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

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 25 Oct 2015 18:51

http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesund ... 095515.ece
Armed and Dangerous Battle for Control Heats Up in DRDO

perhaps MoD should bring in CnC into DRDO

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 26 Oct 2015 14:34

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14397/ ... i35kyseF5Q

India's Mareech Anti-Torpedo System Ready For Induction
Source : Our Bureau ~ Dated : Monday, October 26, 2015 @ 06:54 AM

Indian Naval Science and Technological Laboratory has developed an advanced torpedo defense system to divert incoming enemy underwater torpedoes and is ready for induction.

The torpedo defense system, Maareech has completed trials and will soon be inducted into the Indian Navy, Asian Age News daily reported Saturday.

“It’s for the first time that such a decoy system has been developed for surface ships. It’s also an advanced version of the regular decoys. It is ready to be officially inducted. The Navy has accepted the decoy system and it can place the orders for its ships now,” V. Bhujanga Rao, DRDO director-general, naval systems and materials was quoted as saying by the news daily.

The NSTL is awaiting defense minister Manohar Parrikar to visit the lab at Vizag to officially launch and induct the system.

While submarines use decoys as anti-torpedo systems, the system has been developed for surface ship for the first time. After completing trials at various stages, the prototypes of Maareech were tested. The Navy has accepted the system and is ready for formal induction. The NSTL took almost eight years to develop the “complex system.”

Maareech, will be manufactured at, Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bengaluru.

srai · Post by **srai** » 26 Oct 2015 15:08

^^^

Is Mareech integrated with RBU-6000? That would provide hard-kill option between 350m to 5.8km. Maybe the front location of RBU-6000 on a 180-degree traverse launcher would keep from launching at the ship's own towed array/decoy.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 26 Oct 2015 15:42

All units are integrated with the CMS - Combat Management System

http://www.bel-india.com/CMS-%28Combat- ... -System%29

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 26 Oct 2015 22:46

http://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/201 ... -in-india/

These Incredible Weapons Are Made In India

Considering the national wealth it commands, India’s hard power shouldn’t be dismissed. As a matter of fact, as early as 1947 India possessed the best trained military in Asia. A strong British core was the rock upon which a professional institution was molded and outfitted with a proper navy and air arm.

In the decades that followed a growing state-owned domestic arms industry improved this state of affairs. There was no realm Indian scientists and engineers ventured that didn’t impact its military advancement. India also cultivated its allies from opposite sides of the Iron Curtain, an approach that remains profitable to this day.

As the 20th century surrendered to the 21st, India emerged as a leading arms importer while its military-industrial complex struggled with the development of cutting-edge weapons.

Glaring shortages in materials and capabilities persist in India’s massive armed forces. But new hardware, from tanks to stealth warships, are rolling out of state-owned factories with alarming frequency. This is a sure sign India is preparing for an active role in global affairs.

Just like China, India is arming itself to fortify its economic advancement and dominate the region. Its current path might be frustrating, but the intent is clear: India is the would-be arsenal of the free world.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 27 Oct 2015 02:59

KaranM, Thanks for the extensive link.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 27 Oct 2015 15:05

My pleasure.

Another recent find - yet another small private firm working on DRDO programs and which has developed "non standard" band TR Modules for radars.

http://www.vikascommunications.com/Tx_R ... les.html?3

One band below L-Band

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 27 Oct 2015 22:00

indranilroy wrote: As an aside:
Also, I have a pet peeve with Indian reporting (Pickup newsletters/press releases from DRDO/HAL/govt/Media outlets). It possibly stems from our residual sub-serviant mentality. Why are all coverages centered around the visiting dignitary, or the the boss? This is supposed to be about the facility, isn't it.

Guess what, Tarmak007 has just answered my cribbing. Way to go!

Orange to add teeth to India’s gen-next weapon systems

Hyderabad, Oct 27: Future missiles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) being developed by India will be tested for their Radar Cross Section (RCS) measurements at the recently-opened facility codenamed Project Orange (open range) in Dundigal near Hyderabad.

Orange is a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) project operated by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Research Centre Imarat (formerly RCI). It is being developed as a national facility for RCS measurements, which is capable of enhancing the stealth features of India's gen-next weapon systems.

Giving exclusive details to OneIndia, an official said that Orange is capable of measuring RCS over a wide frequency band for various platforms. The facility was recently opened by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

"Orange can be used to test platforms currently in use by defence forces and those futuristic weapon systems under development. The facility presently covers frequency ranges in far field scenario and is capable of providing RCS measurements as well as onboard antenna characteristics," the official, requesting anonymity, said.

Know more about Radar Cross Section (RCS)
RCS is the parameter that determines the detectability of an object by a radar. A larger value indicates that an object can be detected at far distances compared to one with small RCS value.

The RCS of a object is defined in far field, i.e., distances where the electro-magnetic (EM) energy spread out by the emitter has achieved a steady state scenario and antenna pattern does not change with distance.

Radars are used worldwide over a wide frequency band starting from VHF to millimeter waves (MM-waves) for various purposes. Low frequency radars have the advantage of transmitting a very high power and are utilized for early detection. However, for tracking purpose (a seeker for example), higher frequencies are used, which have the advantage of higher resolution, though transmitted powers are limited.

Facility can take loads in excess of 75 tonnes. The official said that Orange is being established in an open (outdoor) configuration with a range that's capable of addressing the requirements of a full-scale vehicle.

The Pylon system is capable of lifting payloads up to 35 tonnes by a height of 10 meter above ground, necessary for aerial targets.

"The base rotor of the pylon has the capability of taking loads in excess of 75 tonnes which is to be utilized for RCS and antenna measurements of heavier ground vehicles, including tanks and radars. The pylon has three detachable rotors with varying payload capacity," the official said.

The capacity of the pylon is capable of addressing the requirements of scale models, dummy mockups, operational light aircraft and even heavy fighter such as a Su-30MKI.

Many home-grown technologies incorporated Orange boasts of many home-grown technologies developed with the support of DRDO. The Instrumentation Radar System (capable of measuring low RCS values) at the test range is co-developed by Bose Institute, Kolkata and Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (Rangpo), Sikkim.

"The RCS measurement and calibration technique for the test range is based on RCI's two-decades-plus expertise in this domain. In addition to RCS measurements, the RF imaging capability of the range is capable of diagnosing the hot spots (prominent scattering centres) on a platform," he said.

Based on the levels of hot spots, the vehicle can be subjected to a redesign or even put through RCS-reduction materials. "It all depends upon the overall RCS reduction achievement in a defined threat sector of a given vehicle," the official added.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 29 Oct 2015 10:28

RCI Developing 275-kgf Thrust Cruise Missile Engine

Thakur_B · Post by **Thakur_B** » 29 Oct 2015 19:25

Comprehensive list of aerospace testing facilities in India.
http://atfi.dlis.du.ac.in/ATF.php

JayS · Post by **JayS** » 30 Oct 2015 21:02

Neela wrote:RCI Developing 275-kgf Thrust Cruise Missile Engine

Interesting....How many total GT projects we are having concurrently?? I can count these:
- 3 small engines - HAL/RCI/GTRE
- 2 Kaveri - 90kn class and 110kn class - GTRE
- GT for Tanks based on Kaveri core - GTRE

Also BHEL has developed power turbine module for Kaveri for power production, per what I heard from someone who has lot of chaiwala friends. He also mentioned that Kaveri turned out to be excellent for naval application. But I haven't heard of any Naval version of Kaveri so far.

Seems a lot of use is done of competencies gained by GTRE from Kaveri project.

I am missing any more projects for GT??

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 Oct 2015 21:05

Nileshjr or anyone, Can we do a brochure comparison to see where this 275 kgf thrust engine would compare to?

And turbo jet and not turbo fan?

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 31 Oct 2015 00:57

nileshjr wrote:
Neela wrote:RCI Developing 275-kgf Thrust Cruise Missile Engine
Interesting....How many total GT projects we are having concurrently?? I can count these:
- 3 small engines - HAL/RCI/GTRE
- 2 Kaveri - 90kn class and 110kn class - GTRE
- GT for Tanks based on Kaveri core - GTRE

Also BHEL has developed power turbine module for Kaveri for power production, per what I heard from someone who has lot of chaiwala friends. He also mentioned that Kaveri turned out to be excellent for naval application. But I haven't heard of any Naval version of Kaveri so far.

Seems a lot of use is done of competencies gained by GTRE from Kaveri project.

I am missing any more projects for GT??

Nilesh,

Thanks for the information on the marine Kaveri developments.

This are the engoine development efforts in India I know of:
1. 0.30-0.45 kN : HAL (for Abhyas HEAT) and other UAVs
2. 1 kN (turbojet) : NAL
3. 2.75 kN (turbojet) : Upcoming RCI/NAL: This will be a formal step up , project completion of NAl's 1kN effort (part of the 12th 5-year plan)
4. Manik class: 4 kN - HAL/NAL/GTRE: For Nirbhay (formerly called Laghu shakti) upgradable to 7kN (according to SJha).
5. PTAE-7 engine : 4 kN (turbojet): HAL
6. HTFE-25: 25 kN (turbofan): HAL
7. Kaveri: 90 kN
8. Kaveri++: 110 kN

Also,
9. 130 HP piston engine: VRDE/private
10. 200 HP diesel engine: VRDE/Mahindra Tech: conversion of automotive engine for aero (first for Rustom)
11. Higher power UAV engines: upgrading the rotary engine (NAL), and smaller engines from VRDE.

On paper:
12. 1200 HP turboprop: HAL
13. 1200 kW turboshat: HAL
14. 4MW-class Gas Turbine Engine for Industrial Application: HAL
15. Baba Kalyani said he will start manufacturing turbofans in India within the next two years.

srai · Post by **srai** » 31 Oct 2015 13:54

nileshjr wrote:...

Also BHEL has developed power turbine module for Kaveri for power production, per what I heard from someone who has lot of chaiwala friends. He also mentioned that Kaveri turned out to be excellent for naval application. But I haven't heard of any Naval version of Kaveri so far.

...

Built for air force, Kaveri engine chosen by navy

8th Sept 09

The indigenous Kaveri aircraft engine, soon to make its debut flight, lacks the muscle needed by India’s Tejas light combat aircraft, which the engine was designed to power. In its present form, the Kaveri will never power a modern fighter.

But the engine’s technology --- developed by the Defence R&D Organisation, over two decades, at a cost of Rs 3000 crores --- will not be wasted. The Indian Navy is snapping up the Kaveri for powering its growing fleet of warships.

Business Standard has learnt that the navy has officially informed the Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (the DRDO laboratory that developed the Kaveri) that naval warships will needs 40 Kaveri Marine Gas Turbines (KMGTs) over the next 15 years.

In an important signal of its support, the navy has agreed to fund 25% of the cost of the KMGT project.

GTRE has developed the marine Kaveri by modifying the aero engine with a shaft, through which power can be delivered to a propeller. The navy has extensively tested these engines at Visakhapatnam and found that the marine Kaveri can deliver 12 Megawatts (16,000 Horsepower) of propulsion power.

Typically warships run on regular diesel engines; gas turbines (such as the Kaveri) are added on to provide “boost power”, needed for manoeuvring in battle. Contemporary gas turbines, such as the General Electric LM2500, provide India’s latest 5000-tonne Shivalik class frigates with 22 MW of boost. The Kaveri’s more modest 12 MW is sufficient only for smaller warships.

While the marine Kaveri’s basic performance has been established (even the PM has seen a demonstration in Visakhapatnam), the GTRE Director, Dr Mohana Rao, is not yet satisfied with the basic design.

“So far, the KMGT is just a spin-off from the aero version”, Rao told Business Standard in Bangalore. “I want to give the navy an engine with far greater endurance. An aero engine’s life is just 3000 hours; a marine engine’s life should be 30,000 hours. I must physically test the KMGT for at least 15,000 hours.”

GTRE is going ahead with developing 3-4 test engines and beginning trials within three years. The trials will be conducted in a marine environment, which will include high humidity, and prolonged exposure to salt.

“We plan to begin delivery in about 6 years”, says the GTRE Director, “We hope to keep the cost below Rs 25-30 crores, which is considerably cheaper than buying imported gas turbines.”

Earlier this year, the US State Department had stopped General Electric from fitting its LM-2500 turbines on the INS Shivalik, apparently because GE had not obtained proper permissions from the US government.

Other than the 40 KMGTs, the Indian Navy has also issued a letter, on 6th April 09, laying out a requirement for 42 Gas Turbine Generators, or GTGs. These are de-rated versions of the marine Kaveri, which will be used for generating electrical power on warships. Each GTG generates 1.2 Megawatts of power.

The Indian Navy, an enthusiastic proponent of indigenisation, proposes to replace the diesel generators fitted on older warships with the Kaveri GTG. If it performs well over a period of time, the new-generation warships will also get electrical power from the Kaveri GTG.

Currently, only the Rajput and Delhi class of destroyers use gas turbines for power generation.

DRDO TechFocus Oct 2009: Gas Turbine Research

JayS · Post by **JayS** » 31 Oct 2015 19:20

^^ Thanks a lot for the info. Didn't know about IN's intent of buying 40+42 Kaveri based GTs. Plus they agreed to fund 25% of development fund as well. Cool...

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 01 Nov 2015 13:39

http://www.hal-india.com/Mission%20%20C ... tem/M__153

Current Programs:

DARIN-III avionics upgrade (with Fire Control Radar and near Glass Cockpit with two Smart Multi-Function Displays and Engine & Flight Instrumentation System, integrated around an advanced Mission Computer on DARIN Jaguar aircraft for improved operational capabilities.
Development of Automatic Flight Control System for Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter.
Development of Integrated Avionics and Display System for Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter.
Real time Operating Systems
Avionics upgrade of Mirage aircraft.
Development of Mission Software for HJT-36 aircraft
Avionics System development for FGFA.
Integration of Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW) on Jaguar DARIN-II aircraft
Integration of Harpoon antiship missile on Jaguar Maritime aircraft
Trial mod implantation of Smart Anti airfield Weapon (SAAW) on Jaguar DARIN-II aircraft

Future Programs:

Technology development programs in the areas of
(i) High Speed Data Bus
(ii) Data Fusion
(iii) Voice Activated Controls
(iv) Real Time Operating Systems.
(v) C4ISR
(vi) Automatic Target Recognition System
(vii) Mid-Air Collisions Avoidance System for UAVs
(viii) UAV based Aerial Surveillance
(ix) Autonomous Landing of UAV
(x) Enhanced and Synthetic Vision System (ESVS)

jayasimha · Post by **jayasimha** » 05 Nov 2015 11:20

http://kienthuc.net.vn/tin-tuc-quan-su/ ... 83694.html

Vietnam upgrading submarine hunting boats Petya protector?

(Knowledge) - Most likely the submarine hunting boats Petya Guardians of Vietnam Navy is going to be equipped with the advanced hydroacoustic developed by India.

Daily News quoted the representative authorities and technical cooperation and defense of India said Bharat Electronics Company Limited (BEL) of India is negotiating the sale of hydroacoustic positioning system BEL HMS-X2 for Vietnam. These systems can be fitted on the ship Petya class submarine hunting squire capital Vietnam Navy is being used.

A senior official of BEL Daily News interview, said the company has conducted performance testing of hydroacoustic positioning system BEL HMS-X2 in the presence of officials in Vietnam a visit to BEL in the recent period.

Currently Navy Vietnam still maintained that the Team 5 underground train hunting squire Petya class Soviet past aid.

And external current Vietnam some other countries are also paying attention to hydroacoustic positioning system HMS-X2 produced by BEL, however it was the Institute for Defense Development and India (DRDO) development and design.

Acoustic Positioning System HMS-X2 design is quite compact and can be easily integrated in many different warships form, as guardian ASW ship, coastal patrol vessels and patrol boats normal. Reportedly the hydroacoustic navigation system produced by BEL are extensively equipped warships Indian Navy.

HMS-X2 BEL mainly used hydroacoustic positioning technology actively combines with passive, earlier last year India also recently announced agreement to supply navigation systems for the Navy's new hydroacoustic Myanmar estimated value over $ 29 million.

Petya class is the NATO designation for class vessels Project 159 submarine hunting squire Soviet production from 1960s ships with 1,150 tons of water, 81,8m long, equipped with anti-submarine sonar systems staging submarine hunting weapons including anti-submarine bomb four launchers RBU-6000 (or two pedestal RBU-1000), five 406mm torpedo tubes.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Nov 2015 19:36

The Kaveri Marine GT for IN news report was from 2009. Did any of it get accomplished or just more Techfocus futuristic brochures?

srai · Post by **srai** » 06 Nov 2015 01:16

ramana wrote:The Kaveri Marine GT for IN news report was from 2009. Did any of it get accomplished or just more Techfocus futuristic brochures?

According to that news report the plan in late 2009 was the following:

2012/3 -> begin trials with 3-4 engines KGMT; need to test for at least 15,000 hours life
2015/6 -> begin deliveries of KGMT (40 ordered)
? -> no date given for 42 K GTG

Someone needs to verify.

member_29228 · Post by **member_29228** » 06 Nov 2015 02:33

Business Standard has learnt that the navy has officially informed the Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (the DRDO laboratory that developed the Kaveri) that naval warships will needs 40 Kaveri Marine Gas Turbines (KMGTs) over the next 15 years.

This to prove GTRE couldn't deliver hence we have to import.
As they seeing is believing no?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2015 16:42

PM Modi for indigenous manufacturing to cut defence budget by 50%

"Today our nation imports defence equipment in large quantity. Is it not possible that our institutions concentrate in the area of defence and research and prepare a human resource development pool which will help in making equipment cheaper to the extent that outside importers use this talent for manufacturing. India can be a global market if we do it.

"If our institutions decide today that we will be able to cut down defence import by 50 per cent in next 10 years, then the amount we save on our defence budget will be pumped into the education sector. Will it not be a big gain? We will be self-reliant," he said.

srai · Post by **srai** » 06 Nov 2015 16:52

^^^

How is the 50% import reduction going to happen in next 10-years when some $20 billions worth of imports are in the pipeline for French Rafales and Russian weapon systems like S-400? Let's not forget billions of dollars worth of deals with the Americans and Israelis are also in the pipeline.

sumits · Post by **sumits** » 07 Nov 2015 05:34

Austin wrote:PM Modi for indigenous manufacturing to cut defence budget by 50%

"Today our nation imports defence equipment in large quantity. Is it not possible that our institutions concentrate in the area of defence and research and prepare a human resource development pool which will help in making equipment cheaper to the extent that outside importers use this talent for manufacturing. India can be a global market if we do it.

"If our institutions decide today that we will be able to cut down defence import by 50 per cent in next 10 years, then the amount we save on our defence budget will be pumped into the education sector. Will it not be a big gain? We will be self-reliant," he said.

Scared the hell out of me when I read the headline. It should say "cut the defence import by 50%" instead of "cut the defence budget by 50%". Big difference....

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 07 Nov 2015 12:01

[quote="indranilroy"]

This are the engine development efforts in India I know of:
1. 0.30-0.45 kN : HAL (for Abhyas HEAT) and other UAVs
2. 1 kN (turbojet) : NAL
3. 2.75 kN (turbojet) : Upcoming RCI/NAL: This will be a formal step up , project completion of NAl's 1kN effort (part of the 12th 5-year plan)
4. Manik class: 4 kN - HAL/NAL/GTRE: For Nirbhay (formerly called Laghu shakti) upgradable to 7kN (according to SJha).
5. PTAE-7 engine : 4 kN (turbojet): HAL
There were some reports of 8kn UAV engine also.
6. HTFE-25: 25 kN (turbofan): HAL
7. Kaveri: 90 kN with offshoots like Marine engine, generators, locomotive engines
8. Kaveri++: 110 kN

Also,
There was some talk of Turbochargers being developed.
Also jet starters for LCA MK-1, LCA Mk-2, AMCA, FGFA, MTA
APU for MTA
9. 130 HP piston engine: VRDE/private
10. 200 HP diesel engine: VRDE/Mahindra Tech: conversion of automotive engine for aero (first for Rustom)
10 to 40 HP piston engines by VRDE
55 HP Wankel Engine
11. Higher power UAV engines: upgrading the rotary engine (NAL), and smaller engines from VRDE.

On paper:
12. 1200 HP turboprop: HAL (Is this project still on or dropped??)
13. 1200 kW turboshat: HAL (There was some reference to 2MW engine, turboshaft? Industrial?)
14. 4MW-class Gas Turbine Engine for Industrial Application: HAL
15. Baba Kalyani said he will start manufacturing turbofans in India within the next two years.

For Land Vehicles

800hp engine and transmission
1500hp engine and transmission[/quote]

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Nov 2015 13:23

http://www.oneindia.com/india/orange-to ... 10653.html

10 meters tall, 75 ton load outdoor RCS test setup put into service. this will be used for all future and current vehicles.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 09 Nov 2015 17:50

Army gets Bharat Electronics' upgraded L70 guns.

The first two numbers of L70 upgraded guns, designed, developed and manufactured by defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Army have been delivered to the latter.

BEL, which has delivered the upgraded guns within the stipulated nine months, says: "The L70 gun upgrade is a fusion of the latest technologies in the areas of electrical servo drives, electro optical fire control system and video tracking, which only a few global companies have mastered."

BEL had won the Rs 575-crore order in a global open tender issued by the Indian Army, subsequent to clearing all field trials.

"Right from the designing the upgrade to establishing a production line, the project was meticulously executed," BEL said.

Each building block of the gun upgrade — processor and interface boards, power amplifiers, stabilised pedestal, high precision mechanical subsystems, video tracker and fire control solutions — were designed in-house.

A cross functional team of engineers from all disciplines immensely contributed to the success of the project. BEL, with the support of Ordnance Factory Board, is all set to deliver 200 upgraded guns within the stipulated time of three years.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 09 Nov 2015 17:58

^^ Excellent news and also a perfect example of how a press release should be. This is the L70 Gun upgrade

http://www.bel-india.com/L-70-Gun-Upgradation

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 09 Nov 2015 19:05

Another pic of the L-70 Upgrade. Keep these warhorses around. The Israelis do it. So should we.

"The L70 gun upgrade is a fusion of the latest technologies in the areas of electrical servo drives, electro optical fire control system and video tracking, which only a few global companies have mastered," says a BEL official. He said the BEL stuck to the order plan right from the beginning, to ensure timely delivery.

Read more at: http://www.oneindia.com/india/indian-ar ... 23087.html

pragnya · Post by **pragnya** » 09 Nov 2015 19:06

Karan M,

though OT for the thread, are we importing the actuators for LCA from MOOG? there is this WIPRO facility in Bengaluru where they are manufacturing the actuators among other things. or has the facility not taken off?

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 09 Nov 2015 19:23

Karan M wrote:Another pic of the L-70 Upgrade. Keep these warhorses around. The Israelis do it. So should we.

The gestation period of some of these programs is instructive. I found an aero-India photo of this from some years ago - will post. Happy to see it reaching fruition

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 09 Nov 2015 19:24

pragnya wrote:Karan M,

though OT for the thread, are we importing the actuators for LCA from MOOG? there is this WIPRO facility in Bengaluru where they are manufacturing the actuators among other things. or has the facility not taken off?

Thanks for posting

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Nov 2015 21:15

Also electro-mechanical drives gets rid of the leaky hydraulics and decreases the over all system time constant for response.

srai · Post by **srai** » 10 Nov 2015 04:35

Vipul wrote:Army gets Bharat Electronics' upgraded L70 guns.

The first two numbers of L70 upgraded guns, designed, developed and manufactured by defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Army have been delivered to the latter.

BEL, which has delivered the upgraded guns within the stipulated nine months, says: "The L70 gun upgrade is a fusion of the latest technologies in the areas of electrical servo drives, electro optical fire control system and video tracking, which only a few global companies have mastered."

BEL had won the Rs 575-crore order in a global open tender issued by the Indian Army, subsequent to clearing all field trials.

"Right from the designing the upgrade to establishing a production line, the project was meticulously executed," BEL said.

Each building block of the gun upgrade — processor and interface boards, power amplifiers, stabilised pedestal, high precision mechanical subsystems, video tracker and fire control solutions — were designed in-house.

A cross functional team of engineers from all disciplines immensely contributed to the success of the project. BEL, with the support of Ordnance Factory Board, is all set to deliver 200 upgraded guns within the stipulated time of three years.

So why is there a need to import AD guns again? Couldn't they do more advanced versions of this similar to what they are doing for Bofors 155mm -> Dhanush -> ATAGS? This shows that the capability exists within India.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Nov 2015 05:02

The L/70 are 1960s vintage. The design is WWII vintage. Used to be called L/60 then.

srai · Post by **srai** » 10 Nov 2015 05:44

^^^

They have newer variants like the Bofors 40 MK4.

Bofors 40mm 3P ammunition

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Nov 2015 09:08

IISc prof develops system to reduce chopper crashes
Ramzauva Chhakchhuak, Bengaluru: Nov 10, 2015, DHNS:
Experts say the technology will go a long way in achieving the zero-accident vision of the International Helicopter Safety Team. DH FILE PHOTO

An associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here has developed a real-time online health monitoring system for tail rotor flexbeams that can “greatly reduce the chances of helicopter accidents.”

“Considering the fact that tail rotor failures have frequently caused fatalities, the potential for taking this research further for the benefit of the worldwide helicopter community is immense,” Dineshkumar Harursampath, the associate professor, said in a statement to Deccan Herald. He developed this system by collaborating with his former students.

In the lead up to the fourth Asian-Australian Rotorcraft Forum, to be held in Bengaluru from November 16 to 18, the Non-linear Multifunctional Composites Analysis and Design (NMCAD) Lab at the IISc hosted a lecture on Friday by James A Viola, an internationally recognised expert on helicopter safety. Viola is a co-chair of the US Helicopter Safety Team and manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s General Aviation and Commercial Division. He is also a government member of the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. He showed interest in the system, Prof Harursampath said.

Most of the people who keep reading about helicopter crashes aren’t aware that rotary wing aircraft can be safer in many situations than fixed wing ones. “For example, after an engine failure, an alert helicopter pilot can utilise the momentum in his rotor to safely land through its timely disengagement. In the absence of such autorotation feature, landing an aircraft in a similar situation is much tougher, if not impossible in the case of single engine military aircraft. In this context, James and his International Helicopter Safety Team’s (IHST) long-term vision of ‘zero accidents’ is not just wishful thinking,” said Prof Harursampath. Their short-term goal of eliminating fatal accidents is even easier to visualise, he added.

Another helicopter safety project of the NMCAD Lab that Viola was curious about was improvement in fatigue life and/or performance of main rotor blades through three out-of-the-box ideas, individually and in synergy, said Prof Harursampath.

“According to James, these technologies would go a long way in achieving the zero-accident vision of the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) of which India, the US and Canada are integral parts,” he added.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/511 ... educe.html

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 10 Nov 2015 09:54

srai wrote:
So why is there a need to import AD guns again? Couldn't they do more advanced versions of this similar to what they are doing for Bofors 155mm -> Dhanush -> ATAGS? This shows that the capability exists within India.

This is just an upgrade - that is existing ones are going to be upgraded rather than junking them. I think there is a huge expansion in the type and variety of air defence artillery we need and there is probably some place for these upgraded guns - in situations that do not call for more modern systems. I suspect that older/upgraded air defence guns will be placed around less vulnerable targets like Sonia Gandhi's house or Governor's bungalow, Bengaluru Kerala. They can also be used against ground targets I think.

In coastal defence in this video - watch from the point linked below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... geEo#t=125

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 10 Nov 2015 14:12

pragnya wrote:Karan M,

though OT for the thread, are we importing the actuators for LCA from MOOG? there is this WIPRO facility in Bengaluru where they are manufacturing the actuators among other things. or has the facility not taken off?

Currently yes, Moog. However, the LCA actuators are not being made at Wipro but assembled at HAL, Lucknow, approved in 2007. The consortium assisting this - HAL, MTAR Hyderabad, Godrej Mumbai, approved in 2007. The key task, developing the flight critical actuators was by VSSC, ISRO (1998). Purchase order placed by HAL on consortium in 2009, assuming IPR transfer from ISRO. The original activity, IPR + TOT to consortium was to be finally done only by 2014, December as versus plan of 2010-11. The rest of the activities, leading to full availability at production, will take another year and a half thereafter (approximately). So by end of next year, assuming buffer of several months, we should (finally) have indigenous actuators replacing the Moog units.

BTW industry evaluation (western 3rd party) of India in actuators is that we have more or less arrived & can indigenize replace most actuators denied to us, provided we have funding and time. Hence, sanctions, tech denials are counterproductive and only driven by old fashioned politics.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 13 Nov 2015 17:11

Defence executives cautiously welcome foreign investment liberalisation in defence

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 13 Nov 2015 17:29

What industry says:

Ficci chief, Jyotsna Suri

“Simplification of procedures for foreign investments, putting more sectors on the automatic route, introducing fungibility between FDI and FII and having a single reference document for all FDI related guidelines are steps that would boost investor confidence further.”

Jayant Patil, Larsen & Toubro defence chief

“Defence is a strategic field that is not governed by the rules of normal commerce. Raising FDI caps is no guarantee that foreign investment will flow in. Overseas vendors might want to ‘Make in India’, but their governments may not give sanction, since most governments control defence technology”.

Rajinder Bhatia, defence chief of Kalyani Group

“Unless business flows due to its own commercial logic, the new liberalisation measures are mere catalysts. You must create business constituents to truly boost FDI”.

Rahul Chaudhary, Chairman, Ficci Defence Committee

“It is good that the government is attempting to liberalise FDI. But it must be done while carefully protecting indigenous defence capabilities”.