EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Eurocopter Fennec During Light Chopper Trials In India

Source

DNA Exclusive: IAF Approaches IITs To Counter Hacking

New Delhi: Alarmed by reports from top foreign agencies about three computer systems of Indian Airforce (IAF) installed at sensitive bases being compromised by Chinese hackers, the IAF has decided to call in two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to hack into their systems and plug the loopholes within.

Of the three stations where IAF computer systems are installed, one is just across the prime minister’s 7 Race Course residence. Two other systems are installed outside Delhi.

A senior IAF official on condition of anonymity told ‘DNA’: “We want to see how fragile we are and what we need to do in case someone breaks into our systems.” He, however, hastened to add that the IAF was not sure whether a Chinese hacker had stolen data from its computers as reported by the US agencies.

The issue was discussed at a recently concluded IAF commanders’ conference on cyber crime. IITs would also suggest options for safety to IAF for their computers. A senior officer said the Chinese hacking did not bother the IAF, but it was important for them to learn precautionary measures.
The officer said that though operational plans were not digitised in the services and with systems having atleast three firewalls and algorithms in place in IAF, breaking through may not be easy for hackers.

But IAF seems to have decided to take some tough steps. In 2006, IAF set up its largest online network with 166 nodes, for logistic duties, all over the country, called Integrated Materials Management Online Services (IMMOLS). The system aims to improve the availability of items leading to an enhanced serviceability of weapon systems and to reduce inventory costs by minimising non-moving inventory.

Following in the footsteps of the Pentagon, where professional hackers are called in to hack systems for a large sum, IAF has, as a precautionary step, approached the technical institutions so that steps can be taken to plug these loopholes.

A source said the Pentagon also dissuades professional hackers by paying them large amounts as part of an agreement that the hackers would not compromise the Pentagon computers.

Multinational companies too protected their intellectual property through their own network systems guarded by firewalls. IAF has decided to go the same way, the source said, but refused to divulge details about paying the hackers to keep them from compromising its computers.

Source

India steals a march on the high seas

BANGALORE – India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured stealth frigate, commissioned late last month, sees the country join an elite of just eight nations that have built warships with naval stealth technology – it’s also a likely boost for New Delhi’s hopes to establish a warship-building industry.

The 6,200-tonne Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shivalik, commissioned into the navy by Defense Minister A K Antony in Mumbai on April 29, is the world’s largest stealth ship. Despite it weight and size, Shivalik will be able to tiptoe through the high seas and approach enemies largely undetected thanks to its many stealth features.

Radar-absorbent paint and the ability of the ship’s sides to be angled by 10% to bounce off radar waves reduce the chances of the hull being detected by up to 90%, and the ship’s engines are placed on shock-proof mounts to reduce vibration. Highly effective insulators reduce the ship’s thermal image, as does a special device which cools and diffuses smoke from its funnel.

Shivalik is the first of three “Project 17” multi-role stealth frigates being built at the government-owned Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Another two, the Sahyadri and Satpura, are expected to be commissioned by end-2010 and mid-2011, respectively. These will be the navy’s frontline frigates into the middle of the 21st century.

There are ships that are stealthier than Shivalik. Sweden’s Visby class vessels and France’s Lafayette class frigates are far more difficult to detect. But they are far smaller than Shivalik with displacements of 600 tonnes and 3,600 tonnes respectively.

Shivalik’s teeth come from its mix of imported and indigenous weapon systems and sensors, which includes Barak surface-to-air missiles and a Shtil air defense system from Israel, Russian Klub anti-ship cruise missiles and basic anti-submarine warfare weapons.

It has sensors for air, surface and subsurface surveillance, electronic support and counter equipment and decoys for “soft kill measures”, such as electronic jamming of incoming missiles. Shivalik is also equipped with defense systems against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks.

Opening up prospects for India’s warship-building industry, the Shivalik is a “world-class frigate at Indian prices”, according to defense analyst Ajai Shukla. The warship cost US$650 million to construct, a fraction of the price of a similar warship built elsewhere.

India’s warship-building capability has been improving in recent years. In 2009 it launched its first indigenously built nuclear submarine for sea trials, becoming just the sixth country in the world to build such a vessel. (See India’s ‘enemy destroyer’ sets sail, Jul 29, 2009)

Several of the warships India is building are high-tech and low-cost. For example, “Project 15-A” at MDL is building three Kolkata class destroyers, each of which will cost $950 million, a third of the price for comparative warships built abroad. Four anti-submarine warfare corvettes are also being built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata at a cost of around $435 million. Under “Project 17A”, MDL and GRSE will construct seven improved stealth frigates.

The cost of India’s 44,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant, under construction at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in southern India, is expected to be a third of the cost of the 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth, while another planned IAC of 60,000-tonnage – likely to be named INS Vishaal – will cost less than half of its British equivalent.

Over the next five to seven years, India will be induct 37 major warships manufactured at home, saving the country an estimated $50 billion, writes Shukla. “India has everything it takes to be a warship-building superpower: the springboard of design expertise; cheap and skilled labor; and mounting experience in building successful warships,” he said.

However, while India’s warships may cost less, some projects have been beset with delays. The “P75 project”, under which six Scorpene-class submarines were to be manufactured at MDL, is running late by several years. That project’s successor, the “P75-I” – for six additional submarines – has not moved beyond the planning stage.

While delays in decision-making are partly the cause for the delays, observers say Indian shipyards are too slow in production and delivery – Shivalik’s keel was first laid in 2001. This inability of local shipyards to meet the Indian navy’s needs has raised doubts on how they would meet global demands

Source

Boeing Receives 1st P-8I Indigenous Equipment From Bharat Electronics

Boeing today announced that it received a key communications technology for the Indian Navy’s P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in April, one month ahead of schedule. BEL delivered the Indian-designed Data Link II, a communications system that will enable exchange of tactical data and messages between Indian Navy aircraft, ships and shore establishments. Boeing will install the system during P-8I final assembly at its facility in Renton, Washington.

“Our deepening partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited endorses our ongoing initiative to build and strengthen the aerospace supply chain,” said Dinesh Keskar, president, Boeing India. “BEL’s efficiency in reaching this milestone highlights the speed with which the industry is maturing.”

Data Link II is the first Indian-manufactured item delivered to Boeing as part of the P-8I program. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing designed and is building for the U.S. Navy. “Data Link II represents the first P-8I Industrial Participation project promised by Boeing in the area of avionics systems,” said Vivek Lall, vice president and India country head, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Boeing contracted BEL in August 2009 to build this critical communications technology, and they have done an outstanding job by delivering on their commitment.”

BEL Chairman Ashwani Kumar Datt said, “This milestone is a demonstration of the capability that BEL has developed to deliver cutting-edge work in avionics, software and structural components. We are pleased to partner with Boeing on the P8-I platform and we look forward to achieving many more milestones together.”

BEL’s delivery of the state-of-the-art electronics will support P-8I test and integration activities in Seattle. BEL will deliver the last of the Data Link components in late 2011. Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009. India is the first international customer for the P-8.

Source

Revival of Abandoned Air Fields by IAF

There are 29 abandoned airfields of the Indian Air Force (IAF) spread across eleven states in the country. Review of abandoned airfields for revival is a continuous, ongoing process and is based on the operational assessment / requirement of the IAF.

No funds have been allocated nor utilized during 2008-09 and 2009-10 for maintenance and revival of abandoned airfields.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Nand Kumar Sai in Rajya Sabha today.

Source

Probably means trials with military guys present evaluating that the thing meets all the intended performance parametres.