its new, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the ‘Vishal’. Reports suggest that Russia is a leading contender for the contract.

Russia, France, Britain and the United States have been asked by the Indian Navy to participate in a tender and compete for a contract to develop a new aircraft carrier for it. According to some media reports, Russia and France have made it to the short list of bidders, while India is inclined towards the Russian version.
Announcing the beginning of design work on a new Indian aircraft carrier, the ‘Vishal’ in 2010, then Navy Chief Nirmal Kumar Verma said the Indian Navy wants a “large aircraft carrier” from which they will be able to launch fighters, radar surveillance aircraft, and tactical tanker aircraft. Officially, the new Indian aircraft carrier ‘Vishal’ is the second ship of the ‘Vikrant’ type. However, given requirements for the project promulgated by the Indian military means building a fundamentally new ship.
 To implement all these requirements, the ‘Vishal’ will need to have a nuclear power plant, and a displacement of 65,000 tons.
Such a ship is obviously not needed for the country’s traditional confrontation with the Pakistan Navy. The appearance in India’s naval fleet of a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, with a developed air group, presents a direct challenge to Beijing, a long-standing military and political partner of Islamabad.
Since the early 2000s, China has been putting in place the so-called “string of pearls strategy”, which implies the deployment of a chain of military bases in the Indian Ocean (including the potential use of Pakistan’s deep-water Gwadar Port leased to the Chinese in 2013), to place a strangle-hold on India.
The many requirements for the ‘Vishal’ virtually excludes the possibility of construction by India alone, and has created a bidding situation for foreign designers and component suppliers.
Very few shipbuilding schools have the capability to compete to become the leading contractor for this new Indian aircraft carrier project.
It is important to eliminate the Americans from the possibility of participating in this project. All that Washington can really do under these circumstances is to try to push India to abandon the idea of using a nuclear power plant, and then attempt to sell New Delhi a converted boiler and turbine aircraft carrier of the ‘Kitty Hawk’ variety.
The option is possible, especially if India decides it needs to save money. Another issue is that, by tradition, the American military-industrial complex usually refuses to work in consortiums with competitors, especially when it comes to Soviet-Russian companies. The situation, in which India suddenly would place MiG-29K fighter jets on an American-built carrier, is almost impossible.
The French PA2 nuclear ship project, which was supposed to enter the French fleet after the Charles de Gaulle, almost meets all the parameters of the Vishal. After downsizing, its displacement would be about 62,000 tons, and it could carry more than 40 aircraft.
The third and final participant in this race for the “first nuclear” ship for India is the Russian Neva Design Bureau, whose work the Indians know well from their other aircraft carrier, ‘Vikramaditya’.
It can be assumed with a high degree of probability that, in accordance with the long-standing tradition of the Indian military, none of these bidders will be chosen as the “sole” contractor. Rather, a multilateral consortium will be built, in which each participant will play a well-defined role. What might this look like?
Playing a part in narrowing the range of options can be the Indian Navy’s requirement for harmonization of the new ship’s air wing with the existing aircraft already serving in the Indian Air Force and Navy. The Russian MiG-29K, among carrier-based fighter jets, is already in use on the aircraft carrier ‘Vikramaditya’ and is proposed for use on ‘Vikrant’ now being completed, and the French Rafale M. Both these meet the conditions required.
When it comes to the construction of the hull, taking into account the above-mentioned US restrictions, the real contenders for cooperation are the British, French, and Russians. A significant limitation for the British and French is their inability to supply a power plant with the capacity required for Indian conditions. Installation of the necessary capacity, on the basis of the Rhythm-200 reactors, can only be done by Russia.
As a “result” we arrive at the four most realistic versions of what the new Indian aircraft carrier will comprise:
1. A French hull with Russian power plant, Russian aviation-technical complex and a Russian air group.
2. A French hull with the Russian power plant, French aviation-technical systems and a mixed air group.
3. A Russian hull with the Russian power plant, French aviation-technical systems and a mixed air group.
4. A Russian hull with the Russian power plant, mixed Russian-French aviation-technical systems and a mixed air group.

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Techmash to produce ammunition with India

Russia’s largest ammunition manufacturer, Techmash, is likely to discuss setting up joint production facilities in India during the Defexpo India 2016, due to be held in Goa at the end of March.

Techmash, a member company of Rostec and Russia’s largest manufacturer of ammunition, will discuss setting up joint-production facilities with India during the Defexpo India-2016 Exhibition, TASS has learned from the Techmash press service.
“The business programme of the exhibition includes a working meeting with a delegation from the management group in charge of artillery manufacturing plants for the Indian Ministry of Defence. They will discuss the establishment of joint production facilities,” the press release stated.
At Techmash, they also stated that interest in the group’s joint-exposition has been expressed by more than 15 delegations from Asia, Africa, South America and West Asia.
“More than a month before the start of this exhibition, we have received a large number of proposals to hold working meetings within the framework of the exposition,” said Sergey Rusakov, General Director of Techmash, quoted by the press service.
It has been reported earlier that Techmash now supplies India with ‘Mango’ shells for the T-90S tanks. Around 66,000 such rounds of ammunition are expected to be supplied by the end of 2016. Also, the Rosoboronexport Company reported that their contract with India includes the organization of licensed production of such munitions in India.
The Defexpo India Exhibition has been held annually in different Indian cities since the year 2000. It will be held between March 28 and 31 this year in Naqueri Quitol in Quepem Taluka of South Goa, India.

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Russia may sell three Project 11356 frigates to India

 

Russia is holding talks with India to sell three Project 11356 frigates earlier destined for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Vice-President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation for Military Ship Construction Igor Ponomaryov told TASS on Friday.
"So far, we are fulfilling the works under state defense order and building these ships. At the same time, we’re holding talks on the possibility of selling these frigates to the Indian side," the vice-president said after the ceremony of hoisting the St. Andrew naval flag on the Project 11356 lead frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich.
When asked by TASS about whether a decision had been made on selling the frigates, Ponomaryov said: "This has not been decided."
"We’re holding talks so far and working under a state contract. But such negotiations are under way," he said.
According to the corporation’s vice-president, the engines for these warships "have been fully paid for by the Ukrainian side. They are staying in Ukraine and therefore we’ll be resolving the issue related to these engines."
A total of six Project 11356 frigates were planned to be built for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The first frigate has already become operational in the Russian Navy and another two will join it by May and in August, Ponomaryov said earlier on Friday.
These warships are equipped with the Ukrainian-made engines, which has caused uncertainty with the construction of the other three frigates of this series. The United Shipbuilding Corporation said last year that these warships would be built but would be equipped with domestic engines.
India operates six Talwar-class frigates, which are the Project 11356 predecessors developed for exports. The Indian warships entered service in 2003-2004 and 2012-2013.

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