Indian Navy LPD to feature electric propulsion, upbeat on DRDO Fuel Cell AIP
April 11, 2013 by P. Chacko Joseph
Mumbai:
India will feature an electric propulsion for its future LPD (Landing Platform Docks) project and the Navy – DRDO Fuel Cell AIP will be ready for submarine refits, said Indian Navy officials during an SMM India (subsidiary of maritime trade fair SMM Hamburg) hosted event on 4th and 5th April.
Indian Navy had used an electric propulsion for its Hindustan Shipyard Limited built Survey vessel INS Darshak, but it was a Direct Current (DC) unit. The DC is seen in submarines, but it could not be adopted for surface ships. There are plans to adopt a shaft propulsion on LPD instead of a Pod propulsion as in the Mistral class which evinced heated arguments. In its LPD RFI, Indian Navy has asked for information for both twin shaft configuration, with twin rudders and Fixed Pitch Propellers; and shock graded podded propulsion.Read more: http://frontierindia.net/indian-navy-ldp-to-feature-electric-propulsion-upbeat-on-drdo-fuel-cell-aip#ixzz2gXUKeSXz
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Rear Admiral DM Deshpande, VSM, DG Project – 75 (Scorpenes) Naval Head Quarters, who spoke about electric propulsion for future Indian submarines, described the Navy – DRDO fuel cell system, which was progressing. He named 10 companies involved in the AIP project led by L&T at NMRL ( Naval Materials Research Laboratory ) Ambarnath. The ten companies involved in Indian AIP propulsion design include Thermax, IOCL, L&T, Texol, Indian Institute of Petroleum, AKSA, CDAC, Gigitronics, ROLTA and MDL. DRDO units involved in the project are NMRL, CEEFES, NSTL, RCI and NPOL.
The Hydrogen based Indian AIP design has no Carbon Dioxide (unique to French MESMA) emission. The waste products are stored in a separate container in slurry form. Since there are no emissions into the water, there are less chances of the submarine being detected. In addition to upcoming Project 75 (I) submarines, DRDO AIP can also be deployed in existing HDW T-1500 submarines (Shishumar Class) in Indian Navy service.
On submarine indigenisation, Rear Admiral Deshpande said a lot Indian systems will be incorporated in the P-75 (I) submarines, including water cooled propulsion system, switchboards, 415 V NES -607 transformer board, 6.6 kv circuit breaker etc, which have been learnt through the Project 75 project.
Read more: Indian Navy LPD to feature electric propulsion, upbeat on DRDO Fuel Cell AIP
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As reported earlier, the Indian AIP would not store hydrogen on board, but will produce it on the go.
“In our technology, we generate hydrogen online on an as-needed basis. If you need more hydrogen when you are going fast, you produce more hydrogen and if you need less hydrogen, you produce less of it. The policy is ‘do not store hydrogen on board,’ which ensures a higher level of safety to the platform. Also, we use fuel cells of a different type — phosphoric acid fuel cells — as they can tolerate slightly impure hydrogen. This is because when you produce hydrogen on board, you cannot have very pure hydrogen whereas other companies making fuel cell-based AIP are using PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell, which necessitates hydrogen to be of ‘five-nines’ quality, meaning 99.999 percent pure,” he said.
Seems like they are calling EOIs for t/r modules in X,S and L band for AWACS-I project, I wonder why, some sort of multiband radar in works?
I would say a respectable load but hardly a heavy load either………..
Let’s see the bug take off STOBAR with that load… or take off at all :dev2:
Funny, I just saw a source a few days ago stating India was giving up in the Kaveri for the LCA. That it would modify the design for UCAV’s instead or something to that effect……….I’ll see if I can find it???
Three year old news. The engine would have to be flight certified anyway for AURA and possibly the preliminary engine for AMCA.
Kaveri will go to Russia again for final certifications aboard Il-76 test bed and equipped on a MiG-29 as a second engine.
HYDERABAD, September 30, 2013
Updated: September 30, 2013 00:55 IST
Interceptor missile test in the offing
Y. MALLIKARJUNAs part of a bid to secure major cities of the country from external attacks, India’s missile technologists will, for the first time ever, conduct a crucial, high-altitude interceptor missile test in the exo-atmosphere.
The exercise is part of the developmental trials for the first-phase of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, designed to tackle incoming enemy missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km.
India plans to deploy in two phases a home-grown, two-tiered (interception in endo and exo-atmosphere) BMD system to protect major cities.
First phase
In the first phase, the BMD system seeks to intercept and destroy incoming enemy ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km. The second phase would aim at targeting missiles with a higher range of 2,000-5,000 km.
The first-ever high-altitude interception at around 125-140 km has been proposed, missile scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said.
Critical simulation tests were being carried out by scientists in the run-up to the major trial, to be held in the last week of November.
Earlier, DRDO missile technologists have carried out exo-atmospheric interception at altitudes of 47 km and 80 km. So far, six of the seven interceptor missile tests conducted by DRDO have been successful. While two were in exo-atmosphere, the remaining took place in endo-atmosphere (above an altitude of 50 km).
DRDO scientists said that while endo-atmospheric interception had been validated in earlier tests, some more trials needed to be conducted before deploying the first phase of BMD system. They said the design of the interceptor missile for the second phase had been completed and the trials would be held next year.
Is there any way to adjust size of an image that i want to link to ?
with my luck they are typically too small or too big
Drop in a link if they are oversize. If you want them to display here, paste the link in imgur to upload, and paste the large thumbnail BBcode, or resize the image in the editing option.

An unknown missile undergoing RCS testing in NAL’s EM laboratories, found it in an NAL document from last year. This can be either of Air Launched Article (ALA) or the Anti radiation missile.
Regarding LGB-NG
“The range of Sudrashan now is around 9 km if dropped from a normal altitude, and for the NG-LGB we hope to increase the range to 50 km,” he said.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1471238.ece
“It’s a bomb which can fly for about 40-50 or even more kilometres in a guided mode and it can be released from an aircraft”.
About CLGM being pitched for Airforce
CLGM is a new generation anti-tank missile developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) at Bangalore. It can destroy any target in 3 km to 5 km range. It is an all terrain missile to be used by the army, navy and air force.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1440857.ece
About 120 Km variant of Pinaka, I thought it was old news back from 2005. The trajectory control system was confirmed before 120Km Pinaka, so we might see it a couple of years down the line. It was also confirmed earlier this year.
At present, there are two variants of the Pinaka and efforts are on to develop two more variants that can strike targets at double the existing range. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) was already sent to the government for approval, Mr. Beri said.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/two-pinaka-variants-under-development/article4274841.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/two-pinaka-variants-under-development/article4274841.ece
I can’t find the news for short range Astra, that too was embedded in one of news reports as a tiny nugget.
Teer, a few tweaks to your list.
The current designation of 50 Km GPS/INS + laser guided kit is LGB-NG and 100 Km range PGM would most likely be an extension of this family (rocket motor or glide wings)
K-4 missile with 3500 Km range is ready for underwater launch. Future variant of K-4 to have 5000 km range.
Pinaka-2 with trajectory correction system (GPS + mid course guidance) already tested at 40 Km range, testing for 60Km pending. Also needs to be included, a 120Km range MBRL (Smerch analogue).
LR-SAM will be tested in early 2014, most likely from the first Kolkata class destroyer.
CLGM/SAMHO will be eventually adapted for air launch (like LAHAT) providing a cheaper munition to complement more expensive Nag. Airforce has already been touted as one of the customers.
A short range version of Astra with IR seeker is also a part of Astra project (SR, MR and LR).
??!
Back up power from diesel generator in case of nuclear plant failure.
Goldust is having his share of giggles at your expense guys. Let him be.
HAL begins deliveries of HAWK to navy.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1892922/report-hal-delivers-home-made-hawk-to-indian-navy
Anti-tank Nag missile ‘Helina’s’ trial conducted
Vimal Bhatia, TNN | Sep 24, 2013, 03.00 AM ISTJAISALMER: The second land-to-land preliminarily trial of ‘fire and forget’ third generation anti-tank Nag missile’s upgraded land version — ‘Helina’ — was carried out on Sunday at the Pokhran field firing range. The target was fired in the presence of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and army officials. The missile hit the target successfully.
Defence sources said, “For hitting the target, a launching pad was made in Pokhran field firing range. Helina’s target was set 7km from the launching pad. The target was fired at from launching pad and was hit successfully.”
Before this, air-to-ground preliminarily trials of anti-tank Nag missile’s air version of ‘Helina’ were conducted on October 21, 2011, which were unsuccessful.
“The range of the land version will be extended by development of a mast-mounted missile launcher that is hydraulically raised to a height of 5 metres to enable the missile to acquire its targets up to a distance of 7-8km. An air-launched, 10-km range variant will be launched from tactical interdiction aircraft like the upgraded Jaguar IS. It has a nose-mounted mill metric-wave active radar seeker,” sources said.
Defence sources said, “The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will also start working on the ‘man portable’ Nag soon. It would weigh less than 14kg. It is being developed as per user requirements and will see upgraded propulsion to enable ‘Helina’ to strike enemy armour at a distance of 7-8km.”
Nag is a third generation ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of the five missile systems developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Nag has been developed at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Its land version is presently undergoing trials in Chandan field firing range in Pokhran.
Nag is also configured to be used on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This version is known as Helina (HELIcopter launched NAg). Eight missiles are carried in two quadruple launchers. Launchers mounted on either side are linked to a nose-mounted stabilized thermal sight and a laser range-finder package.
‘Helina’ with a range of 7-8km, will be launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The first ground launches of the missiles were conducted in October 2011 during which the missile was launched onto the target. While the missile was in flight, a second target was chosen for the missile to hit, which was successfully destroyed. This demonstrated the capability of the missile to lock onto and hit another target while in flight. A two-way RF command-video data link has been released which is intended to be fired from HAL ALH.
“Nag missile has a top attack capability. The ‘Helina’ version will use a ‘lock-on after launch’ system extending its range to 7km. In this scenario, the missile is launched in the general direction of the target. As it approaches the target, images of the area ahead are sent back to the operator who will be able to identify enemy tanks. The command to lock onto a tank is then passed onto the seeker through an uplink mid-flight. After that, the missile homes in onto the target and destroys it,” sources said.