Military Acquisitions, Partnerships & Developments

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Aug 2010 20:20

the josy joseph article had side pieces by six 'gandhians' and 'activists' all opposing a pvt mil-ind complex in india and suggesting we continue to import arms because it was so non-gandhian to kill people with domestic stuff

Brando · Post by **Brando** » 01 Aug 2010 21:28

Singha wrote:the josy joseph article had side pieces by six 'gandhians' and 'activists' all opposing a pvt mil-ind complex in india and suggesting we continue to import arms because it was so non-gandhian to kill people with domestic stuff

All of them are basically cowards/liberals and commies, who in a time of war would hide behind and depend on better human beings to safeguard them so that they preach from their ivory towers about "Gandhian" values to the rest of us.

Gandhi was all about domestic industry and local manufacturing. Would it have mattered if Gandhi was making bullets in a press rather than spinning Khadi ?? The idea would be basically the same, domestic production.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 02 Aug 2010 04:01

shukla wrote:TOI reports.. (by Joy Joseph)

India's indegenious industry and the lack of it. All the issues that have bogged down DRDO...

Farewell to foreign arms?

This is gold... Brilliant article! This is a topic that would be close to a lot of BRFites hearts.. Snippets from the article..

This article is old news. BRF has been talking about it.
The question is for a large country like India this should have been a no brainer. Hence there is no brillance in this article.

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 02 Aug 2010 09:32

Defence forces to get pan-India BWA network

pratik · Post by **pratik** » 04 Aug 2010 07:04

Australia's F-111 is available for sale.

6.2 million kilometres on the clock, but well maintained and always garaged. Too many modifications to list. Make an offer.

Strict US military regulations will govern the future of about 10 F-111s when the Air Force retires the planes from service this year.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensl ... rom=age_ft

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Aug 2010 08:40

word on the street is they have been hanger queens in service. always garaged has the ring of truth to it.

since nobody else operates the F111 to cannibalize for spare parts, its the scrap yard for them...or maybe pakistan wants them,...they are always rooting around in the boneyards looking for "stuff"

pratik · Post by **pratik** » 04 Aug 2010 09:19

Singha, i am not an aviation expert. But shouldn't we buy these....
- For research

(Reverse engineering)
- It will also deprive our neighbour.

By looking at http://f-111.net/ details; it looks like a good fighter.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Aug 2010 10:18

it was a good long range bomber in its day. infact equipped with a lantirn type pod it was the only all-weather strike a.c in nato until the tornado/f15e came online. scored heavy number of tank kills at night in ODS1 using the lack of iraqi AA and its thermal imager to good advantage.

but a fighter it is not.

pakis are welcome to buy the whole lot, but why would they when F-solag-52 is being handed out free.

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 05 Aug 2010 03:12

Indian Trade Body Seeks Access To Defense Tech

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 26 Jul 2010 11:36

NEW DELHI - India should open up its defense sector only if it gains more access to military technologies currently denied it by several Western governments, a national trade lobby said July 26.

Global armament firms such as Britain's BAE Systems, Europe's EADS, and Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky of the United States have invested in India after New Delhi opened up its defense sector in 2001 to foreign groups.

Foreign capital in joint ventures was limited at 26 percent, but an Indian parliamentary panel advised the government in 2008 to hike this cap to 49 percent to spur production.

"The 26-percent equity has been effective in bringing in big companies," said Amit Mitra, secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

"But if the government raises the cap to 49 percent then that should be done under a set of conditions," he added, saying that FICCI would offer its suggestions to the government later July 26.

The trade body explained that if the cap was raised then limits on the transfer of Western technology to India should also be removed.

It said countries such as Germany, China, South Korea and Canada had recently hardened their export rules.

India is among the world's top 10 military spenders with an annual defense budget last year of 1,420 billion rupees ($31.55 billion).

It plans to spend $50 billion by 2015 to upgrade its military mainly through imports as local production through collaborations is widely seen as just a drop in the ocean.

arun · Post by **arun** » 11 Aug 2010 19:23

X Posted.

Perhaps in a case of being distracted by the follow on BAE Hawk deal, I do not recollect seeing this posted on BR.

Indian Coast Guard orders 12 more Griffon 8000 TD hovercraft :

Clicky

gogna · Post by **gogna** » 11 Aug 2010 22:51

arun wrote:X Posted.

Perhaps in a case of being distracted by the follow on BAE Hawk deal, I do not recollect seeing this posted on BR.

Indian Coast Guard orders 12 more Griffon 8000 TD hovercraft :

Clicky

what a shame, we cant even build a bloody hovercraft on our own, throwing money away like no tommorrow,

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 11 Aug 2010 22:53

gogna wrote: what a shame, we cant even build a bloody hovercraft on our own, throwing money away like no tommorrow,

I second that feeling. They say that a fool and his money are easily parted. I pray that God give wisdon to our leaders and decisionmakers.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 14 Aug 2010 03:52

Airbus Parts-Maker Dynamatic to Invest $19 Million on Factories

Dynamatic is betting on more opportunity at home as India upgrades its military capabilities. The South Asian nation plans to buy 126 combat aircraft valued at $11 billion. As part of an offset clause, the government wants 50 percent of the value of the order to be met through local production and procurement.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 22 Aug 2010 18:38

Russian military aircraft sales to India exceed $ 20 billion

Russian military aircraft and helicopter sales and commitments to India since 1996 approximate US$ 20 billion, and the figure would increase as India buys more aircraft in the coming decade.

According to India Strategic defence magazine, Russia is set to win an order for 59 Mi 17 V5 helicopters in addition to the 80 already ordered. The Indian Air Force recently ordered 42 SU 30 MKI combat jets, taking the total number of this formidable fighter orders to 272, valued approximately at $ 13.6 billion. A Mi 17 averages $ five million, so their cost should be around $ 695 million.

India Strategic quotes Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, as saying that the Indian Air Force was looking at futuristic technologies and that by 2017, it expected deliveries of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) from Russia, whose development India is partially funding.

India has already ordered 45 Mig 29K shipboard fighters for the Navy, acquired or ordered five Israeli Phalcon AWACS on Il 76 platforms, six Il 78 midair refuelers. Besides, the Indian Air Force is upgrading Soviet origin, and even Russian SU30 MKIs, for $ four to five billion.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 23 Aug 2010 19:43

X-post

International industry unites, calls on India to reform offset policies

Defence industry associations across North America and Europe will send a jointly signed letter to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) early next month outlining proposals to overcome what they view as excessive bureaucracy that is stifling defence trade. The letter will focus on defence companies' frustrations with existing offset policies and make a number of recommendations that industry bodies hope the MoD will include in a revision of the offset policy planned for next year.

Cosignatories of the letter include the Aerospace Industries Association in the United States; the Washington, DC-based US-India Business Council; the UK's ADS (AeroSpace Defense Security); the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI); France's Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales; and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.

Confirming the development to Jane's on 19 August, Brinley Salzmann, the director of overseas and exports at ADS, said the letter is a result of international defence industries' desire for a "workable offset policy in India that makes commercial sense for the overseas obligors and also generates value and benefits for Indian industry."

Salzmann said a particular focus of the letter is a request to the MoD that it establish a dedicated body that has authority to make key decisions on how vendors fulfil offset obligations. Salzmann added that such an agency would address the high level of bureaucracy that has been identified by international defence industries as one of the biggest challenges in doing business in India.

He did not reveal full details of the letter's content, but said: "It will be along the lines of the need for a simplification of the system to try to generate an entity that has the authority to make decisions."

Willy · Post by **Willy** » 23 Aug 2010 22:59

Does the DRDO follow the govt pay comissions or do they have leeway in hiring and paying?

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 24 Aug 2010 05:35

Murphy's Law: Too Tied Up To Buy

In the last decade, the Indian government has applied increasing its efforts to eliminate defense corruption. Not because there is more corruption in military procurement, but because the ancient practice has been getting more publicity. The Internet, in particular, made it easier for whistleblowers to be heard. Recent stories, for example, detailed the possibility that overcharges on the aircraft carrier Gorshkov project was helped along by some well placed bribes.

khukri · Post by **khukri** » 27 Aug 2010 07:35

Laser ABM Weapons
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =ASI&s=AIR

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 02 Sep 2010 05:42

India signs deal for Harpoon Block II missiles with US

BANGALORE: India has signed an agreement with the US government to purchase 24 Harpoon Block II missiles for its Jaguar strike aircraft, in a bid to ramp up its maritime warfare capability.

Boeing country head, defence, space and security, Mr Vivek Lall told ET, “the deal was successfully concluded through the Foreign Military Sales route late last month, with Boeing as the prime contractor. The missiles are for the Indian Air Force’s maritime strike squadron.”

The deal, expected to be worth about $170 million, has been on the cards for over two years now, with the Bush administration having wheeled out a sales notification during defence minister A K Antony’s visit to Washington in 2008. The US had also sold the same missiles to Pakistan.

The Harpoon Block II is the latest version of the subsonic missile and is able to strike land-based targets and ships. It is an all-weather, over the horizon, anti-ship missile which can be launched from surface ships, submarines and aircraft.

However, Lall said no agreement had been reached yet with regard to supplying the missile for P-8I, India’s long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The P-8I is scheduled for delivery in 2013.

“The final weapons package for the P-8I is yet to be decided, and will again be sold through the FMS route,” he said.

According to the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the attack capability of the Navy’s depleted fighter aircraft fleet has been significantly eroded, as they have not been kept in full combat readiness, with the bombs fitted having become obsolescent.

Mr Lall said the Phase II of the Apache and Chinook helicopter programmes for the IAF will be held in the US later in the year. Phase II will involve weapons integration field trials for both choppers.

arnabh · Post by **arnabh** » 02 Sep 2010 06:15

Brahmos order book swells

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 477391.cms

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Sep 2010 09:32

BANGALORE: India has signed an agreement with the US government to purchase 24 Harpoon Block II missiles for its Jaguar strike aircraft, in a bid to ramp up its maritime warfare capability.

So, India buys the Harpoons with its hard earned $$ and then Unkil uses the same money to donate a few Harpoons to the Paki Orions?

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 02 Sep 2010 15:27

India will pay 3.8 percent on all FMS deals with US

The only countries which do not pay the FMS fees are those who get weapons as aid or assistance, as in the case of Israel, Pakistan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 02 Sep 2010 15:31

this is exactly the commission paid to sales agents that people frothed in the mouth about and blacklisted many. only in this case the GOTUS itself is the dalal and arbiter! so it gets paid extra acting as sales agent for its own weapons industry and recycles part of this to willing politicians in buyer countries. wow.

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Sep 2010 21:06

Singha wrote:this is exactly the commission paid to sales agents that people frothed in the mouth about and blacklisted many. only in this case the GOTUS itself is the dalal and arbiter! so it gets paid extra acting as sales agent for its own weapons industry and recycles part of this to willing politicians in buyer countries. wow.

Would have been comic if it wasn't tragic. If only this commonsense of keeping a commision openly was used in other deals, we would have had the 155mm in loads and the Bhim would been roaming the Indian plains...

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Sep 2010 23:00

You need money to run the polticalparties. JLN used to get the money from Indina businessmen thru the Ministry of Finance guys (TTK- Mudhra scandal), VK Menon(Jeeps import scandal) and NRIs Dharma Teja (Jayanti Shiiping coroporation). MrsG sued to ues the SBI as Party treasury(Recall the SBI Mgr Malhotra case). Rajiv Gandhi hit up on the idea of using arms deals (Bofors). The uniqueness was it was deposited in his private acct. The earliers ones were known cases of money for party work.

Since RG's time its open season to get % of the deal.

If RG's were there he would quote Robert Clive "I was astonished at my modesty!" for taking paltry Rs 60 crores when the newbies are taking thousands of crores at the state level itself.

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 03 Sep 2010 00:28

So ramana, there were no bribes during the jaguar deal (jagjivan Ram & Co.)?

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 03 Sep 2010 00:46

Ramana garu 60 cr in 1989 was i think huge money.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 03 Sep 2010 05:06

Air Works India signs JV agreement with Scandinavian Avionics, Denmark

he Joint Venture company will provide complete avionics solutions, which includes cabin entertainment upgrades, in-flight communications, safety applications, weather systems and other airborne electronics to its customers in commercial aviation, general aviation, and for military applications.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 03 Sep 2010 06:18

sum wrote:[]

Would have been comic if it wasn't tragic. If only this commonsense of keeping a commision openly was used in other deals, we would have had the 155mm in loads and the Bhim would been roaming the Indian plains...

And the Qatari Mirages flying in indian colors.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » 03 Sep 2010 09:27

Ajatshatru wrote:
when the newbies are taking thousands of crores at the state level itsel
A certain politician (one of the richest politicians in the country), when he was Raksha Mantri some years back was rumoured to be worth Rs. 10,000 crores even at that time....

Probably rivals Ambani now.

negi · Post by **negi** » 03 Sep 2010 09:30

Yeah the man who saved Dawood's Musharraf.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 03 Sep 2010 15:48

India and South Korea Armed forces pact for joint excercises and defense technology

DRDO and S Korean DAPA are going to jointly develop and produce military stuff.

sum · Post by **sum** » 03 Sep 2010 16:44

chackojoseph wrote:India and South Korea Armed forces pact for joint excercises and defense technology

DRDO and S Korean DAPA are going to jointly develop and produce military stuff.

^^ Hopefully one of them is a goddamn 155 mm gun else we might end up with a generation of IA officers who never saw a new 155 mm gun in their entire career!!

Sumeet · Post by **Sumeet** » 03 Sep 2010 17:00

If this happens then it will be the seed of private MIC India.

Govt to speed up private sector participation in defence

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 03 Sep 2010 22:28

sum wrote:India and South Korea Armed forces pact for joint excercises and defense technology
---------------------------------------
^^ Hopefully one of them is a goddamn 155 mm gun else we might end up with a generation of IA officers who never saw a new 155 mm gun in their entire career!!

Some areas of immediate interest e.g., marine systems, electronics and intelligent systems have been identified as priority tasks.

IMO, they might be looking at Hyundai's shipbuilding skills, among one of the skills.

Willy · Post by **Willy** » 03 Sep 2010 22:44

chackojoseph wrote:
sum wrote:India and South Korea Armed forces pact for joint excercises and defense technology
---------------------------------------
^^ Hopefully one of them is a goddamn 155 mm gun else we might end up with a generation of IA officers who never saw a new 155 mm gun in their entire career!!

Some areas of immediate interest e.g., marine systems, electronics and intelligent systems have been identified as priority tasks.
IMO, they might be looking at Hyundai's shipbuilding skills, among one of the skills.

You got that right there. A former navy chief was all for harnessing South Korea's shipbuilding skills to improve India's own shipbuilding skills.

Willy · Post by **Willy** » 03 Sep 2010 22:53

when the newbies are taking thousands of crores at the state level itself

A certain politician (one of the richest politicians in the country), when he was Raksha Mantri some years back was rumoured to be worth Rs. 10,000 crores even at that time....

Probably rivals Ambani now.

What we need is for Reliance to come into defence . Only they have the b***s and a skunk works dept with enough muscle to get laws changed and to push products.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 08 Sep 2010 07:31

Saw a mysterious ad for Punj Lloyd in Vayu - latest ed where SDREs with Punj Lloyd logo on their overalls were standing around a 155 mm Howitzer

Google uncle gave me this

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity ... id=3646853

khukri · Post by **khukri** » 09 Sep 2010 08:40

India Poland MOU
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =ASI&s=TOP

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 09 Sep 2010 10:01

Western Defence Companies Lobby for Reforms in Defence Procurement Process

Business Standard reveals that major defense companies from U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Canada have jointly written to Defence Minister A.K. Anthony seeking a number of reforms in the Defence Procurement Procedure for making it "supplier friendly". However it seems, Russian and Israeli defence companies - which account for a vast majority of Indian deals - aren't part of this group seeking reforms.

The major demands include an enhanced FDI (foreign direct investment) ceiling of 74 per cent, allowing dual-use technologies as offsets and creating an offsets authority to bring in predictability and transparency.

The letter, reviewed by Business Standard, points out frankly that "the current offset polices have effectively hindered our member companies' ability to play a full role" in selling equipment and that "the (Indian) MoD may not be able to benefit" from the best defence systems on offer. The letter urges that, "(p)rocesses must be open, fair and transparent, and time is of the essence".

This approach comes as the MoD revises procedures for procuring an expected $100 billion worth of foreign military equipment over the next decade. The new Defence Procurement Procedure of 2010 (DPP-2010) is anticipated to be released later this month. It will supersede the currently valid DPP-2008.

The letter - which is also copied to Antony's deputy, M M Pallam Raju, and the MoD's top two civil servants, Pradeep Kumar and R K Singh bears the letterheads of the USIBC; the US AIA (Aerospace Industries Association); the British ADS (Aerospace, Defence and Security); French aerospace body GIFAS; German aerospace body BDLI; and Canadian aerospace body AIAC.

The letter urges the following specific policy reforms:

-- Enhancing the current 26 per cent ceiling on FDI in defence. The letter states that accepting the Ministry of Commerce's proposal to enhance FDI to 74 per cent would "bolster confidence" and enable "robust investment in technology transfer".

-- It suggests allowing dual-use technologies and high-tech civilian projects to be counted as defence offsets. This, the letter argues, would create a high-tech, civilian industry, that would build dual-use products to feed the defence industry. The current offset policy mandates only direct offsets, i.e. products that are directly used in defence systems.

-- The MoD should offer multipliers for offsets in key sectors where it most wants technology transfers. For example, if the MoD wants radar technology, it could specify an offset multiplier of 2. A company that transferred radar technology worth $1 million would get $2 million in offset credits. The current policy treats all offsets equally.

-- The creation within the MoD of an empowered and adequately staffed permanent "offset authority". Currently, "there is still ambiguity in how offset contracts will be approved, validated, discharged and measured".

-- Capping financial penalties in defence cooperation, in order to "not deter competition for defence contracts". The letter points out that "(u)nlimited financial liability inhibits industrial defence cooperation."

Business Standard anonymously quotes Minister of Defence sources saying the ministry is deliberating its response to this letter. In 2007, the US India Business Council (USIBC) also an influential signatory to this letter had sent the MoD a letter suggesting the adoption of "international best practices" in offsets. The MoD's current offset policy mandates that foreign vendors that are awarded defence contracts above Rs 300 crore must plough back at least 30 per cent of the value of the contract into Indian defence production or research and development.

http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4503