Indian missile trial jeopardizes Rafael's $500m Spike deal

The fate of the $500 million Spike missile deal that Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. hopes to sign with the Indian government remains clouded in doubt.

India is meanwhile continuing to develop its own anti-tank missile, which will compete with the Israeli missile. India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) tested its anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) NAG 190 in desert conditions against two tank targets last week.

Israeli defense experts believe that it will take another five years at least until India's NAG 190 is fully operational. However, in India itself, experts believe that the NAG 190 will be full developed by the end of the year.

Over the past two months there has been a major dispute between DRDO and the Indian army, which wants to buy 8,000 Spike anti-tank missiles from Rafael and hundreds of launchers, which will be made in cooperation with an Indian company. Agreements were already reached on the matter last month and this would be one of Rafael's most important deals over the coming few years.

DRDO is demanding that the NAG 190 should be favored by the Indian army, which insists that unlike the Indian missile, the Spike is already operational.

Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited India in January together with Rafael CEO Yoav Har Even and announced that the deal would go ahead, talks have been renewed between the Indian army and Rafael with the hopes of concluding a final agreement.

A defense ministry source told "Globes" that "The dialogue with the Indians is continuing all the time and lately it seems that institutions in the country are falling in line behind doing the deal with Rafael because it will be a long time before the Indian missile is operational. Clearly the Indians want to develop and manufacture everything they need and the idea that until they will have full capabilities on this subject, they will buy Israeli missiles."

the source added, "We weren't particularly impressed by the latest trial in India because there is a long way to go and the Indians need to work until they will have an operational missile to keep on the shelf."

In order to move ahead with the Spike deal, Rafael has formed a joint venture with Kalyani to manufacture the missiles in India using knowhow brought over from Israel. A new plant for the Spike missiles was inaugurated near Hyderabad last summer.

Rafael has already sold Spike missiles to over 30 countries.

 globes

With F-16 sale on hold, US-India ‘2+2 Ministerial’ meet to be ‘stormy’

Meeting likely on April 19 in Washington; Harley motorcycle ‘tax’ also on agenda

New Delhi, March 5

The first round of the US-India ‘2+2 Ministerial’ meet is expected to be “stormy one” with New Delhi putting on hold the deal to acquire F-16 fighter warplanes indefinitely even as Washington continues to berate India over steep import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorbikes.
“The 2+2 meet is surely going to be a stormy one. We cannot expect both sides to just smile at each other when so much is going on,” a top official, involved in forming the agenda of the talks, told BusinessLine requesting anonymity.
The US has been eyeing the F-16 programme to bridge its trade deficit with India. US President Donald Trump is also keen on expanding US defence exports to India.
In fact, despite his flagship slogan of ‘America First’ and ‘Make America Great Again’, the US President has not stopped Lockheed Martin from investing in India for setting up a manufacturing plant for building the F-16 fighter planes.

Defence ties zoom

India-US defence ties have reached $15 billion in 2017 from almost nil in 2001.
The Trump administration is pushing India to buy the single-engine F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin which would significantly boost bilateral trade between the countries.
Earlier this month, top-level officials from Lockheed Martin met Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to push the deal again under ‘Make in India’ with a commitment to set up a production line of the fighters with promises of export from the country, added sources.
But last week, Sitharaman made it clear that for now the government will only focus on acquiring its indigenously built Tejas aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

Trade focus

While focus of the 2+2 meeting is going to be defence and strategic, issues concerning trade are also expected to dominate the agenda on both sides, sources said.
The ‘2+2 Ministerial’ meet is going to be a new dialogue mechanism between India and the US which will be co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with their American counterparts Secretary of State and Defence Rex Tillerson and James Mattis respectively.

This is likely to be held on April 19 in Washington, according to sources.

 thehindubusinessline

China raises 2018 military budget by 8.1 percent

China said on Monday its military budget this year would grow 8.1 percent from 2017, a larger increase than the previous two years even as the country kept its overall economic growth target the same.

The 2018 defense budget will be 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion), according to a budget report issued at the opening of the country's annual meeting of parliament.

Last year the defense budget was set to increase by just 7 percent, to 1.044 trillion yuan ($164.60 billion) about one-quarter of the proposed U.S. defense spending for the year.

The budget increase, a figure that is closely watched around the world for clues to China's strategic intentions, comes as economic growth has picked up, expanded 6.9 percent last year, the first acceleration in annual growth since 2010.

China kept its 2018 economic growth target at around 6.5 percent, Premier Li Keqiang said in remarks prepared for delivery at the parliament's opening session, the same as in 2017 despite the pick up in growth.

China will "advance all aspects of military training and war preparedness, and firmly and resolvedly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests," Li said.

"Faced with profound changes in the national security environment" the absolute leadership of the military by the ruling Communist Party must be observed, and the unity between the government and the military and the people and the military must always be "strong as stone," he said.

 cnbc

US blames Indian ammo for gun snag, test today

INDIAN AND US officials will jointly test the American-made M777 ultra-light howitzer Monday after its muzzle broke during tests at a firing range in Pokharan six months ago, The Indian Express has learnt.

The tests will be conducted in Pokharan by a joint investigation committee (JIC) comprising US and Indian officials. US officials have blamed the accident on ammunition indigenously manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) — the Indian side has denied the charge.

India signed a deal in November 2016 with the US to procure 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers for deployment on mountainous terrain in the northern and eastern borders. It was the first such induction of artillery guns since the Swedish Bofors guns in the late-1980s, which got embroiled in political controversy. As part of the Rs 5,070-crore deal, with delivery to be completed by 2021, two M777 guns were brought to India last May for field firing with Indian ammunition to compile “firing tables” that provide data such as range and elevation.

The accident, on September 2, 2017, involved one of these two guns when a projectile, the fifth in a series, exited in multiple pieces, damaging the barrel and breaking the muzzle.

The JIC, including OFB and Army officials, and representatives of the US Defence department and BAE Systems, the manufacturer, was formed to investigate the causes. But the two sides could not agree on the reasons in five meetings of the JIC held so far. The US officials claimed that the ammunition did not have explosive of the right consistency, which was denied by Indian officials.

The sixth meeting of JIC will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, after “instrumented firing” with specialised equipment from the US to check the differential pressure in the barrel while firing Indian ammunition.

Speaking to The Indian Express, official sources said, “All the team members will freely and frankly share their point of view during the JIC meeting. We will know more about the cause of the accident after the data from instrumented firing is analysed and presented to us.”

If the JIT reaches a conclusion this week, further testing to complete the firing table would be scheduled. According to the earlier schedule, the table was to be compiled by the end of September.

Official sources, however, were not willing to speak about whether the accident would lead to a delay in induction of the M777 howitzer guns.

Under the contract, 25 M777 guns will be inducted directly with the rest to be assembled at the BAE Systems facility in Maharashtra in partnership with Mahindra Group.

 indianexpress

Tejas to take off; F-16, Gripen ‘grounded’

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it clear that her ministry will give a decisive push to the domestically-manufactured Tejas fighter plane for the Indian Air Force, which suggests that the plan for acquiring Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70IN and SAAB’s Gripen E may be on hold.

“Tejas will be part of the Air Force. We are making provisions for Tejas Mark 2. They will be part of Air Force’s single-engine fighter jet requirement,” Sitharaman said at a select media briefing, adding that the government will throw its entire weight in developing variants of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

The single-jet engine Tejas is the smallest and lightest multirole supersonic fighter aircraft of its class. It is designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and the Navy.

Given that the Air Force, facing a depletion in its squadron strength, is in dire need of fighter jets, Sitharaman said the government is “actively working with the Air Force to give them more aircraft.”

She also said the government is looking at giving a massive push to HAL to scale up the production of Tejas not just for the Air Force and the Navy but also to export it to countries that are interested in acquiring it.

At present, HAL is producing about six to eight of these fighter planes annually, Sitharaman said, adding that the numbers need to substantially increase by expanding the production capacity.

“We want them to do it faster and increase their capacity. We are talking with HAL and seeing how Tejas can be scaled up under ‘Make In India’. We are also finding a lot of interest from other countries,” she added.

Last year, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen took a half-an-hour flight in Tejas at the Kalaikunda airbase and had found the warplane “excellent and very impressive.”

“There is a sense of urgency (to ramp up Tejas’ production), more so because we have to sell it to countries,” Sitharaman said.

According to top Defence Ministry sources, the government is planning to buy at least 80-100 Tejas for the Air Force.

Ironically, both the Air Force and the Navy have rejected Tejas, stating that the jet does not meet their requirements.


Procurement plans on hold ::

In 2016, the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed interest in procuring single-engine fighter planes from foreign manufacturers.

Eventually, the competition narrowed down to US’ Lockheed Martin, which offered to shift the entire production line of F-16 to India and also transform it into a global export hub for the fighters. Similarly, the Swedish SAAB offered to make Gripen E in India by creating an industrial ecosystem under ‘Make in India’.

Asked whether that plan has been shelved, Sitharaman said the focus is now on Tejas and on ramping up its production.

Sources added that the plan to acquire Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) under a different programme from the Russians has also been put on the back-burner as the planes are “abhorrently expensive” and that the Defence Minister will be visiting Russia soon to discuss the programme.

 thehindubusinessline

China ‘ready to build larger aircraft carriers’

China is ready to build larger aircraft carriers having mastered the technical ability to do so, a major state-run newspaper said Friday ahead of the release of the country’s annual defense budget.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged in October to turn China’s military into a world-class fighting force by 2050 and has made new technology development a key policy plank, investing in stealth fighters, aircraft carriers and missiles.

China already has one operational carrier, the second-hand Soviet-era Liaoning bought from Ukraine in 1998, and is carrying out tests on its first indigenously built carrier, launched last year and expected to enter service in 2020.

Liu Zheng, chairman of Dalian Shipbuilding Industry in Liaoning Province, said his company and its parent, China Shipbuilding Industry Corp., the world’s largest shipbuilder, could design and build carriers.

“We have complete ownership of the expertise, in terms of design, technology, technique, manufacturing and project management, that is needed to make an advanced carrier,” Liu told the official China Daily ahead of Monday’s opening of the annual session of parliament.

“We are ready to build larger ones,” he said.

China Shipbuilding said earlier this week they were developing technologies to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Little is known about China’s aircraft carrier program, which is a state secret.Speech

 Reuters, the japan news

Boeing makes a pitch for F/A-18s to India

Pitching its F/A-18 Super Hornet to India’s air force and navy, US military contractor Boeing Co. has said the twin-engine fighter plane is cheaper to operate than a single-engine jet, citing a US government study.

In an interview, Boeing Defence Space and Security chief executive Leanne Caret, speaks about the company’s plans to pursue an upcoming multi-billion dollar fighter programme, Make in India opportunities and the defence ecosystem in the country. Edited excerpts:


What brings you here?

I have been doing business in India for almost a decade. There’s incredible talent here and I have always had a general mindset that as a global firm, we need to have that global reach and that local presence, and need to provide that uncompromising service to our customers around the world. I am so excited by all the incredible progress we have made here in India not only in the products and services that we provide but also in how we have a localized workforce of more than 1,500 and we are continuing to grow every day.


Tata Boeing Aerospace (TBAL) inaugurated its facility in Hyderabad today. What is this joint venture (JV) all about?

When you talk about being a global firm and especially if you are US-based, many times it means you are exporting outside the US. However, we believe that a win abroad is a win at home. So this partnership is really critical and as we have looked at future opportunities…just thinking through the lens of exporting the goods wasn’t going to be good enough.

It’s about making sure we take full advantage of the talent and capability here in India. So, the JV is just a series of steps we have taken over the years…One of the first outputs of TBAL will be the Apache fuselage that will be provided to the global market space. It won’t be just for customers here in India but for all our customers.

But Indian customers are also going to get the real benefits of having that product made here. So, it’s a pretty exciting time and we will build upon that. There are the IAF Apaches and the army Apaches… both will benefit from this JV on day one.


India is looking at building war planes locally under the ‘Make in India’ plan and the IAF has been asked to come up with its requirements. Will you build F/A-18s here?

We believe the F/A-18 provides great capability to the Indian government. We believe it’s a viable candidate in the competition. We obviously need to wait for procurement to begin and for the government to decide whether they are going to have a two-phased competition or a single competition. Boeing will respond appropriately. What we have always committed to from day one is that we are looking to put significant work content here in India, and the actual requirement of fighters will determine the final outcome.


In a scenario where India is keen to go for F/A-18s, will you consider setting up a factory in the country and also export?

We are assessing all options. It goes back again to what is the quantity. If you are talking about a small quantity of aircraft—because they have not come out with the official number—it will dictate what is affordable, because whatever we do has to be affordable.

I met many of the services today. The number one comment across the service branches—army, navy and IAF—was ‘we need affordable’. And making certain we do the right thing that provides best value for money is our focus, and how we can best do that, is where our intent will be.


What is your sense of the Indian requirement for fighters? What will be a good number to set up a production line here?

This is one of those where it is important for the customer to lead. It is important they put out their requirement and then we respond in kind. They have had numerous requests for information on capability and different things that we have responded to.

But I very much respect the process the government is going through in terms of what is the capability they need and how do they best want to fulfil that—and then we will respond appropriately.


What makes you feel the F/A-18 is a viable platform for India, considering that Boeing was knocked out of an earlier competition?

I am not going to go back to the outcome of that competition. The US Navy continues to show great confidence in the F/A-18, and we are moving forward with an upgrade and continue to put modernization efforts into it, called the Block 3.

You know about the recent announcement by Kuwait to buy additional planes. This is a viable capability that continues to prove itself in conflicts, and is a great strategy in terms of a fleet mix for a number of countries. For that reason, and based on how the air force and navy operate their fleet, we think the capabilities are a good fit and look forward to the competition.


How different is the F/A-18 you are offering now from what was offered a decade ago?

It once again goes back to what the customer’s requirements are. If we wanted to push just a point solution, that would be one conversation….rather, Boeing prides itself on a close relationship with customers by listening to them and responding appropriately to bring forward affordable solutions to meet their capability needs. That’s really what is at the heart of our strategy.


The defence sector ecosystem in India is work in progress. Your comments on the strengths and weaknesses?

Talent here is most important and India is recognized for having amazing technology and innovation. This is something that as a global company we really want to take full advantage of, and make it part of the fabric of what we do.

I think that is a win-win for the country as well, because when you have firms like Boeing and others that see this type of capability and talent, and we can invest in these projects together…it helps by definition in creating that ecosystem. There is no lack of expertise and talent here and we want to take full advantage of that.


India has ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets and there’s buzz about the F-35 stealth fighters being offered to the IAF. And you are offering F/A-18. What do you make of it?

Each country has its own needs and will determine its own fleet mix and how they operate. I think it will be inappropriate of anyone in the industry to say what that fleet mix should be like.

That again goes back to our fundamental belief that we want to listen to what the customer wants. There is a multitude of products that they rely upon and how they wish to execute their missions during both peacetime and wartime. And what we want to make certain is… to allow them to get the best capability that they need in whatever mission they are serving.


Does the F/A-18 match the Rafale and F-35?

Let’s put it this way. My point continues to be that we need to know what the customer’s requirements are, and then we will put forward our best offer in support of that requirement.


If numbers make a good business case, would you be willing to set up a production line in the country? And have you done any math on what kind of production opportunities could arise from India for your other global customers?

We have clearly looked at a range of options. This conversation has been ongoing for a number of years and so quantities will dictate how we can provide the best value. It wouldn’t be the first time or the last time we have looked at opportunities to do more work for nations outside the principal location.

Going back to the example of TBAL, I think it gives you exactly the point, that we are not just building fuselages for Apaches here in India but are building fuselages for our worldwide supply.

And therefore, we have already put on the record and proven that we are willing to do that. Again, it is about the business case closing and making certain all the numbers work out.


Will Tata be the partner for other platforms too? Or are you exploring other options ?

Both. I am not going to divulge names of other companies we are having discussions with. What I will say is, we are continuing to look for ways to localize our presence. It is part of the commitment.


Are all agreements in place for unhindered transfer of technology? Or are there any barriers?

Some of the overarching technologies are at a government-to-government level, where parameters have been set when it comes to certain products and certain pieces of equipment.

There is a process that governments work together on to get the (technologies) released and those are done on a case-to-case basis, as requirements pop up. I think it’s a very cooperative process…And if for some reason some piece of equipment wasn’t approved, then what are alternative pieces providing similar capability…is all part of the process we work through.


Which bureaucracy is more difficult to deal with—Indian or US?

(Laughs.) We all have our plusses and minuses. I think we have been growing together.


When did you last fly in an F/A-18?

I flew in a Super Hornet last year. I didn’t pull as many Gs (G forces) as my contemporaries have pulled. Let’s just say, we flew around for quite a while and I flew upside down. It was the ride of a lifetime.

 livemint

India's Homegrown Anti-Tank Guided Missile Clears Final Trial

Last December, the Indian government canceled a plan to purchase the Israeli Spike ATGM in favor of homegrown NAG. The Indian Army reportedly has a current requirement for around 68,000 ATGMs of various types and over 850 launchers over the next 20 years. Nag can hit high-speed moving tanks without the support of an operator.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced that the homegrown Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) NAG is ready for induction into the armed forces with the successful completion of its developmental trial on Wednesday evening. In the final, trial which was conducted in Pokhran desert, the third generation missile destroyed two targets at different ranges and timings.
"With the successful test flights, the technologies pertaining to ATGM to engage targets in different conditions have been established," Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said after the Wednesday test trial.
In September 2017, when the DRDO had announced the near completion of the development trials, the Indian Army reportedly voiced concern over certain technical shortcomings like inadequate thermal sensors. Nevertheless, the defense ministry has backed the DRDO's claim that the system is now induction-ready.

"NAG ATGM has been developed by DRDO and today's flight tests have once again proved its capability. With this, the developmental trials of the missile have been completed and it is now ready for induction," India's defense ministry said in a statement.

The missile is equipped with an indigenous high-resolution imaging infrared seeker, capable of operating during day and night, which provides passive homing guidance for engaging static/moving tank targets. The ATGM has a flight speed of 230 meters per second and is armed with an 8kg tandem shaped-charge warhead. It has a rocket motor using a nitramine-based smokeless extruded double base sustainer propellant, has a single-shot hit probability of 0.77 and a CEP of 0.9 meters, and has a 10-year maintenance-free shelf-life.
The DRDO has been working on the NAG (Hindi for "Cobra") since 2009, spending approximately $47 million on its development. The 14.8 metric ton, NAG is a little bit heavier than the current crop of ATGMs of the Indian Army but it can make up for this shortcoming with its carrier- the NAMICA.

NAMICA is an improved version of the Soviet-designed BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle that India uses extensively. NAMICA is equipped with nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection, independent gunner and commander sights, silent watch capability, and a fire suppression system for crew safety and comfort. The NBC system provides dry, temperature-controlled filter air to the crew. The NAMICA has a retractable armored launcher that can carry 12 Nag ATGMs, with six of them in ready-to-fire mode at a distance of 4km.
DRDO is also developing the helicopter-launched version of the NAG, known as Helina. This ATGM uses the same uncooled LWIR sensor as the NAG ATGM, and has a range of 7km. The Helina, using the "Rudrastra" canister-encased twin-launcher system, will arm both the "Rudra" helicopter-gunships as well as the LCH attack helicopters of both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Tata, Boeing open Apache helicopter unit in Hyderabad

Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing Co. and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) on Thursday inaugurated its facility to produce fuselages for the AH-64 Apache helicopter in Hyderabad.

Spread over 14,000-square metres and employing 350 highly skilled workers, the facility will be the sole global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing to its global customers including the US Army, a joint press release from Tata and Boeing said.

The facility will also produce secondary structures and vertical spar boxes of this multi-role combat helicopter. The delivery of the first fuselage is expected in 2018, it added.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telangana minister for Industries and IT, KT Rama Rao inaugurated the facility. Inaugurating the facility Sitharaman said, “I congratulate Tata and Boeing for making this substantial investment in the defence space,” she said. After May 2014, there has been a great push to revive manufacturing, she added.

TBAL, Boeing’s first equity JV in India, is the result of a 2015 partnership agreement with TASL. Construction of the manufacturing facility began in 2016 and was completed on schedule.

In addition, Boeing and TASL have worked closely to develop a pool of highly skilled aerospace talent through skill development initiatives.

Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India said TBAL is just the beginning of Boeing’s future journey of partnership with India.

“We see this as a major step towards future opportunities to pursue the co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence,” he said.

More than 2,300 Boeing-made Apache helicopters are operated by customers around the world since the aircraft entered production. The Boeing-made Apache helicopter has been selected for acquisition by the armed forces of 16 countries, including India.

The Indian ministry of defence finalised an order with Boeing for 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters in September 2015, deliveries for which are scheduled to begin in 2019.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus, Tata Sons and Leanne Caret, president and CEO, Boeing Defence, Space and Security also spoke at the function.

 livemint

No request made to US for F-35 fighter jet, says IAF chief B S Dhanoa

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has denied that it has shown explicit interest in procuring the American F-35 Lightning II aircraft for its depleting fighter fleet. The reports about IAF approaching Lockheed Martin for a classified briefing on the F-35 came amid news that the government has decided to scrap the proposal to make a single-engine foreign fighter in India.

“We have not officially asked for a briefing on the F-35 nor has any request been made to the Americans,” IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa told The Indian Express.

Sources said that buying the next set of fighter jets is a decision to be taken on many considerations, including strategic ones. Financial considerations, when budgetary provisions are limited for any big-ticket procurement by the defence ministry, will also play an important part in any decision-making.

Sources also said that as the IAF is already down to 31 squadrons of fighter aircraft against an authorisation of 42, it is imperative to make the shortfall on an emergent basis. It would thus be best to go for a government-to-government deal to get the next set of fighters.

According to sources, the proposal to buy and make a single-engine fighter was taken two years ago on multiple considerations. These included the cost of a single-engine fighter which is significantly lower than that of a double-engine fighter like Rafale.

Moreover, the cost of operating a single-engine fighter is lesser than that of a double-engine fighter. An early decision on selection would have allowed the IAF to build up its fighter strength, along with the induction of HAL-built indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft.

The government was also looking to kickstart a defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country by building the single-engine fighter fully in India.

The decision to scrap the proposal for a single-engine fighter was taken because the government felt it would result in a single-vendor situation. Although Boeing’s F-16 fighter aircraft was in contention along with the Swedish Gripen fighter, the American aeroplane was a non-starter as it does not have a “probe-and-drogue” air-to-air refueling system. Moreover, the F-16 is also in service with IAF’s adversary in a war, the Pakistan Air Force.

A single-vendor situation, under the Strategic Partnership model with a private Indian company, is unacceptable in the current political environment, sources added. Meanwhile, official sources said that the whole Strategic Partnership model of defence manufacturing is under the government’s serious reconsideration.

 indianexpress

Defence ministry approved purchase of 41K LMGs, 3.5 lakh carbines

Highlights

• The total cost for procurement of 41,000 LMGs will be Rs 3,000 crore while over 3.5 lakh Close Quarter Battle Carbines will be bought at a cost of Rs 4,607 crore.
• The defence ministry said the weapons are being procured particularly to enhance the fire power of soldiers deployed along India's borders with Pakistan and China.

The defence ministry on Wednesday approved capital acquisition proposals worth nearly Rs 9,435 crore including procurement of 41,000 light machine guns and over 3.5 lakh battle carbines to bolster firepower of infantry soldiers deployed along borders with China and Pakistan.

The proposals were cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry's highest decision making body on procurement.

The total cost for procurement of 41,000 LMGs will be Rs 3,000 crore while over 3.5 lakh Close Quarter Battle Carbines will be bought at a cost of Rs 4,607 crore respectively, defence ministry officials said.

They said the weapons are being procured particularly to enhance the fire power of soldiers deployed along India's borders with Pakistan and China.

"With the approval of these two proposals, the government has cleared procurement of the entire range of personal weapons for the three services," the ministry said in a statement.

It said "Of these, immediate operational requirement for the soldiers deployed on the borders will be procured through fast track procurement and for the balance production lines will be set up in India."

On February 13, the defence ministry had approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 15,935 crore which included purchase of 7.40 lakh assault rifles, 5,719 sniper rifles and light machine guns.

Out of total quantities of the weapons, 75 per cent will be procured through Indian Industry under 'Buy & Make (Indian)' category and balance through the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), officials said.

The DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, also approved procurement of "essential quantity" of 'High Capacity Radio Relay' (HCRR) for the Army and the Air Force at an estimated cost of over Rs 1,092 crore.

The defence ministry said these state-of-the-art, high capacity radio relays would ensure reliable communication to the services along with increased bandwidth in the tactical battle area.

To enhance the ability of the Indian Coast Guard to rapidly undertake pollution control measures off the East Coast and Island Territories, the DAC cleared the proposal for acquisition of two Pollution Control Vessels (PCV).

The vessels would be built by Indian shipyards at an approximate cost of Rs 673 crore.

"These ships in addition to carrying out pollution control would also be capable of undertaking patrolling, search and rescue and limited salvage and fire fighting operations at sea," the ministry said.

 timesofindia

Lockheed Martin says offer to build F-16s in India stands firm

At a time when the government seems disinterested to pursue plans to locally produce single-engine fighters in collaboration with a global defence contractor, US military contractor Lockheed Martin on Wednesday said its offer to build F-16 jets in India “stands firm”.

“We haven’t heard anything officially from the government and continue to pursue opportunities to build F-16s under the Make in India framework,” said Vivek Lall, Lockheed vice-president (strategy and business development). India is preparing to launch a fresh hunt for fighter aircraft to sharpen the combat edge of the Indian Air Force that is grappling with a shortage of warplanes, Hindustan Times had reported last week. However, there has been no official announcement.

Lall refused to comment on whether the F-35 stealth fighter was being offered to India, saying it was “a government-to-government conversation.” He, however, said “technology improvements” would continue to flow between the single-engine F-16 and F-35 at the fraction of the cost to F-16 operators. He also said that almost half of the F-16 supply chain was common with the F-35.

Lockheed and Swedish firm Saab are the only two companies exploring opportunities to build F-16s and Gripens in India under the single-engine programme.

Making a renewed pitch for the F-16, Lall said the “exclusive production” of the planes in India represented a significant opportunity to further defence diplomacy as 25 global air forces operated over 3,000 F-16 jets. He said the production of F-16s could begin in India within three years of a deal.

“F-16 production opportunities currently total around 400 (Indian requirement included) in central Europe, South America, Mediterranean and Asia,” he said. What if the government announces it will float a new global tender or take the government-to-government route to buy new jets? “We will still be in that competition. We are here for the long term,” Lall added.

The earlier plan was to pursue two separate projects under the Make in India initiative to build single-engine and twin-engine planes in the country. However, both these plans had not
taken off.

The count of the IAF’s fighter squadrons has reduced to 32 compared to an optimum strength of 42-plus units required to fight a two-front war.

India had floated a global tender for 126 planes more than a decade ago but it stood cancelled after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in April 2015 that India would buy 36 Rafale jets from France under a government-to-government deal.

 hindustantimes