Armée Indienne / Indian Armed Forces

Rappel du premier message :

Euh........ Typhoon pour moi .

Citation :

Akash Missile Successfully Testfired

BALASORE: Two surface-to-surface nuclear capable Akash missiles were test-fired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from a defence base off the Odisha coast on Monday. They hit the para-barrels released from the same test range.

The complete Akash missile system, including targets, were operated by IAF personnel exploiting the overall capabilities of the system in different envelops. The missiles were fired from the launching complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea.

The indigenously developed missiles were fired at 2.45 pm and 3.20 pm respectively, a few minutes after the release of para-barrel as a target.

ITR Director M V K V Prasad said all the mission objectives were met and the missile system performed as expected.

Defence sources said two squadrons of Akash missile system developed by the DRDO have already been inducted into the IAF and the system was in continuous production and induction. The IAF personnel are readying to conduct two more trials on Tuesday.

Akash is the country’s first indigenously designed, developed and produced air defence system capable of engaging aerial threats up to a distance of 25 km. The total production value of Akash air defence system cleared for induction by the Indian Army and IAF is over `23,000 crore.

The missile could be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms.Akash missile is crucial for the country’s air defence programme as it would be used to counter enemy aircraft and air-to-surface missiles.

http://www.newindianexpress.com

Citation :

Akash missiles hit target

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (IANS): India Thursday test fired two Akash surface-to -air missiles successfully from a base in Odisha.

The two missiles were simultaneously launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district against two flying targets.

"The test was successful. The missiles intercepted moving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)," Chandipur ITR director M.V.K.V. Prasad told IANS.

This is the fourth day the Akash missiles were launched from the ITR.

The exercise of launching the missiles was carried out by Indian Air Force personnel as part of their user training.

The medium range missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a medium-range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system with a strike range of 25 km.

While it can carry a warhead of 60 kg, it has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously.

http://www.daijiworld.com

Citation :

India likely to order 106 more Pilatus aircraft to train pilots

http://idrw.org/?p=47513

Citation :

L'Inde annonce son intention d'acheter 814 canons de 155 mm: Nexter à l'affût



Je ne sais pas s'il faut se réjouir puisque six appels d'offres portant sur des achats de pièces d'artillerie ont déjà été annulés et que le dernier contrat, en 1986, avec Bofors, avait débouché sur un méga-scandale...

Samedi, le ministre indien de la Défense Manohar Parrikar  a annoncé la publication prochaine d'une RFP (request for proposal) portant sur l'achat de 814 pièces d'artillerie de 155mm (de quoi équiper 40 régiments d'artillerie). Les cent premières pièces seront achetées à l'équipementier retenu, les 714 autres seront produites en Inde.

Parmi les entreprises qui pourraient répondre à cette RFP, citons Tata et le programme tripartite (annoncé et signé en juin dernier à Eurosatory) de L&T-Ashok Leyland-Nexter.


http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2014/11/24/l-inde-annonce-son-intention-d-acheter-814-cannons-de-155-mm-12983.html

Et bien,dieu sait que les Indiens on un grand besoin d'artillerie moderne. mais quand
Depuis 1986 il ne se passe rien de concret....

Citation :

Indian Navy 6th maritime patrol plane likely, to order four more

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy is likely to order four more P-81 long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from American firm Boeing which delivered the sixth plane on Monday as part of an eight-aircraft contract worth over Rs 12,000 crore.

The sixth aircraft landed at INS Rajali in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu at about 4 PM on Monday.

The eight-aircraft deal was signed in 2009 and as per the agreement, three each were to be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and two in 2015.

"The delivery schedule has been on time," a navy source said, adding that the force might go in for the option clause in the contract under which it can order four more.

The P-8I, based on the Boeing next-generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that the US Navy uses.

India was Boeing's first international customer for this aircraft.

The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensors and display technologies.

It is equipped with foreign and indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and electronic intelligence missions.

It is integrated with latest sensors and anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons.

http://www.brahmand.com

Citation :

IAF’s UAV crashes near Bhuj town



The Indian Air Force’s UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) aircraft crashed at Mankuva village near Bhuj while doing it’s routine surveillance at Bhuj on Wednesday.

Defence PRO, Wing Commandar Abhishek Matiman said, “It is a Heron UAV that was in air and crashed near Bhuj. The IAF is looking into the reasons behind the crash and a court of inquiry has been ordered”.

The IAF officials said that the UAV was in air since last few months for its routine work of surveillance, security, collecting and providing information to the Air Force on movements around the air base.

The officials added that it is suspected that there was a technical fault that led to the crash. The crash had, however, left the villagers scared and they raised an alarm.

airforce2

The IAF officials and Bhuj police rushed to the spot. The IAF officials are inspecting the spot after which the debris would be cleared from the spot. The cost of the Heron UAV is approximately Rs 80 crores.

airforce1

Heron is a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Malat division of Israel Aerospace industry. It is capable of medium altitude long endurance operations of up to 52 hours’ duration. It was acquired by India from Israel.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/iafs-uav-crashes-near-bhuj-town/#sthash.OJ7v077L.dpuf

http://indianexpress.com

Citation :

French minister to push for Rafale deal during visit

French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian is set to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday to push for early conclusion of the Rafale fighter plane deal that has been pending for the last three years.

He will meet his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar on December 1 and the two are expected to discuss bilateral relations in defence, including the 126 fighter jet deal. He would also be given a guard of honour.

Almost three years ago, India shortlisted Rafale as the preferred platform to replace the ageing MiG-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. The deal, however, has not been inked even after three years of protracted negotiations.

“There are still unresolved issues on several fronts, costs being the most important one,” said an official. A special offset condition of 50 per cent of the value being reinvested in India, is another thorny issues. A major milestone was achieved a few months back when the jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited finalised the work-share agreement.

Last July when the French minister met former defence minister A K Antony, he said India and France would sign an inter-governmental agreement in recognition of the commitment shown by Paris on India’s biggest defence deal. Even that inter-governmental agreement is still not in place.

Within weeks of Narendra Modi taking over as the Prime Minister, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited India to discuss the deal with the new leadership. He also met then defence minister Arun Jaitley.

French officials said they were not worried about the delay as there was no target date in the first place. The negotiations for upgrading Mirage fighter jets and manufacturing of Scorpene submarines in Mazgaon dock in Mumbai took 2-3 years each. With the change of guard in New Delhi, there is a renewed lobbying effort to bring in players like Eurofighter Typhoon, which lost out to Rafale in the trials. This, defence ministry officials said, was not possible as per the defence procurement procedure without cancelling the ongoing process first.

http://www.deccanherald.com

Citation :

Agni-IV launch successful


India on Tuesday successfully test-fired Agni-IV strategic missile for its full strike range of 4,000 km from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast.

The nuclear weapons capable long range missile in deliverable version was launched for the first time by the Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) around 10.15 am. Carrying a one-tonne dummy warhead, the missile splashed down near its pre-designated target point in the waters of Indian Ocean with high degree of accuracy as two naval ships located nearby recorded the terminal event.

From the start till the end, the trajectory of the missile and its other parameters were tracked and monitored by a network of radar and telemetry stations and electro-optical systems along the East Coast.

The missile’s re-entry vehicle’s heat shield enabled it to withstand searing temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees C when it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. Highly sophisticated Ring Laser Gyros based navigation system and modern avionics provided reliability in steering the missile to its target point.

The two-stage, solid fuelled Agni-IV along with other missiles in Agni series , would be the mainstay of India’s nuclear deterrence programme.

This was the fourth success in a row for Agni-IV as three previous flight trials carried out by Defence Research and Development Organisation’s missile technologists achieved their respective mission objectives in November 2011, September 2012 and January 2014.

After a few more user trials by SFC personnel, the missile would be inducted into the Army.

Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Avinash Chander, Top DRDO missile scientists, including Director-General Missiles and Strategic Systems Dr. V,G.Sekaran, project director Tessy Thomas and RCI Director Satheesh Reddy were present.

http://www.thehindu.com

Citation :

Private Indian firm Taneja wins MiG-29 upgrade deal

Bangalore-based Taneja Aerospace & Aviation Limited (TAAL) has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide further upgrades for the service's MiG-29 multirole combat aircraft, the private company has announced.

In a company filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange on 1 December, TAAL said that the upgrade work would be completed over three years. A company official confirmed to IHS Jane's that the contract is worth INR128 million (USD2 million), adding that the value of the work could increase over time.

The contract is linked to a request for information issued by the IAF in October 2013 supporting programmes to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services as well as further upgrades for the MiG-29s in collaboration with the air force.

http://www.janes.com

Citation :

20-30 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will be commissioned soon

NEW DELHI (PTI): As many as 20-30 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which will replace the aging MiG fighters, will be commissioned soon, government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Programme, which has been running behind schedule.

During Question Hour, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said "20-30" Tejas aircraft are to be commissioned soon.

Once ready, Tejas would replace the aging MIG fighers.

Noting that concerns over Light Combat Aircraft would be taken into account, the Minister said negotiations are going on for the 126 Rafale fighter jets deal.

India and France have agreed to iron out issues like pricing and a guarantee clause for French firm Dassault to fast-track the estimated USD 15-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets.

In 2012, India had selected Rafale jet but the final negotiations are still continuing between the ministry and Dassault Aviation.

To another question, Parrikar said MiG-21 is being phased out and MIG 29 are being procured from Russia.

With fifth generation stealth technology, the strikes would be high as it cannot be immediately detected by radar, he said.

To another query, Parrikar said no deal has been struck with Russia for procurement of fighter aircraft equipped with stealth technology.

However, an inter-governmental agreement has been signed with Russian Federation for design, development, production etc of a prospective Multi Role Fighter Aircraft," he said.

http://www.brahmand.com

Citation :

La fatigue de l’équipage à l’origine de l’explosion à bord du sous-marin indien INS Sindhurakshak


Par Rédacteur en chef.
Publié le 11 décembre 2014, dernière mise à jour le 11 décembre 2014.


La fatigue de l’équipage du sous-marin indien INS Sindhurakshak pourrait être à l’origine de l’explosion survenue à bord, en aout 2013 dans le port de Mumbai. 18 marins avaient perdu la vie dans le pire accident survenu en temps de paix au sein de la marine indienne.


Une enquête de la marine a révélé que les membres d’équipage embarquant les armes à bord du sous-marin étaient fatigués et surchargés de travail.

« L’équipage a travaillé au-delà des limites permises. La fatigue et l’épuisement pourraient avoir provoqué des erreurs humaines qui ont conduit à l’accident. A plusieurs occasion, les procédures normales ont été violées, » a déclaré lundi un officier de haut-rang proche de l’enquête.

Référence :
Hindustan Times (Inde)


http://www.corlobe.tk/spip.php?article36753

Citation :

Indian Navy Strengthening its Air Warfare Capability


New Delhi: The Indian Navy is working towards a new fleet of aircraft and helicopters for maritime surveillance, electronic warfare and anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, its top commander has said.

According to the naval chief, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, it was imperative to expand its "maritime surveillance footprint to meet operational requirements" with 12 Boeing P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft, nine yet to be identified medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft and 12 Dornier-228 short range maritime reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft.

"The induction of these aircraft will provide the Indian Navy with the required surveillance capability in support of our operational roles," Adm. Dhowan told India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview.

At present, Boeing has a contract to supply eight P-8Is, six of which have been delivered on schedule beginning May 2013 and the last two should be in India by mid-2015. There is an option clause for another four aircraft in the existing contract and the navy chief's remarks indicate that this will be exercised.

Sources said that this could happen in the first half of 2015.

The qualitative requirements (QRs) for the MRMR aircraft are being finalized but they would have capabilities similar to the LRMRs except that their range would be shorter. The Dorniers would be used for electronic warfare (EW) to secure one's own communications and disrupt those of an enemy.

Notably, the Indian Navy lacks a modern submarine fleet while the number of possibly hostile submarines in the Indian Ocean has multiplied manifold in recent years.

Accordingly, there is an urgency to strengthen at least the aviation arm with aircraft and helicopters.

On this Navy Day Dec 4, the navy selected the US Sikorsky's multi-role helicopter (MRH), a weaponised platform, for shipboard operations. Twentyfour of these helicopters are to be acquired, including an option for eight more.

Based on Boeing's workhorse B-737 civil aircraft, the P8-I is a variant of the US Navy's latest P-8A Poseidon. It was described by Adm. Dhowan as a very potent platform with long-range capability to neutralize hostile ships and submarines with its Harpoon Block-II missiles, depth bombs and torpedoes.

The aircraft has formidable onboard EW systems and a highly-sophisticated radar from US defence technology giant Raytheon. There are also magnetic anomaly detectors (MAD) on board to locate submarines. A MAD system works out variations in the earth's
magnetic fields by the underwater movement of submarines.

The LRMR and MRMR are being sourced from foreign vendors while the SRMR - Dornier 228 - would be acquired from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has been producing them under licence for a couple of decades. Sanction for these aircraft has already been accorded by the new Government.

Related

Navy Engineer Found Dead on INS Godavari
Russia to 'Make in India' 400 Helicopters a Year
China Needs More Than 5,300 New Aircraft Through 2033: Airbus

As for the old and existing fleet of Sea King and Kamov helicopters, the naval chief said that they were being upgraded with "a sophisticated sensor suite" to "enhance (their) surveillance and attack capabilities".

He observed that the Indian Navy was looking at two operational aircraft carriers 24x7, one each on the country's eastern and western seaboards. A third would also be needed because of the periodic maintenance any one of them would have to undergo.

For the Soviet-origin INS Vikramaditya, which is already operational, and for INS Vikrant, which is under construction indigenously at Kochi, the navy is buying 45 MiG-29K aircraft from Russia, about half of which have already been delivered and are operational. INS Vikrant, earlier called Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-1 (IAC-1), would be deployed in 2018.

The navy is also working on specifications for a third aircraft carrier - IAC 2 - which would be much larger - say 60,000 tonnes-plus - and every possibility, including nuclear propulsion and the latest electromagnetic launch system (EMALS), which the US Navy has selected for its future aircraft carriers, is under consideration.

"We are monitoring the latest developments and will factor these into the force development plan. We would look for infusion of newer technologies with regard to propulsion and launch recovery arrangements for the aircraft," Adm. Dhowan said.

The currect aircraft launch technology from carriers is based on steam catapults.

Significantly, the EMALS, developed by US General Atomics, is based on the massive generation of direct current (DC) electricity and the technology is stated to be useful even in launching satellites or firing projectiles into space.

"The naval air arm is poised for significant growth as part of our capability development plan. In the coming years, I envisage a deployable force-level of two carrier task forces, one each on our western and eastern seaboards. The naval aviation acquisition programme is aimed at supporting the operations of fighters and helicopters operation from the two carrier task forces and associated support ships," Adm. Dhowan said.

India's naval aviation marked its 61st year in 2014.

http://www.ndtv.com

LCA Navy 1st Ski-Jump Flight

je pense pas que sa soit une bonne idée ... les indiens avec leurs bureaucratie et leurs incompétence légendaire , il aurait beaucoup de problème ..

Puis un avions décollant de cette maniére ne peut emporter beaucoup de petrole et ou de l'armement......
non ce qu'ils leur faut ,aux Indiens c'est des rafale M....

Citation :

Un bateau pakistanais, poursuivi par la marine indienne, se fait exploser


New Delhi, 2 jan 2015 (AFP) -

L'équipage d'un bateau de pêche pakistanais a fait sauter et couler son embarcation après avoir essayé d'échapper à la marine indienne lors d'une course poursuite en mer, ont annoncé vendredi les autorités indiennes.

Les quatre membres du bateau provenant des environs de Karachi, la grande cité portuaire pakistanaise, ont probablement été tués dans cet incident survenu dans la nuit du 31 décembre au 1er janvier.

Selon le parti nationaliste hindou BJP du Premier ministre indien Narendra Modi, il s'agit d'une "possible opération terroriste".

"Il s'agit possiblement d'une nouvelle tentative de faire passer des terroristes en territoire indien", a déclaré le porte-parole du BJP, GVL Narasimha Rao, sur la chaîne d'information NDTV.

Les garde-côtes et l'aviation indiens ont tenté d'intercepter le bateau près de la frontière maritime avec le Pakistan, à environ 365 km au large de la côte de l'Etat du Gujarat, à la suite d'une information des services de renseignement, selon le communiqué du ministère indien de la Défense.

"Le bateau a accéléré et essayé de s'échapper au-delà de la frontière maritime indienne. La poursuite a duré pendant près d'une heure", a-t-il ajouté.

L'embarcation a fini par s'arrêter après plusieurs tirs de sommation mais l'équipage s'est retranché sous le pont avant de mettre le feu au bateau, déclenchant une forte explosion.

"En raison de la nuit, du mauvais temps et des forts vents, le bateau et les personnes à bord n'ont pu être sauvés ou récupérés. Le bateau a brûlé et coulé au même endroit, aux premières heures du 1er janvier", selon le communiqué.

Selon le ministère, les passagers du bateau préparaient une "transaction illicite" et il transportait des explosifs.

Les garde-côtes ont, eux, avancé que l'explosion n'était pas un accident, estimant que les quatre hommes avaient pris la fuite parce qu'ils cachaient "quelque chose de vraiment sérieux".

Cet incident a ravivé le souvenir des attentats de Bombay en 2008, perpétrés par des assaillants pakistanais venus par la mer dans la capitale financière indienne où leurs attaques avaient fait 166 morts pendant un siège long de 60 heures.

L'Inde a exprimé sa colère fin décembre après la décision d'un tribunal pakistanais d'accorder une remise en liberté sous caution au cerveau présumé de ces attaques. L'homme est cependant toujours incarcéré.

http://www.marine-oceans.com/actualites-afp/9493-un-bateau-pakistanais-poursuivi-par-la-marine-indienne-se-fait-exploser

Citation :

Rafale : L’Inde met la pression sur la France en évoquant l’achat d’avion SU-30 MKI supplémentaires


Posté dans Asie-Pacifique, Forces aériennes, Industrie par Laurent Lagneau Le 03-01-2015

En janvier 2012, le Rafale de Dassault Aviation remportait l’appel d’offres indien MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft), visant à acquérir 126 avions de combat multi-rôles afin de moderniser les capacités de l’Indian Air Force. Restait alors à s’entendre sur les modalités de la commande, sachant que New Delhi veut que 108 appareils soient assemblés en Inde, avec des transferts de technologie à la clé.

De telles discussions sont évidemment compliquées (il ne s’agit pas de vendre de la rayonne)… et prennent du temps, en raison des procédures indiennes. Qui plus est, certains font tout pour faire capoter les négociations, comme l’Allemagne et le Royaume-Uni, qui n’ont pas digéré la défaite de l’Eurofighter Typhoon face au Rafale. Ou encore de la Russie, qui ne manque pas une occasion de critiquer l’appel d’offres MMRCA pour mieux placer ses pions (SU-30 et avion dit de 5e génération T-50 PAK/FA).

Toutefois, des accords sur le montage industriel ont pu être trouvés entre les parties françaises et indiennes et les négociations sont maintenant dans la dernière ligne droite. Chez Dassault, l’on se disait optimiste à l’automne dernier : le contrat pouvait être signé d’ici mars prochain, c’est à dire avant la fin de l’année fiscale indienne. Et cela d’autant plus que, en septembre,  le général Arup Raha, chef d’état-major de l’Indian Air Force (IAF), avait affirmé son souhait de voir ce dossier être bouclé au plus vite.

Seulement, les derniers détails du contrat (qui doit sont toujours les plus difficiles à résoudre. Et, pour le moment, les discussions sont bloquées. Apparemment, le constructeur français ne voudrait pas assumer la responsabilité (délais, dommages, etc) des Rafale assemblés par Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), l’avionneur indien.

En décembre, le ministre français de la Défense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, alors en visite à New Delhi, avaient assuré que « les deux gouvernements partageaient la volonté de conclure [les négociations]« . Et d’ajouter : « Plus vite le contrat sera finalisé et signé, plus vites les avions pourront sortir des lignes des sites de production en Inde ». De leur côté, les autorités indiennes firent savoir que « les désaccords seraient résolus de manière accélérée ». Une délégation française devrait se rendre en Inde, ce mois-ci, pour lever les derniers obstacles.

C’est donc dans ce contexte qu’il faut prendre les dernières déclarations du ministre indien de la Défense, Manohar Parrikar, telles qu’elles ont été rapportées cette semaine par la presse indienne (et russe). Ainsi, d’après le Business Standard, il a évoqué les points de blocage avec les négociateurs français – sans les préciser – avant d’estimer que l’Inde pourrait commander des chasseurs polyvalents SU-30 MKI supplémentaires (assemblés sous licence par HAL) dans le cas où il serait décidé de pas acheter le Rafale.

« Le Su-30MKI est un avion adéquat pour répondre aux besoins de la Force aérienne », a même affirmé M. Parrikar. Actuellement, les plans de l’IAF prévoient une dotation de 272 appareils de ce type. Pour rappel, la flotte de ces avions a été clouée au sol en octobre dernier, après un nouvel accident. Une décision alors  qualifiée de grave par l’Air Chief Marshal Fali Major, un ancien chef d’état-major de l’aviation indienne.

Pour l’IAF, il y a urgence. Selon un rapport du Comité parlementaire permanent de la Défense, le nombre de ses escadrons en ligne est tombé à 25 alors que pour les besoins de la stratégie indienne dite de « double front » (l’Inde a un oeil sur le Pakistan et la Chine), il lui en faudrait 45 au maximum.

En outre, 11 de ces escadrons, poursuit le document, sont dotés de MiG-21 et de MiG-27, deux types d’avions appelés à être retirés prochainement du service.  « Ainsi, la force aérienne sera réduite à seulement 11 escadrons d’ici 2024″, s’est inquiété le comité, qui a demandé au gouvernement de prendre rapidement des « mesures concrètes » pour régler cette question.


http://www.opex360.com/2015/01/03/rafale-linde-met-la-pression-sur-la-france-en-evoquant-lachat-davion-su-30-mki-supplementaires/

C'est Dallas ce contrat...........
Vivement le prochain épisode...........

Citation :

Indian Navy to acquire 127 / 64 LW guns from OTO Melara



The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed plans to procure 127mm lightweight (LW) guns from Italian firm OTO Melara.

As part of the $243.5m deal, OTO Melara will deliver 13 127mm guns, which will be integrated on indigenously designed and built Shivalik-class frigates and Delhi-class destroyers, IHS Janes reported

OTO Melara was the sole bidder after BAE Systems declined to participate with its 127mm / 62 calibre Mk45 naval gun system.

Designed to meet the requirements of naval fire support and long-range engagement of surface targets, the 127 / 64 LW naval gun, when integrated with Vulcano ammunition, reportedly provides high-level performance and target precision with limited reaction time.

The rapid-gun fire mount, which can be mounted on large and medium-sized vessels, can fire all standard 5in and Vulcano guided long-range ammunition and includes surface, naval gunfire and anti-aircraft firing capabilities.

However, the contract is yet to receive special clearance from the MoD's defence acquisition council (DAC). OTO Melara will also require a special endorsement from the DAC for the 127 / 64 LW gun, as it is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.

http://www.naval-technology.com

Citation :

HAL hands over overhauled Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft to IAF

Nasik: The first of the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter planes, overhauled within the country, was today handed over to the Indian Air Force by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Nasik, making India the only nation to re-do the Russian-made
aircraft.

The overhauling of the fighter, which is the backbone of the IAF, was done by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The company said the second aircraft is also ready for delivery.

The handing over coincided with 50 years of establishment of Nasik Division of the HAL.

On the occasion, Parrikar said India would continue to need fighter planes such as Su-30s due to not so friendly neighbourhood.

He urged the employees to keep-up the good work towards increasing the production capacity.

"We are one family and let us work together," he said.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said IAF would continue to depend on HAL heavily in future too.

"We both are inter-dependent," he said.

HAL chairman R K Tyagi said the second aircraft is ready for delivery.

A number of Su-30 fighters are being overhauled and HAL Nashik is only of its kind facility in the world for the purpose.

It has export prospect since nearly 10 countries have Su-30 fleet, an official statement said.

The twin-seater, long range, multi-role, air superiority Su-30 MKI aircraft are being overhauled at HAL Nashik for the first time in the world on completion of the specified TBO (Time between Overhaul) life, given to it after manufacturing.

http://www.firstpost.com

Citation :

Indian Navy Has 41 Ships, Submarines Under Construction: Navy Chief Dhowan

The Indian Navy has 41 ships and submarines under construction in Indian shipyards, the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Robin K Dhowan said in Bangalore yesterday.

“The Navy’s blueprint revolves around the ‘Make in India’ concept. In fact, the country is not new to this as India’s first indigenous ship was built in 1941. The Navy, at present, has no foreign orders anywhere”, the Navy Chief said.

He was speaking at the second annual Admiral R L Pereira Memorial Lecture organised by The Navy Foundation (Bengaluru), along with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

The admiral said that the ships and were being manufactured in both government owned and privately owned Indian dockyards.

Among the ships under construction is the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier on which the naval LCA Tejas aircraft will be based. The naval LCA underwent its ski jump trials in Goa recently and is scheduled to be launched along with the carrier in 2018.

The Indian Navy is bolstering its naval aviation arm and has already based the MiG-29K fighters based on the INS Vikramaditya carrier.

http://www.defenseworld.net

Citation :

French officials to visit India to rescue stalled Rafale jet deal



NEW DELHI, Jan 15:

A French delegation will visit New Delhi this month to try to salvage an agreement to supply 126 Rafale fighter jets to the Indian Air Force, in one of the world's biggest defence deals, which has hit a snag over the local assembly of the planes.

India is insisting that France's Dassault Aviation take full responsibility for the production of the aircraft at a state-ran facility in Bangalore under the 2012 bid offer, Indian defence ministry officials said.

France has said it will help Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd stick to delivery schedules, but that it cannot give guarantees for production of the aircraft made at a facility over which it has no administrative or expert control.

Military experts say the deal could cost India $20 billion, double the original estimate, because of the benchmarking of aircraft prices, a sharp drop in the value of the Indian rupee and a roughly 5 per cent annual cost increase.

The Rafale fighter beat the Swedish Gripen, the Russian MiG-35, the U.S.-built F-18 and F-16 and, finally, the Eurofighter, in a decade-long selection process for a new Indian multi-role combat aircraft, as Dassault was the lowest bidder on up-front and lifecycle costs over 40 years.

But three years on, the sides are far from signing the contract and an Indian defence source said price negotiations were on hold until the issue of licensed production was resolved in line with the original request for proposals (RFP) floated by the Indian defence ministry.

"We are saying that the RFP has to be honoured totally, there can't be deviations," said the source. "Once the RFP aspects are done, only then can we sit down for price negotiations."

An "empowered" delegation from France, with the authority to make decisions on key points rather than refer them back to Paris, is expected to arrive shortly to work on the disputed issues, according to the source.

Among the talking points will be French concerns that Indian military procurement authorities may impose conditions on the manufacture of the Rafale in addition to guarantees already given to Hindustan Aeronautics.

Both sides are keen to reach a conclusion before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits France in April.

Dassault and the French defence ministry declined to comment.

For the French, the deal would be a major boost for domestic defence manufacturing, with the first 18 Rafale planes built in France and the remaining 108 produced in India.

For the Indian Air Force, the planes are critical to arrest a decline in its operational preparedness, already down to 25 active fighter squadrons compared with a government’s approved strength of 42.

Half of the operational fleet are Mig-21 and MiG-27 planes due to retire beginning this year until 2024, a parliamentary defence committee said in a report last month, stressing the need for an early induction of new combat planes.

"The credibility of India (as an arms buyer) is already pretty shaky and it's going to get shakier (if they cancel the Rafale deal)," said Rahul Bedi, a defence analyst at IHS Jane's.

"It would be a big blow to the armed forces. The armed forces have been banking on the Rafale for a long time. They have said there is no plan B."

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