Archive for April, 2007
Monday, April 30th, 2007
30 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Products from Defence Bioengineering and Electrochemical Lab (DEBEL) a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), saved India more than Rs 500 Crore worth in foreign exchange till date.
DEBEL developes protective equipment and life support systems for Indian Armed Forces combatants, who are exposed to physiologically and environmentally hostile conditions like high altitudes and Nuclear - Biological - Chemical (NBC) warfare.
The Anti G Suits, Automatic Inflatable Life Jackets, Integrated Helmets, Pressure Breathing Oxygen Masks, Pilot Overalls, Microphones, Earphones designed and developed by DEBEL are already in bulk production. The one-Man HAPO Bag developed by DEBEL, is a life saver to the Indian soldiers deployed at high altitudes. It provides emergency treatment for varying degrees of acute mountain sickness including High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO), a condition of filling of fluids in the lungs brought on by inadequate acclamatisation. An updated, automated version has recently undergone successful user trials at Leh and Kardung La.
Table: Cost benefit of DEBEL Products
(Figures in Indian Rupees, Values in Crores)
|
Product
|
R & D Cost
|
Value of Orders executed
|
Cost if imported
|
|
Protective Equipment and Flying Clothing
|
0.51
|
39.48
|
237.00
|
|
NBC Products
|
0.42
|
75.99
|
455.94
|
|
HAPO Bag
|
0.33
|
1.13
|
1.80
|
|
Total
|
1.26
|
116.60
|
694.74
|
A DEBEL spokesman pointed out “this input – output ratio will become only better in the future as more and more orders of the above items are executed. Newer items are also expected to get added to the list. For example, DEBEL has recently completed a project for the design and development of Life Support Systems and Clothing required by Combat Paratroopers during the free fall from high altitudes and to establish indigenous sources of supply.”
DEBEL has a successful partnership with private sector industrial partners. The private sector is associated with the development from the initial stages of the project. At the end of successful user trials the technologies have been transferred to select firms. Says DEBEL spokesman “they had no hesitation in paying up the one-time Transfer Of Technlogy Fee as they are confident that the Army orders they will be asked to execute in the near future will adequately compensate them.”
Among other projects, DEBEL is also engaged in design of ergonomical layout of futuristic infantry combat vehicle “ABHAY.”
Posted in Defence Research and Development | No Comments »
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
April 27, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Gen Oscar Izurieta Ferrer, Commander –in -Chief of the Chilean Army is visiting to India from 29 Apr to 03 May 07. He reciprocates the visit of the Army Chief, Gen JJ Singh in May, last year.
Defence cooperation as a part of defence diplomacy, is an important tool to enhance national security in consonance with other key players. Of late, countries from South America have evinced keen interest in interacting with the Indian Army, especially due to the reputed training institutions and rich operational experience of the Indian Army, in conventional and sub-conventional warfare and UN Peace Keeping.
This visit by the Chilean Chief carries forward the impetus given by the COAS’ visit earlier and will open the doors for exchanging each other’s expertise in respective areas of core competence. He will be visiting an Armoured Division, the Para Brigade, the National Defence College and the Siachen Battle School. In addition, Gen Izurieta will also be making Office Calls on the Defence Minister and the Service Chiefs. Discussions on enhancing defence cooperation in the fields of training/courses, UN Peace Keeping, mountain warfare, sports and adventure activities and defence industry cooperation are likely during this visit.
Recognizing the growing convergence and mutual concerns of both nations, an Indian Defence Attaché has been deputed in Santiago last year. Chile too, is actively considering posting a resident Defence Attaché in Delhi. The Attaches will further assist in coordinating and executing the agreed activities of defence cooperation.
Posted in Military News - South America | No Comments »
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
27 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
An 18-member Burmese Army delegation arrived in Tezpur, Assam on 26 April, to attend the Indo-Burma biannual meeting.
The Burma delegation led by Brig Gen Tin Maung Ohn earlier visited Rangapahar and Kolkata between April 23 and 25.
The delegation will interact with senior Indian Army officers and call on the General Officer Commanding Lt. Gen. R.K. Chhabbar of the Gajraj Corps.
On the first day of the meeting in Tezpur, Indian Army officers reiterated the need for the Burmese Army to cooperate in flushing out Indian insurgents, who are holed up in the jungles of western Burma.
In return, the Burmese Army delegation requested for technical assistance from the Indian Army.
At the meeting in Rangapahar, Nagaland, Indian Army officers agreed to train a Burmese Army team in the Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School in Vairengte, Mizoram, as assistance in return for Burmese cooperation to root out Indian insurgents from its soil.
In a separate visit to New Delhi on Monday, the Burmese Army’s quartermaster general, Thiha Thura and Lt-Gen Tin Aung Myint Oo, arrived with a military “shopping list” and met Indian counterparts Lt-Gen Sudhir Sharma and Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Deepak Kapoor.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, who oversees all military supplies to Burma’s armed forces, during the meeting, presented the Indian Army brass a list of military hardware that Burma reportedly wants India to supply.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, was said to have requested for more supplies of infantry weapons and ammunition in return for Burma’s help in flushing out Indian insurgents sheltered in its soil. The list also includes small arms like assault rifles, light machine guns and side arms.
The liaison biannual meetings are held to review and strengthen bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual interest between the two armies. The next meeting between both sides will be held in Burma.
Posted in Indian Army News, Military News - Asia | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
27 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Russians T-9-0S sales brouchures boast of firing range of firing range of 100 to 5,000 meters, while T-90S deployed with Indian Army have problems hitting targets even as close as 1800 metres with Indian ammunition, as reported in Rediff,April 26, 2007. Rediff article further mentions “but there was no way to modify the tank’s fire control system to correct that. Asked to modify the FCS for Indian ammunition, the Russians pointed out that the T-90 contract had no such provision.”
In a twist of irony, T-90S is the same tank which Indian Army purchased citing problems with indigenous Main Battle Tank Arjun.
While Russians have been dragging their feet on the FCS rectification, the Ministry of Defence has threatened the Russians with not placing further orders of 347 T-90S tanks. Meanwhile the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been prompt to rectify the problems.
Indian Army has tested Arjun Tank for almost 10 years and kept complaining while it has inducted T-90S with same problems.
In an 8 part article, in november 2006, Indian Express cited Brigadier D K Babbar, the Army’s pointsman for the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun project at the Mechanised Forces directorate until he retired last year from the 94th Armoured Brigade, “The Arjun tank has no future. It still cannot fire straight. The T-90, a far superior tank, can kill the Arjun. We would not cross any border with these tanks.”
Eyebrows are being raised on the manner of inductions by Indian Army. There is no independent body to moniter and varify the Indian Army equipment trials and hence no accountability. DRDO has been complaining about Indian Army’s attitude of lowering General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) for foreign vendors. This is not the first such incident. Krasnopol 155mm laser-guided shells bought by Indian Army proved to be defective.
T-90S is cited to be a knee jerk reaction toPakistani Army acquiring 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine. After securing initial contract Indian Army proposes 1000 T-90S tank strength. “The perplexing question is if Russian equipment does not performs, how can we believe that Ukrainian equipment performs better?” quipped a defence analyst. The Ukrainian factory which produced these tanks today produces tractors because of lack of order.
The same defence analyst also mentions of the hype being created on Al Khalid Tanks; “Al Khalid is a discarded design by the Chinese, reworked by Ukranians and it has a Ukranian engine. Pakistan after all the hype has failed to produce the tank in sufficient numbers. The tank has been demonstarted to Saudi Arabia with German MTU engines. In addition Bangladesh and Srilanka were offer these tanks. Nothing has materialised. Thesre is no proof that its a very potent tank.”
On being asked on Al Khalid and Arjun comparissions, the defence analyst said “there is no comparison between Al Khalid and Arjun tank. Al Khalid can be best compared to Indian T-72 latest upgrades. It will be foolist to compare the two tanks”.
On 5 April, 2007, Army Chief Gen J J Singh mentioned that the Army will soon receive 14 Arjun Main Battle Tanks and these will be put through a training exercise. But the fact that Indian Army lacks a comptetive bench mark to eveluate Arjun Tanks effectiveness.
The Hindustan Times in October 26, 2006, reported “army officers complained that the existing T-90S tanks faced “recurring” technical problems which were adversely impinging on the force’s operational preparedness.” The issues have not been ironed out yet.
Ministry of Defence has failed to secure Russian assurance on fixing the existing T-90S tanks. So the Ministry of Defence is now exploring private companies to fix the defective Russian supplied tanks wasting Indian tax payers money. co-incidently there is no private Indian company capable of taking such challenge. Even if any company does it, it will take years to fix it. The only Indian company which has experience in such issues is DRDO. Its clear that a foreign firm is expected to fix the T-90S problems.
Posted in Indian Army News | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
27 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
There is no proposal to send Indian Army to Afghanistan to train Afghan troops as per an Indian external affairs spokesman.
This was in reaction to false media reports stating that Indian Army would be leaving for Kabul in a few months to train the Afghan National Army (ANA). Media quoted a high level military official. Media also claimed that the team would be in Afghanistan in May to conduct infantry and education corps related training.
”Defence establishments in India hold training programmes from time-to-time for military personnel from other countries, including Afghanistan.
However, there is no proposal to send Indian army personnel to Afghanistan for training the Afghan army,” the spokesman said.
Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
26 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
As per an Kommersant, Romesh Chandra, press attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow denied that, the Indian Embassy in Russia is not aware of Moscow’s official authorization to Beijing for sale of RD-93 engines of Klimov works’ design (made by Chernyshev works), to third countries.
Kommersant claims that Russia has officially sanctioned China to re-export RD-33 aircraft engines. It further claims that President Vladimir Putin personally supervised the deal and inked sanctioning documents, representatives of president’s administration specified. The deal was backed up by all parties concerned – Defense Ministry, Federal Industry Agency and Rosoboronexport, which is the state exporter of weapons.
China is trying to sell its newely developed but obselete technolgy fighter FC-1 to Pakistan,few states of South-East Asia and Africa. According to the Kremlin administration, the Russian-Chinese deal is not detrimental to the interests of New Delhi. “India now buys fourth-plus generation warplanes from Russia, while JF-17 fighters are already obsolete,” an administration source said.
But the permit does not mean that Russia and Pakistan will directly cooperate in the military-technical sphere and only applies to one contract.
Previously, experts believed India would be unhappy with the deal because Moscow and New Delhi have signed an intergovernmental agreement banning arms sales to Islamabad.
Posted in Strategic Issues | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
27 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Russian-Indian naval exercises were completed on Friday in the Peter the Great Bay near Vladivostok.
Russian commander of the exercise and Deputy Commander of the Pacific Fleet Sergey Avramenko told reporters that all the excercise objectives have been fulfilled.
This was the first Indo-Russian excercises to be held in Northern Pacific.
Posted in Indian Navy News, Military News - Russia | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Indian President Dr. Abdul Kalam, who is also the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces,paid rich tributes to the 74 Indian soldiers, who died in the second World War, at the Faleiron War Cemetery, in Athens.
The Indian armymen were accorded the last rite of cremation as required by the Hindu religion. Dr Kalam went round the Faleiron Cremation Memorial which lies within the cemetery.
The soldiers cremated here were part of the Fourth Indian Infantry Division which was in 1944 moved to Italy , where it took part in the Italian Campaign and notably the battles for Monte Cassino, Central Italy and the Gothic Line before being sent to Greece to help stabilise the country after the Axis forces withdrew as part of Operation Manna to prevent the Communist from seizing power in Greece after the German withdrawal.
Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News, Indian Army News, Military News - Europe | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
April 26, 2007 (FIDSNS)
The development of Air Force versions of BrahMos cruise missile is in progress. Indian Air Force has proposed to install BrahMos missile in SU-30 MKI. In a reply to the parliament the defence minister informed that the BrahMos cruise missile is likely to be inducted in Indian Air Force in 2009 once the flight evaluation is completed.
Posted in Defence Research and Development, Indian Air Force News | No Comments »
Friday, April 27th, 2007
April 26, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Lt Gen KS Katoch, Padma Bhushan, Military Cross, a veteran of the Indian Army who passed away on Wednesday, was cremated here today. A large number of serving and retired officers and other dignitaries paid their last respects to the distinguished officer.
Born in 1915 at Srinagar, Lt Gen Katoch was commissioned in September 1936 from IMA Dehradun. During his early years in the Army, he served with the Surrey Regiment and Frontier Force Rifles. In 1945, during World War II in Italy, he was awarded a Military Cross for his gallantry. He was awarded a Padma Bhushan in 1965. He commanded three infantry Divisions –two in J&K and one in the North East. He held the appointments of Director General Military Training and Adjutant General, before commanding a Corps in Srinagar. He retired as Vice Chief of Army Staff in 1970.
Posted in Indian Army News | No Comments »
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
26 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
The first aircraft in the Limited Series Production of Tejas, indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, (LSP-1), has made its successful maiden flight at HAL airport in Bangalore on 25 April,2007.
The flight lasted 47 minutes, during which all the systems of the aircraft functioned “perfectly well”, mentions a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Press release.
Flown by Group Captain A P Singh, the aircraft covered an altitude upto 11 km and supersonic speed of 1.1 Mach,making it first time in the country that any aircraft has gone supersonic in the very first flight.
The flight was chased by another Tejas Technology Demnstrator-2 (TD-2). TD-2 has so far made 255 flawless flights.
Posted in Defence Research and Development | No Comments »
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
26 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Defence Minister AK Antony is expected to represent India at the sixth edition of the Dialogue, organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The IISS will convene the Sixth Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from 1-3 June 2007.
Earlier on 3 May, 2007, Mr Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary of the Government of India, will address the IISS on ‘India and International Security’
The nations represented in Singapore will include the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, Canada, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Australia and New Zealand. This year, the Dialogue will also facilitate discussion on nuclear challenges, role of the US in Asia-Pacific security, new challenges for security sector reform and intervening in fragile states.
In addition Mr. Antony is likely to hold discussions on concluding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on military cooperation between India and Singapore.
Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News, Military News - Asia | No Comments »
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
26 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sangram Singh Byce has arrived to attend the exercises. From the Russian side Vice Admiral Sergej Awramenko, deputy commander of the Pacific fleet is attending the excercises.
The objective of the excercise will be destruction of a terrorist speedboat, detection and clearing of mines, anti-submarine depth-charge drills, rescue of a distressed ship and landing of helicopters on board Russian and Indian ships for deploying commandos to simulate hostage rescue from a hijacked ship.
The Russian Naval airwing will deploy an Il-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, a SU-27 fighter aircraft, a Ka-27PS helicopter and a Ka-27PL helicopter. The Indian Navy is deploying Sea King helicopters. Indian Navy Sea King helicopter is expected to land on board the Marshal Shaposhnikov, a Russian submarine hunter.
The Russian Pacific Fleet is fielding the anti-submarine warships Marshal Shaposhnikov and the Admiral Vinogradov. Other ships deployed are a missile boat, a diesel submarine, several mine sweepers, the tanker Pechenga and two tugboats. The Indian Navy is fielding the guided missile destroyers INS Mysore, INS Ranjit and INS Rana. In addtioon it has deployed the missile corvette INS Kutar and fleet tanker, INS Jyoti.
The INDRA 2007 exercises are taking place at the Pyotr Veliky Bay, near Vladivostok.
Posted in Indian Navy News | No Comments »
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