Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion - June'14

vic · Post by **vic** » 06 Aug 2014 15:25

I am reasonably sure that it was 9 batteries which included 9x2=18 launchers and around 500 missiles but cannot locate my notes. Anyway, it does not matter now. We should divide SRSAM - Maitri orders of Rs 30,000 crores three way. Rs 10,000 crore for Akash, another Rs 10,000 crores for Astra and third Rs 10,000 crores for AAD. One may note that SRSAM type of missiles are slowly loosing their relevance due to cost, utility issues and that is why USA does not have them.

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 06 Aug 2014 19:39

How is Akash missile batteries deployed with Army ?? IAF can deploy it for static defense of vital installations .

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Aug 2014 19:57

vic wrote:I am reasonably sure that it was 9 batteries which included 9x2=18 launchers and around 500 missiles but cannot locate my notes. Anyway, it does not matter now. We should divide SRSAM - Maitri orders of Rs 30,000 crores three way. Rs 10,000 crore for Akash, another Rs 10,000 crores for Astra and third Rs 10,000 crores for AAD. One may note that SRSAM type of missiles are slowly loosing their relevance due to cost, utility issues and that is why USA does not have them.

you mean the stingers and amraams they had mounted on humvees is retired now?

ravip · Post by **ravip** » 06 Aug 2014 20:33

vic wrote:I am reasonably sure that it was 9 batteries which included 9x2=18 launchers and around 500 missiles but cannot locate my notes. Anyway, it does not matter now. We should divide SRSAM - Maitri orders of Rs 30,000 crores three way. Rs 10,000 crore for Akash, another Rs 10,000 crores for Astra and third Rs 10,000 crores for AAD. One may note that SRSAM type of missiles are slowly loosing their relevance due to cost, utility issues and that is why USA does not have them.

US has no need of SRSAM as no one is going to attack US main land and strategic installations their. They in fact have SRSAM were they need them for example RAM missile for point defence and laser defence against mortars and artillery. However they surpassed the need to develop and employ such missiles as they are already into laser defence, so their employment or non employment would not suit Indian scenario. In India we have so many installations which are under threat because of numerous ingress routes so there is need for layered air defence, but the missile employed for last ditch defence should be top notch and highly capable missile whether it is imported or indigenous, as there can't be second chance at that stage.

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 06 Aug 2014 21:28

Well ravip, LASER defense is still in its infancy to be deployed in numbers . US army uses Avengers and its variants in numbers.
As regard India , we have layered defense against airborne threats , whether those are obsolete and needs replacement and in quantity is another story.

srai · Post by **srai** » 07 Aug 2014 09:47

ravi_g wrote:...

Akash will fire its booster for ~5 seconds and in that time it would have covered ~3.5 kilometers. I think during this time any kind of maneuver will be difficult overall. A true short ranged system will probably require a minimum range of ~1 km, just around the outer range of anti aircraft guns. I do not understand how Akash was mentioned as an alternative.

Given that an IAF Akash squadron consists of 2 batteries each with 4 x missile launchers and each launcher can be placed 500m from the Rajendra radar, it is possible to get around the minimum range of ~3km of an individual Akash missile. For e.g. if you were to deploy a Akash missile launcher 10-15km from an airbase, it would be able to shoot down targets at 0km from that airbase. SAM systems for the most part are deployed as "pickets" along threat axis i.e. likely ingress/egress points; they don't sit at the centre of what they are defending. For that, you have AD guns (< 2.5km) and MANPADS (< 6-8km). Key for maximum effectiveness is that they all need to be networked and integrated with EW radars, sensors and computing along with correct layered employment.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Aug 2014 10:32

us army still has srsam on hummer type vehicles. on major occasions like july 4, such vehicles make an appearance on the washington mall for site protection.

http://cdn.ph.upi.com/sv/b/upi/UPI-1545 ... system.jpg

the ground launched amraam has norway using it but us army declined
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htada/20110111.aspx

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 07 Aug 2014 10:37

^^^
Those are Avengers and they are in quantity , more than 1k.

tushar_m · Post by **tushar_m** » 07 Aug 2014 12:02

Govt to Clear demand of Navy to Re-stock Barak-1 missiles from Israel

A fortnight after India voted for a UNHRC resolution against Tel Aviv on its Gaza offensive, the Modi government is moving the cabinet committee on security (CCS) to buy 262 Barak-I anti-ship missile systems and spares, costing nearly Rs. 1,000 crore, from Israel.

The purchase was cleared by defence acquisition council under then defence minister AK Antony last December.

South Block sources said the CCS note was moved this week for the purchase of the missiles from Israel Aircraft Industries and Rafael Advanced Systems of Israel. Both firms were probed by the CBI in 2006 for a Rs. 1,100 crore missile deal in 2000 under the previous NDA regime and were black-listed by the UPA regime.

However, the ban on purchase of Barak missiles was lifted by Antony after the Navy raised a hue and cry about protection of its warships from anti-ship missiles.

“India needs Barak missiles to arm its aircraft carriers and front-line warships against strike aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The Barak will be fitted on at least 14 Indian warships and the newly acquired Vikramaditya,” said a South Block official.

Source : Hindustan Times

vaibhav.n · Post by **vaibhav.n** » 07 Aug 2014 13:22

Airforce Variants of even similar AD Systems tend to be traditionally smaller. One of the primary reasons is they protect static VA/VP, unlike the Army which has to keep its system mobile to keep up cover for advancing formations. Here is a Spyder AD System Battery Level configuration, most likely for the Army as they have 6 MFU's for its 3 Troops. The IAF variant also seems to be missing the Electro-Optical payload.

The Spyder ADS completely replaces the 8 SA-8B Squadrons in IAF service. Likely induction pattern for this Spyder IAF variant would be 18 Missile Flights or 9 Squadrons with 4 MFU's for every Flight. With about 30 current SA-3 Squadrons, the Akash would do the same in this area.

Spyder SAM System:
Missile Firing Unit

Command Control Unit

Missile Supply Vehicle

vaibhav.n · Post by **vaibhav.n** » 07 Aug 2014 13:30

On a Sidenote.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Aug 2014 13:37

I wonder why 8 missiles cannot be put on the spyder. these are small missiles. looks wasteful at just 4.

partha · Post by **partha** » 08 Aug 2014 06:14

x-post from artillery thread.

arnabh wrote:indian missile secrets out in the open
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indi ... 76037.html

Around 10 months ago, India had showcased its newly developed Pragati tactical surface-to-surface missile at the International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ADEX-2013 in South Korea.

But in a major security lapse, the missile didn't make its journey back home and lay unguarded, vulnerable and dangerously exposed for an entire month at a South Korean port.

Second, the logistical handling of the missile in South Korea was outsourced to a local agent of Chinese-origin.

wtf. Major lapse. It should be thoroughly investigated.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Aug 2014 06:34

Hope it was a inert dummy only with nothing inside.

partha · Post by **partha** » 08 Aug 2014 06:39

Singha wrote:Hope it was a inert dummy only with nothing inside.

The first violation is that the Pragati missile sent to South Korea for the exhibition wasn't a dummy missile but an actual prototype that was to be used for a live firing.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indi ... 76037.html

Manish_Sharma · Post by **Manish_Sharma** » 08 Aug 2014 07:04

vic wrote: One may note that SRSAM type of missiles are slowly loosing their relevance due to cost, utility issues and that is why USA does not have them.

US doesn't have wall touching enemy neighbours like us, what happens if a cj-10 or babur slips through Akash and other bubbles? Wouldn't it be worth if SRSAM saves an airport where PHALCONS, C-17 and MKI etc. are parked?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Aug 2014 07:07

Amazing. Wonder which idiot sent off the proto to Chinese backdoor.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 08 Aug 2014 07:28

US has very little need for SRAM missile..Its was considered a nice thing to have for both the USMC and US Army but not really a 'must have' capability given the level of expeditionary warfare (100%) and the air superiority enjoyed. There have however been SHORAD system's. The US Army had the MIM-72A based on the Aim-9 missile but retired the system in the late 90's. The Marine's and the army developed a SHORAD based on the AIm-120 missile (SLAMRAAM) but it was cut after most of the development because of a budget scale down. It has been exported to a few countries iirc. Raytheon and Kongsberg of Norway co-developed the Hawk XXI SHORAD system based on the Aim-120 AMRAAM.

http://www.kongsberg.com/en/kds/product ... 20XXI.ashx

http://www.kongsberg.com/~/media/KDS/Fi ... 013_2.ashx

Raytheon also recently tested a land launched version of the ESSM but the expected customers are almost exclusively outside of the US services. Boeing actively markets the modernized Avenger VSHORAD system based on the Aim-9x and Stinger system.

The USMC and the USA have pretty much migrated towards Directed energy weapons for anything smaller than a PAC-3 missile system with the initial plans to deal with UAV's and other targets that can potentially saturate missile based defense systems. Most of the air defense mission R&D has gone towards a ballistic missile defense capability whether that is the R&D on the Patriot missile as it advanced form the standard 1st generation to the latest PAC3 and the up and coming PAC-3 MSE or PAAC4. Same goes for the larger tactical, mobile missiles (THAAD).

For the Indian armed forces a SHORAD system that is affordable absolutely makes sense. These systems are mobile, low cost and offer tactical flexibility. Per rupee spend they can protect far more than what larger missiles can. The entire effort should focus on using home grown missile systems since it would be tough for any nation to compete on price which means a huge volume can be procured.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 08 Aug 2014 07:39

partha wrote:
Singha wrote:Hope it was a inert dummy only with nothing inside.

The first violation is that the Pragati missile sent to South Korea for the exhibition wasn't a dummy missile but an actual prototype that was to be used for a live firing.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indi ... 76037.html

This is a major lapse. Like fry every person involved lapse. How can some one be so casual about these through out the movement, right from word go?

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 08 Aug 2014 08:53

Karan M wrote:Rohit, firing unit is a battery also a flight. 30 SAM-3 (Pechora) squadrons and 60 Firing Units.

Well, in case of SPYDER SAM, just read that it means the individual truck mounted with 4 x missiles. However, since all news reports talk about '18 Systems', I'm assuming it means 18 flights/batteries equipping 8-9 Squadrons.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 08 Aug 2014 09:06

It was a MMS AKA CBM to the Chinese.

vic · Post by **vic** » 08 Aug 2014 14:24

brar_w wrote:US has very little need for SRAM missile..Its was considered a nice thing to have for both the USMC and US Army but not really a 'must have' capability given the level of expeditionary warfare (100%) and the air superiority enjoyed. There have however been SHORAD system's. The US Army had the MIM-72A based on the Aim-9 missile but retired the system in the late 90's. The Marine's and the army developed a SHORAD based on the AIm-120 missile (SLAMRAAM) but it was cut after most of the development because of a budget scale down. It has been exported to a few countries iirc. Raytheon and Kongsberg of Norway co-developed the Hawk XXI SHORAD system based on the Aim-120 AMRAAM.

http://www.kongsberg.com/en/kds/product ... 20XXI.ashx

http://www.kongsberg.com/~/media/KDS/Fi ... 013_2.ashx

Raytheon also recently tested a land launched version of the ESSM but the expected customers are almost exclusively outside of the US services. Boeing actively markets the modernized Avenger VSHORAD system based on the Aim-9x and Stinger system.

The USMC and the USA have pretty much migrated towards Directed energy weapons for anything smaller than a PAC-3 missile system with the initial plans to deal with UAV's and other targets that can potentially saturate missile based defense systems. Most of the air defense mission R&D has gone towards a ballistic missile defense capability whether that is the R&D on the Patriot missile as it advanced form the standard 1st generation to the latest PAC3 and the up and coming PAC-3 MSE or PAAC4. Same goes for the larger tactical, mobile missiles (THAAD).

For the Indian armed forces a SHORAD system that is affordable absolutely makes sense. These systems are mobile, low cost and offer tactical flexibility. Per rupee spend they can protect far more than what larger missiles can. The entire effort should focus on using home grown missile systems since it would be tough for any nation to compete on price which means a huge volume can be procured.

Highlighted portion supports my point that SHORAD is only beneficial if it is cheaper than Akash. As Spyder or any other imported SHORADS is more costly, there is no point to import and we should use Akash and later if required Astra.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 08 Aug 2014 16:04

video: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/prag ... 76044.html

REVEALED: How Indian missile lay unguarded at South Korean port
m.indiatoday.in | Aug 7th 2014

Around 10 months ago, India had showcased its newly developed Pragati tactical surface-to-surface missile at the International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ADEX-2013 in South Korea.

But in a major security lapse, the missile didn't make its journey back home and lay unguarded, vulnerable and dangerously exposed for an entire month at a South Korean port.

The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has a range of 60-170 km.

India Today has learnt that the Modi government has sounded the code red and decided to investigate the entire matter. The government wants to revisit a never before security scare for India's missile programme.

Pragati is a highly potent and accurate short-range, battlefield tactical missile system capable of neutralising identified ground targets and providing an effective counter-force weapon system.

It has all weather day and night operational launch capability. It is a counter to Pakistan's NASR tactical nuclear missile and crucial in maintaining India's strategic edge over an unpredictable neighbour.

There is a series of violations in the journey of Pragati missile to South Korea.

The first violation is that the Pragati missile sent to South Korea for the exhibition wasn't a dummy missile but an actual prototype that was to be used for a live firing.

Second, the logistical handling of the missile in South Korea was outsourced to a local agent of Chinese-origin.

Third, the prototype missile missed its ship back to India, stranding it unguarded and vulnerable at the Incheon port for an entire month. Finally, it lumbered back to India as unprotected commercial cargo without the safeguards it needed as sensitive military hardware.

The Pragati missile has quick reaction from command to launch in ripple firing mode of less than five seconds from same launcher. It is capable of carrying various types of conventional warhead of approximately 200 Kg.

The missile system has capability of deployment in stand-alone mode or centralised mode. With its effective and intelligent end trajectory maneuvreing, Pragati defeats detection by any weapon locating radar.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Aug 2014 17:49

MMS and AKA should be tried for treason.The facts should be made to parliament in a white paper and the DRDO /babus who first allowed an actual prototype to leave Indian shores must also stand trial for treason.

John · Post by **John** » 08 Aug 2014 18:32

vic wrote:
brar_w wrote:
For the Indian armed forces a SHORAD system that is affordable absolutely makes sense. These systems are mobile, low cost and offer tactical flexibility. Per rupee spend they can protect far more than what larger missiles can. The entire effort should focus on using home grown missile systems since it would be tough for any nation to compete on price which means a huge volume can be procured.
Highlighted portion supports my point that SHORAD is only beneficial if it is cheaper than Akash. As Spyder or any other imported SHORADS is more costly, there is no point to import and we should use Akash and later if required Astra.

Yes the system is fairly cheap but the problem is AIM-9, Stinger aren't each running for around 1/2 million which is about the cost of Akash. Pac-3 costs way more than 2 million per missile.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 08 Aug 2014 20:07

India Today & Gaurav Sawant are sensationalizing this a bit. Yes, there was a security breach. However, there have been no indications so far that Pragati is nuclear capable

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 08 Aug 2014 20:20

Pragati nuclear cable or not , it doesn't matter , what matter is,how such an important tactical system have been handled poorly by MOD with total disregard for national security. There should be some sort of punishment to those involved and the incident should be thoroughly investigated so that it does not happen again.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 08 Aug 2014 22:24

Oh c'mon!
Even the missiles on display at R Day and at Pragati Maidan are duds.
I highly doubt that a fully complete missile would have been shipped out, unless there was a plan to fire it from south korea for a demo. Which as we know didn't happen.
The most sensitive part would be the guidance mechanism, I hope it wasn't in the missile.
Does this one have a ring laser gyro? Or the new combined sat nav chip?

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 08 Aug 2014 22:38

I agree. I don't think that an actual prototype would have been sent out.

1. Prototypes are never painted in the camouflage pattern.
2. There were 6 more missiles shown in the canisters at ADEX. I don't think they have 7 prototypes. And if they had time to make 6 dummies, then could have easily made 1 more.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 08 Aug 2014 22:44

It's really really hard to believe that the shivering dhoti baabooze with their triplicate form armour will ever allow live prototypes in an event like this.

Vaibhav.n

Is that a Grad ?

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 08 Aug 2014 23:14

Yes, it looks like a grad on a tata truck.
If you look at the old roosi trucks carrying the grad, I was always afraid those would fall apart any minute, they were so old and rickety.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 09 Aug 2014 00:18

indranilroy wrote:I agree. I don't think that an actual prototype would have been sent out.

1. Prototypes are never painted in the camouflage pattern.
2. There were 6 more missiles shown in the canisters at ADEX. I don't think they have 7 prototypes. And if they had time to make 6 dummies, then could have easily made 1 more.

Its not just the missile but the launcher too. The one shown in the republic day parade looks like a cheaply made dummy (click) but the one shown in korea looks far more real. WRT the missile itself I'd expect the there to be guidelines restricting live ordinance in the trade show.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 09 Aug 2014 01:22

On the Grads on the Tata 6X6s, this video has been making the rounds or over an year I think.

abhik wrote: Its not just the missile but the launcher too. The one shown in the republic day parade looks like a cheaply made dummy (click) but the one shown in korea looks far more real. WRT the missile itself I'd expect the there to be guidelines restricting live ordinance in the trade show.

I don't think that the organizers will allow a live missile in an expo, that too of a missile which is designed to be canister-launched, outside in the baking sun.

I agree that the launcher does not look like a dummy. And I really liked the fact that DRDO put its best foot forward, as it should when it is trying to sell hardware.

But the prototype launchers for Indian missiles (including Prahaar/Pragati) have always been open.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 09 Aug 2014 01:28

The call for punishment if national defense has been compromised for laxity is definitely warranted, but it should cut both ways.

IF A LIVE MISSILE WAS SENT TO ADEX, PEOPLE INVOLVED SHOULD BE PUNISHED. BUT IF THIS NEWS IS FALSE, THE REPORTER AND THE NEWS AGENCY SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR SULLYING THE REPUTATION OF RESPECTED SCIENTISTS AND THE COUNTRY'S PREMIER DEFENSE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION FOR CHEAP PUBLICITY. BECAUSE, THAT ALSO DIRECTLY UNDERMINES OUR DEFENSE CAPABILITY.

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 09 Aug 2014 01:35

member_26622 · Post by **member_26622** » 09 Aug 2014 01:39

The amount of negativity for anything domestic in the press makes me wonder what they start their day with - swiss chocolate latte?

koti · Post by **koti** » 09 Aug 2014 01:48

abhik wrote:
indranilroy wrote:I agree. I don't think that an actual prototype would have been sent out.

1. Prototypes are never painted in the camouflage pattern.
2. There were 6 more missiles shown in the canisters at ADEX. I don't think they have 7 prototypes. And if they had time to make 6 dummies, then could have easily made 1 more.

Its not just the missile but the launcher too. The one shown in the republic day parade looks like a cheaply made dummy (click) but the one shown in korea looks far more real. WRT the missile itself I'd expect the there to be guidelines restricting live ordinance in the trade show.

Republic Day is for show purpose. PR.
ADEX is a business venue. It demands more then a dummy to present a credible option.

koti · Post by **koti** » 09 Aug 2014 01:57

John wrote:
vic wrote: Highlighted portion supports my point that SHORAD is only beneficial if it is cheaper than Akash. As Spyder or any other imported SHORADS is more costly, there is no point to import and we should use Akash and later if required Astra.
Yes the system is fairly cheap but the problem is AIM-9, Stinger aren't each running for around 1/2 million which is about the cost of Akash. Pac-3 costs way more than 2 million per missile.

I think the necessity for low altitude interception makes Akash not so relevant compared to SAMs with seekers. Price is a factor but I think it is better to bet on a seekered missile(Astra maybe) to deal with nap-of-the-earth targets.
Also, Akash may have periodic off states in heavy SEAD environments making the in-guidance missiles useless. Python/Astra are sort of immune to this. Add EO guidance to this and my point becomes more relevant.(There is no EO for SPYDER?)

John · Post by **John** » 09 Aug 2014 03:50

indranilroy wrote:On the Grads on the Tata 6X6s, this video has been making the rounds or over an year I think.

I don't think that the organizers will allow a live missile in an expo, that too of a missile which is designed to be canister-launched, outside in the baking

I don't believe prahaar is meant to be canisiterized/cold launched like Brahmos it's simply missile that's housed in a launcher like ATACMS.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Aug 2014 09:50

New Brahmos Chief Sudhir Kumar Mishra two part interview
Part-1 Part-2

Hypersonic missiles are the future for India and Russia – new BrahMos Chief

BrahMos Aerospace has already signed an MoU with the Moscow Aviation Institute on the development of hypersonic missiles There is need to sign some more agreements between India and Russia, isn't it? Can you elaborate on this?

Both India and Russia have successfully demonstrated that if they work together they can create systems unparalleled in the world such as the BrahMos. DRDO in India is working on the hypersonic field and Russia is also working on it.

We want to bring number of institutions from India and Russia together to realize the best possible configuration. As you rightly mentioned we have signed a MoU with MAI through our JV partners NPO Mashinostroyenia for initiating necessary actions. They are getting the required approvals from the government to start the work.

Similarly we are working with DRDO and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in this field. Once all the permissions are received from both the governments, we will initiate this project. Right now, hypersonic is an evolving technology and it is the future for both the countries. I believe that we will be able to develop the missile as per our Vision 2050, maybe within 6 to 10 years.

Are there any expectations how much time it can take to get all these approvals?

It can take from 4 to 10 months.

BrahMos Aerospace promised that the BrahMos-A missile for SU-30MKI would be ready for induction by 2016? Are these plans still on?

Yes, I confirm that by this year end, we would conduct the first flight test of BrahMos-A with SU-30MKI and we will start deliveries in 2016 to the Indian Air Force. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore and Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB) with Indian Air Force are working very intensively to ensure that the missile flight test can be carried out by the year end and I am going personally this month to review the situation together with Chairman, HAL.

When is India planning to achieve 100 percent localization of BrahMos missile production?

As of now, we believe that it is a joint development programme. So the joint production also should take place in both the countries and we do not talk about percentage to develop the local production but the objective is to develop capacity building. The requirement, the demand is very high for BrahMos and right now, the objective is to deliver the missile in time to the users and if we do not deliver, then there is a problem. So we are trying to ensure the proportion, the agreed joint production ratio between India and Russia and make the delivery schedule. This is the first priority and only priority.

What we want is that 100 percent of the missile should be manufactured in India and 100 percent to be manufactured in Russia so that when big amount of deliveries are to be made, both the places can deliver but the capabilities should be available both in India and in Russia on 100 percent delivery basis.

And secondly, now there is an export potential for BrahMos. The government of India has declared that we would like to export our weapon system and India and Russia both have agreed that we will export the missile to mutually agreed countries we will identify together. So that would happen. When that happens, then there will be more demand for capacity building in both the countries, Russia as well as India. So we develop 100 percent capability, in Russia, you already have a 100 percent capability so that we can meet our commitments.

It takes some time. I have taken over only recently. I would like to study and then give answer exactly.

You mentioned the export potential of the BrahMos missiles. When are you planning to start exporting them?

First of all as per the IGA the missile can be exported to friendly countries of India and Russia. We have jointly worked out the list of countries. Export will be taken up on case to case basis with both the Indian and Russian governments for approval.

Secondly, the interest of India and Russia should not be affected in any way and thirdly, it should be only for defensive purpose, not for offensive purpose. So these are the basic fundamentals and we are talking to each other to ensure that export takes place but export is a very long process. So we are onto the process.

What do you think about the possibility of replicating the BrahMos Aerospace JV model in other areas between India and Russia?

First, I would like to convey to you that when I land in Moscow Airport, I feel that I have come to my second home. I have lived there for four years and I must have visited more than 20 times after that. I love the country, people and their culture and when it comes to successful joint venture, then I want to tell you that BrahMos is “THE” only joint venture in the defence sector anywhere in the world which enjoys this much success. This is because of the technology strength of both the countries, trust which we have posed in each other, confidence and our track record of meeting our commitment and commitment of delivery, meeting the dates and I feel that this joint venture has a great future. Many countries, they talk, they want to replicate BrahMos but you cannot copy the template. You can follow it up to a certain extent but the true spirit between India and Russia, it can exist only between Indians and Russians. It does not exist between any other country in the world.

Russia is going to participate in Project-75 India (P-75 I) tender, which entails the acquisition of another six submarines for the Indian Navy? Russian submarine will come along with BrahMos missiles installed. When do you expect this competition to happen?

We have demonstrated the capability of BrahMos by launching from a pontoon. Users have observed it, they have taken note of this and I am sure the kind of confidence users have shown in our other products, they would show in the submarine launch as well. Apart from this, we are going to develop the BrahMos-Mini as well. So BrahMos-Mini can be launched from a torpedo tube. We are planning, we are designing to do it from the torpedo tube. So it can be used there also as a standard weapon in all kind of submarines and users have to make up their mind what kind of weapon system they are looking for and we are telling the users that this is the weapon on the table, kindly have it. So RFP is not yet released. Let us wait and see.

Did you get the approval for this BrahMos-M (mini) development?

Not yet. It is under process.

When do you expect to get it?

I wanted it yesterday and I am chasing it to make it happen. I am sure DRDO has complete trust in this project and I bring that spirit from DRDO to BrahMos. So I am sure it would happen soon and you see it is science and technology. So it is very difficult to predict the duration, the time but I always feel that, I am very bullish about it, very optimistic, it should happen at the earliest and that is going to be my priority.

How much time would it take to develop this missile?

It should not take more than three years. The basic missile would be same and it would be adopted to meet the requirement of the services but the basic model, the basic financial managerial model which exists between India and Russia would be same, we would work on the same proportion. We would hold hand of each other in a similar way. It will be universal missile for Army, Air Force, Navy. It can be adopted to meet any requirement.

You need to sign some more documents with Russia for BrahMos-M also, don't you?

We would once finalised will have a Tripartite agreement between DRDO, NPOM and BrahMos. It would be like a wish to work together, a basic agreement, which will suggest three organisations are ready to start developing this missile. We hope to sign it by the year end.

What is this time needed for?

The reason is we are doing a feasibility study. We are studying whether the specifications are right or not, what all can be done, what we can do, what Russians can do. So before any big project, we need to sit and talk. So we are sitting and talking. We are evaluating the scientific parameters of various subsystems. It takes time.

Now there are many Indian tourists who are coming to Russia. What was the most interesting part of Russia for you?

For a tourist to come to Russia is its natural beauty and I pray that Russians will preserve it the way they have been preserving it, number one. Number two, the museums and church cathedrals in Petersburg, canals in Petersburg are very beautiful. Third, you have got all the resources in abundance. You have almost everything, sunshine, snow and for a tourist going from India Baikal Lake is the ultimate beauty. More than that, you see India and Russia have almost more than 70 years of relationship and the image in the minds of Indian people is that Russians are our true friends. So when they go if they go to Moscow, if they go to different places, they feel at home that yes, we are in the friend's home, nothing to fear about it.

You are new BrahMos chief now? Any missile dreams?

Yes, you see I worked in Hyderabad where the technology development for BrahMos has been done. I have been a member of the technical teams who have developed the technology for BrahMos from DRDO side and then I worked as a Programme Manager in the BrahMos project in DRDO. Then I visited Russia and there, I have conducted the visit of then-Indian President Dr. Abdul Kalam to Moscow, taken him to NPO Mash and conducted the visit of Defence Minister of India again to NPO Mash.

This feeling, this attachment, it created some kind of dream in the mind that it would be ultimate happiness, it would be ultimate professional dream to lead such a high technology programme in the world and for a mechanical engineer like me, nothing can be better than leading a team of experts who are world class, who are best in their profession who know how to deliver, how to meet user’s aspirations, it is a dream come true. I have witnessed the commitment, the courage, the endeavours of Indian specialists and Russian specialists, both. It gives me great satisfaction of being their leader and take BrahMos to a step up. More business, more technological challenges, early delivery, find a better way of doing the supply chain management. This itself is a lot of work.