Heckled Sharif to expose Pak war crime in Balochistan: Activist

 

 Baloch activist Ahmar Mustikhan, who disrupted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speech in United States, justified his agitation saying that he did it to expose Pakistan terror in Afghanistan and war crimes in Balochistan.
"I hope my small minute contribution will reach the ears of thousands of Baloch martyr families. My voice was also meant to expose Pakistan terror in Afghanistan and war crime in Balochistan." Mustikhan told ANI in an exclusive interview.
"Just yesterday, I was at a protest in front of the White House where I called Pakistan the epicenter of global terrorism." He added.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday was heckled by Mustikhan while delivering his speech at the US Institute of Peace, a prominent independent think-tank.

Mustikhan demanded freedom of Balochistan provinces where Pakistani army has been engaged in torture and killings of Baloch people demanding freedom.

The activist also called Sharif a 'friend of Osama Bin Laden'.
"It expose the true rogue and terrorist nature of Pakistan, and that is why I called Sharif bin Laden friend. It is on historic record that bin Laden helped fund Sharif's election victory in 1990." Mustikhan alleged.
Appreciating the activist step to disrupt Sharif's speech, Tarek Fatah, a Canadian based Pakistani Journalist and a supporter of Baloch cause said that how hard Pakistan tries, the struggle to free Balochistan will never die.
"It shows that Pakistan can bomb and kill every Baloch in Balochistan, but even if there is one Baloch man alive, the idea of a free Balochistan will not die. Pakistan will wither away one day, but 5,000 year old Balochistan cannot and never will." Fatah said.
"I salute the courage of Ahmar Mustikhan for risking all, to forever etch the slogan 'Free Free Balochistan' in the mind and memory of the world." he added while appreciating the protestor's efforts.

Nawabzada Mehran Marri, a Baloch representative at the United Nations also supported Mustikhan and said he highlighted the violation by Pakistani forces in Balochistan.

ANI / in.news

German Firm Atlas Elektronik Arming India's Navy To Counter China's Submarines

Germany is powering Indian Navy's quest to arm itself against the Chinese and Pakistani submarine threat. German firm Atlas Elektronik will supply the Indian Navy with key upgrades to its existing surface and underwater target torpedoes, and deliver powerful active towed array sonars that help in long-range tracking of enemy submarines lurking in the Indian Ocean.

Atlas Elektronik, which set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in India in 2013, has won the two medium-sized contracts within a year-and-a-half of re-entering the Indian defense market.

Under the first contract signed in July 2013, Atlas Elektronik will upgrade 64 SUT (surface and underwater target) torpedoes for Indian Navy's four German-origin HDW Shishumar-class submarines. Interestingly, upon upgrade, these torpedoes can also be used on the six under-construction French-origin Scorpene submarines, the first of which is scheduled for induction into the Indian Navy in 2016. The entire delivery would be completed in 50 months from contract inking.

Under the second contract, signed in November 2014, Atlas Elektronik will directly supply six Active Towed Array Sonars (ATAS) to the three Delhi-class destroyers and the three Talwar-class warships. Further, the German company will help Indian public sector Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to produce 10 of the ATAS in India, "as the Indian Navy wanted to standardize its anti-submarine capability."

These India-produced ATAS will enhance the submarine detection capability of India's three each of Kolkata-class and Shivalik-class, and four Kamorta class anti-submarine corvettes. These warship projects are indigenous programs at Indian shipyards.

India's Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Sep.30, 2015 commissioned INS Kochi, a stealth guided missile destroyer, in Mumbai. INS Kochi is only the second of the three Kolkata-class destroyers India is currently constructing. INS Kolkata was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2014. The third warship in this class is slated for commissioning a year from now. The integration of the ATAS on the already commissioned warships of these three classes as and when they dock for scheduled refit and maintenance works.

"Toward array sonar can help the warship see underwater over the horizon. It vastly increases the chances of the warship detecting a submarine. In reality, submarine is a very powerful weapon platform and stealth is its basic nature. The closer the submarine is to the ship, the less time the ship has to do anything about it. "There is no point in having lots and lots of ships that cannot detect submarines. These become sitting ducks. So, the Navy has been cognizant of this fact and that's why they have been pushing very hard to try and equip all the modern warships with towed array sonars," said Atlas Elektronik India CEO Khalil Rahman in an interview on Sep.29, 2015. None of these 16 Indian warships have the ATAS or the capability to detect submarines over the horizon.

"Anti-submarine warfare is the main pre-occupation in the Indian Ocean at the moment. India's neighbors are all acquiring submarines and deploying in the Indian Ocean. China have a lot of submarines and these have ventured into the Indian Ocean region. Pakistan has submarines. Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are getting submarines. Singapore, South Africa and Australia have submarines. Basically, the Indian Ocean Region is becoming full of submarines, leaving aside any U.S. activity and France maintaining a submarine fleet here, being a littoral State. There is a lot of submarine activity in the Indian Ocean now," Rahman said.

Atlas Elektronik is also competing for the Indian Navy's projects for supplying anti-submarine systems and torpedoes, such as the futuristic six-submarine Project 75I program, the 16 shallow water craft program, the project for integrating the IADS Anti-Submarine Warfare Suite for Project 15B and 17A, the 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels that are to be built by Goa Shipyard, and towed array sonars for the existing fleet of nine Kilo-class submarines.

Partnering Pipavav For Torpedo Manufacturing Base In India

Atlas Elektronik is also working towards establishing a manufacturing base for its torpedoes in India, ultimately through a joint venture, for which it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company (PDOC) that was earlier this year taken over by Anil Ambani's Reliance Group. The MoU with Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company was signed in February 2014.

"In the long run, we need to partner with the Indian industry. The rules are such that Atlas Elektronik cannot manufacture without a 49 per cent Joint Venture (JV)," Rahman said.

"Up until now, most the projects to which we have sold were to supply equipment directly from Germany. But it is now clear, as some of the projects now are coming out to be 'Buy and Make India' category, particularly the new ones. In which case, we need to partner to form a JV in order to participate. The problem with many of these is what comes first - the JV or the order. There is no point having a hollow shell JV until you have some business. Because many of these big procurement progress at their own pace, it takes some time to get an order to find a purpose for the JV.

"Nevertheless, especially in the torpedo area, we have moved forward quite a lot with our partner, PDOC, which has now been taken over by the Reliance Group. We are continuing to work with PDOC. We spent a lot of time looking at the supply chain in India. So, it is really to have an Indian project.

"It is not a question of finding an integrator, who is able to import kits and assemble them in India. That doesn't really transfer technology. What we need to do is to develop a supply chain, so that the sub-components are built in India and assembled together. This summer, our team from Germany came and visited a number of companies in India - small and big and they were very much impressed by the SMEs, particularly in South India. They found that they were very good quality companies that were really well qualified to fit into the supply chain, such that they could even be considered as good enough to be qualified as part of the global supply chain. So that's very encouraging.

"In the long run, it will have to be a JV, for the torpedoes. It is not just signing an agreement to create a JV, what's more important is to build up the capability on the ground to do it." 

 Technology Transfer To L&T For Diver Detection Sonars

 Atlas has also joined hands with L&T to bid to supply Portable Diver Detection Sonars (PDDS) to the Indian Navy that enables the ships to keep a watch for enemy divers while at anchor or docked at a port. Being a 'Make in India' program, Indian companies have to tie-up with foreign original equipment manufacturers for the PDDS project.

"The technology will be transferred from Atlas UK to L&T. L&T will manufacture everything for the PDDS. Hence it is a very deep technology transfer. 'Buy and Make (Indian)' requires 50 per cent indigenization package. But in this case, the percentage will be much higher. This is an old tender that came out in 2011 and the Field Evaluation Trials took place in August 2015," he said.

Rahman said that there were so many things that need to change in Indian defense procurement process to make it more efficient, faster and effective.

"I think everyone starts with very good intentions, but what happens in India generally, I am not talking specifically about Defense Procurement Procedures, things are very heavily regulated and we end up with complicated procedures to do anything. One is simplifying things and the other is making decision. You should be able to make decisions. Even if the decision is made, the procedures get more complicated. We tie ourselves up in bureaucratic knots sometimes. I also think we sometimes don't take a long-term view of things.

"But things are beginning to change. Some of them are moving very fast. Some years ago, the shipbuilding industry witnessed that change, with PDOC and L&T and others starting shipyards. I think we should not over-regulate. It has to make business sense for the private players, they have to have confidence in the system, there has to be fairness and transparency, as people will not participate if they think there is no fairness." 

armingin

India's Indigeneous Light Combat Helicopter LCH, the upcoming beast

The Indian army, Air Force and the government had a lesson learned during the Kargil Conflict in 1999 when an Indian Mi-17 was shot down by a shoulder fired air defence missile. The Mi-17 was not built to fly at a height of 16000 ft but it was still continuously used by India to attack Pakistani positions in Kargil. After the war ended the need arised to have a dedicated attack helicopter with a capability to fly at high altitudes. In the year 2006, the state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced its plan to develop a dedicated attack helicopter. After intensive design and development, the first helicopter flew on 29 March, 2010, just 4 years after the development work had started.

The helicopter has some stealth features. A semi-stealth design and the new camouflage painting scheme makes the helicopter partially invisible to radar as well as the naked eyes. Engine coating developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai (IIT-M) further adds stealth as it reduced the infrared signature. Use of distributed architecture computer increases the data processing speed which makes the helicopter more agile. Its composite rotor blades and the use of armour plates allows it to operate easily in hostile condition under enemy gun fire. Powered by HAL Shakti engines this a 5.5 ton helicopter that can fly at an altitude of 21000 ft with a speed of 290 km/h. It uses a glass cockpit developed by HAL's Mission & Combat System
Research & Design Centre (MCSRDC).

The second helicopter flew on 28 June 2011 and the third prototype flew on 12 November 2014. The 4th prototype is expected to fly in late 2015 or in 2016. Recently the LCH underwent Cold weather trials at Air Force Station in Leh in early 2015. The engine starts were satisfactory in the temperature of -18 °C at 4.1 km altitude. The flights were also carried out to assess high altitude performance and low speed handling. The trials covered engine starts with internal batteries after overnight cold soak at 3 km altitude and 4.1 km altitude. In June 2015 the LCH successfully completed hot weather flight trials at Jodhpur with temperatures ranging from 39° to 49°C. The flight testing covered 'temperature survey of engine bay and hydraulic system', 'assessment of performance', 'handling qualities and loads' at different 'all up weights', 'low speed handling' and 'height-velocity diagram establishment'. The weapon firing trials will be held during the middle of 2016.

Its weapon include 70mm & 80mm multi barrel rockets, a 20mm cannon and DRDO HeliNa anti tank missile with LOAL and LOBL capability. It also has a unique integration of air to air missile to take down enemy helicopters and UAVs which keeps it immune against enemy helicopters.

Its capability to fly at high altitude with full load is the nightmare for enemy soldiers. Initially Air Force has ordered 65 LCHs and Army has ordered 114 helicopters mostly for the deployment against China and also against Pakistan in Kashmir. It will form the backbone for Indian Mountain strike Corp to be raised in next few years.

It will be very much effective against China as it could fly across Himalayas with full load of weapons. Its anti tank capability will be effective against advancing tanks of the Pakistan army. The LCH helicopter became the first attack helicopter to land in Siachen which clearly shows its capability to fight against Pakistan in future war scenario at such an high altitude that to with adverse climate.

With most of its trials except weapon trials completed LCH is expected to enter production in 2017. Weapon trials may not take much time as an attack helicopter does not have a range of weapons like an fighter aircraft. There are also the possibility that the orders for LCH may increase from current 179 to about 300 also including some foreign exports.

 defencenews

No civilian nuclear deal, F-16s for Pakistan: US official

The US is not negotiating a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan, a senior American official said on Thursday, shortly after President Barack Obama’s meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The official also challenged reports of the Obama administration green-lighting the sale of eight F-16s, a traditional symbol in South Asia of US support for Pakistan.
Obama met Sharif for two hours at the White House on Thursday, their second meeting so far, amid reports of continuing distrust between one-time allies.
Sharif assured Obama of his country’s resolve to deny the Haqqani Network, an Afghan Taliban outfit that has been called a veritable arm of ISI, sanctuary in Pakistan.
Sharif’s assurances terrorism impressed the US, according to the official, who couldn’t identified and who said it (Pakistani assurance) was both new and impressive.
But New Delhi, which has been following the visit closely, will take his assurances with dollops of skepticism given its experience dealing with them before.
It will be happiest still about the American official’s statement on the nuclear deal and the purported sale of F-16s to Pakistan, which Islamabad had hoped to throw against India.
“There is no such thing as a nuclear deal,” the official said to a question about the nuclear deal at a briefing held exclusively for Indian journalists in Washington DC.
“What has been reported in (US) media is some sort of a civilian nuclear package alleged to be something like the one US concluded with India 10 years ago.”
US signed a nuclear agreement with India in 2005 that allows latter access to nuclear supplies from the exclusive Nuclear Suppliers Group despite not being a signatory to NPT.
Recent US media reports indicated the Obama administration was willing to give Pakistan a similar deal in exchange for Islamabad accepting a cap on its nuclear arsenal.
“Let me assure you categorically,” the official said, adding, “the press allegations of 123 agreement (a US legal requirement for any nuclear deal) with Pakistan are completely false.”
He said, “Pakistan has made clear its interest in civilian nuclear cooperation and has called it a socio-economic imperative because of its energy shortfall.”
But, he added, “Let me state categorically we have not entered into negotiations on an 123 agreement with Pakistan, nor are we seeking an exception for Pakistan within the Nuclear Suppliers Group in order to facilitate civil nuclear exports.”

 hindustantimes

Protest rallies led by JKUF held against Pakistan government in PoK

Weeks after CNN-IBN's expose, a black day was observed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir on Thursday. Protest rallies led by the Jammu & Kashmir Unity Foundation (JKUF) were held in PoK against the Pakistani government.
JKUF has also called upon the Centre to take measures to free the area of J&K state occupied by Pakistan.
Earlier, CNN-IBN had exposed the real face of Pakistan occupied Kashmir where there were massive protests against the Pakistani government in several areas of PoK, including Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Kotli.
The expose showed how the Pakistani establishment used brutal force to quell rebellion in the region, resorting to massive human rights violation even though Islamabad never lost an opportunity to hit out at New Delhi over Kashmir and the alleged attempts to suppress the people living in the Valley.

cnnibn

Brutal Repression By Pakistani Forces In PoK – Analysis

 

Islamabad is treating areas of Kashmir illegally occupied by them as a colony. Pakistan has not developed infrastructure in the area with an ulterior motive and the residents continue to lead their lives without the basic privileges the modern world of today can afford. There are no highways, no good roads, less educational institutions and age-old medical facilities.
The areas of Kashmir illegitimately taken from India consist of POK, Gilgit-Baltistan and territories given to China. Domestic or international press is not free to cover Pakistan Occoupied areas of Kashmir, hence world does not so much know about the pitiable and underdeveloped condition of the masses. But sometime back the residents of POK revolted against Islamabad.
These massive protests were not sporadic, but they were the result of colossal repression by security forces. The demonstrators shouted anti-Pakistan and pro-India slogans. They stated that Pakistan has no right to occupy the areas of Kashmir as legally they are part of India and that Kashmiris in India are enjoying much better amenities and democratic rights than Pakistan. They also desired to be a part of India.
The protesters made videos of the repression by Pakistani security forces and sent it out to several countries including India hence the world came to know about the atrocities of Pakistani security forces.
Massive demonstrations were held in several parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir including Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Kotli etc. Pakistani forces used excessive force to quell the demonstrations.
Pakistani media which often write concocted stories about the human rights violations by Indian security forces in J&K were not allowed to cover these demonstrations and press has not given any publicity to the violent suppression by security forces.
Islamabad’s concern about the alleged human rights violations in J&K by Indian security forces and using brutal force in Kashmir under their illegitimate control indicates the double standards of Pakistan.
The sinister Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) which helps separatists in J&K is worried as their influence is diminishing and people want peace. The Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi gives importance to the leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) despite it having lost credibility and popular support so that the separatist movement continues in the valley.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended an invitation on October 10 to Syed Ali Shah Geelani Chairman of APHC to visit Pakistan. Geelani who always condemns Indian security forces had not uttered a word against oppression of Pakistani forces in POK instead while accepting the invitation, thanking Pakistan for helping Kashmiris instead.
The residents of POK pointed out that creation of Bangladesh is a proof of failure of the two nation theory; India has more Muslim population than Pakistan and that they have more rights than Shias do in Pakistan. They mention that Punjabis are exploiting all other nationalities in the country and their condition is worse than what it was under the British rule.
The Indians who visited POK mentioned that the residents are disillusioned from Islamabad and are impressed by the help rendered by Modi government during recent flood in J&K. They are also disheartened by growing extremism in Pakistan and appreciate democracy, rule of law and communal harmony in India.
Pakistani authorities conducted phony elections for 24 out of 33 seats in Gilgit and Baltistan Legislative Assembly on June 8. The authorities have imposed section 144 and put several restrictions before and after elections in the region. Several Shias of the area revealed that they were not allowed to cast votes and ballot boxes were stuffed by bogus ballot papers.
Government of India made a protest on the conduct of election as it is an integral part of India, but Pakistan rejected the protest mentioning it as an intrusion in their domestic affairs.
Several parts of Pakistan controlled areas in Kashmir are Shia majority areas. Sunni dominated Pakistan is settling Sunnis from other provinces in Shia areas to change the demography of the region.
China and Islamabad would exploit the mineral resources of the region and the benefits would go to them and the region would remain under developed. China besides minerals would also exploit water resources of the area. They cite the example of mineral rich Baluchistan which is the poorest province of the country.
Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as well as ISI sponsored terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taeba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jamaat-ud Dawa, Hizb-ul-Mujahidden and others run large number of terrorist training camps in Kashmir especially in Muzaffarabad, Dulai, Barali etc.
Ministry of External Affairs and Indian diplomatic missions abroad must launch a full scale campaign against the carnage and atrocities committed by Pakistani forces in the areas of Kashmir illegally captured by them. First of all it will mitigate Pakistani false propaganda against Indian security forces and secondly it will also get Pakistan on defensive.
Indian Foreign Secretary should summon Pakistani High Commissioner in India and should convey strongly that the residents of Pakistan Occoupied Kashmir have revolted against the suppression hence Pakistani government must take remedial measures as they all are Indian citizens.
The area which is adjacent to Xinjiang Autonomous Region is facing Islamic onslaught is strategically important. China which is helping various separatist outfits in India especially in North East can be reciprocated.
India which has the second largest Muslim population in the world must try to check the unwarranted growth of Islamic extremism in the region as it would be dangerous for the communal harmony of the country.
Government of India should assist the residents of POK who are legally Indian citizens and want to merge in India so that they are liberated from the draconian rule of Islamabad. India should not forget that in the past India had not assisted Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and his party, and now ISI maintains training camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
India must give a strong message to Pakistan that several nationalities including Balooch, Pathans, Sindhis, Muhajiris etc are not only demanding more autonomy they want to secede from Pakistan. The terrorism and extremism has increased manifold in the country and the economy is in shambles hence instead of abetting terrorism in India Pakistan should keep its house in order.

 eurasiareview

Indian Army looks to fast track BMP-2 upgrade to cover for delayed FICV

The Indian Army plans to fast track the upgrade of 1,000-1,200 of its ageing, licence-built Russian BMP-2/2K 'Sarath' infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) to BMP-2M standard by enhancing their offensive capabilities and fitting them with more powerful engines.
The estimated INR130 billion (USD2 billion) BMP-2 retrofit has acquired operational urgency after the long-delayed INR1 trillion Future ICV (FICV) programme, now delayed by over five years, was postponed once more.
In late September the Ministry of Defence (MoD) deferred the long-extended deadline for 10 Indian companies to submit their project reports for the FICV project by three months to mid-January 2016. It did so at the behest of the potential vendors, which were seeking clarification on the FICV project with regard to several of its overall qualitative requirements (QRs).

janes

No end in sight for Indian navy’s wait for torpedoes after scam

 

A crucial naval requirement for heavyweight torpedoes is stuck as the defence ministry awaits legal opinion on whether it can place an order for the lethal underwater weapon from the subsidiary of a tainted arms firm.
The navy plans to buy Black Shark torpedoes for its Scorpene submarines - under-construction at a yard in Mumbai - from Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS), a subsidiary of Italian defence conglomerate Finmeccanica embroiled in a chopper scam.
After a desperate push by the navy that has called the torpedoes an “operational necessity”, defence minister Manohar Parrikar referred the proposed acquisition to the law ministry a few months ago but no guidelines have been issued so far.
The law ministry’s opinion on the case will be hugely significant as it will decide if the government can award military contracts to subsidiaries of banned companies, shaping an overarching principle for future deals. WASS had emerged as the lowest bidder for supplying the heavyweight torpedoes for the Scorpene submarines, the first of which will get commissioned late next year.
India, however, banned Finmeccanica last year from taking part in future military tenders after its UK-based subsidiary AgustaWestland faced bribery allegations in the Rs 3,727-crore VVIP chopper deal. The deal with WASS was put on hold in July 2014.
“No decision has been taken on the Black Shark deal. It’s still with the law ministry…the government knows we require the torpedoes urgently,” a senior navy officer said.
There’s no ban on ongoing contracts with the Italian defence major. The defence ministry imposed a partial ban on Finmeccanica last year but did not blacklist the company following the attorney general’s advice that a complete ban on the group could affect the military’s combat readiness. The NDA government has advocated a flexible approach in dealing with such firms if the military’s combat readiness is at stake. The Centre is working on new defence procurement rules that will have specific guidelines for arms agents and blacklisted firms.
In August, Parrikar told Parliament that his ministry “has decided to seek opinion in the matter (WASS torpedoes) from the Ministry of Law and Justice.” The first Scorpene submarine, Kalvari, is scheduled to kick off its weapon trials towards June 2016. Six submarines are being built at the Mazagon Dock Ltd with technology from French firm DCNS under a Rs 23,562 crore project called P-75.

 hindustantimes

Lockheed begins construction of US presidential choppers in India

 

Construction of the first lot of six VH 92 Super Hawk helicopters that transport the US president has begun in India.  The new generation helicopter is based on the Sikorsky S-92, whose cabin, some other parts and wire harnesses are made only in India in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) at Hyderabad Work on the cabins, the initial building blocks for the VVIP helicopters, began recently at this facility, according to a report by India Strategic defence magazine .
The VH variant is a much advanced version of the civilian S-92 rotorcraft or its military version, the H-92 with more powerful twin engines, fly-by-wire systems and highly advanced communication and electronic warfare (EW) protection suites.  The US president is perhaps the most protected person in the world, and appropriately, the Tata-made aluminum and metal cabin may be reinforced with Kevlar and strong composite materials.  Precise details are nearly impossible to get, and even timelines for the presidential aircraft are never disclosed.
 In any case, all the fittings are to be done in the US itself, and what is delivered when and where is also determined there. In a couple of years though, after harsh tests and trials, the next US president may take off from the White House in one of these India-made cabins.  TASL makes 48 cabins a year, and which six of these cabins are selected for the VVIP helicopters will be decided by experts from the US Secret Sevice, the Marine Corps and Lockheed Martin in the US itself.  The presidential helicopter fleet is maintained by the US Marine Corps and any machine that the head of the state boards gets the call-sign Marine One. At least five of these aircraft travel with the President wherever he goes, even when abroad.
He stays connected with his office through satellites or connectivity by other systems irrespective of wherever he is.  Sikorsky had won the $1.24 billion deal in May 2014 to develop and build six new generation VVIP configuration machines, with the number going up gradually to 23 over the next few years and their value going up to an estimated $3 billion.  The project envisaged cooperation with Lockheed Martin for onboard protection and communication suites. Its financial component is to be additional for all the space-age gizmos and tech suites that it will put on board those machines. Signnificantly, Lockheed is now in command and control of all of Sikorsky's famed flying machines as only recently, it acquired the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation from United Technologies Corporation (UTC).
  Lockheed Martin is the world's biggest military systems' giant, and the TASL project is now part of its own very impressive portfolio.Notably, when Sikorsky won the deal for the VH-92, it was described as the world's most advanced executive transport helicopter by its president, Mick Maurer.  Sikorsky has been flying US presidents since 1957, beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower. The current versions that the president flies in are designated VH-3D and VH-69, based on the older generation of Sikorsky machines.  It may be recalled that the Tata-Sikorsky (76:24) venture had rolled out is first cabin in 2010, about a year after the assembly line was shifted from Japan to India.
 Reliable sources told India Strategic that by now, tens of these cabins have been exported to the US for completion and deployment globally as required.  The construction of the VIP configuration variant incidentally is an example of how UTC initiated a venture in India with an eye on the future for the company and a vision for the growing US-India Strategic relations. This, in fact, has often been emphasized by Sikorsky's India and South Asia Managing Director Air Vice Marshal A.J.S. Walia (retd).  The spacious S-92 is already being used for VIP travel in some countries, and is also on offer to India for both government and civilian roles.

economictimes

Pak develops nuclear weapons to combat possible war with India

Foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry has said that the country has made low-yield nuclear weapons to deal with India's cold-start doctrine that Pakistan claims was developed by Indian military for use in a possible war with the neighbouring nation.

It is the first time that a senior Pakistani official has given an explanation of the country's decision to make tactical nuclear weapons, renaming it as the country's proactive strategy, the Dawn reported.

Chaudhry also said that Pakistan would not sign any nuclear deal with the United States during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit.

Sharif will hold a meeting with US President Barack Obama on October 22.

US reports have said that the Obama administration is trying to persuade Pakistan to sign a nuclear deal, which will enable Islamabad to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group if it agrees to accept certain restrictions on its nuclear programme.

Chaudhry said that Pakistan's nuclear programme was not for starting a war but for deterrence.    -timesofindia 

Make arms in India: A statistical look at the indigenous push in defence

(economictimes): India has long held the status as the world's biggest arms importer — it procures nearly 70 per cent of arms from abroad. The NDA government under Narendra Modi wants to change that. It is keen to build a modern defence industry, pushing for planes, ships, tanks and guns to be produced in India along with automobiles, chemicals and electronics, as part of its pet Make in India campaign. 
Nowhere is this push more visible than in the number of licences handed to private enterprises for manufacturing defence items. The NDA government has already handed nearly 100 such licences since it came to power in May last year compared with the 200-odd licences its predecessor issued during its 10 years in office. (But will the flurry of licences alone be enough to change the tide? The Indian military has traditionally been skittish about buying weapons from Indian firms. Partnerships with foreign companies might help.)

‘Malabar exercise not directly aimed at China’

 

Amidst reports that China was monitoring the Malabar naval exercises, involving the Indian and U.S. Navies, besides the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the Bay of Bengal, a senior U.S. Navy official on Saturday said the exercise was “not directly aimed at China.”

Replying to a query by a team of visiting journalists on Chinese’ objection to Japan’s participation in the exercise, Rear Admiral Roy J. Kelly, Commander of the Carrier Strike Group 12 said, “That's Chinese’ issue. Nothing that we are doing in any part of this exercise or any of our interoperability is aimed directly at China. We are trying to improve our relationships and improve our abilities to operate together as military forces.”

Maintaining that the ongoing Malabar some 180 nautical miles off the Chennai coast was “not aimed at particular country or any particular operation,” he said that the exercise was to allow all countries to work together and to feel comfortable with each other “in ensuring the freedom of navigation and the freedom of commerce that flow around the world.”

A recent write-up, which appeared China’s state-run news agency Xinhua observed that Washington was “pushing” for making the Indo-U.S. bilateral exercise, with special invitees every year, into a trilateral, making Japan as a permanent participant.

As for Japan’s participation in the exercise, he said though Malabar was primarily bilateral since 1992, a number of countries had joined along the line. “This is the fourth time JMSDF has joined us [in the exercise] and as a result, I think it is going to be a trilateral exercise each year all three (sic),” he said.

Also onboard the 1,00,000-tonne weighing aircraft-carrier was a team of eight officers and 10 sailors of the Indian Navy, who were observing the functioning of the their American counterparts. “Our visit here helped in understanding how the U.S. Navy responds to situations and how to improve skills on both sides,” said Captain Anil Kumar, Director of Aircraft-Carrier Projects at the Indian Naval Headquarters.

All the three maritime forces were training in air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surface search with F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and Seahawk helicopters, surveillance with P-8A and Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft. Nuclear-powered submarine USS City of Corpus Christi and kilo-class INS Sindhudvaj were also involved in the training.

The 19th edition of ongoing exercise with U.S.’ USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Normandy, USS Forth Wort, Indian Navy’s INS Shivalik, INS Betwa, INS Ranvijay, INS Shakti and JMSDF’s FS Fuyuzuk would conclude on October 19. 

 thehindu