Armée Indienne / Indian Armed Forces

Rappel du premier message :

L'Inde: l'autre Puissance d'Asie




Les articles réguliers sur la Chine et ses avancées dans l’aéronautique civile et militaire ne doivent pas nous faire oublier que l’Asie compte d’autres puissances pour qui l’aéronautique est vitale.

C’est le cas du plus grand compétiteur asiatique de la Chine : l’Inde. Ce pays-continent dispose des capacités scientifiques et industrielles pour développer comme lui ses capacités de frappe.

Tout d’abord dans le domaine balistique l’Inde souhaite décupler ses capacités et sa volonté s’exprime dans les projets hautement symboliques que sont les missiles BRAHMOS et AGNI ; mais l’Inde a développé son propre chasseur, tout comme la Chine, et prépare la relève !

Grâce à l’apport technologique Russe, une joint venture a été créée entre les deux pays pour la mise au point et la commercialisation du missile de croisière BRAHMOS qui peut être de trois versions : sol-sol ou terre-mer, mer-mer ou air-mer (depuis un Su-30MKI). Une variante sous-marine est en cours de développement. Dans sa version navale, le BRAHMOS est supersonique (Mach 2, a une trajectoire rasante et une portée max de 300km (à comparer avec les capacités de l’exocet : missile subsonique Mach 0,9 et 180km de portée seulement). Récemment l’Inde a décidé d’investir 250 millions US$ pour développer une version du missile pouvant voler à Mach 5. On le voit ce missile donnera à la marine indienne et à ses forces armées en général des capacités de loin supérieures à ce que dispose toues les marines européennes et chinoise !

Le missile AGNI consiste lui en un missile balistique à capacité nucléaire (notez que le BRAHMOS pourrait être équipé lui aussi) initiale, de conception nationale. Il existe en trois versions : AGNI 1 DE 2500km de portée ; l’AGNI 2 de 3000km de portée théorique, et l’AGNI 3 (en développement) de 5000 km de portée à terme. Ces missiles représentent avec le missile de théâtre PRITHVI les vecteurs de la dissuasion nucléaire indienne.

Mais l’Inde ne sera jamais une puissance aéronautique complète si elle ne développe pas son aéronautique militaire, et le dernier appel d’offre international pour acquérir un chasseur de dernière génération (9 milliards US$) pourrait bien être le dernier du genre, et voir les russes remporter le marché assez logiquement. En effet l’Inde et la Russie veulent développer en commun un chasseur de 5ème génération : c’est l’objet de l’accord signé à Moscou en octobre 2007 pour le projet PAK FA (Future Tactical Aviation Aircraft Complex).

Contrairement au F-22 RAPTOR US le projet russo-indien prévoit un avion tant furtif qu’hyper manœuvrable via des tuyères mobiles développées pour le Su-27, ainsi qu’un radar et des missiles à longues portées. A noter que le radar disposera de capacité de brouillage (existant déjà sur des Mig 29 et qui pourrait exister sur le RAFALE cette information n’ayant jamais été confirmée). Le mariage entre le génie aéronautique russe et le génie électronique et informatique indien devrait donner un résultat très intéressant.

Mais ce projet en commun ne signifie pas que l’Inde ne sait pas construire de chasseur de manière autonome : elle a en effet développé par elle-même le LCA (LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT) . La décision de développer ce projet fut prise en 1983 pour remplacer les Mig-21 et les caractéristiques techniques sont fixées en 1990. Le projet recevra l’appui de constructeurs européens comme DASSAULT, SAAB, et BAE, et son design montre que les ingénieurs indiens se sont inspirés du mirage 2000 et du F-18 pour les entrées d’air.

L’appareil sera à terme équipé d’un réacteur de conception nationale KAVERI GTX-35VS double flux de 8,5 tonnes de poussée (SNECMA SAFRAN fournissant les filtres et les régulateurs). Le radar doppler multi-cible est développé par HAL avec l’aide d’industriels étrangers, tout comme l’avionique (THOMSON-CSF aujourd’hui THALES) et une centrale inertielle fournie par l’américain HONEYWELL.

L’avion sera équipé de missile russe R-73 VYMPEL et du missile de conception nationale ASTRA.

Initialement prévu pour entrer en service en 1995 le LCA a fait son premier vol en 2001. Malgré le retard du projet et les difficultés de son développement, cet appareil donne aux industries indiennes des compétences et une expérience certaine au moins égale à ce que la Chine peut faire.

On le voit là encore, l’Inde entend développer ses compétences pour faire face à la Chine mais aussi pour s’installer pleinement à la table des grandes puissances. Notons que la Russie s’installe comme un acteur moteur de l’essor indien dans l’aéronautique.

Caractéristiques du LCA :

Envergure : 8,2 mètres

Longueur : 13,2 mètres

Hauteur : 4,4 mètres

Surface alaire : 37,5 m²

Masse à vide : 5,5 tonnes

Masse maximale : 12,5 tonnes

Motorisation :

Prototype : 1 General Electric F404-GE-F2J3

Avions de série : 1 TSEA GTX-35VS

Vitesse maxi : Mach 1.6

Plafond : 15 000 mètres

Rayon d'action : 1 000 km

Armement fixe : 1 canon GSH-23 de 23 mm alimenté par 220 obus.

Capacité carburant : 3 000 litres

Facteur de charges : +9 / -3 G

Charge utile : 4 tonnes

L’Inde a développé une base industrielle reposant sur de nombreux acteurs, tant institutionnels que privés, lesquels sont encadrés par des instituts publics qui fédèrent leurs avancées. Ces acteurs ont en général acquis leur expérience en important en Inde des produits étrangers. Pour en savoir plus je vous renvoie sur ce site très bien fait : http://www.siatiaero.com/siatimembers.asp[img][/img]

Des composent défectueux pour les Hawk

Citation :

Indian MoD fines BAE Systems for defective Hawk trainer parts

The Indian MOD has fined BAE Systems for supplying defective components for the Hawk AJT aircraft in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The defective components caused delays in supply of the aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the IAF, Defence Minister A K Antony told Indian parliament.
"In view of the delay in delivery of Hawk by HAL due to the receipt of defective components, jigs and fixtures from the foreign manufacturer, on whom liquidated damages have been levied, the original training plan by Hawk AJT for 2010-11 has been modified," he said. Due to this delay, pilots of IAF are being trained on the MiG 21 aircraft.
In 2004, a contract was signed with the UK for supplying 66 Hawks of which 24 were to be manufactured in Britain and rest were to be license-produced at HAL facilities in the country. BAE Systems supplies the components of the aircraft to the HAL in complete or semi knocked down kits and they are assembled by the Indian aircraft manufacturer at its lines in Bangalore.
Recently, India signed an agreement with BAE Systems for procuring another 57 aircraft of which 40 will be for IAF and the rest will go to the Navy.
Antony said HAL has supplied only 10 of the 42 Hawks to be supplied by it and two more were in the process of being accepted by the IAF.

"Delivery of all 42 aircraft is likely to be completed by 2012," he added.

On the additional 40 Hawks to be inducted by the IAF, the Defence Minister said, "Contract in this regard was signed on July 23 this year and delivery is expected to commence by 2013."

defenseworld

..a part si c´est pas la meme ruse des israeliens avec les Apache

Citation :

Indian DRDO Lab Claomes Most Powerful Conventional Explosive

Move over RDX! That’s passé for the needs of the Indian Armed Forces. The DRDO is developing a powerful explosive, - the CL-20, that can substantially reduce the weight and size of the warhead while packing much more punch. In fact, the RDX is not the standard explosive in use with the Indian Armed Forces; the warheads are mostly packed with HMX, FOX-7 or amorphous Boron.

Scientists at the Pune-based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) have already synthesized adequate quantity of CL-20 in the laboratory. “It is the most powerful non-nuclear explosive yet known to man,” says Dr. AK Sikder, Joint Director, HEMRL, who heads the High Energy Materials Division. The compound, ‘Indian CL-20’ or ICL-20, was indigenously synthesized in the HEMRL laboratory using inverse technology, he added. “The HEMRL has taken India to an elite club of countries with advanced capabilities in the field of Energetic Materials,” said Shri Manish Bhardwaj, a senior Scientist with the HEMRL. In fact, the CL-20 is such a fascination for the HEMRL that a larger-than-life size model of the compound occupies the pride of place as one enters the portals of the main building of the DRDO's premier lab in Pune.

CL-20, so named after the China Lake facility of the Naval Air Weapons Station in California, US, was first synthesized by Dr. Arnold Nielson in 1987. CL-20, or Octa-Nitro-Cubane, is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX, His/Her Majesty Explosive or High Melting Explosive or Octogen. The HMX itself is more than four times as potent as the Research Developed Explosive or Royal Demolition Explosive or Cyclonite or Hexogen, commonly known as RDX.

“CL-20 offers the only option within the next 10-15 years to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces for Futuristic Weapons,” said Dr. Sikder. “CL-20 -based Shaped Charges significantly improve the penetration over armours,” he said, adding that it could be used in the bomb for the 120-mm main gun mounted on the MBT-Arjun. “But the costs of mass production of ICL-20 are still prohibitive,” said Dr. Sikder. Compared to Rs.750 per kilogram it takes to produce RDX in the factory today, the HMX is worth about Rs.6,000 per kg while a kilogram of CL-20 costs a whopping Rs.70,000 per kg.

“We have a tie up with industry partner for intermediate commercial exploitation of ICL-20,” said Dr. A. Subhananda Rao, Director, HEMRL. About 100 kgs of ICL-20 has been produced by HEMRL in collaboration with the Premier Explosives Limited (PEL). The CL-20, which looks like limestone or grainy talcum powder, is being manufactured by the PEL factory at Peddakanlukur village in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. The Rs.60 crores Hyderabad-based company bagged the DRDO’s Defence Technology Absorption Award, 2007 worth Rs.Ten Lakhs, presented by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on May 12, 2008, their most prestigious award, claimed company sources.

“The advantage with the CL-20 is its Reduced Sensitivity,” said Dr. Sikder, enabling easy handling and transportation of the lethal weaponry. In fact, the HEMRL is concentrating on the Reduced Shock Sensitivity (RSS) explosives, such as RSS-RDX, which costs about Rs.1,500-2,000 per kg, and RSS-HMX. “There is a whole array of low sensitivity material or Insensitive Munitions we are working on,” said Dr. Rao. “The world around there is a lot of R&D being pumped into what are called the Green Explosives, as also the advanced Insensitive Munitions (IM) and RSS explosives,” added Dr. Sikder, which reduces the chances of mishap and loss to M4, - Men, Money, Materials and Machines.

defpro

Citation :

A mere 90,000 assault rifles a year manufactured in India

For a country facing insurgency and militancy, its defence and security forces place orders for only 90,000 5.56mm assault rifles out of a total of 164,000 small and personnel arms a year. This the average yearly production of its ordnance factories.
According to information given to the Indian parliament by Minister of State for Defence, Mr MM Pallam Raju, the production is largely from three state owned factories, Rifle Factory Ishapore, Small Arms Factory Kanpur and Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli.
Interestingly, there are no private companies manufacturing personnel weapons for military and security forces in India.
India imports an unspecified of assault weapons, especially AK-47 rifles and other specialized weapons such as for sniper use.
According to Gunpolicy.org, a U.S. based website tracking small arms all over the world, India military forces have 5.7 million personnel weapons.

defenseworld

Citation :

Indian Air Force to be Equipped with C-17 Globemaster-III Aircraft

India's Ministry of Defence has issued a letter of request to the US for the procurement of Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
The ministry is planning to acquire the aircraft through the US's Foreign Military Sales programme.
The decision to procure the aircraft followed a technology scan carried out as per India's Defence Procurement Procedure 2008.
It indicated that the C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft best meets Indian Air Force heavy transport operational requirements.

naval-technology

Citation :

High cost of Indian Mirage 2000 fighter upgrade causing a rethink


French President Nicholas Sarkozy may miss signing of the Mirage 2000 upgrade deal with the Indian Air Force (IAF) during his visit to India. While officially, “negotiations are still going on”, according India’s senior foreign ministry officials, the reason for the delay seems to be that the high cost of upgrading the fighters is causing a rethink, informed sources told defenseworld.net.

The cost of upgrading the 51 fighters is working out to an average of Euro 45 million per piece which is well over the price of acquiring a new generation fighter such as the Rafale or F-16 which is around Euro 30million-35 million. India is seeking to upgrade the fighters with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities, Look-down, shoot-down capabilities, Advanced Electronic Counter Counter Measures (ECCM) and Multi-target, multi-shoot capabilities.

The total cost is around Euro 2.4 billion of which work worth Euro 1.5 billon will be directly with the French company Dassault and the rest for work done and equipment supplied by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

In comparison, India signed a similar upgrade contract for 62 MiG-29 fighters in 2008 for around $850 million which works to $13.71 million (Euro 10.28 million approximately) per fighter.

Further, the bulk of the IAF Mirage 2000 fleet was acquired in 1986-87 which makes it over 20 year old. The upgradation process is expected to take 7-9 year and residual life of the airframe after the upgrade will be about 15-10 years. A new fighter instead will have a life of 30 plus years.

defenseworld

upgrade des mirage 2000 sur-facturé la France risque de rater le contrat

Citation :

French President Nicholas Sarkozy may miss signing of the Mirage 2000 upgrade deal with the Indian Air Force (IAF) during his visit to India. While officially, “negotiations are still going on”, according India’s senior foreign ministry officials, the reason for the delay seems to be that the high cost of upgrading the fighters is causing a rethink, informed sources told defenseworld.net.


The cost of upgrading the 51 fighters is working out to an average of Euro 45 million per piece which is well over the price of acquiring a new generation fighter such as the Rafale or F-16 which is around Euro 30million-35 million. India is seeking to upgrade the fighters with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities, Look-down, shoot-down capabilities, Advanced Electronic Counter Counter Measures (ECCM) and Multi-target, multi-shoot capabilities.

The total cost is around Euro 2.4 billion of which work worth Euro 1.5 billon will be directly with the French company Dassault and the rest for work done and equipment supplied by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

In comparison, India signed a similar upgrade contract for 62 MiG-29 fighters in 2008 for around $850 million which works to $13.71 million (Euro 10.28 million approximately) per fighter.

Further, the bulk of the IAF Mirage 2000 fleet was acquired in 1986-87 which makes it over 20 year old. The upgradation process is expected to take 7-9 year and residual life of the airframe after the upgrade will be about 15-10 years. A new fighter instead will have a life of 30 plus years.
http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?catid=3&id=5303&h=High%20cost%20Indian%20Mirage%202000%20fighter%20upgrade%20causing%20rethink

wow 45M€/avion,pour un upgrade semblable au ASTRAC
la France sait qu´elle n´a pas bcp de chances dans le MMRCA,donc elle veut plus de marge sur ce marché comme ersatz,tout en laissant la pression maintenue sur l´inde,si tu ne paye pas,le marché paki d´upgrade des 100 JF17 est encore sur table.

Citation :

India’s Tejas launches first R-73 AAM

India's Tejas light combat aircraft has successfully fired the Vympel R-73 air-to-air missile for the first time, capping an important year for the long-delayed aircraft.

The launch was conducted from the Tejas LSP-4 test aircraft flying out of an Indian naval air station near the city of Goa. The test was monitored by a chase Tejas, which provided a real-time data and video link to a base station in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

"As a run-up to the impending initial operational clearance and release to service, a Tejas contingent has been operating from INS Hansa in Goa, conducting the last phase of flight trials," says India's Defence Research & Development Organisation. "One of the main objectives was clearing the firing envelope of air-to-air close combat missiles from the Tejas."

The Russian-made R-73 is an infrared-guided short-range missile. It is integrated with the Tejas's on-board digital stores management system, says the DRDO, with missile selection performed using the aircraft's high-resolution multifunction display.

The DRDO says the test's main objective was to gauge the effect of the launch on the Tejas aircraft itself. Key parameters the test considered were the safe separation of the missile, the effect, if any, of the missile plume on the aircraft's engines and composite structure, aircraft handling during missile release, and the functionality of the avionics and weapons systems.

The launch caps an eventful year for the long-delayed Tejas-programme. In early October General Electric defeated the Eurojet consortium in a contest to provide 99 F414-INS6 turbofan engines for a Tejas Mk II, following a selection decision by India's Aeronautical Development Agency.

New Delhi had previously ordered 41 less-powerful GE F404 engines to power early examples of the Tejas. Plans to field the Gas Turbine Research Establishment's indigenous Kaveri have suffered numerous delays, though the engine is now undergoing flight tests in Russia using an Ilyushin Il-76 transport as a testbed.

In July, a two-seat naval version of the Tejas was rolled out. To enable carrier operations it has strengthened landing gear and an arrestor hook. Additional control surfaces and a leading edge vortex controller will help reduce the fighter's required speed on approach to the vessel, and the front fuselage was changed to provide better visibility over the nose. At the time of the rollout the ADA said the navalised Tejas's first flight would take place by year-end, but this has yet to happen.

In March, India's first operational-standard Tejas made its maiden flight from Bangalore, reaching a speed of Mach 1.1. At that time, India's air force had committed to buying 40 Mk I examples of the Tejas.

According to the ADA web site, the Tejas has flown more than 1,450 test flights.

Flight International

Citation :

Night vision assault rifle for India’s networked soldier

India’s future networked soldier will be equipped with the ability to find targets in the dark, thanks to the defense research and development organization (DRDO) developing a night vision integrated 5.56 mm rifle.

According to DRDO's Chief Controller of Research and Development (Armament and Combat Engineering) S Sunderesh, the soldier will not have to carry additional night vision equipment. The system will be integrated into the rifle itself for quick reaction to hostile situations. It is also working on a new single-hand operated carbine, he said. Sundaresh said during a news conference that a 5.56mm calibre weapon will be replaced by the Future-INSAS, a prototype for which is currently in development.

"We are currently working on a future INSAS rifle which can be integrated into the Future Infantry Soldier project by including a sensor and a thermal imaging device onto the rifle itself," Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) Director Anil M Dattar who was also present said.

The ARDE has started working on the new rifle so that it could give night vision to the soldier through thermal imaging sensors integrated onto the weapon system. “Usually Thermal Imagers are available in larger weapon systems or as stand alone. We are trying to miniaturise the TI sensors to fit it on the Future-INSAS," Datar said.

defenseworld

un système DCA très intéressant surtout quand on sait que c'est développé avec assistance Israelienne

Citation :

BENGALURU, India — The Indian Air Force (IAF) soon will form its first squadron of the homegrown tactical Akash Missile System (AMS) at Gwalior Air Base.

Bharat Electronics Ltd., the principal integrator for AMS, will hand over the first squadron next month. The IAF is expected to operate the system with the Mirage 2000.

P.C. Jain, BEL’s general manager of Defense Radars, says his company has firm orders for two AMS squadrons of 48 missiles worth Rs 1,221 crore ($269.5 million).

Jain spoke Dec. 2 at the Forum of Defense and Aerospace Journalists of Bangalore.

BEL hopes to win additional AMS contracts from the IAF and the Indian army.

“We are sure to get additional orders from IAF for six more squadrons soon, estimated at Rs 3,500 crore,” Jain says. “The army might place orders initially for two regiments, and these will be large in numbers as compared to IAF. The expected cost will be close to Rs 7,000 crore.”

Each Akash missile weighs 710 kg. (1,565 lb.) and carries a warhead of 225 kg. It has a range of 30 km. (18.6 mi.) and is capable of engaging four targets in different directions, Jain says. Akash radars are comprised of C4I (Squadron Control Center), 3-D Central Acquisition Radar, Flight Control Center and Flight Level Radar.

The surveillance radar can detect 100 targets, and the tracking radar up to 64 targets simultaneously.

“The missile can go to an altitude up to 18 kilometers and engage four targets at a time,” Jain says. “It has a range of 25 kilometers, and we can launch eight missiles simultaneously.”

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/12/03/04.xml&headline=IAF%20To%20Get%20First%20Akash%20Squadron%20Next%20Month

à voir

Citation :

Indian Navy to Increase Combat Capabilities in Next Five Years

The Indian Navy is prepared to enhance its combat capabilities in the next five to six years with a wide range of ships, submarines and choppers set to join its fleet.
The fleet will include two aircraft carriers, one from the Soviet-era and one indigenously built, two fleet tankers, two stealth frigates, three destroyers and an all-weather aircraft such as the MiG-29K.
Two fleet tankers, Deepak and Shakti, and the indigenously designed and built stealth frigate INS Satpura will be commissioned next year, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.
The first Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya will begin sea trials in 2011.
Indian Navy air capabilities include MiG-29K aircraft, which will be deployed on the Vikramiditya and on the indigenously-built carrier.
Production of the Scorpene submarines has also commenced and the first of the lot is expected to be commissioned in 2015.
The Navy will also receive eight Boeing P8I multi-mission aircraft and has plans to induct 56 helicopters in the next few years to replace the aging fleet of Chetaks.

naval-technology

Apparemment, Sarkozy vient de signer une rénovation pour 51 m2000 Indiens.

source : journal téléviser france 3.

ready a écrit:

Apparemment, Sarkozy vient de signer une rénovation pour 51 m2000 Indiens.

source : journal téléviser france 3.

Apparament les cinq milliards de contrats militaires pour la modernisation des Mirage 2000 indiens et encore hypothétique.

Citation :

India and France to intensify defence relations



DD India reports, India and France have agreed to intensify their cooperation in defence sector, particularly in the field of anti-piracy and maritime security and expected to finalise soon a deal for upgrading IAF's Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft.
"The two states agree to continue and intensify their cooperation on counter-piracy and maritime security. France and India recognise the need for an intensified cooperation in combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and other areas," said a joint statement issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in New Delhi on Monday.
It said the two countries welcomed efforts and future prospects for joint programmes in defence industry, which would include joint research and development and transfer of technology and as a first step, they "expect to launch soon the Short Range Surface to Air Missile and Kaveri (aircraft engine) programmes. Discussions concerning the upgrading of Mirage 2000 aircraft are expected to be finalised soon," the statement said.
France already has a naval force deployed in the Gulf of Aden to fight the sea brigands from Somalia who had in the recent years adversely impacted movement of merchant vessels in one of the busiest sea lanes for commerce.
India too joined the anti-piracy patrols in October 2008 and have so far escorted about 1,300 vessels in the Gulf of Aden to safety apart from warding off about two dozen pirate attacks on cargo ships.
“France is one of India's most important and reliable defence partners. We deeply appreciate France's willingness to supply us advanced defence technologies in a way that contributes to the modernisation of our own defence industry”, Singh said in his opening remarks at a joint press conference with Sarkozy after their talks here.
The joint statement also said the two countries "reaffirm their common interest" in continuing their defence relationship "which is an important pillar of their strategic partnership and reflects their common determination to work for global peace and security."
It also welcomed the ongoing exercises between their navies and Air Forces and spoke of their interest in extending the cooperation through joint exercises to their two armies soon.
At the centre of the estimated Rs 9,640 crore upgrade programme for 50-odd Mirage-2000 fighter jets in the IAF fleet is the plan for advanced multimode pulse doppler radar and fire-and-forget missiles, to be executed by French companies D'Assault and Thales along with Indian DPSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The IAF currently operates two squadrons of Mirage-2000s and the upgrade programme will enable the aircraft to perform a given mission effectively due to greater fuel and weapon-delivery capacities.
The project will involve providing the aircraft, which IAF inducted first in mid-1980s, a fly-by-wire digital cockpit and an enhanced weapons-carrying capability.
Under the programme, the French companies would deliver the first two upgraded aircraft within 40 months of the contract being finalised and at the same time, HAL would upgrade another two aircraft.
Later, the Indian DPSU would take charge of the programme for the rest of the Mirage-2000 fleet within India.

India and France have also decided to co-develop the SRSAM missile under an agreement between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French missile manufacturer MBDA.

The missile is being developed to provide Indian armed forces better air defence capabilities to protect its vital installations.

While India and France initiated the project in 2007, the missile project, tentatively named 'Maitri', took over three years to finalise.
The next generation air defence missile, which will be inducted by the Army, Navy and Air Force, could also be made available for export.
The Kaveri engine, being co developed by the two countries, is for India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) or 'Tejas' for which HAL has partnered with French Snecma. (DD-6.12)

France looking to invest over Eur 10 bn in India by 2012

France said it proposed to invest over 10 billion Euros into India in next two years if multi-brand retail and insurance sectors were liberalised even as New Delhi said they were "very much" on government's agenda.

"FDI cap on insurance and multi-brand retail is very much on the agenda," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said in the presence of French Minister of Economy and Finance Christine Lagarde who is part of the delegation accompanying President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Addressing the India French Business Forum, organised by FICCI, Ahluwalia said, "As far as insurance is concerned, the government has initiated the Parliamentary process to create a legislation to go for 49 per cent FDI in the sector."

At present FDI up to 26 per cent is allowed in the insurance sector.

Lagarde said investment from French companies can go beyond 10 billion Euros by 2012 if sectors like insurance and multi-brand retail are liberalised by India.

"There could be a lot more than that for sure, if it was possible to develop activities in insurance and retail," she said adding "if the Indian authorities consider it sensible to open up the sectors, I know French companies will significantly expand their activities."
She said, "Everything is about give and take and two-way street."
On FDI in multi-brand retail, Ahluwalia said, several Ministries have supported the proposal for allowing FDI in the sector.
The government has already put out a discussion paper on the politically sensitive subject.
The Joint statement issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sarkozy said the two governments are committed to more than doubling their trade by 2012 to 12 billion Euros from the level of 5 billion Euros in 2008.
The areas of investment and trade include automobiles, electrical equipments, rail transport and water utilities.
It said France and India recognised the importance of agriculture and food processing sector for ensuring affordable food production in both the countries.

In his statement Dr. Singh said that India would work closely with France to push forward the global economic recovery and better regulation of the international financial sector. (DD India)

defpro

Citation :

Boeing Team Begins Building Indian Navys 1st P-8I Aircraft



WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 7, 2010 – The Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8I team began fabricating the first part for the Indian navy’s first long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft on Dec. 6 in Wichita. The P-8I, based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
Employees at Spirit AeroSystems — where all Boeing Next-Generation 737 fuselages, nacelles and pylons are designed and built — cut the P-8I’s first part, a bonded aluminum panel that later will be installed on the fuselage’s upper lobe to support an antenna. The panel and other fuselage components will come together on Spirit’s existing Next-Generation 737 production line.
“Today marks the P-8I program’s move from the design phase to the build phase,” said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. “We’re on schedule and the Indian navy is looking forward to receiving its first plane.”
Spirit will ship the P-8I fuselage to a Boeing Commercial Airplanes facility in Renton, Wash., in mid-2011 for final assembly. After that, Boeing Defense, Space & Security employees will install mission systems and complete testing prior to delivery to India.
“P-8I fuselage sections are designed and built using the same processes we use on the commercial 737,” said Mike King, Spirit AeroSystems Fuselage Segment senior vice president/general manager. “We’ve built seven P-8A fuselages to date and continue to increase efficiency as we move forward.”
Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009. India is the first international customer for the P-8.
The P-8I will provide India with speed, reliability, persistence and room for growth to satisfy the country’s maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements now and well into the future. The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.
Source and photo: Boeing

Citation :

Indian Navy to Install AIP System on Scorpene Submarines

The Indian Navy is considering a proposal to equip Scorpene submarines, which are under construction, with an air independent propulsion (AIP) system to overcome the risk of detection.
The system, which is being built at Mazagon Dock, enables the boats to stay underwater without having to surface for more than three weeks.
DCNS CEO Patrick Boissier said the company was in talks with the navy and that the system could be integrated into the fifth and sixth submarines in 2018.
The navy is also looking at an indigenous AIP system, which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, according to Hindustan Times.
The first Scorpene submarine is expected to enter service in 2015 and the remaining within a span of three years.
India is constructing six Scorpene submarines with transfer of technology from DCNS under a Rs187.98bn ($4.16bn) programme called Project 75.

naval-technology

Citation :

India announces failure of Agni 2 plus Ballistic Missile Launch


India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has announced that the test launch of a new missile designated Agni 2 Plus has failed.
A press release said, experimental launch of A2-P MISSILE experienced a trajectory deviation immediately after the lift-off having failure of the Mission.
Detailed analysis is in progress. Many new technologies like Composite Rocket Motor, indigenous Ring Laser Gyro based Navigation System, Road Mobile Launch were being tested in this Mission. Many of these new technologies have been proved.
Agni 2 P is a new version of the Agni 2 missile. Agni-II plus or premier will fit between Agni 2 and Agni 3. The surface-to-surface missile can hit targets between 2,500 km and 3,000 km away, thereby bridging the gap between the Agni II missile which has a target of 2500 km and the Agni III missile having a target of 3000 km.

defenseworld

Citation :

Indian Navy Receives First Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rockets

The Indian Navy has received its first lot of 20 indigenous anti-submarine missiles.
The rockets were developed in two variants that can strike at a range of 1.5km and 6km, and were classified as 'practice' and 'high explosive'.
The surface-to-water anti-submarine missiles can be launched from the ship and are capable of destroying any submarine in a depth of 30-300m.
Designed by the Ammunition Factory, Khadki (AFK), the rocket can carry up to 28kg of tri nitro terylene explosive. Several environmental tests on the rockets were carried out successfully.
The factory has a capacity to produce 1,000 per year and the navy needs 3,000 such pieces, according to The Times of India.
Indian Naval Armament Inspection director general Rear Admiral S Kulshrestha said the induction of the rockets will strengthen the fire power of the Indian Navy and will reduce its dependence on foreign countries.
"This will also enhance the value of production of the ammunition factory by more than Rs600m to Rs1bn ($13m to 22m) per year," he added.

naval-technology

Citation :

IAF to Procure Six C-130J-30 Transport Aircraft
The Indian Air Force is purchasing six C-130J-30 transport aircraft from the US through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure for $962.7m.
The proposed deal also includes procurement of ground support equipment, training and spares, said Defence Minister AK Antony in a written reply to the lower House of the Parliament.
The Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company-built C-130J-30 aircraft is a medium lift transport aircraft, which will be used for special operations.
The delivery of the aircraft is expected to commence from February 2011 and conclude by January 2012.

airforce-technology

Citation :

India Decommissions Last Foxtrot Class Submarine

The Indian Navy has decommissioned the last of the Foxtrot Class submarines, INS Vagli, after 36 years of operational service.
INS Vagli's retirement brings the number of submarines in India to just 14, of which, only eight to nine diesel-electric submarines are operational at any given time.
The navy's capabilities will get progressively worse to 2015 when the first of six Scorpene submarines, being built at Mazagon Docks, is expected to enter service.
The Rs235.62bn ($5.1bn) project is three years behind schedule and is expected to roll out all six submarines by 2020, according to the Times of India.
According to the latest projections, India will have only five of the existing ten Russian Kilo Class and four German HDW submarines by 2020 and only two by 2022.
The actual submarine requirement for India has been estimated at 18, especially when both China and Pakistan are rapidly bolstering their underwater combat capabilities.

naval-technology

Citation :

Lockheed C-130Js delivery schedule For Indian Air Force



India′s next three C-130Js have now reached the final production positions at the Lockheed Martin Marietta facility. These aircraft will join the previous three, which are already in flight test prior to deliveries that will begin later this month. The first C-130J for India will be formally delivered on Dec. 16 at a ceremony in Marietta. Two will be flown to India in early 2011, while two more will arrive in early summer and the last two will be delivered in late summer of 2011.
Source and photo: Lockheed Martin

aviationnews

Citation :

India’s $1.34billion Mi-17 helicopters to start arriving by March 2011


India is expected to start receiving its Mi-17-V5 heavy lift helicopters from March 2011 onwards. The 80 choppers had been ordered from Russia in December 2008 for $1.34 billion, making the single biggest helicopter deal in India.
India’s defence minister A.K. Antony told parliament today that The Mi-17-V5 helicopters will be utilised for Special Heliborne Operations, air-maintenance, transportation of troops and equipment, search and rescue, casualty evacuation and in armed helicopter roles.
A follow-on order for 59 additional Mi-17 helicopters is expected early next year, according the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief P.V.Naik who was quoted as saying in a magazine interview. The Mi-17-V5 is expected to be a prominent attraction at Aero India 2011.

defenseworld

Citation :

Inde : Nouveau retard dans la construction du porte-aéronefs Vikrant

Vue du futur porte-aéronefs Vikrant crédits : MARINE INDIENNE

14/12/2010

Premier porte-aéronefs construit en Inde, le Vikrant accuse un nouveau retard. Le bâtiment, qui devait être lancé cette année, ne sera pas mis à flot avant 2011. Les essais à la mer ne sont, quant à eux, pas prévus avant 2014. Réalisé par l'arsenal de Cochin, le Vikrant (projet 71) mesurera 260 mètres de long et affichera un déplacement en charge de 40.000 tonnes. Capable d'atteindre 28 noeuds, le porte-aéronefs embarquera 40 aéronefs, dont des avions MiG 29-K.
Pour l'heure, l'Inde ne dispose que d'un porte-aéronefs, le Viraat. Mis en service dans la Royal Navy en 1959, l'ex-HMS Hermes a été acquis par l'Inde en 1986. En dehors du Vikrant, la marine indienne attend aussi la livraison du Vikramaditya, l'ex-Amiral Gorshkov russe actuellement en cours de refonte et dont l'achèvement n'est plus prévu avant 2012. Long de 283 mètres pour un déplacement de 45.000 tonnes en charge, ce porte-avions mettra en oeuvre 20 avions MiG 29-K et 12 hélicoptères.

M&M

Citation :

Indian Defence Minister not Satisfied with Pace of Modernisation

The Indian Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has said that modernisation of the Armed Forces is the top priority of the Government. Delivering the inaugural address to the 5th International Conference on 'Energising Indian Aerospace Industry: Achievements and Future Strategies', here today Shri Antony said that the Government has earmarked huge budget for the purpose. However, these have not borne the desired results.

Following is the text of the address delivered by Shri Antony on the occasion:

"It gives me great pleasure to join you all for an important Conference today. This combined initiative by the Centre for Air Power Studies and CII is yet another instance of the ever-growing public-private partnership, moreso in the realm of defence. The two-day brainstorming between the best security brains in the world will definitely stand our Air Force policy planners and security analysts in good stead.

"Our nation has been recording an impressive economic growth. However, this steadily growing potential has also meant shouldering bigger responsibilities in the strategic context. The emerging strategic landscape the world over will require a further strengthening of aerospace capabilities and India is certainly no exception. As you endeavour to do the same, you must break-up the challenges in the aerospace sector into fragments and then join the dots and fill the gaps to form the larger picture.

"Nations today grapple with similar challenges and therefore, need to draw up coordinated responses. Keeping pace with the technology curve is a major challenge for developing nations like ours. Nations need to maximise cooperation through regular military exercises, weapons training and share their experiences with each other.

"Modernisation of our Armed Forces remains the top priority for us. However, despite our best intentions and earmarking huge budgets and allocating money, the modernisation efforts have not borne the desired results. We must continuously reduce and even eliminate procedural delays and bottlenecks in our procurement procedures. It is with this realisation that we have put in place a Defence Procurement Procedure that is amended every year to speed up procurement and bring in fairness and transparency to the system. The discussions on the issue of Offsets, in particular, would be of great interest and relevance. While we are willing to learn from international experience, such deliberations also give us an opportunity to remove some undesired and needless misgivings on the issue.

"Our efforts at strengthening our Armed Forces are often misconstrued by some nations. India has had a proven track record in harnessing technology for peaceful and non-violent purposes and ones that are essentially aimed to strengthen our defence capabilities. Translated in the context of aerospace industry, it would mean enhancing military and dual-use technology that would benefit our Armed Forces and also have spin-off benefits for the civil populace.

"The latest trends in the aerospace sector clearly show that airpower has emerged as one of the most effective resources in enhancing defence preparedness and security of any nation. Airpower increases our response capabilities and flexibility. By its very nature, aerospace power continues to be technology-driven. It is for this reason that enhancement of air power capabilities often come at high costs. Developing nations such as India need to link up our unique security concerns with modernisation that do not divorce us from the ground realities. Though we do appreciate the need for partnerships and Joint Ventures at an international level, in the final analysis, each nation cannot do without strengthening indigenous capabilities.

"The spurt in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) industry in the civil aviation sector has shown that India is fast emerging as the favoured destination for such ventures. I am sure you will certainly exchange notes during this Conference with international experts to provide a further boost to this crucial sector.

"The rapid development in material technology means that the onus lies on organisations such as DRDO to devote more and more time, energy and resources to strengthen R&D efforts. These changes must be introduced in a phased, yet time-bound manner to provide state-of-the-art equipment to our military aviators and air warriors.

"This Conference has eminent national and international experts who need no introduction. Their hands-on experience and proven competence means that the discussions at the Conference would be rich in content and quality. This would make this Conference of special relevance to India. I look forward to your collective inputs and outcome of the deliberations. I am sure that the Conference will achieve its objectives it set out to achieve."

defpro