February 10, 2012
India successfully test fired the interceptor missile
February 9, 2012
Eurofighter not out of contest, says David Cameron
“I am very disappointed by what has happened in India,” Cameron said in reply to a question by Labour MP Mark Hendrick, who during the weekly Question Time pulled up the coalition government on the UK’s failure to land a contract from India for the Typhoon fighter jet.
However, Cameron said that the Eurofighter was still in the contention. “Eurofighter is not out of the contest yet and we need to reengage as hard as we can to make sure that we get the best deal for all those workers making Eurofighters in Britain.”
He dismissed the criticism that he had not helped the Eurofighter, which is built by a four-nation consortium of Germany, UK, Italy and Spain, to land the contract.
“All European leaders are actually backing the Eurofighter project. It’s a German project, it’s a Spanish project, it’s an Italian project, it’s a British project and that’s how it should be.”
Labour MP Alison Seabeck raised the Typhoon issue again and asked Mr Cameron how many times he had spoken to the Indian Prime Minister about the bid. Cameron said he had raised the issue repeatedly.
“I raised the issue with the Indian Prime Minister repeatedly during my visit to India and indeed at the G20 at Cannes,” he said.
The Asian age
MMRCA: india tries to soothe upset britain
India has been slammed in the UK by various quarters for deciding on French company Dassault Rafale as the preferred bidder for the MMRCA. The loser in the race was the EADS, a four-nation consortium of which the UK is a part.
Attempting to apply salve on Britain’s wounds, the ministry of external affairs in a statement here on Wednesday said: “Relations between India and UK are warm and friendly and have stood the test of time.” It added, “India appreciates cooperation extended by UK in a number of areas, which have contributed to India’s overall development efforts, particularly through capacity building, exchange of best practices, knowledge sharing and sharing of technology and technical expertise. The cooperation between India and UK has been and remains mutually beneficial.” Its hopes dashed for not bagging the deal, a section of the UK media has been harsh in its criticism of India.
The Asian Age
February 8, 2012
Russia Completes Final Trials of Indian Frigate
Russia and India signed a $1.6 billion contract on construction of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India in 2006. The first frigate, the Teg, was scheduled for delivery in April 2011, but funding shortfalls have delayed the work.
Two other Talwar class frigates, the Tarkash and the Trikand, are at various stages of construction and testing at the Yantar shipyard, and their delivery dates are unknown.
The new frigates are each armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
They are also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.
Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).
RIANovosti
February 7, 2012
Russia, India Prepare for INDRA-2012 Military Drills
“An Indian military delegation arrived on Monday in Ulan Ude [in Russia’s Far East] to discuss the preparation for INDRA-2012 military drills to be held this summer,” Lt. Col. Alexander Gordeyev said.
Russian and Indian military officials will reconnoiter the terrain at the training range where the drills will be held, the spokesman said.
Since 2003, India and Russia have conducted five of the INDRA series joint ground and naval exercises. The last such exercise was held between Russian and Indian army units in India in October 2010.
However, Russia cancelled both INDRA-series ground and naval exercises last year despite an earlier announcement by the Russian General Staff that INDRA drills may be held every year and involve three branches of the armed forces.
Relations between India and Russia have suffered in recent years from the delayed refit of the aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, and the poor sourcing of components for Russian-made equipment operated by the Indian armed forces.
India remains, though, a key buyer of Russian weaponry.
RIA Novosti
Delivery of S-500 Air Defense System Delayed Until 2017
The S-500, a long-range air defense missile system, is expected to become the backbone of a unified aerospace defense system being formed in Russia.
Neskorodov said in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper on Monday that the complexity of technical solutions used in this unique system and some management problems led to the delay in the development.
“We have to step up the work and make up for lost time,” he said. “Nevertheless, we will have prototypes of several components of the system ready for testing by the end of 2012.”
Russian officials provide sketchy details on the technical characteristics of the new system.
The S-500 will reportedly have an extended range of up to 600 kilometers (over 370 miles) and simultaneously engage up to 10 targets.
The Russian military has demanded that the system must be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and hypersonic cruise missiles and plans to order at least ten S-500 battalions for the future Russian Aerospace Defense.
The S-500 could become a trump card in Russia’s response to the U.S.-backed European missile shield, which Moscow believes may threaten Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has proposed setting up a government body responsible for consolidating efforts aimed at the creation of an effective aerospace defense network in the country.
RIA Novosti
Eurofighter Typhoon better than Rafale: Britain
UK's Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth took up the issue of India's decision to select the French Rafale aircraft during delegation-level meeting with Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, sources said.
The British delegation insisted that the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter offered by the EADS was the best available aircraft and better than Rafale, which has been selected by India, the sources said.
The Rafale beat the Eurofighter in terms of pricing to emerge as he lowest bidder in the multi-billion dollar contract whose actual amount is yet not known. The development comes six days after "disappointed" British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would do "everything he can" to "encourage" India to reconsider its decision on the biggest-ever military contract announced on January 31.
Noting that the contract had not yet been awarded to the French firm, he told Parliament on February one, "Of course, I will do everything I can, as I have already, to encourage the Indians to look at Typhoon."
"The decision is obviously disappointing," Cameron had said, adding that Eurofighter Typhoon was "a superb aircraft, with further capability than Rafale and we will try to encourage the Indians to take that view".
The British delegation comprising over 20 defence firms is on a five-day visit to India to meet key decision-makers and potential partners in the crucial sector.
The mission is organised by the UK's Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) in cooperation with UK trade association Aerospace Defence Security (ADS).
February 6, 2012
Obama Sees no Grounds for Iranian Attack on U.S.
“We don’t see any evidence that they [Iran] have those intentions or capabilities right now,” he said.
Tensions over Iran's nuclear activities have reached boiling point since the Islamic Republic announced earlier this month that it had launched a nuclear enrichment program at a well-protected underground facility near the city of Qom.
A number of experts do not rule out that the diplomatic spat with Iran and unilateral U.S. and EU sanctions may develop into a full-scale military conflict. The anti-Iranian coalition may include Georgia, Turkey, Israel and Persian Gulf monarchies.
In his Sunday’s interview Obama said he opposed military operations in the Persian Gulf region.
"Obviously, any kind of additional military activity inside the Gulf is disruptive and has a big effect on us, it can have a big effect on oil prices," he said. "We've still got troops in Afghanistan, which borders Iran. And so our preferred solution here is diplomatic, we're going to keep on pushing on that front."
Obama also discounted U.S. media reports that Israel, which views Iran's uranium enrichment activity as a major threat to its security, may attack Iran in four months. A Washington Post journalist on Friday attributed the statement to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who refused to officially comment on the statement.
"I don't think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do," the U.S. president said, adding, however, that “we're not going to take any option off the table.”
RIA Novosti
Paris to the hilt
Tuesday’s decision to select the Dassault Aviation-made Rafale fighter jet over the Eurofighter Typhoon as the aircraft that will power the Indian Air Force for the next 40 years is easily the biggest prize that France has won on any military order.
Some 800 French companies operate in India but only a select few in the defence sector. Areva in the nuclear power sector and Airbus (European conglomerate) in civil aviation have expanded their businesses, too.
But in the lucrative defence business, France is still behind Russia and Israel as a supplier to India. The award of the Rafale contract, possibly in April, will expand its lead hugely over the US, the UK and Western European countries. The Indian military has been steadily diversifying its arsenal this past decade even though nearly 70 per cent of the hardware is of Russian/Soviet origin.
It would be sweeter still for France because India has selected the Rafale after it was rejected by a clutch of countries that were or are looking to refurbish their air forces. Among them are Switzerland, the UAE, Brazil and South Korea. Also, even all of these countries put together were not looking to buy as many as 126 — and possibly another 63 more — of the aircraft.
France’s year for India’s defence began with the announcement in the first week of January that MBDA was being awarded a contract for 490 Mica infrared and radar-controlled air-to-air missiles. The package will cost the defence budget $1.2 billion (about Rs 6,600 crore).
The award of the weapons package follows the order to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s 51 Mirage 2000H fighter jets. France was given the contract in July last after years of negotiations that almost frustrated it. The Mica missiles from MBDA will equip these refurbished fighter jets.
MBDA is also in the race to sell Asraam missiles to arm the Indian Air Force’s 100 Jaguar fighter-bomber aircraft. MBDA heavy-duty weapons used in Libya and Afghanistan, like bunker busting and deep penetration ground attack missiles, will arm the Rafale, too.
The Mirage modernisation order to French companies Dassault and Thales will cost about $2.4 billion (about Rs 11,000 crore). The total upgrade order, with the weapons package, will top Rs 17,500 crore.
French companies are preparing to race for an order for a second line of submarines for the Indian Navy that could be in the region of Rs 62,000 crore. France’s DCNS got the contract in 2005 to build six Scorpene submarines. The delivery of the submarines, being built in Cherbourg in France and also at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai is delayed because work languished over pricing issues in 2008.
The first of the submarines is now expected only in 2015. The contract was signed initially for $3 billion after a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Jacques Chirac in September 2005. The price was revised to $4.5 billion after the contract was re-negotiated amid allegations from German rival HDW of a scandal.
Cutting across the various defence contracts that France is executing is French company Thales. Thales is a partner for the Mirage upgrade, the submarine development and will partner Dassault for the Rafale. It supplies night-vision devices to the Indian Army for its tanks.
French engine-maker Snecma powers the Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft and two Snecma M88 engines will go into each Rafale.
French company Safran has won a contract for an unspecified amount from Hindustan Aeronautics to supply Turbomeca Ardiden 1H helicopters for the Dhruv-II advanced light helicopter. Each helicopter has two engines and the Dhruv is steadily becoming one of the main rotorcraft for the army, the air force and the navy as also for central police organisations. The Turbomeca engines are made by Safran.
The Telegraph
February 4, 2012
Check out some of India's major modernisation programmes
In what has been described as one of the world's most dangerous regions, with three nuclear-armed countries bordering each other, India's fears of the rising might of China and threats from Pakistan, along with a underdeveloped aerospace industry, have made it the world's leading weapons importer. That makes it a lucrative market for firms such as Boeing and Dassault.
The following are some of the major modernisation programmes that have been announced or are planned by India's government, taken from various Indian and international media reports.
INDIAN AIR FORCE:
Combat planes: India is jointly developing a stealth fighter with Russia, to be based on United Aircraft Corp's Sukhoi T-50 platform. According to media reports, it will start taking delivery of about 250 such planes by 2015. In addition, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is developing its own stealth aircraft, called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, planned to be in service by 2025. Meanwhile, its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is undergoing final testing and is expected to be introduced into the Air Force soon.
Helicopters: In 2009, India invited bids for 22 combat helicopters and 15 heavy lift helicopters. Russia's Mil Moscow Helicopter plant and US Boeing submitted bids for the combat helicopters. It was reported in Indian media late last year that Boeing's AH-64 Apache was the front runner to win the deal for about $1.4 billion. The country also ordered 12 AW101 helicopters, made by a unit of Finmeccanica, to be used for VIP transportation.
Cargo aircraft: In early 2008, India ordered six Lockheed Martin C-130s to be used for special operations. It also selected Boeing's C-17 as its heavy lift transport aircraft to replace the Russian IL-76.
INDIAN NAVY
Ships: The Indian navy is undergoing a 15-year modernisation plan. While the erstwhile Russian aircraft carrier, Gorshkov, is slated for introduction later this year, India is also building another aircraft carrier with completion due in 2013 and has plans to build another by 2017. Up to 11 new destroyers, and 10 frigates are to be introduced, starting 2012, to replace its ageing fleet. It has also started construction on six scorpene class diesel-electric submarines and plans to have six nuclear-powered submarines in service within the next few decades.
Aircraft: The navy plans to equip its carriers with about 40 Russian Mikoyan MiG-29 combat jets, and is also developing a naval version of the LCA. It also has 12 Boeing P-8 anti submarine and reconnaissance aircraft on order. It also plans to introduce 60 anti submarine warfare and about 50 light helicopters, apart from 120 domestically-built light helicopters.
INDIAN ARMY
The army plans to introduce about 250 locally built main battle tanks and about 1,650 Russian T-90 tanks by 2020. It also plans to develop and introduce 155 mm artillery guns within the next three years.
A modernisation program for its soldiers, dubbed "Future Infantry Soldier As a System" is supposed to be completed by 2020. The army is also expanding along India's eastern border with China, with plans to raise 15,000 additional troops and a new artillery division. In addition, India is developing Agni V and VI intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads for distances over 6,000 km (3,700 miles).
The army chose Eurocopter's AS 500 for a $550 million 197 helicopter contract in 2007. This was later scrapped due to allegations of unfair field trails from a US competitor. The army plans to obtain 114 combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics and has a joint requirement for about 400 light helicopters along with the air force.
The army plans to introduce about 250 locally built main battle tanks and about 1,650 Russian T-90 tanks by 2020. It also plans to develop and introduce 155 mm artillery guns within the next three years.
A modernisation program for its soldiers, dubbed "Future Infantry Soldier As a System" is supposed to be completed by 2020. The army is also expanding along India's eastern border with China, with plans to raise 15,000 additional troops and a new artillery division. In addition, India is developing Agni V and VI intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads for distances over 6,000 km (3,700 miles).
The army chose Eurocopter's AS 500 for a $550 million 197 helicopter contract in 2007. This was later scrapped due to allegations of unfair field trails from a US competitor. The army plans to obtain 114 combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics and has a joint requirement for about 400 light helicopters along with the air force.
The Economic Times
Boeing to build 10 C-17 military cargo jets for India in $1.8 billion foreign military sale
The c-17's avionics suite has two full-time all-function head-up displays, four multi-function active-matrix liquid crystal displays, an integrated radio management system with communications system open architecture (COSA), and a quadruple-redundant electronic flight control with mechanical backup system.
The high-wing, T-tailed military-transport aircraft, can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world day or night, Boeing officials say. It has delivered cargo in every worldwide operation since the 1990s. Its ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields in rough, land-locked regions make it a suitable transporter for military, humanitarian, and peacekeeping missions.
The C-17, which is 174 feet long with a 170-foot wingspan, can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield and has a range of 2,400 nautical miles. It is large enough to carry wheeled U.S. Army vehicles, including the M-1 Abrams main battle tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The four-engine C-17 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW2040 engine.
Boeing will build the 10 new C-17s for India at its factory in Long Beach, Calif., and should be finished by mid-2014.
Military & Aerospace electronics
February 3, 2012
Russia to Build 6 Submarines Annually – Deputy PM
“By 2013, production capacity [at Russian shipyards] will allow us to build six submarines and an aircraft carrier every year,” Rogozin told reporters, adding that the number includes both nuclear and diesel-powered submarines.
As a result, the production output will surpass that of the Soviet era when Russia built an average of five submarines annually, he said.
Rogozin earlier said the production had been bogged down in the past by a lack of financing, outdated equipment and a shortage of skilled labor.
Russia is planning to build eight Borey class strategic submarines and up to 10 Graney class attack subs by 2020.
RIANovosti
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