Archive for September, 2007
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
Associated Press reports that the U.S. Army Alaska is hosting a combined training exercise with the Indian army.
The exercises, called Yudh Abhyas 2007 and pronounced “You ‘Da Boss,” will continue through Sept. 24.
About 650 Alaska-based Stryker soldiers will train with about 100 soldiers from India in a variety of military exercises at the Army’s Donnelly Training area, near Fort Greely.
Officials say most of the training exercise will involve the unit’s Stryker vehicles and will primarily focus on counterinsurgency/anti-terrorism training.
Posted in Indian Army News | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
ONGC awarded Airworthiness Certification for Premium quality ATF from Condensate July 28, 2007 ONGC crossed yet another significant milestone when Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Bangalore, accorded airworthiness approval for Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) processed at Hazira Plant of ONGC on July 27, 2007. With this certification, ONGC will be able to sell its ATF for use in Indian Military Aircrafts.
Speaking on this occasion, Sh. N.K. Mitra, Director(Offshore)-I/C Marketing, ONGC, said that entry of ONGC in the business of ATF will provide another service provider to the airlines, provide geographically another production center of ATF and will bring in more competitiveness in pricing. CEMILAC established in 1995 is one of DRDO’s significant agencies entrusted with the responsibility of Airworthiness and Certification of Military Aircraft and Airborne Stores. CEMILAC evaluated and certified Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) produced indigenously at the Hazira gas processing complex. This certification follows stringent testing of ONGC ATF by CEMILAC, through standard tests, rating the fuel under a number of parameters like lubricity, thermal stability, viscosity, volatility, moisture content and a host of other critical measurements related to this sensitive product. Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, Chief Controller R&D (AMS), Ministry of Defense presented the Technical Certificate to Shri N.K.Mitra, Director – I/C Marketing, ONGC in the presence of Shri K. Tamilmani, Chief Executive (Airworthiness), CEMILAC. The type record providing all details of ATF was presented by Shri K. Tamilmani, Chief Executive (Airworthiness), CEMILAC to Shri Pulak Sengupta, Director General, DGAQA. Hazira Plant, the largest gas-processing complex in the country is designed to process 41 Million M3 of sour natural gas daily and associated sour condensate.
Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, CCR&D (AMS), DRDO HQrs, New Delhi handing over the Airworthiness certificate
ONGC gave an impetus to revenue generation, opening new avenues in the form of Value Added Products with the commissioning of Kerosene Recovery Unit in January 1998. The plant has kept pace with the latest developments in the world to upgrade its technology and safe working practices. The complex, sprawling over an area of approx.705 hectares serves as the feeder plant for almost all industries at Hazira and enroute HBJ pipeline. ATF produced at Hazira Plant having state-of-the-art facilities for gas processing has a unique feature of being extracted from Gas Condensate. ATF is normally produced from crude oil. The feedstock at Hazira, Gas condensate having a mixture of lower hydrocarbons, is comparatively clean and ATF produced from it has some inherent advantages over the oil based product. It has low sulphur, aromatic content and improved lubricity thereby not requiring addition of Lubricity additives. Being a straight run product, it contains traces of olefinic compounds and consequently product is very stable to oxidative reactions. ATF produced at Hazira is presently being transported by road tankers to Juhu Airport and Nhava Supply Base at Mumbai for captive use of ONGC. More than 2000 KL has been dispatched from Hazira so far. ATF has been successfully flight tested in the helicopters used by ONGC in western offshore and more than 1000 flying hours have been clocked. ONGC now has plans to cater to ATF demand of various customers in nearby area of Hazira such as HPCL, Essar Steel Limited, Airlines at Surat Airport etc. ONGC started production of ATF in March 2007 after obtaining approval from DGCA. Sour gas along with associate condensate from ONGC offshore fields is transported to Hazira Plant. Condensate is first stabilized in slug. Stabilized condensate is routed through condensate fractionation Unit (CFU) to recover LPG and Natural Gas Liquid (NGL). NGL consisting mainly of C5-C11 hydrocarbons serves as a feed for ATF production in KRU (Kerosene Recovery Unit). Two Column distillation process is carried out for production of ATF fraction.
Posted in Defence Products Manufacturing Companies, Defence Research and Development | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
Arjun Tank is now going to under go accelerated usage cum reliability trial (AUCRT) over 5 months and 5000 kms from november 2007
AUCRT is normally an internal test procedure for army after induction of a armored vehicle. It is normally done for the engineering and logistical performance for Army’s self evaluation. But knowing the history of Arjun Tank development and Army’s disposition, this would well mean another assessment exercise. AUCRT trials were carried out on T-90S tanks last summer and its reported that problems have been observed.
Surprisingly Indian Army has canceled the so called “comparative trials” which was never scheduled. In 2005 when last comparative trials were held, Arjun Tank did not fire at all. The reason was the French Sagem gun sights, which was a higher version of the earlier model, was installed due to due to embargo on the earlier supplier. The sights were checked and installed into the Arjun electronics. However in the desert heat of Rajasthan, the sensitive laser range finder did not perform. Target range is an important parameter, required for accurate firing and hence firing could not be done.
Subsequently, the Sagem officials and DRDO worked on the entire electronics and presented it for trials in 2006. The guns performed, however the Army came up with another observation of the higher fuel consumption in Arjun Tank compared to T-72. The Fuel consumption issue was proven wrong during the later trials meant for the purpose. Indian Army refused to bring in a T-72 for comparative fuel consumption trials.
Subsequently Indian Army came up with another observation that water was leaking into Arjun Tank. As per the standard norm, 1 tank in 10 production tank is to be tested for medium fording. However the loophole is that there are no standards mentioned in GSQR for Medium Fording. The problem identified was that Heavy vehicles Factory and Indian Army use different standards for testing T-72 tanks. However, DRDO ran Arjun Tanks 20 minutes in water to demonstrate medium fording.
Now since the CVRDE is calling the Indian Army for the challenge, Indian Army is out to go in for AUCRT. Unfortunately there is no third party watchdog for AUCRT.
It’s now a open fact that the drivers and officers of the Indian Army armoured corps but its induction is held at bay for some reason or the other.
The history is repeating itself. The Vijayanta Tanks came late hence T-72’s were inducted. Now the T-90S have filled in 10 + regiments which Indian Army is converting from T-72’s. Next armoured regiment conversion is scheduled beyond 2015.
Posted in Indian Army News | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2007
The Indian Armed Forces, despite heavy internal commitments, remain battle ready to take on multiple external security commitments, beyond borders, in various regions and terrains across the globe, in collaboration with friendly forces of many nationalities. The Indian Army would be engaging in Joint Airborne military maneuvers with its British counterparts in the glacial heights of Ladakh (Ex Himalayan Warrior) as well as with the crack Russian Airborne forces in the chillingly cold riverine plains of Pskov, South East of St Petersburg (Ex Indra 07).
Indra-07 is the next edition of joint military maneuvers between Russia and India, which began with the first ever-joint Airborne Exercise (Indra-05) conducted between the two armies in Oct 2005, in the deserts of Rajasthan.
The theme of Indra-07 is Counter-Terrorism during which, the special airborne forces of the two countries would be jointly planning and conducting air and ground maneuvers to neutralize concentration of international terrorists in a third country, under a UN mandate.
The joint training, planning and tactical maneuvers will commence in Pskov on 11 Sep 07 and will continue for next ten days. The maneuvers will be conducted under the aegis of Russian 76 Airborne Division and will involve over 400 airborne special forces troops of the two countries; plethora of state-of-art battle equipment as well as a large number fixed and rotary wing aircrafts; the UAVs and the aircrew.
The maneuvers will be conducted in three phases culminating in a realistic simulated joint operational exercise involving surveillance, acquiring and assessing of intelligence; joint planning; multi-directional mass airborne insertion and tactical paradrop; regrouping into joint task forces and joint teams; followed by a series of counter-terrorist operations. The maneuvers will involve cross-country movement over approx 100 km post air insertion; assault crossing of a river obstacle; destruction of terrorist hides; extrication from the target area into neutral territory. The exercise has been structured so as to enhance interoperability and maximize mutual learning from each others rich combat experiences.
The Indian airborne forces from the Parachute Regiment will not only get an opportunity to showcase their combat skills but will also enrich themselves from the experiences, operational concepts and tactical designs and methodologies of their Russian counterparts. Joint command & control at all levels will also help the two forces in refining processes, procedures and drills so as to enhance interoperability. All this will lead to maximizing operational effectiveness. The Indra-07 will pave way for further up-scaling of military cooperation in terms of scope, content and enhanced participation in the years to come.
Objectives
-Develop and refine integrated planning system for employment in joint counter- terrorist operations.
-Determine rules of engagements and constraints viz, legal regime and manadate; HR concept or Law of war; collateral damage etc.
-Achieve process as well as equipment interoperability.
-Exchange combat experience to refine tactics, drills and techniques Scenario and Ex Setting.
-Counter-terrorism theme involving launch of joint airborne force under the mandate of UN for seeking and eliminating terrorist leadership operating from a neutral country, at their request
Command and Control.
-Overall – Lt Gen NI Ignatov, Commanding General Russian 76 Airborne Division.
-Joint Ex Control – ADG Inf, Indian Army with representative from Russian AB forces and Indian & -Russian troop contingent.
-Joint Safety and Control Organization.
The growing number of countries with whom the Indian Armed Forces have engaged in joint military maneuvers over the past few years, with the numbers reaching an all time high in 2007 are not only indicative of its Armed Forces willingness to enrich themselves from operational experiences of others and seeking to improve military interoperability. The trend is also indicative of the growing confidence, willingness and displaying capability by the Indian leadership to contribute to regional and global security not only through politico-economic interventions but, also through collaborative military engagements, as and when such need may arise.
Indian Participation
-AB Task Force & Combat Free Fallers – 72 personnel
-AB Support Geoup (AirMech, AB ATGM, AB Engrs, AB Med) – 24 Personnel
-Command and Control (Battalion HQ Elements) – 28 personnel
-Air Crew (Airforce) and Observers - 38 personnel
-Vehicles, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) and electronic surveillance including night vision devices.
General JJ Singh as Chairman COSC and the COAS will be leading a four member delegation, including the Defence Secretary and senior Army airborne operations and counter-terrorism operations experts to Russia from 16 Sep to 19 Sep 07. The delegation will witness the joint operational maneuvers on 17 Sep and 18 Sep 07 in the exercise area in Pskov. During his visit, Gen JJ Singh will inspect a Guard of Honour at the Russian Ministry of Defence and meet General of the Army YN Baluevsky, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation.
Posted in Indian Army News, Military News - Russia | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2007
India has appointed Independent monitors as required under the provisions of the Pre-Contract Integrity Pact to be signed with bidders in defence procurement cases of estimated value exceeding Rs. 100 crore.
Independent monitors have been appointed after consultation with the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
The independent monitors so appointed are Shri TR Prasad, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, PC Rawal, former Secretary Government of India, and Hemendra Kumar, former Special Secretary, Government of India.
As per the clause 12 of Pre-Contract Integrity Pact
12.1 The Buyer will appoint Independent Monitors for this Pact, in consultation with the Central Vigilance Commission.
12.2 As soon as the Monitor notices, or believes to notice, a violation of this agreement, he will so inform the Head of the Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2007
Lieutenant General Solly Zacharia Shoke, Chief of South African was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at South Block lawns here today. Earlier he was received by Army Chief, Gen JJ Singh at India Gate, where he laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti.
Lt Gen Shoke is on a week long visit to India. The defence cooperation between the two countries got a boost on signing of MoU on Defence Cooperation in 2000. Subsequently cooperation between the two Armies have enhanced in the field of attendance on courses, exchange of observers in exercises, visits and equipment cooperation. The inaugural meeting of the Indo-South African Defence Committee was held in Pretoria in Aug 98 which chartered future course of military cooperation between the two countries.
Lieutenant General Solly Zacharia Shoke and his three member delegation will be visiting Northern and Eastern Commands and various Army training establishments. The delegation will be interacting with Defence Secretary, Chairman, COSC and COAS and various other dignitaries. 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 to be held during the visit.
Posted in General Indian Armed Forces News, Military News - Africa | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2007
Bangkok Post reports that the Armies of India and Thailand are sharing anti-terror tactics in a joint exercise under way west of Kolkata.
A hundred army personnel, 50 from each side, are participating in the 17-day joint exercise that began on Sept 3 and will end on Sept 19 at The Sikh Regiment Centre at Ramgarh village in Jharkhand.
The joint exercise aimed at enhancing coordination and cooperation between the two armed forces in areas of defence and security has been codenamed Exercise Maiteree-07.
The focus of the exercise is train soldiers in carrying out counter insurgency operations in urban areas, more urgent because of the insurgency in southern Thailand.
As part of the joint exercise, troops are practicing basic drills including small team tactics, which are essential for successful counter-insurgency operations.
A joint training in rock assault, rappelling and slithering from helicopters was conducted as a method of quick insertion for successful operation in the urban scenario.
The Thai troops learnt about working in mixed buddy pairs from their Indian counterparts. The buddy pairs, comprising one Indian and one Thai army soldier learnt how to climb high structures.
“The exercise will help us in launching operations against insurgents in our own country. In the joint exercise we are sharing the Indian Army’s experience to deal with the insurgents,” said Thai Army Lt Col Vinai Pimai.
Posted in Indian Army News, Military News - Asia | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2007
Reacting to the issue of RfP for MMRCA, Tony Ogilvy, Gripen International’s Director, India said “We look forward to the competition process and are confident that Gripen will meet, or exceed every operational requirement raised by the Indian Air Force, in all roles – air-to-air fighter BVR/WVR, air-to-surface land and sea, and reconnaissance.”
The key pitch of Gripen is assumed to be cost for performance. SAAB AB confidently claims that, Gripen will, over life, have a substantially lower real Life Cycle Cost than its nearest single- engined competitor, and is able to operate at a fraction of the cost of its twin-engined competitors. “Selecting the Gripen to equip its Air Force will provide India with the world’s most cost effective, new generation, multi-role combat aircraft in full operational service. Operating as a perfect force mix to complement the IAF’s Su-30 fleet, or in fully autonomous units, Gripen offers the highest sortie generation rates, flexibility of basing and combat lethality of any aircraft in the new generation class” Tony Ogilvy continued.
Gripen International is a subsidiary of Saab AB and acts as a prime contracting organization, responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter worldwide. Gripen is in service with the Swedish, Hungarian and Czech Republic Air Forces and has also been ordered by the South African Air Force. The UK Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) is operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots worldwide.
Offsets
The Saab/Gripen team’s international industrial network, will provide substantial and long-term joint venture growth for the Indian aerospace and defence sector. SAAB AB and its international industrial partners, are world leaders in the delivery of economic compensation to support defence sales.
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Friday, September 7th, 2007
Tejas Prototype Vehicle (PV-1) made a successful first flight with two 800 Ltr drop tanks slung under the wing stations. The flight is significant on several counts. This is the first time Tejas carried any stores other than the Air-to-air missiles which are part of its operational clean configuration. The flight also proved the functionalities of the on-board Stores Management System (SMS) as well as the Control Law (CLAW) of the Integrated Digital Fly-by-wire Control System in the ‘Heavy stores’ mode. Accordingly, today’s flight achieved a significant milestone for the programme, taking it closer to operational clearance for induction into service.
PV-1 with stores
Tejas PV1 was flown by the National Flight Test Centre Test Pilot, Wg Cdr N Tiwari and the Test Director for flight was Wg Cdr M Prabhu. A Jaguar trainer aircraft of ASTE Air Force flown by Wg Cdr RR Tyagi and Sqn Ldr Sangwan was used as chase for this landmark flight.
The flight lasted for about 45 minutes during which the mobile telemetry developed by the National Flight Test Centre for out station flight trials was also checked out.
Posted in Defence Research and Development | No Comments »
Friday, September 7th, 2007
kommersant quoting sources with defense and industrial complex of Russia, reports that, India has suspended the payments under $150-million contract with Russia for upgrading five Il-38 patrol aircraft by new search-and-track Sea Dragon system.
The Indians claim Sea Dragon failed to correspond to the technical design assignment during the test operations in the Barents Sea. The system allegedly failed to discover a submarine that was at the target distance from it. According to Russia’s participants of the tests, Sea Dragon operated up to the weather conditions in the North.
Anyway, instead of accepting the third jet and paying a half of its worth, the Indians insist on sorting out the problem of Sea Dragon at first.
Rosoboronexport concluded the $150-million contract for upgrading five Il-38s into Il-38SDs (by installing the Sea Dragon system) in 2001. Two Il-38SDs are ready and upgrading of the third jet is to be completed in September. The planes are at Ilyushin base in Zhukovsky-town of the Moscow region.
A source with one of Russia’s aircraft construction companies in India said that India’s proposal is to install BrahMos of Russia’s-Indian design instead of the Sea Snake. India passed into service that cruise missile in its land-based and naval variants but BrahMos has been never installed on the aircraft.
The tricky point is that execution of Il-38 contract will affect the tender for buying eight antisubmarine jets for Indian Navy. The bidders are the U.S. Lockheed Martin with P-3C Orion, Boeing with P-8A Poseidon and Russia with Il-38.
Posted in Indian Navy News | No Comments »
Friday, September 7th, 2007
On 27 February 1968, the first MiG-21 FL (’F’ stands for “Furshaw meaning After Burner” and ‘L’ stands for “Locator meaning R2L Radar”) landed at the air force station in Tezpur. Since then the MiG-21’s had made 13,500 sorties and over 1,000 fighter pilots have moved in and out.
September 6, 2007, marked end of the era of MiG-21’s in Tezpur. The MiG operational flying training unit (MOFTU) will be relocated to Chabua till final replacement of the aircraft by 2012.
Two squadrons of SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft will be inducted into the base to replace MiG-21’s. Renovation of the runaway and infrastructure upgrade will start in October 2007.
The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war ended with MiG-21’s from Tezpur AFB bombarding government house at Dacca.
Posted in Indian Air Force News | No Comments »
Thursday, September 6th, 2007
An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 29 Air Warriors alongwith an IL-76 aircraft would be participating in joint Indo-Russian Indra 07 Exercise from 11 Sep 07 till 20 Sep 07 at training centre of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division at Pskov, Russia. Ex Indra 07 is an airborne exercise in which there would be joint participation between the airborne forces of Russia, Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force team, led by Gp Capt SRK Nair, would be participating in paradrop and other exercise maneuvers at Pskov near St Petersburg in Russia. This 10 day coy level exercise is based on the theme of counter terrorism. The exercise is also very important from training point of view as the Indian Air Force would familiarize with Russian training aspects and understand the counter terrorism doctrine of the host Nation. The exercise also provides an opportunity to practice free fall technique with highly experienced diving team in the world.
RIA Novosti reports that commandos from the Indian Army’s 50 Parachute Brigade are to join Russian forces in joint counter-terrorism exercises in the northern part of the country later this month. Other commando units would also be involved in the exercise, the Russian Airborne Force’s press service said.
The Indian commandos will spend the first few days training at an assault course, practicing parachute jumps and firing Russian weapons. Four Russian-Indian units will then be formed and locate and destroy ‘terrorist’ bases after a three-day, 100-km forced march.
Lt. Gen. Nikolai Ignatov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Airborne Force, will supervise the active part of the exercise. The Indian Army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, is also likely to witness the war game.
In Oct 2005, Exercise Indra 05 was held in India in which three IL-76 from Russia along with their airborne forces had participated. During exercise Indra 05 heavy drops and combat training and training was done between participants.
Exercise Indra 07 poses unique challenges for flying. The accuracy of drops is an absolute necessity to success of such operations. The IAF crew would be maintaining accurate flying parameters while negotiating unknown terrains and changing weather conditions for the success of the operations.
Posted in Indian Air Force News | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007
“On 10th of December, we received intelligence that the US 7th fleet was entering Bay of Bengal through the Malacca Straits.” Vice Admiral SH Sarma, PVSM (Retd) in his book “My Years at Sea.”
In September 1971, then youngest Rear Admiral of Indian navy SH Sarma was sent to Vishakhapatnam to form Eastern naval Command of Indian Navy. A heterogeneous composition of ships including INS Vikrant was assigned to his Eastern fleet. Arriving at Vishakhapatnam, where he had no office, little did he know that he was going to face USS Enterprise task force in few months down the line?
The submarine INS Khanderi, captained by Commander RJ Millan was on patrol under the direct orders from Commander – In – Chief, sitting in Vishakhapatnam.
Anything is possible in the war. Frontier India revisits his mind as written in his book “My Years at Sea,” during the fate full days.
Will USS Enterprise attack?
Vice Admiral SH Sarma writes “ I was convinced that the US Government would not lightly enter into hostilities with India, from which their ally would gain little.
What was the defence?
Vice Admiral SH Sarma writes “ I had not personally talked to our pilots, but some thoughts like sending in all our strike aircraft at one go, with USS Enterprise as their prime target were playing in my mind…..not all would have to go, may be the few that did might do a repeat of the kamikaze attacke…… No Ship was unsinkable; I was full of confidence that if I asked for volunteers from our pilots, it would have been difficult to keep anyone back… ”
Posted in Indian Navy News, Opinions and Articles | No Comments »
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