Archive for April, 2007
Monday, April 16th, 2007
April 16, 2007 (FIDSNS)
A Japanese defence ministry spokesman announced that the “The first naval drill between Japan, the United States and India is aimed at boosting the friendly relationship among the three countries as well as improving maritime technique”.
India, Japan and the United States conducted their first joint naval drills in the Pacific Ocean as the three try to forge closer ties, Japan sent four escort vessels to the drill off Japan’s east coast where two US destroyers and three Indian warships joined the exercise.
The Indian ships participating are the delhi class destroyer INS Mysore, Corvette “INS Kuthar” and Supply ship “INS Jyoti.”
The three ships sailed into the Yokosuka port on 12th April 2007.
The warships training with Japan and the United States were also scheduled to have joint exercises with China, Russia and Vietnam.
This is the 15th visit of Indian warships to Japan and 2nd time to port Yokosuka.
Posted in Indian Navy News, Military News - America, Military News - Asia | Comments Off
Saturday, April 14th, 2007
April 14,2007 (FIDSNS)
New Delhi, Apr 13 : Indonesia has shown its interest to purchase the supersonic cruise missile “Brahmos”.
This comes after a three-day visit of Indonesian Navy Admiral Siamet Soebijanto to India, where he held discussions with his Indian counterpart Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt.
Admiral Soebijanto, who visited the Brahmos complex in New Delhi was ‘impressed’ by the missiles’ capability and its manoeuvring skills.
The cruise missile has been jointly developed by India and Russia and has a range of 290 kms. The system has been accepted by Indian Navy for induction in their ships, and the army version was successfully flight tested on May, 2006.
Malaysia had also expressed its interest to buy this missile.
The Indonesian and Indian Navies will begin staff-level talks for the first time. This comes in the wake of Indonesian Parliament giving the green signal for the India-Indonesia 2001 Defence Agreement , under which India has agreed to transfer advanced military technology to Indonesia.
India and Indonesia already have a mechanism for joint patrol of their maritime borders since 2001.
Both countries also agreed to enhance their bilateral exchanges and collaborate each other in checking illegal trafficking of drug and arms in the Bay of Bengal, the Malacca Straits and the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Siamet Soebijanto also expressed his gratitude for the prompt aid and relief carried out by the Indian Navy just after the 2004 Tsunami and 2005 earthquake in Banda Aceh.
Posted in Military News - Asia | Comments Off
Saturday, April 14th, 2007
April 14, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Army Commanders Conference, is scheduled to be held from 16 to 20 Apr 2007 at New Delhi. The conference will be chaired by Army Chief, Gen JJ Singh. During the Conference, operational review of the situation in J&K and the NE, to incl modernization and capability building, operational readiness and training will be carried out. Other activities of the Army will also be reviewed and wherever required directions will be issued to carry out midcourse corrections.
The Conference will commence with the address by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri to the Army Commanders on 16 Apr 07.
A large number of important issues have been slated for discussions. A review of the training for primary tasks and important administrative matters will be discussed. Detailed discussion in particular will be carried out on “Value Based Leadership” to evoke a deliberate in house introspection.
The scope of ‘Asymmetric Warfare in Indian Context’ will be deliberated upon. Other important issues slated for discussions are the steps to be taken at ground level for ‘Improvement in Promotion/ Service Conditions of personnel Below officer Rank including update on VIth CPC, Appraisal System team & Redress Mechanism’ and a review of the policy on ‘Strategy for an Integrated Approach towards Peacekeeping Operations’. A well thought out strategy and road map to ÍVth Mil World Games Oct 07’ will also be presented.
COAS Sports Trophy will also be presented on this occasion.
Posted in Indian Army News | Comments Off
Saturday, April 14th, 2007
14 April, 2007 (FIDSNS)
Briefing media, Defence Research and Development Organisation chief M Natarajan said,We have achieved the capability to make missiles with a range of 3,500 km to 5,500 km but the decision (to develop an ICBM) has to be taken by the political leadership.” On being asked whether the proposed ICBM would be christened Surya, Natarajan said it be given a name derived from the Agni series.
DRDO scientists are working on miniaturising the systems of the Agni-III so that a third stage can be squeezed into the 16-metre-long missile to enable it to go up to 5,500 km with the same 1.5-tonne payload,” Natarajan said a day after the first successful launch of the 3,000-km Agni-III.
Agni-III will also be converted into a submarine- launched ballistic missile to open more second-strike options for the country, DRDO scientists told reporters during a briefing.
Agni-3 mission director Avinash Chander mentioned that two to three more launches of Agni-3 is to be carried out in the next three years. DRDO has drawn up a busy schedule of tests for its diverse range of indigenous missiles, with the second test of its missile defence system set for August or October. The organisation is also planning user trials for its surface-to -air Akash missile and fourth generation anti-tank Nag missile.
Mr. Chander also mentioned also mentioned that the DRDO had acted only as an integrating agency with the Agni-III, with most of the missile’s components being made by private industry. A total of 258 private firms and 20 DRDO laboratories were involved in this venture.
This is why there were no production delays and the next missile is being readied in parallel,” he said.
While China has large number of ballastic missile with range upto 14000 kms, there is no conclusive proof that it has better technology than India. Most of the Chinese missiles are of Scud vintage that failed in Iraq war. China has proliferated these older designs to North Korea and Pakistan. China recently tested DF-31 missiles which it claims to be “undefined next generation missile.”
Posted in Defence Research and Development | Comments Off
Friday, April 13th, 2007
April 6, 2007 (FIDNS)
Addressing a press confrence in ZARA Village in Moscow region, Deputy chief Russian Air Force Gen. Alexander Zelin said that the 5th Generation fighter design has entered technical mock-up stage.
“We are now at a stage of creating the working- design documentation” informed the general.
The general also informed that the project was on schedule. “Dates of the project has not changed, the customer is not changing,therefore, we work in the dates that we have set. ”
The General did not mention the Indian involvement in the 5th generation design project.
Posted in Military News - Russia | Comments Off
Friday, April 13th, 2007
Apr 12, 2007 (FIDNS)
Interfax reports that contract for the delivery of 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKI multi-role fighters manufactured by Irkut Corporation to India has been signed.
“Several days ago Rosoboronexport arms trader signed a contract for the delivery of 18 Su-30MKI multi-role fighters to the Indian Air Force,” a military diplomatic source told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
The source said the fighters will be delivered on a trade-in principle, implying that in return India will supply the Su-30K fighters that it is currently using.
Analysts estimate the contract to be worth about $700 million.
According to Kommersant, IAF’s Su-30K have an average record of about 1,500 flying hours and require an overhaul and upgradation costing $12 million (about Rs 51 crore) per aircraft. While a new Su-30 MKI costs $40 million (about Rs 171 crore). It writes that the 18 used fighters of IAF were originally planned to be purchased last year for resale to Belarus. Unofficial sources say the planes may have been intended for sale to Syria or Eritrea through Belarus. That deal fell through when Russia and Belarus came into conflict over the price of Russian natural gas. However, last month, Minsk denied that Russian weapons were being resold through Belarus to the Middle East.
Posted in Indian Air Force News | Comments Off
Friday, April 13th, 2007
April 10, 2007 (FIDNS)
Arjun Tank problems are due to OEM supplies as per the Standing Committee On Defence 2005-06.
The report states “Five production tanks (Nos 001 to 005) were subjected to comparative trials during June 2005 wherein some defects were reported by the User with regard to
(a) fire control system and
(b) gun control system.
In view of these defects the tanks were withdrawn by DRDO to carry out extensive re-examinations, system defect analysis, carry out rectification work and re offer at a later
date as and when these tanks are fully prepared for its readiness by conducting in – House (DRDO) revalidation trials to fully satisfy the user requirements. Accordingly, a plan of action was charted out to resolve all issues.
Broadly, the problems are comprising to OEM supplies only, viz. (a) OIP Sagem Belgium – France (for GMS/LRF), and (b) Rexrath, Germany (for Gun control system).
Rest are all minor issues pertaining to quality and workmanship/assembly integration which has already been resolved. As regards current factual status of Arjun Tank the Ministry in their written note further stated as under:
“All tanks 001 to 005 at MFFR are updated with complete improvements duly in house validated in respect of (a) GCS (b) Automotive systems (c) FCS systems (except for the LRF meeting 60 C temp spec) Tank No. 002 to 005 are expected to be fitted with LRF meeting 60 temp Spec by 25th May, soon thereafter Army’s evaluation will start off.”
While Indian Army has been critical of the Arjun project, 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.”
Incidently T-90S has too been facing similar problems due to foreign vendors.
There are contradictions in what Army claims with respect to Arjun tank and T-90S. The newspaper reports cite “unnamed” Army sources mentioning that Arjun has high imported content, where as the T-90S is completely imported tank. While Army claims that T-90S will be gradually indegenised. Similar arguments do do cut ice with army with respect to Arjun.
Delayed production of Arjun Tank is cited as the reason for Army to procure T-90S from Russia, but the truth is reverse. Arjun Production is delayed as the Avadi factory is busy assembling T90S Tanks. Terming it as a serious blow to indigenisation process, India’s Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has pulled up the Defence Ministry for “inordinate delay” in production of main battle tank, Arjun. Now T-90S is also hampered by delays in arrival of critical production line machines, Lack of adequate spare parts and poor co-ordination with the Russian manufacturers.
Another claim of Army is the weight of Arjun. Arjun is not a T-72 or T-90S class light tank. The aim of Arjun tank was to build a class of tank that matches M1 Abrams of US, Challnger of UK and Leclerc which are of same weight class.
April 05, 2007 Frontier India Defence News Service (FIDNS) reported that, while answering questions by the media, Army Chief Gen JJ Singh during the Reunion of the Maratha Light Infantry stated that, the Army will soon be receiving 14 tanks which will be put through a training exercise. The minor problems of these tanks have been communicated to DRDO, which he hoped will be rectified soon.
Posted in Defence Products Manufacturing Companies, Defence Research and Development, Indian Army News | Comments Off
Friday, April 13th, 2007
Apr 12, 2007 (FIDNS)
Indian scientists achieved a major milestone in missile technology when they successfully conducted the flight test of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) – AGNI III from the Wheeler Island, off the coast of Orissa at 10.50 this morning. The 16 meter long missile weighing 48 tonnes, lifted off successfully from its Rail Mobile Launcher System leaving a trail of orange and yellow smoke. The missile which has a range of more than 3000 kms is capable of carrying a pay load of 1.5 Tonnes. The trajectory of AGNI III is computed by the onboard computer system based on the launch and target coordinates. During the flight the missile has no communication with the ground systems and is autonomous and fully `intelligent’ to reach its designated target. With this success, the design team is happy that the problems faced in the previous attempt on July 09 last year has been fully understood and solved.
The entire flight path of approx 15 minutes duration validated all mission objectives primarily to establish the performance of the two stage propulsion in flight and the flex nozzle control system being attempted by DRDO scientists for the very first time. The flight was tracked from ground stations at Dhamra, ITR, Balasore, Port Blair and two Indian Naval ships in the Indian Ocean. Shri M Natarajan, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri made a specific reference to the achievement of high degree of self reliance in AGNI III, as most of the sub systems have been developed within the country with the synergy between DRDO – Industry (both Public and Private sector) and Academia. As per the Mission Director, Shri Avinash Chander, many “firsts” have been established by this launch, which includes the Flex Nozzle Controls of Rocket Motor during powered phase, specially developed composite propellant with high specific impulse for the rocket. Guidance and Control with built in fault tolerant avionics, withstanding of severe aero thermal environment experienced during the Re-entry phase and coordinated mission management.
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has congratulated the defence scientists on the successful launch and for achieving another important milestone in self-reliance in this critical strategic system. He also stated that India has matured in the missile technology area and was definitely at par with many other developed countries. AGNI III has confirmed India’s Strategic capability for minimum credible deterrence. Today’s historic event was witnessed by Shri Pallam Raju, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri M Natarajan, SA to RM and a host of senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Services.
Due to its high accuracy, the missile is useable in smaller sub-nuclear conflicts, a trend now seen in American long-range missiles.
Agni III, DRDO sources said is likely to serve as a base missile for development of underwater launched version of the Agni missiles, miniaturised to be carried in future Indian submarines.
Beijing reacted immediately to news of the firing, saying it hoped that India, “as a country with an important influence in this region, can work to maintain and promote peace and stability in the region”.
“We hope they can make a positive contribution in this regard and play a positive role,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing.
Chinese officials however stressed, however, that it would be wrong to see the testing of the missile as a threat to China, emphasising the friendly relations the countries enjoyed.
“It poses no threat to China. It is merely a test firing. No more, no less,” a senior government official said.
Officials in New Delhi emphasised that the missile’s testing should not be seen as an indication of a deterioration in those relations.
M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, who described Wednesday’s Agni III flight as “a perfect mission,” said: “It is a very significant success, particularly when the entire design, planning, material construction, execution and everything associated with the mission was indigenous. Such an effort is vital for the strategic system of our country.” The series of successes in the last six months, including that of the Prithvi interceptor missile, the launch of Dhanush, the success of another strategic system and now the Agni III “signify that we are maturing in these difficult technologies,” said Mr. Natarajan, who was present at the launch site. Unmindful of the maiden Agni III’s failure last year, the DRDO scientists worked hard, analysed the failure from the telemetry of the previous mission, did a lot of reviews and took corrective action which led to this success, added Mr. Natarajan.
Prahlada, Chief Controller, R and D, DRDO (Services Interaction), said: “The strength of the mission was that the entire system was totally indigenously developed, the missile’s hardware and software, instrumentation, tracking systems and so on.” Dr. Prahlada called it “a great flight.” It was a totally autonomous missile. Once it was launched, it did not depend on any command or signal from the ground. “It is an intelligent missile,” added Dr. Prahlada, who witnessed the flight.
Dr. Santhanam said: “So you need missiles, whether they are surface-to-surface missiles or submarine-launched missiles. A submarine-launched missile will be an effective deterrent because its survival capability is high compared to a land system. A missile launched from a silo will be a sitting duck. The vulnerability of a missile launched from land can be reduced by making it mobile, either road or rail mobile. To that extent, Agni III has this dispersal and mobility.” Since Agni III’s diameter was two metres, its thrust would be high, its range was more and it could carry heavier payloads with a larger volume. “To get into surface-to-surface missiles of long range class, you should have an engine of large diameter, be it powered by solid or liquid propellants. Worldover, the trend is to go for missiles fuelled by solid propellants because they have what is called QRA (quick reaction alert),”
Agni III is a product of the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad. ASL is a unit of DRDO.
Posted in Defence Research and Development | Comments Off
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