Indian Defence and Strategic News Thread

[twinblade]

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/su...ssfully-215212

To re-validate the technology and operational efficacy of the missile, defence forces conducted the trial with logistic support provided by the ITR, the official said. The Akash weapon system was inducted into the armed forces in 2008.
The missile, which has a strike range of 25 km with a warhead of 60 kgs, was test fired from a mobile launcher from launch complex-III of the ITR at about 1108 hours, defence sources said.

[Darklord]

With General VK Singh's exit, it'll be end of 71 era

CHANDIGARH: For the Indian Army, May 31 will be more than a day when its chief will retire. It will mark a generational shift in the 1.3-million-strong force. This is because when Gen V K Singh and another officer Lt Gen S R Ghosh, commander of Western Command, hang up their boots that day, they will be the last of the soldiers who fought the 1971 war, India's last full-fledged military engagement. There will be no serving personnel in the Indian Army now, who has fought in 1971.

An admiral sails into the sunset

He’s not just Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command but also one who actually fought in the 1971 war. “The present Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma and me are the last officers currently serving in the Indian Navy to have participated in the 1971 war,” says Vice-Admiral Sushil.

Related from 2011:
Generation shift in air force

[S@ncho]

FRA to IND, IND to FRA

Airbus plans innovation cell in Bangalore

TOULOUSE , FRANCE: Airbus plans to make India a hub as it is in the process of setting up an innovation cell in Bangalore . The cell will be led by an Indian though no name is announced yet. According to sources, Ardhendu Pathak, who was earlier with GE Industrial Solution, is a leading contender for the post.

"We see future of aviation industry lies in Asia," said Tom Enders, president and CEO of Airbus. Sources said China and India are among the biggest and fastest growing markets for aviation, with the Asia Pacific region accounting for 32% of aircraft deliveries of Airbus. Kiran Rao, executive V-P (marketing and contracts), Airbus, said the innovation cell will start work from 2013 and will function alongside the existing engineering facility in Bangalore . "It will work on the next generation aircraft for 2030, 2040, 2050 and more," he said...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/13654835.cms

Mahindra Satyam opens delivery centre in France


NEW DELHI: IT firm Mahindra Satyam said it has set up a delivery centre in Toulouse, France, dedicated to aerospace and defence sector.

This is part of the company's larger strategy of expanding footprint in Europe with focus on strengthening relationships with regional aerospace and defence businesses, Mahindra Satyam said in a statement...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/t...w/13673785.cms

[AustinJ]

AW&ST on Indian program on AMCA , Stealth and UCAV , Tejas Mk3

Big Plans

[twinblade]

AW&ST on Indian program on AMCA , Stealth and UCAV , Tejas Mk3

Big Plans

AMCA with empty weight 18 tons ? Should be more like weight with fuel.

[AustinJ]

AMCA with empty weight 18 tons ? Should be more like weight with fuel.

AMCA 18T is likely NTOW with 25T being MTOW.

[Kunal Biswas]

Can we assume SAAB involvement in LCA MK3 ?

[twinblade]

Can we assume SAAB involvement in LCA MK3 ?

Why ? The article doesn't say so.

[Darklord]

Military Intelligence staff caught stealing info for Pak

[twinblade]

Is it true India will produce their own Javelin ATGM?

As per wiki.

• India: India will buy some of the systems off-the-shelf, while a much larger number will be indigenously manufactured under licensed production. While the exact number of Javelin systems India will induct is yet to be decided, it could well run into >60,000. The Army has a shortfall of around 44,000 ATGMs.^[19]

Ok, seems like I was wrong earlier on, the request for Javelin was not dropped and it is supposed to be "officially" tested later this year, however the US state department has cut down the requested quantity by half.
http://ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2012/0...ale-cloud.html

[twinblade]

Edit: Unreliable Source.

http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2...s-eastern.html

In a related development, the DRDO’s Kochi-based Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) has released the first definitive illustration of the next-generation S-5 SSBN, which externally bears a close resemblance to the Project 667BDRM Delta IV SSBN. The illustration, carried on a brochure of the NPOL-developed submarine sonar suite (SSS I-12), which is still under development for the S-5, which will carry twelve 6,500km-range SLBMs. Thus far, India’s MoD has sanctioned the fabrication of only three SSBNs: S-2 (Arihant), S-3 and S-4. Financial sanction for fabricating the S-5’s hull has yet to be obtained. The double-hulled Project 667BDRM Delta IV SSBN has an operational diving depth of 320 metres and a maximum depth of 400 metres. The propulsion system allows speeds of 24 Knots (44kph) submerged while using two VM-4 pressurised water reactors rated at 180mW that drive two GT3A-365 turbines each rated at 27.5mW.

[Kunal Biswas]

The DRDO chief's sortie has less to do with the MMRCA competition and more, perhaps, to do with Saab's own interest in engaging with the DRDO in a variety of programmes, presumably the Tejas Mk.2, unmanned air vehicles (including UCAVs) and others.

Livefist: DRDO Chief Takes A Spin In A Gripen

[Darklord]

First Bilateral Maritime Exercise between India and Japan ‘Jimex 12’ to Commence on 09 Jun 12

[Darklord]

NEW DELHI: In tune with a growing 'strategic partnership' with South Korea, India is now getting all set to ink a major defence contract with the north-east Asian country for acquisition of eight advanced minesweeping and hunting warships.

Under the programme, which will be worth well over Rs 6,000 crore, India will get two of the mine counter-measures vessels (MCMVs) directly from South Korean firm Kangnam Corporation, while the other six will be manufactured by Goa Shipyard after transfer of technology. "The contract is now being finalized after the conclusion of the commercial negotiations," said a source.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...mcmvs-warships

[twinblade]

http://livefist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/...ssions-of.html

These images posted here for the first time were part of a key-note presentation that DRDO chief Dr Vijay Saraswat made in Sweden last month at the Aerospace Forum. The presentation indicates that the USAV is to be ready for operations by 2020, incorporating the country's flying wing design, flying wing controls, radar absorbent paint and a serpentine air intake. Important to note that Dassault Aviation, which leads the nEUROn programme, and Saab -- in charge of overall design -- have both offered to assist DRDO in their unmanned programmes (BAE Systems has separately offered to assist too).