Military Acquisitions, Partnerships & Developments

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 08 Oct 2012 23:05

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 19 Dec 2012 04:40

Putin may announce $7 billion arms deal during India trip.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may announce about $7 billion worth of weapons contracts, including for Sukhoi fighter jets, when he visits India next week, according to three people in the defence industry.

During Putin’s visit on 24 December, the two countries will announce contracts for 42 Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets, made by United Aircraft’s Irkut Corp., and almost 1,000 AL-31 warplane engines to be delivered through 2030, according to the three people who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.

India, Russia’s top arms customer, has at least doubled its defence budget over the last decade as it looks beyond a traditional rivalry with Pakistan to counter China’s rising power. Putin, who returned to the presidency this year, has spearheaded Russia’s efforts to fend off competition for the contracts from the US and Europe.

“These will be truly historical deals if signed,” Konstantin Makiyenko, the deputy head of the Moscow-based Centre for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said by phone on Monday. “I don’t remember a contract for 1,000 engines at all and deals for over 40 planes happen twice in a decade.”
Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman at the Indian ministry of external affairs, wasn’t available to comment. Vyacheslav Davidenko, a spokesman for Russia’s state-owned weapons exporter Rosoboronexport, declined to comment.

Russian defence-industry exports have exceeded $14 billion this year, higher than the government’s target, Putin said on Monday. The country has signed new contracts worth $15 billion in 2012, he added.

Then-defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov said 10 October that Russia expected to sign a deal to ship 42 Sukhoi jets to India by the end of the year, RIA Novosti news service reported.

India has already received about 150 Russian jets, according to CAST estimates.

arun · Post by **arun** » 22 Dec 2012 15:09

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR PROCUREMENT OF PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND ELINT SYSTEM

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 22 Dec 2012 18:40

Implant Sciences Announces Receipt of $5.654M From the India Ministry of Defence

Dec 20, 2012 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --Implant Sciences Corporation (OTCQB: IMSC), a high technology supplier of systems and sensors for homeland security and defense markets, today announced it has received payment of approximately $5,654,000 or 95% of the amount due from the India Ministry of Defence. Implant Sciences announced the shipment of its Quantum Sniffer™ QS-H150 handheld explosives trace detectors to the Ministry on November 29, 2012. The funds will be applied to reduce the Company's obligation for accrued interest and borrowings under its credit facility with DMRJ Group, LLC.

"The receipt of the funds from the India Ministry of Defence substantially completes all of the requirements under the agreement, and will be used to improve our balance sheet," stated Implant Sciences' President and CEO, Glenn D. Bolduc. "Our Field Service and Technical Training team, under the leadership of Marc Edgeworth, will be onsite in India in the near term to provide training to the end-users. Successful completion of our contract with the India Ministry of Defence provides us with momentum in India, which we intend to capitalize on in the pursuit of additional business in this significant market."

About the Quantum Sniffer™ QS-H150 Handheld Explosives Trace Detector

The Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 utilizes Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) technology, providing fast, accurate detection of trace amounts of a wide variety of military, commercial, and homemade explosives. Built with no radioactive materials and featuring a low-maintenance, self-calibrating, and self-clearing design, the QS-H150 provides very high levels of operational availability. The QS-H150 has been proven to perform well in a wide variety of temperatures and challenging environments, from humid jungles to dry, sand swept deserts.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 31 Dec 2012 22:03

In another significant decision, the ministry has given an exception to Israeli firm ELTA to reduce its offset obligations to just 10 per cent of the contract, down from the mandated 30 per cent.

why?

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=19839

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 02 Jan 2013 06:17

Rs 10,000 crore cut in the capital acquisitions for the Army, Navy and IAF to the defence ministry, arguing that fiscal adjustment was necessary since the economic situation was grim.

ranging from aircraft and helicopters to howitzers and missiles.

much-delayed $20 billion MMRCA will not be inked ..<read it>

"critical operational hollowness"

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=19841

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Jan 2013 22:06

Time to halt our weapons binge

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 04 Jan 2013 22:50

Austin wrote:Time to halt our weapons binge

It is like reading an entry from a school essay competition. All correct and perfect but just plain boring $hit

arun · Post by **arun** » 07 Jan 2013 22:24

X Posted from the “Indian Military Aviation- Jan 10 2012” thread.

Just for the record Airbus Military press release announcing it has been selected as the “preferred bidder” to supply 6 A330 MRTT aircraft to the IAF:

Airbus Military A330 MRTT selected by Indian Government

arun · Post by **arun** » 21 Jan 2013 07:07

X Posted from the Indian Naval Discussion thread.

Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) Saryu to be commissioned today:

INS Saryu to be commissioned on Monday

aditp · Post by **aditp** » 23 Jan 2013 00:34

Tata Motors offers vehicles to replace Tatra trucks

Tata Motors has offered its latest vehicles to the Defence Ministry to replace the controversial Tatra trucks, used so far to carry missiles such as Agni and Prithvi.

The procurement of Tatra trucks has been put on hold pending a CBI probe into bribery allegations by former Army chief Gen V K Singh.

Tata Motors will make a presentation before Defence Ministry's Director General (Acquisition) S B Agnihotri about its latest vehicles offered by it to replace Tatra trucks for carrying missile systems of the armed forces such as BrahMos and Pinaka, Defence Ministry sources told PTI here.

The Ministry has already been offered trucks by Russian and Belarusian firms for replacing the Tatras including the Volat trucks from Belarus which are used to carry strategic missile systems of the Russian armed forces.

Due to the virtual ban on the procurement of Tatras, several key projects of the Army and the IAF have been put on hold including procurement of land-based version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile for the Army and the IAF and the Pinaka rockets launchers for the land forces.

If the proposals made by these firms are accepted, they would be put under trials for being integrated with the missile systems, they said.

Already, a significant number of Tata trucks are in service with the armed forces but they are in light and medium vehicle category.

More than 7,000 Tatra trucks are in service with the armed forces and after the controversy in March last year, their repair and maintenance have also become an issue in the defence forces.

Last March, Gen V K Singh had levelled allegations that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by a retired Lt Gen to clear a file relating to the procurement of over 600 of these trucks.

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 23 Jan 2013 02:32

More than just vehicles they should offer a technology roadmap that dovetails with the long-term plans of the armed forces and the DRDO and I hope they acquire some green technologies along the way, that would save atleast a decade or two before aam aadmi gets to see these benefits in the Indian market

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 23 Jan 2013 21:51

Boeing Delivers Indian Air Force's 1st C-17 to Flight Test - Livefist

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 23 Jan 2013 21:53

Indian Air Force (IAF) takes delivery of its first C-17A

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 23 Jan 2013 21:59

The tail section starting from the rear under carriage looks so big and disproportionate to front section. Still, there is a large space that might be utilized. Any internal pics ?

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 05 Feb 2013 06:27

Euro firm develops two avionic products in India

Bangalore, Feb. 4 -- European aerospace major Cassidian designed and developed two avionic products at its Indian centre in this tech hub primarily for military aircraft, a company official said Monday.

"The two avionic products - a 'high accuracy air pressure measurement system' and a 'structurally integrated antenna' have been designed and developed by Indian engineers at our engineering centre here," Cassidian India chief executive Peter Gutsmiedl told reporters here.

"As an on-board sensor, the air pressure measurement system provides air force pilots with highly accurate altitude readings, while the antenna, which can be integrated into the fuselage of a military aircraft, reduces aerodynamic drag and enhances stealth," Gutsmiedl said at a preview of the products.

The measurement system, which the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS) developed for the first time at its India centre, is mandatory for military aircraft to fly in reduced vertical separation minimum zones.
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VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 06 Feb 2013 05:00

Indian Selection of Future Targeting Pod in 2013

India has floated a tender for the delivery of more than 100 advanced targeting pods for its strike fighters, Two systems are under consideration – the French Damocles pod, already employed on Mirage 2000 and Rafale, offered by Thales of France, that has teamed with Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) for this program, and the Israeli Litening, the latest version of the targeting pod developed by RAFAEL. According to company officials, the Litening pods being offered are superior in technological terms. RAFAEL and Lockheed Martin are often competing targeting pod procurements worldwide as their products – Litening and Sniper are similar in capabilities and performance. In India, however, the US company remained out of the competition for unexplained reasons.

India is already operating previous generations of Litening on its fighter planes and RAFAEL has sourced Indian subcontractor significant contracts for the supply of subsystems and services for these products.

Both companies have passed the technical selection and are expected to demonstrate their pods in upcoming months. Selection of the Lowest Bidder (L1) will follow later this year (2013).
Damoclespod

Thales Damocles targeting pod on an IAF Rafale F3. Photo: Thales

While the teaming Thales has struck with BEL positions it as a favorite supplier for MMRCA and Mirage 2000 upgrades, the advantages of commonality with existing and new targeting pods is not ignored by the IAF, even if it is not part of the parameters to be considered for the selection. Thales recently announced it is embarking on an improvement of its Damocles pod, a step likely to assist its product offering in India as well.

According to RAFAEL, the Litening pods deployed with the IAF could be upgraded to the same level as the new pods, bringing the total inventory of targeting pods to more than 200, all would be interchangeable between all strike aircraft configured to carry targeting pods. These aircraft could also carry our recce missions, using the RECCELITE pod that has recently become operational with the IAF.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Feb 2013 07:02

This proves our srock of targeting pods is woeful. Just 100 litenings spread across 50 mirages, 100 jags and 150 flankers . Probably the old atlis pod of thomson csf that came with mirages is eoled and obsolete.
And this order is just another 100

Now mig29k and tejas will also need pods.

We need to order 250 pods and ramp up production of sudarshan on war footing as pmo monitored program.

srai · Post by **srai** » 06 Feb 2013 08:15

^^^

From the aircrafts (M2K, MKI, Jags) you have listed, around 16 squadrons currently possess litening pods. If 100 litening pods are equally divided among the 16 squadrons, it comes to around 6 litening pods per squadron. Considering that not all aircraft need to carry these pods on every mission, 6 per squadron is probably sufficient. Isn't it possible to share litening pod targeting data among fellow aircrafts in formation? This would allow for one litening pod per attack formation of 4 aircrafts.

Another 100 new pods would be more than sufficient for equipping MiG-29, LCA and more MKIs squadrons.

sum · Post by **sum** » 06 Feb 2013 08:20

^^ Maybe we have some program going on in background and these are interim purchases till it is online?

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 06 Feb 2013 08:42

srai wrote:Isn't it possible to share litening pod targeting data among fellow aircrafts in formation?.

Requires high bandwidth encrypted secure jam proof datalink probably mediated by Satellite/AWACS

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 06 Feb 2013 13:43

you dont need to share all the data from the litening, only the target coordinates. i believe these are shareable via datalink and one aircraft can designate and another drop the munition.

Aditya G · Post by **Aditya G** » 07 Feb 2013 21:39

Lalmohan wrote:you dont need to share all the data from the litening, only the target coordinates. i believe these are shareable via datalink and one aircraft can designate and another drop the munition.

You don't need to transmit the coordinates at all. The bomber releases the LGB which homes in on the laser spot cast by the aircraft with the pod.

This has been done at least since GWII by RAF till ongoing Mali war when French Atlanqiues delivered GBU-12s. Or IAF Su-30MKIs dropping LGBs lased by Searcher UAV - as show cased in Vayu Shakti exercise.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 08 Feb 2013 00:30

Boeing Defense Contracts Unaffected by India Budget Cuts-Executive
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/02/ ... .html?_r=0

BANGALORE (Reuters)- Boeing Co's contract talks with India for military helicopters will be unaffected by planned budget cuts, an executive said on Thursday, a day after the country's defense minister said spending on arms would be tightened. India, the world's biggest arms importer in recent years as it looks to upgrade its mostly Soviet-era military hardware, is cutting defense spending as part of a wider push by New Delhi to rein in its fiscal deficit. "There is nothing that will lead me to believe there will be any delays," said Dennis Swanson, vice president, international business development at Boeing's Defence, Space and Security Division. "India is one of our biggest growth markets. We are certainly aware of (the budget cuts). We are not changing anything that we are doing," Swanson told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of an air show in the Indian city of Bangalore. Boeing is in exclusive talks to sell 22 of its Apache combat helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters to India. Swanson declined to comment on the deal value when asked by Reuters. India agreed in 2011 to buy 10 C-17 military cargo planes from Boeing in a $4.1 billion deal, but overlooked the U.S. company in favor of France's Dassault Aviation for a highly sought-after $10 billion fighter jet contract. "We do see additional opportunities for C-17s," Swanson added, without providing details.

member_23455 · Post by **member_23455** » 11 Feb 2013 10:40

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/how-1 ... es-329024?

The India-US alignment continues in unintended ways...

As the US military braces for huge cuts due to sequestration, confirmation that the golden decade of Indian defence spending is over.

MN Kumar · Post by **MN Kumar** » 12 Feb 2013 18:24

Italian defence firm head held for India bribes, probe ordered

ROME/NEW DELHI: Italian police arrested the chief executive of aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica on Tuesday for corruption and embezzlement in relation to alleged bribes given to the Indian government, Italian media reported.

Giuseppe Orsi had been under investigation for months and had denied any wrongdoing in the deal for the sale of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters to India in 2010. The magistrate in the case also issued an order for the head of AgustaWestland, Bruno Spagnolini, to be put under house arrest.

Two suspected intermediaries in the bribes who reside in Switzerland have also been targeted with extradition requests, the reports said. The price of shares in Finmeccanica fell by slightly more 9.13 percent in morning trading on the Milan stock exchange to 4.236 euros. Finmeccanica is not the only Italian industrial giant under investigation.

Prosecutors last week announced they were looking at Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of energy major ENI, over allegations of bribes paid to Algerian officials to win contracts there. Italy's third largest bank, Banca Monte deiPaschidi Siena, has also been shaken by a series of investigations over mismanagement that has forced it to seek a public bailout.

Probe ordered

India Tuesday ordered an inquiry into reports of alleged bribery of government officials by Finmeccanica after the Italian aerospace giant's chief was said to have been arrested by Italian police. "A probe by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has been ordered and further details will be given soon," Indian defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told AFP.

The announcement came after Italian media reported earlier Tuesday that police had arrested the chief executive of Finmeccanica for corruption and embezzlement in relation to alleged bribes given to the Indian government.Finmeccanica chief executive Giuseppe Orsi had been under investigation for months and had denied any wrongdoing in the deal for the sale of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters to India in 2010.

The magistrate in the case also issued an order for the head of AgustaWestland, Bruno Spagnolini, to be put under house arrest. The size of the helicopter deal was valued at $748 million last November in a statement given to the Indian parliament by the government. The delivery of the choppers was scheduled for between January and July of this year.

Two suspected intermediaries in the bribes who reside in Switzerland have also been targeted with extradition requests, the reports said. Separately, Finmeccanica issued an emailed statement from Rome saying that its operations "will continue as usual". It said it was issuing the statement "with reference to the precautionary measures issued today towards the chairman and CEO of Finmeccanica and the CEO of the controlled Company AgustaWestland". In addition, the company said it "expresses support" for Orsi and hoped "that clarity is established quickly, whilst reaffirming its confidence in the judges".

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Feb 2013 03:10

The interesting thing is the case is being pursued in Italy and not in India!!!!

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 13 Feb 2013 03:21

that is closed to 4,000 crores!!! can the kangrez gov name the recipients at least?

pkudva · Post by **pkudva** » 13 Feb 2013 08:02

This will certainly mean "Clean Antony" will go for the cancellation or HOLD until all the investigations are complete....

I think, no more AW 101 for VVIP's.

saip · Post by **saip** » 13 Feb 2013 08:26

India ordered CBI inquiry. India so far received 3 of these helis and paid 30% or so of the total price.

arun · Post by **arun** » 13 Feb 2013 08:31

Manu Pubby writing in the Indian Express and citing Italian investigative reports names former Air Force Chief S.P. Tyagi as being involved in the allegations of wrongdoing in the AugustaWestland AW101 VVIP Helicopter purchase deal:

Ex-Air Chief Tyagi was bribed to swing chopper deal, Italy probe report says

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 16 Feb 2013 03:42

Defence Ministry clears purchase of Military items including Israeli anti-missile radars.

The Defence Ministry today cleared proposals worth over Rs 1,500 crore for procurement of various systems including Israeli anti-missile radars for the Navy's warships.

The proposals cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister A K Antony include approval for the procurement of Anti-missile Doppler Radar (AMDR) from Israel for around Rs 300 crore, Navy sources said here today.

The radar would be deployed with the weapon systems on-board naval ships to protect them from enemy missiles, they said.

The apex decision-making body of the Ministry also cleared the proposal for establishing repair facilities in collaboration with Russian firms for armament of submarines of the Navy, they said.The submarines in the Indian fleet are of Russian-origin and the weapon systems fitted on them are also mainly from that country only.

The DAC also approved a proposal worth over Rs 850 crore for setting up Mobile Communication System for the Army formations deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.The system would enable the Corps operating there to communicate with each other through a dedicated network, the sources said.The communication system would be developed by public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 16 Feb 2013 03:49

Dynamatic® Signs MoU & Model Purchase Contract with Boeing

Dynamatic Technologies Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Model Purchase Contract with The Boeing Company for the manufacture of Aft Pylon and Cargo Ramp Assemblies for Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook Helicopter. The potential work is slated to commence by the end of 2014.

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 28 Feb 2013 11:47

Budget update

Total Defence outlay: Rs 2,03,600 crore (+5.1% over BE 2012, slowest in many years)

including Rs 86,500 crore capital outlay. (+8.8% over BE 2012)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 28 Feb 2013 12:08

^^ How much in Billion Dollar ? Ok seems like ~ $ 37.5 Billion

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 28 Feb 2013 12:33

Austin wrote:^^ How much in Billion Dollar ?

Since the exchange rate is relevant for Capital Expenditure

Budget day 2012: USD was Rs 49 => USD 16.22 billion
Budget day 2013: USD was Rs 54 => USD 16.01 billion

So really a decline of 1%. And this is excluding any allowance for 5-6% inflation that is common in defence contracts.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 28 Feb 2013 12:39

Ok Thanks , The problem with Defence Budget has always been the inability to spend the allocated money then shortage of funds , Hope this time they can send those allocated CAPEX fully.

RajSingh · Post by **RajSingh** » 28 Feb 2013 12:41

With 1 USD = INR 54

203000 crore = $37.9 Billion ; majority of expenditure is in INR so cannot compare just USD only.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 28 Feb 2013 14:07

The only time USD will be counted is when we import stuff and looking at our import list it will be significant chunk of our Capex

vic · Post by **vic** » 28 Feb 2013 17:36

DRDO budget?