Frontier India Strategic and Defence - News, Analysis, Opinion

Gen Deepak Kapoor takes over as COAS

General Deepak Kapoor today took over as the 23rd Chief of the Army Staff. “My top priority would be to step up the pace of modernisation,” Kapoor said in his first order of the day to officers and all ranks of the army.

Unfortunately, like his predecessors, the general lacks a vision on the indigenisation, at least on the first day. The Indian Army is not yet fully nationalised and follows British Army traditions. Indian army is upgrading its weaponry with imported weapons in all its three wings — Infantry, Armour and Artillery.

Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, commanded one of the most prestigious Divisions of the Indian Army – the RAM Division as part of a Strike Corps, during OP PARAKRAM. He has been the Chief of Staff of 4 Corps in the North East, fighting insurgency in Assam and thereafter commanded 33 Corps, deployed on the India-China border. For his excellent command of the Corps, the General Officer was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2006. On promotion as Army Commander, he commanded the Army Training Command at Shimla. Thereafter, he commanded the largest and the most sensitive command of the Indian Army, i.e. the Northern Command from 05 September 2005 to 31 December 2006. The General Officer was awarded Param Vishist Seva Medal in January 2007. He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on June 11, 1967.

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U.S. Tests New Missile Defense System

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, successfully completed a missile defense flight test on 26 Sept, 2007, that resulted in the intercept of a target warhead and demonstrated the capability and reliability of the American only defense against long-range ballistic missiles.

The test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system began at 4:01 p.m. Eastern when a long-range ballistic missile target lifted off from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. Seventeen minutes later, military operators launched an interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. As the interceptor flew toward the target, it received target data updates from the upgraded missile-warning radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. After flying into space, the interceptor released its exoatmospheric kill vehicle, which proceeded to track, intercept and destroy the target warhead.

The test, GMD’s seventh intercept overall, was the second intercept with an operationally configured interceptor since September 2006.

“Today’s successful test is the team’s second intercept in less than 13 months and further demonstrates GMD’s evolution to a robust and reliable capability for the warfighter,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.

The test was highly complex, involving a wide range of assets, including the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). SBX, a powerful new sea-based sensor developed by Boeing, tracked the target missile to prepare for the next GMD flight test, which will see SBX provide target updates to an in-flight interceptor for the first time.

“Flight tests are complex; they involve about 1,000 government and contractor personnel and integrate over 50 assets worldwide,” said Norm Tew, Boeing director of weapon systems integration for GMD. “Our government and industry partners worked together as one team to make this exercise a successful reality.”

GMD defends the US against a limited number of long-range ballistic missiles, with interceptors deployed in underground silos at Vandenberg and Ft. Greely, Alaska. An integral element of the global ballistic missile defense system, GMD also consists of radars, other sensors, command-and-control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network. The U.S. government has announced plans to extend this capability to Europe.

Boeing is the prime contractor for GMD, the central element of the Missile Defense Agency’s overall layered ballistic missile defense architecture. Industry partners include Raytheon, Orbital Sciences Corp., and Northrop Grumman.

Posted in Military News - America | No Comments »

A160T Hummingbird flies 8 hours with 1,000-pound payload

A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft on Sept. 26, flew for eight hours while carrying a 1,000-pound payload.

During its longest flight to date and the program’s 42nd flight overall, the aircraft reached an altitude of 5,000 feet near Victorville, Calif. The half-ton payload simulated the delivery of critical supplies to the battlefield. Future payloads will include a combination of sensors, weapons and systems to perform a variety of missions.

Since its first flight in June, the A160T has logged several additional flights, including a five-hour flight on Aug. 29. Ultimately, Boeing plans to fly the aircraft for 18 consecutive hours with a 300-pound payload. The A160T, a turbine-powered version of the innovative piston-powered A160 helicopter, features unmatched range, endurance, payload and altitude for an unmanned rotorcraft. The flexible payload module can carry supplies or retrieve downed personnel.

The aircraft used during the tests is the second of 11 A160Ts Boeing Advanced Systems is building for the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency.

The Hummingbird features a unique optimum speed rotor technology that significantly improves overall performance efficiency by adjusting the rotor’s speed at different altitudes, gross weights and cruise speeds. The autonomous unmanned aircraft, measuring 35 feet long with a 36-foot rotor diameter, eventually will fly more than 140 knots with a ceiling of 25,000 to 30,000 ft. (high hover capability up to 15,000 ft.) for up to 20 hours. Operational A160Ts will be capable of persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; target acquisition; direct action; communication relay and precision re-supply missions.

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Admiral Mehta new COSC chairman

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta took over as Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) from the outgoing Chairman General JJ Singh. In a solemn ceremony held in Defence Headquarters today, Gen Singh handed over the baton of Chairman COSC to Admiral Mehta. A former resolution placing on record a rich contribution made by the outgoing Chairman was also passed in the meeting. A large number of senior officials from the Army, Navy and the Air Force attended the ceremony.

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2nd Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel Keel Laid

The Keel for newly designed Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel(NOPV) to be built by Goa Shipyard Limited for Indian Navy, was laid by on 26 September, 2007.

This is the 2nd vessel of series of three vessels designed in-house by GSL, aimed at meeting the increasing requirement of Indian Navy for surface warfare operations and in order to prevent infiltration and transgress of maritime sovereignty.

The vessel is 105m in length, about 2200 tons in displacement with a speed of 25knots. The vessel is capable of fleet support operations, costal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of SLOCs, defence of offshore oil installations and escorting high value ships, The vessel has facilities of embarkation and operation of Helicopter. The vessel is fitted with state-of –the art navigation, communication and electronic warfare equipment. An advanced remote control system is provided to control and monitor the propulsion machinery.

The vessel can accommodate 118 defence personnel onboard with an endurance of 6000 nautical miles.

The vessel can stay at sea uninterruptedly for an extended period of 60 days.

Indian Navy has placed orders for 3 such Naval Offshore patrol Vessels with Goa Shipyard Ltd.

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A RAW book

The CBI raided the author and publisher of the book “India’s External Intelligence: Secrets of RAW,” invoking official secrets act. Major General (retired) V K Singh, a former Joint Secretary in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — India’s premier external intelligence agency, who published the book earlier this year is highly critical of RAW’s functioning.

The book blows whistle on several cases of corruption, indiscipline, lack of leadership and negligence, where the names of the persons involved have been mentioned.

Key among them are:

• The SPG purchased communication equipment of doubtful security from a foreign company, without obtaining clearance from the Systems Analysis Group. Why has no action been initiated against the officers involved?
• The Telecom Division of RAW purchased VHF/UHF antenna from a foreign company at prices much higher that what was paid by other agencies, such as signal intelligence and electronic warfare units of the Army. Why has no action been initiated against the officers involved?
• RAW has a CSD canteen which sells items that are authorized only for defence personnel. Why have the Sales Tax and Excise departments not taken cognizance of this?
• The present chief of RAW did not attend office for eight months when he was superceded for promotion from additional secretary to special secretary. Why has no action been initiated against the officers involved?
• Mr. Amar Bhushan continued to occupy his office in RAW even after he was posted out. Why did this happen? Why has no action been initiated against the officers involved?
• Rabinder Singh’s escape to USA was facilitated by several senior officers in RAW. Why has no action been initiated against them?

Its is not just Major General (retired) V K Singh, B. Raman’s book “Kaoboy’s of the RAW” laments of the bad apples in the organisation. He writes about RAW officials amassing illegitimate wealth, not returning back from the country of posting and other such incidents. However, he has not named anyone.

The Indian Government has charged Vivek Garg, owner of Manas Publication, the publisher of the book, on the ground’s that book reveals secrets that can harm national security.

Vivek Garg has raised several valid points,”this is not the only book about intelligence agencies in India. Several other authors such as Ashok Raina and B. Raman, have written about RAW. Books have also been written about the IB. Why has only my book been targeted?”

On the question of equipment purchase by RAW Vivek Garg say’s, “equipment whose details have been given in the book was purchased from foreign countries. These details are known not only to the country from which the equipment was bought but to several others to whom tenders inquiries were sent. If the details are known to foreigners, how can their disclosure to the Indian public be considered harmful to national security?”

On the issue of names of several officers have been mentioned in the book, the publisher say’s “They were all posted in India, and not in cover appointments abroad. How can the disclosure of their names affect national security?”

In addition the publisher said, ” the charter of RAW is external intelligence. Any secrets it has pertain to foreign countries. RAW does not possess any information regarding India’s defence capability, war plans, nuclear potential, space facilities, missile technology etc. Disclosure of information held by RAW can harm the national security of foreign countries, not India. In addition the details of RAW and ARC are available on the Internet. The Wikipedia even gives a photograph of RAW headquarters and its map coordinates (latitude and longitude). It also gives the location of ARC bases, with map coordinates, and the type of aircraft held.”

In 2006, the second Administrative Reforms Commission has recommended that the Official Secrets Act, 1923, be repealed.

Declassification of past records has started becoming an issue in India. With the advent of RTI Act, the government is under increasing pressure to declassify past records. Past records of US and Russia have been declassified, there is nothing new about it.

Another issue is RAW’s accountability to parliament. B. Raman’s book shows that barring South Asia, RAW has very few successes to show.

A lot of intelligence books have been written all over the world with startling disclosures. Major General (retired) V K Singh’s book is nowhere near it.

On 26 September, the CBI failed to move forward in the case against Major General (retired) V K Singh, as the agency told a local court it was yet to ascertain whether there was any violation of the Official Secrets Act.

V K Singh’s counsel, Kunal Khullar, argued for his client, and provided a copy of the book in the court and claimed that Singh had not violated any provisions of the Official Secrets Act(OSA).

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Directorate General Quality Assurance modernises

The automation plan worth Rs.2.32 Crore is getting implemented in the Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA), is in the final stages. It will provide provide online Quality Assurance Services to users and production agencies. It will link all the to link all Technical, administrative and Units of R&S Directorates.

Disclosing this in New Delhi today the Director General of DGQA, Lt Gen G Sridhran said that, the testing capabilities of various laboratories of DGQA are being strengthened. He said a Predictive technology lab to ascertain the remaining shelf life of ammunition is being established at Controllert of Quality Assurance (Armaments) Pune. He also informed that testing facilities of night vision devices at Controllert Quality Assurance (Instruments), Dehradun are being strengthened.

Gen Sridharan informed that DGQA has entered into Reciprocal Govt Quality Assurance (RGQA) agreement with various countries. Similar agreements are in offing with other countries. This would be beneficial for DGQA to align its working with prevalent international Quality Assurance practices. Considerable savings have been achieved by revising proof schedules thereby cutting down proof expenditure. A Committee has also been constituted to further reduce expenditure on proof.

DGQA is celebrating its Raising Day tomorrow. DGQA traces its roots to Inspectorate of Armaments established at Ammunition Factory Kirkee in 1869. With the transformation in portfolio of Weapons & Equipments, the Organisation has undergone many changes over the decades. The existing semblance of the Organisation structure dates back to 27th Sep 1957 when the Controller General of Defence Production was raised under Maj Gen Pratap Narain.

DGQA is service provider with multi disciplinary, multi-location organization with multi technology orientation. The organization is very important component of the Defence Equipment Management as it provides total QA cover for all types of arms, ammunition, equipment & stores required by the Armed Forces. DGQA is responsible for quality assurance of defence stores produced by Ordnance Factories, Public & private sector units as also procured through import. It initiates all actions necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces get the entire range of arms, ammunition, equipment & stores of the desired quality so as to enhance combat efficiency & effectiveness of the fighting forces. DGQA provides quality assurance services not only to the Army but also marine engineering, weapon sensors & support systems of the Navy. The services are also extended to Air Force for common user items.

The other customers of DGQA Quality Assurance Services are suppliers i.e., Ordnance Factories, DPSU & private sector units. DGQA carries out quality assurance activities for foreign vendors under Reciprocal Government Quality Agreements. It has skilled manpower and wide network of laboratories having NABL accreditation to carry out its task effectively. It has its own dedicated Proof Ranges for carrying out proof of armament, stores manufactured indigenously as well as through import.

The organisation has kept itself alive abreast with emerging technologies having potential for its adoption in Military Equipment and contemporary Quality Management Systems to ensure that one of the finest Army of the world gets the best quality assured equipments. The organisation also provides its services for entire life cycle of ammunition & equipment.

DGQA traces its roots to Inspectorate of Armaments established at Ammunition Factory Kirkee in 1869. With the transformation in portfolio of Weapons & Equipments, the Organisation has undergone many changes over the decades. The existing semblance of the Organisation structure dates back to 27th Sep 1957 when the Controller General of Defence Production was raised under Maj Gen Pratap Narain.

The organization was awarded National Award for Economics of Quality by the President of India in February this year. DGQA provided services beyond call of duty in extracting live ammunition with clinical precision from tank involved in accident due to fire, thereby, avoiding accidental injury to troops and civilians of that area.

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First six Indian pilots gain their wings on new Hawk

The first six Indian Air Force (IAF) flying instructors have successfully completed their ‘Convex Flying Programme’ on the BAE Systems Hawk 132 aircraft.

Once the first Hawks have been delivered to the Indian Air Force later this year, these instructors will develop the new advanced fast jet training system and begin training students who will be the IAF’s next generation frontline pilots.

Under the 10-week programme the pilots carried out ground school training and UK orientation simulator sorties at RAF Valley, avionics training at BAE Systems Brough, and sea survival training, prior to undertaking flying training. The flying phase covers 15 flights per pilot (including night flying) over a 5-week period, demanding a particularly high flying rate.

Paul Comer, Indian Hawk senior instructor pilot, said “The course has been very wide ranging, covering all aspects of fast jet flying training. Despite the unseasonable UK weather, the 90 required sorties have been flown in just 5 weeks using, on average, only 2 aircraft. This rate of flying is quite an achievement for the aircraft and all of the Indian Hawk Convex team. The six IAF pilots have all adapted well to the new aircraft and have achieved a good standard in all the disciplines.”

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Royal Australian Navy has a new look uniform

The Royal Australian Navy is set to introduce a new two-piece fire-retardant uniform, complete with improved safety boots.

Much of the design for the replacement Navy uniform derives from the land warfare version introduced in the mid-90s by the Australian Army. The two-piece uniform will align with other ADF combat uniforms in its use of the Australian Camouflage (AUSCAM) pattern, but will be unique to Navy in terms of the littoral colours used and the addition of reflective tape on the upper arms.

Posted in Military News - Asia | No Comments »

New UK UCAV begins to take shape

BAE Systems confirmed today that work has started on the physical build of the Taranis airframe - a £124m unmanned combat aerial vehicle demonstrator aimed at helping the UK MOD determine the future balance of assets within the Armed Forces.

Named after the Celtic God of Thunder, Taranis will help inform the UK MOD’s approach to the future capabilities needed for deep target attack and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR). About the size of a BAE Systems Hawk, it will have low
observable features and autonomous systems which will allow it to think for itself for much of its mission.

(more…)

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Boeing Delivers First Production EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday delivered the first production EA-18G Growler to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule and within budget.

“The Growler team put together a program plan that…has remained on cost and schedule, while meeting or exceeding all performance parameters. I don’t get to say that very often about our programs,” said The Hon. Delores Etter, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, during the delivery ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems facilities in St. Louis. “We have a great start to a total procurement of over 80 Gs, which will operate in our fleet for decades to come.”

(more…)

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Next batch of Indian Air Force contigent leave for Congo

The next batch of Indian Air Force task force contingent of 243 Air Warriors are due to embark on a peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This contingent is led by Group Captain NJS Dhillon. The contingent will be based at Goma, located amidst dense tropical forests, active volcanoes and ocean like lakes adjacent to Congo-Rwanda Uganda border. Charter of this contingent will be to enforce peace and will entail support of the Mi-17 utility helicopters as well as the Mi-25 attack helicopters. The contingent will operate in a hostile environment dotted with inhospitable terrain in the north eastern part of Congo. The contingent is designated Indian Aviation contingent - I (IAC-I) and IAF sends new batch of 243 personnel every year as replacement for the old batch.

IAF has established a good reputation in undertaking peace keeping duties in support of the United Nations. Incidentally, the first mission was also in Congo, nearly half a century back in 1961 when six Canberra bombers of No. 5 Squadron adorned with the IAF’s saffron white-green roundels were inducted to restore peace. These bombers had a dramatic impact on neutralization of the mercenary-run Katangan Air Force. Later, IAF made substantial contribution to the peace keeping effort in Somalia and Sierra Leone by undertaking some daring missions. In 2003, IAF was once again called upon by the UN to operate its attack and utility helicopters for wide-ranging operations to control the turbulence in Congo.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been afflicted by continuous strife ever since its independence in 1960. Located in Central Africa, it is a large country with a population of around 60 million with nearly 350 African ethnic groups. It is well endowed with natural resources including diamonds, gold and other minerals. Its people, however remain amongst the poorest in the world as the economy is in shambles. A vicious war is on for control of resources between the Government and the rebel forces. Decades of ethnic and civil wars, compounded by invasions have taken a terrible toll. With civil infrastructure and economy collapsed, no rule of law and armed groups terrorizing the country, a humanitarian crisis is prevailing in the country with millions of refugees and displaced people. The UN effort to control the situation was greatly handicapped because of the severe limitations of infrastructure. There is paucity of roads. Undulating terrain carpeted with dense tropical forests is subjected to heavy rainfall, that not only slowed down road transportation but also movement of ground forces. Under these conditions, the Indian Air Force was tasked to shoulder the enormous task of restoring peace and assisting La Peuple Congalis to lead life without constant fear.

The IAC-I normally comprises of five Mi-17 utility helicopters and four Mi-25 attack helicopters. The envisaged roles for the Mi-17 helicopters is observation, recce, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, logistics supply troop insertion, extraction and armed support as and when necessary. They are appropriately named Equatorial Eagles as their span of operational area straddles the equator in the ‘Dark Continent’. The attack helicopters are mainly for deterrence and may be used to provide fire support during heliborne and ground convoys. These helicopters have earned the reputation of being a force to reckon with and their quick response is effective in qualifying hostile intents invariably, the militias retreat promptly, reigning in peace and order in the area. Among the local population, the Mi-25s are known as ‘Henshaw’ the bird that breathes fire.

The IAF contingent has dramatically enhanced the reach and effectiveness of the UN (MONUC) in the ever hostile environment of the Congo. Living up to their motto ‘We support peace and life”, the IAF contingent has consistently kept the rebel’s head down while winning the hearts and minds of the local civilian population. It is not without reason that the UN authorities have rated the Indian Aviation Contingent-I as ‘The best and most exceptional in MONUC’. This set of air warriors also aims to ‘Touch the sky with glory’ in peace keeping.

Posted in Indian Air Force News, Military News - Africa | No Comments »

Indian Air Warriors storm private domains

The first ever placement fair for Air Warriors who have retired or about to retire from service concluded yesterday, on 23 Sep 07 having turned out to be a roaring success. The placement fair was hosted at Air Force Auditorium, New Delhi on 22 & 23 Sep 07 under the auspices of Air Force Record Office.

More than 48 leading Corporate companies such as ICICI, Godrej, WIPRO, Bajaj Capital, Tata Steel, HCL, Kalinga Commercial, Air India Express, Relcom, Pawan Kans, Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics registered for the fair and over 20,000 cvs were collectively picked up by these companies. It is estimated from the participating companies projections that more than 1500 appointment letters would be issued to the participants within a month. A unique feature of the fair was a workship/seminar on corporate acclimatization conducted for the ex-Air Warriors.

Appreciating the effort the Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal BN Gokhale said “IAF is a potent combatant force and its personnel are trained to deliver against all odds. It is necessary that the Corporate world makes full use of this opportunity”. He also said “Air Warriors during their stay in IAF achieve such versatility in job handling that it is time corporate does not stereo type them in security and administrative duties.”

Mr. Krishnaswamy Ram Kumar, HR Head of ICICI said “here are people (Air Warriors) who have dealt with life and various difficult issues. This is unique opportunity for industry to capitalize. The age does not matter in time where knowledge and information is the mantra”. He also said that ICICI had already recruited 130 ex-air warriors in leading banking process and said that they were very fast to pick up the profession.

Every year about five to six thousand Air Warriors superannuate and approximately equal number of persons joins the IAF. Those who leave the IAF have at least about 15-20 years experience in Flying, Navigation, Air Traffic Controlling, aeronautical engineering, technology management and engineering work experience, education management, finance and logistics management, security, driving, catering etc. This experience would be of colossal use in the corporate world.

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