quadbikeIndian Navy Formally Floats AUV Requirement, Wants A Fully Indian Machine
In a long and commendable tradition of supporting indigenous design and development, the Indian Navy has invited interest from Indian industry — both state owned and private — to meet a requirement for at least 10 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that can be developed and begin production within four years of award of contract. In a refreshing break, the Navy has chosen to exercise the “Make” procedure of India’s Defence Procurement Procedure 2008 ( DPP-2008), a special category that can be invoked by the armed forces for “high technology complex systems designed, developed and produced indigenously”.
The Navy wants AUVs that can carry “variable payloads like high definition sonars and underwater cameras for surveillance reconnaissance activities of the sea bed (such as MCM operations, Oceanographic survey and specialised mapping etc).” The Navy also stipulates, in a broad list of requirements, that contending AUV concepts should involve platforms with (a) data recording facilities for subsequent analysis, (b) be capable of providing realistic target training for sonar operators, (c) be capable of being launched from small vessels with a maximum weight of 1.5 tons and (d) be able to operate at depth upto 500 mtrs for a duration of 7-8 hours.
The Navy has asked for an initial expression of interest by July 15, though this date is most likely to be extended. Several IIT incubation projects, which displayed amateur AUVs at the recent DefExpo are likely to show interest, or at least look toward technical tie-ups with larger firms. In early 2008, the DRDO — currently developing an AUV at its Naval Science & Tech Laboratory in Visakhapatnam — inaugurated an AUV Centre in the city. The indigenous programme is headed by a naval officer, Commodore N Banerjee.
quadbikeNot valid arguments. The naval LCA isn’t going to build any useful new indigenous capability over & above what the standard LCA provides. ‘Cheap to operate’ won’t cancel out the cost of development, & having two types instead of one will increase operating costs, & increase the difficulty of carrier ops. Carriers will have to carry two sets of spares, etc. Think about maintenance bays, ground crew training, pilot reserves, etc.
No, it doesn’t make sense.
BTW, why would the navy want to operate land-based fighters? That’s what an air force is for.
You are of the mark. It gives the capability to build ship borne fighters. Which is something good to have for the future. Development costs are almost paid for.
USN and PLAN do shore based operations as well. Just because some Brits want RAF to operate from RN carriers don’t mean every naval air arm has to be like that. It will be better to have IN stations in the outlying islands and may be Maldives in the future rather than IAF stations there. IN already operates Jaguar IMs int he maritime strike role.
quadbikeThen why bother with NLCA? Three carrier fighters is at least one too many.
Cheap to operate, building indigenous capability etc. The third carrier would be the one which will have the next gen fighters. I won’t be surprised if some of them are used for Shore based ops.
quadbikeISRO launches rocket with students’ payload
Achieving a major milestone, Indian space agency ISRO has successfully launched the technology demonstrator flight of the advanced sounding rocket RH 200.
The launch was carried out from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala at 1550 hours on Wednesday, ISRO said. The rocket achieved its intended altitude of 60 kilometers two minutes after launch.
The significance of the latest test was that part of the rocket’s payload was built by students of Vellore Institute of Technology University (VITU) who were guided by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
The students’ payload comprised of tri-axial accelerometers, power switching module and safe arm relay unit matching the requirements of RH 200 rocket. The tri-axial accelerometer can monitor accelerations in all three directions. The power-switching module is for the power control of the payload, the space agency said.
The latest launch was the 395th flight of RH 200 rocket. So far, TERLS has recorded 2291 flights of sounding rockets.
In January, 2010, the RH 200 along with RH 300 MkII and RH 560 MkII rockets made a history with first ever sounding rocket launch campaign with six flights in a day and five flights within a span of 3 hrs 40 minutes from TERLS and within a minimum two minutes between flights and tracking two rockets one after the other using the same radar in two minutes time gap. These deployments were for studying solar eclipse effects on atmospheric regions, ISRO said.
quadbikeNew Light Combat Aircraft to be custom made for NAVY
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), now to be a part of the Indian Naval fleet India’s first indigenous aircraft is all set to make its maiden flight this October.
The aircraft was first developed for the Indian Air force, and reworked on to then be included in the naval fleet. A new structural design was required to better able the aircraft to land and take off a carrier. The aircraft has been designed to take off at a distance of 200 meters with a ski jump and land at a distance of 90 meters. The aircraft will use avionic systems, flight controls, and a GE-F404 engine similar Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircrafts. However, the flight control technology will be redesigned in order to provide a greater reduction in landing approach speeds.
The aircraft will be deployed in 2015 alongside the aircraft carrier being built in the Cochin shipyard. The aircraft is scheduled to take systems integration tests, ground runs, taxi trials and eventually flights before it is deemed ready for deployment. The aircraft has been developed under the Aeronautics program of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and will use a U. S. made machine. It has been designed to make “ski jump” take offs and arrested landings on aircraft carriers
Shore based test facility, at the naval air base in Goa, will rum simulated take offs and landing runs for the aircraft. Mr. Antony said that this facility is already being used to train pilots flying the MiG-29K fighter jets, bought from Russia, which are also to be deployed abroad aircraft carriers.
Defense Minister A. K. Antony described the milestone as “memorable”. The chief of Naval Staff Admiral, Nirmal Verma, claims that this would give the navy a multidimensional force capability. Mr Antony also added “Using the Army for law and order is always the last resort.” However, the Army would provide security personnel fighting the Maoists with logistics support and training.
quadbikeWe are entering into a security partnership with India: German envoy
New Delhi, July 7 (ANI): European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) of Germany initiated a deal with Indian Air Force (IAF) for providing 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) worth over 10 billion dollars.
Briefing media persons here on Tuesday, German Ambassador to India Thomas Matussek said this deal not only heralds Germany entering into a security partnership with India on commercial note, but was also significant from a joint security exercise point of view.
“We have decided that we wanted to enter into a real security partnership with India. It’s not a by-a-client relationship but security partners with four native countries with the cutting edge technology for the next 20-30 years to come. So, it goes way beyond a commercial relationship,” he added.
Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, said they had a successful meeting with the IAF and he is hopeful of encouraging response from the Indian Ministry of Defence within a few weeks.
“We have official request from the Indian Air Force, from the Indian MoD (Ministry of Defence), in particular, for the so-called multi-role capabilities.
So, on the one side, to have the air to air to capabilities and on the other side, to have the air to ground capabilities and that is what the Euro fighter is fulfilling. First topic is that India is asking as well for technology transfer and I believe that they are interested as well in the new technology in the fighter business,” Gerwert added.
If the IAF approves and the Defence Ministry decides to buy this highly modern and futuristic aircraft, then it would be the fifth production base for the Euro fighter along with Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain. (ANI)
quadbikeIAF could be used for providing logistic support to security forces: Govt.
Raipur: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) unanimously decided not to use the Army against the Maoists, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai announced here today, while assuring Centre’s full support to affected states in fighting the left-wing extremism.
”A meeting of the chief ministers of seven naxal-affected states has been convened by the Home Ministry in Delhi on July 14 to take stock of the security situation,” Mr Pillai told media here after winding up his two-day tour of naxalism-affected districts in Chhattisgarh.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to address the meeting which would also be attended by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Chief Secretaries and DGPs from affected states.
While ruling out Army deployment at the present juncture, Mr Pillai said a decision had however been taken to use Indian Air Force (IAF) only for providing logistic support to security forces in case of evacuation and movement of formations.
Mr Pillai, who reviewed the joint anti-naxal operation, deployment of force and implementation of developmental schemes and infrastructure with top officials in Rajnandgaon and Kanker districts yesterday and in the State Secretariat here today, said, ”I deeply appreciate the efforts of the Chhattisgarh government in combating Maoists.”
The Home Secretary is scheduled to call on Governor Shekhar Dutt and Chief Minister Raman Singh before leaving for Delhi late this evening. His proposed visit to the naxal hotbed Dantewada this morning was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Replying to a question regarding growing differences and recent verbal duel between state police and CRPF officials on deployment of forces in naxal-dominated areas, he admitted that there were some differences and those issues had been sorted out amicably through discussions with both the sides.
Mr Pillai, who planned his visit to Chhattisgarh in the wake of deadly Maoist attacks on CRPF personnel in the state, felt that the incidents could have been avoided had the central forces taken adequate precaution. ”We have to rigorously follow the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) and remain vigilant for 24 hours to thwart such Maoist attacks” he added.
quadbikeIndian Air Force in Congo evacuates injured in tanker accident
The Indian Air Force helicopters on United Nations mission in Democratic Republic of Congo carried out ‘Casualty Evacuation’ of the seriously injured patients from Sange village to Bukavu, as no medical facilities exist near the site of the tragedy.
On the night of July 2, a fuel tanker loaded with gasoline overturned in the village of Sange, around 36 kilometers from the town of Uvira in South Kivu Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The accident took place in the close proximity of various houses and commercial shops; there was an explosion and the ensuing fire caused numerous casualties.
On Saturday morning, two helicopters were tasked for Casualty Evacuation role, while a third was tasked with carrying various senior UN officials to the site.
All three helicopters were promptly airborne for the task; the first helicopter dropped the officials at the site and cleared the helipad and positioned itself at the UN Heliport in Uvira for the other two helicopters to carry out the evacuation mission.
These two helicopters flew a total of three shuttles and all the seriously injured patients were airlifted directly to Camp Siao helipad in Bukavu Town for further treatment.
A total of 32 serious burn casualties were airlifted by the three helicopters in 13 sorties towards this mission.
While two aircraft landed back at Bukavu late in the evening on the same day having accomplished the task, the third recovered back at Bukavu on Monday morning after having stayed overnight at the UN Heliport in Uvira town.
Approximately 230 people died after a fuel tanker overturned, gushing oil and exploding in a massive fireball on Saturday. (ANI)
quadbikeTrials over, Boeing awaits IAF decision on $5.8 billion C-17 deal
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted trials of a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft which had been taken at lease from US Air Force (USAF). The trials were conducted at the Gaggle Airport in northern India some 500 km from New Delhi on 23 June, ahead of the procurement of 10 giant strategic airlift aircraft for an estimated USD 5.8 billion.
The C-17 Globemaster deal is the largest Indo-US deal ever, overtaking the $2.1 billion contract for eight Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft inked last year.
The C-17 has the ability to ferry 70-ton loads to a distance of 2,400 nautical miles and use short, even makeshift, runways at high altitudes.
The aircraft was to undergo technical checks of the fuselage, seating and engines, as also Para-jumping and loading and unloading systems by IAF test pilots.
The C-17 has been flown to Gaggal airport from the IAF transport base at Agra, where the C-17s being acquired to replace the IAF’s fleet of a dozen-odd Russian-origin Ilushin Il-76 ‘Gajraj’ transporters will eventually be based.
The negotiations for the aircraft – being acquired via the Foreign Military Sales route – would only begin once US Congress, notified about India’s requirement two months ago, approved the sale depending on the configuration the IAF wanted. India is seeking to build its own indigenous defense industry and is doing so by looking to use the best technologies in the defense sector.
quadbikeThe IN appears to have caught the IAF disease.
Rather IN understands it needs something better than the MIG 29K to counter J15(of PLAN) and J10 (of PAF). The LCA is not going to cut it either, the way forward is clearly the F 35 or the Rafale M.
quadbikeIAF Announces Micro Air Vehicle Requirement
The Indian Air Force has invited information from global vendors towards a potential purchase of (an unspecified number of) micro air vehicles (MAVs). According to the RFI, the MAV needs to weigh no more than 2-kgs with an endurance of anything over 30-minutes. The IAF has stipulated that the MAV needs a VTOL type, with payload requirements including day CCD camera and FLIR. Note: The Army is looking to induct the indigenous DRDO-ideaForge Netra MAV (see photo), made famous by the film 3 Idiots. Also, Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk was recently demonstrated to Indian forces in the forests of Bastar, Chattisgarh for potential use in anti-naxal operations. India’s NAL is known to be developing a series of MAVS, but none are known to be VTOL platforms
quadbikeYes the Rafale and Gripen also have sideways opening canopy, Very Russian indeed.
quadbikeEurope launches a broadside against US in `mother of all defence deals’
NEW DELHI: The Europeans have launched a fresh counter-offensive to ensure the perceived US influence does not skew the hotly-contested battle to grab the “mother of all defence deals”, the lucrative $10.4 billion project to acquire 126 fighters for IAF.
The defence ministry does proclaim the selection process in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) project, which has now entered a decisive phase with IAF finalising its technical evaluation report after gruelling field trials of the six foreign fighters in contention, will be “competitive, fair and transparent”.
But it’s also a fact that India is sure to factor in its geo-political considerations while finally choosing the MMRCA winner, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself in the past holding that large defence deals should be leveraged to serve the country’s larger political and diplomatic ends.
With the Americans increasingly cornering a major chunk of the lucrative Indian defence market, the Europeans are obviously apprehensive. Some of them even see the “American hand” behind the last-minute scrapping of virtually-finalised deals like the $1.5 billion one for six Airbus A-330 MRTT mid-air refuellers with European aerospace major EADS.
They do not want the story to be repeated with the MMRCA project, in which Eurofighter Typhoon is pitted against the American F/A-18 `Super Hornet’ (Boeing) and F-16 `Falcon’ (Lockheed Martin), apart from Swedish Gripen (Saab), French Rafale (Dassault) and Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation).
“Through Eurofighter, four nations (UK, Germany, Spain and Italy) have come together to enter into a real security and cutting-edge technology partnership with India for the next 20 to 30 years,” said German ambassador Thomas Matussek.
Holding that the “unhappiness” over the cancelled deals had been conveyed to the Indian government, Matussek wondered whether India would like to acquire a fighter which was flying across the border as well, in a clear reference to the US supplying F-16s to Pakistan despite Indian objections.
Added the CEO of EADS military air systems, Bernhard Gerwert, “Our price is the best value for money. Our bid has the full support of the four nations. So, we are not afraid of competition.”
The strong European pitch comes soon after the American undersecretary of defence for policy, Michele Flournoy, strongly advocated “US solutions for India’s defence needs” to further cement the expansive Indo-US strategic partnership.
The inking of the MMRCA project, of course, will still take well over a year. The defence ministry will open the commercial bids only after a shortlist of the fighters is drawn up keeping in mind the field evaluation test and the staff evaluation.
Complex issues like “life-cycle costs” and 50% offsets, among other things, will have to negotiated before the actual contract is signed. So, the race is still very much open.
quadbikeLight Combat Aircraft for Navy to fly this year
Navy’s first Light Combat Aircraft — the first step towards fulfilling the Indian Navy’s ambition of having an indigenously built modern air power on its ships — was unveiled here on Tuesday.
The first prototype, a trainer called NP1, will fly in October followed by the fighter version, NP2, the Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, announced as the fully assembled aircraft was rolled out of the hangar.
The naval aircraft will be part of the fleet that will go on the indigenous aircraft-carrying ship, codenamed IAC-1, that is being built in Kochi.
The LCA Navy and the aircraft-carrier are expected to be ready by 2014, Mr Antony said. Two more prototypes were sanctioned in December 2009.
The LCA Navy is a vastly modified version of the indigenous LCA, the Tejas. It was sanctioned in 2003. The LCA Navy is meant to replace the aged BAE-built Sea Harriers.
Tejas platform
The medium naval aircraft, the MiG-29K, was inducted recently.
Powered by a GE-F-404-IN20 engine, the LCA Navy is described as “the first indigenous effort to build a complete air element” for the Navy.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, said ship-borne air fleet is a very important military component of the future.
A Ship-based Testing Facility (SBTF) — a simulation of an aircraft carrier — is being built in Goa to test and train the naval aviation component. This and the IAC-1 would give the Indian Navy a quantum jump and help it become a “reckonable blue-water multi-dimensional force,” he said.
The SBTF and the naval prototypes are estimated to cost Rs 1,700 crore.
This is the 50th year of the induction of a naval air squadron on INS Vikrant, which has been decommissioned, and the INS Viraat.
The IAC-1 and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov), which are being acquired from Russia, are meant to complement this power.
Mr Antony said these ships should be in possession by 2011. A pan-India network of radars, including 46 along the coast, would ensure security when in place.
Admiral Verma said at a news conference that a satellite for the Navy was being developed by the ISRO. It is expected to be ready next year. Commodore C. D. Balaji, Project Director for NP-1, said the LCA Navy was the world’s only carrier-based light fighter aircraft. NP-1 is a vastly modified piece of the LCA. It has been customised by LCA’s designer, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in six months.
The ADA Director, Dr P.S. Subrahmanyam, said the re-jig for the Navy was challenging. The aircraft still needs to shed 400 kg and the landing gear has to be perfected.
The ship-borne aircraft has to take off within 200 metres against Air Force version’s 800 metres; and land within 90 metres, a tenth of land-based landing length.
The high strength steel had to be sourced specially from Midhani (Defence PSU Mishra Dhatu Nigam).
quadbikeIndia tests short range Astra missile
BHUBANESWAR: India Wednesday test-fired its short-range Astra air-to-air missile from a defence base in Odisha for the second time in two days, defence sources said.
The beyond visual range missile was tested at 2.05 p.m. from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in the district of Balasore, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
Astra is a high-end tactical missile and is envisaged to intercept enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.
The missile was earlier tested Tuesday, for the first time at night. “We are analyzing the data of both the tests” S.P. Dash, director of the test range said.
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