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

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 07 Oct 2010 07:22

'Defence Purchase Delays Due to Kickback Scandals'

Defence Minister A K Antony today blamed kickback scandals for the delays in procurement of military equipment and said the Armed Forces has "lost" 20 years as a result of the "past controversies."

Antony also called India's dependence on imports for defence hardware as "a shame" despite having a large industrial infrastructure and wanted a quick solution to remedy this. The country was still relying on imports to meet 70 per cent of its defence requirements, he said.

"There are lot of non-military persons who are concerned over the lack of equipment for our armed forces. But they should not forget the past controversies in defence procurements from 1980s to 1990s that engulfed the governments. As a result, we lost 20 years," Antony said addressing senior armed forces officers here.

.........

"A large country like India...A fast developing country like India...This large volume of import is not a healthy one. It is a shame for our country. We have to find a solution to this at the earliest," he said.

The government, from now, would try to buy defence equipment from the domestic market in areas in which India could produce them internally within the required time frame, he said, adding that only when that became difficult would the country look at imports to meet the defence requirements.

Pointing out that imports also posed a problem of another nature, Antony said the countries that sold the equipment also imposed conditions after the contracts were signed or did not provide proper product support later.

This was an apparent reference to the US, which had asked India to sign some enabling agreements such as communication interoperability and end-user monitoring after selling military hardware to India, and Russia which had perennially posed problems with spares supplies.

"Many a times, there are pulls and counter-pulls by these countries. Hence we must development a strong defence industrial base within India in coordination with defence scientists. In the long run, indigenous capabilities are the only solution," he said.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 12 Oct 2010 00:40

Delhi firm to make HAPO chambers

In a significant move to step up production of High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) chamber, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has transferred the technology to a private player.

...
...
The technology, developed by DRDO’s Defence BioEngineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bangalore early this decade has now been transfered to MGM Associates, New Delhi which will begin commercial manufacturing based on requirement.
...
...
MGM Associates has paid an upfront fee of Rs 50 lakh already and will have to pay a three per cent in royalty for a period of five years.

Besides this, DRDO is in an advanced stage of completing the transfer of technology (ToT) for UMBRIEL - UV Herbal Screen for High Altitude developed by Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences. ‘Umbriel’, a mix of herbs known for protective effects against both non-ionising and ionising radiation.
..
...

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 12 Oct 2010 02:31

Nihat wrote: <snip>
PSu's are the cancer of India and yet our defence forces continue to depend on them only or what are a lot of the times unreliable foreign suppliers. When the Pvt. sector has proved its worth and beaten back the PSU's in almost everything ranging from Aviation , Telecom, Banking, Insurance, Real Esate , Power generation etc etc etc.
</snip>

Could we do without these perennial, massively uninformed outbursts against the PSUs? Some have had terrible problems in execution and some have performed beyond anyone's expectations, so don't generalize this needlessly.
[OT: Insurance ?? Are you kidding me??]

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 12 Oct 2010 08:01

DRDO Works To Counter Cyber Threats
Aviation Week

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 12 Oct 2010 21:25

India pilot testing Unconventional Conflict and Intelligence Management System : Ashish Sonal, CEO, ORKASH

Q10: Any orders or field demonstrations yet?

Ashish: A part of the ORKASH-UCIMS is in a pilot stage of implementation in one of the units of the
armed forces focusing on specialized operations.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 14 Oct 2010 18:38

Focus on Industrial Base, Greater Private Sector Involvement - Draft Defence Production Policy

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 16 Oct 2010 18:08

Indian defence private industry should move from fringes to mainstream”: Air Chief P V Naik

“Indian private industry should move from fringes to mainstream,” observes Air Chief Marshall, PV Naik, Chief of Air Staff while speaking at the brochure release ceremony of the 5th International Conference on Energizing Indian Aerospace: Achievements and Future Strategies, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), here today. He further said that Indian Air Force has been recommending private sector’s participation in defence industrial base and indigenisation. However, the progress has been a restrained one. Private sector entrepreneurship and innovation can help augmentation of R&D base and creation of system integration capabilities. The Air Chief further stated that the Defence Production Policy is in the pipeline with the prime objective of creating a level playing field for the private industry.

The Air chief also pointed out divergent views on the FDI limit in the country. He suggested a case-to-case basis on FDI limit may be considered. In response to a query, whether the three key agreements, CISMOA, BECA and LSA would affect Indian Air force Capabilities, the Chief said that it will not make a substantial difference in the operational capability of the Indian Air Force.

Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director CLAWS stated that in order to achieve 9 percent annual growth rate, aerospace sector, if paid adequate attention, can be a contributing factor. Aerospace sector requires a lot of high-end technologies. We need to concentrate on high-end technologies which can further uplift peripheral technologies.

Mr Satish K Kaura, Co-Chairman CII National Council on Defence and Chairman Samtel Group observed that, “Aerospace sector has tremendous scope for various industries. In the years to come, Asia is going to be the nerve centre of sale of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) deliverables. There are enormous opportunities in this field and more are likely to be generated.” IT industry has a great potential in avionics, and construction companies can take up upgradation of airports.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 19 Oct 2010 21:19

Bharat Dynamics Ltd. Grows at 35 per cent in 2009-10; Forays Into New Weapon Systems

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 20 Oct 2010 17:22

India develops first Laser Guided Bomb
ET reports..

India has developed its first Laser Guided Bomb (LGB), a weapon that can hit a target with greater accuracy, with technological support from city-based Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE). The development of technology for producing Laser Guided Bomb is part of ongoing research towards achieving self-dependency in the defence area being done in IRDE, a lab of DRDO, Scientist and Public Relation Officer of IRDE told PTI.

The LGB uses a laser designator to mark or illuminate a target. The reflected laser light from the target is then detected by the seeker which sends signals to the weapon's control surfaces to guide it towards the designated point, he said. Bangalore-based Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the guidance-kit for 1000-pound LGBs and these are designed to improve the accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by IAF.

The guidance kit of LGB consists of a computer control group (CCG), guidance canards attached to the front of the warhead for providing steering commands and a wing assembly attached to the aft end to provide lift. India had already carried out two successful flight trials of LGB for the IAF to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems at Chandipur integrated test range in Orissa early this year.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 20 Oct 2010 17:39

Indian Defense Sector to Gain Business Worth $10 Billion says Minister for Defence Production

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 21 Oct 2010 06:05

X-post..

SriSri wrote:Samtel-HAL Multi-Function Display Systems for Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets

^^^ Samtel eyes lucrative MFD market..

IAF order worth Rs 250 cr to Indian industry
Business Standard reports..

Multi-Function Displays (MFD), as these cockpit displays are termed, are ranged in front of the Su-30MKI pilots. They get digital signals from dozens of sensors on various aircraft systems and display these to the pilot on an easy-to-read screen. A quick glance across his MFDs tells the pilot how his aircraft is flying and fighting.

So far, a French company, Thales, has provided the Sukhoi-30’s high-tech MFDs. But Samtel has aggressively targeted this market, even choosing to go it alone rather than work through its joint venture with Thales. With Samtel’s price significantly cheaper than Thales’, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which builds the Sukhoi-30 at its Nashik facility, has placed orders on Samtel.

Just the start
Puneet Kaura, executive director of Samtel, anticipates MFD orders for at least Rs 250 crore. So far, HAL has placed only a modest order on Samtel but Kaura says that is normal. In a programme like the Su-30, which involves building 280 fighters over a decade, the aircraft’s internal systems are ordered in small batches.

“The Su-30 MFDs are just the beginning,” says Kaura. “Samtel and HAL have set up a joint venture, Samtel HAL Display Systems (Samtel, 60 per cent; HAL, 40 per cent), to design and build MFDs for all HAL-built aircraft, including transport aircraft. With offsets applicable on all aircraft sales to India, Samtel will be offering them the capability to indigenously build MFDs for their aircraft.”

Samtel’s success with Su-30 MFDs seems likely to bring in another set of orders. When Samtel HAL Display Systems had offered to supply cockpit displays for the HAL-built Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), at a price significantly cheaper than the current foreign suppliers, HAL had responded with Yes, if your MFDs for the Su-30MKI pass the test.

Down the line
Samtel is also eyeing a major role in developing advanced cockpit displays for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), which India and Russia are building collaboratively. Cockpit systems and avionics, which can amount to 30-35 per cent of the cost of a modern fighter, fall within India’s work share in the FGFA’s Preliminary Design Contract, likely to be signed during Russian President Medvedev’s visit later this year.

Meanwhile, Samtel has partnered the Defence research and Development Organisation laboratory, Defence Avionics Research Establishment, and the IAF, in developing ‘Smart MFDs’, a new generation of cockpit displays for the IAF’s Jaguar fighters. In these, embedded software cards allow the display to do its own symbology, doing away with the need for a separate display processor. Puneet Kaura says Samtel Display Systems will produce a fully indigenous engineering prototype of the Smart MFD by March 2011.

Unsurprisingly, all six aerospace giants competing in the IAF’s tender for 126 medium multi-role fighters have signed memoranda of understanding with Samtel Display Systems for manufacturing cockpit displays in case their fighter is selected. While these are pure ‘Build to Print’ arrangements, aimed at meeting offset obligations, those foreign vendors, too, would consider designing in India and sourcing globally from here, provided offset benefits are clearly attractive.

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 21 Oct 2010 17:19

Any of BR members in Raipur can attend this. DRDO to display its technologies at Police Grounds, Raipur, 22-23 October

nrshah · Post by **nrshah** » 21 Oct 2010 18:26

chackojoseph wrote:Any of BR members in Raipur can attend this. DRDO to display its technologies at Police Grounds, Raipur, 22-23 October

Every dog has his day... Seems like it is my chance... I am in Raipur for some days and will visit the same...

Don't know whether there will be any DRDO representative or not, but in case any one is there, is there anything fellow members need to know? I can probably ask them...

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 21 Oct 2010 18:53

shukla wrote:India develops first Laser Guided Bomb

Good show ... now for a 155mm guided artillery shell ... and finally a guided artillery shell with a range-extending rocket built in. The US has developed such shells and their range is about 150km!

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 21 Oct 2010 19:22

nrshah wrote:
chackojoseph wrote:Any of BR members in Raipur can attend this. DRDO to display its technologies at Police Grounds, Raipur, 22-23 October
Every dog has his day... Seems like it is my chance... I am in Raipur for some days and will visit the same...

Don't know whether there will be any DRDO representative or not, but in case any one is there, is there anything fellow members need to know? I can probably ask them...

Right,

See that is "know your army exhibition" originally. So, you might get a chance to ask a Q or 2 about Arjun. And ask for Agni 4. These are my 2 requirements. Thanks in advance.

nrshah · Post by **nrshah** » 22 Oct 2010 16:40

^^^ coming from the police ground here in raipur...the rain spoiled the day here after which the exhibition was closed for the day, however still got a chance to get in As predicted it was more of "know your army" short of thing with Infantry weapons (assault rifles /LMH /HMG / Mortars), tanks (t 72), BMP II, Artillery guns and a full scale mock up of Brahmos missile system

DRDO had as small exhibition area with teams from DRDL / ASL / HEMRL etc participated... There were mock ups of Agni 1 2 and 3, Nag, AKASH and Astra missile mounted on mig 29....

Had interacted with some of the DRDO representative, specially ASL where had a good discussion... Also, had some interaction with Army and Airforce officials where the general feeling i had was that in recent years image of DRDO has significantly improved among the services... They had good praise for DRDO and categorically mentioned that off late DRDO has been doing some very good job...

had taken a lot of pics of DRDO brochures ... Will upload the same shortly...

I am not sure if i should paste some of the information here and also not sure if they are really of any use... Can somebody please help?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Oct 2010 21:01

Contact jagan. All info is useful. BTW thanks for the promptness in your response: visits, trip report and future brochures.

Chackoji, Zeenews had a video segment of Sudharshan and has R.Adm Raja Menon talking about its efficacy in Hindi. Thought about your report on the story!

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 22 Oct 2010 21:32

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfwktqCnbE0

[youtube]kfwktqCnbE0?fs[/youtube]

India's first laser guided bomb - Sudarshan

India has developed its first Laser Guided Bomb (LGB), a weapon that can hit a target with greater accuracy, with technological support from city-based Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).

The development of technology for producing Laser Guided Bomb is part of ongoing research towards achieving self-dependency in the defence area being done in IRDE, a lab of DRDO, Scientist and Public Relation Officer of IRDE told PTI.

The LGB uses a laser designator to mark or illuminate a target. The reflected laser light from the target is then detected by the seeker which sends signals to the weapon's control surfaces to guide it towards the designated point, he said.

Bangalore-based Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the guidance-kit for 1000-pound LGBs and these are designed to improve the accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by IAF.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 22 Oct 2010 21:46

ramana ji, it is this report. one wishes that zee news would cut down on hyperbole a little.

AM Vinod Patney is also in that segment.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Oct 2010 22:46

Oh that was him!

Zeenews hyerbole is needed for desis who are bombarded with bad news about India and Indian products everyday by English media.

What I want is the kit be adapted for a family of weapons from 125 kg upwards and different effects - eg the 225 kg and 450kg FAE too in an armor casing for deep penetration storage bunkers. Add some magnesium-zirconium powder and make portable tandoori of their maal.

arya · Post by **arya** » 22 Oct 2010 23:57

d media at his best "Dushman ke thikane ko Nestnaboot kar deta hai !

nrshah · Post by **nrshah** » 23 Oct 2010 13:12

Jagan,

Please guide...

AnuragK · Post by **AnuragK** » 23 Oct 2010 16:21

India's very own "Star Wars" program[/size][/b]

KALI[/size] and DURGA[/size] were joint projects of BARC-DRDO-ISRO started in 1985.

KALI[/size][/b] = Kilo Ampere Linear Injector/kinetic attack loitering interceptor
DURGA[/size] = Directionally unrestricted ray-gun array

Would be much appreciated if anyone on BR could please throw some light/provide some details on the above projects; such as, its scope, current status, estimated time lines, etc.

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 23 Oct 2010 18:42

chackojoseph wrote:Any of BR members in Raipur can attend this. DRDO to display its technologies at Police Grounds, Raipur, 22-23 October

posted in other thread by tushar
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 88#p966688

tushar_m wrote:ARMY EXPO AT RAIPUR CG

AK 47 with grenade launcher

INSAS

DRAGNOV SNIPER RIFEL

MORTAR

MORTAR SHELLS

Anti tank missile launcher

MMG(medium machine gun) with 29 round grenade launcher on the back

NIGHT VISION

T72 TANK with GPS & ballistic Armour & auto loader

T72 with anti aircraft gun

T55 TANK

BMP II

ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN on some truck

ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS

145 MM ARTILLERY

TANK SHELLS

120 MM SHELL

BRAHMOS CRUISE MISSILE

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 23 Oct 2010 18:50

Management Merry-Go-Round At HAL
Aviation Week

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 23 Oct 2010 21:41

Samtel-HAL Multi Function Displays Certified for Su-30 MKI Fighters; Deliveries Begin Next Week

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 25 Oct 2010 13:15

DRDO Focusing on Cognitive Sciences to Help Soldiers in Low Intensity Conflict Situations

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 29 Oct 2010 01:31

Cross posting ..

DRDO Daksh Unmanned Ground Vehicles for Indian Army; Surveillance UAVs for Counter Terror Operations by Year-end

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 29 Oct 2010 14:26

DRDO develops structural health monitoring technology, tests on Nishant UAV

chackojoseph · Post by **chackojoseph** » 31 Oct 2010 17:36

Sometime back there was a blast in PXE.

NHRC holds DRDO responsible for live bomb explosion at Chandipur Range

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 01 Nov 2010 02:37

Tata-Sikorsky-made helicopter cabin to be exported soon

"I am glad that the TASL has set up a helicopter manufacturing facility in the Aerospace SEZ to manufacture cabins for the Sikorsky-92 helicopters on schedule and that the first cabin from the manufacturing line, would be exported to on November 23 with two more scheduled to be delivered by the year-end," the statement said.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 01 Nov 2010 02:39

VinodTK wrote:Tata-Sikorsky-made helicopter cabin to be exported soon

"I am glad that the TASL has set up a helicopter manufacturing facility in the Aerospace SEZ to manufacture cabins for the Sikorsky-92 helicopters on schedule and that the first cabin from the manufacturing line, would be exported to on November 23 with two more scheduled to be delivered by the year-end," the statement said.

nrshah · Post by **nrshah** » 01 Nov 2010 17:58

Sorry for being late... Got some pics of DRDO brochures during DRDO exihibition at Raipur... Can some one guide how to upload same?

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 01 Nov 2010 18:09

Picasa, Flickr, ImageShack .. just Google it!

Thanks for the pics!

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 02 Nov 2010 07:36

DRDO Developing Two Variants of Military Aerostats for Armed Forces

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 03 Nov 2010 10:47

India's scientist ratio dismal: DRDO official
Sify news

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 03 Nov 2010 21:10

Cross posting..

DRDO Develops Integrated Life Support Systems for Fighter Jet Pilots

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 03 Nov 2010 21:22

State-run shipbuilders turn in profits for 09-10

Garden Reach Shipbuilders Pays Rs. 24.77 Crores Dividend for 2009-10
Goa Shipyard Ltd. Pays Rs. 13.38 Crores Dividend for 2009-10

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 03 Nov 2010 21:29

Pipavav Shipyard gets licence for warship production.

Pipavav Shipyard has received c, making it the first shipyard in the private sector to receive such a licence.

The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) issued the licence after screening by the ministries of home and defence and other related agencies, Pipavav said in a release.

The licence allows the shipyard to bid for construction of submarines, destroyers, frigates, LDP, coverettes as also aircraft carriers.

The licence permits Pipavav Shipyard to build five war ships in a year. With the average construction time of 3-4 years for a warship, Pipavav can take up construction of up to 20 warships at any given time, the company said.

Pipavav Shipyard is the only modular defence-focused shipbuilding company, which can build warships in a much shorter time and in a cost-efficient manner, the company said.

The shipyard is capable of building new aircraft carrier and dry-docking of INS Vikramaditya (ex-Admiral Gorshkov) for repairs and maintenance, simultaneously.

Pipavav also proposes to take up warship building programme for other friendly countries, preferably in partnership with defence PSUs.

The shipyard has modular construction facilities along with a huge dry dock and a high-level delegation of the ministry of defence had assessed the capacity of Pipavav Shipyard before giving clearance.

Pipavav Shipyard is currently completing setting up an integrated shipbuilding facility, which, upon completion, will be the largest in India and among the largest in Asia.

PSL is spread over an aggregate area of 198.92 hectares, comprising an SEZ unit spread over 95 hectares and an EOU spread over 103.92 hectares. The two sites are connected by a dedicated corridor road of approximately 4.5 km length built by the company.

The shipyard, located on the south-western coast of Gujarat, near the `Gulf of Khambhat' about 130 km from Bhavnagar to its east and Diu, about 90 km to its west, commenced commercial operations on 1 April 2009.

Airavat · Post by **Airavat** » 04 Nov 2010 07:37

Wipro gets FIPB nod to enter defence manufacturing biz:

Earlier in August we had reported that this year that the FIPB had raised some concerns over Wipro's plans to enter defence manufacturing since it has 9.8% foreign institutional investors (FII) holding. After receiving the crucial approval from FIPB, Wipro is awaiting Commerce Ministry’s approval. Sources add that the Commerce Ministry’s nod is expected this month.

It is learnt that Wipro will start manufacturing of defence equipments after 18-24 months of obtaining approval. The company is expecting USD 100 million in revenue in the next three to four years.