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

[shukla]

Hydrogen set to be gen-next fuel
Deccan Chronicle

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched a mission to improve engines used by the armed forces, said Mr V.K. Saraswat, the scientific advisor to the defence minister. “Its aim is to indigenously develop engines in the range of 400-1,500 horsepower to power futuristic main battle tanks utilising the expertise and infrastructure available within DRDO, Indian industries, academia and research-and-development institutions,” he said while speaking at the inaugural function of the 8th Asia-Pacific conference on combustion being held in the city.

Dr Saraswat, who is also the chairman of the Combustion Institute (Indian section), said that IIT-Madras and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, will be developed into centres of excellence for advanced research in combustion technologies. Dr G. Madhavan Nair, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said that hydrogen as a form of eco-friendly, alternative form of energy was going to play a crucial role in the years to come. “It can be used as next-generation fuel in the aviation, aerospace and automobile industries besides domestic cooking,” he said. Dr Nair said the thrust was on developing cost-effective technology to extract hydrogen from water and develop safe handling of this eco-friendly fuel. “Currently, hydrogen technology is expensive and hence technologies to combine both solar energy and hydrogen are needed,” he said.

[VinodTK]

Scientists develop aerostat; no flight range for tests

"We have been unable to carry out test flight of the aerostat as we do not have a flight range. The one at Kolar cannot be used as it falls in the path of flights taking off or landing at the Bangalore airport," S Selvarajan, a NAL scientist, said.

[ramana]

Usually when an article is developed its verification is part of the process. One doesnt go around saying cant verify what I developed for its not developed till its confirmed!

[Jamal K. Malik]

Arms and ammunition export

[atma]

Arms and ammunition export

Sl. No. Country Item
1. USA BOLT ACTION RIFLE (8500 Nos.)
2. KENYA 105 mm Ammunition (2000 Nos.)
3. OMAN CARTG 14.5 mm ATA (5100 Nos.)
4. MALAYSIA SPARE PARTS 40 mm L‐70
5. INDONESIA BREAK PARA SUKHIO (9 Nos.)
6. NEPAL TENT EXTENDABLE (2,000 Nos.)
7. TURKEY CARTG 40 mm L‐70 (20,000 rounds)
8. BANGLADESH DEMOLITION STORES
9. AUSTRALIA BINTAGE RIFLES & SPARES
10. BELGIUM SHELL 84 mm ILLG
11. OMAN CABLE JWD‐1
TOTAL IN USD/RS. 6,824,800/27.43 Crores

"Bolt action rifle" sold to the US are probably the Ishapore enfields, very popular with collectors and hunters. I wonder what "Bintage rifles and spares" are

[Craig Alpert]

Probably meant "vintage"? afterall they are SDRE humaan ONLY.. just my 2 cents

[ramana]

Atmaji, Those bolt action ones are the Lee-Enfield rifles which are collectors items. I have seen them in Big 5 stores.

Sadly collectors items are being exported out just as Rolls Royce cars were smuggled out of India.

Why not give India based people a chance to own them?

[Craig Alpert]

US firm to ink ToT pact for Explosive Detection Kit, says DRDO
a snippet...

The EDK, developed by the DRDO’s High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, comes packed in a box the size of a vanity case which contains four reagents capable of detecting explosives even in trace quantities. It can be used to identify a range of explosives such as PETN, Black Powder, Dynamite, NC, NG, CE, Inorganic Mitrates, TNT, RDX and HMX based plastic explosives. The EDK kit can be easily carried to the spot and is found useful both before and after the blast. When the explosive substance is mixed with the different chemical reagents given in the kit, the drop turns into specific colour as given out in the instruction leaflet. Verification can normally follow using the Raman spectrometric test.Costing about Rs 5,000 a piece, the EDK is being commercially made by Noida-based Vantage Integrated Security Solutions Pvt Ltd under a Transfer of Technology pact with the DRDO. It is being widely used by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads of the Army, Paramilitary and state Police Forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The American firm is soon to enter into an MoU with the DRDO, which has patented its EDK.

[SriSri]

DRDO Aerostat Radars Undergoing Full Payload Trials at ADRDE Labs

[putnanja]

India's Akashdeep is ready: DRDO's Agra lab tests critical surveillance technologies successfully on Aerostat

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)’s Agra-based lab -- the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE) – has successfully tested and flown some critical technologies on Aerostat(s) developed for various surveillance purposes.

ADRDE Director Balraj Gupta confirms to Aviation Week\Tarmak007 on December 27 that the scientists have completed successful testing of electro-optical payload and COMINT (communication intelligence) systems onboard the Aerostat, which carries the Indian name Akashdeep. “We are planning to conduct a live trial of Akashdeep for a select-group of media and invitees tomorrow (December 28). We have a blanket clearance to go up to a maxim altitude of 100 m and above that we need special clearances from the local Indian Air Force station here,” Balraj said.
...
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Couple of full res images available on the site. Posting a low res version of one of the images

[arnabh]

DRDO's R&D developments
http://idrw.org/?p=2009

[chackojoseph]

DRDO demonstrates indigenous Aerostat System

The Gimball system close up look Images

[SriSri]

DRDO 2010 Review - Arjun MBT, LCH, Dhruv, LCA Naval Variant, Kaveri Engine, Restructuring

[udy]

DRDO Science Spectrum

Year 2009
Year 2010

The 2009 DSS has a paper on the stage separation most probably presnt in the Agni II Prime

Credits to Vina (Cemilac paper 2009) posted in the LCA thread.

[Craig Alpert]

The Gimball system close up look Images

Interesting pics of the Gimball... Surprised that the "payload Gimball" is actually mounted outside and not "inside" as part of the Helium balloon. Wonder if they did that for ease of maintenance? The same 360 degree maneuverability can be achieved with the payload located inside of the balloon and just have the gimball outwards, but hey, if it works then who cares...

[Hiten]

NDTV covered the launch in the news
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPpIl2KZUJo

[Raghavendra]

DRDO demonstrates indigenous Aerostat System

You run a great website but i wish you would take care to delete the usual obnoxious comments from pakitrolls

[chackojoseph]

DRDO demonstrates indigenous Aerostat System

You run a great website but i wish you would take care to delete the usual obnoxious comments from pakitrolls

LoL. But let them be there. It shows their desperation. Arjun MBT, LCA, Akash, Agnis. K-15, INS Arihant etc are going to be employed. Let them have their quota of self gratification.

[Raghavendra]

^Why spoil your great site with such silly comments from people who dont know better, regular deletion of such posts will only increase the stature of your site as a knowledgeable forum.

[chackojoseph]

Ok Boss.

[Raghavendra]

^Thanks

[Pratyush]

2010 a mixed bag for Indian defence research

As per this the K 4 has already been tested at least once.

January 11 - India successfully tests its first beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAM) Astra back-to-back from the integrated test range (ITR) off the Orissa coast
January 15 – DRDO tests submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-4 from a Pontoon (replica of a submarine) off the Andhra Pradesh coast January 21 – India conducts flight trials of laser-guided bombs (LGBs) from the ITR
February 7 - India successfully tests its longest range ballistic missile Agni-III from Wheelers Island off the Orissa coast
March 14 - DRDO defers a test of Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile due to technical snags occurred at the last minute
March 15 – AAD interceptor missile couldn't take off as the target missile Prithvi deviated from its pre-coordinated trajectory
March 21 - India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile BrahMos from a warship in the Bay of Bengal to become the first and only country in the world to have a 'maneuverable' supersonic cruise missile in its inventory
March 27 - India for the first time successfully test-fires nuke-capable Dhanush and Prithvi-II missiles from two separate locations of the Orissa coast during the dawn hour
March 28 - Indian Army test-fires surface-to-surface Agni-I missile from the Wheelers Island
May 17 - Indian army successfully launches the surface-to-surface nuke capable ballistic missile Agni-II from the Wheelers Island
June 18 - India successfully flight-tests nuke capable Prithvi-II missile from the ITR during the morning hour
July 7 - Astra missile fails to deliver desired results during two consecutive trials
July 26 - AAD interceptor fails to have a direct hit with the target missile
September 5 - India creates history by flight testing BrahMos cruise missile at a supersonic speed in a steep-dive mode from ITR
September 24 – Prithvi-II missile falls down immediately after taking off from ITR and caught fire
November 25 - India test-fires nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from Wheelers Island
December 2 - India successfully flight-tests block III version of BrahMos cruise missile from ITR
December 10 - The first experimental trial of the surface-to-surface
2750 km range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-II prime fails
December 22 – Indian armed forces successfully tests two nuclear capable Prithvi-II missiles from ITR capable Prithvi-II missiles from ITR

[A Sharma]

Interview with V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Director-General, DRDO

[ramana]

DRDO Science Spectrum

Year 2009
Year 2010

The 2009 DSS has a paper on the stage separation most probably presnt in the Agni II Prime

Credits to Vina (Cemilac paper 2009) posted in the LCA thread.

Thanks. Very good preview of whats coming up from DRDO stables.

[Juggi G]

Indigenous Aerostat Ready for Manufacture
Daily News & Analysis

Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) decade-long effort succeeded last week when it concluded trials of an indigenously developed aerostat system that will carry out surveillance and gather intelligence for all three defence services.

The medium-sized 32-foot-long aerostat with a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres was under development for the past four years. DRDO has spent around Rs70 crore on research and development of the device.

Sources said the Two Aerostats Purchased by Indian Air Force from Israeli Manufacturer Elta had not been Performing Well, which Prompted Development of the Indigenous.

The Indian aerostat can carry electro-optic and COMINT (communication intelligence) payloads for surveillance. The system has been designed, developed and integrated by Agra-based Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment.

DRDO sources said they had not received any orders from the services yet, but the system was ready for manufacturing as per requirements of the armed forces and the paramilitary.

[Surya]

Sources said the Two Aerostats Purchased by Indian Air Force from Israeli Manufacturer Elta had not been Performing Well, which Prompted Development of the Indigenous.

seems like DDM bull$hit

[Singha]

yes the israeli were radars, this one is EO+comint - two entire different roles. I think this puppy could help in passively detecting low flying aircraft, uav or cruise missiles trying to sneak in along threat axis better than ground based radars if deployed in proper sites and fitted with a IRST.

[Hari Seldon]

Interview with V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Director-General, DRDO

Very interesting. Thx for posting.

The DRDO being taken off the Entities List means that we will now go to a list called the Approved List. What this means is that for all dual-use items, we have to apply for licence, and for non-dual use items, we can buy them without licence, based on the policy of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). That is the main thing.

Now what is dual-use? As far as defence is concerned, anything that you use for defence is dual-use. That is where the implementation of the relaxed procedures will make an impact. If the implementation is based on the generic definition of dual-use item, then the gain [from India being taken off the Entities List] will not be significant. If the implementation is based on an item and its ultimate use as described by the importing laboratory, and a technical view is taken on that, only then will the relaxation make a real impact.

Otherwise, everything can again be brought back on the denied list because it is a dual-use item. This is the main issue that will affect tomorrow's programmes, and it will have an impact on the development of technology in our country.
...
We will now have to see whether the implementation norms identified in the new U.S. policy are practised in letter and spirit. Only time will answer this and a lot of case studies will have to be done on what is the actual gain from this relaxed regime.

It is a good framework that the U.S. has provided. But its impact on the growth of technologies in India will be seen only when it is practically implemented.

So the US may play it old game. Like the US prez grandly and grandiloquently signing onto stuff the senate never ratifies, similarly here he promises us moons COTUS will never sell. Time will tell, better to wait and watch.

You are aware that because of export-control regimes in the past there have been delays in development activities in India. Whatever was denied had to be developed ab initio in the country, whether they were missiles, tanks, torpedoes, gas turbine engines. The materials, the sensors, the bearings and computers were denied. As a result, our scientists, industries and academic institutions had to work together to build them. The gain from this denial is that many of these technologies, which we had otherwise decided not to develop, were developed. We, therefore, increased our self-reliance in these areas. But time and cost factors were there. It has cut both ways.

[chackojoseph]

cross post
India to set up R&D center for Warship : National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding




The objective of NIRDESH is to promote R&D relating to Warship and Submarine design, and to provide impetus in developing composite and complete indigenous capability to meet future demands of ships and submarines by the Indian maritime security agencies. The Institute also intends to act as the knowledge and data bank repository on special system designs and also offer consultancy to shipyards in various competencies.

[dinesha]

HEMRL’s latest: Ammo safe from enemy missile

Pune. Scientists at the Pune’s High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), a DRDO establishment, have come up with 12 explosives under the series —Insensitive Munitions — that explode when fired at enemy targets but do not detonate if the stored explosive is accidentally heated, or hit by enemy rockets.
So, if an enemy missile drops on the storage of these explosives, the probability of it exploding and damaging our soldiers and ammunition storage is minimal, said the experts at the HEMRL.

“Insensitive Munitions are future warheads. Compounds with higher explosive capacity are risky to store as the enemy can target the storage that can cause massive destruction. This is the first time Indian scientists have succeeded in developing IM compounds,” said Dr A K Sikder, joint director, HEMRL.

The new series includes 10 newly developed molecules along with CL-20, known to be the world’s most powerful non-nuclear explosive, recently developed indigenously by the laboratory. “All these are insensitive high explosive molecules and their applications range from being used in warheads as explosives or to gun or rocket propellants. A number of them finds applications in designing structure of missile or warheads so as to protect the housed explosives from enemy missiles. The increased explosive power is important for the ‘much needed’ miniaturization of the warhead,” added Sikder.

The cost of production of these explosives in the laboratories ranges between Rs 3,000 to 70,000 per kg, Sikder said and added, “All these compounds are at various stages of production. For instance, preparation methods of most of these compounds, with a few exceptions, have been established to five kg per batch-size at the DRDO. This can be increased further depending upon the compound with the help of Public Private Partnerships (PPP). The ultimate aim is to get them produced from the Ordnance Factories that would enable bulk production as well as bring down cost of production.”

The development is a result of efforts by the team of scientists at HEMRL.

“Reduced Shock Sensitivity (RSS) RDX is another success of the laboratory. It is shock insensitive high explosive ingredient for Insensitive Munitions and enhances safety of ammunitions from accidental initiation. It will replace sensitive RDX in all formulations. Moreover, it finds applications in rocket propellant formulations too.

[ramana]

WOW! That RSS RDX has great potential as a solid fuel for rocket motors.

[sum]

X-post:

Sea trials of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle scheduled for January-end

KOCHI: The sea trials of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) designed and developed by the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur — a constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) — are slated to begin off the Chennai coast during the last week of January.

The ‘AUV-150,' as the prototype is named, is built to operate 150 metres under the sea. It was developed in technical collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.

The performance parameters of the lab-scale model, developed by the IIT, acted as a precursor to the prototype developed by CSIR-CMERI. The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The cylindrical AUV is capable of independently carrying out a plethora of underwater operations, including ocean floor-mapping, surveillance activities and oceanographic studies, based on data gathered using its onboard sensors.

The AUV underwent a series of sheltered water trials at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Underwater Acoustic Research Facility (UARF) in Kerala's Idukki Reservoir over the last two years. The final leg of the still-water trials was conducted in the reservoir between September and October 2010.

CMERI Director Gautam Biswas said: “The National Institute of Ocean Technology [NIOT] earlier developed a Remotely Operated Vehicle [ROV] with the capability to dive much deeper. Our vehicle, however, is different in that it is not remotely operated from a control station ashore. It has an onboard computer that can be pre-programmed to carry out specific tasks, which makes it a smart vehicle endowed with the ability to devise its own stratagems to execute a mission. The payload and the configuration are determined by the nature of the mission it is tasked with.”

During the sea trials, the AUV's image processing capability would be assessed.

“Besides, its capacity to model environmental parameters such as temperature gradient, current, depth and salinity gradient would be scrutinised. Once the technology is proven through extensive sea trials, the AUV can be customised for applications like close-to-coast undersea monitoring, mine counter-measures, cable and pipeline surveys, besides a host of oceanographic studies,” Professor Biswas said.

Features

The AUV has hybrid communication channels. It uses radio frequency while on surface, but switches to acoustic communication when submerged. “The AUV has its own power, propulsion, navigation and control systems. For movement underwater, it locates own geographical position using navigational sensors, while its forward-looking sonar facilitates obstacle evasion and safe passage. For effective operation, it is equipped with navigational sensors like the inertial navigation system, depth sonar, altimeter etc., and payload sensors like camera, side scan sonar and the like. It has extra roll stability, a cruising speed of up to four knots, and weighs about 490 kg,” Professor Biswas said.

‘Major project'

The CSIR-CMERI held numerous meetings with experts from IIT-Kharagpur and NIOT during the development of the vehicle.

“We also made a presentation at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory [NSTL] at Visakhapatnam, which is developing its own AUV. The AUV-150 is one of the major projects executed by the CSIR family, and based on a few such projects, a joint R&D Council of CSIR-DRDO has been formed. The Indian Navy has also shown immense interest in our project,” Professor Biswas said.

[chackojoseph]

India sets up R&D center for Defence Ship building

[nrshah]

I think similar institute should have been made for aeronautics first rather than naval whips as navy already has such thing... However, having both will be a better preposition...

[SriSri]

NIRDESH - Ship Building Research Center Launched in Chaliyam, Kerala

[putnanja]

HAL’s Nashik unit likely to produce 5G Sukhoi

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According to a highly placed source in HAL, several discussions were being held about selecting the production unit for FGFA, with the PSU’s two units in Bangalore and Nashik contending for it.
...
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On the design front, HAL’s work will comprise modifying Sukhoi’s single-seat prototype into the twin-seat fighter that the Indian Air Force (IAF) requires creating critical software, including for the mission computer; navigation systems and the counter measure dispensing (CMD) systems. The Indian firm will also be contributing largely to composites, cockpits and avionics.

The joint development project between India and Russia will see the Indian Air Force inducting about 300 aircraft in the coming two decades. Moreover, once the HAL gets the licence from its Russian counterparts to manufacture the aircraft, the production will be undertaken in Nashik.
...
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Claiming that preparation for producing FGFA was in the right direction, HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak said “We are looking at expansion in Bangalore, in order to accommodate the production of Tejas.”

Sources said that HAL will get additional hangars for the production of LCA. They said that currently there was one hangar for the structural assembly and use, while another half hangar for equipping and direction.

Structural assembly involves putting the aircraft together. In the half hangar fuel pipelines and other things are inserted.
...
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[Craig Alpert]

Indigenous Policy, Defence Procurement Soon: Antony

The Centre would soon announce the indigenisation policy, Defence procurement and Defence production policies, Union Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

"The indigenisation policy, Defence procurement policy and defence production policy are ready and will be announced very soon," he said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the foundation stone laying function for the National Institute for Research and Development of Defence Shipbuilding at nearby Chaliyam.

Antony said there was no controversy on the deal signed by India with Russia for the fifth generation fighter aircraft. "The deal signed was only for preliminary design contract and is not a final contract," he said.

Considering the security situation around the country, India needs such aircraft possessed by USA and Russia, he said.

To a query on the Medium Multirole Combat aircraft,he said the project needs a detailed study and would take more time before the deal was signed.

"No undue haste will be shown and everything will be studied in detail before signing the deal," he said.

Antony said the Light Combat Aircraft, once considered a dream, would become a reality as initial tests of LCA will be done at Bangalore on January 10. "Indian Air Force had given orders for 40 LCAs," Antony said.

Antony expressed hoped that the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier being built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd would be ready for final launch in 2014.

He said piracy in the Indian Ocean had not come down in spite of the presence of Navies from nearly 18 countries like USA, Russia, France, Germany, England and India.

"It is not possible to say Somalian pirates alone are behind these acts. There are certain forces helping these pirates. However it is not possible to pinpoint who these are," he said.

Antony said many countries have also expressed doubts to him during his visits abroad over "certain forces being behind these pirates" .

Interesting tidbits here at least regarding WHO is supporting these Pirates!

[SriSri]

The Complete Defence Procurement Procedure 2011 (228 Pages, PDF format)

DPP 2011 released..

[Raghavendra]

Indigeneous cochlear implant from DRDO

Impressive achievement by DRDO in reducing the cost of the device

[SriSri]

Saab, BEL Joint Venture for Coastal Surveillance; Giraffe AMBs, Arthur Radars On Offer