black eagleNEW DELHI, MARCH 25: Barely hours after an official spokesman said that the Prime Minister expressed ‘‘great disappointment’’ to US President George Bush over his decision to sell F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan, there was quiet satisfaction in New Delhi.
In a statement issued after midnight, the MEA spokesperson put on record Washington’s wide-ranging offer that not only allows India to buy F-16s and the latest F-18s from US firms but also seeks to ‘‘upgrade’’ the strategic partnership giving it a ‘‘much more global character.’’
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In fact, the US announcement this evening signals a significant differentiation that the Bush Administration is making between India on the one hand and its long-standing competitors in the region—Pakistan and China.
That Bush was going to reward Gen. Pervez Musharraf with F-16s—a sale blocked for 15 years—for his cooperation in the war on terrorism was long known. What has been on offer to India from the United States, however, has been less clear until recently.
In his conversation with Prime Minister Singh today, Bush informed India on the final decision about F-16s to Pakistan and reaffirmed the Rice proposals on strategic cooperation. The Bush package marks a radical departure from the decades-old American policy towards India on defence cooperation and the transfer of advanced technologies.
Washington is offering India a wider array of weapons systems and more importantly the option to produce them in India.
The Bush Administration has now taken a decision to permit its companies to bid for the Indian Air Force contract on the acquisition of 126 multi-role combat aircraft and give them licences for manufacture and production in India.
Sources in the American aerospace industry say once they receive formal communication, they will fully compete in meeting the stringent Indian demands on technology transfer and licensed production.
Lockheed Martin that produces the F-16 and the Boeing that makes the F-15 and F-18 are expected to join the bidding for the Indian purchase of the multi-role combat aircraft.
This is the first time Washington has offered F-16s to India, a country outside the zone of its non-NATO allies.
On missile defence, the classified briefing given to India by a Pentagon team last month was on the PAC 2 Plus system. This takes care of integration with radar systems being developed now by Raytheon. Such a briefing has only been given to Israel outside the NATO.
The Bush Administration is also proposing a major change in its non-proliferation policy towards India by offering cooperation in the area of commercial atomic energy generation—including nuclear reactor technology—for the first time in three decades.
This comes days after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice—she spoke to External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in Myanmar today—had revealed a package of proposals aimed at addressing India’s security and energy needs.
Having opposed the natural gas pipeline with Iran, the Bush Administration believes it has an obligation to offer alternative options to India. It is in this context that Washington is proposing nuclear energy cooperation.
The Bush Administration is expected to shortly take up the possibility of such cooperation with the US Congress that has put in legislative constraints on the transfer of nuclear energy technology.
To top it all, the Bush Administration wants a dialogue on global issues with India aimed at increasing New Delhi’s role in international institutions such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Group of Eight industrial countries. 😡
black eagleEMB, SAAB shortlisted for IAF awacs
AIRCRAFT manufacturing giants Embraer of Brazil and SAAB of Sweden are among the companies shortlisted for the purchase of an aircraft to integrate the indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) being developed by Indian Defence scientists.
The Rs 1,800-crore AWACS project was taken up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) towards the end of 2004, following the requirement from the Indian Air Force for a smaller aircraft-based system.
“We expect to finalise and acquire the necessary aircraft by 2007. Bombardier and Gulf Stream are among other big aircraft manufacturers being looked into for the purpose,” according to Dr Dipankar Banerjee, Chief Controller (R&D), DRDO.
Currently, the IAF purchases early warning system from an Israeli-Russian consortium. While most of the funds out of the Rs 1,800-crore project would go towards buying the aircraft, the DRDO will develop the radar, communication and other critical components to be placed on board by 2008, he said.
Even, in these developments, the DRDO is planning to work with select foreign companies. “We are in the process of identifying them. The idea of roping in foreign partners is to accelerate the entire development work,” he told newspersons.
The integration of the systems into the aircraft is expected to be completed by 2009. Thereafter, trials would be undertaken. The Centre for Airborne Systems, Bangalore, is co-ordinating the project, said Dr Banerjee, who is in-charge of aeronautics and materials in the DRDO.
Referring to Tejas, the light combat aircraft, Dr Banerjee said it has now entered the initial operational clearance phase, which demands integration of the weapon into the aircraft and launching to the target.
In addition, it requires development of multimode radar and sensors, now being done by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment).
The IAF has already placed an order for 40 aircraft. A major part of the funding for the project is going towards setting up of production facilities at HAL.
Referring to the big challenge of fitting the LCA with the indigenous Kaveri engine, Mr Banerjee said a thorough evaluation of the development so far has shown that by early 2007, it would be possible to fit and fly the aircraft with the Kaveri engine.
“By 2010, we expect to have a fully performing Kaveri engine meeting the demand of the LCA”, he added. :rolleyes:
black eagleThe Indian Air Force today urged defence scientists to design and develop homegrown unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to eventually replace the Israeli-made Heron and Searcher UAVs in its inventory.
“The Searcher and Heron UAVs need replacement (in the long run). If a similar one is ready from you, we are ready for that,” Indian Air Force Air-officer-in Charge, Personnel, Air Marshal A K Nagalia said in his foundation day lecture at the Aeronautical Developement Establishment, a DRDO unit, involved in development of UAVs in the country.
India acquired a few years ago, Heron medium-altitude long endurance UAVs and Searcher tactical multi-role UAVs from Israel for search and surveillance and their life-time is likely to end by the beginning of the next decade.
With a theme “IAF-ADE: A user perspective”, Nagalia said ADE should exploit the Nishant UAV design for armed UAV applications like a ground launched anti-radiation missile system or the sensors built target destroy system.
“Think out of the box,” he said, urging Indian scientists to exploit existing designs of Lakshya, the pilotless target aircraft, which could be converted into a surface launched cruise missile or a long range tactical delivery system.
Nagalia said ADE should take the lead in building end-to-end simulator solutions, that includes full mission handling, procedures training, flying, navigation and weapons delivery, besides “real time air combat manoeuvering”.
Predicting the future of warfare to be network centric, Nagalia said satellites, airborne warning systems, UAVs, fighters and sensors would be integrated with a central command and control system.
He said IAF needed indigenous warfare systems due to various reasons such as the fear of sanctions by a foreign nation,which India experienced after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, obsolete technology provided by foreign suppliers, outflow of huge resources, embedded software, and problems in spares and maintenance.
Nagalia stressed on the need for ensuring that the end product conformed to specifications, easy availability of components and raw materials besides being affordable.
“We have a very wide canvas of requirements. We will make every effort to help you design products and are also willing to spare our people for the projects,” he said.
Former National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Director T S Prahlad said the aeronautics industry had not kept pace with the space sector in India and stressed the need for defined and cohesive management structure, increased funding for R&D, adherence to agreed time frame and quality standards.
“We should devise an Indian model for success in aerospace,” he said.
ADE Director MD Aravamudhan said unit was planning to build a series of UAVs and other tactical products for the armed forces. 😉 😎
black eagleaerial version of nag to come up
With the land-based third generation anti-tank Nag missile ready for user trials, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is now developing an aerial version in collaboration with HAL. Scientists are also working on a portable system.
The aerial version, which can have up to eight Nag missiles on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), is under development, according to the Nag Project Director, S. S. Mishra. The integration of Nag and the associate sub-systems are expected to be completed by June and the system will under undergo experimental demonstration by year-end, he told The Hindu today.
Nag, an all-weather, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile, is one of the five developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The others are Akash, Trishul, Prithvi and Agni.
Mr. Mishra said the land version of Nag missile which was successfully test-fired at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra last week, was the only of its kind having the longest range in line of sight-up to four km. It was test-fired using NAMICA (a dedicated missile carrier) and has the state-of-art tandem warhead to penetrate the armour of any modern tank.
He said that it could cover the four km distance in 20 seconds travelling at a speed of 900 km an hour. The line of sight range for the comparable anti-tank missiles of the U.S. (Javlin) and Israel (Gill/Spike family) was only 2.5 km.
Another unique feature of the missile, developed at the Missile complex here by three Hyderabad-based defence labs — RCI, DRDL and ASL — was the Imaging Infrared seeker (IIR). Its thermal sensors are superior to Gill/Spike missiles.
With the final phase of development trials completed, the land version would be inducted into the infantry of the Army after the completion of the user trials. The first phase of the user trials will take place by year-end.
Mr. Mishra said they were also working on developing a third generation portable Nag missile. It was planned to develop the missile in four to five years. The U.S. and Israel already have such missiles.
black eagleIndia is within days of closing a two-billion-dollar deal under which its navy will buy six French Scorpene submarines, a senior naval official said March 22.
“It is about to get through,” the vice-chief of naval staff Yashwant Prasad told reporters, of the deal aimed at plugging a hole in India’s conventional military capability. “It should be through in the next coming days.”
A source in the prime minister’s office said the deal was on the agenda of the next security cabinet meeting next week.
The deal, which has been on the table for several years, provides for the sale of six Scorpene-class submarines and technology transfer that will allow the subs to be manufactured under license in India.
The “final approval” for the project, under which the Scorpenes will be manufactured at Mazagaon Docks off the western city of Bombay, was discussed when French chief of defense staff General Henri Bentegeat visited here this month, a naval official said.
Once the Scorpene deal gets the go-ahead, it will be at least six years before the first submarine is ready for induction, the official said.
By then, some of the older boats in the country’s fleet of 16 diesel-electric submarines will be up for decommissioning, he added.
black eagleNavy turns down US’ hawkeye offer
NEW DELHI: After weighing the pros and cons for over a year, the Navy has decided to turn down the US offer of six E-2C Hawkeye 2000 carrier-borne early warning aircraft.
It was a tough decision, a senior Naval officer admitted today, as the Navy has a crucial need for such a capability, but the reasons for turning down the Hawkeye were compelling _ one being its bulky design.
Instead, the Navy may look to DRDO for a carrier-based solution. DRDO is currently working with the IAF for a homegrown airborne early warning and control (AWACS) product.
The Navy’s Controller for Warship Production and Acquisition Vice Admiral J.S. Bedi told this website’s newspaper, ‘‘First of all, the Hawkeye is too big. In light conditions, the endurance of the aircraft goes down from five to just one hour. And for an early warning aircraft to have the capability of staying for only one hour makes no sense. We have decided not to consider the Hawkeye.”
On February 14, senior officials from Northrop Grumman, which makes the Hawkeye, met Vice Adm Bedi at the Naval headquarters to allay concerns that the Hawkeye 2000 was not compatible with ski-jumps, which would be standard on all three Indian aircraft carriers _ the existing INS Viraat, the soon to be procured Admiral Gorshkov and the home-grown Air Defence Ship.
The Navy saw this as a hurdle since the Hawkeye needs to be launched using a steam catapult off a carrier.
Northrop Grumman had insisted in February that the Hawkeye 2000 could take off on a carrier’s angle deck but the Navy was not convinced. What’s worrying the Navy, however, is that the Hawkeye is the only fixed wing Naval carrier-based AWACS product currently in the export market.
‘‘There are other reasons for not taking up the Hawkeye offer. In a full take-off, a single engine failure could be disastrous,” Vice Adm Bedi said.
With a pair of aircraft carriers expected to be in service by 2012 (the INS Viraat will be retired in the next four years), the Navy had issued a request for information (RFI) to Northrop Grumman. 😎
black eagleUS to rescue indian submariners
New Delhi, March 22: The Indian Navy is pressing for an agreement with the US Navy for a submarine rescue programme within the year. Naval headquarters wants the agreement concluded urgently on humanitarian grounds.
The “humanitarian” arrangement to rescue the crew of an Indian submarine if it is in distress will be for a fee. India has paid about $100,000 up front, Vice-Admiral Yashwant Prasad, the vice-chief of the navy, said here today.
Teams from the Indian and US navies had also surveyed facilities at Mumbai and Chennai airports to de-assemble and re-assemble flyaway kits that the US submarine rescue programme revolves around. At its core, this comprises a deep submersible rescue vehicle (DSRV).
The navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash, is currently in the US for talks on the programme. The Indian Navy is also scouting separately for a submarine rescue vehicle that is estimated to cost between Rs 300-400 crore.
The navy’s submarine arm currently has 16 boats of which two are constantly undergoing refit. Vice-Admiral Prasad said technical modifications had been carried out on the Shishumar (HDW)-class German origin submarines. The modifications will allow a DSRV to marry with the submarine and rescue its crew.
The US DSRV would be able to rescue the crew of a submarine in distress up to a maximum depth of around 650 metres.
The navy’s “silent arm” comprises four Shishumar (HDW)-class submarines (commissioned between 1986 and 1994), 10 Kilo (Russian-origin) submarines, commissioned between 1986 and 2000, and two Foxtrot (obsolete ex-Soviet), commissioned in 1973 and 1974. Vice-Admiral Prasad said technical modifications were being made to the Russian-origin submarines.
Talks on the submarine rescue programme for the Indian Navy commenced in 1995 but were discontinued in 1999 following India’s nuclear tests. They were revived last year.
“US experts are now evaluating the Foxtrot and Kilo-class to recommend alterations that have to be made for deep sea rescue,” he said.
The agreement envisages that the US Navy will fly its DSRV and “flyaway kit” to Mumbai or Chennai within 48 hours after being alerted to an Indian submarine in distress.
A DSRV would carry a crew of four to eight and would be lowered to the depths of the sea and “latched” to the submarine through a pressurised chamber. The crew of the submarine would be able to transfer from the boat to the DSRV that would then surface.
😮 😮
black eagleNEW DELHI, MARCH 20. A month from now, India will take the first step towards joining the handful of countries that can manufacture aircraft carriers. “The date for steel cutting at Kochi has been fixed. This step marks the beginning of work on the aircraft carrier,” said a senior naval officer.
The Indian Navy has had two aircraft carriers: one has been decommissioned and the other is still in service, but barely. Another will join the Navy in 2008. All were bought second hand — the first two from the United Kingdom and the third from Russia.
Design challenges
Affected by technical problems and financial constraints for several years, the Navy is confident that the long wait is finally over.
However, the design challenges are enormous. It has never before built a ship half the size of the 36,000-tonne air defence ship (ADS) it has on its drawing board. There is feverish preparation to ensure that the steel cutting ceremony does not remain a one-off event.
“Now that we have finally got the steel of higher specifications not available in the country earlier, we have to make sure that ship building begins immediately after the steel is cut,” the officer said.
The Navy had earlier faced the problem of cutting out the basic shape and starting work after a delay.
“As a result there was trouble in sea outings because propeller shafts droop if there is a time lag between steel cutting and building the superstructure. Such ships have shuddered dangerously when they are put to sea because of vibrations in drooping propeller shafts.”
To avoid a second visit to the dockyards after building the ship, the Navy is working hard to ensure that the integrated hull and outfitting process begins without a hitch.
The construction estimate is seven to eight years and India should then have two fully functional aircraft carriers at its disposal — the ADS will guard one coastal flank while the Admiral Gorshkov (to be named INS Vikramadiytya) the other. (The present carrier, INS Viraat, would have retired by then).
Ideally, the Navy would want three carriers but realises this is unlikely to be realised.
The Navy lost a lot of time when bureaucrats insisted that the size of the ADS be scaled down to 10,000-12,000 tonnes. “It was too small and would not have been capable enough. So we convinced them to back us for a bigger ship. This one will be able to take on board a reasonable mix of potent aircraft,” said the officer.
Naval surveillance
The Navy is planning to buy more IL-38 Russian-origin surveillance aircraft to make up for the considerably reduced naval surveillance capacity for the past five years. Some of the IL-38 aircraft in the Navy’s inventory are being upgraded. More will be added to the fleet till the deal with the United States for P-3 C Orion fructifies.
Initially, the U.S. had offered mothballed P-3 B Orion aircraft but the Navy had pointed out that they were not modern enough for its needs.
The U.S. has now agreed to provide the P-3 C Orion but price negotiations and re-fitting according to Indian specifications are bound to take time.
black eagleThe Nasik unit of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Monday handed over the first batch of two multi-role fighter SU-30 MKI aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
The IAF pilots demonstrated HAL-built indigenous aircraft.
Air Chief Marshal Tyagi lauded HAL’s role in manufacturing these aircraft with modern technology. HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja handed over the official documents to Tyagi.
“We hope that HAL will strive to develop and nurture this critical area, as it will go a long way in keeping the SU-30 MKI technologically relevant over the years,” Tyagi said.
SU-30 MKI is a twin-engine, twin-seater aircraft, which can simultaneously be operated as interceptor, bomber and trainer, sources said.
HAL will deliver the remaining 138 aircraft in phases till 2017-18. 😎
black eagleHYDERABAD, MARCH 19. Nag, the third generation anti-tank missile, was successfully test fired today from the Test Range at Ahmednagar (Maharastra), signalling the completion of the developmental phase. It is now ready to enter the production phase be inducted into the army.
Two critical test-flights, successfully carried out at Ahmednagar, have established the effectiveness of all parameters of Nag, which has a strike range of four km, according to Prahlada, director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), here.
The defence scientists carried out two test-flights in the morning. One missile was aimed at a low contrast target, while the second was a tank-using warhead. Both performed their roles as desired successfully.
He said the next phase would be user trials which can be completed in six months. Once the Army placed a letter of intent, the DRDL could deliver the missile. The Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, was ready with all production facilities. 🙂
black eaglesubmarine deal hits choppy waters
New Delhi, March 20: The Union government last week put off at the last minute a crucial meeting that was billed to clinch a $1.8-billion deal to acquire French Scorpene submarines amid indications that a German manufacturer cleared of bribery charges will now bid for the programme much to the chagrin of the navy.
Naval headquarters is worried that its fleet — particularly the submarine strike arm — was de-commissioning vessels faster than it can acquire them.
The worry has also prompted naval headquarters to revive a discussion with the US Navy to rescue Indian submarines in distress. India is ready to pay for such service.
“We have waited long, too long actually,” the chief of naval staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, told The Telegraph on Friday when asked about the proposal to acquire the Scorpene submarines.
“It (the proposal) is in its very last stages. It has been there for some time,” the admiral said shortly before leaving for the US where he will discuss the submarine rescue agreement with the US Navy and also the possible acquisition of spy planes.
Asked if he expected a decision on acquiring the Scorpene submarines within the current financial year, he said: “That is not up to me. I cannot say. It is up to the government”. The financial year ends on March 31.
The cabinet committee on security was to meet on Friday to discuss the proposal on Scorpene submarines that was cleared by naval headquarters nearly a year back.
India has been in negotiations with the French to acquire and jointly develop at the Mazagaon docks six 1,500-tonne Scorpene submarines.
For a year now, the defence ministry has been saying that it was close to clinching the deal estimated at Rs 12,500 crore.
The deferment of a decision on the Scorpene programme comes close on the heels of German company Howaldtshwerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) being cleared of charges by a Delhi court that it had ploughed back money to secure an order in the early 1990s for EKM class submarines that are with the Indian Navy.
In an immediate statement after being cleared of the charges, HDW said it was “now cleared to re-establish its good relations with the Indian Navy along with partner MAN Ferrostal Aktiengesellschaft to follow up the Indian Navy’s modernisation programme”.
Last year, as the defence ministry headed by George Fernandes claimed that it was close to signing the Scorpene deal, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former external affairs minister Eduardo Faleiro alleged that the ministry was signing up with the French at the cost of the indigenous submarine development programme at the Mazagaon docks in Mumbai.
The navy had acquired the design for this three-year programme from HDW.
The Indian Navy’s submarine fleet is of Russian and German origin.
The navy chief has set the replenishment of the navy’s sword arm as one of his immediate objectives because the fleet was de-commissioning ships and submarines faster than it could acquire them.
Admiral Prakash said that during his visit to the US, he would be discussing the acquisition of the P3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft and an agreement with the US Navy to rescue Indian submarines in distress.
“The submarine rescue agreement envisages that the US Navy will help us out in times of need on payment,” he said.
“The P3C Orion programme is outstanding. We are definitely interested. The offer is there but procurement is a long process.”
Lockheed Martin, the makers of the P3C Orion spy plane, and defence public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a technical assistance agreement in February after it was cleared by the US state department.
black eagleInfo on Mi-35 upgradation
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Info/Aircraft/Mi35-Upgrade.html
black eagleGlicthes delaying Agni-III test
Despite initial optimism by defence scientists, the 3,500-km-plus Agni-III missile is nowhere near being tested. It will take at least a year for this nuclear-capable ballistic missile to be test-fired in “its final configuration”, say sources.
The solid-fuelled Agni-III, needed to acquire the capability to hit strategic targets deep inside China, was initially to be tested for the first time in 2003. But it has been facing several technical problems since then.
“The Agni-I (700-800 km range) and Agni-II (2,000-km-plus) missiles, already being inducted into the Army as part of the deterrent posture against Pakistan, have boosters from Indian Space Research Organisation,” said a source.
“But Agni-III is a totally different system, with an entirely new vehicle…Its various systems have to be extensively tested in ground test-beds first to establish reliability,” he added.
DRDO chief M Natarajan, on being asked about the “technical problems” of the Agni-III missile by TOI, only said that the “problems were well under control and things were moving well”.
Refusing to specify any timeframe for the Agni-III test-firing, Natarajan said DRDO was “working on a number of strategic systems” and “when we test it eventually, you will get to know. The missile is too big to be kept hidden.”
There is, however, some good news. The Akash (25-km multi-target air defence missile), Nag (4-km third generation anti-tank missile) and Trishul (9-km surface-to-air quick reaction missile) systems will finally be ready for user trials towards the end of this year. These systems have been dogged by several snags in guidance, propulsion and other technologies.
The Prithvi group of missiles, with 150 to 300 km range, have already been inducted into the armed forces. 😎
black eagleindian navy – blue water bound
The Indian Navy is proving to be the most forward looking force amongst the three services in extending India’s power and diplomacy abroad, as seen from the exercises tabled below. The Navy is also cruising all over the Indian Ocean and exercising in the middle and far eastern seas and off Cochin simultaneously. This is quite an achievement made possible no doubt because of the India–Pak détente.
The media reported that China had made some mild protests –– but the Laws of the Sea are clear and as long we do not transgress territorial waters and the passages are peaceful the seas are free to all. We congratulate the IN for looking out despite a meagre budget and low revenue expenditure and hope that the Nation and the Government appreciate that.
The Army needs to learn from the Navy that large revenue expenditure can cripple them –– they have just announced a new Army Command at Jaipur and possibly a new Corps. We wonder if that is wise?
We also append a file picture of a Chinese Navy missile firing which looks quite impressive and at the same time highlight that the Type 15 A Frigates under construction at Mazagon Dock will have 16 Brahmos Vertical Launch Missiles. We wish them God Speed.
The Navy has been steadily increasing its cruises abroad and its exercise programmes with foreign navies to enhance its blue water capability. Recently training ship INS Krishna visited Jakarta and Bandar Abbas as part of the training cruise for cadets. Guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra and a missile corvette proceeded to UAE and Oman in Feb. The ships are scheduled to exercise with the Royal Oman Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash handed over Fast Attack Craft INS Taramugli to Seychelles on 23 Feb at Port Victoria, India having earlier handed over ships to Mauritius and Sri Lanka indicating its interests to support the littoral, as per its maritime doctrine.
Exercise Simbex With Singapore Navy
The Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will conduct the annual IN–RSN Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2005) in the South China Sea from 24 Feb 05 to 05 Mar 05. The Navy’s Eastern Fleet comprising the indigenously built frigate Gomati, Kashin class destroyers Rajput and Ranvijay, fleet tanker INS Jyoti and corvettes INS Kora and INS Karmuk would be visiting Singapore for SIMBEX 2005. The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF) Rear Admiral SK Damle AVSM, NM, VSM would be the senior Indian Naval officer attending the opening and closing ceremonies for SIMBEX 2005 at Singapore. The RSN Fleet Commander Col Chew Men Leong would be the senior RSN officer during the exercise. This exercise is seventh in the series of bilateral exercises between the two navies.
The missile corvettes RSS Valiant, RSS Vengeance, ASW patrol vessel RSS Dauntless, the missile gunboat RSS Sea Dragon and the submarine RSS Chieftain. RSN and RSAF aircraft will represent the RSN and take part in the exercise. This will be the first time that this exercise is brind conducted in the South China Sea. Previous exercises were conducted in Indian waters.
The harbour phase of the exercise includes training and professional discussions between the RSN and the IN. IN personnel will also visit shore establishments such as the PV Combat Simulation Centre and Automated Changi Naval Warehouse. Apart from this, the ships’ crew will take part in various sports and social activities.
The annual IN–RSN bilateral exercise is a valuable opportunity for the IN and the RSN to interact professionally. The exercise has grown in scope and complexity over the years and has helped foster closer relations, mutual understanding and goodwill between the two navies.
Three warships from the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet will also call at Kuantan Port in Pahang from February 28 to March 3. The Indian High Commission said in a statement that INS Jyoti, INS Karmuk and INS Rajput will host visitors onboard on March 2 from 3.30pm to 6pm. It said Eastern Fleet Commander Real Admiral Sunil K. Damle will lead the contingent of seamen. INS Jyoti (21,585 tonnes, length 178.96 metres), is the largest Indian Fleet replenishment tanker and capable of carrying and transferring of all types of liquid cargo to other fleet ships. The Rajput, (5,000 tonnes, 146.2 metres), is the first of the five Kashin II class guided missile destroyers and forms the backbone of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam. As for Karmuk, the statement said her state-of-the art weapons and sensors suite makes her one of the most potent corvettes anywhere in the world.
VARUNA 2005 –– Focus On Mine Counter Measures
The Indian and French navies will conduct a bilateral exercise VARUNA 2005/1 off Kochi from 27 Feb to 07 Mar. The Indian Navy and French Navy regularly conduct the VARUNA series of bilateral exercises and VARUNA 2005/1 being conducted off Kochi is a part of this on going co-operation. This particular exercise would focus on mine countermeasures. The French Task Group is commanded by Captain Marechal and comprises of two mine hunting ships FNS Orion and FNS Aigle along with one mine warfare command ship FNS Loire. The Indian mine countermeasure ships INS Kozhikode, Cannanore and Cuddalore represent the Indian side. The exercise will also include the deployment of underwater combined explosive ordnance disposal teams comprising of divers from both the navies.
Recent developments in the Persian Gulf have demonstrated the relative ease with which mine warfare can be waged at sea and consequently the threat it imposes to merchant shipping. VARUNA 2005/1 is the first mine warfare exercise being conducted between the French and the Indian navies. During this interaction extensive mine countermeasures and diving exercises would be practiced
The harbour phase of the exercise includes training and professional discussions between French and the Indian Navy personnel. The FN personnel will also visit Indian Navy’s training establishments at Kochi. Apart from this, the crew of the visiting ships will take part in various sports and social activities.
The VARUNA series of exercises provides an opportunity for the Indian and French navies to interact professionally in various spheres of maritime warfare. Twelve exercises have been conducted since 1998. The last VARUNA exercise was held off Goa in April 2004 and focused on Anti Air and Anti Submarine Warfare. The VARUNA series has grown in scope and complexity over the years and has helped foster closer relations and mutual understanding between the two navies. :rolleyes:
black eagleBalasore (Orissa), Feb 21: India’s indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash was test-fired from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from here, today, defence sources said.
The sophisticated multi-target missile, which was fired from a mobile launcher at around 1 p.m., hit a target supported by the pilotless target aircraft (PTA) ‘Lakshya’, the sources said.
Akash has a range of 27 km with an effective ceiling of 15 km. It uses an integral ramjet rocket propulsion system and has a low reaction time.
With a launch weight of 700 kg, the sleek missile can carry a warhead of 60 kg and operates in conjunction with a Rajendra Surveillance and Engagement Radar being developed by Electronic Research and Development Establishment (ERDE). The radar is capable of tracking 64 targets and guide up to 12 missiles simultaneously.
Part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development programme, the missile being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had undergone a number of trials and the current thrust of the test was its guidance system, the sources said.
Efforts were also on to increase the speed and maximum altitude of the missile and extend its range to 60 km, they said.
The missile had witnessed a cent per cent successful trial with a live warhead conducted on November 30 last, the sources added. (Agencies)
😮 :diablo: 😎 😡
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