Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 13 Sep 2010 13:57

pinaka is not correctly categorised
MLRS =/= others in the category above

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 13 Sep 2010 15:12

vic wrote:Re kanson

Now we are drifting off towards Star Trek! The idea was that you were giving hints what is "already" in development and would be "unveiled soon". Frankly given a choice I would choose a better rifle or indigenous thermal imager over scram jet ARM

Dear vic, if you don't know, we are already in Star Trek/Star wars era, officially from the time we tested ABM PAD in 2006. Lasers for dazzling aircrafts/ attacking ballistic missiles only indicate we already arrived. You have any doubt on that?

It was indicated & communicated that when we have basic infrastructure/tech, the development time for any missile programme is around 5 yrs. From Livefist published slides for LRCM, the development time is 2009 - 2014, i.e. 5 yrs. But, when did you heard about this? Now in 2010. When it will be officially disclosed? May be in 2012 or 2013 or later..if at all MoD/GoI interested in disclosing the missile.

Now for the missile to fructify in 5 yrs, when we started developing basic tech for the missile? Lets take the engine alone. Dont say we have basic tech from the Brahmos programme. In one of the interview, Brahmos CEO mentioned we haven't received ToT for the Brahmos engine. But we started establishing our expertise in scramjets/ramjets by 2006 onwards. There are many literature, publications, talks, heck, even someone said we can make the engine ourselves if we don't get it from Russia. To start a programme in 2009 for LRCM, you must have approached the MoD for sanctioning the project financially at least in 2008 or before and you must have created a basic tech for the missile before that. So, you can understand how this works? Suppose you ask someone who is associated with this LRCM programme, when this is started?, he could have remarked, it is in development from 2007 or so but the project is sanctioned only in 2009, if we believe the Livefist slides and we came to know only now.

Same goes for the Hypersonic Brahmos II. When is the project commences? Officially by 2010. When it is expected to complete? According to Brahmos CEO, it is by 2015, again 5 yrs. when we started working on hypersonics? Before 2010. There are many materials/news tinklets on this and we have programmes in the form of HSTDV. Even Pillai talked about our progress in Hypersonics many times.

So when can we expect scramjet powered missiles like ARM joining our Forces, if there is such projects? It will be from 2017 or so. But......when we will be hearing those missiles in development? Much before that. This is what i'm saying.

babbupandey · Post by **babbupandey** » 13 Sep 2010 21:07

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=13405

Agni-V, the inter-continental ballistic missile being developed in India, will be test-fired in 2011, director-general of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) V.K. Saraswat, said here on Sunday.

“Agni-V should be ready to be test-fired anytime next year. It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile,” said the Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence.

The media doesn't even realize the contradictions in their own story.

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 13 Sep 2010 21:33

Anyway for reference,

V.K. Saraswat, Director-General, Defence Research and Development Organisation, said the DRDO was working on hypersonic cruise missiles . It had developed an engine for missiles that worked on kerosene.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/04/stories ... 921000.htm

John · Post by **John** » 13 Sep 2010 21:50

jaladipc wrote:Akash uses integral ramjet while brahmos uses ramjet.Akash dont need a booster since its own integral ramjet can kick start from 0kmph while Ramjet on Brahmos needs a booster to get the ramjet kicked on which is starving for the ramming air.And we cant compare the weights,only because one uses booster and other got an integral one.It is more about performance vis-a-vis penalities.
LRSAM or wotever the name it gets will be a breakthrough in terms of propulsion.Means getting hands on desi ramjet.

Would add one more thing SA-6/Akash's ramjet engine burns a metallic powder which has many limitation: limited burn time, cannot regulate speed and high production/maintenance cost (granted these days seeker/guidance are more expensive than the engine).

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Sep 2010 22:26

are gel propellants the future in terms of high energy density (akin to liquid fuel) + safe handling and storage of solid fuel + regulation of speed?
or are solid propellants with different density and size of grain the way to go?

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 14 Sep 2010 11:47

Kanson wrote:What is the payload capacity of Astra? If this satisfies the user requirement it can be developed.

jaladipc wrote:Throwing Astra as a second stage on Pinaka is nothing more than like adding a giant booster to astra

the 15kg HE warhead of Astra is sufficient for a non-maneuvering target like a medium range ballistic missile in boost phase, it uses the high altitude to gain downward range better than it can if flying at lower altitudes

or for targeting their widely dispersed TELs

An example is SpaceShipOne which glides down from such a high altitude avoiding thermal loads by taking its time to land

P Chitkara · Post by **P Chitkara** » 14 Sep 2010 13:18

LRCM >> Long range cruise missile.
Range >> 600+

If the range is just 600+, any idea why is it classified as LRCM??

By that definition, what will tomahawk be? ELRCM >> extemly long range cruise missile

sum · Post by **sum** » 14 Sep 2010 21:08

One sentence of the R.Prasannan artilce on Indo-China build-up caught my eye:

India has kept its non-nuclear missile regiments (such as 333) under a separate command so that battalion or brigade commanders are not tempted to use them in the event of minor battlefield reverses. China, however, has integrated them into their area commands which signals that their use in battle is being left to the judgment of middle-level commanders

Wasn't the 333 in charge of the Prithvi variants? Have prithvis been taken off the nuke role since he mentions non-nuclear formations like the 333?

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 16 Sep 2010 03:22

India To Test-Fire Agni-V In 2011
Aviation Week

A BrahMos flight on Sept. 5 boosted the confidence of Indian missile scientists. “With the successful BrahMos launch, we achieved a Major Breakthrough in Critical Missile Technology for Strategic Missions,” Saraswat said.

The Agni-V can be Launched from Multiple Platforms on Land and Sea.

“It will be a Three-stage, Solid-Fuel Missile that will carry a Conventional Nuclear Warhead,” a DRDO source said.

“We are also Developing Multiple independently Targetable re-entry Vehicle [MIRV] Warheads for Agni Missiles.

The Advantage is that it can carry Several nuclear warheads.”

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 16 Sep 2010 16:27

If the Agni can be launched from a sea born ( is it submersible ?) platform. Then Indian nuke capability will truly become survivable in case of war (If it is submersible).

Willy · Post by **Willy** » 16 Sep 2010 16:58

Well it seems the industrial base as far as missiles go, has matured. Have you noticed that newer versions of missiles are coming out quicker. Also news of new missiles keep coming out every few months.

kit · Post by **kit** » 16 Sep 2010 17:34

Can the under development LR or MR SAM be modified as ASAT weapons to be fired from , say the Su 30 s ? The US had gone along this way some time back.The capability would be much required since the chinese have superior numbers of military sats in orbit.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 17 Sep 2010 07:23

vasu_ray wrote:
Kanson wrote:What is the payload capacity of Astra? If this satisfies the user requirement it can be developed.
the 15kg HE warhead of Astra is sufficient for a non-maneuvering target like a medium range ballistic missile in boost phase, it uses the high altitude to gain downward range better than it can if flying at lower altitudes

or for targeting their widely dispersed TELs

An example is SpaceShipOne which glides down from such a high altitude avoiding thermal loads by taking its time to land

Just sharing my thoughts...I see there are three areas to look for in utilizing Astra for the role you describe....

1. Sensor: The current sensor must have the capability to use in ABM role.
2. Kinematic profile: Astra is designed as AAM missile which boost then coast or sustain and go for the endgame. How this suits the time critical mission of intercepting ABM needs to be seen.
3. Manouverability: After certain altitudes, the effectiveness of fins start reducing. So its applicability is limited to the altitude we try to engage.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 17 Sep 2010 07:25

“We are also Developing Multiple independently Targetable re-entry Vehicle [MIRV] Warheads for Agni Missiles.

So i guess it is for the whole family...

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 17 Sep 2010 07:27

Thanks Roy, the reference was very explicit.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 17 Sep 2010 07:32

Singha wrote:are gel propellants the future in terms of high energy density (akin to liquid fuel) + safe handling and storage of solid fuel + regulation of speed?
or are solid propellants with different density and size of grain the way to go?

AFAIk, both are happening. So anyone which beats the others in anyone area might get a lead. Not all missiles/missions requires throttle.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 17 Sep 2010 07:40

kit wrote:Can the under development LR or MR SAM be modified as ASAT weapons to be fired from , say the Su 30 s ? The US had gone along this way some time back.The capability would be much required since the chinese have superior numbers of military sats in orbit.

ALMV (Air-Launched Miniature Vehicle) is the major part of the ASAT you are talking about. Rest are all boosters. So it is not modifying the LR/MR SAM but developing vehicle like ALMV.

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 18 Sep 2010 03:37

Kanson wrote:ust sharing my thoughts...I see there are three areas to look for in utilizing Astra for the role you describe....

1. Sensor: The current sensor must have the capability to use in ABM role.
2. Kinematic profile: Astra is designed as AAM missile which boost then coast or sustain and go for the endgame. How this suits the time critical mission of intercepting ABM needs to be seen.
3. Manouverability: After certain altitudes, the effectiveness of fins start reducing. So its applicability is limited to the altitude we try to engage.

2. The interceptor needs to reduce the time of flight and out climb the target missile at a slant range so a large booster (say fired at 60 degrees angle) gets it out of the atmosphere (> 50km) and the second stage continues climbing at a more inclined angle (say 30 degrees angle) to an interception point

the second stage even with a sustainer motor should accelerate given the exponential decrease in air resistance with altitude increase so the horizontal velocity component reaches hypersonic speeds (with no extreme heating of the skin) while the vertical velocity component outruns the target missile's climb rate thanks to the first stage booster; assuming the target is a single stage missile

arun · Post by **arun** » 18 Sep 2010 07:46

Jeffery Lewis of Arms Control Wonk on “Why ICBMs are Hard to Build”.

The comment section has a few comments specific to India:

Why ICBMs are Hard to Build

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 18 Sep 2010 09:40

They aren't technical people. Comments are very superficial.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 18 Sep 2010 11:27

vasu_ray wrote: 2. The interceptor needs to reduce the time of flight and out climb the target missile at a slant range so a large booster (say fired at 60 degrees angle) gets it out of the atmosphere (> 50km) and the second stage continues climbing at a more inclined angle (say 30 degrees angle) to an interception point

the second stage even with a sustainer motor should accelerate given the exponential decrease in air resistance with altitude increase so the horizontal velocity component reaches hypersonic speeds (with no extreme heating of the skin) while the vertical velocity component outruns the target missile's climb rate thanks to the first stage booster; assuming the target is a single stage missile

To do that we must check the thrust profile of the missile and fine tune it accordingly.

sumshyam · Post by **sumshyam** » 18 Sep 2010 15:07

IRDW reports

Super Carrier required for BrahMos

Sukhoi Su 30 will need special modification and strengthening of airframe and most likely less than 40 aircrafts will be modified to carry BrahMos under its belly ,this mean not all aircrafts can carry Brahmos , so this will also limit future BrahMos -2 carrier limited to only forty so aircrafts .

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 19 Sep 2010 02:35

Kanson wrote:To do that we must check the thrust profile of the missile and fine tune it accordingly.

understood and few more comments

Shaurya has demonstrated the kinematic profile while PAD did the end game dynamics

our western neighbour's breadth is 400-500km from LOC and Tibet is the same from the LAC

---------
the same way PAD is visualized for a surface role, this interceptor to do that should be able to descend into the atmosphere without taking extreme thermal loads to avoid weight penalties

vasu_ray · Post by **vasu_ray** » 19 Sep 2010 02:38

Brahmos can be para dropped from a C-130 aircraft using a ram air parachute which stabilizes the missile for launch, here is an example

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:X-38_ ... -EDIT1.jpg

Thomas Kolarek · Post by **Thomas Kolarek** » 19 Sep 2010 08:08

The Indian SAM Network by by Sean O'Connorhttp://geimint.blogspot.com/2010/09/ind ... twork.html

INTRODUCTION

One of the most populous nations in the world, India has engaged in numerous regional conflicts in the past. The threat environment led to the creation of a point-defense oriented EW and SAM network designed not to protect the skies over India, but to protect the military units tasked with such a role. This ultimately led to the creation of a number of EW and SAM units within the Indian Air Force.

OVERVIEW

Indian air defense elements, to include EW assets, SAM systems, and interceptors, are subordinate to the Indian Air Force (IAF). This allows the IAF to coordinate both sensors and weapons, allowing for a maximum degree of target deconfliction. SAM units are organized as squadrons, with radar units being organized as either signal units or transportable radar units, depending on the assigned types. These units are in turn subordinate to the five operational commands in the IAF.

The Indian SAM network follows a point defense layout. The primary SAM system employed by the IAF is the S-125M (SA-3B GOA). These systems are deployed at various airbases in the northern and western portions of India. EW assets are deployed primarily along border regions, with the highest concentration being present along the northern and western borders with Pakistan.

EW ASSETS

Fifty four EW sites have been identified in India. The primary assets are THD-1955, P-12/18 (SPOON REST), and 36D6 (TIN SHIELD) radars. Thirteen THD-1955 radars arrayed primarily along the border region from Pakistan to Myanmar provide a significant amount of EW coverage. EW coverage is enhanced by fourteen 36D6 radar sites, arrayed primarily along the border with Pakistan. The 36D6 is significant as it can provide both target track data to SAM batteries as well as GCI support for Russian-origin fighter aircraft such as the MiG-29 (FULCRUM) or Su-30MKI (FLANKER-H). P-12/18 radar sites are scattered throughout the region, as are indigenous Indra-II radar units. The net result is an EW network that is heavily oriented towards potential threats.

The following image depicts the locations of identified Indian EW facilities. Dark blue diamonds represent basic EW sites, typically manned by P-12/18 or Indra-II radar systems, while light blue diamonds represent THD-1955 radar facilities. Blue circles represent 36D6 radar facilities. The range rings given for the 36D6 sites represent the 165 km acquisition range against a typical fighter-size target. Each radar system is capable of target detection at greater ranges depending on the target RCS and altitude, with the THD-1955 typically employing a range of 400 km.
The following image depicts a typical THD-1955 site. These large radars are sited atop dedicated structures. This site is located south of Shillong in eastern India.
The following image depicts a deployed 36D6 radar at Pune AB in western India. This radar likely serves as both an EW and GCI asset, given its co-location with Su-30MKI fighters.
India does possess the 40V6 series of masts for mounting the 36D6, although their use appears to be relatively infrequent. The following image from February 2008 depicts a 36D6 mounted atop a 40V6 mast assembly at Nal AB. Imagery captured four months later indicates that the 36D6 is still deployed but has been removed from the 40V6. Only thee 36D6 locations have an identifiable 40V6 series mast available for use.
Other EW assets include the A-50I AWACS based at Agra AB, and potentially an aerostat system found near the border with Pakistan. The aerostat system's purpose is unknown at this time, but could potentially be used to mount an air surveillance system. The facility can be seen in the image below.
THE S-125

India's primary strategic SAM system is the S-125M. These systems were delivered between 1973 and 1989 from the USSR, and thirty four batteries are currently active. These batteries provide point defense for key military installations, typically airbases, in the northern and western portions of India.

The locations of India's active S-125M batteries and their engagement zones can be seen in the image below:
The S-125M has two specific drawbacks: range and single-target engagement capability. The ability of the system to engage one target per battery is partially mitigated by placing multiple batteries at many locations, but the 25 km maximum range of the system effectively reduces its role to one of point defense only, lacking the range to provide long-range overlapping fields of fire necessary for a more robust air defense network.

IAF S-125M batteries are frequently relocated in their operating areas. This can be done to complicate targeting by enemy assets and to allow systems to be cycled through maintenance periods. The following image depicts the S-125M deployment area at Vadodara AB in western India. While only one location currently has an active battery, there are four other locations which have been active at some point in the past.
Numbering the S-125M locations 1 through 5 from west to east, the following information can be derived from available imagery:

Site 1
-Active from December 2005 to March 2010

Site 2
-Active from October 2000 to October 2002
-Active from June 2003 to November 2003
-Active from December 2003 to March 2010

Site 3
-Active from October 2000 to October 2002

Site 4
-Active from November 2003 to December 2005
-Currently active as of March 2010

Site 5
-Active from June 2003 to March 2010

All told, there are twenty one inactive or former S-125M positions identified throughout India that can be used as relocation sites should the need arise.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS

Tactical SAM systems are also operated as point defense assets in the IAF. The primary system is the Osa-AKM (SA-8 GECKO), a mobile system mounted on a wheeled TELAR. The 10 km range of the system allows it to serve as a layered short-range counterpart to co-located S-125M batteries.

An IAF Osa-AKM TELAR can be seen in-garrison near Ambala AB in the image below.
The Indian Army operates the 2K12 Kvadrat (SA-6 GAINFUL), which could be employed in a similar capacity to IAF Osa-AKM units if required. The Army also operates additional Osa-AKM units.

LIMITATIONS

Given that India has chosen to rely on a point-defense oriented air defense network, the lack of long-range SAM coverage is not a true limitation. Furthermore, the presence of significant numbers of fighter aircraft such as the Su-30MKI cpaable of acting in concert with the EW network to perform interception tasks can alleviate the lack of long-range SAM coverage. However, there are still some limitations to be addressed within the network as it is currently organized.

The primary limitation is one of terrain. Northern and eastern India contains very varied terrain, which can introduce significant blind spots in radar or SAM coverage, reducing the network's effectiveness. The issue of EW coverage has been addressed to a degree by the procurement of the A-50I AWACS platform.

The other significant limitation faced by the strategic SAM network is one of age. While many of the systems have been refurbished or modified to retain their effectiveness, the age of the systems is such that a potential aggressor has enjoyed a significant amount of time to discern weaknesses and develop ECM systems and countertactics to defeat the deployed systems. In truth, it is the age of many of these systems that has pushed India towards developing and procuring new SAM systems to replace the elderly systems currently in widespread use.

ABM DEVELOPMENTS

One significant aspect of Indian air defense that will become operational in the near future is an ABM capability. India began researching an ABM system in 1999, with the goal of fielding a two-tier system. The two-tier system would consist of the exoatmospheric PAD, a Prithvi SRBM derivative, and the endoatmospheric AAD. Where PAD employs a directional warhead, AAD employs a hit-to-kill kinetic warhead. It is now believed that a new weapon referred to as PDV will replace the PAD in the two-tier structure. This system is capable of engaging 1500 km range ballistic missiles, making it an ATBM rather than a true ABM system, but a separate system with a design goal of engaging 5000 km range weapons is underway to field a true ABM.

The radar syste employed by the PAD/AAD weapons is referred to as Swordfish and is in actuality a modified Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar system. Two of these radars were delivered to India in 2002. One is currently sited northeast of Bangalore, with the second being located near Konark on India's northeast coast. The radars are sited in protective domes. The inland facility can be seen in the image below:
FUTURE PROSPECTS

India is actively developing and acquiring new SAM systems to revitalize its air defense force for the 21st Century. There are three significant programs which should begin to bear fruit in the near term. The first is the Akash, being procured by the IAF to potentially replace S-125M systems. This is an indigenous mobile SAM system derived in part from the 2K12. Maitri is a short-range SAM being co-developed with France, employing technology used in the French Mica BVR AAM. The third program is a long-range SAM system. This system may build upon the aforementioned AAD weapon under the codename of Ashvin. Deployment of these weapon systems will eventually allow the IAF to retire the S-125M and Osa-AKM, replacing them with weapons more capable of performing effectively in the current environment.

CONCLUSION

While India's SAM network does not appear to be particularly robust or capable on paper, it is not intended to serve as the primary protector of the nation's airspace. However, even with its more limited role, modernization programs must continue if the network is to remain viable in the forseeable future.

SOURCES

-Satellite imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth

Mahesh_R · Post by **Mahesh_R** » 19 Sep 2010 09:06

Thomas Kolarek wrote:The Indian SAM Network by by Sean O'Connorhttp://geimint.blogspot.com/2010/09/ind ... twork.html

The above article provides exact location of our SAM's and Radar's...
Does it not compromise our security ?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Sep 2010 09:11

nice piece of work - a first imo using open src imagery. a guy named SOC on afm used to move around searching for russian s300 sites.

looking at it, our radar coverage across Nepal and the North east is all hole with a couple of swiss cheese bits in between

our SAM coverage is even worse and proves that we depend on SAM only for point defence of airbases and strategic targets,
not to deny any airlanes or zones. in that sense we are like the USAF but with hardly the USAF's fighter and awacs resources!

the Akash batteries should plug the yawning gaps in the NE wrt to airbases and camp defence - the rate of production
needs be 3 shifts and 24x7x365 - we cant leave our rear open for another decade with the panda in heat.

but until the Barak-8 enters FOC in IA and IAF service, there is no concept of area air defence. the NE and Nepal border also needs
plenty of next gen Rajendra and Revathi type radars....

and bangalore,kerala has no AD :whine:

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 19 Sep 2010 09:38

mahesh, no, those things are widely known to everyone but Indians. the information is open source and easily available, what he has done is put it in an orderly fashion.

singha ji, it is SOC from keypubs. SOC stands for sean o'connor. I've long waited for his analysis on our AD environment. nice stuff.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Sep 2010 09:49

lol I didnt realize the acronym. yes he's pretty good at this job. got to bookmark his blog.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 19 Sep 2010 10:20

From the above Blog:

Here's the projected lineup for September:

Week 1: SAM Site Overview
Week 2: India's SAM Network
Week 3: Iranian BM Facilities
Week 4: China's SAM Network update

Mahesh_R · Post by **Mahesh_R** » 19 Sep 2010 10:25

Rahul M wrote:mahesh, no, those things are widely known to everyone but Indians. the information is open source and easily available, what he has done is put it in an orderly fashion.

Thanks Rahul...but how reliable this information is ???

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 19 Sep 2010 10:36

as reliable as any amateur analysis can be. but he does have a very good reputation as a reliable and unbiased contributor over the years. as far as OSINT goes, he is considered a bit of an expert, especially in imagery analysis and he definitely has a very solid idea of mil systems.
all in all, we (as in laymen) are unlikely to come across many more articles that equals or trumps this one. unless SBM writes again that is.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 19 Sep 2010 11:07

No mention of SpyDer. Have we started deploying those systems yet ?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 19 Sep 2010 12:31

Rahul M wrote:as reliable as any amateur analysis can be.

Rahul he is not an amateur analyst in the true sense , he has some defence background and he has served USAF for 10 years as intelligence analyst. He has the right connection and background on this subject.

You can check his profile out here Sean O'Connor

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 19 Sep 2010 13:39

The radar system employed by the PAD/AAD weapons is referred to as Swordfish and is in actuality a modified Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar system
The Indian SAM Network by Sean O'Connorhttp://geimint.blogspot.com/2010/09/ind ... twork.html

Wikipedia says following (without any reference) about Swordfish LRTR, “it differs from the Israeli system as it employs Indian Transmit Receive modules, signal processing, computers and power supplies. It is also more powerful than the base Green Pine system and was developed to meet India's specific BMD needs.”

Following is the news extract from the web about the Swordfish “He said the DRDO had sought foreign collaboration only for bridging technological gaps and accelerating technology development. The long-range tracking radars (LRTR) used for detecting targets for the interceptor missiles are modified Israeli Green Pine radars. The interceptor missiles use an indigenized Russian radio frequency seeker and the fire control radar is French. The LRTR currently has a range of 600 km, which the DRDO plans to upgrade to 1,500 km by 2011.” http://www.domain-b.com/aero/mil_avi/mi ... _drdo.html

my question is:
1.Is Swordfish LRTR, "Green pine Modified" or "Green pine derived (copied and enhanced) Radar"?
2.If it is GP modified then does it mean to field more LRTR, DRDO will have to import the GP in equal number?
3.If it is GP modified then, how is DRDO going to achieve the technical challenge of upgrading the GP to range of 1500 km by themselves?
4. Wasn't a third GP was impoted in 2005?

sum · Post by **sum** » 19 Sep 2010 13:53

Rahul M wrote:as reliable as any amateur analysis can be. but he does have a very good reputation as a reliable and unbiased contributor over the years. as far as OSINT goes, he is considered a bit of an expert, especially in imagery analysis and he definitely has a very solid idea of mil systems.
all in all, we (as in laymen) are unlikely to come across many more articles that equals or trumps this one. unless SBM writes again that is.

Been waiting a long time to see a godd summary of Indian SAM cover. Had thought "planeman" would do it first but anyways, good that someone did it.

The picture doesnt look too great but with massive SAM upgrades in coming days with LRSAM, MRSAM, SRSAM ( SpyDer??), Aakash, PDV etc, things will surely look lot brighter by 2020, i guess...

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 19 Sep 2010 14:00

Austin, I do know that. I meant amateur in the sense that it is done by a private individual and not by an organisation. pedantic on my part perhaps but there you are.

sum, his work is definitely of a higher calibre than planeman, and I say that with no offence to his work.

Gaur · Post by **Gaur** » 19 Sep 2010 14:13

No S-300? There seemed to be a strong rumour that India bought those.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 19 Sep 2010 15:26

Well, you can place those S-300 rumours to rest.

One good thing about the Radar Coverage in west is the interlocking of the radar sweeps of different locations. Not many blindspots. Plus, those aerostats will cover a definites arc - most probably areas in Pakistan which can produece high aircraft activity. Add the recent C3I development in the IAF courtsey AFNET, and you have a potent system. And finally, the order of some 37 Rohini Radars for the IAF will further add to this network - making it that much more dense and wide. As per wiki, the range of Rohini is 180Kms. The rate of production is supposed to be 20 radars per annum - which means that these radars are going to be operational in less that 3 years time.

In addition to those SAM deployments, you have L70 equipped AD Regiments of the IA for point defence. With the planned induction of multi-tiered SAM network in next 5-8years, this system, along with more A-50 and EMB-145 will make the whole network that much more dense and difficult to penetrate