Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion - June'14

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Jan 2017 20:55

A missile test needs quite a few months (sometimes years) to prepare and hardly can be whipped up in response to events outside.
A test has many objectives.
K4 test objectives could be to demonstrate the crew can conduct missile launches under SFC controls.
It would be show they are ready for deterrent patrols.
It already has been tested from ground and pontoon and supposedly from the Arihant itself.

India test campaign due to the weather patter begins from November to May in Bay of Bengal.

So all these indicate the K4 test is not in response to the empty threats from China.

The news report does not do justice to the GOI calibrated missile test program since IGMP was launched in 1984.

----
Its 10 January. So Astra trials should be on from today till 14 January.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Jan 2017 20:59

Geeth, The IISC research appears to be for hypersonic vehicles like Shourya and not RVs.
The melting metal cloud will give a big radar cross section.

Essentially they are using the heat from the melting to create a local low density area through which the vehicle can fly.

I am not pooh-poohing the effort but not sure about use for a military vehicle.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 10 Jan 2017 22:18

In one of the Tessy Thomas videos that I watched recently, she said that they were working on aero spikes.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Jan 2017 23:41

Yes. If you see the video posted last page. at 5:00 there is slide on Missile Aerodynamics and shows the aerospike flow field.
Its essentially a range gainer as it helps in first stage flight.
At same time it means under the hood its MIRV.

JayS · Post by **JayS** » 11 Jan 2017 01:22

Thanks a lot Geeth for the Reference.

Ramana saar, if you consider that its used together with thin C-C composite nose cone of half angle 10deg or so, one do not really need much of the ablative coating. OTOH, with MARV where you are fairly confident over the penetration ability of the multiple warheads against advance ABMS, one could contemplate the use of this tech despite higher RCS. Anyway it seems this tech is already in use in SLBM/ICBMs worldwide. Atleast all the US missiles use it. From the experiments its looks like one can use it for SLBM having highly blunt nose for MIRV/MARV together with the Aerospike to have reduced drag both in boost phase as well as during re-entry..

The ability to retain higher velocity while re-entry compensates the disadvantage of higher RCS to some extent at least, I suppose.

See this book, what it says about use of Ablative coating:
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7k1 ... ng&f=false

New ablative coating protected the reentry vehicles during the plunge through the atmosphere, minimizing the time it spends in upper atmosphere and lowering its chances of detection and interception as well as significantly reducing the accuracy dispersions due to upper altitude winds.

Trident missiles use metal ablative part on nose to reduce asymmetric shape, as per this source - https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/slbm/d-5.htm
(at least its one of the reasons if not the primary one)
In summary, maybe they are not bothered about increased RCS due to ablative coatings for now since ABMS is not mature enough, and the next step of MARV is also within reach, making it future proof for at least next 2-3 decades.

Basically for the ICBM, one wants to retain as much of the KE from reentry as possible, unlike Space vehicle reentry which wants to dump the KE. Thus the use of highly blunt nose. The ICBMs used it since there was no option initially, but soon people came up with ways to remove this restriction and now one could use slender nose cones with high Ballistic coefficients.

OT but another interesting thing related to RE is the Space Ship One Feathering concept, where the designers used feathering to dump more KE on the thinner upper atmosphere so that by the time it hits lower atmosphere, it was slow enough not to need any special provision for RE. Arguably they found out that the approach may not work for real space ship coming from space. This particular test flight did not achieve enough heigh and thus re-entry speed was lower. In comparison the Apollo capsules used to RE at M=35 or so..!!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Jan 2017 03:02

JayS, Thanks. Let me read and understand.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 11 Jan 2017 05:19

More details regarding the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

SAAW targeting enemy airfields

On December 24, 2016 India successfully tested an indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from an Indian Air Force aircraft. The captive and release trials were tracked by radar and telemetry ground stations at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha during the entire duration of the flight. The performance of all systems was satisfactory with all mission objectives achieved.

The DRDO developed SAAW is a 120-kg class smart weapon used to destroy runways, bunkers, aircraft hangers and other reinforced structures. Its long standoff range of 100 km will allow the IAF to hit adversary airfields with high precision from a safe distance. The lightweight high-precision guided bomb is one of the world class weapons systems.

In September 2013, the SAAW project was sanctioned by the government at a cost of Rs. 56.58 crores. Trials for wing functioning of the weapon were successfully conducted in late 2015 at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility located at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Ramgarh in Haryana. The test was carried out by IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). The trial mode mounting of the SAAW on Jaguar DARIN-II aircraft is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In May 2016, the DRDO had conducted the first test of this weapon system from the IAF Jaguar DARIN-II (SPECAT) aircraft in Bengaluru in Karnataka.

The SAAW is a lightweight high precision guided bomb with high explosive content that will enable IAF plots to destroy enemy targets from standoff range of up to 100 kms without endangering themselves. The second test of the weapon was successfully conducted on 24 December 2016 by the DRDO from a Su-30MKI aircraft at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Odisha. It can be currently launched from SEPECAT Jaguar and Su-30MKI aircraft. There are plans to integrate the weapon with Dassault Rafale when it is inducted into the IAF. The Jaguar is capable of carrying six such weapons.

..

geeth · Post by **geeth** » 11 Jan 2017 05:24

Ramana :

The metal gets oxidised and the the flow field around the hypersonic vehile is essentially plasma. How much a radar wave can penetrate and reflect back is not known to me...ofcourse it will leave a big trail of fire

The nose cone itself is deliberately made blunt to detach the shock from the vehicle to reduce drag (space shuttle, Gemini etc..in fact all re entry vehicles). What I understand is that this metal coating helps in further reducing the drag by heating up the surrounding flow by exothermic reaction of chromium metal with oxygen ( oxidised)

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Jan 2017 05:42

The SAAW looks like a very good development program. Sanctioned in Sep 2013, ground tests in late 2015 (two years) , first flight in May 2016 from jaguar, 2nd flight from SU 30Mki in Dec 2016. So qualified on two different aircraft in about 40 month program.
And quite a few entities involved: DRDO, HAL, ASTE, TBRL, ITR Odisha and the Karnataka ranges
Good program metrics.

Need to study how it succeeded.

One question is it rocket assisted to defeat concrete? They are saying target set is runways, bunkers, aircraft shelters. All those have various concrete thickness.
Or is it just momentum?

Shiv, Here is your Indian SDB!!!

---------------------

Geeth, Thanks for the info.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 Jan 2017 06:56

ramana wrote:
Shiv, Here is your Indian SDB!!!

LOL we don't know the diameter yet.

But aside from that the 100 km standoff range would probably mean release from say 8-10000 meter altitudes. Tested from Jaguar DARIN II but this may be the sort of weapon that can be carried by LCA eventually. The Jaguar is unsuited for a high altitude role - except that perhaps it could be adapted to carry 40-60 of these standoff bombs

More importantly - I wonder what is the terminal guidance system/acqusition of targeting coordinates.

This could be a weapon in the early hours of a conflict - but literally hundreds would be needed to pummel bunkers, radar sites and hangars within 100 km of the border or released just inside enemy territory

GShankar · Post by **GShankar** » 11 Jan 2017 07:12

Regarding SAAW - from our side of LOC, what all can we hit?

Can skardu runway be hit from our side of LOC? Seems like a great tool for offensive defense when we have to conduct more surgeries and amputations.

Karthik S · Post by **Karthik S** » 11 Jan 2017 07:16

Skardu is less than 100km from kargil.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Jan 2017 07:43

Its pointless hitting runways with small swarm munitions. Instead they need gps or iir sensor to hit aircraft shelters and fuel stores and radars. This is exactly what sdb does.

Runways need to be hit with heavier missiles if none can swoop in close with durandals

GShankar · Post by **GShankar** » 11 Jan 2017 07:53

But SAAW is about air field meaning runway? Agreed it can hit many other things especially in the surroundings.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 Jan 2017 07:55

Singha wrote:I
Runways need to be hit with heavier missiles if none can swoop in close with durandals

True. Runways are hard hard hard. They are designed to get hit by the wheels of a 150 ton aircraft as it touches down. Withstanding that kind fo beating repeatedly requires surfaces that won;t even be scratched by puny weapons - and in any case holes will be quickly repaired.

Apart from Durandal - our own Sukhois had a rocket boosted something (Betaab) that digs in and explodes after a delay
Starting from 2 min 09 sec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJB-yBZbXw4

geeth · Post by **geeth** » 11 Jan 2017 09:08

Rakesh wrote:geeth: nice to see you are still on BRF.

Thanks for remembering....mostly in "read-only" mode now a days.. I used to post only occasionally before also.

I remember you as a youngster in the twenties..and very agressive.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 11 Jan 2017 09:42

geeth wrote:
Rakesh wrote:geeth: nice to see you are still on BRF.
Thanks for remembering....mostly in "read-only" mode now a days.. I used to post only occasionally before also.

I remember you as a youngster in the twenties..and very agressive.

BRF Moderator getting - 'Beta, tum bachpan mein bahut shararti the' treatment

[translation: you were very naughty as a kid!]

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 11 Jan 2017 09:53

geeth wrote:
Rakesh wrote:geeth: nice to see you are still on BRF.
Thanks for remembering....mostly in "read-only" mode now a days.. I used to post only occasionally before also.

I remember you as a youngster in the twenties..and very agressive.

Then he got married

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Jan 2017 10:00

Singha wrote:Its pointless hitting runways with small swarm munitions. Instead they need gps or iir sensor to hit aircraft shelters and fuel stores and radars. This is exactly what sdb does.

Runways need to be hit with heavier missiles if none can swoop in close with durandals

GD, SAAW target list is concrete runways, aircraft shelters, bunkers and other reinforced structures. Its accurate and smart and kills it.
Its development is quick, integrated, and has the IAF involved.
Its Durandal ka baap.

I called it India's SDB. Please read up its description and share the optimism.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Jan 2017 10:21

well so far despite these tall claims we are yet to see soothing HD videos of SAAW, garuda, garudamma taking apart test targets in slow mo videos. legions of such videos are online for paschimi weapons. instead they released a video of the nirbhay in flight and not even striking a target.

#injustice #blowtobrf #blowtomodi

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Jan 2017 10:24

runways can always be repaired , despite delayed action mines being also sprinkled by submunition dispensers.

but if one gets the a/c its a permanent hit. PAF is very agile in its movements and plans to surge forward at night but clear out in the day from fwd bases. good EW and nav systems for night strikes with standoff munitions will deny them the advantage of sneaking around at night. as would GLCM strikes if we get the nirbhay done.

it needs a lot of C3I assets and a large number of missiles and PGMs to make a deep impact on a problem the size of TSPAF or PLAAF though.

Rishi Verma · Post by **Rishi Verma** » 11 Jan 2017 10:49

Singha wrote:Its pointless hitting runways with small swarm munitions. Instead they need gps or iir sensor to hit aircraft shelters and fuel stores and radars. This is exactly what sdb does.

Runways need to be hit with heavier missiles if none can swoop in close with durandals

In my very humble (informed) opinion the SAAW is a unique bomb in that it's not generically designed (with "export potential") such as Matra Durandal (which the goat-fuc*kers pakis also use) but designed for a specific standoff range against specific airstrips. Note one can move the planes but one can't move the airstrips.

It's not meant for destroying large runways but many of bordering airstrips along Tibet, Arunachal, areas as well as along the western frontier. It's cheap, accurate, and eliminates the need to import fancy cluster bombs with parachutes. Obviously once qualified it's required in large numbers as we keep hitting them from a safe distance they will keep repairing them and we hit them again...

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 11 Jan 2017 11:50

GD while the runway can be repaired relatively quickly. But rest of the infrastructure is not so easily reparable / replaceable on an airbase.

A weapon like the SAAW is a tremendous force multiplier for the IAF. A 4 ship formation can take an airbase totally out of commission. That too from nearly 100 km away. Repaired runway or not.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 11 Jan 2017 15:17

While Runway is out of action and being repired it gives 4-5 hours window for aircraft to attack the Aircraft on the ground, fuel dumps, ammo, anti aircraft sites, radar sites etc. without ORP fighters taking off to defend.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 11 Jan 2017 19:26

Aditya_V wrote:While Runway is out of action and being repired it gives 4-5 hours window for aircraft to attack the Aircraft on the ground, fuel dumps, ammo, anti aircraft sites, radar sites etc. without ORP fighters taking off to defend.

True.

For those who have not yet done so I recommend reading Jagan's second book - "Eagles over Bangladesh"

The book reveals how runways have to be relooked at and smashed every day repeatedly as they get repaired. It is desirable but difficult to hit aircraft on the ground because of dispersal, camouflage and decoys. Runways cannot be moved out. In Bangladesh the runways were repeatedly hit and ultimately there were no runways but flyable aircraft. Typically if you hit 1 runway you can deny many aircraft a safe place to take off and land. If you try and hit the aircraft themselves - you have to take each and every one out. A runway is a harder target in some ways but is static

However it is possible to create decoy runways - which is something that an Indian base commander did in 1971 - yenjaaay..

Pete Wilson's War

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 11 Jan 2017 21:26

geeth wrote:Ramana :

The metal gets oxidised and the the flow field around the hypersonic vehile is essentially plasma. How much a radar wave can penetrate and reflect back is not known to me...ofcourse it will leave a big trail of fire

The nose cone itself is deliberately made blunt to detach the shock from the vehicle to reduce drag (space shuttle, Gemini etc..in fact all re entry vehicles). What I understand is that this metal coating helps in further reducing the drag by heating up the surrounding flow by exothermic reaction of chromium metal with oxygen ( oxidised)

Was watching a video on re-entry vehicle vs decoy discrimination and targetting.

Massa uses a combination of X band radars, IR sensors currently. They have IR sensors in space satellites which look at RVs against the cold space background.
They want to have radars in space. They currently have radar emitters in space, reflections from which can be picked up by UAVs.

Detection and discrimination is a combo of IR detection and Radar imaging in different bands - well within India's capabilities.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Jan 2017 21:32

Surya wrote:
geeth wrote:
Thanks for remembering....mostly in "read-only" mode now a days.. I used to post only occasionally before also.

I remember you as a youngster in the twenties..and very agressive.
Then he got married

Surya is right you know geeth saar. Now SHQ is aggressive.

I went from this....

To this....

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Jan 2017 21:45

Arrogance and Deterrence
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/arro ... eterrence/

by Claude Apri - who writes regularly on Tibet, China, India and Indo-French relations. He is the author of 1962 and the McMahon Line Saga, Tibet: The Lost Frontier and Dharamshala and Beijing: the negotiations that never were.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Jan 2017 22:43

Wary of China, India offers Akash surface-to-air missile systems to Vietnam
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 410196.cms

nirav · Post by **nirav** » 11 Jan 2017 23:19

There was a quick global times op ed on the matter of Akash SAM to Vietnam.
Makes me think that the Indian goberment is seriously discussing the SAM sale..

Awesome only.from jingo requests from years to actually being discussed is significant !!

While at it, I hope they also consider and discuss a few Pinaka regiments for Vietnam Army.

Bheeshma · Post by **Bheeshma** » 11 Jan 2017 23:29

Why not Prithvis also?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Jan 2017 01:04

Ok. Nice pictures but don't belong here.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 12 Jan 2017 02:39

Now that is what you call a proactive government.
China has to be educated that being a local hoodlum doesn't pay off. All neighbours of China have to give regular danda to that truant tyrnat.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 12 Jan 2017 10:24

Paging brar would you have full version of the article ?

Modern family: IAI expands range of new-generation Barak systems

http://www.janes.com/article/66859/mode ... ak-systems

Key Points

Family comprises three interceptor variants
ABISR and Barak LR are fully developed, Barak ER is in final development

Some seven years after the official unveiling of the Barak-8 anti-air/anti-missile defence system, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has formally confirmed the development of what it describes as "a family of new-generation" Barak advanced all-weather, day/night air-defence systems for land and naval applications.

Designed for multiple simultaneous engagements in complex scenarios, the Barak (Hebrew for lightning) family includes two new interceptors - the 35 km-range ABISR and the 150 km Barak ER (extended range) - along with the original 70 km Barak-8, which is also known as Barak LR (long range).

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Jan 2017 11:06

I would recommend hearing Dr. T^2 talk again and again to get the nuances and advances that DRDO is working on.

She talks about
- the AIII first flight where there was re-entrant flow that fried the cables at the aft of First Stage.
- Various rocket motors that go into the Agni series : casings maraging steel, composites, carbon nano tube version for future, propellant loading, retro rockets, RV located motors
- Navigation solutions: talks about star sighting mode in future
- Importance of control: consequences of velocity error accumulation
All in all a very good lecture on Missile design. Also watch her hand gestures which also add to her lecture.

I think she has seen the RV coming down or its video.
Can't describe that unless you have seen it! A real doer.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 12 Jan 2017 11:32

Didn't Barak-8 touch some where around 110 Km in recent tests?

Edit: Livefist says the range has been extended up to 90Kms. Not 110 Kms

sas · Post by **sas** » 12 Jan 2017 11:40

ramana wrote:sas, Thanks for the many pictures of wing pivot system for aero vehicles and the Nirbhay videos.

A few bits of information on wing deployment mechanism and Nirbhay. I am thankful for immense gyan one can get from this forum

.

sas · Post by **sas** » 12 Jan 2017 11:55

Another high res photo of Nirbhay.

One can notice that wing slot door is hinged.

CAM could be one possible type of actuator for opening and closing of the wing slot door.

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 12 Jan 2017 12:15

^^ Images & News are getting leaked from Development labs is a matter of concern. IMHO, maximum secrecy should be maintained.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 12 Jan 2017 12:47

Eminent diplomat and strat. expert,G.Parthasarathy, writing in the CHindu's biz paper Business Line on the significance of Agni-5 and China's policy of never alowing a challenger to its hegemony in Asia.That being a v.sobering fact which we will have to counter with a massive mil/missile buildup of our own.

Why our Agni V launch fired up China

G PARTHASARATHY
COMMENTS · PRINT · T+

inShare
Share6
Fire power Agni V can reach farthest points in China Reuters
Fire power Agni V can reach farthest points in China Reuters

China has become increasingly assertive in recent years. It is not prepared to accept any challenge to its dominance

When India first tested its three stage Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Agni V on April 20, 2012, China’s reaction was remarkably restrained. “China and India are both emerging powers. We are not rivals, but cooperative partners. We should cherish the hard-earned momentum of cooperation,” Liu Weimin, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said. She added: “The two countries have a sound relationship. During the (recent) fourth BRICS meeting the leadership of the two countries agreed on a consensus to further strengthen cooperation.”

Even the normally aggressive Chinese Government mouthpiece, Global Times, was relatively restrained. It asserted: “India should not overestimate its strength. Even if it has missiles that could reach most parts of China that does not mean it will gain anything from being arrogant during disputes with China. India should be clear that China’s nuclear power is stronger and more reliable. For the foreseeable future, India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with China.”

Change in tune
When India conducted the fourth and final pre-operational test of the Agni V on December 26, 2016, China’s reaction was belligerent and hostile. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hu Chunying, referred to UN Security Council Resolution 1172 of June 6, 1998, issued after nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. The resolution called on India and Pakistan to immediately stop their nuclear weapons development programmes; to refrain from weaponisation and the deployment of nuclear weapons; to cease development of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and end any further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Hu also asked India to spell out its “intentions”.

China seemed to have forgotten that the Security Council Resolution was a “Chapter 6” Resolution, which was not binding on India. The reaction of Global Times was vicious. Referring disparagingly to India’s economic potential and pointedly equating India with Pakistan, Global Times observed: “Currently there is a vast disparity in power between the two countries and India knows what it would mean, if it poses a nuclear threat to China”.

Responding to China’s assertion that India’s missile programme affected nuclear stability in South Asia, India’s Spokesman Vikas Swarup noted: “India’s strategic autonomy and growing engagement contribute to strategic stability”.

Challenge to China
There are a number of reasons for the change in the Chinese reactions to Agni V missile tests between 2012 and 2016. China militarily seized the Scarborough Shoal, located within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, in 2012. It, thereafter, contemptuously rejected a verdict of the UN Tribunal, which declared its maritime boundary claims along its so-called “Nine Dotted Line” as a violation of International Law. The Tribunal held China’s territorial claims on Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, as similarly being in violation of International Law. China has, in the meantime, converted a large number of rocks across the South China Sea into Islands, where it has based missiles, armed personnel and military aircraft, using its military might.

The Obama administration took virtually no action in response to Chinese belligerence against the Philippines — a longtime military ally. Worse still, the US recently acquiesced in the seizure of one of its unmanned underwater vehicles close to the Philippines. Chinese belligerence is paying off. President Duterte of the Philippines has quietly acquiesced to Beijing’s territorial demands. ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Cambodia are following suit.

It is clear that a belligerent China is no longer prepared to tolerate any challenges to its dominance and hegemony across Asia. The Agni IV, currently operational, with a range of 4,000 km can hit targets in Southern China, while the Agni V, with a range of 5,500-8,000 km can hit even at the farthest points in China. The submarine launched Sagarika missile has a range of 750 km. Its variants, currently under development, can hit across China from the Bay of Bengal.

China, in turn, has transferred the designs and knowhow of the Shaheen range of missiles to Pakistan. These missiles can hit targets across India. Moreover, Karachi and Gwadar will be used not only to base the eight submarines China is supplying to Pakistan, but also serve as bases for Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines. The range of missiles being developed by India clearly signals to China that it will find any effort to use Pakistan as a nuclear proxy against India very costly and perhaps unaffordable. The Agni V is virtually invulnerable, as it is mobile and housed in canisters.

The way of dialogue
New Delhi needs to be far more active in insisting that a comprehensive nuclear dialogue with China is essential for strategic stability across Asia. China is loathe to enter into such a dialogue, as it wishes to not formally accord recognition to India’s nuclear weapons status, even as it peddles nuclear weapons and ballistic missile designs and materials to Pakistan, while helping Pakistan to develop both uranium and Plutonium based nuclear weapons. These transfers to Pakistan are in total disregard of China’s responsibilities under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. India has been far too defensive and avoided exposing the Sino-Pakistan nuclear/missile nexus in important world capitals. A far more determined effort on this score would be necessary once the Trump Administration assumes office and settles down to looking at the world.

Within Asia, Chinese hubris and arrogance would need far closer consultations and dialogue with countries such as Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia. There appears to be sentiment growing slowly in Tokyo that in the face of Chinese territorial and geopolitical ambitions, Japan should review its nuclear policies. The incoming Trump Administration has also indicated that allies such as Japan need to do more to defend themselves. A nuclear-armed Japan can certainly play a key role in moderating Chinese behaviour and hubris. This is an issue that needs to be looked at carefully. All this has to be combined with a vigorous dialogue with China.

The writer is a former High Commissioner to Pakistan

(This article was published on January 11, 2017)

PS"Please note the Chinese "advice" to the visiting Vietnamese PM that it should desist from acquiring India's defensive Akash SAMs!

India should also warn China that it too will NOT sit idle if China pursues its massive mil buildup of Pakistan.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/chin ... 55048.html

China says it will not sit idle if India sells missiles to Vietnam
India has offered Vietnam ingeniously developed surface-to-air Akash missiles system.

Santosh Chaubey | Posted by Nivedita Dash
January 11, 2017

State-run newspaper in China warns India.
2India has offered Vietnam ingeniously developed surface-to-air Akash missiles system.
3India and Vietnam upgraded their ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.'
Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has threatened India once again, after its sabre-rattling and economic supremacy rants aimed at demeaning the successful test launches of Agni V and Agni IV missiles by India recently. India's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (Agni V) has a range of over 5000 Km while Agni IV has a range of 4000 km. Bother are nuclear capable and can reach China effectively.
This time it is about India's proposal to sell Akash missiles to Vietnam. India has offered Vietnam ingeniously developed surface-to-air Akash missiles system. The system has an interception range of 25 Km to keep an effective check on any incoming hostile aircraft for area defence and deliberations are said to in an advanced stage.
In an editorial titled 'Indian arms sale to Hanoi disturbing if aimed at China', the state-run newspaper warns India that 'if the Indian government genuinely treats its enhancement of military relations with Vietnam as a strategic arrangement or even revenge against Beijing, it will only create disturbances in the region and China will hardly sit with its arms crossed'.
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China has been trying to encircle India by making inroads in its neighbourhood, by offering to develop or developing ports and infrastructure in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives or by reaching out to Nepal and Bangladesh or with its String of Pearls geopolitical theory where it is said that China is developing a network in the Indian Ocean region to encircle India.
Now, of late, if India is realising the Chinese designs and is pursuing an agenda to answer China in its own geopolitical language by developing bilateral and strategic ties with countries in China's neighbourhood like Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and even Mongolia, it is a much needed course correction.
If China can do so, why can't India? If China can sell weapons to Pakistan, why can't India do so with Vietnam? The world knows that Pakistan's missile programme is basically a Chinese import. There are reports that Pakistan is going to acquire its first nuclear attack submarine from China. And it will from the latest generation of the Chinese nuclear attack submarines it is being said. It will be a Shang class submarine capable of firing cruise missiles and comes with six torpedo tubes.
If China can do so then it doesn't have any right to preach us that 'India-Vietnam ties should be built for the sake of peace and stability in the region, rather than stirring up troubles or anxiety for others'.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam in September 2016, India and Vietnam upgraded their ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' and before the Akash missile system, India has offered to sell Vietnam BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Varunastra anti-submarine torpedoes. Also, India is training Vietnamese to operate kilo-class submarines and will soon start training Vietnamese fighter pilots for Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets.

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