Re Americans with toy guns.

I always wanted to see guns in other colours than the Typical black and various dull camo themes.

Green Guns that glow in the dark would be awesome.

No interest in the Indian new carrier (designed with a lot of Italian help and many western systems)?

Future aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy would also have to be equipped with catapult launching systems, for which it is already looking around. India’s second and third aircraft carriers should have this facility along with lifts and adequate open area for what is called free deck takeoff.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/US-clears-Hawkeye-E-2D-aircraft-for-India/H1-Article1-453405.aspx

US clears Hawkeye E-2D aircraft for India

Gulshan Luthra, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, September 13, 2009

The US government has cleared yet another high technology system for India, the “futuristic” shipboard Hawkeye E-2D aircraft for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and battle management.

The clearance has been described by diplomatic sources as a fallout of the “successful” visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the signing of the End User Monitoring Agreement (EUMA) of military equipment being supplied or sold by the US to India.

Like the Boeing P 8I Maritime Multi-mission Aircraft (MMA), of which the Indian Navy has already ordered eight aircraft, the Hawkeye E-2D is the very latest and is yet to be delivered to the US Navy.

India is the second country after the UAE to be cleared by the US State and Defense Departments for sale of this sophisticated system. The US Navy has sanctioned $432 million for trials of the aircraft, currently underway at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The Naval Systems Command (NAVAIR) based there provides engineering and testing support for new naval systems and weapons.

The Hawkeye E-2D has been under the US government’s consideration for India for some time. In fact, in 2007, Pentagon sources in Washington had told this writer that the aircraft was being cleared, but apparently the previous version, Hawkeve E-2C, was eventually offered to which the Indian Navy said “No” in informal discussions.

The aircraft is being manufactured by Northrop Grumman, a leading US player in Aerospace, Warships, Missiles, Combat Radars and Electronic Warfare systems.

Northrop Grumman’s programme Manager for International Business Development Tom C. Trudell told India Strategic magazine that the aircraft has “just been cleared by the US government for India” and that a presentation was made to the Indian Navy in August in New Delhi.

Indian Navy officers had witnessed the capabilities of the Hawkeye E-2C but told the US officials that as the equipment it would buy would be used for years, it must be the best and the latest with future capability insertion potential.

India Strategic quotes unnamed Indian officials as saying that the technology onboard the Hawkeye E-2D is “very tempting” and that although neither the Gorshkov aircraft carrier which India is buying from Russia nor India’s first aircraft carrier indigenously being built would be able to accommodate this aircraft, India’s future aircraft carriers could be a little bigger.

“By the time this aircraft comes, and by the time the Indian Navy gets used to it from initial shore-based operations, plans for two more aircraft carriers could be amended to house this system.”

There have been no tenders of RfPs yet for the Hawkeye E-2D, but then companies from worldwide present their wares to various countries either by themselves and at their own cost, or make offerings in response to Request for Information (RfI) which are floated in routine by all the armed forces to know what is available in terms of newer generation of systems.

Future aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy would also have to be equipped with catapult launching systems, for which it is already looking around. India’s second and third aircraft carriers should have this facility along with lifts and adequate open area for what is called free deck takeoff.

The Mig 29Ks that the Indian Navy is buying for Gorshkov, will be launched by a ski ramp.

Tip to tip, the Hawkeye is a bigger aircraft than the Mig 29.

Trudell said that although Northrop Grumman had been allowed to make presentations to the Indian Navy, its sale would have to be direct between the Indian and US government under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. There are many systems on board, developed for US Navy, which only the US government can clear for transfer to other countries.

The US Navy has initially ordered five Hawkeye E-2Ds under a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) programme, and the first aircraft should be delivered to the US Navy in 2011.

India can get the aircraft within three years of a contract being signed, said Trudell.

:diablo:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/US-clears-Hawkeye-E-2D-aircraft-for-India/H1-Article1-453405.aspx

Chandrayaan was a success: Mike Fincke

GUWAHATI: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Edward Michael Fincke said on Friday the Chandrayaan Mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was a success, with 95 per cent of the mission being accomplished.

Col. Fincke, popularly known as Mike Fincke, a veteran of two long-duration space missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS), said that though some people had raised speculation about the Chandrayaan Mission, the international scientific community felt the ISRO had accomplished its mission.

The astronaut — who has been selected by NASA as a mission specialist in the six- member crew for the Space Transportation System (STS)-134 for his third space flight in 2010 — was speaking to reporters on the penultimate day of his 12-day official visit to Assam and Meghalaya.

Col. Fincke’s visit and his interaction with students were facilitated by the Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS).

He interacted with students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati during the annual techno-management festival of IIT-G, Techniche 2009.

Summing up his experience of the visit, the astronaut said the people of the region were very kind and warm and the students and teachers incredibly capable and intelligent.

He said that on his return he would speak to NASA officials as to how different channels of communication could be opened for students from the northeast region to take part in space programmes.

Married to Renita Saikia, an Assamese engineer at NASA, Col. Fincke arrived to a grand welcome as Asomor Jowai (Assam’s son-in-law).

He also became popular with the new identity of ‘Mike Mama’ (maternal uncle) among the school students.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/12/stories/2009091262181800.htm

Nuclear submarine India’s best second strike bet: Roy

On July 26 this year, India joined the select group of five nations to have its own nuclear propelled and nuclear armed submarine called Arihant. Code-named Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV), the submarine is a project conceived in the 70s and initiated by Indira Gandhi in the 80s.

It was a secret project so no one knew whether India was definitely making such an advanced weapon. Vice Admiral (Retd) MK Roy was the naval officer who was the first chief of this project and was there when it all began. He spoke with Shashank Chouhan of Zeenews.com and told him about how this almost impossible dream was achieved and how India has become safer now.

Shashank: In what ways does Arihant make India safer?

Roy: The last century saw major developments in space and underwater realms. This submarine is a product of the higher end of that phase. It is the biggest and best possible platform that India has got to defend itself. The salient features of Arihant are that it does not need to surface for months to recharge its batteries since it runs on nuclear fuel. With a speed of upto 25 knots, it can easily chase fast enemy ships. It has unlimited endurance and completes the three dimensional aspect of security.

Targets on land can be easily detected, jets are not that fast and radars can pinpoint them. But Arihant remains 200 mts underwater so no one can ever know where in the vast ocean it is. It’s our best bet at second nuclear strike.

Shashank: What was on the mind of the policymakers when they asked you to build this submarine?

Roy: Well they said ‘we want to have a three dimensional force with nuclear power which is a deterrent for the enemy.’ The only target we had was defending India from any attack. Also, it was the next natural step in the technological development of our armed forces.

Shashank: Did you get to meet Indira Gandhi? What did she tell you?

Roy: (looks on with quiet wonder) Next question please…that’s a secret.

Shashank: How important was Russia’s contribution to the development of the submarine?

Roy: Marshal Ustanov, the Soviet Defence Minister, and Admiral Gorshkov, the Commander-&-Chief of Soviet armed forces, offered to transfer technology to India for the construction of a nuclear submarine as well as for training and operating it. A Russian delegation visited India for the same and they reported to their bosses that India had met all the requirements for such a transfer. Dr Raja Ramanna, the country’s top nuclear scientist who was my classmate from Madras college, broached the subject with me as I was the chief of Eastern Command then. I said we wanted a nuclear propelled submarine that could also fire nuclear missiles and we used to discuss this issue in detail. Eventually these conversations took the form of the ATV Project as I accompanied Ramanna and other officers including Admiral Ganesh, Nigam etc. to Moscow.

Shashank: Why did the project get delayed?

Roy: The delay in the ATV project was primarily due to political, industrial, technological and social changes in Russia from 1985 onwards. Supplies were delayed, factories had closed and the initial contract (in roubles) changed to hard currency (US dollars) which required time-consuming checks and balances.

But our work never stopped. While the Russians were away, there was a great cooperation between the PSUs like BHEL, BEL, DRDO and private companies like L&T, Walchandnagar, Tata, Kirloskars etc. It was a unique learning period for the Indian defense administration.

Shashank: What do you have to say about Admiral Sureesh Mehta’s recent observation that we are not competing with China and that only three submarines are enough?

Roy: Only one good submarine is enough for effectively responding to any misadventure. It is the quality of weapons that matters and not quantity and the nuclear submarine is the most sophisticated piece of war technology.

We shouldn’t be China obsessed as far as seas are concerned as they are not a threat in the Indian Ocean and ours is a regional Navy. Yes they have submarines, but so do we so that’s not a problem. The two countries have growing trade relations and we protect their oil route in Malacca Straits.

Shashank: What about Pakistan’s charge of Arihant triggering an arms race in the subcontinent?

Roy: Look who’s talking? There is no race here. Pakiatan Navy is nowhere near to ours. That is a country which has been importing technologies from dubious sources. India has the right to look after its interests. But we are not aggressive in our approach.

Shashank: What problems did you face in this project?

Roy: The problems were basically in building the technology- the design, reactor, hull design, periscope, electronic warfare system, sonar etc. But because private and public sector had joined hands, we could sail through.

Finance and red tape was never a problem. The Defence Minister headed the group and he cleared all problems in a jiffy. Bureaucracy always helped us- they never created any roadblocks. PM Rajiv Gandhi, Dr Arunachalam (Security Advisor to Defence Minister), Venkatraman and others were very keen to see the submarine made quickly.

Shashank: What is your take on the Gorshkov deal?

Roy: We have said many times we need three aircraft carriers to defend India from all three ocean sides. I myself commandeered the INS Vikrant and know that it is enough. Who is going to sell us a fully operating machine like that in open market? The Russians are ready to ‘gift’ it with Kamov copters and MiGs.

The problem is that we have to pay for the refit in dollars. But it is not and should not be a question of price. It’s about India’s security. It’s expensive, but look at the expense the Army and Air Force are indulging in. Navy does not ask for much in this country. And there is no basis of saying we did not negotiate properly. With every passing year the cost will escalate, but we will pay only that with which we are okay.

Shashank: In age when air superiority is considered the defining edge with any armed force, what is the importance of Navy?

Roy: You see the Mughals neglected India’s vast marine borders and had to pay the price as the British crossed Bombay, Goa and Calcutta and marched up to Delhi. Don’t forget that the Earth is basically an island in the oceans. The sea connects all countries and having a viable sea monster at disposal is absolutely essential to protect our sovereignty.

Shashank: When you were made the in-charge of the project, what did you think?

Roy: We don’t think! Everything is scientifically calculated and dexterously planned in advanced. We just followed what had been laid on paper with full commitment.

Shashank: How did you feel when the submarine was launched finally?

Roy: (with a mild smile) There was absolute silence. They say I had tears in my eyes when Arihant touched water. I missed Raja Ramanna the most. He was a great man, a great scientist and a great musician too. I don’t think our country has honoured such people enough. This was a very difficult, multi-technological project. Many were involved in it. Not enough has been done for all.

Shashank: Did your family ever know you were heading the ATV?

Roy: I never discussed my work with family, much less talk about state secrets! But they were really happy when they came to know about it this year and were surprised.

Shashank: You have been there done that. What is the one thing India needs today to become an impregnable fortress?

Roy: Forget sea, land or air power. We need comprehensive security for the individual- clean water, sanitation, health, opportunities. If these things come, automatically the rest will follow. We can’t go on making tanks after all. Individual in the society should feel secure on all fronts. Our education, health systems need urgent changes. Forty percent of our countrymen are below the poverty line. I am glad that I have lived to see today’s time- there is a lot more freedom and opportunity today. My grandson has a rockband and is cool about his career. That’s all good, but it’s not enough for the millions.

Of course that doesn’t mean we leave our borders for the enemy. For development, we need to be secure from outside too.

http://www.zeenews.com/zeeexclusive/2009-09-09/561889news.html#

They have to get Tejas and Tejas-N ready before they can offer. I can see the ships with Russian Aircraft in them for their first few years.

As for there being only 9 F1 model Rafaels in French service- this is incorrect, IIRC they were upgraded to F2 standard before heading off to Afghanistan where they proved themselves a decent air to ground machine as well as air to air

air to air against what ? Flying Mullahs ?

From Livefist,

EXCLUSIVE: Northrop’s E-2D Pitch To Indian Navy

Northrop-Grumman has pitched the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye as a next-generation shore-based airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) platform to the Indian Navy. Excerpts from the presentation.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/09/exclusive-northrops-e-2d-pitch-to.html