Indian Navy boosts domestic industries

New Delhi, India — The Indian Navy recently placed an order for 40 Kaveri marine gas turbines for its naval warships with the country’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment. By placing an additional order for 40 gas turbine generators, it has taken a quantum leap in using “Made in India” hardware rather than buying overseas.
The navy has had grievous experiences in the past when foreign suppliers, primed by political pressures, refused hardware supplies. During the Kargil conflict with Pakistan in 1999, spare parts supplied by the United Kingdom were withheld, causing the navy much inconvenience.

Relying on manufacturers in India is a more viable solution, especially in times of hostilities. The navy’s decision is also good news for India’s marine engineering industry.

The Kaveri gas turbines were extensively tested for two years in naval facilities and they were shown to meet all the requirements of warships at sea. Warships generally run on regular diesel engines, but the Kaveri gas turbines provide more power, or “boost,” required for maneuvering in battle.

The gas turbine generators also have a valuable civilian spin off, as the rugged machines can be used to provide power in far-flung villages that are not connected to the nation’s electricity grid.

In the naval aviation field, a light combat aircraft produced by Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics – an indigenous public-sector company – has been approved for induction, with orders for six aircraft. The aircraft is a version of the Russian-built Sukhoi MK1.

In addition, the multirole Shivalik-class frigate with stealth features is the first such warship built in India. It is made by the Mumbai-based Mazagaon Dock Limited, a public sector company. The navy will induct 17 of these frigates, planned for manufacture in various batches. The lead vessel is scheduled for commissioning in November.

The Indian Navy’s maritime tradition underwent a renaissance with the acquisition of modern ships in 1959 and 1960. One such acquisition was the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The growth of India’s merchant marine also accelerated after 1950. But involvement in global trade is based on sealift capability for exports and imports; in this the merchant marine falls short.

India’s merchant marine currently carries barely 10 percent of the country’s imports and exports, although it should be closer to 40 percent. A drastic overhaul is needed in the country’s shipping industry, as was done for the information technology industry. By most conservative estimates the acquisition of each ship creates 50 jobs directly associated with the vessel and about 100 more in spinoffs in shipping-related services.

India has graduated to the level of a “builder” shipping power, making ships in its own yards. This gives a significant boost to the country’s industrial base. Industries like steel, commercial electronics, crane builders, shipyards for repair and replacement, as well as training institutes for welders, carpenters, plumbers, technicians and naval architects, plus insurance and financial specialists, are required in large numbers. Such a build-up leads to the nation becoming a maritime power. Security is then necessary to protect the fleet of ships and infrastructure.

Since 1972, the Indian Navy has built its own ships. The Leander-class frigates, later updated to the Nilgiri class, with the lead ship the INS Nilgiri, was inducted into service then. The slow pace was accelerated in 1980 under the former chief of naval staff, Admiral Oscar Dawson and his deputy, Vice Admiral S.L. Sethi.

Project Seabird, an initiative to develop a blue water navy – a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans – was envisioned by Dawson during the same time but adopted only in the late 1990s.

The first phase was completed in 2005 with the construction of a new naval base at Karwar in Karnataka state. Other maritime bases under the project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are well into their completion phases in 2009.

India’s political leadership has realized the need for such plans and has unstintingly provided resources to the naval admiralty. The commissioning of India’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Arihant, in July, the induction of the Delhi-class of destroyers – India’s largest warships built in the country – the aircraft carrier program, long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft, heavy lift anti-submarine warfare Commando helicopters, Dornier medium-range search-and-rescue aircraft, landing-ship tanks, survey ships and training ships are the final fruits of plans envisioned and executed so far.

Ocean monitoring is also essential to keep an eye on any foreign naval build-up in the region. The launch of India’s remote sensing satellites Oceansat 1 and Oceansat 2 will provide comprehensive cover for the Indian Ocean until 2015.

India needs strong growth and development for at least the next five decades to pull its rural population out of poverty. Peaceful and tranquil borders are also important to secure the nation in pursuit of this goal. Maritime India offers a strong magnet for India’s industrial growth and security.

Chinese anti-submarine choppers inducted in Pak Navy

Karachi, Oct.1 (ANI): The Pakistani Navy, which has acquired six Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters, Z9EC, from China, inducted the first batch of three such anti-submarine choppers into the Navy on Wednesday.

Several top officials including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhao Hui attended the induction ceremony in Karachi, The News reported.

Interacting with media person on the sidelines of the function, Admiral Bashir said the Pakistan Navy is prepared for all challenges and that it was necessary to upgrade the naval forces in the face of intense activities in the Indian Ocean.

“These days Indian Ocean is experiencing intense activity and around 100 ships from different countries are operating at all times for safeguarding their interests. These extraordinary developments are indicator of importance of trade routes in these waters. Pakistan Navy is also conducting continuous deployment of ships and aircraft to guarantee guarding the country’s maritime interests,” Admiral Bashir said.

he Z9EC helicopters have been specially built according to specific requirements of the Pakistan Navy and are capable of detecting and destroying submarines.

They are also capable of carrying torpedoes, fitted with sophisticated Pulse Compression Radar, Low Frequency Dipping Sonar, Radar Warning Receiver and Doppler Navigation System. (ANI)

Honnestly, the question is more “Do you think the contact will be signed before 2014 ?”

For such a deal, any competitor would integrate any AAM missile you want.

Contract will be signed in 2011.

I am not sure Americans will integrate Russian missiles.

Actually not. EMBRAER has no saying in the final decision. They can voice their opinion but that is where it ends.

Well its a farcry from the point where they were saying the Rafale is selected. If they lose this then I think their last resort is the UAE deal, which I think will definitely happen.

Well if its SAAB influencing Embarer then it only shows how bad Dassault is in doing things like this. We saw similar things on the Indian deal where there was news that Rafale is out of competition. Arthuro I think you should change the guys who do the marketing for Dassault.

And the last SAAB press release campain against the F35 didn’t changed the final outcome no ? Same strategy when you are the outsider.

Totally different scenario that. The F-35 is a fifth gen fighter and the Norwegians had invested in its development.

Good **** Jason:).
The slow speed handeling on the SH are indeed impressive, even with all the payload.
But when climbing up in the speed regime the SH lose the advantage and falls under the other contenders in the MMRCA tender.

But that’s ok, there will always be some compromizes when developing fighters.

The SH have a good ballanced A2A & A2G capabillities.

Anyways there are no getting around that the ToT and Price-tag will over rule the pure performance on the Contenders in the MMRCA.
Remember that the growt path are allso important here.
When it adding up Tot, Price & Growt path possibility the Mig-35 will undress the other contenders.. now get over it.:diablo:

Thanks

I think you are a bit wrong here. The IAF having a fleet full of Russian fighters and going for more Su 30s and FGFA in the future, will be keen to diversify. The minimum level of ToT is all that counts and everyone has complied with it. Mig-35 growth path is certainly not superior to any of the MRCA contenders. There is actually a block III upgrade plan for the F/A 18 E/F and in LMs Viper site you can see a page for the future options in the Falcon. The Rafale and EF being the mainstays of European fleets will be upgraded as well. The MIG-35 sadly do not have any export customers and even the Russians are not to bothered. Even if they buy a handful of these birds they will not be first priority for future upgrades, meaning that the IAF will probably have to pay out of its own pocket for upgrading these birds at a future date.

India’s N-submarine undermines strategic stability: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that the recent launch of a nuclear-powered submarine by India has
undermined strategic stability in the region.

“We are opposed to nuclear proliferation as well as an arms race in the region,” he said, adding that Pakistan believes the launch of the Indian nuclear-powered submarine will affect strategic stability.

Pakistan has proposed a “strategic restraint regime” to India with the three inter-locking principles of dispute settlement, conventional balance and nuclear and missile restraint, Qureshi said in his address at the Los Angeles World Affairs Congress.

“Our friends should encourage India to sign on to the proposed strategic restraint regime to guarantee strategic stability in our region,” he said. Peace and security are inextricably linked and strategic stability in South Asia is critical for sustainable peace, he added.

India launched its first nuclear-powered submarine named Arihant in July. Built with Russian cooperation, the submarine will form the crucial third leg of India’s triad of land, air and sea platforms capable of delivering nuclear weapons. India already has warplanes and missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Pakistan’s nuclear capability was developed in self- defence following the Indian nuclear test in 1974, which disrupted the security balance in South Asia, Qureshi said. “The establishment of deterrence then became important.”

Qureshi said Pakistan adheres to a doctrine of credible minimum deterrence as a nuclear weapon state. The country’s regional policy is based on promoting dialogue for peaceful settlement of disputes, he said.

Regional cooperation can be strengthened through trade, investment and people-to-people to contacts, he said.

Referring to Pakistan’s relations with the US, Qureshi sought Washington’s support for curbing terrorism and extremism.

He said the partnership between the two countries should be based on mutual trust and mutual respect “that is not transactional, but is enduring and multi-faceted, spanning trade and economy, defence and security, health and education, science and technology and counter-terrorism and non-proliferation”.

The Kerry-Lugar Bill, he said, is a step forward in strengthening the strategic partnership.

“The 1.5 billion dollars annually in non-military assistance for a sustained period of five years should have a positive impact on the lives of the people,” he said.