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defence and SecurIty of IndIa june 2013 DSI volume 5 ISSue 5 ` 250 FIRE POWER artillery moderniSation Modernisation of the artillery arm of the Indian Army is long overdue I Sk Chatterji MARITIME CAPABILITY indian navy: Submarine woeS With an SSBN almost ready to go into sea trials and SSN in the fleet, IN’s plans seems ambitious I anil jai Singh With expansive national interest, aerospace modernisation is a large arena of commercial opportunities I Sumit mukerji www.defencesecurityindia.com
Transcript
defence and SecurItyof IndIa
june 2013
DSIvolume 5 ISSue 5 ` 250
FIRE POWER
artillery moderniSation Modernisation of the artillery arm of the Indian Army is long overdue I Sk Chatterji
MARITIME CAPABILITY
indian navy: Submarine woeSWith an SSBN almost ready to go into sea trials and SSNin the fleet, IN’s plans seems ambitious I anil jai Singh
With expansive national interest, aerospace modernisation is a large arena of commercial opportunities I Sumit mukerji
www.defencesecurityindia.com
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JUNE 2013 DSI
1
LETTER FROM THE editor
AK Antony haslistened todomesticcompanies and hasgiven them a bigleverage byallowing themaccess to thearmed forces ‘LongTerm IntegratedPerspective Plan’(LTIPP) – this wouldallow the Indianprivate sector toplan ahead for thenext 15 years – uptill 2027.
Pinaki Bhattacharya
ome time in the 1980s, the Chinese leadership decided that to keep up with their force
modernisation plans, their domestic defence industrial architecture needed urgent
overhaul and made infinitely more quality conscious and supremely efficient. So they took
the strategy of throwing big money to them. Of course, they also wielded the stick so
that the chunks of money were not wheedled away for some people’s personal
gratification. The result was the J-20 and J-31, the fifth generation fighters that are
ready to give the US-made F-35 a run for its money.
The result was also the Varyag (Liaoning) aircraft carrier that was refitted and refurbished by the
Chinese, though the process took 13 years. But then the ship was a piece of junk bought from Ukraine
to be made into a floating casino, left moored at China’s sin city, Macau.
On the other hand, look at the Indian cooperative ventures like the Project 75 for Scorpene
submarines, or the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft or the 155 mm howitzer stories. They are
narratives of foreign vendors conflicting with domestic industries; inadequate funding; and politico-
bureacratic and military machinations.
Defence minister, AK Antony has sought to end all that with one ‘magic bullet’ – make and buy
in India. In the recent past he has even walked the talk. The Defence Procurement Procedure 2013,
(DPP ’13) released recently, is a major boost to Indian private and public sector. The placement of
the phrase ‘private sector’ to be situated before the ‘public sector’ was a conscious choice because the
minister has finally evened the playing field for the long neglected domestic private companies. They
had been complaining for long that the ministry’s bias in favour of the slothful and overloaded public
sector is hurting their chances.
Antony has listened to that and has given them a big leverage by allowing them access to the armed
forces ‘Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan’ (LTIPP) – this would allow the Indian private sector to
plan ahead for the next 15 years – up till 2027. It is time to see whether the private sector of a handful of
large players and an ever increasing numbers of small and medium enterprises (SME) can accompany
him on his walk to greater glory.
But one still has to see whether Antony and the defence ministry has got the big idea right: to do what
the Chinese did – throw money to the domestic industry, both public and private, and wield a big
stick to see that they deliver as promised. The SME sector in India, which has always worked quietly and
has done some tremendous tasks should become more profitable ancillaries that populate the
“ecosystem,” to borrow a word from the recently retired Scientific Adviser to the minister, VK
Saraswat’s lexicon.
S
CO
NTE
NTS
2
AEROSPACE SECTOR 6
INDIAN AEROSPACEOPPORTUNITIES : CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS With increased area of interest for the expansive Indian national interest,modernisation of the aerospace sector is a large arena of commercialopportunities with their attendant tests.
3
SMALL ARMS 24
india in sMaLL
arMs MarketThe country is a much sought afterpurchaser of small arms from theinternational bazaar, who needs toaccess the best of technology moneycan buy
FIRE POWER 18
artiLLery
MOdernisatiOn
and UPgradesModernisation of the artillery arm ofthe IA is long overdue. Last inductionof a major artillery gun were theBofors 155 mm in mid-1980s. To getnew ones, the time‘s now
MARITIME CAPABILITY 36
indian naVy:
sUbMarine
wOesWith an SSBN almost ready to go intosea trials and a SSN in the fleet, IN’splans seem ambitious
AERIAL WATCH 12
eVOLUtiOn Of india’s
airbOrne isrIndian Air Force has been involved in surveillance and reconnaisance activities ever since its inception in 1930s.
NIGHT VISION 30
fighting in
darknessThe importance of being able to fightin the night is increasing as theadversaries undertake asymmetricmethods
JUNE 2013 DSI
CONTRIBUTORS
ANIL BHAT
Anil Bhat, wascommissioned into 19thBattalion, The Madras
Regiment in 1972. A formerDefence Ministry
Directorate of PublicRelations he is recipient of
Vishisht Seva Medal.He wasResearch Fellow, Institutefor Defence Studies andAnalyses (2001-2003),
working on a new subject,Public Information andNational Security. Withresearch papers, articlesand book reviews in manyedited books, newspapers,magazines and journals, heis a syndicated columnist.
ANIL JAI SINGH
Commissioned in Jan 1981,Commodore Anil Jai Singhjoined the submarine arm inMar 1982 and had five afloatcommands and a wide arrayof appointments ashore. Hewas also the Indian Naval
Adviser in London and partof the perspective planning
and force developmentprocess in HQ IDS. He takes
keen interest in mattersmaritime and has written
and spoken on the subject inIndia and abroad.
SK CHATTERJI
Brigadier SK Chatterjeecommanded a brigade indeserts and also in areaswith active insurgency,which was followed by
handling the Army’s mediaengagement operations. He
has written a book calledVintage Guns of India, aMacmillan publication,
which is to be published andinclude a chapter namedEncyclopaedia of IndianArmy. He headed the
Corporate SocialResponsibility and Media
Communications function ofa corporate group and has
over 150 articles in various national and
international newspapersand journals, to his credit.
SUMIT MUKERJI
Air Marshal SumitMuk erji was
commissioned in 1972. AQualified Flying Instructor(Cat ‘A’), a Fighter CombatLeader, he first commanded
a MiG-29 Squadron, thesecond a MiG-25 Squadronand the third, the Tactics
and Air CombatDevelopment Establishment
of which he was theCommodore Commandant
for 5 yrs. He was awarded theShaurya Chakra for
Gallantry (peace time) in1981 and the VSM in 1997. He
medium. He is ConsultingEditor (Strategic Affairs) for
Business Standard and has been Consulting
Editor (Strategic Affairs) for NDTV, a reputed newsbroadcaster in India, forwhich he has anchored
prime time news and specialprogrammes. He is currently
working on a book on Sino-Indian frontier policy.
Rahul Bedi is the NewDelhi correspondent for
Jane’s Defence Weekly, UKand contributes to it on a
diverse range of security andmilitary related matters.
He is also the Indiacorrespondent for the DailyTelegraph, London and the
Irish Times.
RAHUL BEDI
S KRISHNASWAMY
Air Chief Marshal S K rishnaswamy is a
former Chief of the Air Staffand headed the Air Forceduring 2002-2004. He has
held many seniorappointments in the IAF –
that includes Deputy Chief,Vice Chief and Commander-in-Chief of three operational
Air Commands of the AirForce. He initiated and
headed major inductionsand programs for the IAF. He
is recipient of manydecorations and awards,among them the ‘AgniAward’ for outstanding
contribution to aeronautics.
Tejas flyingteam after oneof the manytest flights
AEROSPACE SECTOR
INDIAN AEROSPACEOPPORTUNITIES :CHALLENGES AND
PROSPECTS
SUMITMUKERJI
With increased area of interest for the expansiveIndian national interest, modernisation of the
aerospace sector is a large arena of commercialopportunities with their attendant tests.
07
South Asia, in the last decade, has
developed as one of the most unstable
regions in the world, essentially
because of the war on terror being conducted
by the Americans against the Taliban in
Afghanistan, the increasing effect of
fundamentalism being preached by such
groups and the perpetual political instability
in India’s neighbor states of Bangladesh,
Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The
“creeping in” of terror elements and Maoists
to create internal strife and the associated
influx of narcotics and small-arms maintain a
steady pressure on the Government of India to
be ever watchful and alert. The tense
environment due to the requirements of
internal security and the need to maintain a
sharp vigil against anti-national elements is a
maxim common to India and its immediate
neighbours.
Amidst this pressure to provide a certain
level of security and instill confidence
amongst the population, India is also
confronted with unfriendly neighbours who,
notwithstanding friendly peace moves which
happen at infrequent intervals, continue to
be belligerent and the shadow of conflict
always looms large and dark with respect to
Pakistan and China. A much maligned
government at the centre has only
compounded the problem by taking some
rather weak steps on border issues with
China and other political issues with
Pakistan, clearly indicating that its foreign
policy and consequently its overtures, are at
their lowest ebb.
In such a precarious scenario, the
vulnerability of the country is certainly
exposed and under the circumstances there is
a crying need to ensure that the Armed
Forces, or the ‘final bastion’ as one would say,
remain fortified.
Aerospace Modernisation
A few years ago our Prime Minister very
expansively declared that India’s area of
interest stretches from the Gulf of Hormuz
to the Straits of Malacca and from south of
the Siberian plains to the Indian Ocean. The
growing economy and industrialization as
also India’s thrust towards attaining a seat in
the UN Security Council are all symbolic of
the emergence of India as a regional power
and the Prime Minister’s statement is amply
justified in its geopolitical aspirations. With its
reach and fire-power, its flexibility and
mobility and its rapidity of deployment,
aerospace power, naturally, has become the
political choice of Armed Force to display its
power projection across the stated domain.
The Indian Air Force, the fourth largest Air
JUNE 2013 DSI
Key Points
n India is increasingly expanding itsareas of national interest, thus creatingnewer footprints.n Air Force is also trying to keep pacewith these changed circumstances bytaking on a strategic role.n Key joint ventures between Indianprivate sector units with PSU giants arepaving the way for a take-off
Force in the world, has grown in stature over
the years. From carrying a legacy of
aeroplanes, radars and weapon systems
acquired from the erstwhile Soviet Union, it is
today poised to branch out internationally,
acquiring state-of-the-art systems from
across the globe. Military assets go through
a determinate life cycle and in the case of
aviation assets, aeroplanes typically last for
a period of 30 years and radars about 20
years (at least the 3rd generation breed).
This, however, does not mean they are
discarded at that time. Almost all assets have
an inherent growth architecture which
permits the equipment to be upgraded, in
terms of software and systems and in some
cases, the hardware too. At around 2/3 its life
cycle, systems are generally upgraded which
effectively resuscitates a flagging system and
re-energizes it as a virtual “new model”. It
must be appreciated that upgradability has
to be built into the weapon system at the
design stage itself and therefore an up-
gradation can be undertaken by the Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) only. This is
clearly indicative of the dependency of a
country which imports most of its weapons
systems as against one that is self-reliant on its
indigenous capability.
Modernisation essentially entails infusion
of contemporary technologies which, in all
likelihood, have long gestation periods and
require large capital outlays. Therefore,
adequate forward planning and initiation is
done. In the Indian Armed Forces a Long
Term Perspective Plan (LTPP) is drawn up
by each service, spanning 15 yrs or more.
Since the introduction of HQ Integrated
Defence Staff (HQ IDS) into the procurement
process, LTPPs from all services are
integrated for purposes of commonality and
interoperability and put up as a Long Term
Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) to the
Government. It also becomes incumbent on
each individual service to “look into the
future” and predict with a certain level of
accuracy of “things to come” with respect to
modern war, thereby justifying their
procurement needs and the demands of
enormous funding from the Government.
Defence Procurement Procedure
(DPP)
Since enough has been written about the DPP
over the years, this chapter will not belabor
the subject but just present the types of
procurement for ease of connectivity and
perspective. The acquisition scheme in the
DPP is covered under the following
categories :
(a) Buy
(i) Buy Indian:- Indicates an outright
purchase from Indian vendors only.
(ii) Buy Global:- Outright purchase from
Global vendors.
(b) Make
Systems which are to be designed,
developed and produced in India.
(i) For Strategic or Security Sensitive
systems – which necessarily have to be
an “in-house” procedure, undertaken by
DRDO.
(ii) High Technology Systems –
undertaken by Defence Public Sector
Undertakings (DPSUs) or the Ordnance
Factory Board (OFB) or a consortia of
Indian industries.
(c) Buy and Make – A method whereby a
limited quantity is bought outright from
a foreign vendor followed by licensed
production in India.
(d) Buy and Make (Indian) –
A system which permits procurement
from Indian vendors or Indian Joint
Venture (JV) Companies which have
have been granted licensed production
arrangements from foreign OEMs. A
mandatory 50% indigenous content on
cost basis must be met, in this process.
(e) Under Inter-Governmental
Agreement –
A provision in the DPP allows for
procurements from friendly foreign
countries wherein the procurement need
not follow the standard procedure but
can be conducted under mutually agreed
procedures.
Indigenisation in Aerospace Business
The Industrial Revolution which enveloped
the western world enhanced economy and
productivity and saw growth and
advancement in technology, with a natural
extension to military application. The British
rule in India ensured that while they
progressed, no industrial development really
took place in India. In fact, resources were
siphoned off to bolster their own industries. So
while the rest of the world was being
industrialised, India continued the path of
agrarian or village based development. Thus,
on attaining independence, India, with its
very low industrial base and faced with
hostile neighbours, had to establish, de novo,
a military industry and embark on a path of
self-reliance. Without compromising its
operational imperatives, the need for the Air
Force was to find the optimum mix of direct
imports, licensed production and indigenous
development. Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL), thus created, had a daunting
task and decided to look at these three paths
towards future self-reliance.
In its early years, the IAF (unlike the
Navy) decided not to have an organic D&D
capability, despite there being no other
agency with such capability in this field. To
add insult to (self-inflicted) injury, the IAF
also decided to give up design certification
and quality assurance / inspection during
production and acceptance functions
–always the prerogative of the user. Having
relinquished such important responsibilities
to the bureaucrats, the IAF is now suffering
the consequences. It is now mandatory to not
only seek the advice of various D&D,
certification and inspection agencies while
formulating the basic Air Staff Requirements
(ASRs), but also to include these agencies as
participants during field trials and
evaluations. One can imagine the conflict
when a specialist’s role is undermined by
bureaucrats.
08
AEROSPACE SECTOR
Major IAF Assets 2020-2040
The last decade has seen a systematic
reduction in the strength of combat
aeroplanes and effective radar systems in the
IAF. The steady draw-down has been a little
alarming as the operational fighter squadron
strength reduced to as low as 60% of the
authorized figure. Faced with a two-front
threat scenario, this state of affairs is most
undesirable. The state-of-the-art Rafale from
Dassault, which has been selected as the
MMRCA for the IAF, along with the SU-
30MKI will form the backbone of the Indian
Air Force, taking it well into the middle of the
21st century. The SU-30MKI, license
produced by HAL, has firmly established
itself as the torch-bearer of the IAF’s fighting
elements. Its swing role capability and
awesome performance makes it a formidable
weapon system, the envy of any foreign Air
Force. The production line to supplement the
large numbers required by the IAF is well
established and HAL has its supply chain
firmly in place.
Because it did not meet the desired
specifications and the time period of delivery,
the IAF has ordered only 40 Tejas (LCA) from
HAL. However, it is hoped that in due course,
once the operationalisation commences,
greater trust and faith in HAL will prompt the
IAF to complete its commitment to purchase
200 such aeroplanes.
India has entered an ambitious plan to
jointly develop the Fifth Generation Fighter
Aircraft (FGFA) with Russia which will form
the fourth major fighter aircraft in the IAF
inventory. Although the pogram was entered
into quite late in its development (It is
believed Russia was already 80% into the
development program), India will get its
share of components and technology to
develop, as time goes by, thereby offering
immense opportunities to industry. The
FGFA will fill the void left behind by the
upgraded MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s.
There has hardly been any scope of
developing transport aircraft in the Indian
aviation industry. Therefore, they have all,
invariably, been purchased outright and we
are wholly dependent on the OEM in supply
chain management and sustenance. The
recent acquisition of the C-130 and the C-17
from Lockheed Martin and Boeing,
respectively, and the expected acquisitions of
the replacement for the aging AN-32s and HS-
748s will bring huge opportunities to industry.
Similar opportunities will be afforded in the
likely development and procurement of
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), which have
immense potential for growth. India is also
likely to see a massive influx of helicopters, not
India’s first LightCombat Aircraft,Tejas during anInitial OperationalClearance Procedure
DOMW) and would run co-terminus with the
main contract. The methodology is also
clearly defined in the clauses under “Avenues
for Discharge of Offset Obligations” (para 3.1
of Appx ‘D’). Some of these are:-
(a) Direct offsets (with a list of products and
services eligible).
(b) FDI in Joint Ventures with Indian
enterprises.
(c) Investment in “kind” e.g. Transfer of
Technology to Indian enterprises.
(d) Indirect offsets.
(e) Technology absorption by the DRDO in
areas of High Technology.
It is amply evident that the Govt of India is
keen to promote trade in the defence
business and is facilitating participation by
the industry. Having shed the shackles of
DRDO / DPSUs etc and venturing into the
private sector has been a most positive step.
A Clear Roadmap – Joint Ventures
The burgeoning defence industry in India is
throwing up immense possibilities for private
industry. As the tenth largest investor in
defence with an annual defence budget of $37
billion (almost 2% of GDP), India is one of
the biggest arms importers in the world. The
huge inductions in the aviation sector, with
126 MMRCA, 200+ FGFA co-developed with
Russia, LCA (and later MCA), Multi-Role
Transport Aircraft (MTA), C-17 Heavy
Tactical Aircraft (HETAC), P-8 Poseidon for
the Navy, additional C-130 / SU-30MKI /
AWACS, more than 150 helicopters (the list
seems endless), makes it the most lucrative. In
fact India is expected to spend more than
$150 billion on platforms only in the next 10-
15 years.
The government has determined that that
the best form of creating partnerships for
business and co-development of products,
especially in high technology areas, is
through Joint Ventures (JVs). However,
these are to be established by the Defence
PSUs. While the private players feel the
DPSUs have an unfair advantage since they
enjoy a monopoly for first rights on all
contacts, given the massive off-takes (in
billions of dollars), the need for transparency
and fair play offered by the DPSUs cannot be
over-emphasized.
In the immediate future the induction of
the MMRCA (Rafale), as an example, will
offer huge offset and joint venture
opportunities. With a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) having been executed
between Dassault and Reliance Industries,
some of the companies vying for other offset
opportunities are :-
(a) Tata Power, Tata Advanced Systems,
Rolta Thales –Avionics, Network Centric
Systems, C4ISR.
(b) Mahindra Aerospace –Aero structure
components, assembly of aircraft sub-
systems.
(c) Larsen & Toubro –Airborne assemblies
and systems.
(d) Punj Llyod Aviation / Dynamatic
Technologies / Taneja Aerospace
–Precision manufacturing, parts and
accessories of aircraft.
(e) SNECMA HAL, Turbomeca India
–Aero-engines.
(f) Magnum Aviation –Engine spares,
maintenance repair and overhaul
facilitation.
(g) Infotech Enterprises / Safran
Engineering Services –Life Cycle
Support, engineering and design.
Some major partnerships and joint
ventures which are on-going in the defence
arena are :-
(a) HAL / United Aircraft Corporation /
Rosoboronexport (ROE) –Multi-Role
Transport Aircraft.
(b) Tata Sons / Augusta Westland –AW 119
helicopters.
(c) BEL / Terma –Naval Radars, aircraft
self-protection systems.
(d) Axis Aerospace / ROE –Avionics
equipment for MiGs.
(e) Tata Advanced Systems / ELTA –Radar,
communications, electronic warfare.
(f) Mahindra & Mahindra / Telephonics
–Radar, surveillance, communication
systems.
(g) Tata Advanced Systems / Lockheed
Martin –Aero structures manufacturing,
D&D.
(h) Ashok Leyland / Paramount Group
–Mine protected vehicles.
MoUs will be the road for future joint
ventures and developing R&D or training
centers will build long term relationships in
the industry.
Defence Offsetagreements, the worldover, are legal trade
practices in theaerospace and military
industries and are subjectto each country’s offset
laws / public regulations /internal offset policies.
Often defence offsets aremore motivating than the
primary defenceacquisition, for personalor political reasons. Thismay seem irrational but itis a part of commerce. Asanyone can understand,the seller will include thecost of the “Envelope B.”
”
11
JUNE 2013 DSI
S KRISHNASWAMY
EVOLUTION
OF INDIA’S AIrbOrNE
ISr
AERIAL WATCH
12
Indian Air Force has been involved insurveillance and reconnaisance activitiesever since its inception in 1930s.
One of the fourEMB-1451AEW&C aircraftmanufactured forthe Indian Air Force
Air Power evolved in the Indian sub-
continent following similar
milestones as had occurred elsewhere
in the world, but India missed the balloon era
for any serious usage. ‘Observation from the
Air’ was the very first employment of air-
medium for military purposes. It provided
the advantage of maximum area to observe
with minimal obstruction and in relative
safety. The first recorded recce from a
balloon was done over Austria by the French
in 1794. Soon small bi-planes took over and
the exercise gradually got bloody and planes
started shooting each other down. During
World War-I, Air Recce operations had the
highest mortality rate and many of the crew
did not even have parachute.
Indian Air Force formed in 1932 and got its
first operational squadron in 1933. The very
first operational deployment of the Air Force
was reconnaissance over North West
Frontier Province to observe movement of
tribesmen. In Feb 1942, the Squadron was
moved to Burma and assigned to fly tactical
recce missions with Lysanders. Towards
giving a positive direction to the military in
India, Baron Chatfield chaired an Expert
Committee in 1938 on Defence of India and
recommended that India’s defence should
be re-focused more on her sea
communications and less on her North
Western Land Frontier. This was probably
the very first ‘strategic decision’ on defending
peninsular British colony (India) from sea-
borne threat. It was decided to raise five
flights on voluntary basis to defend the
principal ports. Five Coastal Defence Flights
were established one each at Madras,
Bombay, Calcutta, Karachi and Cochin; later
a sixth was formed at Vizag. These were
equipped with ex-RAF Wapitis. The IAF
Volunteer Reserve (VR) was given
dilapidated machines like Audaxes and
Blenheims which eventually moved to
patrolling Rangoon. Thus was born the first
Maritime Patrol Flights of Indian Military.
JUNE 2013 DSI
Key Points
n Indian Air Force was established bythe British colonial power to be taskedimmediately for ISR on NWFP.n 'Intelligence failure' has been foundto be the reason each time India wasdragged into war, without advance info.n The advent of the AWACS andindigenous AEWs have improved thesituation substantially.
13
Dire Needs
In India’s experience with nationhood,
protecting national territory became a
challenge and an emotional issue since such
threat occurred many times in its brief
history. The country had to go to war a couple
of times to defend its territory and had
unsettled boundary with practically all its
neighbors. Indian citizens in border-towns
adjoining these countries lived
uncomfortably. Thus, protecting national
territory became the single military strategy
for India; in modern world rarely any country
of similar size faced such severe pressures as
India in guarding its territorial integrity.
Interestingly, attacks on India’s border or
coastline occurred most surreptitiously with
little warning. In 1948, Pakistani troops
dressed as local Mujahideens invaded
Kashmir and again 1965 it was once again
similar with simultaneous incursion in
Kutch. In 1999 Pakistani troops walked into
Kargil. There have been number of border
disputes with Bangladesh. China forcibly
annexed some 40,000 sq km of territory in
1962 and their moves were not anticipated.
There have been other innumerable
occasions that led to tension at the borders
and cross-border terrorist attack on Indian
soil in recent times. Gone were the days of
Baron Chatfield view of sub-continental
strategy that threat to India would be
invasion (Japanese) from the sea. The threat
now is multi-prong attacks to capture
territory across Himalayas and serious
nuisance and attrition from sea-borne threat.
Besides, India’s prestige among nations
especially in the region has taken a beating.
‘Intelligence Failure’ was termed as the cause
for India being surprised repeatedly by
adversaries. Extensive and intense collection
of adversarial dispositions, activities and
analysis of likely intention are aspects of
Intelligence gathering. Organization and
elements that are involved in these activities
must be of state-of-art and well trained which
obviously require continued effort. In the
Indian context, these have been at best
sporadic. Some of the key elements that
provide the desired intelligence form part of
Aerospace Surveillance. In recent times,
India has substantially upgraded capabilities
in this area. The priority is to avoid costly
military engagements through timely
information on the intention of potential
aggressors.
A Strategic Reconnaissance (SR) Force
was created in 1957 with the induction of
Canberra PR57. These carried sophisticated
array of cameras and had an accurate
navigation system. The aircraft, designed in
1946 could fly at such altitude that many
fighters of the day could not reach. Typically,
photo missions were done at 40,000 ft and
above. The Indian Air Force utilized this
force extensively for 50 years during which
few more were added and some
improvements were done on the Recce
system. The SR Force was augmented with
modified light transport aircraft and
executive jets that carried special cameras
and sensors. The next major addition came
25 years later – the MIG-25. The ‘tri-sonic’
aircraft, that could fly close to three times the
speed of sound flew at twice the altitude of
Canberra but had much lower endurance. It
carried special cameras and for the first time,
electronic sensors were added on the
Strategic Recce package. These aircraft
brought back huge rolls of films that had to
be analysed painstakingly. A sizable
organization backed the effort with
professional analysts and an effective storage
and retrieval system. Technological advances
have now replaced films to digital media that
could record and instantaneously transmit
to a ground station without having to spend
hours on film process and analysis. The
sensors utilized on these legacy systems could
function only in day-light conditions and in
clear weather. The SR Force was always
manned by professional and dedicated
members known for skills and courage. In
1959, a CanberraPR57 was shot down in
Pakistan close to Rawalpindi while on an SR
mission. In the world of SR, history is full of
outstanding effort and achievements.
Famous among them were the U-2 missions
flown by USAF and CIA. Garry Power was
shot down near Moscow that caused most
severe tension between the two super-
powers. Interestingly, he took off from
AERIAL WATCH
14
An aerostat balloonas the airborneplatform to supportcommunications relay
AJB
Pakistan on his long mission into Soviet
Union. The USAF recce missions exposed
Russian missiles deployed across Cuba that
were capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The exposure had dramatic ripple effect but
proved effective in preventing nuclear
confrontation between US and Soviet Union.
The most highly decorated officers of Indian
Air Force belonged to SR community who
had displayed extraordinary skills and
courage. Secrecy prevented bringing out
details of work done by them but they
certainly laid the tradition that is now
pursued. In terms of equipment, major
advances have taken place. Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) is advanced ground-
mapping radar with amazing resolution that
takes ‘pictures’ as good as conventional photo
systems. The SAR could be used at night and
also over thin clouds. These should be in
service of the Air Force by now.
Maritime Recce(MR) missions are similar
to SR but the recce is done of all that floats
and moves under-surface at Sea. These
aircraft have long endurance; some can stay as
long as 24hrs on mission! They transit long
distances and have special features like
shutting off an engine during patrolling to
improve endurance. They carry special
sensors like radar tuned to detect sea-targets
such as Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD),
Sonobuoys, Electronic Support Measure
(ESM) sensors and environment sensors
which are integrated to get a comprehensive
picture and a massive data-base to compare
and label each one of these. They also carry
flares and can launch torpedoes and other
armament against sea-targets. In early 50’s,
the Indian Air Force flew refurbished
Liberator bombers on MR missions over long
duration missions. These were subsequently
replaced by L-1049 Super-constellation that
were acquired from Air India and modified.
Indian Navy took over these aircraft and
started to independently operate MR
missions. Russian IL-38 MR aircraft were
introduced in early 80s which gave an insight
to Russian MR Technology and operations.
These were improved through modifications,
much of it indigenously to extract maximum
benefit out of the old airframe. This was
followed in 1988 by an order for eight TU-142
MR aircraft from Russia. These were
upgraded with Israeli radar and other
improved sensors that would keep the
aircraft operationally viable till about 2016.
Indian Navy continued to explore better MR
aircraft and consequently has recently
acquired eight P-8I MR aircraft, one among
the most sophisticated MR aircraft in the
world. This would also carry the latest
advanced Harpoon-II air-to-sea missiles.
The MR carries almost all sensors carried by
an SR aircraft but optimized for sea
surveillance. Managing MR Force require
sophisticated and expensive network centers
that would also process and analyze results
on-line. This is important to quickly evaluate
the scenario and analyze threats. MR
operations could equally be challenging as
SR. One of Pakistani Atlantique aircraft on
a recce mission was shot down by the Indian
Air Force over Kutch in 1999 when it entered
Indian airspace.
Glorious Past
Fighter Recce (FR) is the more glamorous
end of reconnaissance. Two Squadrons
Vampire-55 were specially modified to carry
photo-recce equipment in place of the seat
on the right. Subsequently, a flight of Hunter
aircraft was modified carrying cameras on
the nose-cone. Mystere IVA was similarly
modified and a squadron was converted to
FR role. Extensive work was done on MIG-21
to adapt to FR role. A famous test pilot, who
flight tested the modification at the
commencement of 1971 war, flew this aircraft
singly with no escort, crisscrossing Pakistan
territory! That required skills and plenty of
courage and he had both! Some of the
Sukhoi-7s were fitted with FR cameras and
these did impressive work. Significant work
was undertaken to give night FR capability.
Hunters and few other aircraft were modified
to carry Infra-Red-Line-Scan cameras.
These imposed severe restriction on speed
and maneuvers to assure high quality of
picture. FR pilots were trained differently;
they are expected to observe and describe the
target on landing in great detail. The training
was intense but during 80s, the skills could
not be focused as dedicated FR squadrons
gave way to dispersion of FR assets to many
routine operational units.
The UAVs inducted in early 2000 were
the new addition of providing intelligence
over short ranges. DRDO is experimenting
long range UAV and UCAV that may take a
while to reach flight stage. There is a strong
case for UCAV to operate over the hills of
Himalayas but the turbulence levels are too
high for UAV mission to be safe and effective.
Serious research would be necessary for
effective operation of UAVs in the mountains.
UAV helicopter could possibly have a more
effective utilisation for logistics support. So
far, it is only a concept.
SR and FR work merges during
operations. The pressure is the time gap
between sensors to shooter. The Recce is
the sensor and shooter is the strike force
which is expected to engage targets
obtained from the Recce report. Traditional
methods required a day to analyze the
results and identify target to engage; but
never less than about 8hrs. In Afghanistan
and Iraq, US forces achieved sensor-shooter
timing less than 8 minutes or less! This was
made possible by advanced sensors,
analysis and communication systems.
Some Fighter aircraft like the SU-30MKI
could fly as long as 10 hrs with in-flight
refueling and could function as good as an
SR vehicle. Pictures could be downloaded
including navigation data while the aircraft
is in flight and analysed within minutes.
These are some of the major advances that
JUNE 2013 DSI
The country had to go to war a couple of times to
defend its territory andhad unsettled boundary
with practically all its neighbors. Indian
citizens in border-townsadjoining these countries
lived uncomfortably.Thus, protecting
national territory becamethe single militarystrategy for India;
in modern world rarelyany country of similar
size faced such severe pressures as India in guarding itsterritorial integrity.
”15
have taken place recently. It is a challenge to
reduce the sensor-shooter time gap in
Indian context due to structures that tend
to work in traditional silos lacking
integrated approach. Major upgrade would
be necessary in communication network
and procedures.
Electronic Support and Counter
Measures
Electronic Surveillance/Electronic Support
Measures are a part of Electronic Warfare
on which major upgrade has taken place.
The Air Force operates dedicated long
endurance aircraft fitted with Electronic
Intelligence (ELINT) equipment and special
operators on-board the aircraft. In addition,
ground-based ESM units pick up
transmissions and serve as gap-fillers and
are transportable. The combined assets
gather detailed information on adversaries’
electronic transmissions that include
various kinds of radars and command and
communication network. Just as SR, ESM
information is downloaded to ground-
centers for further analysis and action. In
the current inventory of aircraft, each
combat aircraft is equipped to gather
certain relevant ESM information which
helps to confirm and consolidate. This
requires extensive and well integrated
organisational support that would traverse
multiple organizational structures. The
military operates Aerostat balloons that are
tethered to carry ELINT/Surveillance
payload at a height of around 15,000ft.
These provide extended range and are
effective. However, stormy weather could
adversely affect the tether and during
operations, these have to be well defended.
Among EW suit is the more sophisticated
Jammers – that could jam radars and
communication network over brief periods.
Our armed forces do possess these but
require constant upgrade and validation.
Combination of SR, FR and ESM
operations provide good information for
choosing targets for strike elements. During
the wars that the IAF participated, a sizable
number of missions failed due to incorrect
information of targets, some did not even
exist. Some aircraft were lost due to heavy
enemy ground fire or air opposition that
were not anticipated. Attrition was quite
high because the aircrew hung around too
long to search for targets and were ill
informed about target defences. It is
sincerely hoped that the improved and
upgraded system would, besides reducing
sensor-shooter time, would also address
detailed target information and defences.
The latest in the inventory that would
enhance effectiveness is the Airborne
Warning and Control System (AWACS) and
Airborne Early Warning (AEW). The AEW
is less sophisticated and smaller. Both carry
surveillance radar fitted on the airframe that
helps to detect enemy air activity deep inside
his territory. These elements pass on real-
time information to own defences and
interceptor aircraft. AWACS has additional
control function to perform. The aerial
platform is linked to ground operations
centre and to aircraft in air. The AWACS
control fighters on interception (of enemy
aircraft) and warn own defences and bases of
the approach of enemy aircraft. These also
carry a good array of ESM that provide
complete picture of the enemy’s dispositions.
The Air Force has three of these. When India
had no access to acquire AWACS due to
denial-regimes, the DRDO initiated a project
to learn to design and develop such aerial
platform. The first experiment was to mount
a radome on a HS-748 airframe. BAE
Systems designed the radar head and gave
other design support. The project was
successful. This was later extended to mount
radar inside the radome. During one of the
trials, the radome came off and the aircraft
crashed killing all on-board. This was a
tragedy that should have been avoidable.
This project had no direct contribution to
developing AWACS or AEW indigenously. In
2004, DRDO and IAF jointly embarked on a
project to develop an AEW and mount it on
airframe (Embraer aircraft). By this time,
DRDO had learnt the art of phased-array
technology and were confident to develop the
AEW. India expects six AEW to join the
inventory of IAF through DRDO design.
AERIAL WATCH
16
Fighter Recce (FR) is themore glamorous end ofreconnaissance. Two
Squadrons Vampire-55 werespecially modified to carryphoto-recce equipment in
place of the seat on theright. Subsequently, a flight
of Hunter aircraft wasmodified carrying camerason the nose-cone. MystereIVA was similarly modified
and a squadron wasconverted to FR role.
”
An aerostatbeing launched
US
DO
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EEAASSTT--EEAASSTT RREELLAATTIIOONNINDIA AND EAST ASIAEast and South-East Asia becoming a strategic
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INDIA’S SUBMARINE STORY
ENDEMIC SHORTAGESLike artillery procurement, Indian Navy’s sub
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DEFENCE and SECURITYof INDIA
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FFIIRREE PPOOWWEERR
ARTILLERY MODERNISATION Modernisation of the artillery arm of the Indian Army is long overdue I SK CHATTERJEEMMAARRIITTIIMMEE CCAAPPAABBIILLIITTYY
INDIAN NAVY: SUBMARINE WOESWith an SSBN almost ready to go into sea trials and SSNin the fleet, IN’s plans seems ambitious I ANIL JAI SINGH
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Page 1
The
m
T
Mystere
I
Many countrieshave adoptedNexter’s CAESARartillery system
MODERNISATION
Modernisation of the artillery arm of the IA is long overdue. Last induction of a major ARTILLERY MODERNIs
18
Contrary to the often misquoted
popular perception that Artillery’s
first usage in the Indian sub-
continent was in the Battle of Panipat, the
guns actually roared first in 1368 AD under
the Bahmani Kings of Deccan. Modern
Indian Artillery units were raised by the
Britishers during World War I. Post-
independence, the British Indian artillery
assets were sub-divided with both India and
Pakistan inheriting a mix of calibre in terms
of motors, guns and howitzers. The Indian
artillery continued with its assorted
inventory to fight the battle in Kashmir in
1948 and thereafter the inglorious
Sino–Indian conflict, 1962. The same mix
of artillery was used in the Indo-Pak
conflict, 1965.
Early Modernisation Efforts
The first major new equipment induction
was the 105mm Field Gun that ranged a
maximum of 17 km. A lighter variant, the
Light Field Gun was manufactured for the
mountain divisions. During this era the
Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Co-
operation was the mainstay of our defence
preparedness. The Russian 130 mm
Medium Gun became the standard
equipment for medium artillery regiments.
A robust gun that hurls a projectile weighing
over 30 kg to almost 27.5 km, the 130 mm
continues to remain our primary medium
artillery gun.
Rocket artillery was inducted with BM
21 Grad Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers.
The equipment has 40 tubes that can fire
the entire salvo in 20 seconds to a maximum
distance of 21 km. At this stage, the
surveillance radar remained the Stentor
with its maximum range of 60 km, while
mortar locating radar FAX150 was
gradually being replaced by the British
Cymbeline Mortar Locating Radars.
Induction of 155 mm FH 77 B
Bofors Gun
Also in the inventory were a host of guns like
the 3.7 inch, 5.5 inch, and 7.2 inch
howitzers, 120 and 160 mm Mortars, 122
mm Field Guns, 75/24 Pack Howitzers. The
equipment at this stage was old and
required a major overhaul. It was in the
mid-1980s that the first major
modernisation of guns was undertaken with
the induction of 155mm FH77B Field
Howitzers (Bofors) of Swedish origin. The
induction of the Bofors gun with its
computerised fire control equipment was a
quantum leap for Indian Artillery.
Notwithstanding the storm that the
kickback allegations blew up, till date
nobody has questioned the versatility and
robustness of this equipment. A total of 410
pieces were purchased that served to raise
approximately 21 medium regiments which
were assigned to either mountain or
mechanized formations.
JUNE 2013 DSI
artillery gun were the Bofors 155 mm in mid-1980s. To get new ones, the time‘s now ATION AND UPGRADEs
SK CHATTERJI
Key Points
n The first major induction into theartillery arm was the Russian 130 mmmedium field gun.n The 155 mm Bofors gun was theperfect long range artillery gun thatcame into hands of the Indian Army.n Ever since the controversy with thegun, the country has not been able toprocure modern artillery.
19
Nexter
The Bofors kickbacks soon rose to cast its
shadow over big-ticket defence equipment
procurement plans. The storm that it created
led to a hands-off approach, shunning even
the technology transfer agreement that was
integral to the Bofors deal.
Revolution in Military Affairs and
Artillery
The induction of technology in the
battlefield enhanced the pace of Revolution
in Military Affairs (RMA). Battlefields were
becoming more transparent with
surveillance providing real time
engagement possibility. Wars were
transforming into shorter engagements
with rapid deployment of forces. The
contact, intermediate and depth battle had to
be fought simultaneously. The emphasis
was shifting to winning the depth battle
first. Resources of the nation as a whole had
to be mobilised.
RMA also imposed a new set of
requirements for Artillery in battlefield. The
necessity of fighting the depth battle called
for enhancement in ranges. Transparency
of battlefield required varied platforms for
deployment of surveillance resource.
Increased lethality called for precision
munitions. Mobility required a variety of
terrain specific equipment.
Changing Nature of Conflict and
Artillery
The changing nature of conflict also needs
attention before deciding on a
modernisation programme. There is a
decline in probability of conventional
conflicts and simultaneous spurt in non-
conventional conflicts. However, the
possibilities of territorial disputes leading to
border wars that quickly escalate will need
to be catered for. Conventional forces, hence,
especially in Indian circumstances will need
to be maintained at high states of readiness.
Thus the likelihood of major wars being
fought in the mountains remains a greater
probability. Territorial gains will remain a
priority of all contestants in such cases.
Operations in mountains call for
overwhelming superiority in firepower.
Assault by fire will need to precede the
attempts by manoeuvre elements to wrest
territorial objectives.
In a defensive scenario, artillery will
need to interdict the enemy’s movement in
depth and fire assaults will attempt to break
his force cohesion before he is able to
initiate his contact battle.
Our conventional battles will be fought
under a nuclear overhang. Deep
penetrations may breach the opponent’s
nuclear threshold. Attrition in depth by
firepower would be the more viable
alternative.
To achieve these requirements there
would be need to acquire targets in depth,
allocate the correct platforms for
engagement and use smart munitions to
ensure attrition.
There is also a requirement to upgrade
the first salvo effectiveness to ensure an
enemy capable of rapid evasive action is
attrited adequately. Such ability calls for a
higher percentage of smart ammunition, a
reliable communications based on an
Artillery Command, Control and
Communications System that is ably
MODERNISATION
20
Elbit System’sATMOS 2000getting readyto fire
elb
it s
ys
te
ms
supported by a responsivebattlefield surveillancesystem in a net centricenvironment.
Artillery Weapons Philosophy
Globally, 155mm is today accepted as theoptimum calibre. Our requirement ofdestruction vis-à-vis neutralisation ofyesteryears leads us to adoption of 155 mm asthe basic calibre. However, we have toacquire a whole family of variants tospecifically address our diverse terrain andoperational needs; light howitzers formountains, towed variety for plains, trackedand self-propelled version for deserts andmortars especially in our mountainformations to enable reverse slopeengagement using their high trajectory.
Rocket artillery with its enhanced range isimportant to our inventory to fight theintermediate and the depth battle. Missilesneed to be a part of the arsenal to undertakedestruction of economic targets in depth,interdiction of deep chokepoints,communication nodes and command and
control elements that may beidentified as organs intrinsic tothe enemy’s Centre of Gravity.
The systems have to be provided adequate information andintelligence through a battle field surveillancesystem with surveillance platforms that areground, aerial, shore and sea based.
Finally, an integration of the sensors andshooters through a decision making agencycapable of resource manipulation andallocation, authorising engagement of hostiletargets is essential. This link would have tobe provided by the Artillery CommandControl and Communication Systemfunctioning in a networked environment.
The Current and not-so-current
Acquisition Initiatives
The Field Artillery Modernisation Plan wasinitiated in 2000. All 220 artillery regimentsof the Indian army were to undergomodernisation by 2025. Notwithstanding thestagnation experienced in procurement ofguns, rocket artillery has received a boost. Theindigenous 214 mm multi-barrel rocket
launcher Pinaka was inducted in the Army in1996. The launcher has 12 tubes that rangeupto 39/40 km. Pinaka also led to the privateplayers playing a substantial role in the defencesector. In 2005, the Army placed an order for40 Pinakas on TATA Power and L&T.
Russian Smerch heavy multiple barrelrocket launchers was also inducted. Thesystem fires a 300mm rocket weighing inthe region of 285 kg to a distance between70 to 90 km.
A major weakness has been ourcapability in locating enemy artillery. Whilethe British Cymbeline provided thecapability in detection of mortars, it did notlocate guns. The induction of a good gunlocating radar was delayed for variousreasons including the sanctions postPokharan tests of 1998. It was only in July2002, when it was realised that 80% of ourcasualties in Kargil operations were onaccount of enemy artillery fire that an orderfor eight ANTPQ 37 Gun Locating Radarswere placed through the Foreign MilitarySales (FMS) programme of the US. Later,the order was increased to 12.
JUNE 2013 DSI
It was in the mid-1980s thatthe first major
modernisation of guns wasundertaken with the
induction of 155mm FH77BField Howitzers (Bofors) of
Swedish origin. Theinduction of the Bofors gunwith its computerised firecontrol equipment was aquantum leap for Indian
Artillery. Notwithstandingthe storm that the kickbackallegations blew up, till
M777 155 mm/ 39 Calibre Ultra-Light How 145 290 7 Regiments155mm/52 Calibre Towed How 400 1180 80 Regiments155mm/52 Calibre Tracked Self-propelled How 100 - 5 Regiments155mm/52 Calibre Wheeled Self-propelled How 180 - 9 Regiments155mm/ 52 Calibre Mounted How 200 614 40 Regiments
Total 1025 2084 151 RegimentsHowitzers Howitzers (18 Howitzers make
a Regiment)
JUNE 2013 DSI
23
Self-Propelled Wheeled Howitzers
The estimated requirement of such a variety
is 180 pieces. The 155mm/52 calibre variant
being sought is best suited for plains and
semi-desert terrain. As on date, there is not
even an RFP seeking response, nor has the
DRDO been tasked to get into the business.
Apparently, nothing much can be expected
in the next five years, even if DRDO was to be
successful in delivering its current mandate.
Vehicle Mounted Howitzers
There is also a requirement perceived of
truck mounted 155 mm howitzers. As of
now no RFPs asking for any details are out.
TATA has displayed a truck mounted
version using a Denel barrel. It can range up
to 40 km.
Upgunning of 130mm Guns
The process of upgunning went quite
smoothly with Soltam providing the kit for
Russian 130mm to 155mm/ 52 calibre,
thus enhancing the range to 40 km. A total
of 180 guns have been upgraded. The
programme has faced hurdles with Soltam
coming under a cloud; however, the
process needs to continue to upgrade 300
more guns. A decision to open the contract
to private players has also been taken by
the Defence Acquisition Council. If
completed, it will be a shot in the arm for
the artillery.
Induction of Missiles
The induction of missiles has definitely been
quite impressive. Given the fact that the
missiles were indigenous, it definitely calls
for doffing the hat to DRDO. For a change
the organisation has offered products and
not just promises. Prithvi missile regiments
are functional. Their phased induction in
1995-2000, has paid off. The phased
induction of Brahmos was also started in
2007 with three operational regiments now.
Agni III, the nuclear-capable, 3,500 km
range missile, capable of carrying a large
variety of warheads from decoys to nuclear
ones, ranging between 600 to 1800 kg, has
passed all tests. Media reports and
statements of MoD indicate the raising of a
missile group with Agni III integral to it.
Artillery Command, Control and
Communication System
The system is already under deployment
and provides the network required to cut
down on deployment time, firepower
allocation and integration of sub-systems.
The Way Ahead
The recent Chinese incursion near Daulat
Beg Oldie, Ladakh and the increasingly
proximate timelines of International
Security Assistance Force’s withdrawal from
Afghanistan, paint a picture of enhanced
threat. The Army and the MoD have tried to
address the issues; however the much
needed vigor is barely obvious. The old
workhorse of the artillery remains a good,
versatile, long range, standardised calibre
gun. The deficiencies are conspicuous
enough in this area, to be rated as alarming.
Among certain steps underway and
measures considered essential are:-
• The OFB’s 155 mm/ 39 calibre gun based
on transfer of technology as part of the
Bofors deal should be put through trials
process and inducted as a replacement
for off road 155 mm guns.
• OFB to speed up the design of a 155 mm/
52 calibre gun. Private players like TATA,
L&T with requisite expertise need to be
brought into the ambit.
• Upgunning of 130 mm guns to be rapidly
pursued for the entire lot, preferably
through private players.
• Closing the deal for 155 mm light field
howitzers with the US government.
• Policy decision on percentages of
precision ammunition holdings and its
procurement.
• Authorizing RPVs to SATA Regiments.
• Enhance UAV assets and cater for
arming Herons with state of art missile
systems to convert the UAVs to
Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles.
• Indigenous production of bi-modular
charge systems to economise on
ammunition and reduce barrel wear.
Laydown timelines percentages of
precision ammunition holdings.
• Bring in accountability in DRDO.
• Integrate MoD with the service HQ in
letter and spirit for the Defence Minister
to get his inputs from professionals.
Soldiers fire anM777 lightweighthowitzer during alive-fire mission
bA
E s
ys
tE
ms
An Indianpoliceman standsalert during anencounter inSrinagar
SMALL ARMS
24
The Indian army plans on equipping its
359 infantry battalions, over 100
counter insurgency units and Special
Forces (SF) with a modular, multi-calibre
suite of small arms through imports and local
licensed manufacture in one of the world’s
largest such contracts worth $7-8 billion.
Acquiring these weapon systems is part of
the army’s long-postponed Future-Infantry
Soldier as a System (F-INSAS) that aims at
deploying a fully-networked, all-terrain and
all-weather force with enhanced firepower
and mobility for the digitalised battlefield.
The paramilitaries, deployed against Maoists
and Kashmiri insurgents too are similarly are
seeking to replace their obsolete small arms
albeit in smaller numbers.
Following delayed field trials last summer
at the Infantry School at Mhow, Pokhran and
Leh, the army is presently evaluating four
5.56mm close quarter battle (CQB) carbines of
which it will acquire 44,618 to replace its
outdated 9mm model and 33.6 million
rounds of ammunition for around Rs 20
billion. The army’s immediate requirement
is for 160,080 carbines.
Concurrently, the army is technically
assessing five competing multi-calibre
5.56mmx45mm assault rifles (ARs) ahead of
trials expected sometime later this year.
Urgently in need of 218,320 ARs, it aims to
import 66,000 of them from one of the
competing vendors for around $300 million
to replace the locally developed Indian Small
Arms System (INSAS) 5.56mmx45mm AR
which it has reluctantly employed since the
mid-1990s, but now discarded. The army
chief, General Bikram Singh has accorded
high priority to procuring both weapon
systems swiftly.
The requirement for these two basic
infantry weapons is expected to increase to
around 2-3 million pieces as they would
eventually be issued to most paramilitary
JUNE 2013 DSI
Key Points
n Indian Army needs to equip about400 battalions with small armspotentially costing billions of dollars. n Israel appears to be a good bet forprocuring close quarter battleweapons and assault weapons.n The DRDO is believed to have failed to deliver an effective assaultweapon.
25
IndIa InSmall armS marketThe country is a much sought after purchaser ofsmall arms from the international bazaar, who needsto access the best of technology money can buy
RAHUL BEDI
AFP
units and even provincial police forces. In due
course both forces are expected to employ the
same weaponry as the army as part of the
revamped national security grid for
deployment on counter insurgency (COIN)
duty.
Contenders for the CQB carbine contract
feature Israel Weapon Industries (IWIs) Galil
carbine, Baretta of Italy’s ARX-160 and
USA’s Colt and Sig Sauer’s M4 and SG516
patrol rifle’s respectively. Military sources
said one of these four carbines is likely to be
down-selected by the year-end and a contract
inked thereafter.
The deal includes a transfer of technology
(ToT) to the state-run Ordnance Factory
Board (OFB) to locally build 380,000-
400,000 carbines. Each weapon is expected to
weigh less than 3kg and be capable of firing
600 rounds per minute to a minimum range
of 200m in extreme cold and hot climates.
The short-listed carbine will also be equipped
with Picatinny rail-mounted reflex and
passive night sights, visible and invisible laser
spot designators and multi-purpose
detachable bayonets.
Competing for the AR contract are
Baretta’s ARX-160, Colt’s Combat Rifle,
Czeca of the Czech Republic’s CZ805 model,
IWI’s ACE1 and Sig Sauer’s SIG 570MBR.
The November 2011 tender for the AR’s
requires the weapon system to weigh no
more than 3.6kg, fire both 5.56x45mm
rounds-including the Indian OFB’s SS109-
and 7.62mmx39mm projectiles with a barrel
and magazine switch for employment in a
stand-alone defensive or suppressive fire
role. Fitted with Picatiny Rail-mounted reflex
sights the ARs are also required to be
equipped with day scopes and 40mm low-
velocity under barrel grenade launchers
(UBGLs).
Armament industry sources said other
than Baretta’s ARX-160 which is in service
with the Italian, Mexican, Chilean, South
African and Canadian armies, the other four
competitors have specially developed the
multi-calibre ARs for the Indian tender.
Launched in 2008 initially for the Italian
armed forces as part of the Soldato Futuro
(Future Soldier) programme, the caliber of
the ARX-160 mated with the GLX-160
companion single-shot 40mm NATO low-
velocity UBGL (weighing under 1kg) can be
effortlessly changed without tools from
5.56mmx45mm to 7.62x39mm or
7.62x51mm even in complete darkness. The
weapon's unique features include
ambidextrous safeties, magazine catches and
charging handle and the ability to fluently
switch which side spent casings are ejected.
And, last year the Border Security Force
(BSF) began inducting some 37,000 Baretta
Mx4 Storm 9x19mm submachine guns
(SMGs) it acquired after extensive field trials.
Earlier in mid-2011 the Home Ministry
acquired some 12000 Heckler and Koch
(H&K) MP5 SMGs for not only the National
Security Guard but also paramilitaries like
the Central Reserve Police Force, the Indo-
Tibetan Border Police and the Central
Industrial Security Force.
Like the carbine, the selected AR vendor
too will transfer technology to the OFB to
build the rifle under licence; both are also
mandated to indigenously defray 30 per cent of
the total contract value in offsets under India’s
Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP).
Private sector defence industry
manufacturers, however, have expressed
‘disappointment’ over licensed
manufacture of the AR’s and the CQB
carbines being undertaken by the OFB
despite the Ministry of Defence’s (MoDs)
repeated assertions of privatising the
country’s military-industrial sector.
“The narrative of importing materiel as
opposed to the DRDO designing and the
equally inefficient OFB building even
fundamental weapon systems is best
illustrated in the tortuous saga of ARs and
carbines” former Lieutenant General Vijay
Kapoor said. Attempts to indigenise even this
basic requirement essential to the infantry
soldier, he lamented, has failed.
In December 2012 Defence Minister A K
Antony told parliament that the INSAS AR
would be replaced as over years “technological
development had created more superior
rifles”. A few months later in February 2013
he reiterated that maximum indigenisation
of military hardware was the ultimate answer
SMALL ARMS
26
to “avoid controversies and to
ensure that the Indian taxpayer’s
money is not lost to greedy players
in the arms business”.
To boost the indigenous
availability of military goods the MoD is soon
expected to announce a revised DPP which
favours a level playing field for private sector
manufacturers. Raising the foreign direct
investment in the military sector from 26%
to 49% too is reportedly under consideration.
Antony urged the Services, whose
operational requirements and equipment
modernisation plans were frequently delayed
by weapon import scandals, to source their
equipment needs locally. “Import should be
the last resort” Antony categorically declared in
response to alleged improprieties in the $750
million import of 12 AgustaWestland AW101
helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The
helicopter procurement is presently under
inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) and a Joint Parliament
Committee (JPC).
Despite Antony’s ambitious
pronouncements, the Indian
army faces little choice but to
imminently import carbines and ARs as its
torturous association with the INSAS
programme has proven operationally
disastrous. For its part the army had
repeatedly objected to inducting the INSAS
AR in the mid-1990’s to replace the heavier
and outmoded range of 7.62mm FNFAL self-
loading rifles being manufactured locally
under licence. Its objections were centered
round the ARs bulging barrels, frequent
breakdown of moving metal parts and cracks
in its composite material and plastic
magazines when employed in Kashmir’s
freezing climate and Rajasthan’s searing hot
temperatures.
But, as always the army was presented a
fait accompli by the MoD and forced into
inducting into service the troublesome
INSAS AR that took the DRDO over eight
years to design and the OFB another three to
begin manufacturing. Front line infantry and
Rashtriya Rifles (RR) units deployed on
COIN duties, however, preferred the tested
Kalishnikov-designed 7.62x39mm AK47 of
which 100,000 were imported from Bulgaria
in the early 1990s for $8.3 million as a ‘stop
gap’ measure till the INSAS AR became fully
operational.
The DRDO’s decision to develop the
INSAS range of weapons in the early 1980’s
followed a proposal by the MoD to import
around 8000 5.56x39mm ARs for select
parachute regiments that later converted to
SF. Germany’s Heckler & Koch with its G41
AR, Steyr of Austria’s AUG model and UK
Royal Ordnance’s-later BAE Systems-SA80
were short-listed for trials. All three offered a
transfer of technology on easy terms if their
product was selected.
JUNE 2013 DSI
27
An Indian armysoldier stands guard
with a Light MachineGun (LMG) at aborder village
Acquiring these weaponsystems is part of the
army’s long-postponedFuture-Infantry Soldier as a
System that aims atdeploying a fully-
networked, all-terrain andall-weather force with
enhanced firepower andmobility for the digitalised
battlefield. Theparamilitaries, deployed
against Maoists andKashmiri insurgents too are
similarly are seeking toreplace their obsolete small
arms albeit in smallernumbers....(at) delayed field
trials last summer... thearmy is presently evaluatingfour 5.56mm CQB carbines
”AFP
Thereafter, the army’s requirements
doubled and India’s cash-strapped federal
government rejected the import proposal
worth a mere $4.5 million. Meanwhile, the
DRDO, claiming to have made progress in
developing its own 5.56x45mm AR at its
Armaments Research and Development
Establishment in Pune stepped in and amidst
great fanfare undertook to make good the
army’s small arms requirements under the
INSAS programme. The project also included
developing a light machine gun (LMG),
carbine and sniper rifle, all of which were
abruptly abandoned.
It eventually took nearly 15 years for the
INSAS AR project to fructify and experts
claimed the weapon system that emerged
was an ‘amalgam’ of several models-the
Russian AK47, the G41, AUG and SA80
designs. It was also not in consonance with
modern engineering production techniques
which, in turn rendered it expensive as
producing it necessitated importing
expensive machinery.
The project was delayed further by at least
2-3 years after the DRDO inexplicably
insisted on developing OFB SS-109 an
extended variant of the SS-109 NATO-
standard 5.56mm cartridge aimed at
achieving marginally longer range, wholly
unnecessary for a close quarter battle
weapon. This time consuming superfluity
pushed back the programme as it
necessitated the import of specialised and
expensive German machinery besides
compelling the ‘stop gap’ import of millions of
rounds of 5.56mm ammunition from Israel.
The INSAS AR was eventually priced at
around INR 20,000 per rifle compared to the
imported Bulgarian AK 47’s which at the time
cost around $93 or Rs 2790 each. “The
INSAS AR remained a non-competitive
weapon system and the army became a tied
customer with little choice but to pay the
asking price for it however high that might
be and despite whatever operational
objections it had to the rifle” former Major
General Sheru Thapliyal said. For, unlike the
financially accountable private sector, the
OFB's costing is flexible; being government-
owned their manpower is considered "free"
and cost, delays and technological overruns
matter little, he added.
The INSAS ARs inadequacy also became a
contentious issue between India and Nepal
in August 2005 when the Royal Nepal Army
(RNA) claimed the rifle supplied to it to battle
Maoist guerilla’s repeatedly malfunctioned,
resulting in heavy casualties. The RNA
claimed that the AR “became too hot” and
unusable for sustained firing during a
particular firefight at Pili in Kalikot district,
600km west of the capital Kathmandu in
which 43 soldiers died. Reacting irately to
these charges, Indian officials said the INSAS
rifles might have failed due to poor
maintenance and the RNA’s lack of
experience in using them aggravating tension
between the neighbouring defence
establishments.
With the INSAS AR proving itself
inefficient, the army in 2002 inked a deal to
import around 3070 Israeli Weapon
Industries (IWI) 5.56x45mmmm Tavor-21
AR (TAR-21s) with reflex sights and 40mm
under slung grenade launchers for its SF for
around $22 million that were eventually
inducted into service 6-7 years later following
contractual complications. An add-on order
for another 1000 TAR-21’s followed in 2008
and like the earlier imports came with
SMALL ARMS
28
Indian paramilitarytroops from CentralReserve Police Force are seen withassault rifles
AFP
‘modifications’ to their bull pup design.
Sights were supplied by Israel’s International
Technical Lasers whilst Turkey provided the
40mm M203 UBGLs.
Earlier, Israel Military Industries (IMI)-
whose small arms division was privatised in
2005 to become IWI-had supplied 300-400
TAR-21’s with UBGLs for around $2 million to
India’s Special Frontier Force (SFF). The SFF
is a quasi-military SF unit employed by the
Research and Analysis Wing and the
Intelligence Bureau for clandestine missions.
The Central Reserve Police Force too received
some 1500 TAR-21’s around the same time.
Meanwhile, by mid-2013 the army is
expected to re-tender for around 1200-1500
12-guage shotguns and around 1100-1200
sniper rifles for its SF. Earlier tenders for both
were scrapped due to a combination of
imprecise General Staff Qualitative
Requirements (GSQRs) or technical
parameters and administrative errors by the
MoD following trials conducted locally and
overseas between 2010 and 2011. Under its
Integrated Combat System, the Indian Navy
too is seeking to procure some 200 sniper
rifles which will also be covered by the
proposed RFP.
The deadline under the MoDs Fast Track
Procurement (FTP) to import sniper rifles for
the SF expired in December 2010 with
Finland’s bolt-action SAKO TRG-22/24, IWIs
semi-automatic Galil 7.62x54mm sniper
model and Sig Sauer of USA’s SSG 3000 bolt-
action, magazine-fed rifle, vying for the $10-12
million contract. Of the three rival models the
SF and the SFF had imported 130 Galil
sniping rifles and some 450,000 rounds of
ammunition in 2005 for over $1.4 million.
Comparative trials for the rival sniper
rifles were conducted in late 2010 in the
respective countries by an Indian army team
led by a two-star officer and additional orders
were anticipated to augment India’s anti-
insurgency operations. Sig Sauer, however,
under a special MoD dispensation carried out
firing trials at the Infantry school, Mhow in
April 2011 but even then its SSG 3000 model
was reportedly not tested to the required
optimum range of 800-1000m in both day
and night conditions.
Thereafter, the entire sniper acquisition
project was inexplicably shelved despite its
FTP status under which procurements in
keeping with DPP/MoD guidelines are to be
affected in 12-14 months after the RFP is
dispatched as the operational requirement
for it is urgent. A fresh RFP in support of the
sniper rifles is expected soon.
Army sources said the GSQRs outlined for
the sniper rifles in the August 2009 RFP were
at best imprecise as they failed to mandate
an accuracy standard at a minimum strike
range of 800m but surprisingly required the
weapon systems to be fitted with a bayonet.
The RFP also did not differentiate between
a bolt-action or semi-automatic model.
Instead, it demanded an undefined capability
requiring the rifle to fire either one or five
rounds, a facility open to interpretation by
vendors producing either of the two models
to suit their commercial interests.
In the related procurement of single
barrel, pump action 12-gauge shotguns of
which the SF are acquiring around 800 for
around $ 4.4 million, two Baretta
subsidiaries-Beneli in Italy and Stoeger in
Turkey-competed in a shootout in August
2010. But a clerical error in the RFP defining
the exact shotgun gauge in mm rendered the
trials for them infructuous.
Alongside, the purchase of 1536 Brugger &
Thomet 9mm submachine guns (SMG) for
select “Ghatak” infantry commando platoons
and 1.3 million rounds of accompanying
ammunition for an estimated $4.4 million
initiated nearly three years ago also under
FTP procedures, too awaits closure. The
Swiss-made SMG was selected in 2011
followed by price negotiations and the inking
of a contract, but the army is yet to take
delivery of the weapons despite their
supposed urgent operational requirement.
The army is also imminently dispatching a
global RFP for some 1500-2000 light weight
anti-materiel or ‘bunker busting’ rifles, eight
years after earlier imports of 700 such
systems and 398,000 rounds of ammunition
from Denel of South Africa were summarily
cancelled following allegations of kickbacks.
Denel was consequently blacklisted.
The army had inducted only 300 of 700
NTW-20 Anti Materiel Rifles (AMR)
contracted for when allegations of
wrongdoing by Denel in securing the contract
surfaced in mid-2005. The newly elected
Congress Party-led federal coalition ordered
a CBI probe into reports of Denel having used
proscribed defence agents to facilitate the
deal. Over years little emerged from the CBI
inquiry, but Denel continues to be banned
from conducting business in India, limiting
for the army the number of varied military
equipment suppliers particularly with regard
to howitzers.
In 2007-08 the Ordnance Factory Trichy
with the Defence Research Development
Organisation collaboration developed a
limited series of the reverse engineered
NTW-20 AMRs called ‘Vidhwansak’
(Destroyer) capable of firing three different
types of ammunition-12.7x108mm,
14.5x114mm and 20x82mm by changing the
rifles barrel, bolt and scope. But the manually
actuated bolt-action AMR with ranges
varying between 1300m and 1800m weighed
like its original over 31 kg requiring a two-
solider crew to transport and operate it.
It was rejected by the army on grounds of
being too cumbersome. The GSQR for a new
AMR, meanwhile, requires the system to
weigh 15kg and be capable of destroying
enemy bunkers, other field fortifications,
“soft-skinned” armoured vehicles and low-
flying helicopters 1000m away. Army sources
said an unspecified number of AMRs will be
acquired off the shelf and the remainder built
under licence, in all probability by the OFB.
Infantry units also require over 14,000
7.62x51mm light machine guns-40 for each
battalion-with a strike range of 800-1000m
but lighter than the ones weighing 7.3kg
currently in service.
JUNE 2013 DSI
Earlier, Israel MilitaryIndustries (IMI)- whosesmall arms division was
privatised in 2005 tobecome IWI-had
supplied 300-400 TAR-21’s with UBGLs foraround $2 million to
India’s Special FrontierForce (SFF). The SFF is a
quasi-military SF unitemployed by the
Research and AnalysisWing and the
Intelligence Bureau forclandestine missions
”29
30
darkness
NIGHT VISION
fighting in
ITT Exelis was the solesupplier of the PSQ-20but is competing withfour potential suppliersfor supply the follow onSENVG devices
ITT E
xE
lIs
The first commercial night vision device
was developed by Dr. Vladimir K.
Zworykin working for the Radio
Corporation of America and was intended for
civilian use. At that time infra-red was
commonly called black light, a term later
restricted to ultraviolet. It was not a success
due to its size and cost. Developed by AEG
since in 1935, the first military night vision
devices were introduced by the German army
in 1939. In mid 1943, first tests of infrared
night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and
telescopic rangefinders mounted on the
Panzer tank came into being.
Sperber FG 1250 (Sparrow Hawk), with
range up to 600 m, was made up of one 30 cm
infrared searchlight and image converter
operated by the commander. From late 1944 to
March 1945, some Panzerkampfwagen V
Panzer Ausf G (and other variants) mounted
with FG 1250, were successfully tested. By the
end of World War II, the German army had
equipped approximately about 60 Panzer
tanks, which saw combat on both the Eastern
and Western Fronts. The "Vampir" man-
portable system for infantrymen was being
used with Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifles.
Development of night vision systems
began in the USA too with the M1 and M3
infrared night sighting devices, also known as
the "sniperscope" or "snooperscope",
introduced by the US Army in World War II
and also used in the Korean War, to assist
snipers. They were active devices, using a
large infrared light source to targets. Their
image intensifier tubes functioned using an
anode and an S-1 photo-cathode ray tubes,
made primarily of silver, caesium, and oxygen
and an electrostatic inversion with electron
acceleration were used to achieve gain.
In India the various clients for night vision
devices (NVDs) are Army, Navy, Air Force and
Coast Guard, all of which come under the
Defence Ministry. The Army being the largest of
clients needs NVDs for its tanks, infantry
combat vehicles, artillery, air defence,
engineers and for infantry, every soldier must
have a NVD. Under Ministry of Home Affairs
the many clients requiring NVDs are the
Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central
Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border
Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Industrial
Security Force and state police forces.
On the priority list for getting equipped
with NVDs are police forces of states under
threat of Left Wing Extremism, i.e.
Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra,
Karanataka, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Police of other states also in need of NVDs
are Jammu and Kashmir and the North
Eastern states, particularly, Manipur,
Assam and Nagaland.
For the Indian Army, which, equipped
with World War II vintage tanks, in two wars
of 1965 and 1971 caused severe attrition of
then quite modern US made Patton tanks
doled out to Pakistan army, with British
Centurian tanks. All actions involving firing of
tanks’ main guns were during daylight.
Earlier, during the first India-Pakistan war
of 1947-48, the few American Stuart tanks
transported by road to Zoji La and French
AMX-13 tanks similarly transported to high
altitude during the 1962 Sino-Indian war,
were also not involved in any night firing
mode. However, post 1971 it was felt that
Indian Army’s tanks must have night firing
capability and for the first time infra-red
night sights were acquired and fitted on the
indigenously produced Vijayanta and Soviet
Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks.
Apart from the short range, the infra-red
sights were active – in other words, they
could be detected once they were switched
on. Even with the acquisition of the very
capable T-72 tanks, Indian Army remained
quite handicapped for night vision capability.
The reasons for this major deficiency lasting
for decades are mostly to do with the lack of
strategic vision, apathy and dithering by the
politico-bureaucratic establishment, which
became even more of an obstacle after the
Bofors scam and over a decade later, the
Tehelka non-scam (a ‘sting’ operation,
without an actual sale or purchase).
Excerpt of an article in USA Today
demonstrates the advantage night vision
capabilities provided to US troops on the
ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It was
Christmas Eve 2007, and US Army Rangers
were searching for suspected Al-Qaeda
members in Mosul, Iraq. Using their night
vision goggles to avoid alerting the enemy, the
Rangers found 2 Al-Qaeda suspects who were
holding an 11-year-old Iraqi boy hostage.
Thanks to their night vision capabilities, they
were able to shoot the suspects without
harming the boy. After that encounter, a
firefight erupted between the Army rangers
ANIL BHAT
JUNE 2013 DSI
Key Points
n Like so much of many other warmaking technologies, the Germanswere the pioneers of night vision tech.n The early NVDson T-72 tanksinstalled were a failure as the devicesmade the tanks easy targets.n Now is the time when the country is thinking big of equipping all armswith NVDs.
31
The importance of being able to fight in the night is increasing as theadversaries undertake asymmetric methods
and Al-Qaeda insurgents, with 10 insurgents
killed, including the head of an assassination
cell. Army ranger losses was zero. As former
General Barry McCaffrey, commander of the
US Army’s 24th Infantry Division in the 1991
Desert Storm conflict, commented: ‘Our
night vision capability provided the single
greatest mismatch of the war’.”
Former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor,
was quoted by Frontier India saying: “Indian
Army’s tanks have a night vision capability
of 20 percent while Pakistanis have 80
percent and China has 100 percent”. At long
last, in early April 2013, India’s Defence
Ministry approved a Rs 2,820 crore (Rs 28.2
billion) proposal to provide night-vision
devices to the Army to enable its tanks and
infantry combat vehicles to have capability
to fight in both day and night conditions.
Reportedly, a meeting of the Defence
Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by
Defence Minister A K Antony also approved
proposals to upgrade the 130 mm artillery
guns of the Army along with amendments in
procurement procedure to boost
indigenisation in defence production.
India’s mechanized forces remained
deprived of full-fledged night fighting
capability for decades after 1971. After infra-
red came the image intensifier (II), that too
only for the tank commander catering for a
mere 500 metres of vision range. BMPs did
not have gunner’s sights and only some of
them had thermal imagers (TI) for launching
missiles only. The T-72s initially had no
night sights for the gunner. It is only in the
past 3 to 4 years that they have been
provided with the Thermal Imager Stand
Alone Sight (TISAS). It is this government
sanction, which will fulfill the important
requirement of an effective night sight for
the T-72 tank commander. In the T-90 (an
improved version of T-72), the current tank
commander’s night sight, which can only be
effective for 500-700 metres, will be able to
achieve a visual range of 4000-5000 metres
with the new NVDs. And what will be more
important is that with this night sight, the
tank commanders will be able to fire the
main gun themselves from their seat at
ranges of 4000-5000 metres.
Indian Army currently has about 20
regiments of T-90 tanks and over the next 7 to
8 years may have 8 -9 more regiments. Out
of the over 2400 T-72 tanks, 40-50% have
been combat improved as Ajeya, with better
communications systems and explosive
reactive armour.
Inaugurating a two day Seminar on Night
Fighting Capability organized by the
Dehradun based Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
laboratory ‘Instruments Research &
Development Establishment (IRDE), in the
last week of April 2013, Minister of State for
Defence Jitendra Singh had said: “There is
a need to change the approach from
‘acquiring technology’ to ‘development of
technology’ in order to achieve desired level
of indigenisation. The aim should be to equip
the Indian Armed forces with state-of-the-
art equipments to bring them at par with the
world leaders.”
He was addressing a galaxy of senior
officials from armed forces, production
agencies, industry from India and abroad and
scientists from DRDO and academia.
Appreciating the strides made in indigenous
design and development and production of
equipment to enhance night fighting
capabilities, Mr. Singh emphasised on self-
reliance in the field of instrumentation and
to reduce the import content to a minimum.
He also emphasized the need of greater
synergy among different stakeholders in the
process of development i.e. DRDO, Public
sector & private industry.
Stressing on the need to further improve
indigenous capabilities in this area, he said,
“we are facing incursions from across the
land borders and there is need to have early
warning systems to handle such situations
more effectively.” A monograph on Electro
Optical/Infra Red technologies brought out by
NIGHT VISION
Post 1971 it was felt thatIndian Army’s tanks musthave night firing capabilityand for the first time infra-
red night sights wereacquired and fitted on theindigenously producedVijayanta and Soviet
Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks. Apart from the short range,the infra-red sights were
active – in other words, theycould be detected oncethey were switched on.
Even with the acquisition ofthe very capable T-72 tanks,
Indian Army remainedquite handicapped for night
”
32
Thales optronicsLucie-Dimagery goggle
IRDE, Dehradun was released by Mr. Singhon this occasion.
Tracing the development of NVDs byDRDO from its earliest days, Dr. V KSaraswat, Scientific Adviser to DefenceMinister, Secretary Department of DefenceR&D and DG DRDO highlighted theachievements of DRDO in the field of electro-optics. He also mentioned about thedevelopment of Thermal Imaging basedcommander’s sight for T-72 and T-90 tanks aswell as BMPs. Mentioning about the progressmade by IRDE in this critical area, he gavethe example of recently developed IntegratedMulti Function Sight that weighs within 3.5kg, as compared to the 1st generation devicesof similar nature that used to weigh around55 kg. He emphasised the need to strengthenthe country’s manufacturing infrastructureso that systems like advanced ThermalDetectors could be produced indigenously,for which he said, “Our biggest weakness isthe availability of infrared imaging detectorfabrication facilities.”
Attending this seminar were seniorofficers from the Armed Forces, Ordnancefactories, PSUs like Bharat Electronics andprivate sector partners. Eight foreign firmsfrom France, Belgium, Greece, Israel,Netherlands & USA also participated andexhibited their products. A variety of ThermalImagers covering wide range of applicationsfor Army, Navy & Air force. electro-optic firecontrol systems (EOFCS) for navy, HHTI(hand-held thermal imager) with LRF (laserrange finder), Commander’s Thermal Imagesights for T-72, T-90 & BMP, Commander’spanoramic sight for Main Battle Tank,Holographic sight and Lightweight Laser
Target Designator were the main equipmentexhibited by IRDE.
Mr. Anil Kumar, CMD, Bharat ElectronicsLimited (BEL) that has been contracted forthis NVD project, conveyed the industryperspective and assured that BEL centres arealways ready to support the indigenisationefforts of the country and will deliver thequality instruments in time to the armedforces. One of the major collaborators forproducing the required NVDs with BEL isthe Bengaluru based Alpha DesignTechnologies (ADTL). In all, approximately5,000 night-vision sights are set to besupplied by Bharat Electronics Limited.About 2,000 of these will be used incombination with T-72 Main Battle Tanks,while a further 1,200 will be used in T-90Main Battle Tank operations. The remaining1,780 thermal imaging systems will beallocated to the BMP-1 infantry fightingvehicle fleet. Based on an estimated four-yeardelivery timeframe, it is expected that the lastlot of NVDs for Indian Army will be suppliedby about 2017.
BEL has collaborated with ADTL, whichin turn has been involved in a joint venturewith International Technology Lasers, Israel(now known as ITL Optronics), for passivenight vision sights/hand held thermal
JUNE 2013 DSI
BAE Systems havebeen awarded
contracts of over $1billion since 2004
AJB
BA
E S
yS
tE
mS
imagers for infantry soldiers and vehicles.
ADTL will supply to BEL this night vision
binocular as well as fully finished, semi
knocked down and completely knocked
down kits for NVDs.
In an earlier seminar organised by
Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS),
the requirements of various armed forces
were discussed and analysed. In that
seminar, information provided included
that BEL, the biggest supplier of night vision
equipment to the armed forces, in 2007
signed a memoranda of understanding
(MoU) with Elbit Systems Electro Optics
ELOP Ltd, for the local production and
support of thermal imaging systems.
Although BEL recently supplied 30,600
passive night sights for rifles, rocket
launchers and light machine guns, passive
night vision binoculars and passive night
vision goggles to the Army, the forces still
remain woefully short and are looking for
the latest 3rd generation technology to
reduce weight and extend the life of NVDs.
Similarly, information was also provided
that the infantry was looking for Thermal
Imaging sights for medium machine guns
and sniper rifles.
Request for Information for night sights
for AK-47 assault rifles and other small arms
have also been floated.
During an interaction of this writer with
retired Lt Gen Prakash Katoch, he had
explained that whether it is war or fighting
insurgency or terrorism, most of the fighting
happens at night as it enables the element of
surprise for the enemy. Hence, NVDs are
critical for operational success, as the soldier
is able to see his enemy and can fire at him
and fire effectively. “Every soldier must have
a NVD”, said Katoch, who in an article,
had referred to what is planned for the
Future Indian Soldier System (F-INSAS)
program. He had stated, the core systems of
F-INSAS included helmet and visor,
clothing, weapons and accessories.
The helmet in that form is an integrated
assembly equipped with helmet mounted
flash light, thermal sensors and night vision
device, digital compass, video cameras,
computer and nuclear, chemical and
biological sensors, with audio headsets. The
visor is intended to be integrated and to act as
a heads-up display monitor equivalent to
two 17-inch computer monitors.
Supplementing the Indian night vision
systems, other new equipment soon
expected to be supplied to Indian Army
includes 15 Boeing CH-47D Chinook heavy-
lift helicopters, which will be used to relocate
military equipment into hard-to-access
parts of the mountains. Amongst the most
innovative new technologies recently
pressed into Indian Army service is the
DRDO Daksh: a robot that specialises in
locating, manipulating and destroying
improvised explosive devices and other
personnel hazards.
For the future, the procurement of new
assault rifles and carbines for the Indian
Army, replacing the INSAS currently used,
will obviously require hundreds of
thousands of sights, night vision sights and
clip-on viewers, creating a significant drive
for foreign companies to establish
production in the country. The new rifles will
also become part of the future infantry
weapon system to be fielded by the Indian
military and special forces.
Of the many foreign companies in the
fray for providing the large demand of NVDs
for armed forces and para-military, central
and state police forces, some others than
those mentioned are: Photonis Night Vision,
one of the world leaders in the design and
manufacturing of state-of-the-art Image
Intensifier Tube for military, space and
commercial applications. Photonis Night
Vision products are in use in all NATO
countries and are largely deployed
worldwide. Finmeccanica, who won orders
for a combined value of approximately EUR
175 million through its companies DRS
Technologies, SELEX Sistemi Integrati,
SELEX Galileo, Ansaldo Energia and SELEX
Communications. Another Israeli company
to benefit from the Indian demand is SDS
that received significant orders for its new
lines of 12 weapon sights.
NIGHT VISION
34
FLIR has developeda range of scopesfor assault rifles,support weaponsand sniper rifles
@FLIR
4:00:36 PM
ANILJAI SINGH
STORMY WATERS
36
INdIaN Navy:SUBMaRINEwoES
With an SSBN almost readyto go into sea trials and aSSN in the fleet, IN’s plansseem ambitious
An effective and credible undersea
warfare capability is an integral
element of a maritime nation’s
national security architecture. This is even
more significant in India’s case with the
Indian Navy aspiring to blue water
capability and the country looking towards a
larger regional role in what has not only
been termed the Asian century but also the
maritime century.
During the foundation stone laying
ceremony of the Indian National Defence
University at Binola near Gurgaon on 23
May 2013, the Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh’s speech clearly
articulated India’s oceanic aspirations when
he said “…we have also sought to assume
our responsibility for stability in the Indian
Ocean region.We are well positioned
therefore to become a net provider of
security in our immediate region and
beyond.”
India has clearly understood and
articulated its regional power status in the
Indian Ocean region. As an aspiring
permanent member of the UN Security
Council and a stable mature democracy in
a region termed’the most dangerous place
on earth’ by President Obama and an arc of
instability by the French, it is clearly
determined to be a force for stability and
good order in the region. The tenor of the
PM’s address reinforced the strategic
underpinnings of India as a maritime nation
despite our perceived continental tilt owing
to our pre-occupation with our not-so-
friendly neighbours across the high
Himalayas and the sands of Thar.
The Indian Navy, as the principal
exponent of India’s maritime power thus
becomes a vital instrument of articulating
our global and regional footprint and must
therefore be accordingly structured to fulfill
its mandate. This requires an effective blue
water force with adequate reach and power
projection capability to protect India’s
interests wherever and whenever it may be
called upon to do so. The Indian Navy’s
emphasis on capability-based force
development over the last two decades or so
is reflected in the current force composition
and its future plans. The present and future
warship building programme is amongst
the most robust in the world and the
emphasis on developing this indigenously
is a laudable objective.
In the sub-surface dimension too, the
plans for enhancing capability are well
thought-out and articulated but their
implementation or lack of it is a matter of
concern.
Submarines are the most potent
platforms in a navy’s arsenal across the
entire spectrum of the strategic, the
operational and the tactical. As a declared
nuclear weapon power with ‘No First Use’
being the cornerstone of our nuclear
doctrine, it is essential that we have an
effective, invulnerable and credible second
strike capability. The most effective of the
land, sea and air triad of strategic deterrence
is without any doubt the submarine.
India’ Strategic Deterrent
The Arihant, India’s indigenous attempt at
building a SSBN was launched with much
fanfare in July 2009. Building a SSBN
within the country is indeed an outstanding
achievement and a major technological
achievement of great significance. However
the immediate announcement thereafter
that India has joined an exclusive club of
nations with this capability was and the
submarine would be operational within two
years was premature and yet another case
of putting the cart before the horse. The
media went to town with the news but the
pragmatic were more circumspect about the
operationalisation of this capability in this
limited timeframe.
Four years later, the submarine has yet
to put to sea and is still some way from being
deployed in its primary role. This is not
alarming and should have been anticipated
as part of the development cycle. A nuclear
submarine is an extremely complex marvel
of engineering and sophisticated high-end
technology which challenges even the most
experienced nuclear submarine builders
across the globe when designing a new class
Russia has handed overthe nuclear-powered
attack submarine Nerpaafter delay of more than
two years
JUNE 2013 DSI
Key Points
n Indian Navy’s blue water ambitionsrequire the correct mix of surface andsub-surface platfoms.n The navy, with its 30-year plan ofcontracted, combat ships is poised tobe one of the world’s best navies. n Submarine element of IN is burdenedby mostly old vessels that would bemothballed in couple of decades.
37
of submarine. HMS Astute, the Royal navy’s
latest nuclear submarine is still undergoing
sea trials more than three years after being
commissioned.
In early May 2013, Dr VK Saraswat, the
recently retired DRDO boss stated that the
Arihant will put to sea within a few weeks.
That is encouraging news. The first sortie
of the submarine is eagerly awaited and it is
hoped that the country will be able to
deploy its first SSBN on a deterrence patrol
within the next three years or so by which
time its primary weapon would also be
proven on board.
Earlier this year, the successful
underwater launch of the K5 missile from a
pontoon was also a major step forward
towards fulfillment of this capability.
Rechristened the B05, this weapon is
presently of limited range and should lead
to better and more powerful weapons for
this capability to realise its full potential.
It is understood that the second and
third submarines are also on the anvil. An
effective deterrent capability requires a
minimum of three submarines to ensure
one on patrol at all times. The current
capacity for building these submarines is
limited and therefore it is unlikely that this
number would be reached before the middle
of the next decade at the earliest. Future
submarines would have to be larger, more
capable and more potent. If this is to
happen, it is incumbent upon the
government to take immediate measures to
enhance the national capacity for
developing this technology without narrow-
minded and parochial interests shaping
policy and decision-making.
The Attack Submarine – A Blue
Water Asset
In early 2012, the Navy leased an Akula class
nuclear powered submarine from Russia for
a period of ten years. Commissioned as INS
Chakra, it will provide the navy the expertise
to operate and maintain these sophisticated
platforms. The attack submarine (SSN) is
a nuclear powered but conventionally
armed platform. It is very versatile ,
extremely effective and is an integral part of
a blue water navy. It has the speed, stealth
and endurance to greatly enhance a navy’s
offensive options, both independently and
as part of a Carrier Task Force or an
expeditionary force. Armed with lethal land
attack capable missiles besides the
traditional torpedoes, it enables maritime
manoeuvre in support of land operations.
The spectacular success of the US Navy
SSNs with their Tomahawk missiles bears
testimony to their effectiveness.
The Indian Navy, despite its blue water
posturing and its force development centred
around a concept of sea control, is bereft of
this critical element and still has a long way
to go towards building its own SSNs.
Conventional Submarines – Area of
Concern
While the SSBN and SSN force will form the
strategic and operational focus of the navy of
the future, it is the conventional submarine
(SSK) that will form the cutting edge of the
navy’soffensive capability in the current and
emerging regional security scenario. The
SSK scores over its larger and more
powerful stable-mates in the littoral where
the effectiveness in relatively shallow water
is the most important criteria. The SSK is
optimised for stealth and its weapon and
sensor fit is designed for effective operations
close to the shore both in offensive and
defensive deployment.
The Indian Navy’s current inventory of
14 SSKs comprises 10 Sindhughosh class
(Russian Kilo class) and four Shishumar
class (German Type 209) submarines. Eight
of the Sindhughosh class were
commissioned between 1986 and 1991
whereas the ninth and tenth were acquired in
1999 and 2000 respectively. The tenth
submarine, INS Sindhushastra was the first
Indian submarine to be fitted with the
Torpedo Tube launched anti-ship missile
3M-54E ( Klub ) – a potent force multiplier
providing stand-off capability to the
submarine. The first two of the four
Shishumar class were acquired from
Germany in 1986. The remaining two were
built in India under license at the Mazagon
Docks Ltd, Mumbai and commissioned in
1992 and 1994 respectively. The indigenous
construction was a significant breakthrough
but the programme was discontinued
thereafter due to narrow political gain and
at tremendous cost to the country in terms
of human, material and monetary resource.
The effects of that decision are reverberating
even today as the country struggles to
rebuild that core national competence.
Even though modernisation has kept
these submarines in fine operational fettle,
they are ageing and with their replacements
still some distance away, there is cause for
grave concern.
The saga of Indian submarine acquisition
has been one of fits and starts resulting in
the waxing and waning of capability. Eight
submarines were acquired between Dec
1967 and Dec 1974 – a long hiatus followed till
1986. Between 1986 and 1991, ten
submarines were commissioned followed by
two in 1992 and 1994 and another two in
1999 and 2000. Since then there has been
no addition to the submarine force.
Towards streamlining the submarine
acquisition process, a 30-year plan for
indigenous submarine construction was
approved by the Cabinet Committee on
Security (CCS), the highest decision making
body in the land, on security issues. A well-
STORMY WATERS
38
INS Chakra, aCharlie I class SSN
was decommissionedin 1992
The Indian Navy’s currentinventory of 14 SSKs
comprises 10 Sindhughoshclass (Russian Kilo class)and four Shishumar class
(German Type 209)submarines. Eight of theSindhughosh class werecommissioned between
1986 and 1991
”
thought out plan, it addressed major issues
like indigenous construction, phased
replacement and credible capability with an
objective of building 24 submarines by
2030 so as to have a contemporary force of at
least 20 submarines at any given time. The
first phase of the plan had envisaged the
construction of 12 submarines on two
production lines under a ToT arrangement
with two global submarine builders,
followed by the second phase of which serial
production of an indigenously designed
submarine on these two production lines to
ensure a modern and credible SSK force.
However, not all has gone quite according
to plan and the Indian Navy is facing a
submarine capability deficit, which is likely
to snowball further unless tackled with
alacrity and decisive action. The likelihood of
that happening given the existing trend in
the MoD appears highly unlikely.
The first part of the first phase (Project
75) is currently underway at MDL Mumbai.
Six submarines of the Scorpene class are at
various stages of construction with the first
one likely to enter service by 2017. By this
time ten of the present 14 submarines would
be over 27 years old and the remaining four
between 17 and 23 years old. By the time the
last submarine of this programme is
delivered, a substantial number of the older
lot would have been decommissioned or on
their last legs.
The first four of the Project 75
submarines are not being fitted with an Air
Independent Propulsion (AIP) System,
which is in itself a serious operational
constraint in the contemporary maritime
battle-space and the choice of missile also
limits the submarine’s stand-off capability.
The torpedo which is expected to equip this
submarine has been eclipsed by more
modern weapons and is not even in the
service of the navy of its origin. The delay in
this project, if realistically re-assessed could
perhaps be optimised to review and update
the submarine’s potential.
The second part of the first phase for six
more submarines to be built under ToT
from a global OEM, called Project 75(I),
should have been at an advanced stage
running almost concurrently with Project
75. However, that project, to put it mildly,
is in the doldrums and lack of progress is
going to have a serious impact on the navy’s
submarine warfighting capability. It is 30
months since the much delayed Acceptance
of Necessity (AoN) was accorded and the
RFP, which should have been issued within
months of that, is still awaited. The reasons
for this are hard to understand given the
state of our submarine force where we can ill-
afford any delays.
The AoN for this project acceded to the
navy’s request to purchase two submarines
outright from the selected OEM so that
force levels could be maintained but took
the strange decision to nominate MDL for
building three submarines and HSL
Visakhapatnam for construction of just one
submarine. This would mean that a
complete production line would be
established initially for just one submarine;
if the intent is to develop HSL as a
submarine builder, the effort should begin
now and a long-term view be taken. HSL’s
current track record at repairing
submarines is abysmal to say the very least,
JUNE 2013 DSI
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME EXPOSITION7 - 9 OCTOBER 2013
SYDNEY CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, AUSTRALIA
www.pacific2013.com.au
THE COMMERCIAL MARITIME AND NAVAL DEFENCE SHOWCASE FOR THE ASIA PACIFIC
infrastructure and skill sets to develop a base for
future submarine construction programmes
Building capacity
One of the areas where we could have been
proud ourselves is the progress made in
indigenising warship construction. Other
than in the area of weapons and sensors,
the level of indigenisation could be broadly
assumed to be over 60-65%. There is a
vibrant domestic private industry which
has achieved global standards in
technology and manufacturing skills. State
of the art shipyards with huge capacity like
the Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat provide
best international practices and should be
integrated into the ship and submarine
building programme through mechanisms
such as Joint ventures and collaborative
arrangements. The MoD needs to shed its
inherent suspicions about the private
sector and encourage their inclusion while
simultaneously creating an ecosystem of
fair competition to incentivise the DPSUs
to adopt global standards and best
practices. Submarine design and
development should be jointly encouraged.
If the private sector shipyards are allowed to
come on board this process, it will provide a
wider manufacturing base and effect a
substantive reduction in both, timelines
and cost to the navy besides creating
capability. The Indian Navy needs to
seriously review its submarine programme.
A force level of three to five SSBNs,
six SSNs and about 20 SSKs is the
minimum required for it to fulfil its
mandate as the blue water navy of a
regional maritime power.
STORMY WATERS
The Indian Navy’s currentinventory of 14 SSKs
comprises 10 Sindhughoshclass (Russian Kilo class)and four Shishumar class
(German Type 209)submarines. Eight of theSindhughosh class werecommissioned between
1986 and 1991 whereas theninth and tenth were
acquired in 1999 and 2000respectively. The tenth
submarine, INSSindhushastra was the first
Indian submarine to befitted with the Torpedo Tubelaunched anti-ship missile
3M-54E (Klub).
”40
India ordered six SS O'Higgins
Scorpene submarines, built
by DCNS andMazagon Docks
4:01 PM
Byt
SS O'Higgins
S
Japan will be supplyingamphibious planes to India, areport said in what would bethe first sale of hardware usedby the military since aweapons export ban wasimposed on Japan.
During a four-day visit toTokyo by Indian PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh,
the two sides firmed upplans for Delhi to purchasethe US 2, a domestically-developed aircraft used byJapan’s armed forces.
The sale, reported by theNikkei business daily, wouldbe the first of a finishedproduct made by Japan’shome-grown defence industry
since rules were imposedrestricting the export ofweapons systems and otherequipment. Experts say theaircraft must be classed forcivilian use if it is to complywith Japan’s 1967 self-imposed ban on arms exports,part of the post-World War IIanti-militarist drive. Japanhad been recalcitrant aboutIndia’s NWS status.
42
DEFENCE BUZZ JUNE 2013 DSI
DEFENCE BUZZAn Update on Defence News
Japan For Sale Of Amphibious Plane To India
Prime Minister ManmohanSingh inaugurated the IndianNational Defence University(INDU) at Binola, Gurgaon.INDU would be a uniqueautonomous Institution ofnational importance. "It is agreat privilege for me to joinyou today on this auspiciousoccasion of laying thefoundation stone for theIndian National DefenceUniversity.
This is an idea that hasbeen long in the making and Iam very happy that today weare witnessing the first steptowards its becoming a reality.It may be recalled that afterthe Kargil conflict, thegovernment had set up aReview Committee, headed byeminent strategic expert KSubrahmanyam, which hadrecommended establishmentof a university to exclusivelydeal with defence andstrategic matters.
The aim of INDU would beto provide military leadershipand defence and securityconcerned civilian officials,knowledge based highereducation for management ofthe defence of India.
Indian Coast Guard ShipVaibhav, the 3rd in the seriesof 90 meters class OffshorePatrol Vessel (OPV) wascommissioned at Tuticorin byVice Admiral Anurag GThapliyal, Director GeneralIndian Coast Guard. This 90metres long OPV has beendesigned and builtindigenously by M/s GSL andis fitted with the state-of-the-art navigation andcommunication equipment,sensors and machineries.
The features include anIntegrated BridgeSystem(IBS), IntegratedMachinery Control System(IMCS), Power ManagementSystem (PMS), High PowerExternal Fire Fighting System(ABS Fi-Fi Class-1) and oneindigenous Close RangeNaval Gun (CRN-91) along
with an optical fire control system. The ship isdesigned to carry onehelicopter and five highspeed boats for search and rescue, law enforcementand maritime patrol. The ship is also capable ofcarrying pollution responseequipment to combat oil spill at sea.
The ship is fitted withadvanced Global MaritimeDistress and Safety System(GMDSS) making it an aptplatform to carry out searchand rescue operations inIndian Search and RescueRegion (ISRR).
The increasing strength ofthe Coast Guards is to beviewed in the context of thecountry’s clear and presentdanger from non-state actorsbreaching it coastal security.
India Commissions Large OPV; To Be Built Indigenously
The Indian Navy took delivery of its first BoeingPoseidon-8I aircraft at its airstation INS Rajali. Viceadmiral B K Varma, chief ofstaff, Eastern NavalCommand of the Indian Navy,said, "The aircraft is to beused for broad-area maritimeand anti-submarineoperations. The aircraft isgoing to be a unique part inour anti-surface warfare,surveillance and intelligencecapacities".
He added that "it iscapability based planning, nota threat based planning, thatIndia follows to enhancementof maritime border security".For an effectiveunderstanding of the maritimerelated issues in Indianwaters, a Maritime DomainAwareness (MDA) campaignis now being designed tocoordinate with 17 maritimeagencies in the country. Theheightened awareness is toenhance security.
India has successfully test-fired a 290-km range BrahMossupersonic cruise missilefrom its latest frigate, the INSTarkash, off the coast of Goa.
The submarine-launchedversion of the missile wassuccessfully tested under-water just two months ago.
"The launch was carriedout by the Navy as part ofAcceptance Test Firing (ATF)of the ship," BrahMosAerospace chief, SivathanuPillai was quoted as saying.
The missile performed thehigh-level 'C' manoeuvre inthe pre-determined flight pathand successfully hit thetarget flying at a speed ofMach 2.8.Brahmos is now averstile world beating cruisemissile.
SAAB has pitched for raisingthe foreign direct investment(FDI) limit in defence to 49per cent from the current 26per cent, if India wants toattract more companies inthe sector.
“FDI at 26 per cent doesnot work. There are very fewcompanies which will bewilling to come withtechnology at 26 per cent.But, if you go up to 49 percent, there are manycountries in Europe, likeSweden, which will not haveany restrictions,” Lars-OlofLindgren, Chairman, SaabIndia Technologies Pvt Ltd,told recently. SaabTechnologies is a 100 per-centsubsidiary of SAAB.
Commerce Minister AnandSharma has also indicatedthat the Government couldconsider increasing FDI limitin the defence sector.
Without giving specifics ofareas where SAAB will beinvesting, Lindgren said thecompany will be interested insetting up productionfacilities in India.
Boeing Delivers First P-8I Aircraft To Indian Navy
The Indian Navy’s aircraftcarrier, INS Vikramaditya, hasbeen put in a dry dock atRussia’s Sevmash shipyardfor “cosmetic” repairs aheadof final sea trials and deliveryto the Indian navy later thisyear, the companyannounced.
“The work is underway to repaint the hull under the waterline,” said Sergey Novoselov, head ofdefense export projects atSevmash. In addition, muchof the interior finish has yet to be completed, theofficial said.
Special attention will be dedicated to the cabins for the commanding officersof the vessel, which will be refitted with better DEX-O-TEX fireproof flooring,new wall panels, morecomfortable furniture andsophisticated audio and video equipment.
INS VikramadityaUndergoingFinal “Cosmetic”Repairs
The air force’sAgustaWestland VVIPchoppers have resumedregular flying, aftersome hiccups due tounavailability of essentialspares.
A top IAF source saidthe defence ministry hadagreed to an air forceproposal to order the releaseof spares that had beengathering dust at awarehouse.
AgustaWestland VVIP Choppers Resume Flying
DEFENCE BUZZ JUNE 2013 DSI
44
Raising FDI limit keyto defence sectorgrowth: SAAB India
India SuccessfullyFires BrahMos CruiseMissile From Frigate
46
DEFENCE BUZZ JUNE 2013 DSI
The Indian Army is planningto procure 100 self-propelledartillery howitzers and threeIndian vendors, including twoprivate companies, have beenselected for equipment trials,Defence Minister A K Antonysand.
In a written reply in to alawmaker's question in the
Indian Parliament, Antonysaid the recent amendment toDefence ProcurementProcedure-2011 aims at givinghigher preference toindigenous capacity in thedefence sector.
“A case for procurement of100 tracked guns of 155mm/52Calibre (self-propelled) is inprogress wherein three Indianvendors, including two privatesector companies, have beenselected for trials of theirequipment," Antony said.
India To Procure 100 Self-PropelledHowitzers
Defence Minister A.K. Antonydedicated to the nation theNew Air Force Station atThanjavur at a brief function.
Speaking to reportersAntony said theoperationalisation of the AirForce Station, Thanjavurwould strengthen the airdefence capabilities of theIndian Air Force in generaland the Southern Command,in particular. He said varioussensitive, strategic, industrial,aerospace and economicassets are coming up in theSouthern Peninsula and theStation will play a vital role inproviding protection to thoseassets. Station will also helpprotect our island territoriesand Sea Lines ofCommunication in the IndianOcean Region (IOR).
The event was attendedamong others by the COSCand the Chief of Air Staff AirChief Marshal NAK Browneand the AOC-in-C SouthernAir Command Air MarshalRK Jolly.
L&T, Rosoboronexport Final Competitors InIndian Howitzer Competition
L&T and Rosoboronexport arenow in direct competition tosupply 100 self-propelledhowitzers to the Indian Armyin a deal expected to beworth over Rs 2,000 crore.
The contest to supply thehowitzers to the Army andthe trials of the two guns are
slated to begin in June-Julytime-frame this year,according to reports.Theguns are being procured bythe Army as part of its morethan Rs 20,000-crore artillerymodernisation programme,which has been stuck sincethe Bofors gun deal.
The Indian MoD has issued arequest for proposals (RFP)for the procurement of 56 lighttransport planes to replaceAvro aircraft in service withthe Indian Air Force.
Lockheed Martin, Embraer,Boeing, Airbus, AleniaAeromachi, Illyushin andAntonov are among thevendors who could be thelikely contenders. The cost of
this mega procurement isexpected to be Rs 1,300 billion(US$ 2.6 billion).
The RFP calls for 16aircraft to be brought outrightwith the remaining 40 being
manufactured in India.However, the manufacturingin India is to be done by anIndian private company withtechnology transfer from theinternational vendor.
India Issues RFP For$2.6 billion LightTransport Aircraft
New Air Force StationAt Thanjavur
Addressing the topcommanders of the IndianNavy in June, DefenceMinister A.K. Antonyannounced that additionalnaval bases and air stationsare required to extend theNavy’s reach. “Antony saidthe construction of additionalbases and naval air stations inAndaman & Nicobar Islandsand Lakshadweep & MinicoyIslands is necessary to furtherextend our operational reach,”said a Defence Ministrystatement.
India is concerned aboutthe growing Chinese maritimepresence in the Indian Ocean,said an Indian Navy official,adding that the Navy will bestrengthened with additionalsubmarines, surveillancehelicopters and amphibiousvessels. The IN, he said, willhave a new image in the next10 to 15 years with “long legs”and a force of 150 warshipsand more than 500 aircraft.
India To Add NavyBases, ExpandCoastline Security
4-7 November 2013IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Bangkok, Thailand
INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE CO-OPERATION
Tri-Service Asian Defense & Security Exhibition,Conference and Networking Event
Supported by Media PartnersO�cial PublicationDEFENSE & SECURITY 2013T. +66 (0) 2642 6911 Ext. 121F. +66 (0) 2642 [email protected]
Science and technology have made military cooperation between nations more essential than ever.
The goal of Defense & Security 2013 is to help meet that challenge through mutual respect and understanding.
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1:56 PM
Q. The new DPP-2013 promotes
indigenisation by placing the
categories of Buy (Indian), Buy &
Make (Indian) and Make (Indian) at
a higher priority than Buy Global or
Buy & Make. Will this benefit the
DRDO or the private sector?
A. Preference to the Buy (Indian) and Buy
& Make (Indian) categories would
promote R&D by the DRDO as also by
industry. Buy & Make (Indian) will result
in industry manufacturing many products
that have been developed by the DRDO.
The production agency should not be
nominated by the MoD, but chosen
competitively, with both public and
private sectors bidding on a level playing
field. This will bring competitiveness and
improve industry participation.
There is now a great opportunity for
industry to demonstrate their commitment
by funding the development of new
products through in-house R&D.
Q. You have often talked about
creating an eco-system for
developing defence systems. How
can that be done?
A. Three things are required. Firstly, the
military must allow the DRDO and Indian
industry enough time to develop defence
systems that it would need. The military
cannot raise a new requirement and say
that it must be imported immediately
unless the DRDO delivers it in 18-24
months. Most complex defence systems
take 7-8 years to develop and we must be
allowed that time. Besides, we have seen
that the time needed for importing a
defence system is between 4-6 years. If
trials are required, the time goes up even
further. And then if some investigation
starts, the procurement gets cancelled and
everything begins afresh. So the army
must plan ahead.
We should look at our Long Term
Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP),
identify exactly what we want to
indigenise, and the level to which we will
require indigenous components. Then we
must publicly declare that these are the
items that the ministry of defence will buy
from Indian industry only.
Q. Does Indian industry have the
capability to meet all the military’s
demands, even with 6-7 years of
advance notice?
A. I realize that we cannot indigenise
100% immediately. If the country is to
indigenise in full, we need 10 times the
industrial infrastructure that we have
today, and five times the R&D facilities
that the DRDO has. Only then can you talk
about building everything ourselves.
Instead, we must demand that, on all
major defence platforms that we buy, we
must have at least 50% value addition in
India. This value addition must include
design and manufacture of the basic
platform itself. Otherwise we will find that
the 50% will consist only of auxiliary streams
like product support, training, maintenance
packages, etc. The life cycle cost of the
weaponry we buy is enormous; and vendors
can easily fulfil the 50% “indigenisation”
requirement through annual maintenance
contracts (AMC), transfer of maintenance
technology (MToT), overhauls, etc. But that
will not prepare us to design, develop and
manufacture the next generation of systems.
As the Scientific Advisor to the Raksha
Mantri, and as one of the many people who
are taking these decisions, I say that the
50% should include only product costs, not
life-cycle support. If we accept what the
international vendors argue – which is that
the indigenous component should be just
30% – we will only indigenise C-Grade
(lower-tech) items. So we are insisting on
minimum 50% indigenisation, and also
that this should not include C-Grade items.
So my first point is that the defence
industry eco-system has to be deliberately
built by the MoD. When the ministry
specifies and lays down the percentage and
areas of indigenisation, market forces will
drive investment, development,
collaboration, and the formation of joint
ventures etc.
Q. And your second
recommendation for developing
indigenous capability?
A. My second recommendation is to make
our users (i.e. the military) accept
capability-based deployment of systems;
and we must adopt the concept of “spiral
development.” In development
programmes the world over, equipment
capability develops incrementally as the
design process proceeds.
For example, if the military wants a
radar system that can detect enemy fighter
aircraft 500 kilometres away, it may not be
possible for the DRDO to develop a radar of
that range right away. Initially, it may come
up with a radar that can detect only 300
kilometres. The military should accept and
deploy that system and develop expertise in
operating it. Based on their feedback, the
scientists would gradually enhance the
capability to 500 kilometres.
“Capability based deployment” means
starting to use a “Mark I” system, while a
“Mark II” version with better performance
is developed.
LAST PAGE INTERVIEW JUNE 2013 DSI
Recently retired DG of DRDO and Scientific Adviser to the defence minister, DrVK Saraswat in conversation with Ajai Shukla on the future of defence industry.
“We cannot indeginise hundredper cent of everything”
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For Participation and Sponsorship:Rajesh Kapoor, [email protected] | Bhaskar Kanungo, [email protected] | Pulok Banerjee, [email protected], Aerospace and Security Division, Confederation of Indian Industry, 3rd Floor, IGSSS Building, 28, Institutional Area,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003, India. Tel: +91-11-4577-2018/45 ,Fax: +91-11-4577-2014, email: [email protected] | www.ciidefence.com / www.namexpo.in
