Russia-India draft agreement on supply of S-400 missile systems ready — official

 

Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) has prepared a draft agreement on the supply to India of the S-400 antiaircraft defense missile systems and now is awaiting a response from the partners, FSMTC deputy head Vladimir Drozhzhov told reporters on Tuesday. “The Federal Service has prepared a draft intergovernmental agreement on the supply of the S-400 systems to India and passed it to our partners, so we are awaiting a response,” the official said at the Defexpo India 2016 exhibition.
 At the end of 2015, Indian media reported that the Indian government’s Defense Acquisition Council approved the purchase of the S-400 systems. According to the local press, the contract cost may reach 400 billion Indian rupees ($6 billion). S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is Russia’s newest long-range anti-aircraft missile system that went into service in 2007 and is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles.
The systems can also be used against ground objectives and can reportedly carry three different types of missiles. The S-400 range is 400 km. China has become the first international customer of Russia’s most advanced medium-and long-range antiaircraft missile system. In April 2015, China made an advance payment under a contract for the procurement of four to six Russian-made S-400 Triumph, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told TASS then. Compared with the S-300 (SA-10 Grumble), the S-400 Triumph can destroy a much wider range of threats travelling at a speed of 4,800 m/s, e.g. intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000-3,500 km. It also can handle pinpoint targets and stealthy threats at a range extended by 50% owing to an increase in the power generation capabilities of the 91N6E radar system and 92N6E multirole radar.
The introduction of advanced electronic countermeasures (ECM) resistance solutions has boosted the system’s ECM immunity by several times. Finally, its reliability has grown and its size and power consumption have dropped owing to its cutting-edge electronics, sophisticated self-contained power supply and advanced vehicles. The Defexpo India 2016 international exhibition is held in Quitol in the state of Goa in India on March 28-31. During the exhibition, the Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport is planning to hold talks with Indian partners to discuss joint projects for the Indian Armed Forces’ further upgrade

Tass

Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) has prepared a draft agreement on the supply to India of the S-400 antiaircraft defense missile systems and now is awaiting a response from the partners, FSMTC deputy head Vladimir Drozhzhov told reporters on Tuesday. “The Federal Service has prepared a draft intergovernmental agreement on the supply of the S-400 systems to India and passed it to our partners, so we are awaiting a response,” the official said at the Defexpo India 2016 exhibition. At the end of 2015, Indian media reported that the Indian government’s Defense Acquisition Council approved the purchase of the S-400 systems. According to the local press, the contract cost may reach 400 billion Indian rupees ($6 billion). S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is Russia’s newest long-range anti-aircraft missile system that went into service in 2007 and is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles. The systems can also be used against ground objectives and can reportedly carry three different types of missiles. The S-400 range is 400 km. China has become the first international customer of Russia’s most advanced medium-and long-range antiaircraft missile system. In April 2015, China made an advance payment under a contract for the procurement of four to six Russian-made S-400 Triumph, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told TASS then. Compared with the S-300 (SA-10 Grumble), the S-400 Triumph can destroy a much wider range of threats travelling at a speed of 4,800 m/s, e.g. intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000-3,500 km. It also can handle pinpoint targets and stealthy threats at a range extended by 50% owing to an increase in the power generation capabilities of the 91N6E radar system and 92N6E multirole radar. The introduction of advanced electronic countermeasures (ECM) resistance solutions has boosted the system’s ECM immunity by several times. Finally, its reliability has grown and its size and power consumption have dropped owing to its cutting-edge electronics, sophisticated self-contained power supply and advanced vehicles. The Defexpo India 2016 international exhibition is held in Quitol in the state of Goa in India on March 28-31. During the exhibition, the Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport is planning to hold talks with Indian partners to discuss joint projects for the Indian Armed Forces’ further upgrade

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Modi government has applied enormous energy to knock down issues in ease of doing business: Lockheed Martin

The path or the trajectory is absolutely right to make things better for doing business in India, says Phil Shaw, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin India. In an interview at Defence Expo 2016 with Economictimes.com, Shaw says that the government has applied enormous energy to knock down some of the issues in ease of doing business. Shaw also adds that the company is eyeing ‘Make in India’ deals for its products like Javelin and F-16.
 Edited excerpts: Both PM Modi and Defence Minister Parrikar have visited US and the government says it is working to enhance ease of doing business in India. In that context, what are the hurdles that you recommend should be removed?
The real positive over the last 18 months has been the willingness to enter into a dialogue with everybody, domestic and foreign companies, to get everybody’s point of view on what some of the challenges are with doing business in India. It is well recognised that India is not where it wants to be on the ease of doing business index, but I think the government has applied enormous energy to knock down some of the issues in ease of doing business, and we have seen the results of that. India has moved up the ease of doing business list. I wouldn’t want to pick on any specific area, I think whichever country you operate in around the world, there are challenges in certain areas. The encouraging thing here is the focus of the government to make ease of doing business a lot easier. We have seen some positive results in that regard. The path or the trajectory is absolutely right to make things better for doing business, and that’s not just for a foreign OEM, but for everybody doing business. That’s necessary to encourage the levels of investment that the government wants and needs. The government is taking on the challenge, and that is good.
Lockheed has been pitching to sell its Javelin missile system to India for some time now. What is the progress on that front?
If a deal comes through, will critical technologies of the missile be manufactured under ‘Make in India’? The Javelin is an offer by the US government to the government of India. The dialogue is between the governments. As a company along with Raytheon, we are fully in support of that dialogue and Javelin is also included in the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between the two governments, which essentially underpins the willingness of the US government to share technology, and to co-produce and co-develop future weapon systems in India. So to answer your question briefly, yes, we are very willing to share technologies, and we are very willing to co-produce and co-develop future versions of the weapon system in India.
India’s indigenous missile systems are good; how does Lockheed look at the country as a market for its own missile systems?
You are right, the Indian missile systems are good and there are certain missile systems of Lockheed which are complementary to the weapons that are already manufactured here in India. So we believe that there is a market, for some of our capabilities, such as Javelin for example. Anything we do in India, particularly with ‘Make in India’ and being in partnership with Indian companies, whatever technologies we bring will be in partnership with probably one of those existing missile manufacturers to bring additional capabilities. So we see India as a good market for some of the capabilities that we have got and we will be very keen to partner with Indian companies to bring those capabilities to the country.
 Does the company see India becoming a hub for manufacturing its major defence projects?
 We have some experience of this already, for the joint venture activity that we have in Hyderabad, both with Sikorsky on the helicopter side and also Lockheed Martin Aeronautics with the C-130J, where we manufacture significant aerostructures…we have built up experience over the last six or seven years in manufacturing in India to give us confidence to go to the next stage. So, you would have heard that we have offered to build the F-16 here in India. So we are ready to move to the platform level. I think that once we are able to do that, the ecosystem around that builds up over time which will enable the manufacturer of that platform to not just offer it for consumption in India, but also any other country which wishes to procure it. So, yes, I can see that there is a roadmap for India to be a major manufacturing hub in aerospace and defence and it doesn’t happen overnight, it takes some time to build up the ecosystem.
 But if the current trajectory is maintained by the government, then there is a good opportunity to do that. Are there any other ‘Make in India’ deals in the pipeline?
 Lots! We are continually looking for partners. If the Javelin deal happens, it will be a Make in India project. F-16 will be a ‘Make in India’ project, more helicopter programs for the Navy will be Make in India projects. Everything that we are looking at recognizes what the Indian government wants to do. We are very willing to do it, if we have the right partners. The decision needs to be made to go with our product and then we will do it.

economictimes

India's defence security space can grow like its automotive and service sector: BAE Systems

 

Pitching India’s capability to become a manufacturing hub for defence products, Alistair Castle, Vice President of BAE Systems India, said, “Automotive sector and service sector grew really quickly and demonstrated to the world what India is capable of. My observation is that similar growth will be seen in India’s defence security space.” Applauding the government for changing the business scenario of India, Castle told Economictimes.com, “An incredible change descends to the industrial base in India, which is nice. Moreover, India’s GDP growth levels also give confidence for doing business here.” Castle also appreciated the new defence procurement policy (DPP) that was unveiled at the Defence Expo by saying,
“My observation of the DPP is that there has been lot of thoughtfulness in terms of gathering information around that document. The new policy gives a great incentive to companies like BAE systems who want to do a long term business in India.” Speaking on BAE Systems’ ‘Make in India’ plans, Castle said, “We have selected Mahindra to be our partner for assembly, integration and test for M777 howitzer deal. We are now waiting to execute the deal.”
He also said that BAE’s products that were showcased at the Defence Expo were related to ‘Make in India’. Elaborating upon company’s future ‘Make in India’ plans, Castle said, “We have plans to develop Hawk fighter with our partner HAL for India, in India.” Castle went on to say how the company was eyeing the futuristic combat vehicle (FICV) programme, “BAE Systems have extremely high capability in FICV.
We will be using our Swedish business unit Haggulands for bidding that. The product will be something around CV90 vehicles. In that case, we will be looking to partner with large industrial entities here to actually bring out the technology.” On being asked about the company’s cyber security expansion plans in India, Castle said, “Cyber space and applied intelligence system is one of the fast growing divisions under BAE Systems. For India, we recognize there is a lot of raw potential for products of cyber security space.” Any message for the government then? Castle says, “The new defence procurement policy 2016 is very encouraging. My message would be to continue doing the same as it is a very positive signal for international business.

economictimes

Towards military self-reliance

The Defence Procurement Policy 2016 made public this week is a step forward in increasing the participation of India’s private sector in military manufacturing. It replaces the last DPP unveiled in 2013, and has several recommendations for improving indigenous procurement. 

The DPP, the governing manual for all defence procurement, was part of a set of military reforms undertaken to address the many deficiencies noticed during the 1999 Kargil war. Since the first one in 2002, the DPP has been revised periodically. The new policy places the highest preference to a newly incorporated procurement class called ‘Buy Indian-IDDM’, with IDDM denoting Indigenous Designed Developed and Manufactured. This category refers to procurement from an Indian vendor, products that are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured with a minimum of 40 per cent local content, or products having 60 per cent indigenous content if not designed and developed within the country.

 The policy has also liberalised the threshold for offset liabilities for foreign vendors — now the obligation to invest at least 30 per cent of the contract value in India will kick in at Rs.2,000 crore, a significant increase from the previous Rs.300-crore mark. The policy lays stress on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and on “Make in India”. A 10 per cent weightage has been introduced for superior technology, instead of selecting the lowest bidder only in financial terms.

DPP 2016, however, falls far short of the expectations raised by the Narendra Modi government’s ambitious “Make in India” push that aims to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub.

 India is the world’s largest importer of defence equipment, and indigenising production is key to such a plan. The DPP is noticeable for the absence of Chapter VII, titled ‘Strategic Partners and Partnerships’, which the Defence Minister said would be notified separately. Under Strategic Partnerships, select Indian private companies were to be given preferential status in major defence projects. The inability of the Centre to finalise a credible policy to radically increase indigenous military manufacturing is a sure sign that India will remain heavily dependent on defence imports.

 Given the country’s robust financial growth, one of its greatest leveraging points is the annual spend on procurement. India has all the necessary prerequisites for a robust military-industrial complex: a diverse private sector, a large base of engineering institutes, and a growing defence budget. The fact that India faces a combination of security threats from both state and non-state actors is an obvious reason why it needs to be self-reliant in military equipment. 

There is another important reason why India needs an indigenous military-industrial complex: it will significantly reduce the potential for corruption in military procurement. However, the new procurement policy does not inspire hope that domestic defence production will grow sufficiently. It may not be just an irony that the policy has been released as India hosts yet another Defexpo event, in Goa, where global vendors are hawking their war machines to a technologically famished Indian military. 

thehindu

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.

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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