Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

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Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

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Re: Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

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N-deterrence reviewed
(The Pioneer, Sept 2003)


The first meeting of the Political Council of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) here on Monday reviewed the country's Defence preparedness and took a series of decisions aimed at consolidating India's nuclear deterrence. The two-hour-long meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reviewed the arrangements in place for the Strategic Forces programme including the Chain of Command and transfer of nuclear assets to it. "On the basis of the recommendations made by the Executive Council, the Political Council also took a number of decisions on further development and management of the programme," an official statement issued after the meeting said.

It added: "These decisions will consolidate India's nuclear deterrence." The high-powered meeting was attended among others by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, besides some top Government and defence officials. It was learnt that the Council, which met for the first time after the Nuclear Command Authority was set up on January 4 this year, examined all the aspects of the nuclear programme of the country.

Special stress was laid on the Chain of Command, transfer of nuclear assets and the relationship between the three Services, the institution of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff(CIDS) and the Strategic Forces Command. The transfer of assets including ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons from the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the scientific establishment, to the Strategic Forces Command, and the drill to be followed, came under scrutiny of the Political Council, it was learnt. The Council also reviewed the preparedness of the Strategic Command vis-a-vis the platforms to carry the weapons including air, land and under-sea, and the doctrines adhered to by the Strategic Forces Command.

The security scenario in the Indian sub-continent with regards to the nuclear threat, the nuclear capabilities of the neighbouring countries and the developments in some parts of the world in this sphere were also discussed. The Political Council was formed to lay down the political principles and administrative arrangements to manage the country's nuclear arsenal, which is under civilian control with the final authority resting with the Prime Minister. This council comprises members of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the National Security Advisor.

The Executive Council includes the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee of the three Services, the three Service chiefs, heads of intelligence agencies, the scientific establishment engaged in the nuclear programme and the National Security Advisor. While the Political Council and the NCA is headed by the Prime Minister, the Executive Council is headed by the National Security Advisor. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Security will meet here on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the country in the wake of the two encounters in Srinagar, the twin Mumbai blasts and the gunning down of the JeM terrorists in Delhi. The CCS was also likely to take up the case of the proposed acquisition of Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT).
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Re: Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

Post by Purush »

Tatas to develop rocket launcher
[Deccan Chronicle, 02 Sep 2003]


The Tata group is all set to take a plunge into the multi-billion defence equipment market, with the commercial production of its Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher Pinaka due to start. The Tata group has decided to scout for overseas technology partners for a full-scale production of defence equipment. The Defence Ministry has already given the clearance to Tata Power?s Strategic Electronic Division to develop surface-to-surface missiles and surface-to-air missiles under the projects names Trishul and Agni.

The domestic defence market alone is estimated at between Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore. Sources close to the Tatas said that SED of Tata Power, engaged in defence equipment production for the group at its facility in Bangalore, is on the lookout for technological joint ventures with overseas partners for the development of various war-related equipment. Confirming the development, Rahul Chaudhry, CEO, Tata Power, SED said, "We indigenously developed the MBRL Pinaka with the help of the Ministry of Defence's Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune. The Indian Army has cleared Pinaka for induction into service and a tender for the production MBRL on the commercial scale is expected soon. Tata Power, SED is looking forward to participate in this tender." Chaudhry, however, declined to give any details on the new projects in the pipeline.

Pinaka production is being carried out by Tata Power's full-fledged design and development centre in Mumbai and the manufacturing facility in Bangalore. According to projections made by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Pinaka would attract orders worth Rs 1,100 crore for the army artillery regiments. Besides Tata Power, Larsen and Toubro is also developing Pinaka with the research support of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, industry sources said. Pinaka, the multi-barrel rocket launcher weapon area system can fire rockets with a range of 39-40 km, in a salvo of 12 rockets with 1.2 tonne of high explosives within 40 seconds. This indigenously designed MBLR is far cheaper for just Rs 2.3 crore per system. By comparison the American M270 MLRS costs Rs 19.5 crore, and the 9P140 Uragan of Russia and the Astros-II of Brazil each cost Rs 3.8 crore.

The complete system comprises a launch vehicle, a loader/replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle with a battery of six launchers. Pinaka can neutralise a target area of 350 square kilometres, and is meant as a supplement to the existing artillery system at a range beyond 30 kms. It can be fitted with a variety of warheads ranging from blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives to anti-tank mines. Pinaka was put into field testing for assessing its capability during the Kargil conflict. Pinaka reportedly proved very successful during field testing in the high altitude conflict in Kargil.
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Re: Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

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Indian Army To Establish Agni Missile Battalions
[Defense News, 23 September 2003]


The Indian government has granted the Army permission to establish special higher-range missile battalions, a request the service made to the Ministry of Defence six months ago. Senior Army officials said that permission was granted by Defence Minister George Fernandes on Sept.22 during his meeting with Army chief Gen. Nirmal Vij. The Army will set up two missile battalions — the 334 Missile Group, to be armed with the 800km-range Agni-1 surface-to-air missile; and the 335 Missile Group, whose two units will be armed with the 2,000km-range Agni-2. Each unit will be stationed at Secunderabad in southern India with 18 missiles apiece.

Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles are designed and developed by India's only missile research agency, the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, under the state-owned Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). A senior DRDO scientist said that all the missiles will be produced by DRDL at a cost of $5 million for each Agni-1 missile and $8 million per Agni-2. The Army's 222 and 333 Missile Groups are armed with short-range Prithvi missiles. The government has also cleared the establishment of another two Prithvi groups for the Army, to be designated 444 and 555 Missile Groups.

The 3,000km-range Agni-3, said to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead deep inside China, is likely to be flight-tested by year’s end, and efforts are under way to make an improved version of the Prithvi missile, the DRDO scientist said. DRDO also is developing the Agni-4, an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 8,000 kilometers. DRDO spends $250 million each year on missile development.
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Re: Indian Missiles -- News Folder -- September 2003

Post by Prateek »

Ariane carries INSAT-3E into space

September 28, 2003 05:24 IST
Last Updated: September 28, 2003 06:14 IST
http://us.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/28insat.htm
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