ISRO's GSAT-7A to give Indian military, drones more sting after 19 Dec launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch India's newest military satellite, GSAT-7A, into orbit on 19 December. The satellite will be carried by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F11 (GSLV-F11) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The GSLV-F-11/GSAT-7A mission marks ISRO's 35th communication satellite and the 13th flight of the GSLV rocket to orbit.

The rocket's third stage cryogenic engines were successfully assembled at the launch pad on Saturday.


GSAT-7A satellite: All you need to know ::

GSAT-7A is ISRO's 35th communications satellite built exclusively for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army.

The satellite will expand the communication capabilities of the IAF in different ways. First, GSAT-7A will allow cross-connectivity between different ground radar stations, airbases and Airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft like the Beriev A-50 Phalcon and DRDO AEW&CS.

The satellite will also boost the air force's network-dependent warfare capabilities, enhancing its abilities to operate globally.

It is also expected to give a big push to drone operations in the Indian military by helping the Navy reduce its reliance on ground-based control stations and switch to satellite-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that offer better range and endurance, industry experts told Business Standard.

ISRO's 2.25-ton GSAT-7A is designed to work in the Ku-band frequency and houses an 'I-2K' bus, which functions as the satellite's communication hub or service module.


GSAT-7A's nuts and bolts ::

The I-2K satellite bus was developed by ISRO and now marketed by its commercial arm, Antrix. The 'I' in I-2K stands for INSAT, a series of communication satellites developed and launched by ISRO, and the 2k gives away the weight-category of the satellites it is designed for: the 2,000-kg class.

The satellite buses developed by ISRO are specifically developed for small and medium weight satellites.

With deployable solar arrays and batteries to power the satellite over the course of its 8-year lifetime. It is also designed with Gregorian reflector antennae, which are antennas that offer high gains for radio signals that need to be transmitted over long distances.


An ambitious 5-year pipeline ::

The GSLV-F11/GSAT-7A mission will be ISRO's last in 2018, with the launch of Chandrayaan-2 and the PSLV-C44 remote-sensing satellite launch lined up in January 2019.

The agency has seven missions lined up in 2019, alongside work on its first ever human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, marked for December 2021. There will be two unmanned missions leading up to the manned mission to conduct ground tests, reliability tests and ensure a smooth landing before ISRO's chosen one — the GSLV Mark III — is rated human-spaceflight-ready.

ISRO also has multiple interplanetary missions in its pipeline over the next few years: the Chandrayaan-2 mission in January 2019, the Aditya L1 probe to the Sun's orbit in 2019, the Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars in 2022/2023 and the Shukrayaan mission to Venus in 2023.

 firstpost

‘HAL Couldn’t Deliver Any Production Standard Trainer Aircraft To Indian Air Force’, Says PAC On Tejas Delivery

The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is an audit watchdog consisting of MPs, released a report on Friday (14 December) lambasting government-owned defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), among other entities, for its lacklustre performance in delivering units of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to the Indian Air Force, reports Livefist Defence.

The report points out the PAC’s dim view of HAL’s performance, stating, “The committee is disappointed to note that the failure of HAL/ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) and Ministry of Defence to provide the required number of aircraft has adversely affected the combat potential of the IAF resulting in security threat to the country...”

“The ADA/HAL have also not been able to provide IAF with even a single production standard trainer aircraft till date. Further, since HAL could not augment its capacity in line with the demand of the IAF, the IAF will have to depend on imported aircraft for a longer time, given its dwindling squadron strength.”

It was earlier reported that the PAC which is headed by Lok Sabha’s leader of opposition and senior congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had lashed out at HAL for its failure to deliver Tejas aircraft, which it claimed adversely affected the combat potential of the IAF. This reportedly resulted in two LCA squadrons not materialising and the IAF having to upgrade several aircrafts.

 swarajyamag

Nehru Ignored Warning On China Ahead Of 1962 War, Stopped Modernisation Of Military: Maj GD Bakshi

A new documentary by Major General G D Bakshi (retd) on Battle at Rezang La of the 1962 Sino-Indian war is aiming to bring back the focus on the valiant fight of the Indian Army against the Chinese forces in the face of overwhelming odds and claims that the then then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru ignored warnings about Chinese aggression, and did not focus on modernisation of military.

In the documentary titled 'The Sentinels of the Snow: The Battle of Rezangla', Major Bakshi has spoken about how the Nehru had been warned by the military and by Vallabhbhai Patel but he refused to believe that China would get aggressive and stopped the modernization of the military to concentrate on other areas of development.

"The Sentinels of the Snow: The Battle of Rezangla' is an unprecedented and path-breaking documentary in the history of Indian cinema. Not only does it recount in very great detail one of the most gallant and famous battles of the Indian Army in the 1962 war but it also examines the backdrop to that war. It goes into how an exaggerated sense of pacifism in India, the then political leadership refused to see the threat from China till it was too late," Bakshi said in a statement.

"This battle is one of the proudest and most heroic battles of the Indian Army. Aditya Horizons in concert with Epic channel has produced one of the most graphic and gripping narratives of this war that also explains the backdrop that forced our boys to fight at such a great disadvantage. The miracle is how gallantly and bitterly they fought against all Odds. The poem on the war memorial at Rezang La sums it up so hauntingly," he added.

 outlookindia

India may cut US surveillance drone deal by half due to fund crunch

India may prune by half a potential order to import hi-tech unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the United States due to financial constraints, two government officials familiar with the Navy’s modernisation plans said on Sunday.

Instead of pursuing the navy’s original requirement of 22 MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs to boost its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, India now plans to buy only 10 such systems under the US government’s foreign military sales (FMS) programme, one of the officials cited above said on condition of anonymity.

The 22 UAVs, made by General Atomics, were estimated to cost $2 billion. India began the FMS process in 2016 by issuing a Letter of Request (LOR) to the US.

“Responding to the LOR, the US has supplied us with the price and availability (P&A) data for the SeaGuardian systems. The navy has studied it and rationalised its requirement from 22 to 10 UAVs because of the cost and the requirement of the other services,” said the second official, asking not to be named.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also keen to buy Predator Avenger UAVs from the US.

The downsizing of the order will mean that the navy will have to prioritise the areas it wants to keep under surveillance using the SeaGuardian UAVs, said a senior navy officer on condition of anonymity.

“We had arrived at a figure of 22 on the basis of our requirements. But we have to manage with the resources we have. The navy has several aerial surveillance platforms such P-8I aircraft, IL-38s, Dornier planes and other UAVs,” he said.

A government-to-government deal does away with the need to float a tender. Such transactions may be complicated in their conception and execution but are more transparent to financial scrutiny.

“If financial constraints are there, then there’s no choice but to order fewer UAVs,” said military affairs expert Rear Admiral (retd) Sudarshan Shrikhande. The MQ-9B SeaGuardian systems will provide unmatched intelligence and surveillance capabilities to the navy, he said.

The navy currently operates a mix of Israeli-built Heron and Searcher UAVs for intelligence-gathering and surveillance. It has a vast area of responsibility in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) spanning millions of square kilometres, with warships being deployed to as far as the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca and northern Bay of Bengal to the southeast coast of Africa.

With their range and endurance, SeaGuardian UAVs will provide India advanced capabilities for ocean surveillance, especially at a time when Chinese naval presence in the region has gone up. India’s exclusive economic zone alone measures 2.4 million square kilometres, which is also the navy’s responsibility.

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba had highlighted the significance of the Indian Ocean earlier this month, calling it the navy’s only front. “As we surge ahead in the 21st century, the attention of the entire world is focused on the Indian Ocean Region, where our navy is increasingly seen as a ‘net security provider’…Our security strategy is aimed at providing a maritime environment that is free from all forms of traditional and non-traditional threats to our national development,” Lanba had said.

The P-8I planes, the mainstay of the navy’s long-range maritime surveillance fleet, have also been imported from the US. India currently operates eight Boeing P-8I planes and four more will join the fleet by 2021.

General Atomics has also designed the electromagnetic aircraft launch and recovery system (EMALS), which is likely to be fitted on India’s second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-II).

The navy is getting more American equipment. India issued an LOR to the US government in November for 24 MH-60R Seahawk multirole helicopters under the FMS programme.

Since 2008, India has bought or ordered military equipment worth $15 billion from the US. This includes C-130J special operations planes, C-17 transport aircraft and P-8I submarine hunter planes.

 hindustantimes

Dassault Aviation welcomes decision of Indian Supreme Court

Dassault Aviation welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of India rendered today dismissing all petitions filed on the Rafale Contract signed on 23rd September 2016 in the frame of an Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and France.

Dassault Aviation takes note of the Supreme Court conclusions establishing the absence of any irregularities in the decision making process to purchase 36 Rafale, pricing of Rafale jets and selection of Indian offset partners including Anil Ambani owned Reliance Defence by Dassault Aviation.

Dassault Aviation has proudly supported the needs of the Government of India and the Indian Air Force since 1953 and the induction of the Toofani aircraft. Fully committed in a strong relationship of mutual trust with India for over 65 years now, all resources of Dassault Aviation are entirely mobilized to make the Rafale, chosen by India in 2012 following a very complete competitive bidding process and evaluation, the spearhead of the Indian Air Force.

"The deal is absolutely clean in accordance with Indian laws and regulations, as I have stated before, and the first Falcon part is currently under delivery out of our facility in Nagpur" has declared Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

Dassault Aviation is dedicated to establishing successfully the Make in India as promoted by Prime Minister Modi. Dassault Aviation will ensure successful production in the country through the Dassault Reliance Joint Venture in Nagpur as well as through a full-fledged supply chain network involving already 30 companies with which Dassault Aviation signed contracts and additional 60 companies currently under discussions.

Dassault Aviation stands committed to continuing its dedication to bringing full support to the needs of India in the future.


* * *


About Dassault Aviation and India ::

Dassault Aviation aircraft have been an integral part of Indian defence forces for over six decades. The first Dassault Aviation aircraft, Toofani was supplied to India in 1953, followed by the Mystere IV, the naval Alize, the Jaguar (manufactured under license by HAL) and the Mirage 2000. These aircraft have contributed to Indian sovereignty all along and the Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft continues to be the IAF's "cutting edge" till date. 36 Rafales fighter aircraft has been acquired on September 23rd 2016 to equip the Indian Air Force.


About Dassault Aviation ::

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2017, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €4.8 billion. The company has 11,400 employees

 globenewswire

Already Considering Vendors For 110 Fighter Jets: Nirmala Sitharaman

The government has "not forgotten" the Indian Air Force or IAF's requirements and is already considering the bids received through a Request for Information (RFI) for procurement of 110 fighter jets, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in New Delhi on Friday.

"The rest (of the required fighter jets) will be produced as per strategic partnership programme for which the RFI has already been issued. So, we have not forgotten the rest," Ms Sitharaman said at a press briefing held after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the 36 Rafale fighter jets deal with French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

"The RFI has a laid down procedure, and as per that whoever comes in... There are already coniderations. And the quality stipulations are all being applied and being looked into. So, it will go through its due course," she added.

The minister said the work was "already going on" for the full capability of the air force.

The defence ministry had in April this year issued an RFI to procure 110 fighter jets. The IAF requires 42 squadrons in view of a two front threat from Pakistan and China. It is currently doing with 31 fighter squadrons of 18 jets each.

"While the United Progressive Alliance government's metrics for obtaining the total required number of fighter jets was that they would bring in 18 jets and then manufacture the rest here, they had not done either. What we have done here... Since additional time was being lost, so instead of one squadron of 18, we have bought two squadrons in flyaway condition, which is why it is 36," she said.

ndtv

No Proof Of Wrongdoing, Says Top Court On Rafale, Huge Win For Government

 There is no reason to doubt the decision-making process behind the Rafale jet deal, the Supreme Court said today in massive validation for the government, which has been repeatedly accused by the Congress of corruption in the Rs. 59,000-crore deal for 36 jets. Petitions alleging that the government had gone for an overpriced deal to help Anil Ambani's company bag an offset contract with jet-maker Dassault also didn't wash with the top court, which dismissed the need for a probe and said: "There is no evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity."

Here are the top 10 updates on the Rafale deal case in the Supreme Court:

1. "Having heard the matter in detail, we find no reason for any intervention by this court on the sensitive issue...Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of a fishing and roving enquiry by this court, especially in such matters," said a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
2. Backing the deal, the court said the country cannot afford to be unprepared or underprepared in a situation where "our adversaries are stated to have acquired not only 4th Generation, but even 5th Generation Aircrafts, of which, we have none". The judges referred to a deposition by Air Force officers in court.
3. The judges said the need for the aircraft was not in doubt. "We cannot sit in judgment over the wisdom of deciding to go in for purchase of 36 aircrafts in place of 126. We cannot possibly compel the Government to go in for purchase of 126 aircraft," they said.
4. The Congress and other opposition parties allege that the Centre scrapped a deal for 126 Rafale jets negotiated by the previous UPA government and entered an expensive new contract just to help Anil Ambani's rookie defence company bag an offset partnership with the jet manufacturer Dassault.
5. "We do not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Indian government," said the Supreme Court, knocking down the allegations. Anil Ambani, in a statement, said the ruling "conclusively established the complete falsity of wild, baseless and politically motivated allegations".
6. The offset clause means that in exchange for the contract, Dassault has to invest half the value of the deal -- about Rs. 30,000 crore -- in Indian firms. Reliance Defence was chosen as one of those "offset" partners and is to manufacture plane parts - though not for the 36 jets ordered by India.
7. The court said while examining petitions against the Rafale deal, it had to keep in mind the confines of national security, the subject of the procurement being crucial to the nation's sovereignty.
8. The judges also accepted the government's argument on keeping pricing confidential. "It is certainly not the job of this court to carry out a comparison of the pricing details in matters like the present. We say no more as the material has to be kept in a confidential domain," said the order.
9.  The order fueled an uproar in parliament at a time political parties are in election mode. "Truth always prevails," said BJP chief Amit Shah, calling for an apology by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale deal while campaigning for the recent state elections.
10. The Congress rejected the court order, saying it was based on false claims by the government. "We will continue to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the deal," said Congress leader and former minister Anand Sharma.

ndtv

‘No roving inquiry over perceptions’: Supreme Court rejects Rafale probe

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the petition seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the purchase of 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets by the government for the Indian Air Force.

 The Supreme Court on Friday declined to order a CBI probe into the purchase of 36 French-made Rafale jets, holding that it was satisfied that there is no reason to doubt the purchase process or the need for the fighter jets. The court said “perceptions of individuals cannot be a basis for a roving inquiry”.
“We are satisfied that there is no reason to doubt the process is followed and the need of aircraft is not in doubt,” a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising justice SK Kaul and KM Joseph said.
“It is not correct for the court to sit as appellate authority in the aircraft purchase,” the bench observed.
The verdict comes as shot in the arm for the NDA government that has come been sharply criticised by the opposition, which accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi of single-handedly pushing through the deal to buy overpriced jets without following procedures. The government has also been attacked for buying only 36 aircrafts when the Indian Air Force needed a lot more.
The judges said they have examined the price of basic aircrafts according to the request for proposals and inter governmental agreements.
“We can’t sit in judgment on the wisdom of purchase of the aircrafts... scrutiny had to be made keeping in mind national security. Our country can’t be under-prepared,” the top court said, rejecting a bunch of petitions challenging the deal.
The petitions challenging the deal were filed by activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former Union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and advocates ML Sharma and Vineet Dhanda earlier this year.
The petitions challenging the deal were filed by activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former Union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and advocates ML Sharma and Vineet Dhanda earlier this year.
They had questioned the deal over the lack of transparency over the pricing of the jets; an offsets deal that seemed to favour a private firm; flouting of due process in closing the deal; and that the deal isn’t a government-to-government deal at all as it has been pitched because France refused to offer India a sovereign guarantee and instead gave it a letter of comfort. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has denied most of these charges.
The government said it cannot disclose pricing details publicly on account of a secrecy clause in its agreement with France and to ensure India’s enemies do not get to know details of the India-specific enhancements and weaponry of the Rafale. It had submitted details of the price in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court, though, and the court said it would not get into the pricing issue.
The government has also explained the process followed in an affidavit filed to the court, which has also been shared with the petitioners.

 hindustantimes

India to open another bridge near China border on Dec 25

Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge on Brahmaputra river, is all set to be inaugurated on December 25 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will facilitate faster movement of troops to Arunachal Pradesh, the country's eastern-most state that shares border with China.

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid in 1997 by the then Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. The construction, however, started only in 2002 when then (late) Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee inaugurated the construction works.

The 4.98 km-long bridge will not only reduce the distance for the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam but also facilitate faster movement of troops and supplies to the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.

The bridge, situated 17 km downstream of Dibrugarh and Dhemaji, spans the Brahmaputra river, and will connect Assam's Dibrugarh town with Dhemaji.

The bridge is located just over 20 km away from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and therefore, is expected to act as an alternative to the Kolia Bhomora Setu in Tezpur, in providing connectivity to around five million people residing in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Chief Engineer of the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway's Bogibeel Project, Mahendra Singh said 99 per cent of the bridge's construction work has been completed. The rest of the work which includes 'final finish' would be done before December 20.

Project Director of Hindustan Construction CompanyNSE 0.91 % Limited (HCC), R.V.R. Kishore said the bridge is designed in such a way that it can withstand the movement of major battle tanks of armed forces.

"We have also used fully welded guarder technology and high quality copper bearing steel to increase the durability of the bridge," Kishore said.

The HCC was awarded a contract to construct the superstructure of Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge in November 2011.

"The bridge will give easy and direct access to upper Assam from the rest of the country through Brahmaputra's north bank, in contrast to the current route through Guwahati in the south bank which is long. Due to its location, the bridge will be of strategic importance to India as it will significantly enhance India's ability to transport troops and supplies to its border in Arunachal Pradesh," Kishore said. "Bogibeel Bridge falls in seismic zone-V. This zone has been the most vulnerable to earthquakes with magnitudes in excess of seven on the Richter scale. To offer good stability to the heavy spans (1700 MT), they are provided with seismic restrainers," Kishore said, adding the bridge is designed to withstand tremors up to 7 and beyond.

In May 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, also referred to as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu. The bridge, connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, spans Lohit river -- a major tributary of Brahmaputra, from the village of Dhola to Sadiya. At 9.15 km, it is the longest road bridge in India.

 economictimes

A wake-up call on the growing threat to India from China

The book’s title says it all: China is inside India, a malefic presence that has penetrated the country and seeks to destroy it from within. The author, a former customs official turned foreign policy analyst, believes the Chinese leadership will not rest until it has finished off India, either by breaking it into pieces or rendering it inconsequential in the Asian scheme of things.

The sad part, according to him, is the role of a set of Indians who have conspired with the Chinese grand strategic aim of crippling India. This has happened before and is happening now.

The author’s mindset appears to have been greatly affected by the Naxalite uprising in West Bengal and their slogan: “China’s chairman is our chairman”. He writes that he has “been a firsthand witness to, and the ‘victim’ of, Communist China’s deep penetration into West Bengal,” which began in the 1960s.

West Bengal, according to him was a “living laboratory of (a) political experiment” where “China got readymade foot soldiers in an alien land, fighting for them and espousing their unethical, illegal and aggressive cause, with dedication, devotion and determination even if it resulted in their (the Indian Hindu Bengalis’) decimation.”

The Chinese threat has not receded and the Chinese leadership still looks to Mao for guidance, the author argues. “Does not India know that the 21st century Chinese supremo Xi Jinping is the political “reincarnation” of Mao Zedong of the 20th century? ...who wholeheartedly has endorsed Mao, with the open backing of the sole ruling party of Beijing?”

The book progresses along similar alarmist lines. In the chapter on “One Belt: One Road”, he reiterates the continued existence of the “lurking danger from the Chinese side as Beijing, to this day, has not reconciled to India’s rise as an independent sovereign nation to stand up to the pulls, pressures and bullying of the Hans of mainland China. No doubt India (at its best) is hardly 30 per cent of China in every sphere of nation-building enterprise, yet India does exist where it was never to be seen before. And this is the real cause of the rabid anti-India action of Beijing.”China’s economic rise too is viewed as a clear and present threat: “The Chinese seem to be in no mood to restrain their economic and commercial march over India. One rarely has seen such a helpless India before.” The Indian government’s decision to allow Chinese companies, including banks, to operate within India and open the floodgates to China imports is fraught with great risk, the author feels.

He points to the fact that India already has a $50 billion trade deficit with China. “This in the long run will harm India no end”, the author opines, “and there may come a time, and not too distant in the future, when India will regret the colossal loss caused due to industry, employment, macro-economic policy and planning, leading to possible internal turbulence, civil unrest and political chaos, resulting in unforeseen and unanticipated dislocation in society.”

“…India’s penchant for opening doors to contemporary China is akin to the way India was prised opened by foreign invaders in the 8th century through the sword and again through the sweet words of initial charm offensive of the Europeans in the 17th century, to ultimately surrendering to both, thereby losing both economics and sovereignty for hundreds of years.”

The author is equally pessimistic about the future: “How then does one proceed with China’s determined bid to enter India? How does Beijing fulfill its mission — “China in India”? To this author, whatever be the long-term consequences and outcome therefrom, Chinese bullying and ‘forward thinking’ will keep India under permanent pressure which ultimately will do more harm to India and ultimately help China in a big way.”

A major shortcoming of the book is its terrible editing. The book does not appear to have passed through the hands of a competent editor as a result of which its serious intent is greatly diluted. The wrong grammar in some places and a certain amount of repetitiveness should have been avoided.

The book is written in the style of the 19th century European pamphleteers who wanted to rouse their often disinterested public and phlegmatic Parliament. They took to writing highly provocative, often exaggerated accounts of real and imagined threats such as the Russian threat to British India, which ultimately triggered the “Great Game” in Central Asia.The idea was to foment outrage against a particular country or domestic policy, thereby setting the agenda and influencing public debate. Mr Bhattacharyya appears to be set upon the same path. He is convinced that already it might be too late to save the country: “China already appears to have dug too deep to be uprooted. Yet India may still try. It may look to be a tad late in the day; but it is never too late for a nation of 1.25 billion heads to try to correct the mistakes of the past and the proposed misjudgements of the present.”

 asianage

India has 140 Nuclear Warheads – And More Are Coming

India has 130 to 140 nuclear warheads—and more are coming, according to a new report.

“India is estimated to have produced enough military plutonium for 150 to 200 nuclear warheads, but has likely produced only 130 to 140,” according to Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. “Nonetheless, additional plutonium will be required to produce warheads for missiles now under development, and India is reportedly building several new plutonium production facilities.”

In addition, “India continues to modernize its nuclear arsenal, with at least five new weapon systems now under development to complement or replace existing nuclear-capable aircraft, land-based delivery systems, and sea-based systems.”

Unlike the missile-centric U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, India still heavily relies on bombers, perhaps not unexpected for a nation that fielded its first nuclear-capable ballistic missile in 2003. Kristensen and Korda estimate India maintains three or four nuclear strike squadrons of Cold War-vintage, French-made Mirage 2000H and Jaguar IS/IB aircraft targeted at Pakistan and China.

“Despite the upgrades, the original nuclear bombers are getting old and India is probably searching for a modern fighter-bomber that could potentially take over the air-based nuclear strike role in the future,” the report notes. India is buying thirty-six French Rafale fighters that carry nuclear weapons in French service, and presumably could do for India.

India’s nuclear missile force is only fifteen years old, but it already has four types of land-based ballistic missiles: the short-range Prithvi-II and Agni-I, the medium-range Agni-II and the intermediate-range Agni-III. “At least two other longer-range Agni missiles are under development: the Agni-IV and Agni-V,” says the report. “It remains to be seen how many of these missile types India plans to fully develop and keep in its arsenal. Some may serve as technology development programs toward longer-range missiles.”

“Although the Indian government has made no statements about the future size or composition of its land-based missile force, short-range and redundant missile types could potentially be discontinued, with only medium- and long-range missiles deployed in the future to provide a mix of strike options against near and distant targets,” the report noted.

India is also developing the Nirbhay ground-launched cruise missile, similar to the U.S. Tomahawk. In addition, there is Dhanush sea-based, short-range ballistic missile, which is fired from two specially-configured patrol vessels. The report estimates that India is building three or four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, which will be equipped with a short-range missile, or a bigger missile with a range of 2,000 miles.

It’s an ambitious program. “The government appears to be planning to field a diverse missile force that will be expensive to maintain and operate,” the report points out.

What remains to be seen is what will be the command and control system to make sure these missiles are fired when—and only when—they should be. And, of course, since Pakistan and China also have nuclear weapons, Indian leaders may find that more nukes only lead to an arms race that paradoxically leaves their nation less secure.

 nationalinterest

India Negotiating Purchase of Russian Igla-S Missile System - Indian Def Min

India’s Minister of State for Defense Subhash Bhamre said in the parliament that the case of purchase of the missile system is at contract negotiation stage with Rosoboronexport of Russia, the L1 vendor, which has offered Igla-S missile system.

Indian defense ministry has stated that Russia's Igla-S is the winner of multi-billion tender for very short range air defense missiles (VSHORADS) on Wednesday.

The defense ministry has also added that it is aware of US financial sanctions for arms purchases from Russia under Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which may impact procurement.

"Defense procurement is carried out based on threat perception, operational and technological aspects to keep the Armed Forced in a state of readiness to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges," Subhash Bhamre replied to question of a lawmaker who asked whether the Government is aware that this deal is under the shadow of CAATSA.

The ministry also clarified that the Russian firm will provide major support to country's Make in India program through the transfer of technology (ToT) to state-owned Bharat Dynamic Limited (BDL) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

Russia's Rosoboronexport was declared the winner of the tender which was floated in 2010 for the procurement of 5185 missiles and associated equipment under the Indian Army's VSHORAD program. Indian defense ministry had announced the winner after the bid amount submitted by Rosoboronexport for supplying Igla-S was found well below the "benchmark price" of $2 billion while Saab had bid $2.6 billion and the French firm, MBDA, quoted $3.7 billion.

 sputniknews