Russia’s S-400 Missile Defense System Has No Equal Globally

The S-400 Triumf, a top-tier anti-aircraft weapon system produced in Russia, has no parallels across the globe in terms of combat capabilities, defense expert Konstantin Sivkov told Radio Sputnik.

Take the US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, for instance. "The THAAD has shorter range and is incapable of hitting targets beyond the horizon. In addition, it is purely an anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles," he added.

The S-400, developed in response to President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, has a lot more to offer.
The Triumf's first unique feature is its long range.

"The S-400 is capable of hitting targets at a height of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles). Its second distinctive feature is fire-and-forget capability. Its missiles are fitted with a homing device which can lock on a target and destroy it. Unlike US systems, the S-400 does not need to track the target," Sivkov explained.

In addition, the S-400 is the only missile complex in the world capable of hitting targets located beyond the horizon, the expert noted. The system is also well protected against electronic warfare.

Unsurprisingly, the S-400 Triumf has caused a stir. So far only China signed a contract for the deliveries of the cutting-edge missile defense system but many are likely to follow.

Saudi Arabia is said to be interested in purchasing the S-400s, while a $10 billion arms deal with India is expected to be inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in December.

 Sputnik

Government likely to simplify eligibility norms for FDI in defence sector

India is looking to simplify eligibility for foreign defence equipment manufacturers to invest up to 100% in Indian ventures as part of the big-ticket reform package to be rolled out before the winter session of Parliament.  At present, India allows up to 49% foreign direct investment in the defence sector and up to 100% FDI is allowed in projects involving state of the art technology, to be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security on a case to case basis.
The government has begun discussions to bring clarity on what 'state of the art' implies so as to expand the basket of products to become eligible for higher foreign investment and reduce the country's reliance on imports, a top government official said. "We are looking at simplifying the overall framework," the official told ET. "A number of sectoral conditions do not mean much and create unnecessary deterrent." Another government official said that there are a host of conditions specified in the FDI policy that even cover appointment of chief security officer. The government plans to streamline and simplify these conditions, particularly for dual use products. The proposal is expected to be finalised shortly, the second official said The Narendra Modi-led government considers defence production as one of the focus areas to ramp up the country's manufacturing sector, which is slowly moving back towards recovery. "Today our nation imports defence equipment in large quantity,"
Modi had said at an event on Thursday. "Is it not possible that our institutions concentrate in the area of defence and research and prepare a human resource development pool which will help in making equipment cheaper to the extent that outside importers use this talent for manufacturing? India can be a global market if we do it," he had said. There is growing interest among foreign players in the sector and the government is keen to ensure that this interest is translated into investments. The defence ministry is separately working on simplified defence procurement procedure, expected to be unveiled this month in tandem with the overhaul of the FDI policy, officials said. India's capital acquisition budget up to 2024 is upwards of $160 billion, or about .`10,50,000 crore, according to industry estimates. This, along with offsets investment, is expected to draw foreign players and foreign capital, and also make existing domestic players ramp up their capacity.Experts say big ticket procurement could spur investments in the sector. "There is reasonable certainty of continuing demand," said Kumar Kandaswami, senior director, Deloitte in India. "While all manufacturers will be willing to take on the commercial and business risks, they would want to see action in terms of the big ticket procurements happening for them to commit significant investments," he said.
The government is pursuing a sensible policy. Over 60% of India's defence procurement is done through costly imports. China, on the other hand, has become a net exporter, with the expertise to develop indigenous systems. Allowing foreign manufacturers 100% stake, or even majority ownership in joint ventures, makes sense, and will bring in more FDI. However, the government should ensure that foreign manufacturers hand over codes and passwords for all sophisticated weapons that use critical,  advanced digital technology.

economictimes

LCH set to achieve final clearance in November

 

The 5.8 tonne indigenously designed and built multirole chopper is the only attack helicopter in the world that can operate at heights of 12,000 feet.

The indigenously designed and built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is all set to achieve final clearance anytime this month. Following that, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will start serial production of the attack choppers. The 5.8 tonne multirole attack chopper is intended to play a major role in providing close air support to ground forces and is the only attack helicopter in the world that can operate at heights of 12,000 feet.

“Having completed all performance trails, final clearance is expected anytime soon from the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) in Bangalore. After that we will integrate weapons and finalise configuration as per the requirements of the end users — the Army and Air Force,” a senior HAL official told The Hindu.

HAL already has a firm order for 65 from the Air Force and 114 from the Army. This number is expected to go up given the army’s plan to have attack helicopters embedded in all formations for close air support.

HAL officials explained that unlike fixed wing aircraft which need Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC), helicopters usually get a final clearance. The government had earlier informed Parliament that production plans for LCH have been made from 2017-18.

Light Utility Helicopter

HAL is scheduled to conduct the maiden flight of the under development Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in December coinciding with the 75 year celebrations of the company.

“Efforts are on to have the first flight in December,” one defence official said. The 3.1 tonne single engine helicopter is powered by the Shakti engine which powers the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) as well as the LCH and is intended to replace the ageing Cheetahs and Chetaks with the three services.

As per plan, HAL intends to build four prototypes by 2017 and start production by 2018. The Army and Air Force together have committed to purchase 187 LUHs. 

 thehindu

‘Aim to upgrade submarines used by Indian Navy

 

ThyssenKrupp unit seeks pact with shipyards; awaiting nod from Centre, says MD of India arm

German defence company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is keen to offer its Type 214 submarine for the Indian Navy’s $7 billion P-75 (I) project, which seeks to build six new-generation diesel electric submarines. The defence major is awaiting a request for proposal (RFP) for the additional stealth submarines, and is eager to ink partnerships with Indian shipyards that include extensive offset activities and transfer of technology.

The Indian Navy currently operates 14 diesel-powered submarines, and one nuclear-powered submarine. It has been operating four HDW Class 209/1500 submarines, locally known as the ‘Shishumar’ class. The after-sales service provider, Marine Logistik GmbH, delivering spare parts for the ‘Shishumar’ class, was integrated into ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) last year. The cooperation continues under the new affiliation, with TKMS looking to support the upgrade of two vessels through the integration of the latest weapons and sensors, as well as bring its expertise in cutting-edge areas to India.

Gurnad S Sodhi, Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems India, spoke to BusinessLine about how the company has been supporting India’s indigenous defence industry for over a quarter of a century.

Could you tell us more on the company’s plans for India, specifically with regard to Type 214 submarine?

As one of the leading European manufacturers of non-nuclear submarines and high-end naval vessels, TKMS possesses outstanding expertise in system integration and in the role of a prime contractor.

We await the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to issue the P-75 (I) RFP, for which we plan to offer the Type 214 submarine. Besides its highly regarded anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the HDW Class 214’s proven fuel-cell based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system is the best available in the market.

(While conventional diesel electric submarines have to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries, AIP systems help submarines to stay submerged for longer periods.) It offers exceptional operational advantages, combining best-in-class underwater endurance and diving depth to the Indian Navy.

Could you provide an update on the ongoing programmes with the Indian Navy?

The Indian Navy has been our customer for over 30 years. Over this period, we have demonstrated our commitment to the Indian Navy, as it has been operating four HDW Class 209/1500 submarines, locally known as the Shishumar class.

The very fact that INS Shalki and Shankul were made in India by a local shipyard under a technology transfer agreement is proof that TKMS has been supporting India’s indigenous defence industry for over a quarter of a century. We can proudly claim that even today, all our four submarines are performing very well without any inherent problems.

However, since the submarines are reaching the end of their operational cycles, we are exploring opportunities to upgrade the Shishumar class to Type 209 submarines with the Indian Navy, with special refit programmes called lifetime extensions.

TKMS is also in discussions with the Indian Navy about integration of weapon systems; we have the capacity to integrate most weapon systems that are selected by the Indian Navy into the existing Shishumar class submarines.

In fact, such customised integrations have been successfully carried out by TKMS in similar type of submarines for many other Navies of the world.

Has TKMS short-listed any Indian shipyard for collaboration or alliance?

We are aware that a well-qualified and high level committee has been formed by the MoD, which is presently evaluating the Indian shipyards. We will wait for the committee to submit its report. We respect the decision by the MoD in short-listing the most capable shipyards without any bias.

Thereafter, we will commence our detailed negotiations with the shortlisted shipyards, public and/or private.

German naval shipyards have begun to export submarines all over the world. Any specific aspect about the TKMS’ submarine that would benefit India?

Historically, no shipyard in the world has more experience in designing and constructing conventional submarines than TKMS. A robust partnership with Indian shipyards, including extensive offset activities and transfer of technology, would form the core of TKMS’ offer for the expected P-75(I) tender.

In addition, the HDW Class 214’s proven AIP system comes with a distinct advantage as they are inherently noiseless, making them ideal for submarine operations under silent conditions, thus our fleet is also known as the ‘Silent Fleet’.

 thehindubusinessline

10 years in making, Astra advanced air combat missile may be ready in 2016

 

The missile's "muscle-power", in terms of range, has already been successfully tested nine times from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets since last year. The "brains" will be tested next month. When the brains and brawn are tested together by mid-2016, India will finally be able to brandish its own Astra air-to-air missile.India may have developed surface-to-surface nuclear missiles like the Agni-V, which can strike targets over 5,000-km away, but has struggled to develop a complex BVR (beyond visual range) air combat missile like Astra for over a decade now.
Once the all-weather Astra is ready, India will join a handful of countries like the US, Russia, France and Israel which have developed such sleek missiles capable of detecting, tracking and destroying highly-agile hostile supersonic fighters packed with "counter-measures'' at long ranges. Indian fighters are currently armed with Russian, French and Israeli BVR missiles, which cost a packet in the absence of a cheaper indigenous alternative."The Astra missile, with a range from 44 to 60km, is coming up very well.
 I am confident it will be able to meet the revised project completion date of December 2016," said DRDO chief Dr S Christopher, talking to TOI on Thursday.Since then, the 3.8-metre long missile, which flies at a speed of over four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5, has been successfully fired with "pre-fed, fixed target coordinates" nine times. Next month, the "captive trials" will begin to complete the "electronic loop" or prove the missile's brains with "target lock-on and destroy" capabilities.

For this, the missile will be armed with terminal radio-frequency seekers but without any warheads or propellants. The subsequent stage will see the missile being fired in "full configuration" at "actual manoeuvring targets" mimicking enemy fighters by mid-2016.

DRDO says Astra has "excellent" ECCM (electronic counter-counter measures) to tackle jamming by hostile aircraft, active radar terminal guidance and other features for "high single-shot kill probability" in both head-on and tail-chase" mode. The IAF is keeping its fingers crossed.

economictimes

Defence preparedness: 5 recent developments to boost India's chopper strength

 

At a time when the global power and strategic equations are under focus, India's defence sector has seen a major fillip in the last few months. There is increased stress on indigenization under the 'Make-in-India' policy and government is all set to unveil a new more 'industry-friendly' defence procurement policy by this month end. Meanwhile, with 49% FDI now allowed in the defence sector, various partnerships between India's growing private-sector defence firms and foreign companies are hatching. The government has also cleared deals to ensure enhanced combat and defence preparedness of the armed forces. But how far has the government progressed? 
In a series of articles, ET will list out some major areas that have found focus. In this article we look at five exciting developments that have taken place to boost India's chopper strength.  India has recently signed a nearly $3 billion deal for purchase of 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant Boeing and the US government.
 The Cabinet Committee on Security had on September 22 cleared the deal which had been hanging since 2013 when the cost negotiations were completed. Apache AH 64D Longbow helicopters are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, featuring all-weather and night-fighting features, ability to track upto 128 targets in less than a minute and engage with 16, besides stealth characteristics, advanced sensors and beyond visual range missiles.
The Apache will be the first pure attack helicopter in India's possession. While the Russian origin Mi 35 has been operated for years and is now on the verge of retirement, it was an assault chopper that was designed to carry troops into heavily defended territories. CH-47F Chinook helicopter can carry 9.6 tons of cargo, including heavy machinery, artillery guns and even light armoured vehicles to high altitude.  The long pending acquisition will not only augment air force's heavy lift capability for military tasks but is a vital addition for the construction of strategic roads and infrastructure projects on the border. 
To meet the massive, urgent requirements of the armed forces, India is set to have three different lines of light military choppers, all of which will be manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative.  Senior officials have told ET that despite a deal with the Russian government for Ka 226 helicopters, two other lines, including a western chopper that it still to be selected will be required to keep pace with the demand of the three forces. Indicating that a major 'Make in India' project for the private sector to produce close to 200 helicopters in partnership with a foreign vendor is still alive despite the Kamov deal, a senior air force functionary said that tenders for the program would be out soon.

 In a deal, India and Russia have agreed to jointly build 200 military choppers as part of intensification and diversification of their strategic ties.Moving ahead on its Rs 6,000-crore 'Make in India' project for military helicopters, Russia recently informed Ministry of Defence about a partnership with Reliance Defence to manufacture Kamov 226T choppers locally.In a letter sent to the Indian government, Russia has announced an understanding with the subsidiary company of Reliance Infrastructure for the project, indicating that the company could be a lead integrator for the mega contract to manufacture 200 twin-engine helicopters for the Indian Army. 
Deputy CEO of Russian Helicopters, Vadim Ligay said the option to partner with India's public-sector enterprise Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) was also open. "The topic of who to work with, which company, is part of the negotiation process of the contract, as I am sure you understand," he said.
Even though the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), by state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been under development for some years, a series of recent performance trials have paved way for finalisation of basic configuration.  Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar recently visited HAL's helicopter complex to have a detailed look on advanced features and armanent fit of LCH prototypes, as the chopper inches closer to certification.
 LCH has completed performance flight trials which involved not only development testing at Bangalore but also trials at extreme environment conditions such as sea level at Chennai, cold weather at Leh, hot weather at Jodhpur and hot and high altitude tests at Leh.  In addition to that, in conversation with Economictimes.com, HAL said that the LCH is now eyeing weapon-based trials with its fourth technology demonstrator, TD-4HAL claims that the LCH is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as Air Defence, anti-tank, scout and support combat search/rescue missions. It incorporates a number of stealth features such as reduced visual, aural, radar and infra-red signatures and crashworthy landing gear, armour protection for better survivability.
 The helicopter is powered by two Shakti engines. There are plans to produce LCH in large numbers to meet the operational requirements."TD-4 has been planned to facilitate accelerated weapon flight trials. TD-4 is getting ready and would be available for weapon trials soon," HAL's CMD, T Suvarna Raju told 
     The coast guard is finally close to getting its own fleet of medium lift choppers, the requirement for which was raised after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that exposed chinks in the surveillance and interception capabilities of the force.  While the coast guard currently operates ageing Chetaks as well as indigenous Advanced Light Choppers (ALH) for patrolling, search and rescue and casualty evacuation, it will be able to cover larger areas faster with the new fleet.
Sources have told ET that Airbus as emerged as the lead bidder for a Rs 2000 crore coast guard competition to procure 14 helicopters. The EC 725 is learnt to have beat its competitor, Sikorsky's S 92. Airbus Helicopters and Mahindra Defence, a Mahindra Group subsidiary, have announced their plan to produce helicopters to cater to India's military requirements.  According to the two companies, the joint venture will be set up in the coming months.
              "The tie-up is in line with our intent to develop an indigenous industrial ecosystem dedicated to helicopters," Guillaume Faury, Airbus Helicopters' president and CEO said in the statement, announcing the memorandum of understanding.The two companies will now get into discussions to finalise the formation of the joint venture which, once set up, will act as the prime contractor for India's military helicopter tenders including the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopter, the Naval Utility Helicopter and the Naval Multirole Helicopter procurement programmes. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra group, soon after signing a supply agreement with Airbus Group SE, had termed it as just the "tip of the iceberg". 
The Mahindra group, India's leading utility vehicle and tractor maker through Mahindra Aerospace makes utility aircraft business, based in Australia, and currently produces the Airvan 8, a turbo-prop aircraft.

economictimes

At a time when the global power and strategic equations are under focus, India's defence sector has seen a major fillip in the last few months. There is increased stress on indigenization under the 'Make-in-India' policy and government is all set to unveil a new more 'industry-friendly' defence procurement policy by this month end.

Meanwhile, with 49% FDI now allowed in the defence sector, various partnerships between India's growing private-sector defence firms and foreign companies a ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/49672691.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

At a time when the global power and strategic equations are under focus, India's defence sector has seen a major fillip in the last few months. There is increased stress on indigenization under the 'Make-in-India' policy and government is all set to unveil a new more 'industry-friendly' defence procurement policy by this month end.

Meanwhile, with 49% FDI now allowed in the defence sector, various partnerships between India's growing private-sector defence firms and foreign companies a ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/49672691.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

At a time when the global power and strategic equations are under focus, India's defence sector has seen a major fillip in the last few months. There is increased stress on indigenization under the 'Make-in-India' policy and government is all set to unveil a new more 'industry-friendly' defence procurement policy by this month end.

Meanwhile, with 49% FDI now allowed in the defence sector, various partnerships between India's growing private-sector defence firms and foreign companies a ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/49672691.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

India explores joint route to get uranium from Namibia

 

India may consider options including joint exploration with the Namibian government for uranium as Delhi has yet to receive even an ounce of the yellow cake under a supply deal signed with the African country six years ago. No government-to-government trade is currently possible because the mines are privately owned with the government having little say on supplies, Namibian officials said.

On last Wednesday, Namibian President Hage Geingob explained this situation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people familiar with their discussion on the sidelines of the Africa-India Forum Summit in New Delhi said. "The government does not own uranium," one of these people quoted Geingob as saying.

Uranium in Namibia can only be acquired through securing prospecting licences, Geingob told the PM. India has the option of negotiating with existing companies that are mining uranium in Namibia. There is also the option for India and Namibia to collaborate via a joint exploration project, the president said.According to a statement issued by the office of the Namibian president, Modi responded positively by saying that India would work towards putting mechanisms in place to pursue these options. "India is keen to promote clean energy and, due to this, the country needs uranium," the statement quoted Modi as saying.

Namibia and India signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and a memorandum of understanding on geology and mineral resources in 2009. After signing the 2009 agreement, Namibia's mines minister at the time, Erkki Nghimtina, had said his country could start exporting uranium oxide to India, since it is no longer subject to the embargo on international nuclear trade. Officials on both sides will figure out a mechanism to commence supplies to India.

economictimes

Over 100 mobile phone towers to be set up along China border

A massive communication channel will be set up along the India-China frontier with the installation of more than 100 mobile phone towers. The network will benefit the security forces and civilians, who currently have to use expensive satellite phones. The mobile phone towers will ensure that officers and jawans can freely speak to their families, without queuing up to use a satellite phone.
 As mobile phone communication will also allow immediate information relay between security forces and their informers, adequate measures will have to be taken to prevent monitoring. The project to lay optical fibre cable (OFC) in Ladakh for installing landline phones for use by the ITBP is also being considered. The Indian Army has laid OFC at its posts. "The ITBP will tie up with the Army to connect each other's posts and on other modalities for the project," sources said. At present, the ITBP uses Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPT). These are of two types-village public telephone (VPT) and the ones used by the ITBP at 95 per cent of its border outposts. 
The ITBP has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for 50 more DSPTs. VPTs are set up for use by villagers, while the ITBP is the phone's custodians. The call rate is Rs 1 per minute.  The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved an ITBP proposal to set up mobile phone towers along the India-China frontier.  The BSNL will set up 123 towers along the frontier-Ladakh (28), Himachal Pradesh (eight), Uttarakhand (39), Sikkim (eight) and Arunachal Pradesh (40). These towers will be set up in a manner that their signal doesn't reach the other side of the border.

 tribuneindia

Chinese Attack Sub Allegedly Tails US Aircraft Carrier

 

A Chinese submarine is said to have "sailed very close" to the USS Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, just days before Washington caused uproar by sending the USS Lassen within 12 nautical miles of man-made islands which Beijing claims as its own, the Washington Free Beacon reported, citing unnamed US defense officials.

"Disclosure of the Chinese submarine encounter comes as Adm. Harry Harris is visiting China for the first time as the commander of US forces in the Pacific. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Command spokesmen declined to comment on the submarine encounter but did not deny that the incident occurred," the media outlet noted.

The encounter is alleged to have happened on or around October 24 in the Sea of Japan after the USS Reagan left its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. No additional details of the incident are available, including the type of the Chinese submarine or the distance between the two warships.
 The Washington Free Beacon referred to the incident as "the closest encounter" between a US aircraft carrier and a Chinese submersible in nearly a decade. A previous incident involving the USS Kitty Hawkand and a Song-class attack submarine took place on October 26, 2006.
On October 26, 2015, the US carried out a so-called "freedom of navigation" operation in the South China Sea, which Beijing denounced as a violation of its sovereignty and a "blatant provocation." On Wednesday, China's Defense Minister Chang Wanquan urged the US to refrain from similar acts in the future.Chang Wanquan reaffirmed that Beijing is strongly against any US moves that threaten "China's sovereignty and security interests and undermines regional peace and stability," Xinhua news agency reported.

 sputnik

India seals Rs 70,000 cr missile deal with Russia

 

(UNI) :  In what could easily be said the biggest ever defence deal with Russia, India has stitched a contract to acquire S-400 anti-ballistic missile systems from Moscow at a cost of around Rs 70,000 crores, top sources in the Defence Ministry said here today.
The modalities, including the price of deal and number of systems to be acquired, were agreed upon in the meeting of India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Military-Technical-Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) which concluded today in Moscow, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar co-chairing it jointly with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
The mega deal, along with an agreement to get another nuclear submarine, is likely to be formally signed during the visit to Russia of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who would be travelling to Moscow sometime in December for an annual summit with President Vladimir Putin, the sources told .

Will India Purchase 154 Fighter Jets From Russia?

 

A collaboration contract for joint work and delivery of 154 Perspective Multirole Fighter (PMF), the derivative Indian version of the PAK FA T-50 fifth generation fighter jet, is expected to finally be signed during the Indo-Russian summit this December, The Financial Express reports.
The agreement, which already was supposed to have been signed this July, includes a fixed order of 154 aircraft, a definite work share commitment, and a detailed order of the number of single- versus double-seat PMF (aka Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) fighter planes. According to the draft agreement, the aircraft will be built in India, but all of the components will be manufactured in Russia.
Additionally, the contract will likely include specifications regarding the 40 changes that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants in comparison to the current T-50 prototype such as the aircraft’s AL-41F1 engine and its stealth and weapon-carrying capability.
As I reported previously (See: “What’s the Status of the Indian-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Jet?”), in early 2007 India and Russia agreed to jointly develop a fifth generation fighter jet. Unfortunately, the program has been plagued by delays, cost overruns, and unsteady technology; which, among other things,  has affected the IAF’s plan to increase the number of combat squadrons from currently 32 (some sources say 35) to 42 by 2027 (See: “India’s Air Force Will Field 42 Combat Squadrons by 2027”).
As a result, according to a senior official in the Indian Ministry of Defense quoted by The Financial Express, the Indian government might need to reevaluate its negotiation position vis-à-vis Russia when it comes to details of the contract:

Given the current situation, where the Indian Air Force (IAF) is in deep trouble due to its fast depleting force structure, the Indian government will need to take well thought out decision with long-term and strategic foresight. There is no doubt that the PAK-FA (Sukhoi Design Proposal) will be emerge as a major FGFA in the world. Hence, it would be better for India to take a reality check on the FGFA and recalibrate its position.

Speaking to The Financial Express, retired Air Marshall M. Matheswaran provided some additional background info on the FGFA program:

The origins of FGFA proposals go back to 2002, when it was suggested by the Russians for an inter-governmental program. Given the urgency of its requirement for the badly-depleted Russian Air Force and the need for financial investment to cover the huge cost of the program, Russia hoped to address it through India as its partner. Besides, a huge order from the IAF would retain continuity in India-Russia military aircraft production relationship and help the Russian aircraft industry.
 In the meantime, many things have happened. The IAF has downsized its requirement to just 64 aircraft as off-the shelf buy. Discussions on costs and role in non-existent design and development have resulted in a messy situation. The defense minister will have a tough call to make.

The Russian Air Force is slated to receive its first batch of PAK FA T-50 fifth generation fighter jets by late 2016 or early 2017. However, the current head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, is not counting on the successful completion of the Indo-Russian project:

 If the FGFA comes through it is fine, otherwise the Indian FGFA — that is the AMCA, the advanced medium combat aircraft — we still have over 15 years to work on it before the MiG-29 upgraded aircraft retire, before the Mirage 2000 upgraded ones retire, as well as Jaguar upgraded ones retire in another 15 years.

Both countries have already invested around $230 million into the program. If the $35 billion deal is signed,  it would be one of India’s most expensive defense procurement programs ever.

 thediplomat

Strengthening submarine fleet of India

 

(NJS): India’s long pending requirement of submarines may be bit fulfilled for time being by selecting  Two kilo class submarines in fasttrack mode, this December  visiting Indian prime minister may be expected likely to ink.

After a  major setback to Indian underwater capability , after one of the kilo class ‘INS Sindhurakshak’ met deadly accident, Indian submarine fleet gone into deep trouble. The current strength of the Indian submarine fleet is like a toy against in case of two way front war against our land grabbing neighbours . once Chinese state media the Global Times, used the term 'Paper Tiger' to describe the Indian navy.

This year December visit to russia  by India Prime minister , Russia may offer india with its ongoing projects of its two kilo class submarines, which is currently under constructed in St.Petersburg Yard, 

1. Veliky Novgorod and

 2. Kolpino , 

which is project 636.6 class which may be ready for launched  in 2016 if india goes as per schedule.

This model is the latest variety in kilo class which Russia already supplied to China, Algeria and Vietnam .This sub has capacity of 45days Endurance and has test depth of 300m ,

	Armament:            •        6/533 mm  torpedo tubes                              •       18 torpedos                              •       24 mines                              •       Club S Anti ship missiles                              •       Crew strength :52 nos