India's R&D in Defence DRDO, PSUs and Private Sector

[krishnan]

Guys who are interested in knowing status of Arjun

IDF

Please refer to it

The NERA Armour is perfected beyond oexpectation. There is a honey comb design India has come up with. Its revolutionary and USA wants it badly... actually so do we. I think we will get it first though. I will post a picture (small tiny one) tomorrow. Anyways once the machiney is set for construction and component backup (all foreign ones) - it will become easy to produce and maintain. There is a team from Arizona that is here now.

Check the full out there, regards.

iii. Arjun one piece in Isr. (yes there is one there). Significant progress on RFC. 2 more pnts left and it goes on trial - again. The bad thing for India is that its hardly indigenous now. Its going to become a Indian barreled, US machines, Isr updated, S.korean touched tank. I There is a huge effort to set separate/dedicated manufacturing line for Arjun. Most of the foreign tech in arjun will have backup machinery and maintenance in place soon. USA has a fair
amount of consulting on this. India has shown int in kx which is in trials in S.Korea. There is something going on at that front i have little knowledge off. Its stated to suite Indian req to a large degree like Autoloader/t-90 sized/M1 fire power and the works.

[JCage]

Sorry- too much about Denil rings untrue. The thought of an israeli contractor bragging qbout an Indian project on the internet!!
Those pics also appear to be scanned from brochures and the like. Compare those "bumps" and they appear to be the same old Commanders sight etc.

[mandrake]

krishnan no, I asked him about that after specifically, He said everything will be made in India , but even israel have taken from Arjun and puted things in their merkava. He just typed it out and meant it to signify the machineries required for production line is hardly Indian!

The contract with US is only with the machineries needed for production line, to automate the production line!!

I was told the exact same thing in OFB, there are issues without automated machinery for production with such finer tolerance whereas in T90 it has way loser tolerance.. (i did not revealed this after AI)

[mandrake]

Sorry- too much about Denil rings untrue. The thought of an israeli contractor bragging qbout an Indian project on the internet!!
Those pics also appear to be scanned from brochures and the like. Compare those "bumps" and they appear to be the same old Commanders sight etc.

Jcage not really (i dont know where the pics came from).. but check the whole arun page there are over 40 pages, IMHO He exactly said when trials happened and i saw it later in DRDO newsletter.

He has even posted several pics...

so far based on my experience with him things have been satisfactory the way i later saw it moving.

Lets wait a bit and hope for best!

[A Sharma]

Joey
Its better for BR not to discuss whats happening in other forums specially if its not in open knowledge. A Israeli contractor talking about Arjun,Python 5 ,Kilo, nuclear submarines and what not. Too good to be true!!
Just my 2 cents

[A Sharma]

FROM NAL website

Agreement between NAL and Kemrock Industries

A know-how transfer agreement was signed on 16 April 2007 between Kemrock Industries and Exports Limited, Vadodara (KIEL) and National Aerospace Laboratories , Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bangalore. As per the agreement KIEL will be producing and commercializing the carbon fibre know-how developed under a DRDO/ADA sponsored programme.

Carbon Fibre Technology is a high tech one and only 2-3 countries in the world are having it. This is also a strategic wonder material with wide ranging applications, wherever strength / stiffness is required along with light weight.

[sanjaykumar]

Following is the text of the President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's address at the National Centre for Scientific Research in Demokritos, Greece today :

Convergence of Technologies
Demokritos, Greece and India | Posted on April 27th, 2007
"I am delighted to be here in this beautiful environment and address the scientists and technologists of the National Centre for Scientific Research (NCSR). I greet Dr. Dimitrios Niarchos, Director, NCSR and researchers of this important institution in Greece. I find that the Centre is carrying out scientific research in biology, material science, micro-electronics, informatics, tele-communications, nuclear technology, nuclear physics, radio isotopes and physical chemistry. The core competence of India and Greece can be identified by a joint task team which will enable establishment of collaborative ventures for synergizing the strengths of two nations leading to the design, development, production and marketing of products and systems in the world market.

India in transformation

India is well on its way to become a knowledge society. There is all round growth in all sectors of the economy namely agriculture, manufacturing and services. Today we have an opportunity to take the leadership in the knowledge revolution. Knowledge Revolution is indeed the foundation for leading India into a Developed Nation. For this, the time is ripe because of the ascending trajectory of the economy, availability of great institutions for capacity building of the human resource, abundant bio-diversity, and other natural resources and above all, our 540 million youth who are determined to make the nation prosperous, happy and a safe place to live well before 2020. With this background India is taking the lead in mobilizing and integrating national and international knowledge resources. Keeping this in mind, I would like to discuss with you on the topic, ‘Convergence of Technologies.'

Convergence of Technologies

Information technology and communication technology have already converged leading to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Information Technology combined with bio-technology has led to bio-informatics. Now, Nano-technology is knocking at our doors. It is the field of the future that will replace microelectronics and many fields with tremendous application potential in the areas of medicine, electronics and material science. When Nano technology and ICT meet, integrated silicon electronics, photonics are born and it can be said that material convergence will happen. With material convergence and biotechnology linked, a new science called Intelligent Bioscience will be born which would lead to a disease free, happy and more intelligent human habitat with longevity and high human capabilities. Convergence of bio-nano-info technologies can lead to the development of nano robots. Nano robots when they are injected into a patient, my expert friends say, will diagnose and deliver the treatment exclusively in the affected area and then the nano-robot gets digested as it is a DNA based product.

Convergence of ICT, aerospace and Nano technologies will emerge and revolutionize the aerospace industry and electronics leading to nano computing systems. This technological convergence will enable building of cost effective low weight, high payload, and highly reliable aerospace systems, which can be used for inter-planetary transportation.

Till recently, silicon and its siblings were considered to be inefficient as sensors, actuators and for photosynthesis. Things are changing. The convergence of computers, communication and sensing into a single smart device and the ability to have mobile and communicate between them is leading the research and development in an important area of Sensor networks. This research is revolutionizing our monitoring systems be it in the area of environment and pollution control, be it in the area of agriculture for crop health monitoring or be it in the area of surveillance. The sensor networks are finding newer applications. This is another convergence of functions that will be very important in our future systems.

With this background of convergence of technologies, I would like to discuss some of the nanoscience and technology products in which India has made certain progress.

Products progress in Nano Science & Technology in India - some examples

a. Water: Nano tube filter - water purification

The scientists from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi have devised a simple method to produce carbon nanotube filters that efficiently remove micro-to nano-scale contaminants from water and heavy hydrocarbons from petroleum. Made entirely of carbon nanotubes, the filters are easily manufactured using a novel method for controlling the cylindrical geometry of the structure. The filters are hollow carbon cylinders several centimeters long and one or two centimeters wide with walls just one-third to one-half a millimeter thick. They are produced by spraying benzene into a tube-shaped quartz mould and heating the mould to 900°C. The nanotube composition makes the filters strong, reusable, and heat resistant, and they can be cleaned easily for reuse.

The carbon nanotube filters offer a level of precision suitable for different applications. They can remove 25-nanometer-sized polio viruses from water, as well as larger pathogens, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The researchers believe this could make the filters adaptable to micro fluidics applications that separate chemicals in drug discovery.

b. Power: Gas flow induced generation of voltage from solids

Prof AK Sood, Professor of Physics at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and his student have studied, experimented and found that the liquid flow in carbon nano tubes can generate electric current. One of the most exciting applications to emerge from the discovery is the possibility of a heart pacemaker - like device with nanotubes, which will sit in the human body and generate power from blood. Instead of batteries, the device will generate power by itself to regulate defective heart rhythm. The Indian Institute of Science has transferred the exclusive rights of the technology to an American start-up Trident Metrologies. They will develop the prototypes and commercialize the gas flow sensors.

c. Drug delivery system

A research group headed by Professor A. N. Maitra of the University of Delhi's Chemistry Department has developed 11 patentable technologies for improved drug delivery systems using nanoparticles. Four of these processes have been granted U.S. patents. One of the important achievements at the initial stage of drug delivery research was development of a reverse micelles based process for the synthesis of hydrogel and ‘smart' hydrogel nanoparticles for encapsulating water-soluble drugs. This method enabled one to synthesize hydrogel nanoparticles of size less than 100nm diameter. This technology has been commercialized.

Another technology has been transferred to industry deals with nanoparticle drug delivery for eye diseases. Traditionally, steroids have been used extensively in the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease and allergies. However, prolonged use of steroids has many side effects. The Delhi University group's process uses nanoparticles to encapsulate non-steroidal drugs. This process aims to improve the bioavailability of the drug on the surface of the cornea. The technology has been transferred to Chandigarh-based Panacea Biotech Ltd.

d. Microwave CNTs Production unit

Defence Materials and Stores, Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur is synthesizing non-aligned, quasi-aligned and aligned CNT with a batch size of 50 grams using a fast synthesis process. It has a maximum operating temperature 12000 C. The CNTs will have applications in EM absorbers, composites, gas sensors, flow monitors, field emission devices.

e. Healthcare: Typhoid Detection Kit

Typhoid Detection Kit has been developed by Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior using the nano sensor developed by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi is a major health problem and an important challenge to health authorities of third world countries due to unsatisfactory water supply, poor sanitary conditions, malnutrition, emergence of antibiotic resistant strains etc. According to an estimate the worldwide incidence to typhoid fever is 16 million cases annually and mortality rate is 600,000 individuals per year worldwide. In India, the morbidity due to typhoid varies from 102 to 2219/100,000 population in different parts of the country. In some areas typhoid fever is responsible for 2-5% of all deaths.

In India for routine diagnosis for typhoid disease Widal test is performed with single serum sample which does not provide the correct diagnosis of infection. Therefore a Latex agglutination based test has been developed at DRDE, Gwalior using recombinant DNA technology and immunological technique for rapid diagnosis of typhoid infection. The test detects "S" typhi antigen directly in patient's serum within 1-3 minutes which is very important for initiating early treatment and saving human life. The collaborative work between DRDO and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has resulted in increasing the sensitivity of the test by 30 times by applying a small electric charge (1.5 V).

Possible areas of Cooperative Missions

Let me discuss some of the Indian national missions and the possible areas of research, design, development and production of products with reference to the areas of importance for development using nano science and technologies. Some of these technologies may be of interest to the scientists and technologists from NCSR.

Agriculture and food processing: We are in the mission of generating 400 million tones of food grains with reduced land, with reduced water and with reduced workforce. It is essential to take up agro food processing in a big way which will bring employment potential in rural areas. Some of the possible areas of research in agriculture and food processing are: Nano-porous zeo-lites for slow-release and efficient doses of water and fertilizers for plants, and of nutrients and drugs for livestock, nano-capsules for herbicide delivery, nano sensors for soil quality and for plant health monitoring. Nano-composites for plastic film coatings used in food packaging, antimicrobial nano-emulsions for applications in decontamination of food equipment, packaging or food processing are other important areas of research.

Infrastructure: India is aspiring to build hundred million houses within next ten years. The infrastructure development in metropolitan and tier-2 cities needs to be enhanced in the form of new bridges, airports, marketing complexes and industrial units. 40% of the rural areas need to be covered with all weather roads; we need to double the present national highways ratio per 100 square kilometer area.

Nano-science material and technology research can definitely provide a solution. Our research focus in the nano-material should be towards cheaper rural housing, surfaces, coatings, use of concrete with heat and light exclusion. Can we develop heat resistance nano-material to block ultraviolet and infra red radiation? We should also develop a nano-molecular structure to make concrete more robust to water seepage, with self cleaning surfaces and bio active coating.

Energy: Energy Independence is India's first and highest priority. We are determined to achieve this by the year 2030 through three different sources namely renewable energy (solar, wind and hydro power), electrical power from nuclear energy and bio-fuel for the transportation sector. Energy independence throws very important technological challenges to the world: The solar cell efficiency has to increase from the present 15% to 20% to 45 to 50% through intensified research on CNT based solar cells. For thorium reactors, as it is known, thorium is a non-fissile material. It has to be converted into a fissile material using Fast Breeder Technology. In the Bio-fuel area, the challenge is bio-fuel plantation for higher yield, esterification technologies for the higher output and the modification to automobile power plants. These three research areas definitely need intensive cooperation between Greece and India.

Safe Drinking Water: We have embarked on a mission for water purification, water de-toxification, water desalination through nano membranes and nano sensor for detecting contaminants and pathogens? How the nano-porous zeo-lites, nano-porous polymers can be used to design and develop products for water purification.

Healthcare: India has already patented the development of drug delivery system using nano-technology. Stem cell research in India is advancing in the field of cardiology, ophthalmology, diabetic research, endocrinology, oncology and immunology. It is essential to develop drug delivery system for stem cell implantation into the specific organs of the body related to the ailment using nano technology.

Aerospace: Emerging technologies such as MEMS, Nano, Information technology, biotechnology, space research, Hypersonic, High power lasers and microwave will be dominating the future in every field and applications. The advancements in material science and technology will give a major thrust to the realization of advanced aerospace systems. We are today at the convergence of Nano, Bio and Information technologies, that will lead to new generation aerospace devices and products.

Molecular nano technology has enormous potential for future aerospace systems. Research has shown that newly discovered class of molecules, particularly carbon nano tubes built from graphite sheets curved into a wide variety of close shapes, may lead to tougher, high temperature materials that can survive in vacuum and other harsh environments. Carbon nano tubes are normal form of carbon with remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. It is hoped that such materials could revolutionize electronic design and open the space frontier by radically lowering the cost of launch to orbit.

Carbon Nano Tubes reinforced with polymer matrix will result in composites which are super strong, light weight, small and intelligent structures in the field of material science. This has tremendous aerospace applications.

ICT: Molecular switches and circuits along with nano cell will pave the way for the next generation computers. Ultra dense computer memory coupled with excellent electrical performance will result in low power, low cost, nano size and yet faster assemblies. This will result in the small scale assembly of computers, tablet PCs, display systems etc.

Collaborative Programme in Nano Science and Technology

Next ten years will see nano technology playing the most dominant role in the global business environment and is expected to reach $ one trillion. In this scenario, with the core competence of NCSR and Indian R&D institutions, we can create vertical missions under a joint venture organisation for at least 10 nano technology products in Water, Energy, Agriculture, Healthcare, Space and Defence and ICT sectors. In these identified vertical missions, R&D institutions, Universities, private and public Industries from Greece and India should work together for faster design, development and production of products for world market.

In order to achieve this mission, we need to connect all the relevant institutions participating in this mission using the high bandwidth fiber optics network into a Knowledge Grid specially established for the nano technology mission of Greece and India.

Conclusion

Since, I am in the midst of scientists and technologists of National Centre for Scientific Research, I would like to share some of the research areas where Greece and India can work together.

1. In the energy sector, increasing the solar photovoltaic cell efficiency from the existing 15% to 45% using silicon as a base with Carbon Nano Tube is an important research challenge. Scientists in reputed laboratories in the world have established the fact that the alignment of the CNT with the polymer composites substrate is the key issue and this aligned CNT based PV cells would give very high efficiency in photovoltaic conversion. The polymer composites increase contact area for better charge transfer and energy conversion. In this process, the researchers could achieve the efficiency of about 50% at the laboratory scale. The intensity of research in Indian research institutions has to be enhanced to realize commercial production of CNT based Photovoltaic cells.

2. India has to go for nuclear power generation in big way using thorium based reactors. Thorium, a non fissile material, is available in abundance in our country. Intensive research is essential for converting thorium for maximizing its utilization and generating electric power through thorium based reactors.

3. Proteomics is the study of all the proteins expressed by the genome of a cell. It is the logical extension of genomics. Proteomics helps to understand the basic biological processes critical to normal cellular functions as well as the development of diseases. It identifies the essential components of these processes and exploits these components as targets in the development of new methods to prevent or treat diseases. The type of work involved is huge and challenging, and much bigger than the Human genome programme. There is a national programme in proteomics. This has to be given thrust with cooperation of International Scientific community.

4. There is much research and development and progress in testing of vaccine in the country for prevention of HIV/AIDS disease. It is indeed a big challenge for life science scientists to have an integrated vaccine development leading to production in three years time.

5. Stem cell research through three areas such as Adult stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and embryonic stem cells has to be pursued on a mission mode for finding cure for many diseases.

6. In many places in our planet, we experience severe earthquakes resulting in loss of life, loss of wealth and in some cases it destroys the decades of progress made by the country and its valuable civilizational heritage. India has earthquake problems periodically in certain regions. Greece also has earthquake problems. It is essential for us to work on mission mode research for forecasting the earthquake using multiple parameters using precursors such as pre-shock conditions, electromagnetic phenomena prior to final rupture and atmospheric and ionospheric anomalies.

7. The quantum of rainfall in a particular area for a particular cloud condition within a specified duration is not being determined by the present monsoon prediction system. Heavy rains in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad in our nation during the last few years and Katrina hurricane in US has created enormous loss of life and property. This brings out the necessity for global monsoon research for determining intensity and quantum of rain in a particular cloud condition through a validated prediction system with detailed research. With this system scientists should be able to provide the information for the particular cloud condition, how much rain will come in what period through the use of Polorimetric radar.

Solutions to these seven research areas: first two relating to solar power and nuclear power area, third relating to healthcare, fourth relating to HIV/AIDS, fifth relating to stem cell research, sixth relating to forecasting of earthquake and seventh relating to precision forecasting of rain content for particular cloud condition are challenging areas for the young researchers in Greece and India.

My greetings to all the members of National Centre for Scientific Research and my best wishes to all of you in your mission of promoting scientific discoveries, technological inventions and innovations for societal transformation.

May God bless you."

[JaiS]

Defence scientists' success story

Few would know that in the 1970s, a design was finalized on the drawing board for an aircraft-carrier for the Indian Navy. The project never went beyond that stage, while the Navy first got the second hand Vikrant and then the Virat, also a second hand carrier. The former has been retired and the latter has been decommissioned now. Another refitted carrier, the Gorshkov, which was laid down by the Russian Navy in 1978 is now being acquired for the Navy. Importantly, this aircraft cruiser is being supplied two India along with light deck-based fighter MiG 29-K and several other machines which the Navy may need as support to the Carrier. The whole project is estimated to cost about Rs. 20,000 crore. Imagine, if the proposal for an aircraft carrier was pursued in the 1970s, the Navy would have by now got at least four aircraft carriers which it actually needs.

This is just one example of how silly is India's defence planning, thanks to increasing intervention of various interests which invariably prevent Defense scientists and technicians from completing their projects and, importantly, determining their priorities The designing and development of long range ICBMs, and further work on them, undoubtedly gives the defence scientists a great merit certificate and the country a sense of achievement. But it must be determined at this stage if the defence planners would like the ICBMs to be produced and inducted into the forces. More importantly, even if such an induction is planned, it should necessarily be preceded by the required infrastructure for their use, about which another time.

[Rangudu]

X-post

From The Week a couple of weeks back:

Look who's talking - R. Prasannan (15-04-2007)

DRDO gets a bad name because of Army and Air Force

Finally, the much-maligned and underpaid defence scientists feel vindicated. Having been rubbished by the media and the defence services for long-delayed and aborted defence technology projects, they feel that someone has heard their side of the story, though this story is not that flattering to the Army and the Air Force.

The 14th report of the Balasaheb Vikhe Patil-headed parliamentary standing committee on defence has vindicated THE WEEK's reports (Feb. 19, 2006 and February 18, 2007) that the services are as much to blame for Defence Research and Development Organisation's project delay. The committee has noted that many of DRDO's difficulties are caused by the changing of the qualitative requirements (QR) by the services midstream, and the long and extended trials by them. Said a DRDO scientist to THE WEEK: "When it comes to imported systems, the services are willing to dilute their QR if the supplier can bring down the price. Why can't they extend the same concession to systems developed by our own scientists?"

The committee, too, has criticised the services' phoren craze. "...indigenously developed product is subjected to prolonged and exhaustive trial and evaluation, whereas imported products are not subjected to the same evaluation, but are readily accepted...," it noted.
The committee has listed several instances of the services' changing QR midstream, leading to delay in projects. The Army asked DRDO in September 2000 to develop an air-defence gun system for Rs 17.7 crore. Four months later, the vice-chief reported that the existing L-70 and ZU guns could be upgraded to a level superior to what the Army had asked it to develop. The new QR, issued in May 2001, was so different from the earlier one that DRDO had to short-close the programme after spending Rs 14.5 lakh.

In 1994, the IAF asked DRDO to develop an emergency floatation system for Mi-8 helicopters for Rs 75 lakh, when IAF was negotiating with FPT of the UK. As FPT could not meet the air-worthiness requirement, the system was imported from Kazan in Russia, and the indigenous development programme foreclosed after spending Rs 48 lakh. To DRDO's credit, instead of throwing away the already-developed technologies, it employed them in the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter.
In 1993, the IAF asked DRDO to develop a mobile balloon barrage system for Rs 45.99 lakh. By March 1998, DRDO was ready with the system. One and a half years later, the IAF reported that it no longer needed the system, as it was based on the 1980s operational philosophy.

The maximum flak on DRDO has been over the delay in the light combat aircraft (LCA) programme. The IAF, too, has to share the blame. It asked DRDO to redesign the composite wings "to cater for weapon definition changes" in January 2004, by which time the prototypes had flown for more than a few hundred hours.

The most intriguing case has been the cargo ammunition development project, sanctioned in January 1998 at Rs 16.35 crore. Initially, DRDO thought it could modify the bomblet developed for Prithvi for the cargo system. When this failed, DRDO attempted to design the bomblet and fuze afresh. That threw up certain technological constraints. Finally, all the "constraints were overcome and the design of 130mm cargo shell, bomblet, bomblet fuze..., packing system and ejection system were worked out."

Hardly had DRDO opened champagne bottles when, according to the committee, "the project was shortclosed [as] the government did not grant an extension of time after spending Rs 2.78 crore." The committee has recorded that it is "not fully convinced with the reply... that due to technological constraints, change in design and development and GSQR, the projects sanctioned were abandoned...."

The services' argument has been that changes in technology and threat perception are making them amend the QRs. (THE WEEK reported in February that the Nag anti-tank missile programme was delayed partly because the Army and IAF suddenly wanted longer ranges than what they had originally asked for.) The committee has observed that several projects "were shortclosed due to change in General Staff Qualitative Requirements by the user, or due to technological obsolescence."

The problem appears to be mainly with the Army and Air Force. The Navy, which has its own design capability, has fewer problems with DRDO. As the committee observes, "Only the Navy has design capability, and... is far ahead of the Army and Air Force in R&D and outsourcing."
Thus, naval engineers and designers seem to have a better working relationship with DRDO. For instance, the Samyukta electronics warfare programme for the Army was launched in May 1994, but is yet to be completed and handed over to the Army. On the other hand, the similar Sangraha programme for the Navy, which was launched a year after the Army programme was launched, has already been completed, and is being happily used by the Navy. This was after the cabinet committee took seven months to sanction the Army project and 13 months for the Navy one.

Similarly, other naval projects like high-speed torpedo Varunastra and anti-torpedo decoy system Mareech, though delayed by two years, are expected to be completed with no cost overrun. A non-official expert put it pointblank to the committee: "The Navy has the best example. So why don't we follow that? All major developments take place as part of the service, under their care and accountability."

The Navy's higher satisfaction level with DRDO is reflected in the naval representative's statement before the committee: "With the help of DRDO..., we have made considerable progress on the electronic warfare systems." According to him, the Navy has stopped buying sonars from abroad for the last five to 10 years; DRDO-developed sonars have been retrofitted even in Russian-built ships; DRDO's electronic warfare systems are being inserted in foreign-built naval aircraft; and systems are being sent to Russia for retrofitting on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which is being refurbished in Russia.

Similarly, Garden Reach Shipbuilders of Kolkata has no problem with the special steel developed by DRDO and produced by Steel Authority of India for anti-submarine corvettes. As the Garden Reach representative proudly told the committee, "We are now the first major user of this indigenous steel.... The entire electronics, weapons and sensors in that ship are going to be... indigenous." The only problem, as noted by the committee, is that the Navy is often unable to provide enough ships for trials of warheads.

There are problems within DRDO, too. As many as 1,404 scientists have left it in the last 10 years. As the ministry pointed out to the committee, many of the multinationals' R&D centres are located in cities where DRDO has a cluster of laboratories and establishments. "Some of the scientists selected in DRDO through proper selection process, after training and R&D experience in the organisation, are offered lucrative salary by MNCs and private companies," it said.

Not that the report is a clean chit to DRDO. The organisation has been criticised for its lack of project management culture, reluctance to involve the users in project management and review, lack of trust in the capabilities of private industry, and lack of technological follow-up with public sector manufacturers. But the committee has refrained from blaming DRDO even for US sanctions which delayed the Kaveri engine.
As a DRDO scientist told THE WEEK, many of these technologies are being developed for the first time in the country, and there would be teething problems. "This would happen in any country where strategic technology has progressed far ahead of civilian industrial base. We have been developing extremely complex technologies for fighter planes and warships and electronic warfare, whereas our civilian industry produced the first indigenous car only recently," he said.

The problem, according to him, is not in the development of technologies, but in integrating them into products and weapon systems, which is the job of design engineers. As DRDO chief Dr M. Natarajan has been saying, "We don't have enough design engineers in the country. India needs at least one lakh of them."

[Kakkaji]

From dailypioneer.com. Posting in full as the URL is not archived:

Overhaul DRDO to make it accountable: general

PTI | New Delhi

Flaking heavily on the DRDO for its "lackadaisical" track record, a retired general has made a forceful plea for a complete overhaul of its structure and functioning and making it accountable to the armed forces.

"There has hardly been any equipment which the Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed in the promised timeframe and conforming to accepted parameters... Though it has been subjected to a lot of criticism, no attempt has been made to identify the underlying reasons for its lackadaisical track record," Maj Gen Mrinal Suman said.

Identifying the reasons for the "sorry state of affairs", Suman, considered an expert on offsets and defence procurement procedures, said the three primary factors for this was DRDO's lack of accountability, lack of focus and failure to develop a scientific disposition.

"There is a total lack of accountability as DRDO is not answerable to anyone. Its director general is also Secretary of Defence R&D. In addition, he performs the functions of Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister," Suman said in an article in the forthcoming issue of Indian Defence Review.

"Thus, he (the Secretary) wears three hats. Therefore, no questions are ever asked. Escalation in costs and deferment of completion dates are taken for granted." DRDO has been "preventing" the import of urgently needed military systems on grounds of indigenously built, but "not one promise has ever been fulfilled".

"No one has ever been taken to task for misleading the defence services, at times with grave consequences," he said.

[dinesha]

Tata Motors planning to manufacture armored vehicles
http://business.techwhack.com/2421/tata ... -vehicles/

Sources are claiming that Tata could get into a collaboration with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for this project as they would need their products to be certified by DRDO before firm orders are executed.

[Vipul]

Bharat Forge to set up aircraft parts plant.

Pune, May 1 : Hitherto known as the auto-component hub of India, Pune has upped the ante and staked claim as the new backroom for aerospace engineering. The city-based Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL), already a global player in the auto-components sector, is setting up a Rs 350 crore Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at Baramati in Pune district.

The plant will have forging capacity of 30,000 tonnes a year, manufacture 1 lakh machined crankshafts and engage 1,200 workers. With global aviation majors Boeing and Airbus looking to source components from India, Bharat Forge is all ready to board their vendor list. The plant, scheduled to start commercial production in April 2008, is targeting a turnover of Rs 350 crore in the first 18 months.

Said BFL chairman Baba Kalyani: “This is how China built its own civil aviation industry — by using the offset programme and technology flows that came with it over 15 to 20 yearsâ€

[Juggi G]

DRDO planning "Perfect Drop" using GPS tech

DRDO planning "Perfect Drop" using GPS tech
Saturday May 5 2007 00:00 IST

The Defence Research and Development Organisation is aiming at developing a Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided parachute system that could deliver supplies from about 30,000 Feet Altitude with pin-point accuracy, avoiding important cargo loss during natural and man-made calamities.
....... ......

[karan_mc]

India to have its own indigenous aero engine

this is a landmark move by the Government of india

[vina]

India to have its own indigenous aero engine

this is a landmark move by the Government of india :D

Not good enough I think. HAL Aero engine division needs to be spun off into a separate business and GTRE merged with it .. Also grant BHEL or some strong private guy with existing steam turbine /gas turbine business (there I think are guys who make small turbines) an entry into this business to have competition..

[JCage]

[quote]


India’s first hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber

BY A STAFF REPORTER | Saturday, May 05, 2007 9:16:32 IST
The Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command inaugurated the country’s first indigenous hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, `Samudrasuta HBC1’, at its hospital in the city on Thursday


The Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command inaugurated the country’s first indigenous hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, `Samudrasuta HBC1’, at its hospital in the city on Thursday.
The state of the art, Rs 1.9 crore facility at INHS Asvini Hospital, has been designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The chamber makes use of oxyge
n under pressure (increased atmospheric pressure) to treat patients suffering from decompression sickness (such as divers and personnel in submarines) and also people suffering from infections like diabetic gangrene and leprosy.

The unique features of the chamber include wire-free ECG and EEG machines, enabling online monitoring of various meters and the latest fire alarm system as the chamber works under pressurized oxygen.

“To-date India has only six hyperbaric chambers. These imported chambers cost about Rs 6 crore. This facility by DRDO could save a lot of foreign exchange,â€

[JCage]

http://mod.nic.in/reports/MOD-English2007.pdf

Is out.

Excellent news on Sangraha from Frontier India- DRDO's Naval EW programme- check out the orders and production numbers.

After sonars now we are self reliant in EW. Almost all the INs subs and ships and aircraft are standardizing on Indian EW!!

http://frontierindia.net/sangraha-for-indian-navy/

SANGRAHA Electronic Warfare (EW) system jointly developed by Indian navy and Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) is being implemented in Indian naval assets.

15 KITE Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system have been inducted in service on Kamov and Chetak Helicopters.

Additional 47 KITE systems are in order and in various levels of production and integration.

EAGLE ESM systems have been installed on Dornier aircraft and 8 more systems have been ordered.

First 5 HOMI systems built by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been installed on TU-142 aircraft and additional orders are being processed.

2 PORPOISE ESM systems have been installed in EKM Submarines and additional 11 systems have been ordered.

ELLORA system built by BEL has been installed on INS Beas. Three more ships of INS Beas class and three ships of P-17 class will be equipped with ELLORA.

Ellora btw has multi beam phased array jammers.

India now has a substantial footprint in local ESM/EW systems for the Navy.

11 ESM systems- our entire sub fleet will use local ESM. Check out the order numbers- the entire fleet/aircraft is getting the same.

And after Ellora, its probably the next EW system on order- who knows what they'll name it- Konark!!?

[JCage]

Key points from the DRDO section:

-LRSAM is the designation for the Barak-2, with 70km range
-Akash development is complete; EW trials completed successfully, missile ready for productionization post user trials- no wonder that lifafa report appeared!!
-Samyukta well underway, with multiple orders for both Comms and Non Com segment- 860 Crores worth of orders!
- Sujav ordered by Army and Navy, 7 clusters (each with 3 ESM , one ECM) ordered by Army, Navy has ordered 8 units called Drishti
-Much info on EW technology
-Ring laser gyro INS qualified. FOG qualified on Arjun
-3 AEW&C planned, one for trials plus two for induction
-Agni 1 & 2 inducted
-Dhanush- has payload of 500 kg for 250 Km
-SAMVAHAK, Corps info system (CIDSS) has been handed over as well, in production at BEL
-Three warheads for Prithvi cleared


..interesting stuff..

[krishnan]

Whats this FOG?

[JCage]

Fibre Optic Gyro, used for land navigation systems.

[krishnan]

This one?

[mandrake]

jcage where u got akash induction from?
i cant wait the day!

and where you got LRSAM is Barak NG?
The range is disappointing...

After Israel studied SM2 Block 4 it choosed Barak NG over it, it should beat its performace else why would they choose it?

[JCage]

This one?

Could be. Generally whatever DRDO makes goes to BEL anyhow..


Joey, read the mod.nic.in report posted above. The range could be for powered flight - not its full ballistic range. These things matter. Eg the Akashs 25km range refers to its powered flight.

[uddu]

LRSAM
Link

#5: Author: Vipul, Location: USA PostPosted: 14 Apr 2005 07:34 pm
—
Long range missile to be test fired soon
[Deccan Chronicle, 15 April 2005]

Hyderabad, April 14: Taking a quantum leap forward in its Air Defence System, India will begin test-firing it's first Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) in eight months. With its hit-to-kill power and 100 plus km range, LRSAM would be an enviable weapon for many technologically developed nations. The yet-to-be-named LRSAM would match or even better the American Patriot class of missiles in some ways.

The details about new LRSAM are still under wraps. But the trickling in of bits of information on the new weapon, within two months of India completing trials of Medium Range SAM, Akash, are a cause of happiness for the Indians. Akash that weighs 700 km went through a successful trial on February 21 this year. The 25 to 30 km range missile can carry a payload of 70 kg. The trial on the missile system in November last year conducted with a live warhead and active terminal radar navigation achieved good performance.

According to Director of Research Centre Imarat V K Saraswat the LRSAM will be fitted with a radio or radar seeker capable of multiple target tracking. Detecting an incoming object 400 km from its location the LRSAM flying with high super sonic speed would meet the object in its flight and destroy it. LRSAM would be multi-platform or that it could be launched from ground or ship. The weapon that is being developed for the Indian Air Force, would be canister based. Unlike the present open launchers, it would pop out when it is ready to be fired. "The mis-distance will be reduced and the target accuracy increased tremendously in the new missile," Dr Saraswat said.

The first test must have taken place in December 2005 or Jan 2006.
Seems to be a different programme than the Barak-II

[JCage]

That LRSAM you are mentioning appears to be the AAD.

100 Km plus range, and vs the Patriot.

[karan_mc]

India to have its own indigenous aero engine

this is a landmark move by the Government of india

Not good enough I think. HAL Aero engine division needs to be spun off into a separate business and GTRE merged with it .. Also grant BHEL or some strong private guy with existing steam turbine /gas turbine business (there I think are guys who make small turbines) an entry into this business to have competition..

i agree with GTRE merging with Hal ,even private enterprises like L&T should be given a chance

[Sumair]

They should be kept as separate entities in order to create competition. And also it is always wise not to put all your marbles in one basket.

[A Sharma]

Some tidbits from MOD Report 2007

Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV): HSTDV is a first
technology demonstration project in the Hypersonic area undertaken by DRDO. Overall HSTDV system design review has been completed. Aerodynamic configuration has been evolved. Scramjet engine test facility has been established and the structural design of the airframe has also been completed.

MEMS-based Pressure Sensors and Accelerometer: Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) based pressure sensors for pressures of 10 and 30 bars have been developed, packaged and qualified for missile
applications. Similarly MEMS based accelerometers for acceleration level of 10 and 30 g have been fabricated and performance demonstrated. This is the first time in the country that MEMS pressure sensors and accelerometers have been developed for missile applications. MEMS based Rate Gyro of grade 10 degree/hr would be produced by mid-2007.

(m) Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG): Design and development facility for Ring Laser Gyroscope has been established and prototype has been fabricated and qualified.

(n) Electronic Hydro Servo Valve (EHSV):
Servo valve manufacturing facility for fabrication of servo valves for Prithvi, GSLV and LCA has been established. These valves are banned items from USA and Europe.

(o) Fiber Optic Gyroscope
(FOG): Gyroscope of 10 degree/hour has been developed and qualified. This has been successfully tested in MBT Arjun.

[Sparsh]

JCage,

Some confusion here. Is Sangraha a program to develop EW systems for the navy (i.e. Ellora, Kite, Homi, Porpoise etc.) or is it an EW system itself like the Samyukta?

[JCage]

Program! It encompasses a range of ESM and EW (ESM + ECM, ie Ellora) systems for all the Navys needs.

The interesting part is that the Navy has hit the self reliance benchmark in sonars, and now EW fits.

One only hopes that the IAF had shown similar vision and worked with DRDO for all its radar needs.

But even there, there is hope since a range of local radars are now slated to enter service.

[rkhanna]

That LRSAM you are mentioning appears to be the AAD.
100 Km plus range, and vs the Patriot.

and where you got LRSAM is Barak NG?

The MOD Report says that the LRSAM is to be built by DRDO , Navy and IAI. I guess that would mean its the Naval BARAK II. and it specifies a range of 70Kms.. (Page 75)

i Think the Second article posted is using the term LRSAM generically.

[JCage]

The following are the SAM projects being worked upon by DRDO:

- Akash, with a ramjet
- Trishul follow on, the Maitri (what a namby pamby name)
- AAD (The second part of the ABM two tier system, with a > 100 Km range, and with an anti-aircraft function as well)
- PAD ABM (directed solely against BMs)
- Barak-II, now called LRSAM

By the end of all this, India should have a good AD umbrella.

[JCage]

(a) Integrated Electronic Warfare
Programme, Samyukta: It is a joint
programme of DRDO and Indian Army. This
programme is software and integration
intensive and meant for indigenous
development of an integrated EW system
covering 1.5 MHz – 40 GHz. It has
communication (Com) and Noncommunication
(Non-com) segments. The
system comprises vehicles having the
capabilities for surveillance, interception,
monitoring, analysis and jamming of all
communication and radar signals.
Com Segment: Core system has been
successfully demonstrated to the Indian
Army who placed order on Bharat Electronics
Limited for production of three Com Control
Center (CC) blocks at a total cost of Rs 425
crore. Two Comunication Control Center
blocks had been productionised and
delivered to the users after successful
demonstration and user trials.
Non-com Segment: Core system
demonstration consisting of Control Center
(Non-com) Electronic Support Measures,
Electronic Counter Measures-low and high
frequency entities have been successfully
demonstrated to the Indian Army. As a
result, the Army has placed an order on
Bharat Electronics Limited for production of
two Non-com Control Center blocks at a
cost of Rs. 430 crore.
(b) Electronic Warfare (EW) Programme,
Sangraha: It is an integrated EW system
for Indian Navy consisting of five EW
systems for the different platforms - Kite for
Kamov and Chetak helicopters, Eagle for
Dornier aircraft and Advance Light
Helicopter (ALH), Homi for TU -142 aircraft,
Porpoise for EKM submarines, and Ellora
for frigates.
(c) Sujav: It is a compact communication
electronic warfare suit. The system has got
direction finding, search and monitoring
capabilities covering 30-1000 MHz and
jamming in 30-500 MHz frequency range.
The system was deployed in J&K by Army
and Rajasthan sectors achieving
satisfactory performance. Indian Navy has
also placed order for the production of 8
such system (called Drishti) for off shore
and on shore applications. Indian Army has
placed order for 7 Sujav clusters consisting
of three Electronic Support Measure (ESM)
and one Electronic Counter Measure (ECM)
station. One Sujav clusters system has
been successfully evaluated in North East
and Jammu region.
(d) Low Level Light Weight Radar, Bharani:
This is a battery powered compact radar
which provides 2D surveillance solution for
Army Air Defence weapon systems, mainly
in mountainous terrain against hostile aerial
targets, like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs), Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs),
helicopters and fixed wing aircraft flying at
low and medium altitudes. The radar can
be transported by vehicles, mules or group
of men. It acts as an early warning system
to air defence weapon system. The system
is undergoing user evaluation.
(e) Weapon Locating Radar (WLR): Weapon
Locating Radar is developed based on the
proven Rajendra radar technology. Its primary roles are location of enemy guns,
mortars and rocket launchers and own fire
direction. The system is developed as a joint
collaboration between DRDO and Bharat
Electronics Limited. Its sub-systems have
been fabricated by BEL based on the design
of DRDO and delivered for integration to
DRDO. The system is undergoing user
assisted trials.
(f) Three- D Surveillance Radar System,
Revathi: It is medium range 3Dsurveillance
radar to be fitted in ASW
Corvette class of ships to detect air and sea
surface targets. The radar is based on
proven 3 Dimensional-Central Acquisition
Radar (3D-CAR) technologies. Basic
objective is to realise a production ready 3-
dimensional radar meeting Naval
requirements. The system is realized
through tri-partite agreement involving
Bharat Electronics Limited as the production
agency, Larsen & Toubro for antenna
stabilisation and other mechanical subsystems
and DRDO as designer and
system integrator.
(g) Multifunction Phased Array Radar,
Rajendra: It has been developed to provide
detection and tracking of multiple aircraft
targets, tracks and provides command
guidance of Akash missiles. Three versions
of the radars have been developed.
Rajendra-I is mounted on modified BMP
vehicle with fixed antenna, Rajendra-II on
the modified BMP vehicle with slewable
antenna while Rajendra-III on T-72 vehicle.
(h) Combat Net Radio for Armoured
Fighting Vehicle (AFV): Army had placed
order for 500 radios and these have been
delivered by Bharat Electronics in May/
June 2006 at an approximate cost of Rs.
34.0 crore.
Command Information Decision Support
System (CIDSS), Samvahak: It is a Corps
to Battalion level decision support system
to collect, collate, process and disseminate
information between commanders of
various formations. The project has been
successfully completed on December 31,
2006.Technology has been transferred to
Bharat Electronics Limited which is porting
the system on the designated
Army Formations.
(j) Samrat: It is a technology
development project for the
design and development of
indigenous communication
EW receivers for search,
monitoring, direction finding
(single and multi-channel), analysis and
decoding in the High Frequency, Very High
Frequency and Ultra High Frequency ranges
along with associated system control and FLI
GENERIC software. Technology has been
developed for compact low noise, high
dynamic range HF (0.5-30 MHz) and V/UHF
(20-3000 MHz) search-cum-monitoring
receivers for COMINT. State-of-the-art
Narrow Band Signal Classifier, Demodulator
and Decoder Sub-system have been
successfully developed.
(k) Portable Non Lethal
Dazzlers (PNLD): Two
versions of PNLDs are
suitable for counter
insurgency operations.
These two versions have
maximum operation ranges
from 50m for hand held and
500m for weapon mounted
systems. Both the variants
have an integrated low power
red laser beam for aiming in
twilight and dark conditions.
Weapon mounted variant has
an integrated day sight also. All the variants
are completely non-lethal and produce
randomly flickering green laser output to
cause a temporary dazzling effect and have
an inbuilt safety interlock to prevent misuse.[/quote]

Other interesting stuff:

NBC Recce Vehicle: The NBC Recce
vehicle, based on BMP-II, has been
developed for conducting survey of
radiological and chemical contaminated
areas. The equipment has been approved
for induction into Services. Army has placed
an order for eight vehicles.
(j) Propelled Mine Burrier: The project was
taken up to develop a Self Propelled Burrier
on high mobility carrier vehicle for laying/
burying indigenous influence mine Adrushy
Mk-I, Adrushy Mk-II, NDMK-I & HPD F2 anti
tank mines. Engineered prototype of the
system has been realized which can lay four
types of anti tank mines.
(k) Automated Mobile Platform for
Multipurpose Payload: The project entails
development of a remote control vehicle
capable of being driven over a range of
500m line-of-sight both in cross-country and
urban environment. Developing Remotely
Operated Vehicle (ROV) with stair climbing
capability, six degree of freedom
manipulator arms actuated by slewing ring
bearing and remote operation of payloads
integrated on ROV has been completed
successfully. Two prototypes have been
realized. Project has been successfully
completed after technical trials.
(l) Modular Bridge, Sakav: This project
envisages development of a mechanically
launched single span modular bridging
system based on TATRA vehicle for
deployment in all terrains. The span of the
Bridge ranges from 14m to 46m. 20m
system has been realized and design
verification trials conducted. 46m Bridge
superstructure has also been realized and
testing under simulated load condition
completed.
(m) Counter Mine Flail on T-72 Tank: This
project envisages to develop flail system on
T-72 Tank Chassis to breach a mine field
and create a vehicle safe lane of 4m width.
First system on Tank based simulator has
been realized and technical trials have been
completed successfully.

Multi Barrel Rocket System (MBRS),
Pinaka: The system comprises launcher,
loader-cum-replenishment vehicle and
command post with fire control computer
mounted on Kolos Tatra 8 X 8 (high mobility
vehicle). The system is
characterized by “Shoot and
Scootâ€

[dinesha]

Handheld GPS computers for soldiers in difficult terrains
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00 ... 061714.htm

Jammu, May. 6 (PTI): The army is set to equip soldiers with handheld multi-role computers to enable them to pinpoint their field locations in difficult-terrain tactical warfare and for counter-insurgency operations.

The device, 'Sathi' (situational awareness and tactical handheld information), is in the "final phase of user trials" and expected to be introduced after certain modifications, Northern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen H S Panag said.

There were drawbacks, most of which were rectified. "Some modifications were done and some more are required before it is given the all-clear for induction in the infantry for mechanised warfare, he said.

Ninety 'Sathis' were delivered to the army in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct trials in "borderline and in-depth counter- insurgency areas in March 2005.

The device was initially called "Baaz", alluding to the hawk's view of the battlefield, but was later renamed "sathi (friend) to fit the soldier's needs", defence sources said.

President A P J Abdul Kalam on a visit to Rajouri district in 2004 said, "when I saw Baaz, I was reminded of the smart soldier of the 21st century".

Four countries use handheld multi-role computers but India is the first to use Linux-based portable computers in the battlefield and the first to use open sourced operating system to power it.

[JCage]

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanheral ... 200756.asp

HAL's JV for aircrafts manufacture, cleared

New Delhi, PTI :

With Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)'s efforts to build a jet engine not producing results even after 20 years, the government has cleared proposals to allow the blue chip state-run undertaking to join hands with international design houses for the venture.

Under the new proposals, the government will allow HAL to become a co-development partner with established aircraft engine developers to give "initial impetus" to the development of aero-engines in India.


The step, defence ministry officials said, was mooted as realisation has dawned that there is an urgent need to bridge the extensive gap between India and advanced countries in the field of aircraft engine development.


HAL, they said, will thus become the second major official agency to try to develop an indigenous aero-engine.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation's Bangalore-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment is working to produce the Kaveri engine to power the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

To gain a foothold in aero-engine technology, the defence ministry has said that proposals were being studied for HAL to take up the co-development of F-125 engines with Honeywell of the US and Adour Mk821 and 250-C40B engines with Rolls-Royce.

Collaboration between HAL and Pratt and Whitney was also under consideration, they said.

HAL's Engine Test Bed Research and Design Centre (ETBRDC) will work to produce the turbo-shaft engine for the proposed indigenous multi-role combat aircraft being designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

"Such an engine can alternatively be installed in the fifth generation fighter proposed to be developed jointly by India and Russia," an official said.

ETBRDC is simultaneously being tasked to produce another twin spool turbofan engine to power an indigenous cruise missile. This engine will be jointly developed by the National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) and DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment.

The government has already invited proposals for co-development of the Kaveri engine that will power the second batch of LCAs for the Indian Air Force, and French, Russian and US companies have submitted bids.

In a significant move, the key Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has recommended that HAL should be totally delinked from DRDO. "It should be re-structured so as to make it an autonomous research and development organisation," the panel said in its latest report tabled in Parliament. (Note: While it is good to boost HAL R&D but PSCs typical steelframe generalist chaibiscoot approach, their suggestions should not affect HAL-DRDO ties and linkage, need of the hour should be to improve them for the LCA and other programs)

The Committee noted that HAL has been unable to develop leadership in aeronautic defence research projects and blamed this on "bureaucratic control" by the defence ministry.

"HAL should be given full autonomy on the lines of ISRO and the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile project," the committee suggested.

[JCage]

M250 C40B Engine

http://www.rolls-royce.com/civil_aerosp ... 0_c40b.pdf

Honeywell F125
http://www.acig.org/artman/uploads/f125.jpg

http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/refer ... es/USA.htm
Country USA
Manufacturer Honeywell
Engine model TFE1042-70 (F125)
Take-off rating (dry) 26.8 kN (6,025 lb) D
Take-off rating (wet) 41.1 kN (9,250 lb) W
Weight (dry) 617 kg (1,360 lb)
Airflow 43.3 kg (95.4 lb)/s
Arrangement 3F, 4A+C, a/b
BPR 0.4
Diameter 591 mm (23.25 in)
Length 3,561 mm (140.2 in)
Classification Jet Engine

Adour Fact sheet
http://www.rolls-royce.com/defence_aero ... /adour.pdf

[mandrake]

So the way I see things,

Kaveri is Indian project by GRTE and HAL.

HAL will gear up for more engine developement JV's, and this should give us with the material technology to decrease weight wither with F125 or Rolls Royce.

They will apply it on Kaveri and subsequently Kaveri 2.

Significantly as I can see the report doesnt mentions HAL taking up JV on Kaveri, so is it that It has already done with Kaveri ? and some here and therew work needs to be done?

In Aero India We were having discussion with some brfites, apparently someone was mentioning I still remember Honeywell's engines are kickass engines, even faar better than many american companie out there.

ETBRDC is simultaneously being tasked to produce another twin spool turbofan engine to power an indigenous cruise missile. This engine will be jointly developed by the National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) and DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment.

I'll distribute sweets this time I see its done

Seems like whatever I wish is coming true, twin spool turbofan! bring it on baby

[JCage]

Patience. It will take a decade to see the effects of all this. And the bigger thing was to break HAL out of the vicelike grip of the MOD and the IAS. Has it got functional autonomy?

[krishnan]

The Committee noted that HAL has been unable to develop leadership in aeronautic defence research projects and blamed this on "bureaucratic control" by the defence ministry.

A nice kick in the butt

[Vipul]

AWACS prototype by 2007.