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

vic · Post by **vic** » 08 Jun 2014 12:58

Ok, in which field 100% FDI has helped in technology development of Indian Companies. As for auto sector, I have already pointed out that when ToT took place Maruti was Govt Company.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 08 Jun 2014 13:07

JEM that was the assumption on which this 100% stuff was pushed by DIPB.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 08 Jun 2014 13:26

Karan M,

Again I'm speaking generally here because I don't know EXACTLY what happens in these negotiations. But I have a fairly good idea. No one on the Indian side who is actively involved in negotiating offsets is as naive as to think we are getting the latest technology available in other countries. They must be well aware that, at best, technologies transferred are those which are no longer competitive in their local markets (or as per Shiv's scenario above, though even then in the fields we are talking about government bodies have a decisive final say more often than not).

So, essentially it comes down to a simple calculation that if we are paying $1 bn to some company/country outside India, then rather than just sending it all out - it would be good to get at least $300m of that invested in India itself, even if it only means getting their older tech stuff, because it creates jobs, a certain amount of know-how among people who did not have it, and of course adds (however minutely) to the defence infrastructure. Of course, there are nuances... but that's broadly how it works, as I understand it.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 08 Jun 2014 13:53

JEM, thing is that what you say is accurate and known to the guys on the defence biz side ie the defence firms who are represented by the FICCI. But the group from DIPB which made these proposals made assumptions that real good stuff (to simplistically paraphrase) would be transferred. Another way to achieve what you noted is via offsets, get reinvestment in our own business for whatever we procure from theirs.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 08 Jun 2014 14:08

>>But the group from DIPB which made these proposals made assumptions that real good stuff (to simplistically paraphrase) would be transferred.

Then they are either foolishly naive, or ignorant. Frankly, I doubt that. The people who get into these positions are those who, even if they are not domain experts, know how the world works in terms of securing advantage - in virtually any area. They know what is taken, and what is given, and they know the difference between the two. I would be surprised, therefore, if things are exactly as you describe. I venture to suggest that though you may be right in certain incidents, broadly you may not be.

Of course, it goes without saying that I could be totally wrong, but if I thought so, obviously I wouldn't be saying the above.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 08 Jun 2014 14:35

Over the years manufacturing in many sectors consumer electronics, even automobiles have been "off-shored" from the "Advanced" nations which own the technology to "Low Cost" nations. Has anything similar happened in the the high-tech military equipment industry?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 08 Jun 2014 14:49

JEM even FICCI has been shocked at the assumptions in DIPBs proposals. They go so far as to note this very point. As regards domain experts, let's just say in the past decade every institution in India has had folks who push ill considered policies because of the lack of a firm hand at the wheel which takes into account all possible considerations and makes policy. In this case the domain experts were on the defence side available via FiCCI and even other avenues. They were not consulted and this proposal was again dusted off. It typifies exactly why we are in such a state of affairs. Rival power centres and little gung-ho (work together).

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 08 Jun 2014 15:53

abhik wrote:Over the years manufacturing in many sectors consumer electronics, even automobiles have been "off-shored" from the "Advanced" nations which own the technology to "Low Cost" nations. Has anything similar happened in the the high-tech military equipment industry?

Never, to certain extent economic might is always backed up by Miltary might.

Asit P · Post by **Asit P** » 14 Jun 2014 18:50

India must be 'self-sufficient' in defence technology, Narendra Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated INS Vikramaditya, the largest and most powerful aircraft carrier inducted into the Indian Navy, to the nation, terming it an "important day for our nation".

A tweet from the Prime Minister's office quoted Modi as saying: "We need to give immense importance to latest technology. This will help the nation."

He also emphasized that India must be "self-sufficient" and manufacturing the defence equipment.

"Why should we import defence equipment? We must be self-sufficient. Why can't we send our defence equipment to other nations," Modi tweeted.

Very encouraging statement by the PM. Lets hope that the words get transformed in action soon.

JayS · Post by **JayS** » 14 Jun 2014 19:43

Aditya_V wrote:Never, to certain extent economic might is always backed up by Miltary might.

+1. Tariq gawah he is baat ki...(LOL, I always wanted to use that..)

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 15 Jun 2014 21:34

Karan M wrote:JEM even FICCI has been shocked at the assumptions in DIPBs proposals. They go so far as to note this very point. As regards domain experts, let's just say in the past decade every institution in India has had folks who push ill considered policies because of the lack of a firm hand at the wheel which takes into account all possible considerations and makes policy. In this case the domain experts were on the defence side available via FiCCI and even other avenues. They were not consulted and this proposal was again dusted off. It typifies exactly why we are in such a state of affairs. Rival power centres and little gung-ho (work together).

Shite...

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 16 Jun 2014 00:27

Lets see sir - how things turn out. The innovation side (pvt players in FICCI who do ab-initio design work) are making their concerns known.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 16 Jun 2014 00:28

Some good news.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/w ... 042404.ece

The system consists of five rails called Penta Rail Supersonic Track. Each rail has a sled, which has a specially designed rocket fitted into it. When the rocket is fired, the sled with the payload is propelled at a very high velocity on the rail track. The tracks are precision-aligned and are capable of withstanding heavy loads travelling at supersonic speeds.

Mr. Chander said the DRDO had started using the facility by firing the radio proximity fuse of its air-to-air Astra missile on May 12. The performance of the proximity fuse of the interceptor missiles can be evaluated using this system.

“In the case of interceptor missiles, you can use two parallel tracks and you can fire two missile warheads in opposite directions. They cross each other at a very high velocity and their performance can be measured,” he explained.

Manjit Singh, Director, TBRL, said the capability acquired from using the facility would accelerate the pace of development of defence and aerospace technologies.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 16 Jun 2014 01:01

Pinaka Mark-II Rocket Hits Target

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/ ... 253244.ece

BALASORE: The Mark-II version of Pinaka rocket system was successfully tested from a defence base off the Odisha coast on Thursday. At least three rounds of the rocket were test-fired from the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur-on-sea.

The tests were of an extended version of the rocket. While the older version of the rocket has a range of 40 km, its extended version can destroy targets at a distance of nearly 65 km.] All three rockets were fired from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL).
...

Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of DRDO conducted the tests. Three more rounds of test have been planned for Friday. The advanced version of the rocket system is expected to be inducted in the Armed Forces very soon.

PXE Director R Appavu Raj confirmed that all three tests were successful meeting the mission objectives. “The rockets travelled nearly 61 km as coordinated thus proving the efficiency and capability of the system. The tracking radars have monitored the movements of the rockets till the point of impact,” he said.

....

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 16 Jun 2014 01:39

And this is really good news protecting at least one Indian SME JV from being acquired by foreign partners (HBL systems).
Looks like Tata acquired HELA systems portfolio and as such is working with DRDO on electronics programs, with the financial backing and depth the TATA group can provide, plus offsets for ELTA for their products purchased by India. HELA was a JV (74:26) between HBL and Elta which was working both on offsets for Elta (and others) plus individual projects.

http://www.tataadvancedsystems.com/static.php?id=57
Tata Advanced Systems notes its making radar modules and other items already.

http://www.hela.in/

"HBL ELTA Avionics Systems Pvt. Ltd., (HELA ) a joint venture company of TATA Advanced Systems, India and ELTA Systems Ltd. Israel, has ambitious plans for Defence Electronics development and manufacturing in India. Combining ELTA's state-of-the-art technologies with TATA Advanced System's experience and resources, HELA is providing solutions to the Indian defence forces in the area of Radar, Communications, Electronic Warfare, Homeland and surveillance systems."

So now Tata makes critical systems for several of our programs, including items like Tx/Rx modules.

In its methodical way, the Tata group is shaping up to a be a good competitor (much necessary) to BEL.

-TAS has the production facilities for radar/electronics modules and intends to scale up to be a systems integrator with TOT if it lands deals from the services; also working on the C3I for both the MRSAM and BMD programs with DRDO
-TATA SED already works on other modules & electronics systems plus large scale C3I for EW programs, plus hardware such as missile launchers
- TATA NOVA is setting up facilities for MRSAM work & other products

The other possible competitor in the space is L&T, which too is investing in the space & has a growing footprint in the radar, EW, C3I software space with contributions to DRDO programs.

Unclear if TATA has already acquired the rest of HBLs radar/electronics modules business as well. I hope it has, as it would keep these capabilities within Indian control.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 18 Jun 2014 00:28

Like what many of us noticed and spoke up about. Many of our media houses were complicit, happy to go along with all these agendas.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... n-pak-lwe/

When, over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of self-reliance in arms, he endorsed what his National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has been advocating for long.

As director of the Delhi-based think tank Vivekananda International Foundation, Doval wrote in February 2012: “There is a powerful lobby in the country supported by a still more powerful and cash rich network of arms manufacturers and their front men who have a vested interest in stemming India’s indigenous defence production programme… Denigrating the capabilities of our scientists, DRDO and DPSUs is a part of this campaign.”

Doval expressed these views in an article, ‘India’s Defence Production and Research — Need for Transformational up-gradation’.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 18 Jun 2014 04:29

India Toady is one that comes to mind.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 18 Jun 2014 07:31

Modi government likely to fire up reforms in defence sector; top stock bets

India can emerge as a global platform for defence manufacturing, including software, which will strengthen our defence and spur industrial development as well as exports, he said.

"I think the announcement should be taken as much broader sense than possible stake sale in defence companies to foreign investors. It is likely to bring in organic FDI, i.e. foreign, most likely, US-based and Israel-based companies that will setup subsidiaries in India," said Dr. Vikas Gupta, Executive Vice P ..

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 18 Jun 2014 07:39

PM Modi secures India's defence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits out of New Delhi last week have emphasised the new government's understanding of India's Grand Strategy. In some ways, it marks a continuity with the policy of past governments, but in important ways it presages a departure.

The visits - to commission the INS Vikramaditya in Karwar and to the kingdom of Bhutan - are connected through an understanding of that strategy. It has three elements: the need for India to live in conditions of peace and stability in which economic growth can take place and make the life of every Indian better; the importance of establishing India's primacy in its own neighbourhood before making extra-regional commitments; and third, and most important in the current context of flux in the world order - anchoring India's foreign policy in a strong national security posture.

Indigenisation

In his remarks at the function, Modi not only called on the Navy to fulfil its traditional role in keeping sea lanes open to commerce, but also promote selfreliance and indigenisation in the defence manufacturing sector. It may be recalled that as Chief Minister of Gujarat Modi has long supported indigenisation and has even offered Gujarat as a platform for defence R&D and manufacturing.

Significantly, Modi added that Indian-made arms and equipment "should also serve as protectors for small nations across the world." In other words, India must emerge as a net security provider in its immediate region. As a former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi is also familiar with other things maritime and has self-consciously promoted manufacturing based on SEZ's close to ports. Gujarat's coastline of 1600 kms, is the longest among Indian states.

It also hosts ports, such as Kandla, Mundra, Dahej as well as smaller ones like Pipavav, Jakhau, Porbander and so on. Gujarat has also been a pioneer in encouraging industry based on proximity to sea lanes of communications, such as the Jamnagar oil refinery.

If the visit to Bhutan seemed a puzzle, take out a map of India and see it again. Bhutan lies adjacent to two of the most sensitive parts of the country-the Siliguri corridor the Chumbi valley. The former is the narrow neck of Indian territory that lies between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan on its northwest. It is just about 35 kms wide at its narrowest point. The Chumbi Valley is that part of Tibet that lies between Sikkim and Bhutan and is proximate to the Siliguri Corridor. China has claims with Bhutan on its eastern, central and western flanks and the two countries have undertaken over 20 rounds of talks to resolve their differences. In terms of bare bones, the Navy's 2009 maritime doctrine describes as areas of "primary interest" the immediate waters around India, the littoral reaches of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, the straits leading into the Indian Ocean and the sea lanes that criss-cross it.

Strategy

From the purely military point of view, a maritime strategy involves four elements - sea control, power projection ashore, presence and strategic deterrence. As long as I have spoken to Indian Navy leaders, I have heard the word "balanced Navy" for their vision what the Navy should be all about. Which means a Navy which can exercise sea control through fleets built around aircraft carriers. Power projection involves the ability to use the sea to make strikes on targets of coastal or land-locked straits as well as in physically taking control of choke points.

The emphasis is on building all four elements of maritime strategy. As the record will show, with mixed results. India's inefficient public sector navy yards are unable to keep up to the required pace of construction - the time they take to build a warship is sometimes three or four times longer than those of comparable yards abroad. For example, most modern Shivalik class which were contracted to be built within 60 months, took 112 months to be built.

The Scorpene submarine which was to be delivered in 2012 will start arriving in 2016. In the meantime, two of ten Kiloclass submarines we had acquired from Russia are out of commission. A project to acquire a new class of 75I submarines has been hanging fire for the past decade. The first Indian designed aircraft carrier - the new Vikrant - has been delayed till 2018. Ironically, India has a number of private sector yards dying to get into business - Pipavav Defence Systems, L&T, ABG shipyards and so on - but they are given the crumbs of the table of naval construction because of an indifferent attitude of an alliance of bureaucrats and public sector unions.

Reassertion

As for presence, India is reasonably well off in the Indian Ocean. It has helped countries like Mauritius, Seychelles and Mozambique in maintaining security. It has a strategic presence in Maldives and Madagascar and ties with almost all the littoral countries. Presence is important in maritime strategy.

But to consolidate yourself, you need something more - a flourishing economy, maritime assets like ports and merchant ships, an open trading system and secure sea lanes. China is using economic, military and diplomatic tools to gain influence over coastal states and small islands in the Indian Ocean and is using its investments and aid to consolidate its strategic positions and secure the approaches to these positions. In his initial visits and statements, Modi's footing has been quite sure and firm. The Indian Ocean is as important as the subcontinental land mass for India's security and well being. To secure both, the government has an agenda of reform and restructuring that are needed to enable India to emerge as a security provider for its smaller neighbours.

The writer is a Contributing Editor, and a Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-m ... 67196.html

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 18 Jun 2014 08:02

How U.S. can reinvigorate India defense ties

By Vikram J. Singh and Joshua T. White, Special to CNN

Editor’s note: Vikram J. Singh is vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress. Joshua T. White is Deputy Director for South Asia at the Stimson Center. The views expressed are their own.

Narendra Modi’s landslide victory in last month’s Indian general election has raised hopes that the country will break through the policy stagnation of the last decade and advance reforms that can jump-start India’s economy and bolster its standing on the world stage.

Modi’s declared priorities focus heavily on the economy, and the U.S. government should make economic statecraft a central pillar of engagement with India. But Washington should not lose sight of the most successful area of U.S.-India cooperation to date: the thriving defense relationship. Actions taken in New Delhi and Washington now will determine if the two nations can break through a successful but largely transactional relationship toward strategic partnership that delivers for both nations on shared security interests.

On the U.S. side, four priority areas matter most to reinvigorate U.S.-India defense ties:

First, the Obama administration should continue to put forward innovative defense trade proposals, regardless of how responsive Modi’s government appears to be in the near-term. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last month, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that he would take “an active and very personal role” in what has come to be known as the U.S.-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), and designated the Department’s Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Frank Kendall, as the initiative’s American lead.

This is welcome news. The original champion of the DTTI, former Deputy Secretary Ashton Carter, worked closely with former Indian National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon to raise the profile of U.S.-India defense trade and overcome bureaucratic hurdles in both countries. Within the U.S. government, this informal initiative resulted in a sustained effort to clarify and ease Cold War-era restrictions on technology transfers to India, and to identify dozens of high-tech co-production and co-development opportunities for consideration by U.S. and Indian industry and policymakers.

This effort must continue and expand. Like his predecessors, Modi has advocated building an indigenous defense base. But he may better understand that India cannot succeed in doing so on its own. He has signaled that his government may finally raise limits on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defense sector, which are currently stuck at 26 percent in most cases and make major international defense companies reluctant to partner with Indian industry. Modi might also be prepared to modify India’s onerous “offsets” policy that makes many good defense deals almost impossible to close, and to reform India’s sclerotic acquisitions process. If he receives strong and sustained backing from Hagel and the White House, Kendall is well positioned to quietly press for – and capitalize on – Indian reforms, and continue the hard work of bringing to fruition promising joint defense trade opportunities.

Second, instead of merely reauthorizing the landmark 2005 New Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship that expires in 2015, Washington and New Delhi should jointly draft an updated vision for the coming decade of defense partnership. The end of the New Framework’s ten-year term can be used to take stock of the systems and institutions that were created for defense cooperation, to enhance those that have borne fruit and to jettison those that have not. The U.S. should propose ways to incorporate uniformed military officials from both sides into the high-level Defense Policy Group and the annual Strategic Dialogue; to formalize information sharing; to bring leaders from the U.S. Pacific Command and Indian regional commands into bilateral defense discussions; and to develop a capabilities-based framework for prioritizing bilateral and multilateral exercise engagements. This is the moment to revisit issues from the truly strategic down to the nuts-and-bolts of the defense relationship – and lay the foundation for a transformative decade of defense ties.

Third, the United States must focus on deepening defense cooperation and exercises, even in the present climate of budget retrenchment. Sequester forced the termination of the marquee Red Flag Air Force exercises and other engagements last year, and it is these kinds of disruptions that call into question the commitment of the United States and weaken our partnerships.

It is time to double down on military to military engagements, not retreat. The U.S. should propose greater interaction at the level of the service chiefs and the regional commanders. This could have long-term value in the naval domain, as both India and the United States want to see India emerge as the lead provider of security in the Indian Ocean Region. Personal ties between U.S. and Indian general and flag officers would also prove valuable if and when India faces another serious crisis – for example, a terrorist attack like the one that took place in Mumbai in 2008, or an unexpected naval confrontation in the Indian Ocean – by providing important channels for consultation and de-escalation.

Finally, with President Obama’s announcement of the next phase of the U.S. drawdown from Afghanistan, the United States would be wise to build deep outreach on regional security with the new Indian leadership. (The same, incidentally, must be done with Pakistan.) Just as Pakistanis are often convinced that Washington has chosen New Delhi as its preferred partner in the region, so many Indians are convinced that the United States has signed over Afghanistan’s future to Islamabad. The Obama administration launched regular joint consultations with the previous government in India, sending leaders from the White House, State, and Defense to have frank discussions on developments in Afghanistan and beyond.

But with so much change at hand, anxiety in New Delhi continues to grow and will be acute for a new and untested government. Attacks on Indian interests in Afghanistan, such as the recent assault on the Indian consulate in Herat, have heightened Indian fears about the pace of the U.S. withdrawal. The U.S. government should ensure that frank consultations on Afghanistan with both Indian and Pakistani leaders become more regular and more substantive. Moreover, these talks should expand to cover developments across the region, not just Afghanistan.

As the world’s most populous democracy, the leading importer of defense equipment, and an emerging provider of security in Asia, India is integral to long-term American efforts to rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. And with defense trade having grown from virtually nothing to some $9 billion since 2005, many aspects of the defense relationship are clearly on the right track. With his overwhelming electoral mandate, Narendra Modi is positioned to shake up Indian defense. His reforms can only bear fruit for the U.S.-India relationship, however, if Washington steps up its own game on defense trade, security cooperation – and the serious consultations with Indian leaders on the regional challenges that lie ahead

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 22 Jun 2014 17:49

India can export fighter planes, missiles: DRDO chief

There you go .................................... No need for FDI.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing on the need for increasing arms exports, DRDO has said India can sell combat aircraft and missiles whose production cost would be "much lower" than some of the weapons sold by countries such as China.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander said that the country needs a "policy mechanism" for exporting weapon systems and the defence research agency has suggested a "single window clearance" for sale of arms to friendly foreign countries in a time-bound manner.

"We have a list of equipment that includes the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', 'Akash' air defence system, 'Prahar' class of missiles and 'BrahMos' supersonic cruise missiles along with a number of systems that can be exported," he told PTI.

"We are discussing the methodology for developing the export potential as well as a policy mechanism for export of weapon systems," Chander said.

The DRDO chief was asked about a recent comment by the Prime Minister that India should produce arms for itself and also supply them to other nations. Tejas is a lightweight, multi-role, single-engine tactical fighter aircraft. Akash, a surface-to-air missile, has a range of 25 kms.

Prahar is a 150 km-range tactical missile system while BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile with a strike range of 290 kms.

Asked about the cost-benefit for countries procuring arms from India, Chander said, "Many times Indian weapons are a lot cheaper.

"There are various other systems, like if you take strategic missiles, the long-range missiles that China sells to Saudi Arabia and the cost at which we produce, it would be one-third or one-fourth," he said.

Chander said, "We can talk only about the price at which people sell and what comes out in published figures about the contracts of the day. By that, our production cost would be much lower. What will be the export cost, that will be the policy decision of the government."

He said for getting into the business of arms exports, the country "needs a framework on what can be exported. It depends on which country, how to protect misuse".

He said there are always a number of issues related to arms exports which need to be addressed.

"What we are suggesting is that there should be a single window clearance system for export of weapons in a timebound manner," the DRDO chief said. He said several countries have shown interest in the Akash missile system, which was ready to be inducted into the Army.

Chander said there was a scope for exporting 500-1,000 "cost competitive" indigenously developed LCA Tejas combat aircraft.

LCA is likely to be ready for induction into IAF by the end of this year after attaining the Final Operational Clearance (FOC).

India depends on imports for meeting more than 65 per cent of its weapons requirement and has been branded as largest importer of arms by international think tanks.

So far, India has exported only assault rifles, a few helicopters along with some small naval vessels to friendly foreign countries

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 22 Jun 2014 18:42

^^^
The majority of international weapons exports are between the major powers and their 'munnas'. We can never break into the big league while thinking of ourselves a somebody's munnas.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 23 Jun 2014 16:59

Submarines to choppers: A sneak peek into Modi’s defence agenda

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 23 Jun 2014 17:01

On Modi's US wishlist: Drones for defence, internal security

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs, also known as drones which the United States has used frequently for years in the Af-Pak region) are set to play a more pro-active role in India’s defence and internal security spheres in the near future. UAVs perform a variety of functions ranging from intelligence gathering to strikes on specific targets on the ground.

Defence honchos in New Delhi are working on a long-term plan for greater use of these remotely piloted aircraft without a human aboard in a wide range of military, internal security and civil operations.
Reuters

Currently, the Indian armed forces’ holdings of UAVs is quite low – just a few scores. But the Indian government is likely to give a major push to induction of UAVs, indigenously as well as through off-the-shelf purchases from foreign countries.

Within a decade, India’s inventory of UAVs may well cross a thousand at a cost of up to three billion dollars. These UAVs will be of different size, range and parameters catering to varied specific requirements.

In fact, UAVs may well figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to the US in September this year. The Obama administration is working on an ambitious plan for co-production and co-development of UAVs, apart from weapon systems like missiles, with India as part of its much talked about Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) with India.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is leading Pentagon’s DTTI programme, may pay an official visit to India at an early date to talk about many defence-related issues, including the UAVs.

Informatively, on 13 June, 2014 Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Frank Kendall, had told reporters in Washington that the US has a number of “ground breaking” defence technologies, including UAVs, to offer India for co-development and co-production. India has so far been collaborating intensively with Israel for past 15 years on the UAVs and has bought these machines from Israel for hundreds of millions of dollars.

The sense of the Indian strategic establishment is that the UAVs are going to be crucial force multipliers and sentinels on its borders and its 7500-km coastline as well as to perform key role on the internal security front.

India is increasingly using UAVs for surveillance on its borders with Pakistan and China. Since Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, Indian defence forces have been using UAVs for keeping a vigil on its coastline, especially the vessels coming from Karachi.

UAVs’ use in internal security and counter-terrorism operations has also spiked over the years. Indian security forces have been deploying UAVs to keep a tab on terrorists’ activities in the mountainous, inaccessible regions of Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the thickly forested regions of the northeast.

These flying machines have been used to collect intelligence on the activities and movements of the Maoists also in different parts of the country.

Last year, UAVs had kept vigil as the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the Jagganath rath yatra. At the time, Modi had not even been named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. The security agencies resorted to the UAVs to keep a tab on possible suspicious movements given the high threat perception in the case of Modi. Now that Modi has become prime minister it is inevitable that these drones will be used more frequently for guarding him during his travels across the country.

The UAVs can make wise business proposition also. If India perfects the art of building UAVs (the DRDO has already made two types of UAVs, Lakshya and Nishaant) the country can earn precious foreign exchange by exporting these given the fact there are fewer technology export controls with regard to the UAVs.

India also has to catch up with China also which has made rapid strides in developing UAVs for narrowing the air-power disparity with major powers. Last November China made waves by successfully flying for the first time a stealth drone called “Sharp Sword”. China has developed virtually every variety of UAVs currently deployed by the US.

There is an inevitable threat of China exporting its UAVs to Pakistan. This is all the more reason for India to expand its UAV programme in double quick time.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 23 Jun 2014 19:41

Tatas aim to build aircraft for Ruag Aviation

The Tata Group on Monday said it aims to bring out a fully built aircraft for Ruag Aviation — makers of Dornier 228 new generation aircraft, parts of which are to be made in India by TASL.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd held ground breaking ceremony in Hyderabad for manufacturing Dornier 228 fuselage and wings.

The Tata-Ruag partnership is a glowing example of cooperation between India and Europe, TASL Chairman S. Ramadorai said.

“It is our belief that this project is a significant step forward in India’s growth as a high technology, precision, manufacturing destination. Ruag has entrusted the Tatas to deliver its showcase product, the Dornier 228, at world-class standards of precision and quality,” he said.

“Our vision is to work with Ruag in having a full aircraft, equipped with systems flying out from a Tata final assembly. This will be of significant importance to the Indian Armed forces in their desire to produce products locally,” he said at the function.

Within five years, TASL has become a significant player in the Global Aerospace market by delivering successfully over 70 Sikorsky S-92 cabins, and delivered Empennage and Center Wing Box for the C-130 J aircraft through its separate JV with Lockheed Martin, Mr. Ramadorai said.

It has also made Hyderabad a premier manufacturing destination for Global OEMs, he added.

The Ruag project is the fourth Aero structures unit to be set up by TASL since 2009 in Hyderabad and the products of all the units are 100 per cent exported.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, chief guest of the function, said the government will soon announce new industrial policy and consultations with stakeholders are underway.

“The goal is to make the Made in Telangana label as a globally recognised brand for its quality and innovativeness,” Mr. Rao said.

The city — hosts many research and development bodies such as DRDO, DRDL, Midhani and BDL — is ideal for setting up aerospace industries, he said

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2014 19:57

^^ Great stuff. Low fuss, high efficiency and quick execution. Kudos TATA group.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 23 Jun 2014 20:05

Wasn't the Dornier 228 being built/assembled by HAL?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2014 20:37

It was! Looks like HAL didn't or couldn't pony up the investment for RUAGs needs.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 23 Jun 2014 20:37

http://www.janes.com/article/39857/akas ... tion-tests

Akash SAM completes final Indian Army validation tests
Rahul Udoshi, Bangalore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
22 June 2014
The Indian Army completed final validation trials of the Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) on 18 June, paving the way for its induction into army service.

The test-firing took place at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Odissa, and proved system capability against a subsonic cruise missile by intercepting a Banshee target drone at 30 m above sea level, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.

The statement added that the missile had "worked perfectly" and overcome "multiple target reflections coming from the sea" during the mission.

The Akash has completed all development flight tests and user trials and is in production for the army and air force. Production orders by both services total INR230 billion (USD3.819 billion) and missile systems worth INR35 billion (USD581 million) have already been delivered, said the DRDO.

The Indian Army was the launch customer for Akash, placing an order for hardware to equip two regiments. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered enough to equip eight squadrons, with two squadrons already in IAF service.

The DRDO began developing the 30 km-range Akash as an all-weather mobile SAM in the same class as the Russian Buk, Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot, and Chinese Kai Shan-1 (KS-1) missiles. Its first developmental test was in 1990.

The Akash launcher for the army is based on a Russian T-72 MBT chassis manufactured under licence at the Medak Ordnance Factory, while the IAF version uses trailers or Tata trucks.

The army systems are being produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Hyderabad, while the IAF order is the responsibility of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bangalore. The radars and radar-related equipment for both services are produced by BEL.

dinesh_kimar · Post by **dinesh_kimar** » 23 Jun 2014 21:53

A few HAL boys I know who were on the Do-228 line were hired by TCS for "better salary + respect."

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 26 Jun 2014 09:56

Most PSU people are scooped up by Private Sector at higher pay and prospects with added freedom to work. PSUs are not allowed to pay market wages and lose best talent. I think HAL is also has to watch out from now on as private sector a/c manufacture picks up in India.

member_23694 · Post by **member_23694** » 26 Jun 2014 11:27

Now below is one example where things could be taken forward with possibility of quick indigenous product.
http://idrw.org/?p=39691#more-39691

After M-777 debacle , All Eyes on Kalyani’s ultra-light howitzers Coming Next Year

Army could mention the the minimum requirement to this group and have an agreement on timeline, minimum order confirmation, indigenous content requirement, maintenance and support expectation, penalty and reward clause.
We get the product in around 2 years and no one complains. This is an opportunity for the army to show confidence on the Indigenous defence industry, get themselves involved hands-on on the product development and also for the private industry to show their capability in meeting timeline and quality requirement of the services.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 26 Jun 2014 11:46

Narayana Rao wrote:Most PSU people are scooped up by Private Sector at higher pay and prospects with added freedom to work. PSUs are not allowed to pay market wages and lose best talent. I think HAL is also has to watch out from now on as private sector a/c manufacture picks up in India.

even ISRO , if they dont improve their work culture and start paying good salary , they will start loosing people and end up like DRDO in few years

JayS · Post by **JayS** » 26 Jun 2014 18:57

krishnan wrote: even ISRO , if they dont improve their work culture and start paying good salary , they will start loosing people and end up like DRDO in few years

Heck, they should improve their stupid-a$$ recruitment process first. For that they shouldn't need any permission from GoI. I am sure many people would like to work in these entities, but merely due to frustrating recruitment process, its rather difficult to even get in.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 28 Jun 2014 16:36

India set to open a new window to universe in two years.

India is set to open a new window to the universe in two years.The country has developed the world’s second largest gamma ray telescope that will help scientists gain new knowledge on the origin of the universe and origin of cosmic rays that bombard the space.

State-owned Electronics Corporation of India Ltd in Hyderabad has designed the giant 45 m high and 180 tonne telescope.The Rs. 45-crore mammoth structure will begin its journey on Saturday to the high altitude Hanle region in Ladakh, where it will be finally be installed to study the universe.

“The telescope will be operational in Ladakh by early 2016. After we reassemble the structure there, we will have to have some scientific trials and calibrations,” P Sudhakar, Chairman and Managing Director of ECIL, said.

This will be the fourth gamma ray telescope in the world. The largest such telescope built by a consortium of European countries with a diameter of 28 m is currently in operation in Namibia.“ This is the second largest with a diameter of 21 m. But because it is being located in the high altitude Ladakh region, it will have the same capabilities of the one in Namibia,” T Koul, Head (Astro Sciences division), BARC, said.The other two gama ray telescope are located in Spain and the US.

Significantly, unlike the other three, the Indian telescope is totally built indigenously, with designs supplied by BARC. Basically, the telescope is fitted with over 1,300 specialised diamond-turned mirrors that can capture gamma rays that hit the earth’s atmosphere from space more than 100 million light years away.

The rays are then captured by a 1088-pixel camera fitted at the tip of the structure.“ We can study super nova rays, pulsar energy flashes and other unidentified sources of such energy in the space,” Koul said.How is the telescope useful to man? “Primarily, it can be used to satisfy the eternal curiosity of man to have better knowledge of the university. We can also study the black hole phenomena in the universe, among other things,” he said.

But more important, as such projects have earlier demonstrated, it will give India some new spin-off technologies that have wide application.

For example, the diamond-turned mirrors, developed for the first time in India, can be used in strategic applications such as defence and space sectors. Also, the high resolution camera can throw up new technologies for high-precision cameras that can find application in healthcare and other sectors.

The structure will be dismantled and transported a distance of 2,500 km to Ladakh in the next three weeks, while some critical components will be airlifted.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 29 Jun 2014 00:02

^^^
lots of industrial/precision optics involved for sure. the machinery to manufacture these probably did come from Europe. Germany being the hub. the information processing is the other important part of it. wonder if the algorithms were a collaboration?

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 29 Jun 2014 08:18

1088 pixel? For gamma rays is it low resolution or high?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 29 Jun 2014 22:57

Annual Report of DRDO: 2013
Arihant obscured (as was expected!)

http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/ind ... o_2013.mp4

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 29 Jun 2014 23:40

Saurav Jha, IBN on Twitter:

DRDO's 'missile autonomy mission' will see 10km anti-tank missiles, anti-radiation missiles, supersonic ALCMs, VLRSAM and LAMs unveiled.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 30 Jun 2014 00:10

What is "missile autonomy"?