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

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 07 Jul 2013 08:24

Shrinivasan - not true, Israelis picked it up from IDS HQ MOD web link as follows: http://i-hls.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TPCR13.pdf

It is a description of futuristic technologies but I would have liked to see prioritisation in terms of threat perceived by India: capability required. I heard the LTIPP is more precise but classified. Indian industry now has a huge menu to choose from.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 07 Jul 2013 19:17

kshirin wrote:Shrinivasan - not true, Israelis picked it up from IDS HQ MOD web link as follows: http://i-hls.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TPCR13.pdf

Link please...

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 08 Jul 2013 06:05

Link is given in my last post.

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 08 Jul 2013 07:19

We should add education to the title of this thread, posting great news: an NRI/ IIT graduate returned to head IIT and make it more research oriented! Quote:

"We work with government agencies such as the Atomic Energy department, the Defence Research and Development Organisation and also with companies such as Boeing. Government agencies are going after challenging work and taking risks. Faculty who can deliver have a lot of opportunities."..."But now with the Kakodkar’s committee recommendations, the Government has set a clear direction on research, industry collaboration and technology development. We want to now set up an advanced centre for manufacturing.
We are identifying a cluster of faculty of 15-20 and will deliver strong value to the industry and to the national effort."

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ind ... 891981.ece

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 10 Jul 2013 11:26

kshirin wrote:Link is given in my last post.

As I said before the document is posted in an Israeli website. Israel's Homeland Security (i-HLS) and not the Indian IDS HQ site...

the website is http://i-hls.com/

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 11 Jul 2013 21:06

http://www.aame.in/2013/04/kali-towards ... ected.html

good info about kali

The KALI-5000 electron accelerator is currently the most powerful one in operation in India, generating beams of up to 40 Gigawatts power. Comparison: Commercial power plant ratings are stated in terms of Megawatts, [1/1000]th of a Gigawatt.

Applications of accelerators are no more limited to research & development studies orfor defence utilization. Recent trends of accelerator usage include the irradiation of food,water, medical sterlization, surface treatment, high power microwave generation andradiography . The recent application of Intense Relativistic Electron Beam (IREB) technologyto the generation of coherent electromagnetic radiation by (i) relativistic magnetron, (ii)electron cyclotron maser & (iii) free electron laser have already produced power levels over awavelength band ranging from centimetres to few hundred microns. The collective ionacceleration with linear IREB is another field of application, where the accelerating fieldgradients are not limited by electrical breakdown, collective methods may eventually lead tothe compact, economical acceleration of intense currents of light and heavy ions to hundredsof MeV/nucleon [1, 2]. Potential areas of such beams include controlled thermonuclearresearch, electronuclear breeding, basic nuclear physics and radiation shield testing.

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 12 Jul 2013 07:06

Shrinivasan wrote:
kshirin wrote:Link is given in my last post.
As I said before the document is posted in an Israeli website. Israel's Homeland Security (i-HLS) and not the Indian IDS HQ site...

the website is http://i-hls.com/

My bad! Will try find out why it ain't on IDS HQ site.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 12 Jul 2013 13:32

Apologies if posted elsewhere. Couldn't see it in other threads.

Govt clears Pipavav’s joint venture with Mazagon Dock

Ship maker Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd on Friday said the government had cleared its proposed joint venture with state-run Mazagon Dock Ltd to build warships for the Indian Navy.

The Mazagon Dock Pipavav Defence joint venture can go ahead and “can carry on the business on open and transparent basis”, Pipavav Defence said in a statement to the BSE, citing a defence ministry communication.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 12 Jul 2013 20:21

2 Valuable years have been lost in this Govt flip-flop

. I guess the Mantri's and Babu's 'cleared' the joint venture only after a big wire transfer in their overseas accounts.

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 13 Jul 2013 05:27

Vasu wrote:Apologies if posted elsewhere. Couldn't see it in other threads.

Govt clears Pipavav’s joint venture with Mazagon Dock

Ship maker Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd on Friday said the government had cleared its proposed joint venture with state-run Mazagon Dock Ltd to build warships for the Indian Navy.

The Mazagon Dock Pipavav Defence joint venture can go ahead and “can carry on the business on open and transparent basis”, Pipavav Defence said in a statement to the BSE, citing a defence ministry communication.[/size]

Reminds me of the movie title - A Few Good Men- that's all it takes. This is good news. We need to induct technology and catch up with our rivals. There is a lot of demand for this here and abroad. I like this vision:

“JV (joint venture) will also focus on working on other large and complex projects both meant for Indian Navy and friendly navies of the world..."[/size][/size]

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 18 Jul 2013 18:20

Ashok Leyland creates Super Stallion for bigger role in defence space.

Eyeing a larger role in the defence space, Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland today said it is “stretching its wings” with its Super Stallion range of vehicles in domestic and overseas markets.

“So far, we have mostly depended on the Stallion platform. We decided that we need other platforms (to play a larger role). So, we created Super Stallion which is a significantly bigger platform,” Ashok Leyland Non-Executive Vice-Chairman Dr V Sumantran said here.“Super Stallion is 6x6, 8x8. Typically, Stallion is 230 HP, and Super Stallion is 360-400 HP. We got entry into that. There are about five tenders at least. The first one has been opened, ourselves and L&T are in L1 (lowest No. 1) with the Super Stallion platform.

“Powertrain, transmission, engines are done by us, while L&T does the other. So we are stretching our wings,” he said, adding, “We are a partner, a consortium, for mounted guns system. We have platform for short range missile system.”

Observing that the Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) for defence forces was a long duration programme, he said, adding FICV testing would be ready after 2017 and volumes would happen only after 2020.

Ashok Leyland has established a new company called Ashok Leyland Defence System Ltd to pursue its interest in this sector.Noting that the company was one of the early entrants in the defence sector, he said, “Today, we are the largest private supplier to the armed forces in India with our Ashok Leyland Stallion”.

Asked if they would look to export Super Stallion range of vehicles, he said, “It is definitely a platform we will export. We have got export prospects. It has Neptune engine and is very capable. We have got lot of markets (to export)”. To a query on the company’s foray into aerospace few years back, along with a foreign partner, Sumantran said, “Frankly, it is in cold storage. It has been a tough nut to crack.”

“You would have noticed that in the last 3-4 years, we have tapped major aircraft tenders other than MMRCA (Multi—medium Range Combat Aircraft). We really did not get the opportunity”. “Unless there is an opportunity, we are not inclined to put money on the ground and wait for 5-6 years for something to happen. It is too risky. So, we said we will wait for the right partner and right opportunity,” he said.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 29 Jul 2013 06:34

DRDO News

Release of a DRDO product 'Single High Band Transmitter’ for Airborne Applications

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 30 Jul 2013 04:59

IAF shoots down indigenous trainer project

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 01 Aug 2013 22:30

Need to bridge trust gap with forces

Avinash Chander, Director General, DRDO, says the organisation needs to start delivering on promises to the Services Raj chengappa, Editor-in-Chief, talks to Avinash Chander, Director General, DRDO.

What are the priorities that you have set yourself?

The DRDO’s image as a technology generator has been well accepted across various forums. However, it is the organisation’s ability to deliver in time that is repeatedly getting questioned and unfortunately we have many past legacies. My first aim is to create an environment where things can move faster and build a better structure to remove that legacy. We must start LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) production within this year; Agni IV and V have to go into induction by the end of next year; and Arjun 2 has to go into the next tests and also go into production so that these backlogs are cleared apart from other ongoing ventures. Bringing the production system together into the culture is one of the challenges, and the fact that we have to produce so many systems within the next two years is the major focus area for us.

What about gaps in terms of technology and armament?

We are also focusing on how to overcome the critical gaps in our armed forces’ armoury. For example, today we are dependent on import for ammunitions for the Bofors guns. We do not have a gun of our own for the past 40 years. The two areas of indigenous ammunition and indigenous gun are what we have to deliver on in the next two-three years. My hope is that once I do these things, and they are inducted in the armed forces, the DRDO’s image will be transformed. Users should come to us as the first-choice system. With a new policy to involve the industry, the combination is going to be the most effective solution. The DRDO as technology provider and the industry developing its own capability to produce systems will result in us going into a spiral acceleration mode.

What are the reasons for the lack of delivery by the DRDO?

Our decision making has been sequential. First we do a prototype, then we see whether we get an order for making or developing a system, then after we develop a system we see how many are needed. For each of these cycles it takes five years. No industry is willing to commit to such a process. Regarding strategic systems there has never been doubt in anybody’s mind that India has no other option but to develop them indigenously. So we need to develop the raw material and production processes in parallel to cut down on time cycles.

Second, equally critical is that the industrial base in the country, except for the past five years, has been pretty weak. Each item of the LCA had to be designed by our team as there is practically nothing available in the country. There is no design base in the industry which could have done it. Everything has to be done in-house. Now the industry has to come up to a maturity level where they can take on systems like this. If that happens, half of our load will be gone, and the spared manpower could concentrate on making much better products, and our time cycle will be cut.

Third, programme management at the DRDO needs to be more focused and strengthened. Today we have no professional management training process. We are good scientists but when it comes to programme management we have intuitive managers. We need to train them.

The Rama Rao Committee report five years back had made several recommendations to revamp the DRDO. Have those been implemented?

First, the committee wanted to bring synergy between the policy makers, the armed forces and the research and production agencies so that the decision making process was integrated. It recommended a Defence Technology Commission to be chaired by the Raksha Mantri. We have already put up a note for approval of the Cabinet. We have also put up to the government the setting up of a commercial arm for utilising the capability as recommended.

Second, the committee wanted the formation and empowerment of clusters and to make the heads of clusters and their teams accountable for delivery. We are aiming to constitute the clusters within the next three months. A corporate office will monitor and enhance the synergy between them, taking policy decisions about future activities and, of course, evaluating the performance gaps and taking suitable actions so that the control is not lost but freedom is increased. Third, we are looking at strengthening the HR skills. Fourth, we are also working on a new initiative to create four or five technology centres in academic institutions. The world over basic research happens on university campuses.

Which are the areas of pure research that you are looking at?

We are identifying futuristic areas. The robotic soldier, for example, is one area where a lot of new technologies have to come — materials, mechanisms, kinematics, mathematical modelling, fuzzy logic controls, communication, recognition, differentiating between enemy and friend. There are a whole lot of new capabilities — cyber space, materials, devices, products — that have to be merged, which are going to be at least two levels above what is there today. We want to work in all these fields so that research can be directed towards creating a robotic soldier.

Why should India focus on developing robotic soldiers?

Today there is a focus on unmanned warfare — drones are already there. Future wars are going to be fought with unmanned systems, so you have to plan now. You cannot have Indian soldiers fighting others’ robots; you have to prepare for that. There is a huge amount of work going on in this direction in advanced countries. Given that scenario, we have to catch up, and that is going to be a thrust area.

Where have we reached in our target of indigenisation in defence production?

In strategic systems we are 80-85 per cent indigenous because there was no choice. Everything was built indigenously except for things like IC chips and sensors. In other systems too we are indigenising gradually. The LCA is about 60-65 per cent indigenous. Its engine is imported.

Why can’t India make aircraft engines?

We are going to make it one of our thrusts areas. Today, the country does not make any engine, whether for automobiles, aircraft or tanks. So we have taken up a National Engine Mission to do precisely this.

Despite years of development, the Army does not seem to be enamoured of Arjun Tank.

Arjun’s fire performance is one of the best. The main problem with the tank is its weight. We have made 73 modifications from Arjun Mark 1 to Mark 2, and most of them have passed the tests. We are going in for user trials in the next couple of months.

Given the spread of cyber warfare, is the DRDO pursuing that too?

The DRDO is a technology organisation and we have a strong programme to develop cyber tools and technologies to enable our intelligences agencies do whatever they want to do besides cyber defence.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 02 Aug 2013 09:03

kshirin wrote: “JV (joint venture) will also focus on working on other large and complex projects both meant for Indian Navy and friendly navies of the world..."[/size][/size]

Why not start with OPVs that Myanmar wants?

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 02 Aug 2013 09:43

[quote="Sagar G"]Need to bridge trust gap with forces

With all due respect, DRDO should quickly move to co-production, or DARPA style, just fund initial research. Why not allow the Indian private sector to make guns for example with R & D support?

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 03 Aug 2013 02:16

^^^ You are wayyyyyyy overestimating the capabilities of Indian pvt. sector.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 04 Aug 2013 01:40

Many details, from seekers (PAD seeker was derived from LCA radar, this mentions the AAD seeker is also now made in India), HTK the new focus area, radar progress, Arjun etc.

http://indiastrategic.in/topstories1978 ... bility.htm

By Gulshan Luthra Published: April 2013

New Delhi. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is firing on in several directions with work at hand involving MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles) and improvements in missiles, aircraft, tanks and artillery.

DRDO Director General and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister Dr VK Saraswat told India Strategic that in terms of range, the Indian scientists had achieved whatever was assigned by the Government (about 5,000 km) but the effort was now to develop the MIRV capability. “The building blocks from boosters to radars, seekers and sophisticated mission control centres are there.

” Dr Saraswat, who has just been awarded the country’s one of the highest achievement awards, the Padma Bhushan, said that DRDO had been able to develop key RF (Radio Frequency) seeker technologies for missiles in cooperation with Russia, and that in the last missile test, the seeker used was made in India. Digital processing in any case is based on DRDO’s own software.

Without the seekers, a missile would be an aimless vehicle.

The RF and IR (Infra Red) seekers are meant for proximity and precision engagement of targets, and both these technologies are required for the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capability as well as all kinds of missiles. He did not give details but said that India was working on some seeker technologies with other countries also.

“Today, we are able to design and develop RF seekers, and in about a year or so, we will be independent in this key technology,” Dr Saraswat said in an interview with India Strategic.

As for an ABM shield, he said that DRDO had conducted four endo-atmospheric (within the atmosphere) and two exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) missile interception tests and that all these six had been successful. “We certainly need more tests but we can say we have been successful in developing this capability.”

The last one, designated Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile, and fired on November 23, was in fact a hit-to-kill test.

So far, DRDO has mostly been working on proximity, near-miss or zero-miss acquisition of targets. With these systems, an ABM missile blows itself within a few meters of the targets – less than 9 meters. From now on, the effort is to develop the hit-to-kill capability by directly impacting hostile targets.

DRDO is working on Long Range and Medium Range missiles with Israel and for Short Range missiles with France.

But Dr Gupta pointed out that India was not working on an ASAT (Anti- Satellite) missile.

On radars, he disclosed that India had initially worked with the Israelis to acquire some technology and skills, but now, DRDO had made-in-India long range radars which can discern between aircraft, missiles and other flying objects. The ABM shield being developed has overlapping radar coverage as one cannot “allow any corridors for a missile to slip in.”

He said that DRDO is a technology developer and essentially, it is up to the industry – public and private – to build systems for the users, that is the armed forces.

For instance, after supplying 119 Arjun Mark-I tanks – the order initially was for 124 – DRDO is now developing the Arjun Mark-II, and nearly 80 percent of the improvements/changes sought by the Indian Army had already been incorporated. Work on the remaining features is underway and this summer, there would be trials to satisfy the user requirements.

The Arjun Mark-I has already outperformed the T-90, and the Mark-II would have enhanced night fighting capabilities with advanced equipment for the gunner, driver and commander. There will be better rough terrain and amphibious (fording) mobility, better surveillance and firing capability as well as increased protection.

An agreement is in place with the Army for another lot of 118 – or two regiments – of Arjun Mark II tanks. The Mark-II has a better 120 mm gun, capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).

DRDO was examining offers from Israel and Belarus for the new ATGMs.

As for aircraft, Dr Saraswat said that he expected the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to get the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2014, and Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) within 2013. The aircraft is designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and is to be manufactured by HAL as a 4-plus generation aircraft.

Effort is also on to further develop Rustam, DRDO’s unmanned aerial vehicle. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is keen for an armed version, or UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle).

Dr Saraswat said that DRDO was in talks with US Boeing for a transonic wind tunnel for supersonic aircraft testing. If the agreement comes through, it will help in easing the queuing problems in testing various systems.

The tunnel is being offered as part of offsets for Boeing aircraft that India is buying.

India has only one wind tunnel, a trisonic one, at the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bangalore. Set up by NAL’s first director Dr P Nilakantan, it was commissioned in 1967, and is among the most-used facility of its kind in the world.

DRDO is also working on Artificial Intelligence and robotics. But that would take time. Nonetheless, he observed that in the coming decades, swarms of armed drones would be independently capable of doing big battles by themselves, and without any guidance or commands from their mission control centres.

The emphasis right now is to meet the immediate and foreseeable requirements of the Indian armed forces. “We give them inputs, take some inputs, discuss with them, and then plan what needs to be done,” Dr Saraswat said, adding: “We do have a DRDO Vision 2050 document” but DRDO makes its strategy based on the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plans of the armed forces.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 04 Aug 2013 02:07

http://indiastrategic.in/topstories2080 ... on_kit.htm

India's DRDO launches explosive detection kit in US
By Arun Kumar Published: July 2013

Washington. It looks like a little pocket sized cigar box, but it packs a mighty punch in the fight against terrorism. And now this nifty explosive detection kit, developed by the India's Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), is all set to play its part in the US too.

Widely used in India by bomb detection squads and the armed forces since 2002, the handy kit would be manufactured and sold in the US and other parts of the world by Summerville, South Carolina-based Crowe and Company LLC under a technology transfer agreement,

"We are planning to introduce the EDK to the US Army and US homeland security forces and in other international markets after getting necessary approvals from the US regulatory institutions," said Fay Crowe, CEO and president of the company.

A few drops of four reagents contained in four vials can detect explosives based on TNT, RDX, dynamite, and black powder within minutes with no more than 3 to 5 milligrams of the suspected sample. It also does not require field calibration, power or peripheral devices.

Besides the wallet sized disposable kit for covert and military operations, it's also available in vanity sized field cases for law enforcement and bomb squads. And personnel can be trained in its use in just a couple of hours.

A team of Indian scientists led by DRDO Director General, Avinash Chander, the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missiles, was at hand for the global launch of the EDK at a function at the US Chamber of Commerce here Aug 2.

Chander was upbeat over first of DRDO developed products getting globalised with the transfer of Indian technology to the US which not long ago looked at the DRDO "as a very reluctant supplier".

DRDO is now talking to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI), which was instrumental in the launch of EDK in the US, for the roll out of 50 more DRDO-developed technologies for the international market under the DRDO-FICCI Accelerated Technology Assessment Commercialisation programme.

Significance of the launch of India developed edk in the US was also not lost on the audience made up of US defence bigwigs, including former US defence secretary William Cohen, who hoped that such technology transfer would soon become a two way street.

The launch of edk in the US was significant in more ways than one, said the Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao describing the Aransfer of technology developed in India to the US as "an important milestone in the process of evolution of India-US strategic partnership."

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 04 Aug 2013 02:33

DRDO should sell cheap IFF system that must go into all exports from the khan land.

deal/no-deal

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 04 Aug 2013 02:55

An interesting snippet I read the other day while going through my notes - from public events/speaker presentations etc.
Apparently, the IA requirement of the Nag is around 12K units! The 443 unit order for Nag thus, has the potential to be increased substantially! HELINA requirement was around 1K units. So even with temporary imports, the potential market for HELINA is there. On the flip side, the OEMs abroad will be salivating at this opportunity, overall.

In April this year, the CCS supposedly cleared a huge single vendor deal for the lighter weight Spike missiles from Rafael (only vendor offering TOT). Plus a deal with US (FMS) for Javelin, continues. Sticking point is again TOT.

Meanwhile, Nirbhay problems solved.

srai · Post by **srai** » 04 Aug 2013 12:24

Karan M wrote:...
Apparently, the IA requirement of the Nag is around 12K units! The 443 unit order for Nag thus, has the potential to be increased substantially! HELINA requirement was around 1K units. So even with temporary imports, the potential market for HELINA is there. On the flip side, the OEMs abroad will be salivating at this opportunity, overall.

...

That 12k is a new number. Previously, it was 200 NAMICA & 7,000 NAG missiles:
Nag waits for sweetheart NAMICA | Emotional DRDL for final orders | Stubborn Army for quality spitfire sys | Climax in Pokhran during carrier re-validation trials

...
The wait has put Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) into an emotional spin, considering that the Indian Army had earlier placed its Acceptance of Necessity (AON) for 443 Nag missiles 13 NAMICAs in 2005. The Army had made it clear then that a firm commitment will only be given once all trials are successful and the system is fit for induction. The Army also projected in their perspective plan the need for 7000 Nag missiles and around 200 NAMICAs.
...

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 05 Aug 2013 18:23

India Inc races to bag orders from defence sector.

With the Indian economy slowing down, top companies are now eyeing the “recession-proof” defence sector to prop up their topline. Indian companies are targeting orders worth $247 billion expected from the Indian defence establishment in the next four years which, they say, will help them to fight the ongoing slowdown.

While many companies like L&T and Pipavav Defence have already set up huge infrastructure, others like the Tatas and Mahindras are expected to follow suit.

Last week, Pipavav Defence became the first Indian company to start construction of a war ship for Indian Navy in its Gujarat facility. Till date, construction of warships was a domain of public sector companies and will take many years to exhaust the order backlog from navy and coast guard.

Its rival L&T – which set up a facility in Tamil Nadu – is also getting into the act to bag orders from Indian Navy, coast guard. Till now, these orders were going to public sector companies or to foreign companies. The average cost of each war ship is around Rs 3,000 crore onwards which is not including the missiles and gun systems.

While L&T is closely associated to build INS Arihant – India's first nuclear powered submarine, Pipavav has started the production of a navy patrol vessel - fitted with 76mm guns. The Oto Melara guns will be state of the art and will be delivered to Indian Navy. Unlike time taken by other countries, the aim is to deliver the vessel before time, say Pipavav officials.

Alion USA is the provider of technology and the ship construction in Gujarat will be overseen by Indian Navy's well qualified naval engineers, architects and constructors, say company officials.

Analysts say the construction of warships at the private yard is expected to generate huge interest among other players in the naval defence field both in India and across the globe. Pipavav is working to build warships like frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers taking the advantage of its mammoth dry docks which is second largest in the world.

Pipavav became the first company in the country to receive the licence and contract to build warships and also the first private company to form joint venture with the state owned naval defence major Mazagon Dock Ltd. This JV will now bid for orders with other private companies from Indian Navy and coast guard.

Taking a cue from other countries which are promoting their home grown companies, the Indian government is also encouraging Indian companies to enter the defence sector. Apart frm alloweing 49% FDI, the Ministry of Defence policy has allowed private sector to participate in the defence production. Many big players including Reliance, Tatas, the Mahindras, Piramal, Godrej, Hinduja, Wipro, Kalyani Group have evinced interest to get into defence production in a big way. These orders include fighter jets, submarines, frigates, aircraft carriers, offshore patrol vessels, Corvetts, missile systems, and other military hardware.

Besides, analysts say the Defence Procurement Policy announced this year gives right of first refusal to Indian companies and till Indian companies refuse, military hardware cannot be imported. This is a big shift as for last 65 years, India has been dependent on countries like Russia, UK, Germany, Italy, France, USA etc. for 80% of its military hardware requirement.

The recently announced FDI policy for defence is also expected to generate lot of interest among the investors globally, though 49% FDI is subject to approval by Cabinet Committee on Security. Global private sector companies get a lot of support from their own governments.

The big boys of the global industry including Lockheed Martin, BAE, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, ThyssenKrupp and Babcock get a lot of support from their own governments to bag orders from all over the world.

Similarly, analysts say, India can also develop few large and capable private sector enterprises in the defence and aerospace industry which is vital for India’s national security and in future go global to bag orders.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 06 Aug 2013 05:58

Fron DefenseNews: India Goes Local for Battle System

NEW DELHI — The Indian Defence Ministry has decided the Army’s new battlefield management system (BMS) will be acquired as a “Make India” program, under which only domestic companies are allowed to participate.

Producing the US $5 billion project continues the MoD’s policy of boosting the local defense industry.

The BMS, which is part of the Army’s network-centric warfare program, will link infantry-level troops on the battlefield to command headquarters.

While the BMS program has been under consideration by the MoD for more than four years, policymakers were weighing whether to acquire the systems on world markets or to nominate state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), which had been lobbying for the big-ticket program, MoD sources said.

In the month ahead, expressions of interest (EOIs) will be sent to more than a dozen Indian defense companies, private and state-owned, inviting them to participate in the program.

The EOIs will be sent to BEL, Electronics Corporation of India, Computer Maintenance Corporation, ITI, domestic private-sector major Tata Power SED, Rolta India, Wipro, Larsen & Toubro, HCL, Punj Lloyd, Bharat Forge, Tata Consultancy, Info Systems and Tech Mahindra.

While only domestic defense companies will be allowed to compete for BMS, these companies will forge ties with overseas defense majors to acquire advanced technologies, an MoD official said.

The overseas defense companies expected to compete include Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael and Elbit of Israel; Thales and Nexter of France; Rhode & Schwartz of Germany; BAE Systems of the UK; Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics of the US; and Selex of Italy.

The government expects to select two vendors after four months of evaluation of the EOIs. Each of those two companies will be asked to develop four BMS prototypes for mountain, jungle, plains and desert operations.

The development of the prototypes is projected to cost about $67 million with the MoD covering 80 percent of the expense and the shortlisted domestic company 20 percent.

The prototypes will be put through extensive field trials and the selected defense company will be asked to produce more than 500 systems in India for an estimated $5 billion, said sources. It will take up to three years for the final bidder to be selected before production begins.

The BMS project aims to link troops in the battlefield with command headquarters through rugged computers, providing a near real-time tactical picture.

The system will integrate all surveillance resources at the unit level of the infantry, including UAVs and ground sensors, and provide instant location of the troops and important weapon platforms, an Army official said.

The BMS will also receive and transmit data, voice and images from multiple sources including radars, cameras and laser range finders, simultaneously providing a soldier on the battlefield with the same information received by command headquarters.

Hand-held computers for individual soldiers and tactical computers at battle group headquarters and on combat vehicles will comprise the system.

The BMS will also provide a variety of intelligence, such as terrain analysis, details of friendly and enemy troops, resources and weapon systems, the Indian Army official added.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 06 Aug 2013 07:06

Excellent news and an important step towards the FINSAS system. I hope there is commonality between this and the BMS for Arjun & other armored vehicles

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 07 Aug 2013 07:00

Philip,

One shoe has dropped:

Aug 6, 2013 :: US, India discuss joint production of military equipment

Ramesh · Post by **Ramesh** » 08 Aug 2013 11:44

http://www.ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2013/ ... built.html

The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a part of DRDO, began working with SAIL, finding a way to produce warship steel cheaply in quantities that ran into tens of thousands of tonnes. Rourkela Steel Plant found that “tempering and quenching” --- which involves heating steel to red heat and then plunging it into water --- gave the required grain structure, but would cost too much. And then came the breakthrough: Bhilai Steel Plant developed a “continuous casting” process and warship grade steel was now affordable. In 2004, Cochin Shipyard was given the green signal and INS Vikrant started taking shape.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 08 Aug 2013 12:49

Isnt that known to indians and to man for long time, heating steel and then submerging it into water gives it strength

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Aug 2013 12:51

krishnan wrote:Isnt that known to indians and to man for long time, heating steel and then submerging it into water gives it strength

indeed, but i think he might be trying to describe a mass production process for the above for making large quantities of the required steel

vina · Post by **vina** » 08 Aug 2013 16:46

Ramesh wrote:http://www.ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2013/ ... built.html

This is my response to him in his blog. Let us see what he responds.

Ahhh. Shuklaahhhhh! . Writing fiction now about Russians giving "formula" for ship quality steel called "ABA". Now when "ABA" actually stands for American Bureau of Shipping Grade A , commonly abbreviated as AB/A steel, how can the Russians who have their OWN standards called GOST (that is the Roman literal of the Cyrillic) come up with ABA etc classifications ?

Now, the specifications are freely available,from the standards body to everyone and his mother in law and the composition is no secret either, it has been known for god knows how long. A simple google search will give you the composition , even if you really don't put the steel in a mass spectrometer to get the exact percentages of each. The reason why no one made it in India until now,was it was UNECONOMICAL to do so. There was really no technical challenge in it , either in creating it or manufacturing it. Now that the Navy has a large number of ships under construction, they bit the bullet and decided it was worth the while to make it here and they did.

That is the short point and the whole point. Now making it into a B grade Bollywood flick with "Secret Russian Formula" (for an American Specification ???? Ha .. haa..) and trying to paint a picture of heroic toiling in making it, is stretching things a bit, dont you think?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Aug 2013 10:56

DRDO developing chilli-spray for women's self-defence

In view of increasing instances of physical attacks on women, the DRDO has developed a chilli-spray for protection using the world's hottest chilli grown in Assam, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"Yes, Defence Research laboratory in Tezpur has developed a chilli-spray called CAPSISPRAY. It is a non-lethal spray for personal protection and self-defence," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a written query.

"It contains Oleoresin Capsicum extracted from world's hottest chilli Bhut Jolokia, largely cultivated in Assam and other parts of northeast," he said.

The Minister was asked if the spray was developed in view of growing instances of attacks on women.

"The prototype of the chilli spray is ready and the product is required to be tested for several toxicology parameters. DRDO will take further steps to popularise once trials are over," Antony said.

Meanwhile, answering another query, the Defence Minister said FDI up to 26 per cent is permissible in defence sector, subject to licensing.

"However, whenever FDI beyond 26 per cent is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-the-art technology in the country, decisions can be taken to allow higher FDI on a case-to-case basis with approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security," Antony said.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 09 Aug 2013 18:40

Air Defence Ship launch will be a big morale booster: Cochin Shipyard Limited CMD

Your reflections on phase-1 of project IAC?

CMD: Warships are much more difficult to build. The requirements are extremely stringent. Basically warships are designed to go into the harm's way, to sustain battle damage. They must be able to perform even after taking some punishment.

What gave you the confidence to undertake the project?

CMD: CSL started shipbuilding in 1976, we launched the first ship Rani Padmini in 1980. The 80-odd vessels we have made so far, include the largest containers (two Aframax tankers built for SCI, each of 93,000 tonnes dwt), as well some of best platform supply vessels (PSVs) across the globe. But we got the order only because CSL dock could accommodate an aircraft carrier. About 16,000 tonne of steel has been erected in the dry dock in four years, which is a record.

About the next phase?

CMD: The next immediate work is putting the angle deck and sponsons (projections beyond the flight deck), and in 10 months we will finish that. Then we have to complete the entire hull structure, lay all the pipelines, cabling, ventilation trunkings, install all the motors, and switchboards, all these will go on. We also have to do the accommodation as an aircraft carrier is like a floating mini city housing 2,500 people. The next phase we will be completed by 2016.

But the Navy has set a 2018-deadline for you?

CMD: All countries making aircraft carrier take nine to 12 years, between keel laying and delivery. We laid the keel of this in February 2009, and if you are able to finish by 2018, you are actually on par with the Russians, better than the French, and as good as the British. 2018 is challenging deadline, but we will strive to stick to it.

So you are confident to bid for second aircraft carrier?

CMD: Most certainly. We should be the natural choice. Everybody will benefit, the Navy, the country and the shipyard. Anybody else will have to go through this learning cycle again. We are now looking at defence orders till commercial ship building picks up. We have responded to 20-dd tenders of navy, but there is tough competition among Indian shipyards.

But defence minister is of the view that nomination route may not work?

CMD: All the government agencies have to follow the tendering procedure. Private shipyards have lobbied with the ministry asserting that they should not be treated as untouchables (for government tenders). They are arguing that the public sector shipyards should not be given concessions as they will be deprived of level playing fields.

Are you intending to make forays into building of coastal ships?

CMD: We will have to be clear, we are not into boats, we are looking at high-end, high value jobs where our highly skilled manpower can be deployed.

How is your ship repair work progressing?

CMD: Our capacity is to generate a turnover of about Rs 250 crore last year we did even better, we did about Rs 280 crore. We feel ship repair has lot of potentials.

How is your ship building order book placed?

CMD: Right now we have got 25 vessels, including the IAC, 20 fast patrolling vessels (FPVs), worth about Rs 1,500 crore. There is an order for three vessels for a Norwegian owner, they will be Liberian flagged vessels. We also have an order for a vessel for Director General of Light Houses and Light Ships. Altogether these orders are worth Rs 2,400 crore, other than the aircraft carrier.

Any update on CSL's IPO move?

CMD: We need to get government approval. We have started the process. We will need about Rs 500 crore for developing the ship repair facility. We are also looking at a dry dock for rig repair, roughly it will cost about Rs 1,100 crore. I would prefer the equity route for this project as well.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 10 Aug 2013 11:58

The MOD should take a swift decision on the 4-5 amphib vessels required.The yard should be kept busy as after IAC-1,the design of the supposedly larger 60,000+ IAC-2 hasn't been finalised as yet.Whether the CSL will be able to handle a larger carrier is another matter.The sizeable investments made by Pipapav and L&T should be rewarded with more substantial orders as DPSU yards are overloaded.

Reg. JVs and acquisitions,to speed up our desi efforts and plug gaps,in the Ind.Av.td. there is a post about an offer from RUUAG reg. the Dorniers.years ago,we could've picked up the entire co.,we now build fro RUUAG internationally.Oz had a novel design of an amphib DO-228 with a flotation device under the fuselage.Look at the manner in which other nations like Turkey (who have drawn up a comprehensive masterplan and timeframe for indigenisation/JVs ,to produce almost everything at home including UCAVs) and China are going about it.AWST has a report of how the Chinese (AVIC) have just picked up a German turboprop engine manufacturer,Thielert,whose diesel aero-engines are also good prospects for the wider African adnd Asian market where diesel is available.AVIC has also entered the US with sizeable investments in two US cos. prop aircraft and light jet manufacturers.Its fighter building arm has also been negotiating with Cessna ,as it attempts to build up capability in the light utility and business aircraft sector.

When we are struggling with desi engine development,opportunities to pick up/invest in cos. which have the tech we require should not be ignored.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 10 Aug 2013 19:26

we can even think about jump-starting right away to consider nimitz class a/cs (or even the ford class technologies). the ground works can begin.. however the type of nuclear reactors or multiple reactor setup must be finalized soon.. the thorium based miniaturization can bring vital factor to future ADS platforms.. i am thinking, we need to have couple of nimitz class in 50 years time, so that our future gen citizens would think high of us.

chandrabhan · Post by **chandrabhan** » 11 Aug 2013 21:27

India's thermonuclear capability :

Well met someone on flight from Delhi to Chennai couple of days back who had worked as Director with atomic energy commission. He was scathing of Mr Gopal krishnan who has been pooh poohing India's Pokharan 2 tests. He mentioned that Mr Gopal krishnan was frustrated but brilliant. He being son in law of a an Old COngress minister, some Mr Rao has shielded Mr Gopal from rebuke.
He confirmed that India has the capability to not only miniaturise but also produce both Fusion as well as fission devices. He explained the mathematics behind the Fast breeder reactor & also the reason why it is called "Breeder reactor" because it is an unending chain of fusion. It creates more and more energy.. said something like "For every 1 it produces 1.25.. "

I will be meeting him again when he visits Chandigarh next month for lunch. Retired now he is but on board for some projects for central government. He also mentioned that actual number of devices may not be too many but we have material for some thousands. Gave actual weight of Plutonium that is required to make bomb..

Hobbes · Post by **Hobbes** » 12 Aug 2013 08:48

chandrabhan wrote:India's thermonuclear capability :

Well met someone on flight from Delhi to Chennai couple of days back who had worked as Director with atomic energy commission. He was scathing of Mr Gopal krishnan who has been pooh poohing India's Pokharan 2 tests. He mentioned that Mr Gopal krishnan was frustrated but brilliant. He being son in law of a an Old COngress minister, some Mr Rao has shielded Mr Gopal from rebuke.
He confirmed that India has the capability to not only miniaturise but also produce both Fusion as well as fission devices. He explained the mathematics behind the Fast breeder reactor & also the reason why it is called "Breeder reactor" because it is an unending chain of fusion. It creates more and more energy.. said something like "For every 1 it produces 1.25.. "

I will be meeting him again when he visits Chandigarh next month for lunch. Retired now he is but on board for some projects for central government. He also mentioned that actual number of devices may not be too many but we have material for some thousands. Gave actual weight of Plutonium that is required to make bomb..

Just one question - the main whistleblower in the Pokhran 2 TN fizzle report was Santhanam of DRDO. Gopalakrishnan et al were merely the supporting cast who added their voices to the failure orchestra well after Santhanam went public. If what your chaiwallah says is correct, it would be interesting to hear what motives he imputes to Santhanam for his actions.

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 15 Aug 2013 19:23

How the heart of AUV was developed

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 22 Aug 2013 14:17

X- post

SSridhar wrote:Developing a More Indian Defence -Dr. Avinash Chander's Interview in The Hindu
On FDI in defence

Let good technology come in, there is no harm. We are not opening up just to get money.

On indigenisation and licensed production

In today’s globalised environment, we have to see what needs to be bought, what needs to be developed and what needs to have transfer of technology. You cannot afford to make everything yourself. It is neither viable nor cost effective in the long-term — and that is where the decision has to be taken.

For example, today in DRDO, if industry can make something, it’s a good thing. We don’t want to start developing [the same thing]. [We] can work on the next higher end products, the higher level of technology. The industry also has to see if something [it is developing] is commercially available at a cheaper price. Life-cycle costs are the critical part. It is not just one-time buying of one thing, the question is how are you going to support it and whether support will be available under all conditions.

For licensed production, if we are able to get good technology that is good. But if it ends with assembling and processes coming from abroad, then we have to see. Again, licensed production for MiGs helped in creating a large infrastructure base and today we are able to go for LCA and other things. To that extent, it has been very helpful. But if you look at the knowledge gained through licensed products, it is a matter of debate. I am not aware of any major system for which we have taken licensed production and then built on it and arrived at a better product. We keep building the same thing, we are not getting the knowledge to build a better system — that is why our licensed production methodologies have to be re-examined. China is doing intelligent reverse engineering and many countries have done that in the past. That is the way of moving forward.

As NAK Browne says "You may have to steal, beg or borrow but you have to do it," .
Avinash Chander too avers that "stealing" is way forward to move to the next rung in technological ladder - hope the legalists in defence and babudom are hearing this . Btw Does RAW have an industrial espionage desk ?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 22 Aug 2013 14:29

The whole problem with intelligent reverse engineering is at nobody will then license us stuff which then means we are truly left to our own devices. But thats good in the long term for India but bad for a certain group which relies on commissions from arms imports and which is the entire reason DRDO and the entire MIC are artificially shackled and the DPSU license build mantra is continued.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 22 Aug 2013 14:48

^^ karan ji
That means that we have to target specific Nations like Massa , Britturds , French or other oiropean Gmbh types even Japanese , SoKo Brazilian and South Africans have to be in our scope while we maintain an understanding with few like Russians whose longterm interests are more aligned with ours than any other nations mentioned above.

That also means we have to be willing to barter tech and systems of western make in our possession to Russia or even China even Iran (they too have cobras tomcats concrete bunkers tech) in exchange for hard to get tech in their possession (which itself was originally stolen or developed inhouse).

Yes we have to learn to behave like Baaps of Paki's (which we are in many ways) when it comes to "stealing" defence tech. There is no H&D to be gained in loosing a war just because we retained H&D while preparing for it.