Armée Indienne / Indian Armed Forces

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Citation :

L'Inde veut cesser d'être le premier importateur mondial d'armement

L'inde de veut cesser d'être le premier importateur mondial d'armement et porter d'ici cinq ans à 70% la part de son équipement militaire produite sur son sol, a indiqué mercredi le Premier ministre indien Narendra Modi lors du salon aéronautique et de défense de Bangalore.

Le Premier ministre, qui a promis de relancer l'investissement, en particulier grâce à sa campagne "Make in India", a assuré que son gouvernement favoriserait les fournisseurs produisant en Inde lorsqu'il s'agira d'octroyer des contrats militaires.

"Nous avons la réputation d'être le premier importateur d'équipement militaire au monde", a-t-il dit à l'occasion du salon Aero India qui se tient tous les deux ans à Bangalore.

"C'est peut-être une musique qui est familière à certains d'entre vous présents ici. Mais c'est un domaine dans lequel nous aimerions ne pas être numéro un", a-t-il ajouté.

"Nous réformons notre politique d'approvisionnement en matériel de défense et allons accorder une préférence nette au matériel fabriqué en Inde", a dit Modi devant des centaines d'industriels indiens et étrangers.

L'Inde exprime depuis des décennies sa volonté de réduire sa dépendance envers l'industrie de défense étrangère mais n'y est pas parvenue, le pays devant en outre faire face à un équipement en voie d'obsolescence.

Depuis son arrivée au pouvoir en mai, le gouvernement de Modi a relevé à 49% la participation que peut détenir un investisseur étranger dans un groupe de défense en Inde.

Le Premier ministre a indiqué vouloir porter de 40% actuellement à 70% d'ici 2020 la production d'équipement matériel produite sur son sol.

"Une nation disposant d'une forte industrie de défense ne sera pas uniquement plus sûre. Elle en retirera également d'importants bénéfices économiques", a dit Modi.

"Environ 60% de notre matériel de défense continue d'être importé et nous dépensons des dizaines de milliards de dollars dans des acquisitions à l'étranger", a-t-il poursuivi.

"Certaines études montrent qu'une réduction de 20% à 25% de nos importations pourrait créer directement 100.000 à 120.000 emplois hautement qualifiés en Inde".

Le salon de Bangalore réunit des centaines de groupes de la défense et de l'aéronautique pendant cinq jours, notamment Dassault, Airbus ou Boeing.

Citation :

Le Rafale en phase d'atterrissage en Inde  


 Par Michel Cabirol avec agences |   17/04/2016      


"Les négociations sont au stade final mais aucun accord n'a encore été conclu", a indiqué le responsable indien
(Crédits : © Charles Platiau / Reuters)

Les négociations portant sur la vente de 36 Rafale à l'Inde sont en phase finale mais aucun accord n'a encore été conclu, selon un responsable du ministère indien de la Défense.


Les négociations portant sur la vente de 36 Rafale à l'Inde sont en phase finale mais aucun accord n'a encore été conclu, a indiqué vendredi un responsable du ministère indien de la Défense à l'AFP. Une déclaration à prendre avec quelques précautions tant l'Inde est un pays compliqué en matière de négociations sur ce type de contrat et très lent à se décider. Pour autant, elle est très positive pour la France au moment où les pays rivaux (Etats-Unis, Grande-Bretagne et Russie) s'agitaient à nouveau pour faire capoter les négociations. Bref, Dassault Aviation reste en pole-position avec le Rafale, qui reste l'avion de combat que veut l'armée de l'air indienne.

Selon la chaîne de télévision NDTV, l'Inde et la France se sont entendus sur un prix de 8,8 milliards de dollars (8 milliards d'euros) pour ces 36 appareils. Pour autant, des sources interrogées par La Tribune ces dernières semaines faisaient encore état d'un écart très important sur le prix de l'avion de combat entre New Delhi et Dassault Aviation. Le montant du contrat était alors évalué autour de 10 milliards d'euros, selon nos informations. Le prix constitue le dernier sujet d'achoppement pour la conclusion de ce contrat.


"Les négociations sont au stade final mais aucun accord n'a encore été conclu", a indiqué le responsable indien à l'AFP.

Un accord signé dans trois semaines?

L'accord serait signé d'ici à trois semaines et la livraison du premier appareil n'interviendrait pas avant 18 mois, indique pour sa part la chaine indienne sur son site internet. Ce qui est logique puisque la fabrication d'un Rafale s'étend sur trois ans environ. Le PDG de Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, qui avait revu à la baisse il y a quelques semaine le prix du contrat en réduisant la part du support et des pièces de rechange notamment, avait déclaré mercredi sur Radio Classique que le contrat pourrait être finalisé "dans les jours qui viennent". "J'ai bon espoir que ce contrat soit signé assez rapidement", avait-il précisé.

Dassault Aviation avait précisé fin janvier dans un communiqué lors de la visite de François Hollande en Inde le 25 janvier qu'un "accord complet" serait finalisé "sous quatre semaines". Un communiqué surprenant tant la maison Dassault ne s'avance jamais sur la conclusion d'un contrat. Une façon pour Eric Trappier de mettre la pression sur toutes les parties concernées - France, Inde et les industriels - et de les maintenir mobilisées sur la signature rapide d'un contrat, explique un bon connaisseur du dossier. Car ces dernières semaines, certaines sources estimaient que le contrat ne serait signé qu'en fin d'année, voire en 2017.

Dassault et ses partenaires investiront 50% du montant du contrat en Inde

Le ministère français de la Défense s'est refusé à tout commentaire, tout comme Dassault Aviation. La France et l'Inde avaient conclu fin janvier un accord intermédiaire sur cette acquisition de 36 Rafale à l'occasion de la visite de François Hollande en Inde, mais sans s'entendre sur les modalités financières. Le ministre indien de la Défense Manohar Parrikar avait assuré en février que les deux parties s'étaient entendues sur le fait que 50% du montant du contrat devrait être investi sur le sol indien.
Les tractations sur la vente de l'avion de combat français à l'Inde constituent depuis des années le fil rouge des relations entre les deux pays. Des négociations exclusives entre Dassault et l'Inde sur une commande plus large de 126 appareils avaient été ouvertes en janvier 2012 sans aboutir. Le Premier ministre indien Narendra Modi avait alors redimensionné ce contrat en annonçant en avril 2015 que l'Inde voulait acheter 36 Rafale prêts à l'emploi.

http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/le-rafale-en-phase-d-atterrissage-en-inde-564808.html  

Citation :

Inde : Sagem et OIS-AT créent une JV pour la production du AASM


Dans Actualité Défense
Publié le 21/04/2016 à 06h09, par Guillaume Belan


L'AASM a été développé spécialement pour le Rafale © Sagem


Alors que le contrat Rafale serait dans sa dernière ligne droite en Inde, l'industriel français Sagem annonce avoir signé un memorundum of understanding (MoU) avec l'industriel indien OIS-Advanced Technology pour la création d'une Joint Venture en Inde, en charge de la production locale des kits de bombes AASM (Armement Air Sol Modulaire) Hammer, bombes guidées autopropulsées qui équipent le Rafale

http://www.air-cosmos.com/inde-sagem-et-ois-at-creent-une-jv-pour-la-production-du-aasm-70187

Citation :

Rafale en Inde : l'accord est-il finalisé ?
Dans Actualité Défense, Actualité Focus
Publié le 21/04/2016 à 12h13, par Guillaume Belan




Les choses se précisent pour l'acquisition du Rafale par l'Inde. Et la communication devient de plus en plus officielle. Après diverses fuites dans la presse indienne ces derniers jours (relire ici), c'est aujourd'hui le BJP, le parti politique du premier ministre indien Narenda Modi qui communique. Sur sa page officielle Facebook (cliquez ici), le BJP annonce que l'accord a été trouvé entre les deux parties pour l'acquisition du Rafale. Le BJP met en avant le fait que le gouvernement indien a fait drastiquement baissé le prix du Rafale, économisant 3,2 Milliards de dollars. L'acquisition de 36 chasseurs français serait ainsi passé de 12 à 8,8 Mds de dollars !

C'est tout d'abord une excellente nouvelle pour l'avionneur et la défense française, Dassault transforme l'essai de l'export, après l'Egypte et le Qatar. D'autant plus que le contrat indien devrait en emporter d'autres dans son sillage, à l'instar de la Malaisie, qui a confiance dans le sérieux indien. Mais avant tout et encore à l'Inde, qui a toujours un besoin affiché de 126 chasseurs modernes. Un second contrat de plus de 90 avions incluant de la production locale « make in India » devrait suivre.

Concernant le prix ensuite, on imagine mal la partie française faire un cadeau de 3 milliards sans contrepartie ! Sans doute, le périmètre du contrat a t-il été revu et la partie indienne renoncé a certaines capacités, comme l'intégration d'armements nationaux...





http://www.air-cosmos.com/rafale-en-inde-l-accord-est-il-finalise-70203

Attendons parce qu'avec les Indiens c'est Dallas en version longue....

Gémini a écrit:

Attendons parce qu'avec les Indiens c'est Dallas en version longue....

Affirmatif ))))))))

Citation :

Russia has formally offered its S-400 Surface-to-air missile systems for $6 billion to India
Apr 22, 2016





Russia has formally offered its S-400 Surface-to-air missile systems for $6 billion to India.

A deal is likely to be signed within the next few weeks, the sources add. Russia could also commence delivering the S-400 missile defense system to China by the end of the year.

Russia and India were expected to sign an agreement on the sale of the systems in December 2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow for an annual summit.

Sources close to the situation tell RBTH that differences on the price held back the signing of an agreement.

The S-400 Triumf , previously known as S-300PMU-3, is an anti-aircraft weapon system developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau in the 1990s as an upgrade of the S-300 family. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007.

The S-400 uses three different missiles to cover its entire performance envelope. These are the extremely long range 40N6, long range 48N6 and medium range 9M96 missile.



http://defence-blog.com/news/russia-has-formally-offered-its-s-400-surface-to-air-missile-systems-for-6-billion-to-india.html

Citation :

Indian Army's assault rifle induction remains troubled

Rahul Bedi, New Delhi - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
25 April 2016

The Indian Army's efforts to procure assault rifles, as replacements for the locally designed Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56x45 mm calibre model, continue nearly six years after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) first approved the requirement.

In 2010 the army had rejected the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-designed INSAS rifle on the grounds of it being 'operationally inadequate'.

The army's immediate requirement is for 220,000 assault rifles and successive army chiefs had declared that inducting this basic infantry weapon was a 'top priority'. However, senior officers concede that the army's general staff qualitative requirements (GSQR) for multi-calibre assault rifles are unrealistic.

Citation :

India To Produce Precision-Guided Munitions Domestically
Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News 12 p.m. EDT April 25, 2016




NEW DELHI — For the first time a domestic company will produce precision-guided and laser bombs in India for the country's defense forces.

Emerging private firm OIS Advanced Technology (OIS-AT) will partner with Sagem of France to manufacture the munitions, which India currently import from Israel, France, Russia and the United States for its fighters.

"OIS-AT has teamed up with Sagem of France to establish manufacturing for precision-guided guidance kits to meet domestic requirements," said Sanjay Bhandari, chairman and managing director of OIS-AT. "Separately, we also have plans to establish manufacturing for advanced munitions to meet Indian Air Force (IAF) requirements."

"We are pleased to collaborate with OIS-AT with our combat-proven, high-precision, AASM Hammer Guidance and Range Extension kit for aerial munitions for the Indian Air Force. With OIS-AT we have a partner with a core focus and appreciation of advanced technologies and innovation to advance our joint interests for the Indian Air Force," Sagem CEO Martin Sion said.

Since "the Indian and foreign private sectors are signing up for the 'Make in India' drive in true earnest, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) should now repay this faith by placing orders in value and size that reinforce the belief of the investing parties," said Ankur Gupta, a defense analyst with Ernst and Young India, referring to the government's campaign to boost domestic production.

For a decade, MoD has been asking Indian companies to establish joint ventures to manufacture precision-guided munitions (PGM) in India for use by the Indian defense forces. However no deals were signed, partly due to the capital investments necessary for such ventures.

"With the evolving procurement environment, joint production of PGMs in India will be encouraged in the future," an MoD official said. "We aim to buy a variety of homemade PGMs costing around $2 billion in the next 10 years."

In addition, India's defense research agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is negotiating with Sagem for the joint development of the New General Guidance Munition (NGPGM), a 1000-kilogram-class bomb compatible with the Indian Air Force's Mirage-2000H/TH. But the proposal has made no headway.

IAF welcomes joint development and production of PGMs in India as India cannot develop and produce everything on its own, an IAF official said.

"The OIA-AT-Sagem collaboration will chart the course for the future," the IAF official added.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/asia-pacific/2016/04/25/india-produce-precision-guided-munitions-domestically/83489542/

Citation :

Russia is ready to supply India’s new aircraft carrier with fighter jets
Apr 25, 2016




If requested by the Indian Ministry of Defense, Russia is ready to deliver the necessary number of naval MiG-29K/KUB fighters for the new Indian aircraft carrier Vishal.

Recently, Indian media reported that Delhi has sent requests to four countries for proposals for the supply of fighter aircraft designed for the new aircraft carrier Vishal, which will serve as a base for more than 50 aircraft.

“Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG and the Indian Ministry of Defense are long-term partners bound by many years of successful cooperation. Of course we are ready to supply fighters for the new aircraft carrier,” said Anastasia Kravchenko, a representative of MiG, as reported by RIA Novosti.

She noted that, according to experts, the best option for the Indian Navy from a strategic and economic point of view would be to not diversify its fleet of carrier-based aircraft.

Currently, the Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya is armed with MiG-29K/KUB fighters. Russia is now completing a contract to supply India with 29 naval fighters. To date, 23 such aircraft have already been delivered to India.

India was the first customer to receive these fighters, even before the Russian Navy. The first contract for 16 aircraft was signed in 2004, and a second for 29 aircraft in 2010.

Naval MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighters are multipurpose 4 ++ generation aircraft designed to ensure the air defense of ships, attain dominance in the air, and strike surface and ground targets with precision weapons during the day and night and in all weather conditions.

For the carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB fighters, KRET enterprises have designed and produced several avionics systems, including the SUO-29K weapons control system and the Karat-B-29K integrated onboard control and registration system.

The naval MiG-29K/KUB fighters are also equipped with the modern multifunctional Zhuk-ME radar developed by KRET. These airborne radars have a greater range of viewing angles in azimuth, twice the detection range, less weight, and higher reliability. With a detection range of up to 200 km, Zhuk-ME can simultaneously track up to 10 air targets.

kret.com

http://defence-blog.com/news/russia-is-ready-to-supply-indias-new-aircraft-carrier-with-fighter-jets.html

Citation :

Factory Acceptance Test of ECA Group’s Converters for two Indian Navy Scorpene-class Submarines

As it had been done before in May 2015 for Indian Scorpene submarines 3 and 4, DCNS experts carried out the FAT of 8 ECA Group converters (2 x Static converter 60 kVA + 2 x Static converter 5 kVA per submarine), designed to be installed onboard Indian Scorpene submarines 5 and 6.






http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :

Russia, India Sign Agreement on S-400 Defense Systems Deliveries

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160427/1038700792/russia-india-s400.html#ixzz472BjQ6Va

Citation :

«Antonov» has signed a memorandum of cooperation with India
Apr 27, 2016


The Indian company Reliance Defence Limited and Ukrainian state-owned enterprise “Antonov” signed a memorandum of cooperation with the purpose of placing on the market of India of aircraft of different purposes on the basis of the AN-148 / AN-158 aircrafts.

ANTONOV or An class of aircraft have long served the Indian Air Force and Navy for over five decades. Currently, the IAF has more than 100 An-32 aircraft on its inventory having completed its last life cycle upgrade will be due for replacements. The partnership agreement would provide the benefits of quality and low cost solution for 50-80 seater aircraft through its core competencies.

The partnership of Reliance Defence and Antonov envisions design of fixed wing Military Aircraft configured for use in tactical as well strategic roles. Powered by two turbofan high fuel-efficiency jet engines, the medium lift aircraft is capable of short field runways operating from remote airfields with unpaved surfaces.

In the Indian civil aviation market, this medium category aircraft could effectively plug the gap in regional air transport connectivity to around 350 unused airstrips currently available across the country and is in consonance with the new draft Civil Aviation policy by MoCA.

Reliance Defence Limited, together with Antonov will participate in the tender of the Government of India for supply of aircraft. In case of winning the tender, which is scheduled for this summer, it plans to create a joint venture with the further localization of production in India.







http://defence-blog.com/news/antonov-has-signed-a-memorandum-of-cooperation-with-india.html

Citation :

Air Platforms
Indian navy deploys Dhruv helicopter to Maldives
Rahul Bedi, New Delhi - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
28 April 2016
The Indian Navy (IN) deployed one of its helicopters to the Maldives, along with a 33-member team, including officers and technicians on 27 April, to assist the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in coastal surveillance and reconnaissance.

In an official statement, the IN stated that the indigenously developed Dhruv Mk III Advanced Light Helicopter (AHL) will be based on Kadhdhoo island on the archipelago's Laamu Atol in central Maldives and would support MNDF communication, logistics, search and rescue and casualty evacuation missions.

Alongside, the IN contingent, which includes 13 technicians, will train MDNF pilots and engineering personnel to operate and maintain the ALH, ahead of eventually transferring its ownership to the MNDF by the year end who will then independently operate it.

Citation :

ndian Navy programmes face long delays, cost overruns

Rahul Bedi, New Delhi - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
29 April 2016

Key Points
Despite concerted efforts to 'indigenise' production, important programmes face cost overruns and significant delays adding to operational woes.
Systemic deficiencies, particularly procedural delays in finalising contracts, contribute to project postponements.
The Indian Navy's (IN's) focus on sourcing a large proportion of its platform requirements indigenously ignores delays and consequent cost overruns in almost all of its programmes.

"Some 46 ships and submarines are being built at private and public Indian shipyards, worth over INR1.37 trillion (USD20.75 billion)," IN Chief of Staff, Admiral R K Dhowan, declared at a joint Navy-Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) seminar in New Delhi on 18 April.

Citation :

AAAA
Longbow Mints Deal With India For Fire Control Radars

Jen Judson, Defense News
5 hours ago

ATLANTA — India has awarded a contract to Longbow LLC, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, for fire control radar systems with advanced air and ground targeting capabilities for the country's AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

The firm-fixed price, undefinitized foreign military sales contract comes to $57.1 million but could be worth up to $116.7 million, according to a statement released Saturday at the Aviation Association of America's Mission Solutions Summit.
The contract buys 12 Longbow FCR systems for the Indian Air Force and spares and production will last through early 2019.
“With Longbow FCR, the Indian Air Force will receive a rapid all-weather targeting capability,” Jim Messina, Longbow LLC’s president and director of Longbow programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement. “The FCR’s air over-watch mode provides aircrews with 360-degree situational awareness, improving survivability and mission success.”



http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/show-daily/aaaa/2016/04/30/longbow-mints-deal-india-longbow-fire-control-radars/83746682/

Cela démarre tous seul pour le 1er Scorpéne indien...
http://www.corlobe.tk/spip.php?article41107

Citation :

Le premier sous-marin Scorpène indien prend la mer






Le premier sous-marin Scorpène indien prend la mer
Publié le 02/05/2016 17:42
Le premier sous-marin Scorpène construit en Inde, le Kalvari, a effectué sa première sortie à la mer le dimanche 1er mai. Il s’agit d’une étape importante dans le programme qui porte sur la fabrication de six unités de ce type avec l’assistance technique du groupe français DCNS.

http://www.lemarin.fr/secteurs-activites/defense/25196-le-premier-sous-marin-scorpene-indien-prend-la-mer

Citation :

French Rafale Jet Fighter Deal Yet to Cross First Hurdle in India

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160503/1039015814/french-rafele-hundle.html#ixzz47cM4GyJg

Citation :

Tata Power SEO to provide its Rajak thermal imaging systems to the border Security Force


Tata Power's Strategic Engineering Division (Tata Power SEO) has received an order from the Border Security Force (BSF), Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India for the supply of Rajak TBC DN-1, its indigenously developed Hand Held Thermal Imaging Systems (HHTI) (Cooled Version). BSF is one of the premier forces of India using HHTls for border surveillance and has selected through a global tender Tata Power SED's Rajak TBC DN-1 Multi-Function Thermal lmager after extensive field trials.






http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :

India Crafts Naval Technology Plan
Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News 10:48 a.m. EDT May 3, 2016





Indian Navy warships are docked in Mumbai. (Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy has finalized a plan to acquire 100 cutting-edge technologies in the next 15 years to build its war-fighting capabilities, but how realistic that will be is a million-dollar question.

The 15-year prospective plan unveiled last month calls for acquiring a range of futuristic technologies. These include naval missiles and guns, propulsion and power generation, surveillance and detection systems, torpedoes and directed energy weapons, submarines and anti-submarine warfare systems, naval aviation, network-centric warfare and combat management systems.

"By 2027, we want 200 warships and around 600 aerial assets, hypersonic and loitering missiles, and laser weapons," said Rear Adm. Dinesh Tripathi, the Indian Navy's assistant chief of naval staff for policy and plans.

The navy has 138 warships and submarines and about 230 aerial assets, he said.

"In addition, we need to reduce import content for our sensors and weapons and need a high-range of hypersonic and loitering missiles and laser and directed energy weapons," Tripathi added.

Future naval technologies will be built domestically under the "Make in India" a "Indigenization" categories.

The Make in India policy encourages foreign defense companies to collaborate with Indian companies to set up manufacturing facilities for transfer and absorption of cutting-edge manufacturing technology. This is intended to boost jobs and skill development in the country.

The Indigenization policy is largely meant for domestic [defense] companies, encouraging them to develop products that are currently sourced through imports.

Analysts are divided about how this will work.

"It is true that whereas weapons and sensors and their associated software suites are concerned, there has been sub-optimal indigenization," said Pradeep Chauhan, a retired Indian Navy vice admiral.

Several electronic warfare suites, including Ajanta, Ellora and Porpoise, all of which are fitted on the Navy's latest frontline surface, airborne and subsurface combatants, and which are designed to detect the presence of enemy combatants without disclosing one's position or identity, are an unqualified success, he said.

Likewise, the Indian Navy's family of advanced underwater-sensors, including Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull mounted (APSOH), Hullmounted Sonar Advanced (HUMSA) and USHUS, are a huge success.

"In the future, high-definition radars, sonars, infra-red seeker and electronic warfare suites will be required," said Birinder Singh Randhawa, retired Indian Navy vice admiral said.

"Immediately, larger-caliber guns, 127mm and anti-missile guns (Vulcan Phalanx type), extended range and guided munitions would also be required. To start with these would need to be built under license," Randhawa said.

Chauhan further argues that the future cannot be assured by resting upon past success, particularly since both government and private industry spent pathetically small amounts of money on research and development.

To build future naval war-fighting capabilities, Chauhan said, the navy will need to acquire disruptive technologies, including electromagnetic rail guns and kinetic energy projectiles; laser-directed weapons, weapon-control systems and communication suites; hypersonic missiles and space planes; blue-green lasers for submarine detection; directed-energy weapons; autonomous advanced drones and unmanned combat vehicles that are truly autonomous and fusion-based power sources.

"However, aviation-based R&D in India has been particularly poorly funded and overseen," Chauhan said. "The only way that new naval aviation assets — such as carrier-borne fixed-wing aircraft, ship-borne multirole rotary-wing aircraft, ship/carrier-launched-and-recovered UAVs and UCAVs can be meaningfully built in India is through the Make in India program."

As regards the network-centric warfare capabilities, Randhawa said the building blocks are in place; data links are produced indigenously, and a naval communication satellite is in place. The capability can be built on and foreign collaboration may be resorted to for initial catch-up.

"The Indian Navy will also require directed energy weapons and laser weapon systems, Chauhan said. "The short-term answer is to exploit the potential of the 'Make in India' policy initiative. The long-term answer is to invest heavily in highly paying R&D."


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2016/05/03/india-crafts-naval-technology-plan/83816756/

Citation :

AgustaWestland Helicopter Corruption Charges Rock Indian Parliament
Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News 11:27 a.m. EDT May 4, 2016


NEW DELHI — Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament on Wednesday that the procurement process was circumvented in the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland UK — a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.

Parrikar was replying during a debate on the alleged corruption charges in the purchase of VVIP helicopters by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2010.

Last month a Milan, Italy, court ruled that the $553 million AgustaWestland contract for buying VVIP helicopters from Italian company Finmeccanica, signed in 2010, involved payoffs to Indian officials.




http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/industry/2016/05/04/agustawestland-helicopter-vvip-india-finmeccanica/83918252/

Citation :

AgustaWestland Scandal Casts Shadow on Rafale Deal
Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News 7:51 a.m. EDT May 5, 2016



NEW DELHI — The $8.9 billion deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from France will likely be delayed due to a AgustaWestland bribery scandal and a cautious government in India.

"The Ministry of Law and Justice has made certain observations (on the Rafale acquisition) and the same will be taken into account while finalizing the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), which is still under negotiation," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament on May 3.

Parrikar said bilateral negotiations on the Rafale deal have not been finalized.




http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/2016/05/05/agustawestland-rafale-france-india/83960240/