Thread: Indian Defence and Strategic News Thread

  1. #1936
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Arrow First batch of AN-32 of Indian Air Force arrive in Ukraine for modernization

    First batch of AN-32 of Indian Air Force arrive in Ukraine for modernization


    On March 4, 2010, the first batch of 5 military transport aircraft of Indian Air Force arrived to “Kyiv” airport. They will be overhauled and modernized at facilities of 410 Plant of civil aviation State Enterprise (Kyiv). The representative office of India has been established at the Plant 410.

    On June 15, 2009, the contract on modernization of 105 AN-32s fleet of Indian Air Force was signed. According to this agreement, the first 40 airplanes will be upgraded in Ukraine, the other 65 ones – at BRD-1 aviation plant of Indian Air Force in Kanpur (Northern India).

    Till present, ANTONOV’s specialists completed issue of design documentation as for modernization of the Indian AN-32. The airplanes will be fitted with up-to-date equipment providing higher level of flight safety, including air collision avoidance system, ground proximity warning system, satellite navigation system, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radar with two multifunctional indicators, new oxygen system and improves seats for crew members. As a total, 25 positions of new equipment will be installed. As D.S.Kiva, General Designer, noted “achieved agreement on modernization of Indian AN-32s is the result of big preliminary work. Certainly, it is a very important step in strengthening of cooperation between our countries. Besides according to the contract thousands of people will be engaged in fulfillment of these works during more than 5 years”.

    After modification the trials with the installed equipment will be carried out. On the results of the tests, the airplanes will be shown to the Indian customer.

    It was decided to modernize AN-32 because at present it can not be replaced with the other one. This airplane was especially designed on the order of Indian government to be operated from/to the elevated airfields (up to 4500 m above sea level) and under hot climate conditions. Often AN-32s are the only aircraft able to provide connection between mountain settlements and big cities. In India AN-32 was called “Silver Hourse” for its high maneuverability and reliability.
    http://www.bharatrakshak.com/NEWS/ne...p?newsid=12504

  2. #1937
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Arrow Tejas for aircraft carrier ships of navy

    Tejas for aircraft carrier ships of navy

    RAJYA SABHA

    The prototype of the naval variant of Tejas aircraft is being built for aircraft carrier. The project has lagged behind its schedule due to various requirements connected with the development of a new aircraft.

    Deficiencies have been detected in the airframe and other associated equipment of the aircraft. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working out modalities with various organisations for rectifying these deficiencies by suitable modifications to the engine / airframe design.

    This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania and Shri Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi in Rajya Sabha today.

    PK / RAJ
    http://www.bharatrakshak.com/NEWS/ne...p?newsid=12507

  3. #1938
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Thumbs up India may hand Swiss Army Knife to its 1.3m troops

    India may hand Swiss Army Knife to its 1.3m troops


    Victorinox, the maker of the Swiss Army Knife, is returning to its roots by focusing on supplying knives to armies.
    The company, which supplied the original knife to the Swiss Army in 1891, has produced a prototype, built according to specifications supplied by the Indian Army, that it hopes will lead to an order to supply the 1.3 million-strong force.
    Constructed from matte-black steel, it contains 12 tools, many of which perform two or three functions. The Indian Army, which has to operate from the freezing peaks of the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan, insisted on two: a saw to cut metal and a marlinspike, used to untangle knots.
    The company, though, would rather you did not call it a knife. “ ‘Knife’ is not really the correct term,” Anish Goel, managing director of Victorinox India, a subsidiary of the Swiss parent company, said. “It’s not a bayonet or a dagger. It’s a little toolkit.Victorinox has diversified in a quest to become a “lifestyle brand”. It started making wris****ches two decades ago. Luggage and clothing followed. Last year it unveiled an aftershave.
    All the while, the privately held group had produced knives for military clients, from Germany to Nigeria, but the proportion of revenues accounted for by army sales had shrunk dramatically. The Swiss Army, for example, recruits 40,000 soldiers a year: each gets a knife, but that is enough to account for only half a day’s output at Victorinox.
    The situation changed radically after 9/11. Victorinox was no longer able to sell its pocket knives at duty-free shops in airports or on aircraft, previously two of its most important earners. Nor were travellers allowed to carry them on flights. Overnight, sales slumped by a third. Wenger, the only other company licensed to produce Swiss Army Knives, went bankrupt and was bought by Victorinox. The credit crunch and cheap Far Eastern fakes delivered further blows.
    A retail version of the real thing would cost about £60, but the Indian Army can expect a substantial bulk-order discount. Mr Goel is waiting for feedback – and to learn whether he will win the contract of a lifetime.
    The little toolkit
    • Victorinox makes at least 100 versions of the original do-anything tool
    • One recent model includes a USB drive and a Bluetooth connection, plus a fingerprint scanner that allows only the owner to access data
    • There is also a special equestrian version — for getting the stones out of horses’ hooves

  4. #1939
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Arrow Scorpene deal: PAC slams defence ministry

    Scorpene deal: PAC slams defence ministry


    Slamming the Defence Ministry over the nine-year delay in awarding contract to French firm Thales to build six Scorpene submarines in Mumbai [ Images ], a Parliamentary Committee on Wednesday said the indecisiveness resulted in cost overruns and undue favour to the vendor, besides adversely impacting Navy's operational preparedness.
    Referring to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2008 that rapped the Ministry for the delay, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also noted that this led to a cost escalation of the submarines by more than Rs 2,800 crore.
    The CAG report had observed that "despite the Indian Navy's depleting force level, the Ministry took nine years to finalise a contract for the construction of the six submarines." The PAC report in this regard was tabled in both Houses of Parliament today.
    The committee noted that due to the delay in the finalisation of the contract for as long as three years from 2002 to 2005, there had been an escalation in the price of submarines by more than Rs 2,800 crore and an additional Euro 27.05 million commitment on the procurement of missiles for the naval vessel.
    "Such indecisiveness and systemic flaws on the procurement of submarines led to time and cost overrun and undue favour to the vendor besides adversely impacting Navy's operational preparedness," the report said.
    The report said the cost overrun was primarily due to escalations of exchange rate variations and increase in cost of missiles, despite a discount of 1.03 per cent by the vendor.
    Seeking an explanation from the defence ministry for the delay in finalising the contract and for cost overruns, the PAC also expressed astonishment over its "inability" to quantify the exact financial loss from the Scorpene deal, also known as Project-75.
    Expressing concern over the Ministry accepting an "unproven" design of Scorpene, the report said "deviations in respect to prescribed parameters such as stability, speed, endurance, noise levels, manoeuvring performances of the submarine cannot be ruled out" and asked the Ministry to compel Thales to take corrective steps. Referring to the Ministry's reply attributing the delay on forwarding of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) note to Finance Ministry for examination and reference to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), followed by several rounds of deliberations, the report said the process was "too cumbersome" and asked it to dispense with the CVC route.
    "It (CVC route) is unnecessary and totally uncalled for and resultantly leads to unacceptable delays, as has happened in the instant case," it added. Noting that the construction of the Scorpene at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks was very slow and consequently the delivery could be delayed, the PAC said the Ministry should have taken into account the "teething problems and the time taken for absorption of technology" before awarding contracts and indigenisation.
    What caused concern in the PAC was the "systemic deficiencies", as corroborated by the defence secretary, who talked about "problems in the system, mindset and in the whole process" of procurement.
    http://www.bharatrakshak.com/NEWS/ne...p?newsid=12509

  5. #1940
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Arrow Upgradation of existing fleet of fighter aircraft

    Upgradation of existing fleet of fighter aircraft

    RAJYA SABHA

    The Government has signed a contract for upgrade of the MiG-29 aircraft with M/s Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC MiG) on March 07, 2008. The total cost of the contract is USD 964,082,937.46. The MiG-29 aircraft upgrade is planned in two phases namely Design & Development phase in Russia followed by series upgrade in India.

    The Government has signed a contract for ugpradation of AN-32 aircraft with M/s Spets Techno Export, Ukraine on June 15, 2009.

    This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi in Rajya Sabha today.

    PK / RAJ
    http://www.bharatrakshak.com/NEWS/ne...p?newsid=12510

  6. #1941
    Senior Member JBH22's Avatar
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    Default Issues beyond the defence dimension

    Ahead of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, Russian Ambassador in India A M Kadakin and an Indian diplomat with a long stint in Russia, Rajiv Sikri, took the gloves off.

    “Please remember,” said Kadakin, “India wants a good price (for defence equipment). But, please remember, the era of doing business in defence equipment against tea, rise and hosiery from Ludhiana is over”.
    Kadakin reminded a rapt audience at a seminar organised by Russian telecom provider MTS and the Delhi-based Centre for Policy Alternatives that when the whole world had turned its back on India, it was Russia which helped set up India’s first anti-biotic medicine plant (in Haridwar), giant steel and machinery plants in Bhilai, Rourkela, Visakhapatnam and elsewhere, and laid the seeds of India’s future development as a knowledge technology giant by setting up a modest Indo-Russian computer facility in Bangalore.
    In the context of Putin’s visit, Kadakin said the world had changed and friendships were now marked by pragmatism. But, it was enlightened self-interest on the part of both countries that should lead them to push ties to new heights.
    Both Sikri and Kadakin acknowledged that Indo-Russian ties touched their lowest ebb in the 1990s when Boris Yeltsin was the president. Both nations were dealing with their own problems and found little time to address each other’s. But Sikri said it was not for want of the Indian elite’s efforts that ties were yet to reach their full potential. The new Russian elite’s perceptions were shaped by the West where “windfall profits made in the 1990s reforms in Russia were invested”.
    Kadakin specifically referred to the Brahmos, the joint Indo-Russian version of the Cruise missile that Indian defence officers present said privately was not known to be a success story, to illustrate the depth of the India-Russia defence relationship. He acknowledged that the Gorshkov — a retrofitted Russian aircraft carrier that has been criticised by the Comptroller General of India as being 60 per cent costlier than originally budgeted for — was expensive.
    During Putin’s visit, which is likely to mark a turning point in India- Russia relations, the two sides are also likely to sign the final agreement for joint manufacture of fifth-generation fighters.
    The Gorshkov carrier, which has been rechristened INS Vikramaditya is now scheduled to be delivered by 2013. India would pay another $1.2 billion for the new naval MiG-29K/KUB.
    The new MiGs will be in addition to 16 jets already to be delivered under a contract signed in 2004 as part of the Gorshkov deal.
    http://www.business-standard.com/ind...ension/388232/

  7. #1942
    Senior Member JBH22's Avatar
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    Default India believe 74 missing defence personnel in Pak custody

    The Union Government on Wednesday said that 74 missing defence personnel languishing in Pakistani jail.
    Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said: "According to available information, 74 missing defence personnel are believed to be in Pakistani jails."
    He also informed that these 74 also included 54 personnel who were missing since the 1971 Indo- Pak War.
    "Government has repeatedly taken up the matter with the Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels and during high-level contacts for their release," Krishna asserted.
    However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any missing defence personnel in its custody, he added.
    He informed that House that in January 2007, during the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan was persuaded to receive a delegation of relatives of missing defence personnel to permit them to visit prisons in Pakistan, where they are believed to be incarcerated.
    "A delegation of relatives, accordingly, visited 10 jails in Pakistan from June 1-14, 2007. The delegation could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of the 74 missing defence personnel," Krishna said.
    Pursuant to the visit of the delegation of the relatives of missing defence personnel, a Tri-Service Committee for monitoring matters on the subject has been formed in the Defence Ministry, Krishna said.
    Under the Simla Agreement, the Government is committed to resolving all issues with Pakistan through peaceful negotiations and bilateral dialogue. (ANI)

  8. #1943
    Senior Member JBH22's Avatar
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    Default Indian Air Force team returns after scaling S America's highest peak

    NEW DELHI: In its quest to achieve a world record of conquering the tallest mountains of all seven continents, an Air Force team of five mountaineers has successfully scaled South America's highest peak, Mt Aconcagua, and returned home on Thursday.

    "The IAF team consisting of five air warriors has successfully returned after hoisting the Tricolour and the IAF flag on top of the highest peak of South American continent -- Mt Aconcagua -- at 6,962 metres," an IAF press release said here.

    The expedition was part of IAF's 'Mission Seven Summit' and the team had to negotiate long treks of eight to nine hours through the dry, treacherous, barren and dusty mountains, with strong winds and chill factor making movement difficult, it said.

    The team was flagged in by Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA) Air Marshal J N Burma at the IAF headquarters here.

    Wing Commander R C Tripathi, the team leader, handed over the ice axe along with the Tricolor and the IAF flag to the AOA to mark the flag-in ceremony.

    Other members of the expedition were Wg Cdr Jai Kishan, Sqn Ldr Namit Rawat, Junior Warrant Officers Nikku Choudhury and Suresh Pal.
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/5672970.cms

  9. #1944
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    Default Russia-India military transport plane could be ready by 2018

    A new Russian-Indian military transport plane could make its maiden flight by 2018, the head of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said.
    Russia and India signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) in 2007. The cost of the $600-mln project is being equally shared by the two countries.
    "We are at the initial stage of the project. Maybe in 6-8 years we shall have the prototype aircraft flying," Ashok Nayak said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.
    The MTA project will be implemented by a Russian-Indian joint venture, co-founded by Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and India's HAL.
    An agreement on the formation of the JV is expected to be signed during the current visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to India.
    "A green flag has been shown at this point...the work will progress very fast for the formation of the joint venture," Nayak said, adding that all necessary documents had been agreed on by both sides.
    Moscow and New Delhi will have an equal share in the development and production of the aircraft. The aircraft is expected to be assembled in both Russia and India.
    "Initially we expect to produce about 205 aircraft of which 30% will go on the world market," the HAL chairman said.
    The MTA will be most likely developed on the basis of the Il-214 twin-engine military transport aircraft designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau.
    The new aircraft will feature a takeoff weight of around 55 tons, flight range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and a payload of up to 20 tons.
    NEW DELHI, March 11 (RIA Novosti)

    http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/n...p?newsid=12515

  10. #1945
    Senior Member JBH22's Avatar
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    Default Govt quietly inks Rs 3,726cr deal for 12 VVIP helicopters

    NEW DELHI: VVIPs sure like to travel in plush and secure comfort. After getting three desi versions of US President's 'Air Force One', the Indian President and PM will now also get 12 swanky helicopters for VVIP travel on the lines of 'Marine One'.

    The defence ministry has quietly inked a Rs 3,726-crore deal to acquire 12 three-engined AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland, a unit of Italian major Finmeccanica, for IAF's elite Communication Squadron, which ferries around the President, PM and other VVIPs. "All the 12 helicopters will be delivered in three years or so," said a source.

    The ministry as usual remained silent about the deal, leave alone the exact contours of it, despite repeated claims made by defence minister A K Antony of 'total transparency'.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security apparently gave the nod for the exorbitant helicopter deal, despite objections from the finance ministry, due to 'security concerns' raised by the Special Protection Group as well as IAF.

    The government's VVIP helicopter contract comes after the Rs 727-crore deal for five mid-size Embraer 135BJ Legacy jets in September 2003 and the Rs 937-crore contract for three Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) in October 2005, with advanced self-protection suites to guard against missiles and other threats.

    The new helicopters will replace ageing Russian-origin Mi-8s and Mi-17s in the Communication Squadron, just like the Legacy jets have replaced the old HS-748 Avros and the BBJs the two 737-200 aircraft bought in 1983.

    While not as hi-tech as Barack Obama's "Marine One", the call sign of the US Marine Corps helicopter which ferries the US President, the Indian AW-101 helicopters will have self-defence systems like missile-approach warners, chaff and flare dispensers and directed infra-red electronic counter-measures to protect the VVIPs on board.

    The AW-101 helicopters were pitted against the American Sikorsky's S-92 Superhawks during extensive field trials held in 2008, which the US firm later claimed were unfairly biased against it.
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/5673025.cms

  11. #1946
    Senior Member JBH22's Avatar
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    Default India, Pakistan and the Afghan army

    Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Pakistan, and one of the issues on the table is a rather audacious Pakistani offer to train the Afghan National Army.
    The Pakistani and Afghan security establishments have had a rather uneasy relationship, stemming from Pakistan’s long-running ties to the Taliban.
    For the Pakistani army to be now offering to train the Tajik-dominated ANA – which is fighting the Pashtun Taliban – is quite a shift in its approach to the neighbour.
    Or is this the latest battleground for the tussle for influence between India and Pakistan?
    India has for years been running courses at its defence institutions which small groups of Afghan officers have attended. In recent years, several security experts have urged New Delhi to get more directly involved in training the new Afghan army, triggering concern in Islamabad.
    Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Kayani, who announced the surprise offer to help train Afghan national forces last month, said better security ties with Kabul were in Pakistan’s interest.
    “Strategically, we cannot have an Afghan army on my western border which has an Indian mindset. If we have an army trained by Pakistan, there will be better interactions on the western border,” he is quoted as having said.
    On Thursday he repeated the offer to Karzai during a meeting in Islamabad. And Karzai said he didn’t want his country to be turned into a proxy battlefield , either between India and Pakistan on the one hand, and between Iran and the United States on the other.
    The Afghan chessboard is changing fast and regional players are positioning themselves for the time when the U.S.-led forces will retreat, leaving the ANA as the principle instrument of the state to keep the peace.
    Kayani said as much: “Our objective is that at the end of all this (Afghanistan), we should not be standing in the wrong corner of the room and should remain relevant in the region. This is our greatest challenge.”
    Changing course overnight and switching support to the Afghan security forces will also not be easy, warned Zafar Hilaly, a former Pakistani ambassador in an article in The News. While it made sense for Pakistan to try and prevent India from deepening its ties to the Afghan army, it wasn’t going to be easy for Islamabad to become the ANA’s instructor.
    “Training a hitherto unfriendly, Pakistan-averse Tajik-dominated force to fight a Taliban/Pakhtun opponent that is traditionally well disposed to Pakistan would require a level of dexterity that only erstwhile Byzantine courtiers possessed. It simply won’t wash.”
    The Indians might just be better placed to train the Afghan army, argues foreign policy expert Sumit Ganguly. Given its extensive experience fighting insurgencies including ironically a Pakistani-backed revolt in Kashmir, an infrastructure that includes a crack counter-insurgency school as well as a high altitude warfare institution, and above all old cultural bonds, the Indian army would be a natural choice, he says.
    http://blogs.*******.com/afghanistan...e-afghan-army/

  12. #1947

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kunal Biswas View Post
    Dhruv is a light chopper, Mi-8/17 medium and Mi-26 or Chinooks are heavy category..
    What you dont get is those AW 101 would be in use of mainly small distance routes as for AW 101s (1,389 km) in India..
    Dhruv is a good light class range 827 km, Minister usually use Aircrafts for long ranges 1000+ km, that is if you get them choppers or not!
    Please check my first post regarding this and the links I provided, range was only one of the advantages, moreover the clear size and load difference is important! The PM is not flying alone no matter if he flys to the airport, or across India, there will be numerous staff and security with him, but as you can see in the official HAL brochure, the Civil Vip version of Dhruv offers space for 4 people and compare that with a Mi 8/AW101 Vip!
    Also don't forget that 4, or 6 of the ordered 12 AW 101 are ment as transport versions for cargo and equipment, again the Dhruv can't offer comparable size, or load for this role. These are only the normal performance differences, not to mention differences in safty and security features.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kunal Biswas View Post
    And my friend please don't underestimate us regarding our knowledge and manufacturing capability!
    In India many cars and SUV capable of taking on BMW or any other in terms of protection!...

    ...What more protection u need??
    Regarding presidents and prime minster Benz and BMW may represent class, But it certainly dont protect against Mine Blast of 10 Kgs TNT under Wheels 7 Kgs TNT under Hull!!!!, Which shows Any foreign Car and Indian Car comes under same category regarding protection of VVIPS ( Given specification above )
    First of all, I am Indian too and know these cars, I'm not underestimating their capabilities, but as I said, they are not comparable.

    It's just announced the new 7 Series High Security -- an armoured vehicle that's the first to comply with the stringent VR6/VR7 security standard, meaning it can withstand all manner of ballistic and gas attacks.

    The 6cm-thick safety glass is bulletproof, while the passenger cell has its own air supply to protect against gas attacks and is resistant to rocket-propelled grenades. The roof, meanwhile, has protection against two simultaneously detonated DM51 hand grenades, and the floor can withstand grenades of the DM51, RGD5, M67 and L2A2 variety. And land mines. And it has an under-floor extinguisher that can put out the subsequent fires.

    Should you grow weary of terrorists chipping the paint on your shiny new ride, you can either reach for the centre-mounted machine gun, or rely on the car's powerful engine to facilitate an expeditious departure. In top-end 760Li guise, its 544bhp 6-litre V12 will reach 0-62mph in a not-unreasonable 6.2 seconds. Interestingly, the standard car does the same sprint in just 4.6 seconds, which gives us a clue as to the amount of extra armour the High Security Seven is carrying.

    Prices are available on application, but needless to say, it'll cost a tad more than the standard £94,000 760Li. Click through for pictures in our photo gallery.


    http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/0,25...9303309,00.htm

    As you can see protection and security features alone are better, but thats not all! You must also be able to avoid such attacks and back out of this situations, that's why such cars are not only heavily armourd, but also has powerful engines and offer great driving performance too. 544bhp vs around 108 -115 (80-85KW) of the Mahindra Scorpio.
    We are talking about high value targets like the PM, or the President of India, which must be protected at any costs, which should make clear why Indian made cars, or helicopter at the moment are not comparable.
    HAL is searching for a partner for a medium size helicopter to replace Mi 8 and Mi 17 in future, so the next VIP helicopter could be Indian, if it fulfill the requirements, but patriotism should have nothing to do in such decisions!
    Last edited by Sancho78; 03-12-2010 at 01:23 PM.

  13. #1948
    Senior Member Kunal Biswas's Avatar
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    Arrow

    Quote Originally Posted by Sancho78 View Post
    First of all, I am Indian too and know these cars, I'm not underestimating their capabilities, but as I said, they are not comparable.

    As you can see protection and security features alone are better, but thats not all! You must also be able to avoid such attacks and back out of this situations, that's why such cars are not only heavily armourd, but also has powerful engines and offer great driving performance too. 544bhp vs around 108 -115 (80-85KW) of the Mahindra Scorpio.
    We are talking about high value targets like the PM, or the President of India, which must be protected at any costs, which should make clear why Indian made cars, or helicopter at the moment are not comparable.
    HAL is searching for a partner for a medium size helicopter to replace Mi 8 and Mi 17 in future, so the next VIP helicopter could be Indian, if it fulfill the requirements, but patriotism should have nothing to do in such decisions!
    @Sancho,
    Its gud to know u are an Indian..

    Regarding protection i still stick to my earlier post, But as u mentioned that BMW extra power could give some edge like u said more armour and power to drive through ambushes, It is correct that its gud to have better performance, But if you see last ten years,Successful terrorist attacks happens only when they placed 10kg+ explosive to blow VIP cars, Very rare tangos placed ambushes with rifles to take down VIP armored cars, So do a BMW or a Indian car have a chance!

    I totally agree if its about Head of Armed forces, or our PM!
    But it would be unfortunate if rest of the thousands of minister demand the same protection or simple want to show off....

    Regarding medium class AW 101, i would simple say its the best option for President and PM, Not for anyone else!, I agree now regarding crew capacity of Dhruv is a limitation for VVIP purposes!

  14. #1949

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    what a waste of money.

  15. #1950
    Senior Member Muzungu's Avatar
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    Govt readies for terror threat at home, abroad

    India is ramping up security at its missions in Afghanistan and Nepal, even as it expects a ‘hot year’ of terror attacks, government officials said.
    Security is being increased following intelligence inputs about increased threats of terrorist attacks in the two countries.

    A team of 40 Indo-Tibetan Border Police commandos will be flying to Kabul on Saturday, primarily to secure an upcoming building complex where all Indian officials posted there would be moved into.

    At present, the officials are living in different places and are very vulnerable, a senior government official said. The new complex will be a fortified one, with hi-tech security gadgets, a high boundary wall and close circuit cameras.

    The first security assessment after the February-end attack in Kabul has spoken about the possibility of kidnappings and killings of officials. There are also inputs of more suicide attacks occurring.

    Home Ministry officials said security experts would conduct a second, and more detailed security audit of all Indian assets in Afghanistan after National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon’s final report reaches the home ministry.

    These measures, however,leave out nearly 4,000 Indians working in Afghanistan for private companies. The government has made it clear it cannot guarantee their security.

    But an attack on India’s missions abroad is not all that the government has to worry about. The Lashkar-e-Tayyeba is desperately trying to make its presence felt, right from Kashmir to Cochin.

    Cochin was put on alert on Saturday after intercepts of cross-border conversations indicated the southern city was being targeted by the Laskhar-e-Tayyeba.

    Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday asked Islamabad to reinvent itself as a responsible neighbour.

    http://www.hindustantimes.com/Govt-r...e1-518253.aspx

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