Indian Missiles News & Discussions - 17 Dec 2018

Haridas · Post by **Haridas** » 29 Nov 2019 13:19

ArjunPandit wrote:question related to what Ramana guru mentioned

ramana wrote:When range is increased by reducing weight if the payload the accelerations increase. This makes the entire vehicle design subject to new loads and environments. And higher accelerations could lead to structural changes.
Rocket science, not art.
will composite casings help in this case or they only help to reduce the mass?

Rockets are systems and need be designed & engineered as a system.

Elemental (Component) refinement is first step of evaluating first order approximation possibilities. Based on requirements, after picking up candidate alternatives one does multiple iterations of system design, before picking up best option and then do engineering development process.

The reduced payload requires perticular attention to payload subsystem sustaining very high peak acceleration by solidfuelled second stage at burnout time.

Those figures are closely guarded numbers that potential challanger agencies would die to know.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 29 Nov 2019 16:04

dinesha wrote:Agni-III test on 30 November from Kalam Island
It will be another night test

Critical test for K4 submarine-launched nuclear missile this weekend
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 286330.cms

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 29 Nov 2019 16:24

Test location is from Abdul Kalam Island.. so if indeed K4 than may be from Land??

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 29 Nov 2019 18:48

The above warning also cannot be for K4 because this scheduled to be conducted at night time between 6:30pm and 9:30pm. During these times 6:30pm is quite dark in Eastern India.

jaysimha · Post by **jaysimha** » 29 Nov 2019 18:55

DRDO working on hypersonic missile

Wind tunnel model of Brahmos-II hypersonic cruise missile can be seen here
https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/f ... v_2019.pdf

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 29 Nov 2019 19:40

dinesha wrote:The above warning also cannot be for K4 because this scheduled to be conducted at night time between 6:30pm and 9:30pm. During these times 6:30pm is quite dark in Eastern India.

https://twitter.com/TheHemantRout/statu ... 4934966273

Hemant Kumar Rout @TheHemantRout
It is not for K4.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 29 Nov 2019 20:32

Sharp Sniping War Erupts Between India’s DRDO & Israel’s Rafael

It started at noon on Thursday when a press statement from an Indian public relations firm dropped into the inboxes of defence correspondents (including Livefist’s) announcing that the Indian Army had just successfully practice-fired a pair of recently acquired Rafael Spike LR anti-tank missile.

....

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the press release is from or on behalf of the Rafael-Kalyani partnership. What wasn’t absent in the statement was a pair of paragraphs nobody quite expected to see — a seemingly direct swipe at the DRDO’s in-development anti-tank missile. It took the DRDO hours to react, but the operative part of the PR statement that alarmed the Indian missile team is likely to have been: ‘With the confidence in the Spike missile established, the Indian Army may need to revisit their plans for 3rd Gen missiles. Both the DRDO ATGM programme, as well as the invitation to Indian industry to develop a 3rd Gen missile will need a rethink, as having a 4th Gen missile will put the plan for development of a 3rd Gen missile questionable.’

The DRDO responded earlier today on Twitter:

The Indian Army began receiving small numbers of the Rafael Spike LR missile in October after a contract was signed on emergency provisions amidst escalating tensions with Pakistan in 2018. The missiles, currently being practice-fired at the Army’s Infantry School in central India, will be deployed with infantry units on the border with Pakistan. The contract was a fraction of what Rafael has been working to supply to India for years, the effort beset with ups and downs. it didn’t help that Rafael remained on the Indian MoD’s restricted list for a time, before being taken off in April last year. But Rafael’s misgivings specifically with the DRDO on the anti-tank missile acquisition program aren’t difficult to understand.

After field trials and evaluations of the Spike over years by Indian teams, things hit a wall in November 2017 when the Indian MoD ended speculation on a significant contract and decided not to pursue a large purchase (8000 missiles/300 launchers) of the Spike. The reason — the DRDO had stepped into the conversation and assured both the MoD and and (an unwilling) Army that the proposed homegrown MPATGM would fulfill the requirement. Then Defence Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar agreed, and pulled the plug on the Spike. Less than a year later, the DRDO conducted the first test-firing of its man-portable ATGM (ATGM) in September 2018.

The thinly veiled PR statement on the Spike yesterday has has sent ripples across the Army, considering that direct swipes of this kind, while common in closed-door meetings with acquisition planners, have never been known to happen so publicly. Interestingly, the DRDO has several significant partnership linkages with Israel’s military industrial complex, including with Rafael, the LRSAM/Barak-8 program being the single largest joint weapons project by the two sides.

Apart from the recently delivered Spike LR, Israel’s Rafael has several systems in active Indian military service, including the SpyDer SAM system with the Indian Air Force, the Spice 2000 precision guided bombs used by the Indian Air Force to target Pakistan’s Balakot earlier this year and the Derby and Python air-to-air missiles.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 29 Nov 2019 23:30

Some thoughts on Spike missile induction:

(1) Recent images of IA testing the missile in Mhow shows that we've imported the Spike LR (long range) version

(2) By doing so, IA has imported a missile which DOES NOT overlap with DRDO's MPATGM

(3) Spike LR has a 4+ km range and the most unique thing about is the optical fiber which connects the missile with the launch tube during entire flight duration

(4) An operator can launch the missile in a lofted trajectory in a particular direction and see the visuals through missile's seeker - passed on to it by the optical fiber.

(5) This gives an immensely powerful Lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) capability.

(6) Now, imagine LOC - dense forests and mountain ridges. Unlike other ATGMs which require line-of-sight (LOS), IA can launch Spike LR in lofted profile over forest/ridge, scan targets in depth, acquire a target and then - boom!

(7) Think of Spike LR as a sniper with a parabolic path!

(8) Other features of the missile are same as current modern ATGMs: Lock-on-Before-Launch (LOBL), fire & forget (if required), imaging infra-red seeker etc.

(9) I feel that the missile has been acquired for LOC and mountainous areas, rather than traditional tank busting

(10) Also, remember DRDO's MPATGM will replace Milan-2/2T ATGM, which is the actual man-portable ATGM of IA. This still leaves replacement for Konkur-M ATGMs (4 km range and heavy warhead).

(11) DRDO needs another program for that or we may see more of Spike-LR

nam · Post by **nam** » 30 Nov 2019 02:23

The LOAL will be quite useful to take out Pak motars/artillery deployed beyond the ridges.

ramdas · Post by **ramdas** » 30 Nov 2019 02:52

The above warning also cannot be for K4 because this scheduled to be conducted at night time between 6:30pm and 9:30pm. During these times 6:30pm is quite dark in Eastern India.

This and Hemant Rout's confirmation go to show that Manu Pubby is not the most reliable when it comes to reporting on missile tests. He even claimed a no test of the K-4 on Dec. 17, 2017, when there was no notam for that day (there was one for Dec. 16, 2017 though). I guess none of these media reports are to be trusted, particularly if they are about the K-4. After all, unlike the land based missiles, K-4 tests appear to be only reported several days after they take place, if at all they are reported.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 03:15

I hope the video (5 years old) shows old model SPIKE LR vs what's in production today, because the resolution really really sucks. It will be very hard for troops at range to make out targets amongst clutter, vegetation, terrain etc until and unless they have a very different heat profile.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 03:34

From Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_(ATGM)#Spike-LR_II

A new generation of the original Spike-LR is in full-scale development and scheduled to be operational by the end of 2018. Spike-LR II (Israeli designation: Gil-2, גיל 2) has reduced weight to 12.7 kg (28 lb), increased range of 5.5 km (3.4 mi) at ground level and 10 km (6.2 mi) from helicopters using an RF data-link, warhead options of tandem HEAT with 30% increased armor penetration or a multipurpose blast warhead with selectable impact or penetration detonation fusing, a new seeker that includes an uncooled IR sensor with a smart target tracker with artificial intelligence features, the ability to fire on grid target coordinates using an inertial measurement unit for third party-target allocation, and is compatible with legacy launchers. The missile is designed with a counter-active protection system (CAPS) capability, being able to hit targets at higher impact angles of up to 70 degrees.[20][21] First ordered by the IDF in October 2017.[22]

Nags seeker is cooled. MPATGM unknown.

In 2008, the SPIKE failed desert trials (important to note, as versus current deployment), also 11 years back, bound to have been upgraded.
Original seeker had same issue as Nags coupled with worse software! Rushed into service.
https://maps.southfront.org/field-exper ... gm-system/

Reads credible, rebuttal in comments can be easily countered.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 03:51

Alright, the MPATGM features a cooled seeker. Went looking for the 1 credible source of info, the DRDO newsletter.
https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/f ... Nov_18.pdf

Also, clear compare to the Javelin and SPIKE MR. Concur, that the SPIKE LR may replace Konkurs (if it works) and the MPATGM the Milan-2/2T.

Thakur_B · Post by **Thakur_B** » 30 Nov 2019 07:13

Our large stocks of Milan and Konkurs don't need any replacing for now as we ordered a very large number of them 3-4 years back. 3rd gen anti tank missiles are not cost effective and will remain silver bullets compared to Milan and Konkurs.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 30 Nov 2019 10:44

Spike LR is in the same category as MPATGM (when you compare the weight etc.), The French MMP and new Javelin missiles also have claimed max ranges of 4-5km+.
BTW there is a new version of the Spike LR (don't know if we boughy this one or the old one): https://armyrecognition.com/weapons_def ... 05173.html

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 30 Nov 2019 11:05

There is confusion about Spike missile weights - I think the confusion is by design. The Spike LR-II (latest version with a 5Km+ range) is said to have a weight of 12.5 Kg. I am positive that the weight they are talking about is the missile weight, not the weight of the system. The weight of Spike LR is 45 Kgs (tripod, launcher etc).

Some DDM douche (funded by Rafael) is going to say "Spike is 12.5 Kgs and can hit 5 Km away. DRDO's MANPATGM is 14.5 Kgs but only hits 2 Km away"

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 30 Nov 2019 15:03

Submarine launched K4 missile test now likely in mid December

https://m.economictimes.com/news/defenc ... 305389.cms

The test of the K4 submarine launched nuclear capable missile was scheduled to take place from the eastern coast as ET had reported but the window is likely to be used for an Agni series missile firing.

How convenient. I think he is bluffing.
I had posted few days back here about the impending Agni test. It was always a Agni Test. Manu Pubby speculated it to be K4 test and when he was caught lying he so conveniently made it back to Agni test and theryby giving fodders to doubting Thomas such as Narang et al for another postponement and something wrong with our SLBM program.

kit · Post by **kit** » 30 Nov 2019 18:42

Rony wrote:Sharp Sniping War Erupts Between India’s DRDO & Israel’s Rafael

It started at noon on Thursday when a press statement from an Indian public relations firm dropped into the inboxes of defence correspondents (including Livefist’s) announcing that the Indian Army had just successfully practice-fired a pair of recently acquired Rafael Spike LR anti-tank missile.

....

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the press release is from or on behalf of the Rafael-Kalyani partnership. What wasn’t absent in the statement was a pair of paragraphs nobody quite expected to see — a seemingly direct swipe at the DRDO’s in-development anti-tank missile. It took the DRDO hours to react, but the operative part of the PR statement that alarmed the Indian missile team is likely to have been: ‘With the confidence in the Spike missile established, the Indian Army may need to revisit their plans for 3rd Gen missiles. Both the DRDO ATGM programme, as well as the invitation to Indian industry to develop a 3rd Gen missile will need a rethink, as having a 4th Gen missile will put the plan for development of a 3rd Gen missile questionable.’

The DRDO responded earlier today on Twitter:

The Indian Army began receiving small numbers of the Rafael Spike LR missile in October after a contract was signed on emergency provisions amidst escalating tensions with Pakistan in 2018. The missiles, currently being practice-fired at the Army’s Infantry School in central India, will be deployed with infantry units on the border with Pakistan. The contract was a fraction of what Rafael has been working to supply to India for years, the effort beset with ups and downs. it didn’t help that Rafael remained on the Indian MoD’s restricted list for a time, before being taken off in April last year. But Rafael’s misgivings specifically with the DRDO on the anti-tank missile acquisition program aren’t difficult to understand.

After field trials and evaluations of the Spike over years by Indian teams, things hit a wall in November 2017 when the Indian MoD ended speculation on a significant contract and decided not to pursue a large purchase (8000 missiles/300 launchers) of the Spike. The reason — the DRDO had stepped into the conversation and assured both the MoD and and (an unwilling) Army that the proposed homegrown MPATGM would fulfill the requirement. Then Defence Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar agreed, and pulled the plug on the Spike. Less than a year later, the DRDO conducted the first test-firing of its man-portable ATGM (ATGM) in September 2018.

The thinly veiled PR statement on the Spike yesterday has has sent ripples across the Army, considering that direct swipes of this kind, while common in closed-door meetings with acquisition planners, have never been known to happen so publicly. Interestingly, the DRDO has several significant partnership linkages with Israel’s military industrial complex, including with Rafael, the LRSAM/Barak-8 program being the single largest joint weapons project by the two sides.

Apart from the recently delivered Spike LR, Israel’s Rafael has several systems in active Indian military service, including the SpyDer SAM system with the Indian Air Force, the Spice 2000 precision guided bombs used by the Indian Air Force to target Pakistan’s Balakot earlier this year and the Derby and Python air-to-air missiles.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 30 Nov 2019 18:44

Karan M wrote:Alright, the MPATGM features a cooled seeker. Went looking for the 1 credible source of info, the DRDO newsletter.
https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/f ... Nov_18.pdf

Also, clear compare to the Javelin and SPIKE MR. Concur, that the SPIKE LR may replace Konkurs (if it works) and the MPATGM the Milan-2/2T.

Hi...
I think this where we should consciously draw the line.

It is ok to look at its pros for procurement if it is for any small scale/small term.
But we have take a look ever more closer about everything if we are planning to make it is as main stay.

It is a fallacy to judge that only SPIKE LR (whatever) can only provide the needed niche capabilities for the IA (like over the top attack with man-in-the-loop guidance throu optical fibre).

BDL Amogha 2nd gen ATGM which borrowed Nag's guidance tech can do over the top (top attack mode) flight just like Nag.

A 2nd generation missile within our reach can do that.

Combined with private industries progress on image processing & AI, all the things that can be offered throu SPIKE is available within India.

Only that we need time. (This is what drdo is saying)

Till that time we need gap fillers.

---------------
Question:
If MPATGM is competing against Javelin & SPIKE MR only, why the Rafael guys are taking a snipe at drdo for their SPIKE LR success?

PS: I'm will, in future could talk about how superior Nag & related ATGMs could become in Indian scenario.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 30 Nov 2019 19:19

It took the DRDO hours to react, but the operative part of the PR statement that alarmed the Indian missile team is likely to have been: ‘With the confidence in the Spike missile established, the Indian Army may need to revisit their plans for 3rd Gen missiles. Both the DRDO ATGM programme, as well as the invitation to Indian industry to develop a 3rd Gen missile will need a rethink, as having a 4th Gen missile will put the plan for development of a 3rd Gen missile questionable.’

Have Rafael ever clarified what is 4th Gen they mean by?

Even the BDL 2nd gen Amogha launched much like Nag is also considered as 3rd gen...

Many in the Industry believes this 4th Gen is just a PR stunt.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 30 Nov 2019 19:46

^^^
I don't think there is a MR version any more, it SR then LR (mk 2), there is no space for another missile in between. It's probably safe to say MPATGM won't be inducted unless it is able to at least match Spike.
https://www.rafael.co.il/worlds/land/sp ... -missiles/

ramdas · Post by **ramdas** » 30 Nov 2019 20:21

@Dinesha: I think the speculation about the Nov 8 K-4 test being postponed due to the cyclone was fuelled on twitter by the likes of Vipin Narang and other NPAs. The fact that no new NOTAM for a SLBM test was issued within days (it is reasonable to expect a new window to be determined if a test was postponed for weather reasons only) probably indicates that the test most likely took place. Given the history with K-4 tests, a successful test kept under wraps is very much a possibility. After all, the only K-4 test whose outcome was revealed less than a week after it took place was the first one, which happened under the leaky UPA govt.

As for Manu Pubby, this last news item indicates that he is unreliable. Even his Dec. 17, 2017 no launch claim is unreliable, as I have pointed out earlier. He probably mixed up some tips from an unreliable sourse and the online speculation about the K-4 being postponed to jump to conclusions about the latest NOTAM and spin a story.

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 30 Nov 2019 21:00

with respect to rafael's snipe at DRDO MPATGM program, please be assured that these can never be Rafael's own words. A company like rafael with so much interest in Indian defence procurement will never make these kinds of controversial statements. Mark my words there is a bigger play in works. Rafael is just being used as a Cat's paw. The words are coming from the mouths of our own b@stard import Dalals both military and civilian.

Defence procurement should never be based on what is the best. Rather it should be based on what we need. If my work is being very able done by Mahindra or Tata SUV, why should I order Land Rover or Prado for for 6-7 times the price.

Everywhere whether it is defence procurement or infrastructure development or jumpstarting the manufacturing sector, there are interest groups who are trying to derail whatever good that is happening in this country. These interest groups comprise of both the foreign sponsors and their Indian collaborators. They will stop at nothing to make sure that this country is always a sponge for foreign goods. And now they are really desperate as DRDO/DPSU's/private companies(VEM, KSSL, Tonbo, dynamatic technologies etc) are stepping up their game.

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 30 Nov 2019 21:28

One of the NOTAMs was from Vizag wasn't it? That is what prompted speculation that it was a K-4 test. All these recent ones seem to be from Abdul Kalam Island.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 21:41

darshhan wrote:with respect to rafael's snipe at DRDO MPATGM program, please be assured that these can never be Rafael's own words. A company like rafael with so much interest in Indian defence procurement will never make these kinds of controversial statements. Mark my words there is a bigger play in works. Rafael is just being used as a Cat's paw. The words are coming from the mouths of our own b@stard import Dalals both military and civilian.

The english used in that Rafael PR release was cent-per-cent desi, written by some ex-service or ex-babu dude who is now working as their PR rep, or some desi type who was asked to come up with it. The weird mix of passive and active grammar, passive-aggressive speech is classic desi PR. Some idiot tried pulling a fast one.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 30 Nov 2019 21:47

Yes a good relationship manager in high profile mic would talk directly about additional no of aeroplanes needed for AWACS etc (multiple of 10/50). This company isn't even USA mic and got involved in a slugfest or something. Not mucho comprehendo methinks.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 30 Nov 2019 21:56

The "clarification" from Rafael was pathetic. They expressed regret that the PR piece caused "emotional imbalance"!

WTF? I hope we teach them a lesson when it hurts them the most.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 21:58

Vayu guys retweeted it verbatim. As if they wrote it. Afterwards, "it was a PR release".

Anyhow, I have dropped my subscription to them.

They have gone over to the dark side a long time back. Deliberately giving Prodyut's crazy anti-LCA screeds max airplay, tom-tomming the JF-17 on their official handle as some great thing ("oh we are so eagerly waiting to see it at blah-blah air show"), constant virtue signaling ("we only exist to do what the AF wants".. yeah sure, aren't you an aviation mag?).

Googling around reveals PS Chopra, was actually a rep for Dornier in India. Won't be surprised if they still are the reps for some other manufacturers, vendors, apart from merely publishing a mag. Why should a mag's family reps visit Gripen in Sweden and pontificate on how its the best choice for India? Arent journalists and aerospace mags supposed to be neutral? Second, what business do they then have to hold summits with ADA, IAF to talk about future of the LCA program?

Too many loopholes and doesn't smell good at all.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 21:59

Prem Kumar wrote:The "clarification" from Rafael was pathetic. They expressed regret that the PR piece caused "emotional imbalance"!

WTF? I hope we teach them a lesson when it hurts them the most.

The guy who wrote it, thought too much of himself and was thinking more orders are guaranteed. Many of these guys take GOI for granted. If DRDO, GOI launch an official protest, it will send the right message.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 30 Nov 2019 22:22

Not just that. Make sure that once MANPATGM comes on board, even if its only 70% of Spike, cancel all future Spike orders. Then reverse-engineer Spike and make MANPATGM 2, 3 versions better than spike. Then send Rafael a d***-pic.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 30 Nov 2019 22:37

Does anyone have a link to the bollywood style music video that the Israelis made where they are the muscular herro coming in to save defenceless herroin India with its weapons? I think it is time to make it "viral" again - the powers that be should be made to watch it every day and hang their heads in shame at the sh*t show this has become.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 30 Nov 2019 22:50

Prem Kumar wrote:Not just that. Make sure that once MANPATGM comes on board, even if its only 70% of Spike, cancel all future Spike orders. Then reverse-engineer Spike and make MANPATGM 2, 3 versions better than spike. Then send Rafael a d***-pic.

What the heck. That was one of the funniest posts I read in recent times.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 30 Nov 2019 23:02

https://twitter.com/TheHemantRout/statu ... 9042194432

Hemant Kumar Rout
@TheHemantRout
BREAKING India conducts 1st night trial of nuclear capable long range ballistic #missile Agni-III from Kalam Island off Odisha coast. Developed by @DRDO_India the missile has been inducted in the armed forces and can hit targets more than 3000 km away. #Agni3

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 30 Nov 2019 23:06

https://twitter.com/NarangVipin/status/ ... 6505890816

Vipin Narang@NarangVipin
Delayed a third time.

Hence proved.. also proves was a scum Narang is..

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 30 Nov 2019 23:18

Another thought on why Manu pubby (I hate that s***) could be right - Under Indo pak treaty we are under obligation to tell them about impending missile test and also issue NOTAM. One type of missile test that is not covered under treaty is sea based missile launches (under water).
Now if you wanted to test it secretly (and say you also want to issue NOTAM, just in case, does not have to be), the best cover is Agni xx/Prithvi xx test. Announce it, have the NOTAM issued and while you test these missiles, test Sagarika as well within that time period.

ramdas · Post by **ramdas** » 30 Nov 2019 23:42

@Dinesha: Looks like speculation by people like Vipin Narang and speculation by journalists like Manu Pubby are feeding off one another. This time the NOTAM clearly indicated a land based test. Underwater missile tests are generally off Vizag. I do'nt know why we do'nt announce and publish pictures of successful tests of the K-4 when even North Korea puts out pictures of initial SLBM tests. The alternative is to do what China does: full silence/censorship before as well as after each such test. This halfway house where the media knows and announces K-4 tests with absolute silence thereafter is making room for unwanted speculation.

Haridas · Post by **Haridas** » 01 Dec 2019 00:47

My take on night test firing.

https://twitter.com/HaridasKukkur/statu ... 85248?s=19

ramdas · Post by **ramdas** » 01 Dec 2019 01:46

Was the recent Agni III test successful? A PTI report says that the trajectory is being monitored and the result is awaited....

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 01 Dec 2019 07:32

Nov 12, 2019 :: The Man Supplying India's Defence Forces Sees Sharp Gain in Wealth

.................................Solar was the first private company to get a license from the Indian government to make explosives for warheads for India’s defense forces. “The government had never thought that the private sector in India could produce ammunition,” says Nuwal. “But I was very confident.”

In the past year, Solar has received orders to make propellants for the Akash missile, a medium-range surface-to-air missile, and the Pinaka, a multiple rocket launcher, used by the country’s defense forces, as well as for pyrotechnics, which help initiate the explosion, and igniters, which provide the spark for the ammunition. It has also received a trial order for propellants for the BrahMos cruise missile, a medium-range missile that can be fired from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. Its current order book totals 4 billion rupees. In the latest financial year, defense-related sales accounted for about 1.7 billion rupees, a four-fold increase from the previous year. Although still only about 7% of total revenues, the defense business is Solar’s fastest-growing segment.

Nuwal firmly believes that India can cut its dependence on imported defense equipment. He wants to convince the government that the private sector is capable of providing quality ammunition at a competitive price and in a timely manner. For the ten years to 2018, India has ranked as either the world’s largest or second-largest importer of defense equipment by expenditure, as ranked by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Last year India spent $66.5 billion on military expenses.

The majority of the defense equipment that India gets locally supplied comes from nine state-owned companies and 40 ordnance factories under the Ministry of Defense. Nuwal would like to alter this system. “I decided, even if we achieve nothing else [in terms of business from the government], we need to change their mindset,” and show that India’s private sector is capable of providing quality products at a reasonable price, says Nuwal.

It was not easy—he had to set up new facilities and hire experts without any guarantee of winning a government contract. He started with an investment of about 600 million rupees in the facilities before receiving his first order. “They’ve got excellent facilities and found the right skills in good people,” says KV Kuber, director, aerospace and defense at EY in India. “They’ve created indigenous technology.”

With Solar paving the way, a handful of other private companies are now entering the sector. But Solar has first-mover advantage, says Santosh Yellapu, a defense analyst at Mumbai-based IndiaNivesh Securities. “They are well prepared to get all approvals. They know how the defense ecosystem works, how the files move from one table to the next,” he says. When asked about the prospects for the defense business, Nuwal says simply: “There is no reason for us to be stopped.”

ramdas · Post by **ramdas** » 01 Dec 2019 11:13

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states ... 69737.html

The A-3 trial was unfortunately unsuccessful. Appears to have involved a manufactirung defect. Hope we do not suffer from OFB like quality control in such a crucial thing as our deterrent. Failures like this that come after the system has been inducted with seven successful tests in a row are far more worrying than failures in the first two or three tests.