Military Acquisitions, Partnerships & Developments

[A Deshmukh]

7800 cr seems large for the items listed. without numbers or specifics its difficult to judge.

[Kersi]

Some news reports that IA has bought SPIKE missiles and launchers.

[SSridhar]

Defence Minister Rajnath releases fifth positive indigenisation list at Navy seminar - Mayank Singh, NIE

India has unveiled its fifth Positive Indigenisation List, featuring 98 items, as part of efforts to boost self-reliance in defence and innovation.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the list during the ‘Swavlamban 2.0’ seminar in New Delhi, where he also made significant announcements. The list includes complex systems, sensors, weapons, and ammunition, all to be procured from indigenous sources over time, following the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

Prepared by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) after extensive consultations, this list emphasises import substitution for major systems, platforms, weapon systems, sensors, and munitions expected to yield orders in the next five to ten years. Notable items encompass Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles, Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles, Remotely Piloted Airborne Vehicles, Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems, and more.

This list serves as a roadmap for domestic industry players, encouraging them to develop the necessary research and manufacturing capacity within the country. Additionally, Rajnath Singh launched challenges for the industry under Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 10) and released the Indian Navy’s updated Indigenisation Roadmap ‘Swavlamban 2.0’. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar highlighted the Navy’s commitment to innovation and commended the industry for its contributions.

[ramana]

Glad now systems are being talked about.

[Rakesh]

From the Raksha Mantri's twitter account...

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/17121 ... 01034?s=20 ---> Fruitful interaction with the CEOs of top French defence companies in Paris today. Highlighted the advantages of co-developing and co-producing in India, including possibilities of exports to friendly countries.





(Below) From Left - Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault; Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group and Olivier Andriès; CEO of Safran

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/17123 ... 62352?s=20 ---> Had an excellent meeting with the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr. Sebastien Lecornu in Paris. India-France strategic partnership has deepened over years and is more relevant today than ever. We look forward to taking this partnership to newer heights.

[Rakesh]

Sweden's Saab bags India's first 100% FDI in defence project
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 977647.cms
05 Nov 2023

https://x.com/Defencematrix1/status/172 ... 39241?s=20 --->

* India has cleared the first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector, with permissions granted to Sweden's Saab to set up a new facility that will manufacture rockets.

* Sources said the FDI proposal, valued at under ₹500 crore, was cleared last month. India currently allows up to 74% FDI in the defense sector under the automatic route. Beyond that, clearances can be obtained on a case-by-case basis. While clearance rules were relaxed in 2015, no foreign company had, until now, been able to get permission for 100% FDI in defense.

* A new company, Saab FFV India, has been registered and will make the latest generation of the Carl-Gustaf M4 system. Likely to come up in Haryana, the facility will include advanced technologies, including the sighting tech and carbon fiber winding for the Carl-Gustaf system.

NOTE: This will be Saab's first Carl-Gustaf M4 production line outside Sweden, with manufacturing to commence next year. The shoulder-launched weapon system is in use by the US, European, and Indian armed forces and is used to take down fortified enemy positions, armor, and personnel.

[hgupta]

100% FDI should be only allowed where foreign companies come from countries that have a long history of working with India and do not impose sanctions on India for whatsoever reason.

[JTull]

Maybe Russians can get around the sanctions and utilise their Rupee holdings by setting up 100% export oriented manufacturing in India.

[Garooda]

US DM also visiting South Korea, Indonesia after India.

Over the summer, the U.S. and India released their road map for expanding their defense industrial cooperation and enhancing interoperability through the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, or INDUS-X.

The road map identified key areas for cooperation between the countries' defense industrial sectors, including cooperation on technology related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, undersea domain awareness, air combat and support, munitions systems and mobility.

Wonder why not visit the Phillipines or Taiwan to showcase the breadth of alliance ?

"Every stop on this trip will highlight how the department continues to do more than ever alongside its allies and partners to deliver a shared regional vision of peace, stability and prosperity," a senior official said.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stori ... nnovation/

[drnayar]

Maybe Russians can get around the sanctions and utilise their Rupee holdings by setting up 100% export oriented manufacturing in India.

They can I think only issue being the banking /insurance system they use need to be isolated from the western banking systems like swift. They can buy large capital goods like ships for commercial use etc

[Manish_P]

Hope we order the bare minimum Strykers and give the numbers to Tata/Mahindra/... products

https://news.rediff.com/commentary/2023 ... 3c6b93142e

India and the US will co-produce an infantry combat vehicle as part of defence industrial cooperation, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday.

He said this while speaking to a small group of journalists after the '2+2' defence and foreign ministerial dialogue in Delhi.

Besides Austin, the US delegation comprised Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The Indian side was headed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

"We are working together to co-produce an armoured vehicle and that is extremely important," Austin said.

[Deans]

What's the difference between the (Tata) Kestrel and the Stryker, for us to require another APC ?
The Stryker does not seem to have made an impact in Ukraine.

[uddu]

Kestral is operational. They need to order more.

[ashthor]

Hope we order the bare minimum Strykers and give the numbers to Tata/Mahindra/... products

Could be just chai biskoot. Nothing will come out of it.

[Manish_P]

Hope we order the bare minimum Strykers and give the numbers to Tata/Mahindra/... products

Could be just chai biskoot. Nothing will come out of it.

I thought (rather hoped) so but coming as it does ostensibly from, his highness, the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, i think there would be an order.

[Ashokk]

Russia, India sign deal on supply, production of Igla air defence systems

NEW DELHI: Russia has signed an agreement with India to supply its Igla hand-held anti-aircraft missile to the country.
According to the pact, Russia will also allow domestic production of the Igla anti-aircraft missile system in India, Reuters reported quoting news agency TASS.
Despite India's efforts to cut down dependence on arms import, Russia remains its biggest weapons supplier.

[Rakesh]

Airbus Helicopters And Indamer Collaborate To Elevate Helicopter Maintenance Standards In India
https://bharatshakti.in/airbus-helicopt ... -in-india/
09 Dec 2023

[R Charan]

Indigenous Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) will Undergo User Trials in April-May

Indian forces might soon have access to a revolutionary air defence weapon. According to a senior defence official, the indigenously produced Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), which is capable of neutralising low-altitude threats at up to 6km, will be available for user trials in April-May.

https://defence.in/threads/indigenous-v ... -may.1412/

[Kersi]

Indigenous Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) will Undergo User Trials in April-May

Indian forces might soon have access to a revolutionary air defence weapon. According to a senior defence official, the indigenously produced Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), which is capable of neutralising low-altitude threats at up to 6km, will be available for user trials in April-May.

https://defence.in/threads/indigenous-v ... -may.1412/

Looks like Astra ?

[srai]

^^^
6km max range means MANPAD

[A Deshmukh]

6km max range means MANPAD

2 meter for manpad seems large. 21kg.
maybe some vehicle carrier/launcher.

[drnayar]

Maybe Russians can get around the sanctions and utilise their Rupee holdings by setting up 100% export-oriented manufacturing in India.

As things are looking, they would need a sanctions proof payment system for transactions, barters are a promising idea which does involve hard currency !.. Indian private companies sell to India to a separate escrow account and the GOI transfers the goods to Russia., once implemented it could work quite well. The billions of Russian monies could be placed in this account. Tbh i think a system of this sort is currently working under the radar! ..even manufacturing units could come up this way , 100% Russian FDI

[srai]

6km max range means MANPAD

2 meter for manpad seems large. 21kg.
maybe some vehicle carrier/launcher.

Generally around the same dimensions and weights as others.

MANPADs are deployed with tripods too.

[sanjayc]

Major boost to Indian Army as DRDO successfully tests robotic mounted gun system at Pokhran

The successful test firing of the robotic 155×52 ATAGS was done by the DRDO at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. The robotic gun system comprises the artilerry system mounted on an armoured truck which is capable of taking the ammunition, loading it and firing it on its own.

Read more at: https://www.etvbharat.com/english/state ... 3782782666

[Rakesh]

European MBDA and Indian L&T Join Hands to Produce Fifth-Generation ATGM-5 in India with Full Technology Transfer
https://defence.in/threads/european-mbd ... sfer.2170/
16 January 2024

[Rakesh]

How India and France are shaping a dynamic partnership in the changing global landscape
https://www.indiandefencereview.com/how ... landscape/
18 Jan 2024

[Rakesh]

French Defence Giant Thales Plans Avionics MRO Hub In Delhi
https://bharatshakti.in/french-defence- ... -in-delhi/
29 Jan 2024

[Rakesh]

As India Marks 75th Republic Day, How 'Atmanirbhar' Are We In Defence?

[Rakesh]

Strategic Defence Roadmap Sealed: India-France Pact Signals Co-Development and Co-Production Era
https://bharatshakti.in/strategic-defen ... ction-era/
27 Jan 2024

[Rakesh]

India, France agree on joint defence production
https://www.reuters.com/world/india-fra ... 024-01-27/
27 Jan 2024

[Rakesh]

Indian & French Navies Hold Staff Talks, Discuss New Avenues Of Cooperation
https://bharatshakti.in/indian-french-n ... operation/
09 Feb 2024

[Rakesh]

Boeing has appointed a new MD for Boeing Defence India. This is to replace Surendra Ahuja, who has gone silent post the loss of the F-18SH in the MRCBF contest. The new MD is also a former Indian Navy officer.

Boeing Defence India Appoints New Managing Director
https://bharatshakti.in/boeing-defence- ... -director/
16 Feb 2024

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/delhidefence/status/17584 ... 05402?s=20 ---> Defence Acquisition Council today approved acquisitions worth Rs 84,560 crore for:

1. Anti-Tank Mines
2. Cannister-launched Anti-Tank Loitering munitions
3. Air Defence Tactical Control Radar
4. MRMR-Navy & MMMA-CG
5. Advanced Towed Array Sonar
6. Heavy weight Torpedoes for Kalvari submarines
7. Follow On Support for MH60R helicopters
8. Refuelling Tankers for IAF
9. Software Defined Radios - CG

Other than Torpedoes, Refuellers and FOSS support, all other items are under Buy {Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)} category for procurement.

[Rakesh]

Saab to build Carl-Gustaf M4 in India
https://stratpost.com/saab-to-build-car ... -in-india/
06 March 2024

[Rakesh]

Israeli Air Defence System MRSAM Provider IAI Sets Up Indian Subsidiary ASI
https://bharatshakti.in/israeli-air-def ... diary-asi/
28 March 2024

[VinodTK]

On The Shop Floor | L&T Defence Business Is Built On Strong R&D, Says Arun Ramchandani | #defence

L&T, a construction giant with a long history, came into the defence business only at the turn of the 21st century, thanks to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who roped in companies like the Tatas and L&T to build some parts in the Integrated Guided Missile Programme in the 1980s.

At the beginning of this century, the government opened up licensed defence manufacturing for Indian companies. Then L&T decided to obtain defence licenses. Since then, it has been a thrilling ride, a bit of a roller coaster, says Arun T. Ramchandani, head of L&T Defence in this chat with Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale in the latest episode of On the Shop Floor.

Looking back, he says because L&T started from a core R&D base it has been able to build at least 250 products for the armed forces. About 35 of them are in serial production today. Gradually the company also got into warship construction and has made a name for itself in designing and building submarines too. Watch the full episode shot at L&T's Talegaon complex.

[Ashokk]

DRDO Develops India's Lightest Bulletproof Jacket For Protection Against Highest Threat Level

A unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against the highest threat level 6, an official statement said on Tuesday.

This jacket is based on a new design approach where novel material along with new processes has been used, the statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said.

“DRDO’s Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur has successfully developed the lightest bulletproof jacket in the country for protection against 7.62 x 54 R API (level 6 of BIS 17051) ammunition. Recently, this bulletproof jacket was successfully tested at TBRL, Chandigarh as per BIS 17051-2018,” it said.

The front hard armour panel (HAP) of this jacket “defeats multiple hits (six shots) of 7.62×54 R API (sniper rounds) in both ICW (in-conjunction with) and standalone design”, the statement said.

The ergonomically designed front HAP is made of a monolithic ceramic plate with polymer backing which enhances wearability and comfort during an operation.

“The areal density of ICW hard armour panel (HAP) and standalone HAP is less than 40 kg/m2 and 43 kg/m2 respectively,” the statement said.

The Department of Defence R&D secretary and DRDO chairman has congratulated DMSRDE for the successful development of this bulletproof jacket, it said.

[sanjayc]

Germany removes restrictions, India can now buy small arms from its firms

Under the new Social Democratic Party government led by Olaf Scholz, Germany has lifted restrictions on the sale of small arms, thereby allowing the Indian military and its state police forces to buy them off the shelf, ThePrint has learnt.

Earlier this month, the German government green-lit a request by the National Security Guard (NSG) to buy spare parts and accessories for its MP5 submachine guns that were procured earlier, sources in the know said.

This, they added, was a turnaround because the German government had strict regulations in place regarding the sale of small arms to non-NATO countries.

It is also learnt that the NSG did procure several MP5s since the restrictions came in 2008, but state police forces were not able to purchase them.

This is because the earlier Christian Democratic Union German government, headed by former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021, had prevented the sale of small arms to police forces operating in states which they perceived had a “bad human rights record”.

Therefore, police forces fighting armed militancy, insurgency or left-wing extremism in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, Andhra Pradesh and others could not procure the guns.

German firm Heckler & Koch, whose MP5 submachine guns are used by the NSG and Indian Navy Commandos MARCOS, had steered clear of the large Indian market because the German government feared the rifles supplied to the Indian Army or central armed police forces would be used in Kashmir, sources said.

Asked about this, a diplomatic source said, “It was not completely about Kashmir or human rights issues. The previous government had put restrictions on the sale of small arms to non-NATO countries.”

The source added, “But now India has got an exemption. On 1 April, Heckler & Koch got permission to sell to India. This shows the strategic value Germany puts to its relations with India.”

It was explained that Germany had made its export licensing rules softer and easier. A second source said that on certain items, the German company involved can first export them and then seek a licence from its government. “In the last month and a half, several Indian requests have been sanctioned,” the source said.

The source added 95 percent requests earlier were cleared but took time, prompting Germany to make the process easier. India’s small arms requests were among the 5 percent that were rejected by Germany.

In 2011, Narendra Modi as then chief minister of Gujarat raised the issue of Germany’s boycott and that of another European country. He was unhappy with a then home ministry circular advising certain states, including Gujarat which wanted the MP5s, to import weapons from the US, Italy or Russia.

There was a frenzy among police forces to procure the MP5s since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks since both the NSG and MARCOS had used them during the three-day carnage.

https://theprint.in/defence/germany-rem ... s/2058123/

[Aditya_V]

The forces will again give leveraged to Germany, bulk orders to private industry would solve these problems forever, but the ecosystem strikes back.

Running back to them will.only make it worse in future.