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Vol. 44 No. 249 27 December 2019
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A Daily Current Awareness Service
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ones that are launched at a distance sufficient to allow an attacking party to evade defensive fire expected from the target area. Officials said that stand-off range missiles, of which cruise missiles are a type, have been in the arsenal of all the major powers of the world.
Last week’s test has again validated the ship attack capability of the ALCM. During the test, the missile was gravity-dropped from the fuselage of a Su-30 and the two-stage missile’s engine fired up. Subsequently, the missile propelled towards a target ship at the sea, destroying it with pinpoint accuracy.
The successful testing of air-platform of BrahMos has further strengthened the tactical cruise missile triad — land, sea and air — for India. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-brahmos-missiles-latest-upgrade-6186558/
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Fri, 27 Dec 2019
DRDO readies India’s next generation XRSAM-long range air defence missile system
Saurav Jha a prominent Indian Defence Journalist in his latest tweet has confirmed the development of very long range Surface to air missile with a reported range of 250 km dubbed as XRSAM by DRDO. The entire system shall be designed for transportability. Indian Air Force has accepted the Configuration.
XRSAM will be used to bridge the gap between MR-SAM (70 km) and S-400 (400 km) Air Defence System and will be using spin-off technologies developed for countries Anti-Ballistic missile Defence system-SAM will complement the S-400 systems in their role and filling the need for a robust Multi-Layered Air Defence System and a family of Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems (GBADWS).
The total system will be consisting of two different surface to air missiles. One will have 250 km range another will have 400 km range.
XR-SAM is actually a spin-off of the AAD-1 Endo-atmospheric interceptor with a service ceiling of 120 km and has supposedly Anti-Ballistic Missile features though its not confirmed.
India is buying two different type of surface-to-air missile for its S-400 system: 40N6 (Range: 400 km) and 48N6 Range: 250 km). XR-SAM will have active radar homing guidance GaN (Gallium Nitride ) based UHF radars aimed at engaging Aircraft, Cruise Missiles, Unmanned Drones and even ballistic targets.
DRDO is yet to confirm if XRSAM Air Defence Missile system will consist of one or two different type of missile system yet but there are unconfirmed reports indicating that system will be capable of simultaneously engaging cruise missiles, aircraft and ballistic targets, hinting of using two slightly different missile configuration of same type.
XRSAM Air Defence Missile system might utilise same network grid deployed for Anti-Ballistic missile Defence system and might be working as part of large umbrella air defence network grid consisting of ABM, S-400 and XRSAM surveillance, guidance, tracking network of radars.
The other air defence missiles being developed by DRDO are QR-SAM - Quick Reaction SAM, MR-SAM - Medium Range, Barak-8 and LR-SAM (Long Range) SAM.
XRSAM might be ready for developmental and engineering trials by 2020. http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2019/12/drdo-readies-indias-next-generation.html
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Indigenous Space-Based Essential Services India has established its own space-based PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing) services very
similar to Galileo global navigation system of the European Union, Russia’s GLONASS or China’s Beidou.
“In the warships and military aircraft navigation, the PNT services are very important. This is used for Combat function computations to launch weapons like SSMs. However, in the last few decades these services have become equally essential for civilian applications too and any disruption or interference of these services can lead to millions of dollars of loss. ISRO’s GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system augments the navigation over Indian Airspace and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is being developed for providing an independent and self-reliant satellite-based navigation services over Indian region.”
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is closely working with ISRO to establish GAGAN to meet the Civil Aviation requirements of satellite-based navigation (SATNAV) and PNT services based on these indigenous regional satellites as part of IRNSS. GAGAN is part of the AAI project for Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for the Indian Airspace and is inter-operable with other similar international systems like from the US, UK and Japan.
The GAGAN geo-footprint covers Africa region to Australian sub-continent for providing a seamless navigation service across the region and is first Satellite Based Augmentation System in the world to serve the Equatorial region to ensure reliability and accuracy of GPS. GAGAN though primarily meant for aviation, shall provide benefits to other services like transportation, maritime, highways, railways etc. IRNSS is another application being launched by ISRO to indigenise the satellite-based navigation system to provide positioning, navigation and timing services for users over Indian region. It is designed for two types of positioning services — Standard Positioning Service (SPS) with 20m accuracy for public use and an encrypted Restricted Service (RS) for military and other authorised users.
The recent launch of the US Space Command brings in a new domain in human warfare methodology. The task of this Space Command is to effectively utilize space-based assets to achieve combat and combat support functions in offensive and defensive roles. Even though a similar effort was launched by the US to weaponize Space in 1985, it was paused to realign military resources post 9/11 terror attack and the programme was merged with the US Strategic Command in 2002.
The revival of Space Command for warfighting capabilities are attributable to the threat perceived due to rapid progress made by Russia and China in Space technology for military purpose and the huge scientific advancements in Space engineering field in the last two decades. This has led to the multibillion dollar budget outlay for a Space Command, indicating the importance gained by Space in a nation’s security on Earth, with Space emerging as the fourth dimension in Defence services (after Land, Sea and Air force).
This US Space Command may be seen as a formal extension of the Space already under exploitation for passive military activities such as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions for deterrence and countermeasures. The Space assets possessed by a hostile nation is so significant that these are themselves recognized as military targets, with several nations possessing Anti-satellite (ASAT) systems to destroy them. Furthermore, the efforts to defend Space-based asset is in progress so as to avoid a conflict that either starts or extends to Space.
Space Command Architecture “A Space Command structure essentially comprises of satellites of various dimensions, in
constellations possessing different orbits i.e. from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geo-synchronous and others. Each satellite or a space-platform in constellation shall have onboard specialised sensors and weapons so as to detect, track and engage Earth-based target on a near Real-Time basis. Such Space assets shall be integrated with military systems on Earth to form an Integrated Enterprise Space
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architecture to achieve the C4ISR capability and effectively complete the ‘sensor-to-shooter’ loop,” according to the C4 expert.
For example, satellites in LEO orbit shall be key for detection of Hypersonic and Ballistic missile launched from anywhere on Earth. “Overall, a multi-layered distributed processing architecture with satellite elements positioned between LEO and GEO orbit with redundancy characteristics and integrated with Earth stations shall be the core of the system. Achieving an optimal network for such a role is an effort which can extend to over a decade, but is an indicator that Space is the next war-fighting frontier for humans on Earth,” he adds. https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/chinese-military-space-activities-push-india-towards-space-supremacy/1804594/
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9
government. The combination of a single buyer, a few large firms in each segment of the industry, and a small number of extremely expensive weapon programmes, constitutes a unique structure for doing business.” Drawing from this experience and applying our own conditions both in the public and private sector, we first need to arrive at our own ‘unique structure’ of doing business in the field of defence production which must have unanimity across the political system for it to succeed.
The second challenge dates back to the Bofors scandal of 1987 and the attendant political controversy that resulted in a defence procurement eco-system where procrastination has become the mantra. The Services have termed this as the Bofors syndrome, a mindset where few in the decision-making chain would venture to take decisions for fear of falling prey to the shenanigans of others in the complex chain of decision-making.
The unique feature of this syndrome is that it works smoothly where government-to-government procurement contracts are concerned, but goes into deep freeze when faced with an open tender purchase. But with the recent political controversy surrounding the government-to-government agreement for the purchase of Rafale aircraft, this avenue may also become a victim to the Bofors Syndrome.
The next challenge is to recognise that defence acquisition is a complex process involving multiple stakeholders and involves diverse resources and decision-making systems and should aim to provide on-performance, on-time and on-cost capabilities to the armed forces. This is a mission for committed professionals and not for administrative generalists or, indeed, for uniformed specialists working on rotating assignments, burdened with other chores and pressures. In the US and elsewhere, defence acquisition is considered a full-time profession where people train, specialise and work full-time. The US even has a Defence Acquisition University committed to creating acquisition professionals.
In the foreword to the DPP-2016, Manohar Parrikar said, “The DPP is not merely a procurement procedure, it is also an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the procurement process, usher in change in the mindset of the stakeholders and promote growth of the domestic defence industry.’ The biggest challenge to the Make in India aspect in defence production, hence, remains the outdated mindset.
Whatever the official claims, to impartial observers, the underlying spirit of successive DPPs is no longer ‘delivering and sustaining effective and affordable war-fighting capabilities to users within a specified time frame’. Instead, each successive version is being driven by a procedural, legal and defensive mindset where following the book appears to be an end in itself, leaving the armed forces bereft of modernisation and left to ‘fight with what they have.’ https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/staid-practices-hampering-defence-modernisation-17591
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Fri, 27 Dec 2019
After 35 years in action, MiG-27 last sortie today With IAF retiring its MiG-27s, the Kazakhstan Air Force
will be the only one in the world to use the aircraft By Rahul Singh
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will on Friday phase out the last of its MiG-27 jets at a ceremony to be staged at the Jodhpur air force station, 35 years after it inducted the ground attack fighters. With the MiG-27 flying into the sunset, the air force will have no variable-geometry fighters -- with swing-wing capabilities -- in its inventory.
More importantly, the phasing out of the last MiG-27 squadron will bring the count of IAF’s combat units to just around 30, the lowest in decades. IAF requires 42-plus combat squadrons to fight a two-front war. The phasing out of the last MiG-27 squadron serves as a reminder that IAF needs to swiftly upgrade its capabilities with new warplanes, two air force officers said, asking not to be named.
With IAF retiring its MiG-27s, the Kazakhstan Air Force will be the only one in the world to use the aircraft. “These aircraft have made immense contribution to the nation, both during peace and war. The fleet earned its glory in the historic Kargil conflict when it delivered rockets and bombs with accuracy on enemy positions,” the defence ministry said in a statement released in Jaipur on Thursday.
Several MiG-27 pilots HT spoke to said the single-engine fighters were used for the first time to attack targets at high altitude during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. Then flight lieutenant K Nachiketa was taken prisoner of war during the Kargil war after his MiG-27 went down.
“It was an experiment as the fighters had never struck targets at high altitudes. The MiG-27s were successful during Kargil and helped build pressure on the infiltrators. The fighters bombed out a lot of targets,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. He commanded a MiG-27 squadron in the early 1990s and has flown more than 400 hours on the swing-
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wing fighters. The MiG-27s could swing their wings from 16 degrees to 72 degrees depending on the mission -- flying at 45-degree sweep, making a getaway after delivering payloads at 72 degrees and taking off and landing at 16 degrees. A swing wing is important for aircraft with supersonic capabilities because such aircraft also have to sometimes fly at subsonic speeds. A swept wing reduces drag and offers a streamlined shape during supersonic flights. At subsonic cruising speeds, it could be unswept. However, subsequent platforms, with fly-by-wire abilities, made swing-wing aircraft , which were heavier and more complex, redundant.
“At 72-degree sweep, the MiG-27s could strike targets and swiftly exit the combat zone. In that wing position, the fighter looked like an arrowhead,” said Nohwar. The IAF operated 165 MiG-27 fighters, around 40 of which were upgraded by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 2005 onwards. The phasing out began a few years ago. The Number 29 Squadron in Jodhpur is the only air force unit operating the upgraded MiG-27s. The safety record has come into question over the past two decades with IAF losing a dozen jets to accidents. “The MiG-27 swing-wing fighter aircraft has been the backbone of ground attack fleet of IAF. The upgraded variant of this last swing-wing fleet has been the pride of IAF since 2006. All the other variants such as MiG-23 BN and MiG-23 MF and the pure MiG-27 have already retired from the IAF,” a ministry spokesperson said. He added that fleet took part in Operation Parakram, the military’s largest mobilisation after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, in 2001-02. HAL gave the aircraft an avionics upgrade, superior navigation systems and improved targeting accuracy with the integration of Israeli and Russian technology. A serving IAF officer and a MiG-27 pilot said the phasing out of the fighters would be an important part of the country’s military aviation history. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-35-years-in-action-mig-27-last-sortie-today/story-5vlWkeR7cWY1N9aeVtOhrL.html
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Mass deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 fighter to Russian troops to begin in 2020
The first large-scale deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to Russia’s Aerospace Force will begin already next year, CEO of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec said in a material published by RBC media group on Thursday.
"Large-scale work awaits us in 2020 to stabilize the aircraft industry… The first large-scale deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft will begin. Of course, these are challenging tasks that will truly mobilize us," the chief executive said, commenting on the plans for the next year.
Russia’s Sukhoi Aircraft Company signed a contract with the Defense Ministry at the Army international arms show near Moscow on August 22, 2018 for the delivery of the first two Su-57 fighters to the Russian troops. Then-Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that the first serial-produced Su-57 out of 15 such planes scheduled for delivery was set to arrive for the troops in 2019.
At the Army-2019 international arms show, the Defense Ministry signed a new contract with the Sukhoi Aircraft Company on the manufacture and the delivery of 76 Su-57 multirole fighters for the Russian troops.
The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.
The Su-57 took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010. Compared to its predecessors, the Su-57 combines the functions of an attack plane and a fighter jet while the use of composite materials and innovation technologies and the fighter’s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature.
The plane’s armament will include, in particular, hypersonic missiles. The fifth-generation fighter jet has been successfully tested in combat conditions in Syria. https://www.defencenews.in/article/Mass-deliveries-of-fifth-generation-Su-57-fighter-to-Russian-troops-to-begin-in-2020-808601
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