Boosting Arunachal Pradesh air link will ensure Indian’s safety

Arunachal Pradesh is the second global Bermuda Triangle, which was amply proved by the crash of an AN-32 aircraft, a workhorse of Indian Air Force (IAF), on June 3 this year, killing all 13 on board. This was third crash of the Russian-made AN-32 in the Himalayan state, earlier known as North East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

The following day, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh told Rajya Sabha that the IAF’s AN-32 was completely airworthy and such accidents in the country have come down from 1.04 in 1999 to 0.33 currently per 10,000 flying hours. Claiming that the accident was unfortunate, while responding to supplementary queries during question hour, he had noted that there was “no issue regarding the airworthiness of the aircraft”.

Kalinga Airlines of famous federal pilot Biju Pattanaik had maintained the lifeline during 1956-57 by flying from Rowriah-based directorate of supply and transport in Jorhat, Assam to drop rations throughout NEFA and at times landing at Anini and Ziro, though the mysterious flying zone over this hilly state is turning out to be the devil’s triangle of late.

In 1989, the first AN-32 on a ration sortie from Rowriah had reportedly crashed into the China side without any trace of the crew members and its wreckage. The defence ministry had ordered a court of inquiry whose detail report was filed by me quoting then DST director A Majumdar. The second transport aircraft while returning from Mechuka after an Army ration sortie crashed over Tato on June 9, 2009 due to bad weather, killing all 13 defence personnel on board.

Mountains of Arunachal Pradesh have the dubious distinction of unpredictable weather within minutes, zero visibility within seconds, sudden gusts of cyclonic winds or a whirlpool in mid-air tossing the helicopter like a kite in a windy sky, leading to a loss of control on many occasions. Thus, the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on January 31, 2008 in Itanagar had announced to upgrade eight advanced landing grounds (ALGs) at Walong, Mechuka, Vijoynagar, Tuting, Passighat, Ziro, Aalo and Tawang as airfields for both defence and civilian use to improve air connectivity of this land-locked state at the initiative of then chief minister Dorjee Khandu.
 Regrettably, in all 83 lives -- Union MoS for defence NVN Somu, CM Khandu, an Army major general, two IAS officers, 31 IAF pilots, five crew members, 32 defence personnel and 27 others -- have been killed so far since 1989 in 16 air crashes involving 10 helicopters, three each of AN-32 and Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets. This calls for an urgent need for a scientific study of the state’s most unpredictable flying zone.


Chopper Crashes ::

October 6, 2017: An Mi-17 helicopter of the IAF crashed near Tawang killing all seven - 5 IAF personnel - two pilots and two army men - on board. The chopper had taken off from Khirmu helipad near Tawang to drop off kerosene jerry cans at Yangste Army camp.

July 4, 2017: An IAF ALH, deployed for airlifting people stranded on Sagalee-Itanagar route blocked by flood had crashed at Saglee in Papum Pare district killing all four, including two pilots, on board.

August 4, 2015: A twin-engine Dauphin N3 helicopter of Pawan Hans, flown by two pilots and young Tirap DC Kamlesh Kumar Joshi on board took up from Khonsa and crashed minutes later killing all.

April 30, 2011: Pawan Hans AS 350 B-3 chopper, carrying the then chief minister Dorjee Khandu and four others crashed, killing all. The mortal remains were found five days later near Luguthang in Tawang district.

April 19, 2011: A Pawan Hans Mi-17 flight from Guwahati to Tawang, trying to land at Tawang helipad, crashed in a gorge catching fire. Of the 23 passengers, mostly tourists, on board, 17 were killed. Two more succumbed to burn injuries later.

November 19, 2011: AIF’s MI-17, a multi-utility helicopter, blasted into flames midair 5 minutes after take-off from Tawang helipad, killing 12 defence personnel, including three pilots.

August 6, 2010: 24-seater MI-172Pawan Hans helicopter cabin crew Dhananjoy Roy fell to his death while trying to shut the unfastened chopper door that had flung open midair when on its way from Namsai to Tezu.
May 8, 2001: A Pawan Hans chopper piloted by DGM Capt VK Dhir and co-pilot Col. RP Singh carrying state education minister Dera Natung, education secretary Sange Lhaden, union HRD ministry’s Dy secretary SK Jain, Times of India deputy managing director Nandita Judge and another person crashed into a high hill near Sessa in West Kameng district due to poor visibility, killing all on board.

February 26, 2001: IAF’s MI-8 chopper while returning from Tali after a ration sortie crashed near Ziro, killing all six crew members, including two pilots.

November 14, 1997: Union MoS for defence NVN Somu and three top officials, including Maj Gen Ramesh Nagpal died when their four-seater Cheetah hit a 1300-ft peak, 40 km off Tawang.

June 6,1995: IAF’s MI 8 chopper crashed near Bello village in West Siang district killing all seven on board.

AN-32 crashes: As mentioned above ::

Su-30MKI aircrafts crashes: Two squadrons Su-30MKI aircrafts (one squadron comprising of 12 to 16 aircrafts) are stationed at Tezpur Air Force Station (AFS) of Salonibari in Assam. There are 10 Su-30MKI aircraft crashes of so far including three after taking off from Tezpur AFS.

May 19, 2015: One crashed at Laokhowa in Assam’s Nagoan district when pilot and co-pilot had ejected safely.

May 23, 2017: Crashed at about 60 km from Tezpur AFS when both crew members parachuted but got killed.

July 11, 2018: Crashed in dense jungle on Arunachal Pradesh when both pilots were killed.


Questioning on January 1 this year, Is Indian defence preparedness adequate in 2019?, Col (Dr) P K Vasudeva, said: “After three decades spent developing its own fighter, India put out a tender for 126 warplanes, which morphed into an order for 36 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation SA that will start arriving in 2019. Until then, IAF is heavily reliant on Soviet-era MiG-21s that fall from the sky so often to earn the sobriquet 'Flying Coffins’.”

It is a fact that former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal (Retd) A Y Tipnis had sought to blame former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for India's defeat in the 1962 war with China, amid a continuing debate on why air power was not used during the conflict. Speaking at a seminar 'India and China: After five decades of 1962 war' in New Delhi on November 20, 2012, Tipnis had also alleged that Nehru surrendered national security interests to realise his "ambition" to be a world leader. But things have been changing since then. Vijoynagar, Walong, Mechuka, Pasighat ALGs have been made operational and the rest would function soon.

November 18, 2011, Vijaynagar ALG saw inaugural landing of IAF’s An-32 in presence of then state governor Gen (Retd) JJ Singh and Eastern Air Command AoC-in-C Air Marshal S Varthaman when coincidentally I was present.

July 28, 2017: An-32 landed at ALG of Pasighat, the centurion town of the state.

October 23, 2015: Walong ALG, capable of landing Otters and Caribous aircraft during 1962 Indo-China War, was abandoned for a long time but renovated and inaugurated with an operational helipad.

November 4, 2016: Mechuka ALG at an altitude of 6,200 feet along China border saw maiden landing of C-17 Globemaster aircraft.


IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa after touring Russia during July 9-12, this year announced plan to upgrade avionics and weapons systems of its frontline fighter Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft with Russian help to make the jets more lethal.

Interestingly, Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri during a video conferencing with chief secretary Naresh Kumar on August 19 announced that the much desired Itanagar Greenfield airport at Hollongi will be completed by March 31, 2022 to put Arunachal on the air map of India.

Moreover, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has plan to develop seven more airports, including three Greenfield airports and two water aerodromes in the NE region, though 12 airports are operational in NE states currently as reported on July 7, this year.

AAI regional executive director Sanjeev Jindal on the sidelines of the two-day conference-cum-international buyer-seller meet in Imphal had said the water aerodromes will be developed in Brahmaputra and greenfield airports at Rupsi in Assam and Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh. “We’re also exploring another around Silchar,” he had said, adding that they are planning to appraise the higher ups to review the cargo charges of some perishable items of Northeast to encourage trade.

Rupsi Airport, located about 15-km from Dhubri town in Assam was said to be built by the British during World War II to supply arms, manpower and ammunition to the allied forces while Hollongi Airport located about 25-km from Itanagar will boast some state-of-art infrastructure. The remaining two airports will be developed in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. “We’re also exploring for more air connectivity in the region,” Jindal had said.

In fact, improving IAF capability in Arunachal Pradesh is pivotal for national security as the frontier state shares 4,057 km Line of Actual Control with China.

 eastmojo

Indian, Chinese Troops Face-off in Ladakh Month Ahead of Modi-Xi Summit, Army Says Tension De-escalated

Tensions between the Indian and Chinese border troops flared up once again on Wednesday as soldiers of the two sides engaged in a prolonged confrontation in eastern Ladakh. The face-off began on the northern bank of the 134-km-long Pangong Tso, two-thirds of which is controlled by China as it extends into Tibet.

According to News18 sources, patrolling Indian troops were confronted by People's Liberation Army soldiers, who objected to their presence. This then led to a scuffle between the two sides. As the Indian troops held their ground, additional personnel were deployed. Following this, both sides returned to their bases.

India has lodged a complaint and asked for a Border Personnel Meeting to resolve the issue.


The scuffle comes a month ahead of the crucial meetings between PM Modi and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. This is not the first time that such an incident has transpired. Last year, ahead of Modi-Xi Wuhan summit in April, Chinese troops is said to have breached the Line of Actual Control (LoA) 28 times.

Relations between the two countries remain tense following China's opposition to the abrogation of Article 370.

A day after the Modi government moved to declare the state a Union Territory, taking away its special status, the Chinese Foreign Ministry put out a statement in strong opposition. Since then, China has been backing Pakistan in its criticism to the move and has highlighted that "the parties concerned should exercise restraint and act with caution, especially to avoid actions that unilaterally change the status quo and exacerbate the tension".

news18

Adani Group puts in last-minute bid for Indian Navy's Rs 45,000-crore submarine project

In a last-minute entry, the Adani Group submitted a bid for the Rs 45,000-crore Indian Navy submarine project, taking other contenders by surprise for what is the largest ongoing Make-in-India initiative in the defence sector.

The much-awaited contest was expected to be a faceoff among traditional contenders such as Larsen and ToubroNSE 0.49 % (L&T), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd, all of which own shipyards. The Adani Group does not currently own an active shipyard, which is why the bid has come as a surprise.

Those familiar with the details told ET that the Gujarat-based group could float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with state-owned Hindustan Shipyard (HSL), which has experience in submarine repairs and overhauls.


HSL’s Standalone Bid ::

Interestingly, HSL has also put in a standalone bid.

The Adani Group, which did not respond to queries, is now a contender for all three mega defence acquisition plans under the government’s strategic partnership model – for future fighter jets, naval helicopters and conventional submarines.

Others that submitted bids for the submarine programme are L&T, MDL and Reliance Naval.

The contract, under which an Indian shipyard will be chosen to manufacture six conventional submarines in collaboration with a foreign partner, is in its initial stages. Over the next two months, the defence ministry will scrutinise the bids to shortlist qualified Indian contenders.
 The formal tender for the contract — after foreign partners from Russia, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden are selected as part of a parallel process — is expected by the end of the year. At the earliest, the submarine contract can be awarded to the winning contender after two years.

The single biggest shipbuilding plan under the strategic partnership model is expected to see stateowned MDL as the frontrunner, given its experience in building the Shishumar class of submarines as well as the current production line for the Kalvari (Scorpene) class of boats.

As reported by ET, the Adani Group has ambitious plans in defence, with its acquisition late last year of Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd that has a strong order book and tieups with big Russian and Israeli companies.

The acquisition has enabled Adani to get involved in the specialised defence and space business. Its product list now ranges from drones to helicopters and simulators. It’s also one of the major suppliers for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme.

The acquisition placed Adani Defence and Aerospace in the big league that includes the Tata Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Defence and L&T, which are vying for large Make-in-India projects under the strategic partnership scheme. Adani unveiled a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad last year to make Hermes 900 drones in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems.

 economictimes

India and Russia will jointly produce the AK-203 rifle for the Indian military

As the Indian army seeks to gradually distance itself from its failed INSAS service rifle experiment, the country’s frontline troops will soon find themselves moving back towards wielding Russian weapons — albeit ones that are built in India.

Thanks to an expansive partnership between three main entities, the Indian Ordnance Factory Board, and Russian companies Rosonboronexport and Kalashnikov Concern will jointly produce a version of Kalashnikov’s AK-200 series, the AK-203 — the rifle India has seemingly hedged a hefty portion of its small arms aspirations on during a gigantic long-term military overhaul.

Together, the partnership will take the form of “Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited,” based in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The outgoing 1B1 INSAS rifle as well as the aged AKM, both of which serve as the standard rifles of the Indian army’s conventional forces, will find themselves superseded by the AK-203 in the coming years.


Basically a derivative of the AK-74M — the current standard service rifle of the Russian Federation — the AK-203 is a select fire rifle chambered for the intermediate 7.62x39 mm cartridge with modernized furniture that’ll allow end users to customize the gun’s combat loadout with flashlights, lasers, etc.

Unlike AKs of the past, the AK-203 comes with a folding buffer tube-style adjustable stock, as well as a full-length upper Picatinny rail, which allows end-users to add on a considerable variety of sights and scopes without the need for a special AK optics mount.

Overall, India expects to produce over 750,000 units of the AK-203, which some have declared the most advanced spawn of the AK rifle platform to date.

While the AK-203 seems to be the gun the Indian military will likely make its primary service rifle, the Indian Ministry of Defence has already committed itself to buying and building a considerable number of other guns to fulfill similar roles, leading to an incredibly ambitious and diverse long-term small arms procurement plan.

Just earlier this year, the Indian military inked contracts with SIG Sauer and UAE-based Caracal for tens of thousands of new rifles in a buy worth a combined $503 million. SIG will deliver the Indian Army 72,400 SIG 716 battle rifles chambered for 7.62 NATO, while Caracal will deliver 94,000 units of its CAR816 assault rifle chambered for 5.56 NATO.

In addition to fielding the AK-203, the SIG 716, and the CAR816, India is also in the process of developing a next-generation home-grown rifle known as the Multi-Caliber Individual Weapon System, or F-INSAS.

Essentially a mixture of an AR-15, the FN FNC, and the AK platform, the F-INSAS is a short-stroke piston operated gun that can be quickly reconfigured to fire 3 distinct cartridges — 5.56x45 mm NATO, 6.8 mm Remington SPC, and 7.62x39 mm.

However, it’s still unclear whether this rifle will be an eventual follow-on/replacement to the AK-203, or will serve alongside it.

 militarytimes

Pakistan reactivates 7 launch pads on LoC to push in 275 jihadis

Highlights

• Pakistan has reactivated its terror camps and seven launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate around 275 terrorists into J&K
• Across the LoC, around 80 terrorists are camping near Gurez, 60 in Machhal, 50 in Karnah, 40 in Keran, 20 in Uri, 15 in Naugam and 10 in Rampur, top intelligence sources said.

Pakistan has reactivated its terror camps and seven launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate around 275 terrorists, including Afghan and Pashtun mercenaries, into Jammu & Kashmir. The move comes ahead of the meeting of global terror finance watchdog Financial Action Task Force next month when Pakistan’s fate would be decided.

Though the involvement of Afghan and Pashtun jihadists in Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism in Kashmir is not unprecedented, it is quite unusual, top intelligence sources told TOI.

Pakistan first began pushing foreign mercenaries of different ethnicities into Kashmir in 1990 when it launched cross-border terrorism as a proxy war against India in the Valley. However, after the aggressive counter-terror operations conducted by Indian security forces against foreign terrorists, Pakistan began sending terrorists from mostly ethnic communities of Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).

Official documents accessed exclusively by TOI reveal that there are credible inputs that the Pakistani army and ISI have set up launch pads along the LoC with the maximum number of terrorists prepared to infiltrate through Gurez sector in north Kashmir. Across the LoC, around 80 terrorists are camping near Gurez, 60 in Machhal, 50 in Karnah, 40 in Keran, 20 in Uri, 15 in Naugam and 10 in Rampur, top intelligence sources said.

After the Jaish-e-Muhammad suicide bombing in February this year in Pulwama, TOI was the first to report that Pakistan had instantly shut down its terror camps and launch pads along the LoC and moved terrorists of various outfits to army installations, fearing international scrutiny and retaliation from India. As a result, India launched air strikes on Jaish’s terror camps deep inside Pakistani territory in Balakot.

Since Donald Trump came to power in the US, Pakistan has been under tremendous pressure to crack down on terror groups. FATF has put Pakistan in the “grey list”, squeezing Islamabad financially, and this status would be reviewed next month.

On Monday, the Asia-Pacific joint group of FATF began its four-day meeting in Bangkok to review the compliance report of Pakistan, seeking answers to 125 questions. The meeting with a 15-member Pakistani team will decide whether the country continues to be in the “grey list” or is further downgraded to the “black list” during the FATF review in Paris from October 16 to 18.

After New Delhi revoked J&K’s special status last month, Islamabad has been threatening violence, including nuclear war, over Kashmir. Security specialists in Srinagar told TOI that they have credible intelligence that Pakistan is planning to escalate tensions by pushing in more terrorists into Kashmir. “Pakistan’s objective is to internationalise the Kashmir issue. They want to prevent restoration of normalcy in Kashmir by terrorising common people [to prevent them] from opening shops, schools, businesses and resuming normal life. For that, they ntimesofindieed more than the prevailing 250 terrorists in Kashmir at the moment. The ISI realises that as of today, with not a single bullet fired since August 5, New Delhi has the situation in its control. So they will make their best efforts to create mayhem here,” he said.

An army officer said the involvement of Afghan and Pashtun terrorists gives Pakistan more plausible deniability than before, especially in view of the FATF pressure. “Since Afghan and Pashtun terrorists are mostly active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they will pretend that they have no role in it. The ISI was probably also hoping that the US will strike a peace deal with the Taliban and Pakistan could divert some of their idle Talibani jihadists to Kashmir,” he said.

It is typical of the ISI, which keeps changing names of terror outfits or transferring their cadre from one group to another as and when there is international scrutiny, a Pakistani journalist told TOI on the phone. “When Jaish was under spotlight after the Pulwama attack, they moved the terror group’s cadres to Al Badr in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At the end of the day, all their sponsored terrorists aimed at India are one and the same,” he said.

 TOI

Terrorists putting pressure on Kashmiris to not carry out their daily chores: J&K police

Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh on Tuesday said that Pakistan-based terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen have been putting pressure on Kashmiris to not carry out their daily chores but people are not paying any heed to their warnings and threats. He added that all petrol pumps in the region are open and security forces have ensured that shops are open wherever people are interested in opening them.

Singh also said that police on Monday apprehended a group working with Jaish-e-Mohammed in Sopore. He added that eight people were arrested in connection with this case. According to Singh, these people are associates of Jaish terrorists and were involved in printing and pasting threatening posters at various places. Singh said that the accused were working on behalf of three local terrorists from Sopore.

According to the initial investigations carried out by the local police, it is learnt that Aijaz Mir, Omar Mir, Tawseef Najar, Imitiyaz Najar, Omar Akbar, Faizan Latief, Danish Habib and Showkat Ahmad Mir were involved in preparation and circulation of posters. It is learnt that an active local terrorist namely Sajad Mir alias Haidar and his other associates Muddasir Pandith and Asif Maqbool Bhat affiliated were the principal architects of the plan and the posters were published and circulated in the area on their order.

The active terrorists who are part of this conspiracy had instructed the individuals to publish the posters in order to intimidate local people. Police has recovered the computers and other accessories which were used for drafting and publishing of the posters. All the incriminating materials including the computer have been seized by the police. Police is also investigating the involvement of these terrorists in the recent killing of civilians in the area. Further investigation in the matter is under progress.

 zeenews

IAF move to place orders for LCA will give boost to industry: DRDO chief Reddy

The move by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to place orders for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will help boost the scientific community in the country's aeronautical sector and the industry, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief G Satheesh Reddy said on Monday.

The IAF is expected to place orders worth around Rs 45,000 crore with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to acquire 83 Tejas fighters.

"It is a great boost to the aeronautical sector of the country. The LCA has been developed by DRDO. It is a complete indigenous technology. The LCA went through operational clearance and then it got final clearance in February this year," Reddy told ANI.

"Now getting at one go orders for 83 LCAs from the IAF is a boost to the scientific community in the aeronautical sector and also to industry. This gives confidence to aeronautical engineers, scientists to develop aircraft which the IAF requires," he said.

The IAF had issued a tender for 83 LCAs about two years ago and the project was stuck over the pricing issue as the government and the Air Force felt that the price offered by the HAL was slightly higher.
Reddy said that the LCA Mark 2, which is being developed now, will also be inducted into the IAF.

"The LCA Mark 2 is about four-and-a-half generation aircraft which is close to the fifth generation. The aircraft has been completely redesigned with many features incorporated. Capabilities have also been built-in based on the knowledge acquired from the Mark 1. The Mark 2 will be a good fighter aircraft for the IAF," he noted.

Reddy said the "Akash" air defence missile is among the systems which have been acquired by the Indian Army and the Air Force.

"A number of industries have been supplying various systems and components to this programme. The defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) have been the lead integrator of the Akash system. A large number of orders which we received from the Indian armed forces have been already produced and handed over. Industries have flourished due to this. Indian industries are now established to manufacture large numbers of missile systems in the country," he said.

Reddy stressed the present order of Rs 5,000 crore for Akash will give a boost to the industry and the production lines will be utilised.

The DRDO has also received orders worth close to about Rs 25,000 crore from the Indian armed forces, he said, adding, "We are expecting more orders."

Reddy noted that many countries have shown interest in purchasing equipment like the LCA.

"The country is gaining momentum towards exporting many of the defence systems. The world is observing that India is developing state-of-the-art defence systems...In a few years, we should be able to export a lot of defence equipment," he said.

The DRDO chief described as a "great success" the artillery gun developed by India.

"The long-range gun has been designed and developed by the DRDO along with private industries. So, India now stands tall in having developed that gun. A number of trials have been conducted and trials are still on...In the coming years, the system will get inducted giving a boost to the Army," he added.

On Pakistan's "successful" test of 290-km range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi, Reddy said the neighbouring country may have conducted a routine test.

"Probably, Pakistan did a routine test. I am not very sure about it. I don't think it is very significant... Indian missile capabilities are very strong. A number of missiles have been developed indigenously. Prithivi and Agni series are being developed. We are self-reliant in areas of missile systems," he added.

 aninews

India to receive delivery of S-400 missiles within 18-19 months

India had signed a USD 5.43-billion deal with Russia for the purchase of five S-400 systems during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 5 last year for long-term security needs.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• India had signed a USD 5.43-billion deal with Russia for the purchase of five S-400 systems in 2018
• The S-400 (System-400) is a long-range air-defence missile
• Deputy PM of Russia said that the S-400 missiles will be delivered to India as per schedule

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Sunday said S-400 air defence missile systems will be delivered to India in strict accordance with the schedule.
"The advance payment has been received and everything will be delivered in strict accordance with the schedule, within about 18-19 months," Borisov told state-owned broadcaster Rossiya-1.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss ways to further advance bilateral cooperation.

India had signed a USD 5.43-billion deal with Russia for the purchase of five S-400 systems during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 5 last year for long-term security needs.

 indiatoday

Apache has edge over Mi-35 in e-warfare, missile payload

The Apache combat helicopter's capability at electronic warfare, along with its modern firepower, is what is expected to provide an edge to Indian armed forces in a battlefield. As per defence experts, the Apache also scores over the Russian Mi-35 chopper, which it is set to replace, in its night vision capability and missile power.

Eight units of the multi-role Apache AH64E (I) choppers - where the 'I' stands for India-specific enhancements - were inducted to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab earlier this week.

India had entered a purchase agreement with US-based defence manufacturer Boeing in September 2015 whereby 22 units of the AH64E variant, which is the most modern version of the Apache, will be handed over to IAF in a phased manner by March 2020.

As per IAF sources, another four choppers are set to arrive in India in September.

The AH64E variant comes equipped with a payload of four air-to-air Stinger missiles, 16 air-to-ground Hellfire missiles, 76 Hydra rockets of 70 mm and a 30-mm chain gun with 1,200 rounds that can fire at the rate of 625 rounds per minute. The missiles can be fired in 'fire-and-forget' mode.

According to retired Air Marshal Manmohan Bahadur, a helicopter pilot himself, the Longbow radar of the Apache, which has a 360-degree coverage, helps it score over the Mi-35 in electronic warfare.

"As compared to the Mi-35, the Apache has better night vision capability and is equipped with better missiles. It can carry air-to-air missiles too apart from air-to-ground missiles. The mast-mounted sight which has the Longbow radar is a millimetric wave radar. The radar scans the battlefield electronically and can transfer pictures to other air-borne assets through network centricity," Bahadur told IANS.

Primarily, the role of the Apache in the armed forces in India will be to provide support to mechanised armoured formations in a battlefield by flying at treetop heights. The three-decades old ageing Russian Mi-35 choppers are ageing.

Besides, the Mi-35 was not able to achieve the heights necessary for combat during the Kargil War. The choppers can vertically ascend at a maximum speed of 2,800 feet per minute. It can achieve a maximum cruise speed of 279 kmph.

"The Apache will also not be able to achieve the heights that were required of the Mi-35 during the Kargil War. For battles fought on such heights, we have the Light Combat Helicopter of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited," added Bahadur.

India is only the 16th nation in the world to acquire the Apache stealth helicopter as per the Boeing. The AH64E choppers will be part of the No. 25 helicopter squadron of IAF, which is popularly known as the 'Gladiators', at the Pathankot Air Base.

Since combat helicopters generally provide support to armoured formations and anti-tank operations, there had been been a raging debate in the country in the recent past as to whether the Apache should be inducted into the Army.

"Most armies worldwide are using the Apache choppers for anti-tank operations. These choppers are highly manoeuvrable and fly at treetop heights. If trained with the Army, understanding of land battle becomes much easier for the pilots," former GoC-in-C of Northern Command Lt. Gen. (Retired) Deependra Singh Hooda told IANS.

The Indian government signed another agreement with the Boeing in July 2018 for buying six Apache choppers for the Army at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore.

According to defence sources, one batch of the AH64E chopper might also be based at the IAF's Suratgarh Air Force Station in Rajasthan since the helicopter gunship is well-equipped for combat in desert conditions.

 economictimes

India carpet bombs a slew of multi-billion dollar defence deals

An estimated $7 Billion contract for 83 indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be among a slew of several long-stalled multi-billion dollar defence deals which will be signed by India by the end of this year, the head of India’s Defence Acquisitions declared in New Delhi on September 5.

The list approved for signature includes the $3.15 Billion deal for 62 Airbus C295 Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the IAF and Indian Coast Guard (ICG), which “should move fast in weeks”. The IAF expects HAL to deliver 16 LCA Mk 1A fighters every year. HAL’s MS Velpari announced that an elaborate ecosystem had been established for the timely manufacture of the LCA. “HAL will only be the integrator. Not one of the 5,000 components for the fighter aircraft will me machined at HAL,” he declared. “The wings will be made by L&T, front fuselage by Dynamatic Technolologies, the middle section by VEM and the rear section by Alpha Design,” Velpari said

“The pricing for 83 LCAs was finalised on September 3 in a meeting chaired by the Secretary Defence Production. Talks are now on for the pricing of the support package. Contracts for the LCAs and 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) will be signed in 3-to-4 months’ time,” Apurva Chandra, Director-General (Acquisition) in the Ministry of Defence declared at an international seminar on ‘Energising Indian Aerospace Industry: Flight Plan for the Future’.


Orders for the LCAs and LCHs will go the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is controlled directly by the Ministry of Defence.

The procurement of 83 LCA Mk 1A fighters has been pending since an approval in November 2016 of the benchmarked price of 50,025 Crore ($7 Billion). The unit price is reported to have been negotiated around $40 Million.

Chandra also announced that the 5,500 Crore ($767.8 Million) contract for an estimated 6 squadrons of the indigenously-developed Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) shall be signed “in a couple of weeks”. This was approved by the Government last week, an apparent reference to a go-ahead by the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The missile will be manufactured by the public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited, the radar and electronic systems by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), also public sector, while the launchers will be made by the private sector L&T and Tata groups.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who is accompanying Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on a tour to East Asia, expressed his delight at the announcement of the slew of impending deals. “LCA manufacturing ecosystem of @DefProdnIndia will get a big boost with the new order,” he Tweeted.

The IAF expects HAL to deliver 16 LCA Mk 1A fighters every year. HAL’s MS Velpari announced that an elaborate ecosystem had been established for the timely manufacture of the LCA. “HAL will only be the integrator. Not one of the 5,000 components for the fighter aircraft will me machined at HAL,” he declared. “The wings will be made by L&T, front fuselage by Dynamatic Technolologies, the middle section by VEM and the rear section by Alpha Design,” Velpari said later at the same seminar, while claiming that HAL was capable of delivering between 16 to 20 LCAs annually.

The Defence Secretary also publicly applauded the go-ahead for the Akash missile contract. “Big boost to @DefProdnIndia as the indigenous missile production involves Defence PSUs and no. of Indian MSMEs,” he Tweeted.

Later, speaking at the same event, the IAF’s Assistant Chief for Projects Air Vice Marshal J Chelapati said the contract for the 62 C295 aircraft “should move in weeks”. Price negotiations were concluded earlier this year with Tata Advance Systems Limited (TASL), which will deliver the C295 through a joint venture with Airbus

The DG Defence Acquisitions also announced that the tender for the 21,738 Crore ($3 Billion) for supplying 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) under the ambitious Strategic Partner Model will be issued by the end of 2019.

“(Contracts for) the (200) Ka-226 Light Utility Helicopters for an estimated $3 Billion and the Avro replacement (Airbus C295 Medium Transport Aircraft) are also under serious consideration,” Chandra said.

Later, speaking at the same event, the IAF’s Assistant Chief for Projects Air Vice Marshal J Chelapati said the contract for the 62 C295 aircraft “should move in weeks”. Price negotiations were concluded earlier this year with Tata Advance Systems Limited (TASL), which will deliver the C295 through a joint venture with Airbus. Sixteen of these aircraft will be directly imported while 46 will be license produced at a facility set up by the TASL-Airbus JV near Bengaluru.

Air Vice Marshal Chelapati also declared that the contract for the second phase of the Modernisation of Air Field Infrastructure (MAFI 2) running into “several thousand Crore Rupees” will be signed “in the next few weeks”.

 SP Guide Publications

India and Japan ACSA expected to be signed later this year, sources

India and Japan will soon extend logistical support to each other’s Navies when Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) is inked later this year. This agreement is expected to further deepen the defence cooperation between the two countries.

Top diplomatic sources have confirmed that “The discussions related with the ACSA are almost completed and during the forthcoming, first ever 2+2 India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, the draft will be finalised.”

“The venue for the 2+2 Dialogue has not been decided yet, but, it could take place in India as defence minister Rajnath Singh has just been to Tokyo and this agreement was on the agenda of talks,” the diplomat added.
 Sources have also confirmed that ahead of the India-Japan annual summit which is slated for December, the defence and foreign ministers will meet and finalise the draft agreement which is likely to be inked in the present of the top leaders of both countries.

Also, at the dialogue ahead of the summit level talks, the Japanese side is expected to talk about the $1.65 billion deal ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft. It was also discussed when Singh had met his counterpart Takeshi Iwaya, Defence Minister of Japan recently.”

As has been reported earlier, these amphibious planes are of interest to both the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard as it will add to their strength and will be of immense use in the Search and Rescue aircraft (SAR) operations. While the Japanese side has agreed to manufacture these aircraft in India, and transfer technology, the project has not moved forward, said the diplomat.

The agenda of the first 2+2 dialogue between the two countries will also focus on the strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific, Defence Cooperation, and Joint Exercises as well as to participate in joint projects in the defence sector under Make in India initiative.

According to a senior diplomat, “Several private sector defence companies from Japan have been exploring the Indian market for possible opportunities. They have also been responding to various defence Request for Information and Request for Proposal, especially in the naval projects.”

Later this year, both India and Japan have also agreed to meet for the Fifth Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation (JWG-DETC).

The two countries are also preparing for the Japan-India-U.S. trilateral maritime exercise “MALABAR 2019”. This has been scheduled for late September early October.

Besides the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) are planning to participate as observers at multilateral exercises, both countries are also planning to have bilateral exercises on regular basis.


Ex Malabar ::

In 1992, Ex Malabar started as a bilateral naval engagement between India and the. Gradually the scope of the exercise grew and in 2015 it was expanded to a trilateral level to include Japan. Even Australia was keen to join this format, but India has so far not accepted their request.

 financialexpress

Air Force Chief Wants Preparation To Ensure Ground Defence Of Air Bases

Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa has emphasised on the need to maintain a very high level of operational preparedness to ensure ground defence of air bases against the backdrop of the existing security scenario, the Air Force said in a statement on Friday.

In his address at the Western Air Command Commanders' Conference held on September 5 and 6 here which was attended by Air Officers Commanding/Station Commanders under the Western Air Command, Dhanoa highlighted the importance and pivotal role of this crucial Air Force unit in all future conflicts and aid to civil power.

"The CAS (Chief of Air Staff) emphasised on the need to maintain a very high level of operational orientation and preparedness. He reiterated the need for development and upkeep of operational infrastructure and continuous orientation of human resources, so as to absorb induction of new technologies for a smooth transition of the IAF into a potent aerospace power," the Air Force said.

He exhorted the commanders to revise their operational plans and training in consonance with the lessons learnt during various exercises and recent operations.

"The CAS made a special mention to maintain very high level of vigil and preparedness to ensure ground defence of our air bases in the backdrop of the existing security scenario," the statement said.

"He appreciated the rapid response and professionalism of the Command in the successful surgical operations," it added.

BS Dhanoa also appreciated the aerospace safety record of the WAC and urged the commanders to continue their efforts towards a safe operational environment, the statement said.

During the conference, the reviews and discussions were focused on critical analysis of our operational preparedness and training, including measures to enhance high serviceability of our combat assets.

 ndtv