Endangered

Govt allows export of missiles

HYDERABAD, NOV 23 (PTI)

The Government has agreed in principle to allow exports of missiles but clearances to which country they can be exported is yet to come, said Dr. Prahalada Chief Controller, Reserach and Development and Director Defence Reserach and Development Laboratories (DRDL).

Speaking to the media on his visit to Hyderabad in connection with the conference on High energy materials here last week, Dr.Prahalada said permission has been given for exports of Akash, Trishul, Naag, Brahmos class of missiles which have been identified for exports.

He said South Africa and countries in the Middle East and South East have shown interest in the purchase of these missiles.

The flight test will be done for demonstration in December and once the flight caps are completed, DRD will market the same, he said.

At least, thousand missiles are being looked at for export which would mean a business of Rs 4000 crores roughly.

Besides earning foreign exchange, it would also mean better job opportunities for industries and employment opportunities for unemployed.

With exports quality will improve leading to better global competitiveness as well, he said.

A system is likely to be set up to develop the business of missiles for which DRDL wants to invest, Prahalada said.

Although there are several countries dealing in missiles, India should be able to capture some market as the cost structure for Indian missiles is competitive.

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Wild Wild Web

Endangered

Navy to gift vessel to Maldives

India will gift a fast-attack patrol vessel to the Maldives and is proposing to set up a hydrographic survey unit in the island nation, the navy announced today.

Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash is currently in the Maldives capital, Male, where he met the defence and national security minister Ismail Shafeeu. Admiral Prakash said the 26-tonne vessel will be transferred to the Maldives around January .

Prakash is on a three-day visit to the Maldives. He also said the navy’s hydrographic unit is proposing to send surveyors and trainers for the Maldivian navy. The fast patrol craft has been built by the Calcutta-based Garden Reach Shipbuildiers and Engineers. It is capable of swift action against smugglers on high seas.

Endangered

MiG confident of win in Indian fighter contest

Russian heavyweight RSK MiG is progressing with the development of its innovative MiG-35 fighter and aims to offer it in response to India’s RFP for 126 fighters to replace the country’s fleet of ageing MiG-21s.

The MiG-35 is the new name for the MiG-29OVT, which features an all-axial deflected vectored thrust (DTV) engine for extreme manoeuvrability. DTV also gives the aircraft the ability to fly at very low altitudes without resorting to high angles of attack.

Alexey Fedorov, RSK MiG’s director/designer general, says that the company felt the aircraft warranted the new designation due to its extended airframe life over the MiG-29OVT and the addition of the Tikhomirov NIIP Bars-29 active phased array radar.

“We have extended the life cycle of the airframe to around 6,000h,” says Fedorov. “The MiG-35 has a host of improved, compatible technology and can now compete successfully with every other modern fighter in the world.”

Fedorov adds that the use of omni-directional DTV makes the MiG-29M/M2 more precise and effective.

The MiG-35 should debut in 2006, but show visitors can see just how manoeuvrable a MiG with vectored thrust can be every afternoon.
The company has brought two MiG-29SMT variants to woo Dubai crowds. One is demonstrating its new, vectored thrust capabilities in the flying display, while the other is on view in the static park.

The MiG-29SMT features the new Zhuk-ME multimode radar, open architecture avionics with a MIL-STD-1553B multiplex bus, a multichannel navigation system and a new fuel system that allows longer range and in-flight refuelling.
MiG is also on target to deliver 12 single-seat MiG-29K and four two-seat MiG-29KUB aircraft to the Indian navy. Test flights will begin in 2006 with delivery taking place over 2007-9. India has an option for a further 30 aircraft for delivery in 2010-15.

These variants include a helmet-mounted target designation system, a solid-state laser rangefinder and the ability to detect targets both in front and behind the aircraft.

Fedorov is bullish about MiG’s future. “Our rivals on the Indian tender are quite serious, but we are optimistic and hope to be victorious,” he says. The company has seen good growth over the last year with sales up 113% over the 12 months to November. Annual revenues are now in excess of $1 billion and the company delivered, upgraded and overhauled a total of 52 aircraft for foreign customers in 2005, including upgrading Slovakia’s MiG-29s to NATO standards.
Fedorov also hints that MiG could soon be developing commercial aircraft with Airbus, but declines to give details.

bull

why is that so?

If we go in for 2 types,as the article says wouldnt it double up the speed.Thats a very imp adv isnt it?

Though F 18 is a good AC i wud prefer the IAF to go for M2000 and Mig 29

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What's the difference between people who pray in church and those who pray in casinos?
The ones in the casinos are serious.

Samudra

Well, the AESA gizmos from the US has no equal!
So I wont be very adverse to buying the F-18s although I do want the ToT - including the engines.Reduces the risk of sanctions.

bull

AESA is too hot an item and the US wont be yet ready to pass it on to india.they may give an ToT for other parts except the aesa.

Endangered

true... but that system with IAF... that’s some thing special and we love to accommodate this radar coz its worth in our inventory and its something special and new; very sure that no TOT will happen in this regard; guys around it's just a start; US need us in real time and it's clear that they will offer what ever possible.

I would love to see 125 Mig-35 and 80 Super Hornets in our inventory; Imagine about our air force by 2015 with more than 200 LCA's

indianguy4u

Then we would have to phase out m2k & mig29s. How could IAF use simultaneously 4 diff aircrafts for a single role.

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Hala Madrid!!

Samudra

I wonder if we really have to buy 125 smoke screens.

Endangered

India-French naval exercises in Gulf of Aden

Indian and French Naval flotilla are carrying out joint exercises in the Gulf of Aden, nearly eight months after such a drill off Kochi coast.

The French Navy has deployed a nuclear submarine, guided missile stealth frigate La Fayette, shore based Atlantique surveillance aircraft and Mirage 2000 fighters for the exercises codenamed Varuna-7 off the French Naval base Djibouti coast.

For the first time, a naval spokesman said, naval commandos and army para-troopers will conduct war manoeuvres with French special forces during the exercises already underway from November 19.

Five warships of the Western Fleet, led by aircraft carrier INS Viraat, a submarine, guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and guided missile frigates INS Talwar and Godavari are taking part in the exercises.

Earlier in March this year, French and Indian Naval warships took part in joint exercises off the Kochi coast in which the French deployed their aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.

"In the exercises, the thurst will be dissimilar air combat between Sea Harriers and Mirages, air defence exercises and maritime interdiction operations," the spokesman said.

Endangered

EADS plans tech transfer to HAL

Dubai November 23, 2005

European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS) is planning to tap the Indian helicopter market through its constituent Eurocopter. As a first step, it wants to ensure its technology is acceptable to local buyers.

Olivier Lambert, executive vice-president (sales and marketing) of Eurocopter said, EADS plans to sell copters at competitive rates to expand its global market share.

To achieve this, it was looking out for a low-cost manufacturer in India. “ Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has the expertise to make the copter and so we are considering a technology transfer,” said Lambert.

But, the tech transfer would not take place immediately. It will take place after Eurocopter initially supplies a batch of helicopters fully manufactured in Europe. “We will deliver some 60 copters initially before the technology transfer,” said Lambert. “Right now, we have an agreement for 160 copters,” he added.

Hindustan Aeronautics proposes to have an indigenous copter and for this it has submitted a request for information to helicopter companies across the world last week. Right now, Chetak and Cheetah are the mainstay of the Indian armed forces.

The proposal made to India is for the Eurocopter AS 555 SN Fennec. But, Lambert declined to divulge financial details of the agreement.

Another product, Eurocopter is promoting is the ‘Tiger’, which is a specialised combat helicopter. These copters are right now used by the French and German armed forces.

The project, funded by France and Germany, has given birth to a robust machine. On its advantage over the American Apache helicopter, he said, the Apache is heavier when compared to the Tiger and hence less agile.

Eurocopter says, its copters are suited for civil and military purposes. While, Eurocopter’s main clients are France and Germany, it has been exploring markets in Africa and South East Asia among others.

Endangered

Indo-Mongolian Joint Exercise in December

New Delhi: The Indo-Mongolian Joint Exercise 2005, first of its kind in India, is being conducted at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW) at Vairangte in Mizoram from 05 Dec 05 to 14 Dec 05. The Exercise is aimed at conducting joint training in semi urban terrain and hill areas as part of Indo-Mongolian defence cooperation. Participating strength of Mongolian Army is approx 25 soldiers and equivalent component of Indian Army being represented by Special Forces.

The joint training will foster further relationship between the two countries. Although Mongolia and India are geographically apart, there has been continuance of identical traditions and religio-racial affinities between the two countries called as “spiritual neighbours”. Commonality of views on many global and regional issues has extended their close partnership at the military level also.

Low Intensity Conflicts are becoming global in scope. Terrorism is becoming less territorially defined, global in reach and more decentralized. The globalized world is now matched by a globalized militant ideology. Menace of terrorism needs a global approach and hence joint training is a step towards that direction.

There could not have been a better staging ground for this exchange of expertise between the two forces than the Indian Army’s unique Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School, located in Mizoram. The School has been recognized as a “Centre of Excellence for Counter Insurgency”.

The School trains all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces, Indian Air! Force, Indian Navy, Para Military Forces and Central Police Organisations. The School recently conducted joint training with US Army in Sep 2005. Professionalism and standard of training imparted here left an indelible impression on them. Many other countries have elicited interest in the training being imparted here and the demand is ever on the increase. Joint training with Uzbekistan Army is slated in Jan 2006.

Apart from the foreign armies, it is the large number of foreign students from about 27 countries who subscribe to the various courses conducted here, Rich experience of the faculty at the CIJW School and the wide ranging training imparted here makes it the only such combat school in the world. The training imparted here attracted global attention aiding in uniting the world to fight the global menace.

Endangered

Thailand, Indonesia seek BrahMos, Prithvi

Thailand and Indonesia have expressed a desire to buy Prithvi surface-to-surface missiles and BrahMos cruise missiles on a fast track basis.

Though Thailand had shown interest a year ago, its enquiries were slow because of internal ASEAN politics, but Indonesia is actively seeking about twenty BrahMos on a free purchase agreement that has no post-sales user clauses.

Though India has not responded to the requests, a decision to sell BrahMos may be taken when the Indian PM, Manmohan Singh, meets Russian president Vladimir Putin next month.

So far, BrahMos production does not meet Indian or Russian demands, but foreign military sales made be prioritised, which would also give the BrahMos company some idea of the market, and gain it post-sales experience.

BrahMos is in high demand from several other countries due to its quality and price, while there is confusion about Prithvi’s role.

Some countries are convinced about the surface-to-surface capability of Prithvi, but want details about its navy and air force variant, but all three variants are successful here.

By the time of the defence exposition in Pragati Maidan in February 2006, the defence ministry could take a decision on the Thai and Indonesian requests, and accordingly accelerate mass production.

Since the Indian government has sought more private participation in defence production, and set up a military export target of $1 billion in the next five years, more military cooperation with friendly and reliable countries would be necessary.

Endangered

Centre to set up RS 300 crore propellant production plant

The Centre has, in principle, decided to set up an upscaled version of a Rs 300 crore pilot plant for production of propellants at Nasik to meet the requirements of the defence forces, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister M Natarajan said today.
''The country, which has developed a variety of missiles presently requires a new facility for mass production propellants for missiles and rockets,'' he told reporters after inaugurating the three-day fifth International High Energy Materials Conference and Exhibits-2005, organised by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory here.

The facility, which would come up in four to five, years would have capability to take up applied research, he added.

''We want to develop a special facility for research and process engineering, independent of the High Energy Material Research Laboratory in Pune,'' Mr Natarajan, the architect of the Main Battle Tank Arjun, said.

The Centre had also approved development of four Centres of Excellence to collaborate with Universities for integrating the research work with the requirments of the DRDO, he announced, adding that the first Centre was already commissioned at the Hyderabad Central University for research on High Energy Materials.

The Second Centre planned in association with the Calcutta University would develop sensors. The other two Centres were in the process of identification, he added.

Denying any shortage of scientists for the DRDO, he said as many as 6500 scientists were working in DRDO. Some young scientists leave after 18 months of working but many return after three years or so as they were dissatisfied with development of low-end software and keen on getting associated with long term DRDO projects such as LCA, Electronic warfare systems, MBT and so on. Every year, about 250 retire, but we recruit 500 young scientists, he added.

Endangered

Agni III test-firing by year-end

India would be test firing Agni-III, its nuclear-capable missile with a likely range of 4,000 to 6,000 km by end-December, 2005.

The development of Agni-III is on schedule and it would be test fired by the end of the year, Mr Prahlada, director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, told Deccan Herald.

Agni-III, is an intermediate-range, surface-based, solid-and liquid-propellant ballistic missile, he said. Test firing of Agni-III, has been rescheduled twice, he added. According to Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources, Agni-III is likely to be equipped with inertial guidance systems with an improved optical or radar terminal phase correlation system.

This would give it a high degree of accuracy with a medium to large payload of 250 kT warhead, the sources added.

The sources said, scientists have begun preparation for the test of Agni-III at the test range at Dhamra in the northern district of Bhadrak in Orissa.

India has the technological capability to build long-range missiles beyond Agni-III, the sources added. Missile scientists have developed a host of critical technologies that include, guidance and control, mission sequencing, all carbon composite re-entry heat shield, mobile launch systems and modern launch complex, the sources added.

The Project Agni has been able to meet rigorous technology demands and a high degree of accuracy.

The Agni missile system would cost anywhere between one sixth and one eighth of an equivalent system developed by advanced countries, the sources said.

The earlier Agni-I (700-800 km) and Agni-II (over 2,000 km) missiles are being inducted into the Army, the sources added.