Door Opened To India For Deeper Striking M777 Guns

India’s first new artillery guns since the infamous Bofors Scandal of the eighties will enter service this September when two BAE Systems M777 ultra-light howitzers (ULHs) are handed over to the Indian Army. Part of a $750 million deal for 145 guns concluded in November 2016, the first two guns arrived in May last year and have since been deployed at the Pokhran field firing range in India’s western desert sector to generate firing range tables for the Army’s artillery directorate. The two guns, reset to their factory settings and joined by three more guns that will arrive from the United Kingdom, will join the Army in September and begin a training phase with an artillery unit.

While in inquiry into a September 2017 barrel incident involving one of the M777s using local ammunition is still underway, Livefist learns that the gun has since resumed firing exercises for the Army’s range tables without a hitch, and will complete the committed requirement over the next five months.

While the first lot of guns are being supplied direct by BAE Systems, its Indian joint venture production partner Mahindra’s Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) facility opens on Delhi’s outskirts by end June and will begun to supply Indian-assembled guns at a rate of five per month starting March 2019.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems, which has been involved in a U.S. Army requirement to extend the range of current and future M777s with a longer barrel (from the current 39 cal to a new 55 cal barrel) has opened the door to the Indian Army to join up if its interested. BAE Systems showcased M777 and M777ER models side by side at DefExpo 2018.

Speaking to Livefist, Paul West, India Campaign Director – Weapon Systems at BAE Systems said, “It could be a simply logistics decision for the Indian Army if it is interested in the extended range M777.”

The M777ER is a set of six modules that can be retrofitted on existing M777 guns, doubling their effective range to between 54-70 km depending on the sort of ammunition used. The modules include a modified barrel, suspension and recoil system, and adds approximately 500 kg to the M777’s existing weight, though BAE Systems engineers are working to see if the modification can be effected with no change in the gun’s weight.

West is cautious, though — and for good reason. The M777 deal has had a long and troublesome birthing, with India concluding the deal after over a decade in delayed process, including several occasions when the contract appeared to be firmly on the familiar proverbial backburner.

“The discussion and the M777 extended range option isn’t meant to be disruptive or to interrupt the Indian build program. However, it is a safer way for India to modernise looking into the future,” West says.

With the BAE-Mahindra joint venture to begin churning out guns from later this year, the Indian Army has been briefed that it has the option of either retrofitting its M777s to the ER standard later, or modifying the Faridabad assembly line itself so that later tranches of the gun could be of the extended range version. The Indian Army has heard out the offer, though it remains very unclear how much manoeuvering room it may have with the existing deal considering intensifying budgetary pressures. The Army could conceivably understand the merit of advance planning on a modernised gun that it has fought hard and long for, especially with the attendant Make in India skin it will bear. But selling an additional cost on an existing deal at a time when other modernisation priorities tread water will be something else altogether.

BAE, though, is looking ahead. A more realistic option could lie beyond the current order of 145 guns. The current order is a bare 20 per cent of India’s known requirement of at least 700 ultra-light howitzer guns for its mountain divisions. West says an India-specific extended range barrel could be considered as part of work undertaken by BAE-Mahindra in India. The U.S. Army will get to fire six M777ER prototypes in 2020. The Indian production run of the M777 will be complete by June 2021.

“It would be a good idea for a three-way discussion to take place at this time between the Indian Army, the U.S. Army and us. There’s huge commonality between the M777 and the M777ER,” West says.

The Indian Air Force’s new Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavylift helicopters, which begin arriving in March 2019, will almost definitely count as one of their missions transporting underslung M777s to forward areas for training and exercises. The M777ER will also be Chinook-transportable, BAE Systems confirms.Competition to the M777 for further ultra-light howitzer orders from the Indian Army though could come from India’s Kalyani Group, which unveiled its own ULH offering at DefExpo this year. The

Being developed in two variants — conventional recoil and ‘advance hybrid’ recoil — the 155mm/39cal artillery weapon system weighing between 4.3-4.8 tons. A statement from the Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd this week said, “This breakthrough has been achieved through innovative design and use of special lightweight materials. A one of its kind variant designed in the world, this gun provides high field maneuverability.”

The Indian Army’s ambitious $8 billion field artillery rationalisation plan looks to arm over 160 artillery regiments with guns that span the full spectrum of howitzer technology. The first of 100 L&T-Hanhwa Techwin K9 Vajra-T tracked self-propelled howitzers begin deliveries this year to the Indian Army, with L&T to concurrently begin rolling out Indian-built versions from its Hazira facility in Gujarat. Prime Minister Modi was introduced to the first specimen at DefExpo on April 12.

        Apart from the high-visibility DRDO ATAGS and OFB Dhanush (an Indian-built Bofors FH-77), another gun that will likely compete for Indian Army orders, and unveiled at DefExpo, is a 155mm/52cal truck-mounted gun system developed and built by India’s BEML in collaboration with the Ordnance Factory Board and BEL.

shivaroor

Requests for proposals: Indian Navy looks to buy 57 fighters for Rs 95,000 crore

The Indian Navy will soon invite requests for proposals (RfPs) for a Rs 95,000-crore tender to purchase 57 fighter aircraft. An official source said: “Companies including Sweden-based SAAB, Lockheed Martin, Boeing (both US-based firms), France’s Dassault Aviation and Russia’s MIG will be receiving the RfPs soon.” These firms had responded to requests for information (RfIs) issued in 2017. The navy’s move comes close on the heels of the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeking RfIs for110 fighter jets, in what could potentially lead to a deal worth $15 billion, one of the biggest for India’s armed forces in recent years. According to industry sources, Boeing’s recently announced tie-up with the Mahindra Group and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is primarily in view of the the 57-aircraft requirement for the navy.

Speaking to FE on condition of anonymity, a senior service officer indicated that the navy’s requirement could be substituted by IAF, which needs ground-based fighters at strategic locations in the Indian Ocean. According to military experts, while the American companies are not offering their latest technology fighters like the F-22 and F-35 to the IAF, the competition will hinge on the level of the technology to be released by the firms from Russia, France and Europe for the 110 fighters for the IAF.

The American fighters being offered are both old-technology aircraft with differences in specifications; for instance, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 has 12,000 hours’ service life versus Boeing’s F/A-18’s 6,000-hour service life. Other differentiators also lie in AESA technology and electronic warfare capability in modern warfare. The RfI for 57 aircraft for the Indian Navy are “intended as day-and-night capable, all-weather, multi-role, deck-based combat aircraft which can be used for air defence, air-to-surface operations, buddy refuelling, reconnaissance, etc, from IN aircraft carriers”.

 financialexpress

India-Russia close to inking warship deal

Moving closer towards buying four advanced warships for the Navy, India has finalised the price of the vessels to be bought directly from Russia at around USD 1.1 billion while Defence Ministry is pushing for conclusion of the contract for the remaining two vessels which would be built by the Goa Shipyard under Make in India programme.

The warships are being acquired from Russia as the Navy wanted to enhance its blue water capabilities by inducting four state-of-the-art warships equipped with the deadly BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in the earliest possible timeframe.

After Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharamans visit to Russia, the Russian and Indian sides have completed the price negotiations for the Russian material to be supplied to the Goa Shipyards at around USD 200 million. The Indian negotiators have also managed to get a discount of 18 per cent in the contract, government sources said.

After Sitharamans push to the programme, a Russian team had come at the Defexpo-2018 in Chennai and held discussions for price during the exhibition and continued it in Delhi in the last two days, they said.

The Defence Minister had visited Russia earlier this month where she discussed multiple military cooperation programmes between the two countries.

The Indian side in the discussions is led by a Joint Secretary-level official of the Defence Ministry. The Russian shipyard involved in the project is Yantar.

The negotiations for the cost of the warships to be built at the Goa Shipyards will continue and it is expected that the programme would be finalised in next couple of months, the sources said.

According to the plan, the defence ministry wants to go the Cabinet Committee on Security with a combined proposal including the cost of the Russian supplied and the Made in India vessels together, the sources said.

 indiatoday

Ukraine, US are kicking Russia out of India’s defense market

The Ukrainian and Russian military-industrial complexes are engaged in a fierce competition for India’s arms market. India, which represents 12 percent of global arms purchases, is critical for both countries, and their rivalry will only intensify.

New Delhi is aware of Russia’s unreliability and unpredictability. India understands that Western sanctions have wreaked havoc on the Russian defense industry and seeks to diversify its arms imports, signing a growing number of contracts with NATO countries.

For India, Ukraine is becoming a vital partner. New Delhi has chosen to increase its reliance on Ukraine in the repair and modernization of Soviet weapons, which constitute an essential part of all armaments of the Armed Forces of India.

New Delhi’s decision to partner with Ukraine is a consequence of Russia’s inability to fulfill part of its Indian contracts because of the breakdown of technical cooperation between Russia and Ukraine after Russian aggression in Crimea and the Donbass. Moscow’s lack of access to the Ukrainian defense industry is costing the Russian defense sector dearly.

The Kremlin is extremely concerned about this, since the weakening of its position on the Indian market is not only a loss of profitable contracts, but also of geopolitical influence in an extremely important region. Russia’s reduced presence in India — resulting in part from Ukrainian defense competition — has generated a vacuum that will inevitably be replaced by U.S. influence.

Russia has failed to increase the quality of its weapons systems and provides regular deliveries of defective products. (For example, more than half of the 210 Su-30MK fighter jets bought by Russia are inactive due to maintenance problems).

As a result, Moscow chooses to compete unfairly and unethically.

Using a range of surreptitious hybrid tactics, the Kremlin is trying to discredit Ukraine as a reliable and honest partner. Russian propaganda and information campaigns are regularly carried out to spread the false narrative that Ukraine and its military-industrial complex produce defective products, are massively corrupt and engage in illicit arms trafficking around the world. This information warfare is conducted not only in the Indian and Ukrainian press, but also in the international media, including American media, as well as in the official bulletins of Russian propaganda such as RT, Sputnik and others.

Russia spreads this false narrative to think tanks, nongovernmental organizations and public opinion leaders, who serve as “useful idiots” in the hands of Russian special services.

Yet, despite Russia’s attacks and the incredible damage inflicted on Ukrainian-Indian military-technical cooperation, the Ukrainian defense industry is steadily expanding its presence on the Indian armaments market — replacing Russia.

As of now, there are 400 contracts between India and Ukraine. The most promising areas of cooperation include:

- Modernizing of Indian tanks and armored vehicles and equipping them with guided missiles.
- Modernizing Indian radars and air defense assets.
- Designing and manufacturing Indian ships of various classes.
- Supplying components for existing Indian ships and submarines.
- Maintaining Indian aircraft and helicopters.
- Implementing joint Ukrainian-Indian research and development projects.

Because of Russia’s increasingly cozy relations with China and Pakistan, India needs a strong external ally, and for this reason it is developing a strategic partnership with the United States. This process is also driven by New Delhi’s interest in supporting U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and its concern for China’s assertive policies in the South China Sea.

 defensenews

Russia to sign contract with India on building Project 11356 frigates

Russia and India are set to sign a contract on the construction of four Project 11356 frigates under a "two plus two" formula" in June this year, a source in diplomatic and military circles told TASS on Tuesday.

"In June, a package contract is expected to be signed with India on the construction of four Project 11356 ships," the source said, adding that the document stipulated building frigates "under a two plus two formula:" the first two at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard on the Baltic coast and the other two at an Indian shipyard.

Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation and the state arms seller Rosoboronexport declined to comment on this information for TASS.

As the source also noted, the hulls of Project 11356 frigates available at the Yantar Shipyard would not be used for implementing the contract and "the warships will be completely new."

The ongoing negotiations with the Indian side "are aimed at settling all the issues, including the price of the frigates’ construction."

The source did not specify the expected timeframe of the contract’s fulfillment. The source also declined to specify the propulsion units that would be mounted on Indian frigates - either the power units developed at Russia’s Saturn manufacturer or engines ordered by India from Ukraine’s Zorya-Mashproekt enterprise.

In India, the frigates may be built at the Goa Shipyard Limited. As part of the Defexpo-2018 arms exhibition held in India’s Chennai, the company’s advertising materials indicated that the commencement of the frigates’ construction was expected in mid-2020. Russia earlier built six such warships (Talwar-class frigates) for India.

Russia-India negotiations under the contract

Negotiations are currently underway on the delivery of four Project 11356 frigates to India. Director for International Cooperation and Regional Policy at Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec Viktor Kladov earlier said the planned contract would be implemented under the ‘two plus two formula’ where two frigates were expected to be built in Russia and delivered ready-made to India while the other two warships would be built by the Indian shipbuilding industry at one of national shipyards.

Three hulls of warships laid down in Kaliningrad for the Russian Black Sea Fleet were earlier intended to be used for the construction of Indian frigates. However, Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bursuk later said these frigates will be built in the interests of Russia’s Navy.

Project 11356 warships displace about 4,000 tonnes, develop a speed of 30 knots and have an endurance of 30 days.

 tass

‘Karanj Will Enter The Stage Of Sea Trials Soon’

France’s Naval Group came to India in 2008 and for a decade has worked very closely and successfully with the Indian Navy. Tell us about the experience so far. Please tell us about Naval Group’s worldwide collaborations
Naval Group entered India in September 2008. It is present in two major cities, Mumbai and New Delhi. It aimed to support indigenisation of defence production in India through the Make in India initiative for Scorpene submarine equipment. It also aims to develop the Indian defence ecosystem and design services in India with talented Indian engineers.

Naval Group has demonstrated continuous efforts to participate in various defence and renewable energy endeavours of the Indian Navy, by empowering Indian industrial partners to cater to the requirements of the Indian shipyards and the Navy. Self-reliance, empowerment and innovation are the driving force of Naval Group in India to serve the rich Indian coastline better.

The thrust to the industrial progress of India can be clearly attributed to the one-of-a-kind initiative called Make in India. India plans to be a manufacturing hub for defence equipment on account of its increasing manufacturing skills.

Strategically significant projects have seen increased participation of indigenous content through a complex process of transfer of technology (TOT). Convergence of knowledge, ideas and competence amongst a wide array of cultures introduces an interesting element to the success story of indigenisation.

Naval Group’s endeavour in India is to be a visionary and to further its involvement in empowering more and more industries by creating a robust ecosystem that can cater to the varied defence needs of the country.


Karanj, the third of P75 Scorpene-class submarines, was launched in India in 2018 — a successful collaboration with the Indian shipyard, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL). Can you elaborate on the key terms for transfer of technology?

The launch of Karanj on 31 January 2018 was a historic event, as MDL achieved another milestone in its submarine building programme. This followed the commissioning of INS Kalvari by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 December 2017, which was a matter of huge pride for MDL.

For India, this was the first time that a third submarine of a series was entirely constructed in India. This was also crucial as MDL worked fairly independently, demonstrating the success of the transfer of technology between Naval Group (ex DCNS) and MDL. As indicated by the Indian Navy and MDL, the programme has been on track for quite a while now.

MDL has now attained the level of competence and skills to build complex submarines through successful collaboration and transfer of technology. The second submarine is undergoing sea trials and getting ready for commissioning soon. Karanj will also enter the stage of sea trials soon. The remaining three submarines are also in advanced stages of being built at the MDL and will be delivered to the Navy on time.


Project-75I builds upon the foundation of the Indian partner and strives for indigenisation of technology for defence production. What is the current status? Besides the fuel cell AIP system, what differentiates Naval Group from other defence equipment manufacturers?

On P-75I, we have responded to the RFI (request for information) and we hope to be one of the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to receive the expression of interest as per the strategic patnerships (SP) model guidelines. We believe that we would be in a position to propose a submarine with enhanced capabilities to meet the entire requirement.

Regarding the strategic patnerships norms, Naval Group will continue to apply the same transparent process to transfer the needed technology to the requested domains. Our successful experience in transfer of technology should allow us to respond to and fulfill the future requirement formulated by the Indian Navy that it proposes to implement through its strategic partnership programmes.

It is the Indian Navy’s decision to choose how the project will be nomenclatured and executed. We are aware that the Indian Navy wants additional and enhanced performances and capabilities in their future submarines after the P-75I Kalvari class. The AIP and land attack missiles are among a few features known to be in the Navy’s wish list and we believe that the Indian Navy has made a very pragmatic and practical choice.


It is of utmost importance to India to build a mechanism and move towards an ecosystem favourable to OEMs and greater collaboration. In your opinion what more needs to be done to speed up the process?

It was quite an ordeal when Naval Group, under the patronage of MDL and the Indian Navy, began work in 2009. We began by identifying more than 500 companies, visited and flash audited more than 100 of them. Based on such measures, only 22 were contracted under the indigenisation programme.

Beyond these 22 companies, there are 21 more who are also considered fully qualified for further indigenous manufacturing and services. So we can easily boast of a strong industrial ecosystem of 43 Indian companies, which is still growing, keeping in mind future projects (not limited to submarines).

 businessworld

Why Russia is a strong contender for India's Rs 70,000 crore proposal to build submarines

Project 75 India', an ambitious proposal to design and construct six indigenous conventional submarines for $10 billion (over Rs 70,000 crore) is one of India's longest delayed defence projects.
It was conceived over two decades ago and the first Request for Information was placed on foreign shipyards a decade ago, in 2008. The process was rebooted in 2014 with shipyards from France, Russia, Sweden and Germany submitting their bids last year.
The project is also part of the government's Strategic Partnerships policy for defence industry where the MoD will approve tie-ups between Indian and foreign shipyards. Among the highlights of the recently concluded Defexpo-2018 in Chennai was an MoU signed between L&T and Russia's state-owned arms export firm Rosoboronexport for the production of Project 75I submarines.
In an interview with India Today Executive Editor Sandeep Unnithan, Andrei Baranov, Deputy Director General of Russia's submarine designer Rubin talks of why his country is best positioned to win the contract.
SU: You have strong competition from Germany, Russia and Sweden for this project. What does Rubin bring to the table that western companies don't?
AB: Russia's relations with India in the field of submarines are very deep, very long. India's first four submarines of the Foxtrot class came from the former Soviet Union over 50 years ago. And since then, there have been many other submarines including ten Kilo class. The level of our understanding between industry and designers, Russian and Indian, are very deep and this is important because, the actual submarine is just one part of this contract.
The second part is the more challenging one developing cooperation with Indian industry, setting up manufacturing facilities, training and design centres etc.We are better than our competitors in terms of knowledge, transfer of design technology and state of the art design technology for Indian industry. We are ready to establish cooperation with Indian industry, to source materials from local industry and build partnerships at the initial stage. For instance here (at Defexpo) we have planned approximately interactions with 40 Indian industrial partners for the project.

SU: What is the timeframe of building the Project 75I project in India?
AB: The timeframe is impossible to estimate. It all depends on the cooperation between our industry, your shipyard and the customer, the Indian Navy, but in our practice, to develop a first-in-the class submarine like 75I it will mean creating surrounding industry, identifying industrial partners, infrastructure, qualified personnel, the whole industrial ecosystem we need roughly five years, from start of construction.
We have indicated to your navy that real time frame from contract signing to the commissioning of the first boat is seven years including the development and research stage.
SU: How different or complex is the requirement for the Project 75I project?
AB: We feel a stretched version of the Amur 1650, meets the requirements of your navy. If you start with procedure, your navy will recieve this high-end submarine in ten years. But if we continue talking and talking, then we will need some updates in technology, because I don't know what will be the needs of the (Indian) navy after ten years.
SU: What is the time frame for the contract to proceed?
AB: Based on our information from India's Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, it's the following. After the RFP, we will have approximately six to nine months to prepare the reply. After India will evaluate the reply. Then the technical committee will evaluate it and after that will be the process of L1 (identifying the cheapest bid). Then, the MoD will begin contract negotiations with the winner. Contract conditions are very complex.
There are many surrounding sides and the navy proposed it will take one year for it to start. We are ready to start this technical design process immediately after this is announced. Using our own resources. We are ready to supply a functional design of the submarine to our partner within one year of the contract signing.
After the contract will be signed, we can start with the working design and, in parallel, establish the chain of sub contractors with the shipyard. The actual construction will take six to seven years. It will take more or less ten years for the first submarine to be delivered.
SU: Are the requirements of the P75I submarine very unusual?
AB: Each navy has its own requirements. What the Indian Navy is looking for is a conventional platform with AIP which can carry torpedoes and Brahmos cruise missiles. The displacement will be of less than 3,000 tonnes.
SU: What is unique about the model Russia is offering?
AB: It's a completely new design based on our Amur 1650 prototype. But as per the understanding, the drawing will be developed in collaboration with the Indian partner (L&T) which will then construct the submarine.
SU: Your design bureau is also involved in the refit and upgrade of four older 877 EKMs in Russia and India for $208 million each. These submarines are nearly 30 years old. Does the refit actually make sense?
AB: Two 877 EKMs are already in Russia for a second refit (Sindhuraj and Sindhukesari) and we are talking to Hindustan Shipyard Ltd for the refit of two more in India. The Kilos in our navy are even older. There is no problem to upgrade them if the pressure hull is in good condition. We can easily add over ten years to their life and certify them. There won't be any change in diving depth. Our role as the designer is to create the necessary drawings for modification, because for instance, your navy wants to install a new sonar in these submarines.

indiatoday

Bofors 40 MK4 Guns: BAE-Kalyani Talks At Initial Stage

BAE Systems and Kalyani group are exploring the possibility of supplying the compact and low-weight Bofors 40 MK4 guns to the Indian Air Force for providing security at its bases across the country.

At present IAF relies upon Army's weapon systems for security and protection at its bases but Bofors 40MK4 which is essentially a Naval gun system can be fixed on the ground for the requirements of the air force, defence industry sources said.

Bofors 40 Mk4 Naval Gun is a flexible, multi-purpose system offering a high rate of fire and the ability to switch between optimised ammunition types, including the programmable 40-mm 3P all-target ammunition. The system’s effectiveness against air, sea, and ground targets provides high survivability and tactical proficiency at all levels of conflict. The gun can fire up to 300 rounds per minute and has search radar to track and identify the target at an aerial distance of 12 kms.

Though Bofors 40MK4 is displayed at Kalyani group's stall in the ongoing Defexpo 2018, initial talks between BAE Systems and the Kalyani group are still to fructify. Exploratory discussions have gone on between BAE Systems and the Kalyani group over the past year for partnering with the aim of assembling, manufacturing and supplying the gun system to armed forces and may take firm shape by 2020. BAE System has supplied the gun system to Finland and Brazil.
 Efforts to tighten security at all military bases and make it foolproof were particularly intensified after the attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2, 2016, the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had informed Parliament that some Pakistani non-state actors were responsible for the Pathankot attack adding they could not have carried it out without the support of the Pakistani establishment.

In the past two years, terrorists have been able to mount attacks on the camps of para-military forces and the Army in Jammu and Kashmir, often leading to long-drawn encounters and loss of innocent lives as well as causing casualties to the armed forces.

“Intelligence was received indicating the Pathankot Army installation as a suspected attack point. We have now done security audit also in addition to the normal security, and are in the process of ensuring that all army installations will be properly secured,' Mr Parrikar had told the Rajya Sabha.

 uniindia

Facing budget squeeze, army looks to put limited funds to best use

The Indian Army’s top brass is trying to figure out how to deal with a budget squeeze at a time the force is facing a “critical deficiency” of ammunition.

How to best use the “limited budget” is one of the top issues in the agenda laid out for a six-day Army Commanders’ Conference that begins here on Monday, a government official said. Army chief general Bipin Rawat will chair the biannual event.

Sharpening India’s combat edge over China and Pakistan, strengthening military infrastructure along the Chinese border, managing future security risks and welfare of soldiers will also be discussed by the army’s top commanders.

“Optimisation of limited budget to ensure making up of critical deficiency in ammunition” is one of the issues that commanders will discuss in detail, said an army release issued on Sunday.

According to the army, it is running short of Rs 6,380 crore to build ammunition stock necessary for fighting an intense war going past 10 days.

A recent parliamentary report revealed how poor budgetary outlay was coming in the way of emergency purchases, procuring critical ammunition, and undertaking strategic road projects on the Chinese border.

The army told the panel that even as neighbouring China and Pakistan were modernising their militaries at a lightning pace, lack of resources was hurting the force at a time it should be prepared for a two-front war.

Army vice chief Lieutenant General Sarath Chand told the panel that Budget 2018-19 had dashed the army’s hopes and overall shortage under the capital head stood at Rs 12,296 crore.

The defence ministry, however, last week brushed aside concerns about a looming financial crisis crippling India’s combat capabilities, saying “things are happening in the defence ministry” and “resources are adequate” to modernise the armed forces.

The report, tabled in Parliament in March, said that the allocation of Rs 21,338 crore for the army’s modernisation was insufficient for the “committed payment” of Rs 29,033 crore for 125 ongoing schemes and emergency requirements.

Minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre will deliver the opening address at the conference. The release added that the conference is aimed at formulating important policy decisions through comprehensive deliberations.

 hindustantimes

Army to get Nag Anti Tank Guided Missiles in 2019, says DRDO chief

INDIAN Army will get their third-generation Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Nag missiles in next year as the full-fledged production of this missile will start from first half of 2019, informed Dr S Christopher, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in a press conference held by DRDO at conference hall of Defexpo 18 venue in Chennai on Friday.

“The remaining trials of this missile will be finalised till the end of 2018 and production will start next year onwards,” said Dr Christopher. DRDO successfully tested this indigenously designed and developed ATGM in desert conditions against two tank targets in the month of February. The Indian Army has so far not publicly commented on the successful Nag ATGM test, however, DRDO has disclosed it on the platform of Defexpo on Friday.Indian Army officials have repeatedly stated that they expect development trials to be concluded by the end of 2018. The Army has delayed the induction of the Nag, a fire-and-forget ATGM with an estimated range of 4 kilometers, due to numerous technical shortcomings including inadequate thermal sensors.

The missile’s high price tag has also been a point of controversy.The Nag ATGM, manufactured by India’s sole missile producer, state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited, until the recent test had only been fired from an armoured combat vehicle specifically designed for that purpose.DRDO has been working on the Nag ATGM for over a decade. The Army raised demand of 8,000 Nags, although it most likely will place an initial order for only 500 ATGM systems.The service is reportedly pushing for a fast-track procurement of 2,500 third-generation shoulder-fired ATGMs and 96 launchers through a Government-to-Government contract.

Weapon systems under consideration include the Israeli Spike ATGM and the FGM-148 Javelin ATGM. In December 2017, the Government had scrapped a USD 500 million deal with Israeli defence contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd for 321 Spike ATGM systems and 8,356 missiles in favour of an indigenous ATGM system currently under development by DRDO.

The Indian Army originally selected the Spike ATGM over the US-made FGM-148 Javelin ATGM system in October 2014, expecting the Nag ATGM not to be ready for operational deployment for some time. In the press conference all senior officials of DRDO like Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Dr CP Ramanarayanan, Pravin Mehta, Dr Samir Kamat, Dr Sudhir Mishra and others were also present.

 thehitavada

Airbus offers to set up global production hub in India for Panther helicopter

Eyeing India's lucrative military modernisation programme, aerospace giant Airbus has offered to set up a global manufacturing hub for its Panther helicopter in the country if the company gets a multi-billion-dollar contract to supply a fleet of 111 naval multi-utility choppers to the Navy.

Pierre de Bausset, president and managing director of the Airbus Group in India, said the company was ready to transfer critical technology to India for the helicopter programme and discussions were underway on it with the Defence Ministry and other stakeholders.

"In the case of Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), we will be manufacturing (it) in India not only for the Indian market but for the world as well. For customers worldwide who are interested in that model (AS565 Panther), they would get it from India," de Bausset told in an interview.

He said Airbus has offered its H225M helicopter in response to the Indian Navy's initial tender for 123 Naval Multi Role Helicopters (NMRH)

The Indian Navy in August last had issued a global request for information (RFI) or an initial tender for the procurement of 111 naval utility helicopters and 123 multi-role choppers under the strategic partnership model.

On India's Make in India initiative in the defence sector, de Bausset, who was here to attend the Defence Expo, said India must focus on areas where it has strong expertise so as to ensure proper utilisation of the country's limited resources.

"You are in a country which has limited resources and budgets. You have to do a lot... Self reliance does not mean that you have got to do everything," he said.

He said almost all leading global defence majors concentrate on investing in areas where they are confident of doing their best.

"There are a number of fields where you have achieved excellence...You have the best engineers... This is where you should put your money and be complementary to other people to do other things much better," he said.

He further said, "I am saying just optimise your budgetary money and your investment so as to shine and where you can really shine best, put your efforts there."

Talking about the government's mega plan to make India a global hub of military manufacturing, de Bausset said, "It is not going to happen with things that you do not do better than the others. It is only going to happen when you do it better than the others. Put the money where you ought to put it."

The Defence Ministry last month had come out with a draft policy which envisages achieving a turnover of Rs 1,70,000 crore in military goods and services by 2025 by promoting the domestic defence industry. The policy is likely to be finalised in the next two months.

The focus of the four-day-long Defence Expo, which ended yesterday, was to project India as a major country in military manufacturing.

On Airbus's offer to manufacture the Panther helicopter in India, he said the European major would work with India's Mahindra and Mahindra Group for its chopper programme if the company won any of the two mega contracts.

"We are very comfortable with the Mahindras. We think alike on a number of things. They have a very good industrial track record, certainly not in building helicopters but in building things that we believe are relevant," de Bausset said. The procurement of both categories of choppers totalling 234 would cost the government in excess of USD 15 billion, according to industry experts.

He said talks were going on with the Defence Ministry and various stakeholders on what kind of technology they are interested in.

The Panther helicopter is currently in service in 42 countries and has logged up to 5.8 million flight hours.

The NMRH are being procured particularly to enhance the Navy's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

The Navy has been pressing the government to procure new utility and multi-role helicopters to add teeth to its existing capability and replace its ageing fleet of choppers but the procurement process has seen years of delay.

In May, the defence ministry had finalised the Strategic Partnership model under which select private firms will collaborate to build military platforms such as submarines, fighter jets and choppers in India in partnership with foreign entities.

The policy envisages the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian defence majors through a transparent and competitive process wherein they would tie up with global OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to seek technology transfers for setting up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.

 economictimes

Spare parts for Russian planes used by Navy likely to be made in India

The spare parts for Russian planes used by the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force and equipment onboard warships may be manufactured small and medium industries in the country as the armed forces are pushing for joint venture or agreement between Indian and Russian companies to make these components in India.

Indian tri-services officials, Indian firms and Russian firms had a few rounds of meetings at the India-Russia Military Industrial Conference at the DefExpo 2018 venue near here on Friday. Around 60 Indian component makers took part in the sessions.

Rear Admiral and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff V M Doss said the move to indigenise production of spare parts for the Russian planes being used by the Navy itself would lead to a saving of 400% to 2,000%. The Navy was looking to indigenise spare parts of MIG 29k planes which were inducted in 2009 and would be in service till 2037 to 2040, he added.

The planes are based out of Goa, Visakhapatnam and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. They will also be based at IAC 1 aircraft carrier that will be commissioned in the future.

He said that the Navy was looking at long-term supply and maintenance contracts for spare parts.

There is also a plan to set up a facility for repair of 500 lines of components like avionics and others for the planes at Navy Aircraft Yard in Goa while engine repair and overhaul facility will be set up at HAL in Koraput.The Navy is looking to indigenise series of components of fighter jets, including radar, hydraulic system, head up display, cooling turbine or air conditioning, flight data recorder, landing gear and main nose, fire warning system and airframe.

Similarly, the Indian Air Force has identified 35 additional line for indigenisation under the ‘Make in India’ programme including spare parts for Mi helicopters.

The Indian Navy has a large number of Russian-made equipment, including hull, electrical systems, weapons and sensors. An official who made a presentation at the meeting said indigenisation was crucial because after sales service suffered from many issues including delays in sourcing spares.

Konstantin Svodin from the department of aviation industry, Russia, said: “We got the list of all platform for which after sales support were needed. Many joint venture agreements were signed during the DefExpo. We propose signing of inter-government agreement to do aftersales support for planes, helicopters, tanks and air defence systems and also provide a separate JV for making spare parts in India.”

 timesofindia