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04-16-2012, 08:32 PM | #21 |
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Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd forces cost cut in Swiss Pilatus trainer jet deal : India News - India Today
Hard bargaining by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) over billing costs of maintenance transfer of technology (MToT) has helped India strike a better deal with Swiss plane manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. for the 75 basic trainer aircraft that will be purchased for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The total value of the deal works out to around $ 1 billion. According to official documents in the possession of Mail Today, the deal stipulates that spares required for maintenance of the PC-7 Mk-II basic trainer aircraft should be sourced from Pilatus. However, HAL after an in-depth comparison study, found that prices for these spares being quoted by the Swiss company were too high. Pilatus has agreed to adjust the higher cost of spares against the price of the aircraft following objections raised by HAL. HAL had benchmarked the Pilatus proposal with earlier deals that India struck for the British Hawk advance trainer aircraft, and Jaguar and Mirage fighter jets. It found that the MToT proposal submitted by Pilatus for engine and airframe maintenance was much more limited in scope than the earlier deals and would lead to a sharp increase in costs in the long run. The outright purchase of aircraft by IAF includes spares and training. IAF will be getting three simulators of the aircraft under the main deal. Pilatus also left the maintenance of the simulators, which were supposed to have been provided along with the planes for budding pilots, outside the scope of the MToT proposal. It had stated that the maintenance requirement of the simulators will be addressed through a separate arrangement between the IAF and Pilatus. HAL had redflagged this issue. Besides, one flight-worthy engine was required to be provided by IAF for training and test cell correlation but this had been left out of the scope of the MToT proposal submitted by Pilatus. |
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04-16-2012, 08:39 PM | #22 |
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Liberalised offset norms give Bell a better opportunity to compete: John L Garrison, Bell Helicopter - The Economic Times
Nearly 60 years after a Bell helicopter arrived in India on a lease for Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's Mount Everest ascent (following which it stayed back in the country), the company has set up a full-fledged office in India. Bell Helicopter, which sold its first chopper in India in 1957, and opened a liaison office in 1995, claims to lead the market with 107 helicopters operating onshore and offshore. Is there a reason why Bell hasn't been active in India's military procurements? We don't have any military projects as of now. But the navy has sent several requests for proposals for light utility helicopters and we have been responding. So in military sales, the navy is the nearest-term option. One of the good things is that offset requirements have been relaxed from India's previous onerous norms, which prevented us from bidding in the past. We would have had to move all of our production facilities to India to meet those offset norms, which didn't make business sense. Liberalised offset norms give companies like Bell a better opportunity to compete. |
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04-17-2012, 10:51 PM | #23 |
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MoD plans to invest Rs 15k cr in ordnance firm
Sending a strong signal to foreign arms suppliers often accused of adopting short cuts to bag lucrative military contracts, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the first time has invoked “integrity pact” to recover Rs 244 crore from Israel Military Industries (IMI) before blacklisting the company on corruption charges. In 2007, the IMI emerged as the supplier of technology to produce bi modular charge system – a propellent required for ammunition – in India’s latest ordnance factory that was to come up at Nalanda at a cost of Rs 2,160 crore. But, with allegations of corruption flying thick, the MoD on March 5 blacklisted IMI along with five other military firms. Before blacklisting, the ministry invoked integrity pact to recover Rs 244 crore, clearly conveying to the arms lobby that “breach of contract terms” would not be tolerated, said an official. Almost six years ago, the defence ministry introduced integrity pact as an integral part of all defence deals worth Rs 100 crore and offset contracts worth more than Rs 300 crore. The aim was to remove any scope for foul play in high worth arms deals. After reviewing the performance of ordnance factory board, Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday decided to pump in Rs 15,764 crore in the OFB over the next five years to upgrade its manufacturing and production capability. Significantly, high investment in the OFB in the 12th Plan signals the government’s definitive shift towards self-reliance and gradually reducing dependence on foreign arms supplies. Some of the major OFB projects approved include a Rs 971-crore scheme to augment production capacity of T-90 tanks from the present 100 tanks to 140 tanks at Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi, Tamil Nadu; a Rs 378-crore project to produce large calibre artillery guns and a Rs 378-crore plan to manufacture spares for T-72 and T-90 tanks. With no artillery purchase since the Bofors contract, the OFB claims to have developed long range artillery guns based on the original technology transfer agreement from Bofors. The home-made guns are under trials and OFB plans to make 300 of them by 2015, sources said. For the ammunition propellant, the defence ministry planned to set up a new ordnance factory at Nalanda as the proposal was in limbo for the last 11 years after the ministry blacklisted two foreign firms which were to transfer the crucial technology. New outfit The Nalanda ordnance factory was likely to become operational this year, an official said, adding that the pilot batch of bimodular charge systems had been assembled at ordnance factory in association with Defence research and development organisation and would be offered to Army for trials shortly. The plant for bulk production will be set up by OFB using indigenous resources at half the cost proposed by foreign companies. The defence ministry relied on two foreign suppliers for the technology – South African firm Denel, whose subsidiary Somchem was to provide the technology, and subsequently IMI. But it blacklisted both following corruption charges. |
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04-23-2012, 04:48 PM | #24 |
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Ravi Rishi owns trust that runs Tatra co - The Times of India
Ravinder Kumar Rishi and his family members are the beneficiaries of Hemang Foundation, a trust based in the European tax haven of Liechtenstein which fully controls Tatra Sipox (UK) that supplies Tatra trucks to India. Public relations executives representing Rishi, who is now under CBI investigation in the Tatra scandal, refused to respond to questions from TOI regarding his links to trusts based in the secretive tax haven. The contract for supply of Tatra trucks is under CBI investigation, after Army chief General V K Singh claimed that he was offered Rs 14 crore to clear the purchase of 600 trucks. The CBI has already questioned Rishi, BEML (the public sector unit which supplies Tatra trucks procured via a contract with Tatra Sipox) top brass including its CMD V R S Natarajan, and some retired Army officers. Fresh details coming out put the onus on Rishi to disclose activities of Hemang Foundation and its dealings over the years. Documents also show the existence of another trust of Rishi in Liechtenstein. The second trust, Deswa Holding Establishment, was coincidentally started in 1986, when the first contract for Tatra trucks was signed by BEML. TOI on Saturday had reported that Hemang Foundation fully controls Tatra Sipox (UK), which after declaring itself as "manufacturers' agent" entered into an agreement with BEML for supplying Tatra trucks for the Army. Indian defence procurement prohibits dealings with agents and BEML should have signed the contract only with an Original Equipment Manufacturer. Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd, one of Rishi's Indian companies, in the run-up to its listing on Indian stock exchanges, submitted to the Securities and Exchange Board of India in 2006, "The relation between the Hemang Foundation and the Rishi family is as follows: Hemang Foundation is a registered trust in which the beneficial owners are the family members of Mr Ravinder Kumar Rishi; i.e Mrs Deepti Rishi, Suruchi Rishi, Swati Rishi, Rati Rishi & Hemang Rishi. The settler of the Hemang Foundation Trust is Mr. Ravinder Kumar Rishi." The filing said the foundation "in turn is the sole shareholder of Vectra Limited". Vectra Limited fully owns Tatra Sipox (UK). Tatra Sipox (UK) said on January 20, 2012 that it has issued a total of 15,000 ordinary shares, and all of them are held by Vectra Limited. According to filings of Vectra Ltd, it has issued a total of 100,000 ordinary shares. As on September 2, 2011, the entire shares of Vectra Limited is held by Hemang Foundation. According to earlier filings of Vectra Limited, Hemang Foundation is registered at FL 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Document trails available from UK, Hong Kong and Liechtenstein have also established that in 1986, Rishi opened Deswa Holding Establishment in Liechtenstein. Up until 2010-11, the entire shares of Venus Projects Limited, a company owned by Rishi in Hong Kong, were held by Deswa Holding Establishment. Venus Projects Limited, in fact, used to control 50% of Tatra Sipox until January 20, 2009. Venus Projects in 2011 transferred all its shares in Tatra Sipox to Vectra Limited, which now fully controls the company. Tatra Sipox entered into the contract with BEML to supply Tatra trucks to the Indian Army in June 1997, and has over the years supplied a few thousands trucks. |
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04-23-2012, 09:01 PM | #25 |
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India
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (MM), India’s biggest sport-utility vehicle maker, plans to build unmanned coastal surveillance vessels as the nation boosts security along its coastline following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. The company’s newly formed joint venture with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. will assemble the vessel at a facility in Pune, western India, “in a phased manner” after initially importing models from its partner, K.A. Hai, chief executive officer of Mahindra’s defense unit, said in an e-mail reply to Bloomberg questions. He didn’t give a timeframe. “Unmanned patrol vessels will be needed in large numbers to protect from infiltration by terrorists, protect our offshore assets and patrol vital coastal assets such as nuclear plants,” Hai said April 18. India created a specialized force and added interceptor boats to strengthen security along its about 7,500 kilometers (4,660 miles) of coastline after militants reached Mumbai in November 2008 through the west coast and killed 166 people in an attack that lasted almost three days. The government also encourages local private companies to build defense equipment to help pare the nation’s reliance on overseas suppliers. “This is a good opportunity for Mahindra as India is now reducing its dependence on foreign companies for defense,” said Umesh Karne, a Mumbai-based analyst at Brics Securities Ltd. “It’s also a strategy to hedge against fluctuations in its main business.” Artillery Guns Rafael, which will hold a 26 percent stake in the Indian venture, currently builds Protector, a remotely controlled naval combat vessel. The business, to be operational by July, expects sales to reach $50 million in the first year, Hai said last month. It also plans to build artillery guns and other weapon systems. Mahindra rose as much as 1 percent to 734 rupees in Mumbai trading, and changed hands down 0.1 percent at 725.90 rupees as of 10:22 a.m. local time. The benchmark BSE India Sensitive Index gained 0.3 percent. The company, based in Mumbai, got 61 percent of revenue from the automotive business in the quarter ended in December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Farm equipment contributed the balance. Armored Vehicles Mahindra has also formed a venture with BAE Systems Plc (BA/) for armored vehicles and a partnership with Telephonics Corp. for radars as it expects sales of about $500 million in 10 years for its defense unit. India last year overtook China as the world’s largest arms importer, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Locally made defense equipment now accounts for about 40 percent of total purchases, from 30 percent previously, Defense Minister A.K. Antony said March 29. The world’s second-most populous country plans to raise defense spending by 13 percent to 1.93 trillion rupees ($37 billion) in the year that began April 1. Tata Motors Ltd. (TTMT), owner of Jaguar Land Rover, and truckmaker Ashok Leyland Ltd. (AL) are also expanding military equipment business after India opened defense production to private players in 2001. |
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04-26-2012, 04:41 AM | #26 |
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‘Tatra truck engine sub-standard, used outdated technology’ - Indian Express
Tatra trucks procured by the Army through BEML were using a technology which was developed way back in 1970 and the engines used were ‘air-cooled’ ones, state documents provided by Army chief General V K Singh to the CBI. The agency probing the Tatra-BEML deal met the Army chief on Friday during which Gen Singh is learnt to have provided important documents regarding the Tatra trucks and his complaint regarding the alleged bribe offer by a former Army officer. The meeting lasted for nearly three hours. Gen Singh gave a detailed account of the alleged bribe offer of Rs 14 crore made by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh in September 2010. According to sources, the engines being supplied in Tatra trucks were ‘substandard’ and instead of ‘liquid cooled engine’, they were fitted with ‘air cool engine’. The liquid-cooled engines use a mixture of water and chemicals such as engine coolant and rust inhibitors while air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them. These engines were used between 1970 and 80 but with technological innovations, most vehicles these days use ‘liquid cooled engine’, claimed an official. Sources said that during the meeting, the Army chief is learnt to have told the CBI that at the time when Tejinder Singh made the offer, the procurement file on Tatra trucks was lying in his office. Officials also said during the meeting with Army Chief, it came to light that Gen Singh noticed something amiss in the Tatra deal when he saw a large number of trucks being procured by different units. He is believed to have contacted the commands whose requirement were reflected on the file and came to know that so many trucks were not required by the Army, claimed officials. The notings and movement of the Tatra file is being obtained by the CBI as it plans to examine Tejinder Singh. |
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04-26-2012, 04:48 PM | #27 |
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Business Line : Opinion : Agni V: Fired by domestic industry
About 450 people, right from the top missile scientist to the contract worker, sweated it out 24x7 for nearly a fortnight on the Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha. The dedication and team work culminated in the success of Agni V, India's longest range ballistic missile, on April 19. While the blast-off and flawless flight of Agni V was the visible face of the success story, the bigger story on the ground that is unfolding is the strength of the domestic industry and the huge industrial base that can be created in the Defence sector, especially aerospace. In the missile project itself, at least 50-60 industries, both large and small, have participated. The total process control, linear accelerators, entire vacuum chamber, composite casings, rocket motors, filament winding machines, carbon-reinforced fibres, gyros, GPS systems, low alloy steel, servo valves, autoclaves, solid propellants and a long list, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the missiles, are today made by Indian industry, in close collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The very fact that India has demonstrated the capability to develop Agni V in the face of technology denial regimes, clearly shows how Indian scientists and industry have converted each denial as a challenge and opportunity to develop indigenous capability, said Mr Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (missiles and strategic systems), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Supplier to producer The Agni missile is a complex system. Hundreds of people across scores of industries in both the public and private (mostly small and medium enterprises) were instrumental in fabrication, from minute components to large systems. Most of the work is still manual in the industry. Hence, the functioning of all these to the most demanding environment in space, has given us the confidence that we have attained a standard of quality and ruggedness, he explained. At the industry level, there is a need for improvement in the quality and standardisation of products. Since flight environment cannot be simulated on the ground, it is imperative that the best possible quality checks and standards are maintained. Globally, 75 per cent of failures are due to critical connectors. The next is single shot systems (rocket motors, missile separator systems) and only 5 per cent due to design. The road ahead for the Indian industry is to transform itself from a mere supplier of components and systems to a production partner. As per rough estimates, around 300-400 industries of different sizes have been involved with the DRDO in various projects ranging from tanks to aircraft, and from food to security systems for the Defence forces. The DRDO has received a budget of Rs 10,600 crore for 2012-13, which is around 5.6 per cent of the total defence budget, to fund its research and development programmes. Though, missiles such as Agni-V, per se, will not be mass-produced, the technological capabilities and fabrication infrastructure could stand industry in good stead to take on several projects, not just for the Defence sector, but the civilian market as well. India has a huge Defence budget of Rs 1.7 lakh crore and the production and purchase by the Defence forces is huge and varied. In the case of Prithvi (range of 350 km), about 100 will be produced, whereas for the Akash (surface-to-air missile), the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has bagged a Rs 5,000-crore order. The initiatives The Defence Ministry has been initiating several policy measures to attract the industry. The Defence industrial production policy, the 26 per cent FDI and the offset clauses, it feels, can give the much-needed push to the domestic industry to take up a greater role. Two important moves from the industry aiming to capitalise on the emerging opportunities have begun showing results. The first is the joint venture route and the second is the public-private partnerships. Leading corporates such as the Tatas have struck JVs with Israeli companies. Mahindras, Hindujas, L&T, HAL, to name a few, are exploring possibilities. On the partnership mode, the BrahMos supersonic missile produced by the Indo-Russian JV, BrahMos Aerospace, is proving to be quite successful. Similar initiatives with France, US and Israel are in the pipeline. The DRDO, on its part, is proposing a couple of moves. First is to create alternative assembly or production lines in the private sector for identified products. In every project, it plans to clearly identify the industry partner upfront. For example, in the missiles area, companies such as BEL, BEML, L&T, Tatas, SEC, Mahindras, Premier Explosives, Walchandnagar can be involved. Among the smaller companies RAP, Apollo Computing, Accord systems and Software, VEM Technology, Analogics to name a few, are active. Fabricating success The second is to create a special fund. The objective is to provide financial help to the SMEs to indigenously develop components and sub-systems on demand and create production facilities. The Departments of Space and Atomic Energy have tried this route with success. The strategic sectors have funded the Hyderabad-based, Midhani, which makes special materials to upgrade its facilities in the last few years with considerable advantages to their ongoing programmes. The DRDO is also collaborating with the CII to create a database for the SMEs. The inputs would also be useful in tapping the advantages of the Defence offsets, which make it mandatory for global companies to source a minimum of 30 per cent of the contract value they have bagged from domestic sources in India. The organisation, with a string of 50 national laboratories, has also tried the Government-Owned- Company-Operated model with limited success. Here, the DRDO provided the technology and some funding for a private sector company to develop a specific product that has been denied due to export control regimes. Further, the agreement was for a total buyback as it did not have much of a civilian market or application. A good example has been the development of Servo Valves. The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, passed on the technology to a private enterprise and provided funds. The company fabricated it and delivered it back to the DRDO. The product has been tested with success. In addition to aerospace, the valves are used in machine tools, furnaces, power plants etc. Another case is the fibre optic gyros. Fibre optic gyros offer more than a Rs 1,000 crore opportunity for the industry. Already, a dozen Indian industries have approached the DRDO for technology know-how. However, there is a limitation to this model, as the scope for mass production is limited and the private company will not find incentive to create infrastructure or dedicate manpower. The time is, perhaps, ripe for innovation and new ventures that can spur the domestic industry to seize the opportunities ahead. |
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04-27-2012, 05:42 PM | #28 |
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BHEL may make
The country’s largest power equipment manufacturer, state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which is already making supplies of 76 mm and 127-mm guns to the Indian Navy, said it was looking at producing “Bofors-equivalent field guns for the Indian Army” with appropriate technology selection by the ministry of defence (MoD). “After our successful stint with the Indian Navy to supply guns for ships, we are now in talks with the defence ministry to manufacture Bofors-equivalent field guns for the Indian Army,” BP Rao, CMD, BHEL, told Hindustan Times. “Depending on the technology they (MoD) select, we area ready to manufacture these guns at our Haridwar factory where we have a separate manufacturing set up for guns,” said Rao. Rao clarified that BHEL may not be the only one to manufacture such specialised guns as companies such as Mahindra and L&T were also in the race for the same. Talks in this regard were at initial stages, a senior defence ministry official said, confirming that efforts were on to produce such guns indigenously. Field guns or howitzers are identified by barrel diametre. The specifications for the Bofors-type howitzers is 155x45 mm, which means a barrel with a diametre of 155 and length, which is 45 times the diameter. Such guns can fire a shell up to 30 km. While there has been no purchase of such guns since the Bofors controversy broke out in the 1980s, the government has been in talks for procuring the highest version of the 155x52-mm calibre guns. Moreover, the recent offset policy of the ministry of defence will help in indianisation of such specialised guns produced using foreign technology, said Rao. “With the announcement of 30% technology transfer under the policy, foreign vendors would be forced to share the technology to meet such commitments.” |
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04-27-2012, 08:51 PM | #29 |
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Astra Microwave wins Rs 310 crore defence contract - Economic Times
In one of the largest defence offset contracts awarded to a mid-tier Indian firm Astra Microwave Products Ltd has bagged Rs 310 crore deal from one of its overseas customers. The Hyderabad-based microwave and radar component maker will supply critical radar sub-systems to the vendor which is participating in one of India's defence radar programme. The company declined to name the overseas customer and give details of the Indian radar programme, as the company has signed a non-disclosure agreement. As per the company website Astra Microwave counts European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elettronica, Italy's SIAE Microelettronica among its top foreign customers. According to industry sources, Astra will be making sub-systems for active phased array multifunction radar (Apar) which provides the capabilities required for the air defence and modern anti-ship missile threats. Apar is capable of performing various tasks simultaneously such as automatic detection and tracking of low altitude targets like seaskimmers (anti-ship missiles) and air targets. It also provides support and guidance of a very wide range of missiles. India's defence authorities plan to spend Rs 75,000 crore over the next decade to procure new radar systems in a bid to modernise the armed forces with more sophisticated weapon systems, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. |
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05-17-2012, 04:59 AM | #30 |
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As per the Defence Acquisition Council decision of October 2011, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is to manufacture 155mm Howitzers as per the details given below:-
(i) Manufacturing of two prototypes of 155mm/39 calibre FH 77 B02 and two prototypes of upgraded 155mm/45 calibre Howitzer Gun. (ii) Also simultaneously carryout electronic and mechanical upgrade (to 45mm calibre) on one `in service` 155mm/39 calibre gun separately. The time lines for OFB to offer indigenous Howitzers for trials are as follows:- (iii) Two prototypes of 155mm/39 calibre guns by December 2012. (iv) Two prototypes of 155mm/45 calibre guns by June 2013. The Technology Transfer Agreement with Swedish company allows this provision. The Government of India had entered into License Agreement with M/s AB Bofors, Sweden for indigenous manufacture of 155mm/39 calibre FH 77 B02 Gun and Ammunition alongwith the procurement of 155mm/39 calibre FH77 B02 for the Indian Army. This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr MM PallamRajuin a written reply to Shrimati Gundu Sudharani in Rajya Sabha today. |
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05-17-2012, 07:38 PM | #31 |
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The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) is set to create history as the first Indian aeronautics project to enter commercial production following the flotation of a Rs. 100 crore tender by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure cockpit display systems for 300 machines.
The reserved tender offer was sent to 17 international firms in the US, Europe and Japan by HAL last month will meet the requirements of HAL's supply to the army, navy and air force. Of the total 300 choppers' defense order, the army and air force are to get 120 and the rest will go to the navy. The HAL has commenced work on six pre-production machines, two for each user to iron out any defects with the machine before full-scale production begins. The pre-production machines will be tested by the users themselves who will then suggest changes. HAL has also approached the centre for military airworthiness and certification (Cemilac), the defense equivalent of the director general of civil aviation for type certification of each of the three variants. The Cemilac is expected to give its certificate by early 1999 following completion of all tests. All ALH variants are said to have completed 60 per cent of their airworthiness tests. The HAL is expected to shortlist venders for the display systems by the year end for supplies to commence in early 1999. "Ideally, they will negotiate for a technology transfer deal whereby these systems could be made in India later on", said defence sources adding that integration of the display systems will take three to four months. US companies too have been invited to bid but their participation is doubtful in view of the sanctions. Earlier this year the ALH successfully completed hot and cold weather as well as sea trials. The prototype choppers were flown from their base in Bangalore to Ladakh and Rajasthan for the tests which was an endurance drive in itself, the sources said. The ALH is facing one major hiccup though. The engine supplier for the naval version, US firm LHTEC, a joint venture between Allied Signals and Allison has been prevented from selling the engine to HAL after the sanctions. However, HAL is continuing to test the Naval prototype with the two turboshaft T-800 engines by LHTEC installed. HAL may have a problem in sourcing the T-800 engines for the two limited series production machines. (Source: Business Standard) |
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05-18-2012, 10:14 PM | #32 |
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MDL calls for early decision on Project 75 India - SP's Naval Forces
With the Indian Navy likely to issue request for proposals (RFPs) for the long awaited follow-on Project 75 India submarine build effort, pressure is building for a quick decision on two counts. On the one hand, the Indian Navy's submarine strength is on a downslide and operational availability continues to be a concern. On the other, there is a conscious effort to ensure that the redundancy encountered following the HDW episode in the 1990s is not repeated again. In fact, providing testimony to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recently, Mazagon Dock Ltd Chairman Vice Admiral (Retd) H.S. Malhi said, "Our Hull shops, particularly for the submarine construction, we will start oiling after we finish these six (Scorpenes). So, it will help us if we get the repeat order. So, our request as CMD would be that if that is ordered early on us, we will be able to retain the expertise because it takes a long time to build up expertise on submarine construction. We have already suffered in the past when there was a gap between the SSK and Scorpene. So, we would not like that to repeat. That is a request. That is all from my side." The first of the six Scorpene submarines being constructed at MDL is to be delivered by June 2015 and the final one by September 2018. MDL is concurrently building all six submarines. According to figures supplied to Parliament, the present status of work completed on the six submarines ranges from 2.45 per cent to 54.84 per cent. |
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05-19-2012, 02:00 AM | #33 |
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Delay in floating tender halts defence shipbuilding research project - The Times of India
The work of the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH), for which the foundation stone has been laid one-and-a-half year ago, is yet to take off. Though the plan was to complete the work of the Institute in two years, the work is yet to start owing to the delay in floating tender "The major cause for the delay in the implementation of the project is the apathy of the officials who are responsible for the implementation of the project," alleged Beypore MLA and former state minister for industries Elamaram Kareem. He also held the present UDF government responsible for the snail pace at which the work was progressing. The LDF government had handed over 40 acres of revenue land to the central government for commencing the project and been pressurizing the Central government for the quick implementation of the multi-crore project which would provide employment opportunity to over 10,000 persons, said Elamaram Kareem. Defence minister A K Antony, who was keen to realize the project, was also kept in the dark about the delay in the work, said Kareem. "When I pointed out the issue to the defence minister, he had assured to speed up the project and discussed the issue with the chief minister," said the MLA.The Institute, designed to enhance self-reliance in the production of all kinds of warships, submarines and other related equipment that are required by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to safeguard coastline of the country, is planned with an aim to help India emerge as a powerful force among international agencies like the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency in USA. The Institute is also expected to pave way for the growth of ancillary industrial units in the state, as NIRDESH would involve in the development of nearly 15,000 different components of which 25% will be of critical importance in the construction of a ship. The government should also take initiative to implement the special package declared by the previous government for the natives of Chaliyam, demanded Kareem. |
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05-22-2012, 03:54 AM | #34 |
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(i) Rifle Factory, Ishapore (RFI) - 5.56mm INSAS Rifle, 9mm Pistol Auto and Sporting weapons like .315` Sporting Rifle, .22` Sporting Rifle & .22` Revolver etc.
(ii) Small Arms Factory, Kanpur (SAF) - 5.56mm INSAS Rifle, 5.56mm INSAS LMG, 9mm Carbine, 7.62mm MMG and .32` Revolver etc. ` (iii) Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli (OFT) - 7.62mm SLR Rifle, 5.56mm INSAS Rifle and .315` Sporting Rifle etc. In addition, the following factories also manufacture Sporting weapons under the category of Small Arms for Civil Trade in addition to other weapon products:- (i) Gun Shell Factory, Cossipore (GSF) - .32` Pistol. (ii) Field Gun Factory, Kanpur (FGK) - .32` Revolver. (iii) Machine Tool Prototype Factory, Ambarnath (MTPF) - .32` Revolver. The average annual production of small arms: 1) 7.62mm SLR Rifle : 6,000 2) 5.56mm INSAS Rifle : 1,00,000 3) 9mm Pistol Auto : 12,000 4) 5.56mm INSAS LMG : 6,000 5) .315` Sporting Rifle : 14,000 6) .22` Sporting Rifle : 600 7) .22` Revolver : 2,500 8) 7.62mm MMG : 300 9) 9mm Carbine : 5,000 10) .32` Revolver : 22,000 11) .32` Pistol : 8,500 Feedback regarding the product improvement of following small arms received: (i) 5.56mm INSAS Rifle: In the year 2003, certain modifications were proposed to avoid splash of oil on the face of soldiers while firing, in the event of use of excess oil for cleaning. (ii) 5.56mm INSAS LMG: In the year 2004, User proposed 21 modifications for enhancing the functional requirement of the weapon. In both the cases, design of the weapons have been modified to meet the customer`s requirement. Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju gave the abovefigures in a written reply to Bhudeo Choudhary in Lok Sabha today. |
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05-27-2012, 08:03 PM | #35 |
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KELTRON bags defence order worth Rs 6 crore - The Times of India
The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON), has bagged an order worth Rs six crore from the Kochi based Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a DRDO lab under the Union Ministry of Defence, for the manufacture and supply of Sonar Simulators used for the training of the operators of submarines and ships of the Indian Navy. Keltron clinched the deal after wsinning a competitive bid with companies like Bharat Electronics Limited. Designed by NPOL, this electronic simulator with state-of-the-art features meeting the international standards will be manufactured at the Aroor Unit of Keltron, near Kochi. NPOL, the Defence Research and Development centre in the field of naval systems has taken India to the selected nations club that possesses advanced technology in naval and oceanographic fields and its applications. They have designed and developed several acoustic and electronic gadgets based on these technologies. The current order is for Sonar Simulator System which will be used at the various centres of Indian Navy to train their operators of the Sonar systems in the naval ships and submarines. The simulator will provide a 'real life' atmosphere and conditions and will be using the same commands and operating tools so that an operator trained in these simulators will be at home when he has to operate the actual system at ships. The 'power supplies and power amplifiers' required for manufacturing Sonar systems is being manufactured by Keltron at its Karakulam Unit in the state capital. The acoustic transducers required to sense the sonar signals are manufactured in the Kuttipuram Unit. Keltron has been supplying a large number of systems and products like Processor based Ground Mines, EM Logs and Echo Sounders for the Indian Navy since the last three decades. |
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05-31-2012, 02:17 AM | #36 |
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Boeing delivers US Navy combat plane with Indian equipment - The Economic Times
US aircraft major Boeing has delivered an electronic warfare combat plane to the US Navy fitted with Indian equipment manufactured by defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited. The Boeing-made EA-18G Growler--a variant of the F-18 fighter aircraft--was delivered to the US Navy with a "BEL- produced cockpit sub-assembly which provides cockpit floodlighting compatible with the aircraft's night vision imaging system (NVIS)," the company said in a release. The contract to BEL in this regard was awarded by Boeing in March 2011 for working on sub assemblies of F/A-18 Super Hornet cockpit. "That contract included options to renew annually for up to four years. As a result of BEL's demonstrated performance, Boeing recently exercised an option to renew the contract for another year," the release said. Commenting on the development, Boeing India Vice President Dennis Swanson said, "BEL's work on P-8I, Super Hornets and Growlers is another example of how Indian companies are becoming a part of the global supply chain while Boeing helps them expand their opportunities across the global aerospace industry." BEL has produced other parts also for the EA-18 Growler which include a complex-machined stowage panel for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System connector cable and an avionics cooling system fan test switch panel with an NVIS-compatible floodlight assembly. BEL has also provided 'Identification Friend or Foe' interrogators and communications systems for the Indian Navy's fleet of P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. |
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09-04-2012, 04:27 PM | #37 |
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Link Patrick Boissier, chairman and CEO of French naval construction giant DCNS, gives you the impression that nothing else excites him more than your questions. But he isn't being deceptive. "We are happy to state that our integration and working relationship with MDL (Mazagon Docks) is seamless and operationally efficient," he says. Under the ongoing P75 programme - India's biggest submarine-building project - MDL is producing six Scorpene submarines through a transfer-oftechnology deal with DCNS.
On reasons for the delay in the P75 programme, he says one has to approach the question in the context of the project's complexity. "The Scorpene programme by its very nature is huge, complex and challenging both in terms of competences and the industrial means involved," notes Boissier, who was in Delhi recently. Boissier adds that "integration of large teams always take time". He adds, "On a technical point of view, a submarine needs to fulfil strong requirements (safety of the crew, acoustic discretion, reliability, availability, etc), while operating in harsh environments. When the submarine dives, the physical constraints involved are very important. Temperature variations and repeated dives mean your submarine's structure will go through a lot of dilatations and contractions. One needs to be precise and accurate not only in the design phase but also in the manufacture and assembling of every part involved. This is when the DCNS team liaises with MDL providing daily training and support on the supervision." Moreover, according to him, one has to bear in mind that MDL had stopped manufacturing submarines for more than 10 years until the P75 programme was awarded. "As expected, teething problems are inevitable and MDL has been able to overcome them in only some three years." "To date, MDL has completed fabrication of the hulls of five submarines. The sixth hull shall be completed by the yearend and outfitting works are in progress on the first submarine," he adds, emphasising that "this is a commendable accomplishment." Boissier finds the Indian Navy as well as Indian companies experienced in their respective fields. "The learning opportunity for DCNS and the Indian companies is quite mutual," he notes. "With support from MDL, DCNS is working at selection and qualification of Indian companies as partners for local production of equipment for Scorpenes. For example, with the expertise and cooperation of Flash Forge India, DCNS India has delivered the first locally-produced Scorpene submarine equipment to MDL. Additionally, DCNS India has announced a partnership recently with SEC Industries India under the Scorpene submarine programme," he explains. He goes on to dwell at length on his other India projects. "DCNS is aiming at P75I (a follow-up to P75) and the LPD (landing platform docks) programme. In P75I, we have answered the RFI (request for information) and are now waiting for the RFP (request for proposal). We believe that we will be in a position to propose a submarine meeting all the expectations." "We believe our Mistral-class amphibious ship could be the answer on needs of the Indian Navy's modernisation programme," he adds. On innovative projects in the pipeline, including underwater nuclear energy projects, he says, "DCNS has built up a unique expertise in the course of its history on securing the oceans (it builds warships and submarines besides offering other naval services). Today, we want to go further by developing solutions not only to secure, but also to make the most of the oceans in a sustainable way." He adds, "In civil nuclear energy, we are developing a subsea nuclear power plant named FlexBlue. The FlexBlue concept calls for plant housed in a cylindrical hull measuring around 100 m in length. Flex-Blue plants are designed to be moored on an extremely-stable sea floor at a depth of 60-100 ma few kilometres offshore. A FlexBlue plant should be able to meet the electricity requirements of regions with a population of 1-10 lakh, depending on the plant's power rating, living standards and the needs of local industries." He hastens to add that the company came up with this concept even before last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. "Fukushima was a very tragic event. Japan faced both a striking earthquake and a huge tsunami. The power plant was hit by both and faced structural damages and cooling issues. FlexBlue is to be moored on the seabed; it wouldn't be endangered by earthquakes. As FlexBlue is to be installed at a depth of 60-100 m a few kilometres offshore, tsunamis wouldn't have any impact." He says DCNS is investing heavily in research and development on "four key renewable marine energies". They include offshore floating windmills on which first trials at sea are expected by early 2013. "We are also focusing on wave energy, ocean thermal energy conversion and tidal stream energy," he says. "We believe India - through its huge maritime footprint - would be interested in more of our solutions," he sums up. |
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09-21-2012, 10:20 AM | #38 |
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On a high growth path
D.M. GUPTA has been the Director-General and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) since January 1, 2011. The Stockholm Peace Research Institute lists the OFB as one of the top 50 defence manufacturers in the world. It has a turnover of approximately $2.5 billion and employs nearly 100,000 employees. D.M. Gupta joined Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) in 1974 after graduating from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. In a career spanning over 37 years, Gupta made significant contributions to manufacturing, plant maintenance and supply chain management at ordnance factories. He has led from the front at the ordnance factories in Bolangir (Orissa) and Medak (Andhra Pradesh). He has been Member/Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment at the headquarters in Kolkata and Additional DGOF, Armoured Vehicle headquarters at Avadi (Chennai). What is the role of the Indian Ordnance Factories organisation in the defence sector? The Indian Ordnance Factories is the largest departmental industrial organisation that fulfils the land system needs of the armed forces and paramilitary forces. We manufacture a wide array of lethal and non-lethal defence hardware for achieving self-reliance in defence preparedness. Over the years, the OFB has developed valuable skills and strengths in terms of fully integrated multi-technology capabilities; core competencies in the production of ammunition, vehicles, artillery equipment, explosives and small arms; and a vast pool of skilled human resources. We have the capability to stretch ourselves in war time, which makes us the most dependable and reliable supplier for the armed forces. We are indeed the force behind the forces. How will you rate the OFB's corporate performance for the financial year 2010-11. Year 2010-11 has been a year of achievement, of success and of satisfaction. All previous records have been surpassed, the faith and confidence of stakeholders have been restored, and there is a sense of pride and satisfaction in all our employees. The OFB achieved an issue value of Rs.11,232 crore during the year as against Rs. 8,715 crore during 2009-10. For the first time, supplies of more than Rs.1,000 crore were given to paramilitary forces. A record number of T-90S tanks, Pinaka rockets, light field guns (LFGs), mine-protected vehicles (MPVs), and ammunition items have been supplied. This high growth path is set to continue. The OFB's order book is full and there is a high demand for its traditional products. Further, the OFB will be taking up the production of many new products such as new-generation assault rifles, the CQB carbine, Smerch rockets, Grad rockets, and latest generation artillery guns and ammunition through technology transfer. In view of the increased demand, the OFB is augmenting its production facilities. How is the OFB contributing to the goal of achieving self-reliance in defence preparedness? The ordnance factories play an important role in the indigenisation of defence products. The OFB's commitment to self-reliance can be seen in the significant jump in turnover. Thus, we help the nation attain self-reliance through higher output from indigenous sources and the manufacture of a range of new products. We have also tried to limit the import content at 10-15 per cent, which is much less than that of any other indigenous industry manufacturing defence products. We have started the indigenous production of T-90 tanks, the main battle tank (MBT) Arjun, armoured ambulances, Pinaka rockets and MPVs. We have successfully come up with many new products. Among them are the commanders' thermal imaging night sight for the T-72 tank, the driver night sight for the BMP-II, the indigenous barrel for the T-90 tank and the MPVs, and bullet-proofing of vehicles. How do you solve customers' problems? I will give an example. The Directorate of Artillery [Indian Army] had given an order for the development of an apparatus to airlift 105 mm LFGs, mostly deployed in hilly terrain. The Ordnance Development Centre, Gun Carriage Factory [Jabalpur] developed this equipment called “apparatus air lift” in a short time. It can lift the gun as an underslung load, and can be adapted for use on the Air Force's MI-17 helicopters and the Navy's Sea King. This apparatus will help improve the operational efficiency of the armed forces. Recently, we made a platform for the AN-32 aircraft to help improve the logistics of the armed forces. What is the OFB's contribution to the strengthening of the country's internal security? Considering the volatile internal security situation, there is a high demand for the MPV and its variants. The vehicle is protected by armour plates and can withstand a TNT [trinitrotoluene] blast of 14 kg under its belly. This vehicle has been supplied to the Army, the paramilitary forces and the State police forces. The OFB has even exported 100 MPVs. It is now undertaking a project to develop a platform that can sustain a more powerful TNT blast. The OFB is setting up a manufacturing facility in Jabalpur besides the one in Medak. Our supply to the paramilitary forces has been increasing. There has been a jump in the supply of light machine guns (LMGs), mortars, rocket launchers, pump action guns, pistols and revolvers to them. Similarly, marine security has got a boost, thanks to the indigenous 30 mm CRN 91 gun and 12.7 mm Prahari. The CRN 91 with a stabilised pedestal fitted on Navy and Coast Guard ships has been developed by OF - Medak. Has the OFB provided any new product for the civil market recently? The Small Arms Factory in Kanpur has introduced a new long-barrel premium revolver named ‘Anmol' with many improved features over the current 0.32 bore version Mark-III. It has a longer range than the Mark-III and weighs just 100 grams more. This weapon was launched recently in the Indian market and comes under the non-prohibited bore (NPB) category. What are the OFB's latest initiatives? Many initiatives have been taken to improve transparency in our functioning. A new Material Procurement Manual was introduced on April 1, 2011. To reap the advantages of technology, e-procurement has been implemented. The OFB is embarking on a major modernisation programme which will help it adopt safer production processes and achieve improved productivity, consistency in quality and reduction in costs. The firepower of a tank is its ability to destroy targets on the battlefield while on the move. It is determined by the main armament calibre, projectiles' piercing capability, characteristics of armament laying mechanisms, sights, aimed firing rate, ammunition loading speed, available ammunition types and quantity of vehicle-borne ammunition, including machine-gun ammunition. |
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09-21-2012, 04:01 PM | #39 |
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BEML over-charged for spares too: Army sources - The Times of India
Exorbitant prices to severe shortcomings in indigenization may not be limited to just Tatra vehicles supplied to the Army by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), according to Army sources and internal assessments. The supply of Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) WZT-3 to the Indian Army by BEML suffers from similar issues, including steep prices for spare parts and lack of efforts to indigenize the vehicle. ARV WZT-3, supplied by Bumar of Poland, is based on a T-72 tank chassis and was introduced in service more than a decade ago. A detailed assessment shows that BEML has been charging the Army exorbitant rates for spare parts for the vehicle. The BEML offer is sometimes 20 to 30 times more than the estimated rates based on pervious receipts. For example, 'non-return valve', for which the estimated rate is Rs 1,608.81, was supplied by BEML at Rs 39,550 in 2008-09. The 'small bolts for track links', of which the estimated rate was Rs 424.70, was sold by BEML at Rs 15,480 in the same year. A mere 'nut in the set', estimated to cost Rs 192.08, was sold at Rs 5,505. BEML also failed to indigenize the vehicle significantly, leading to almost complete dependence on the Polish supplier. Army sources said the "exorbitant rates" for spare parts was going to cause serious problems because the overhaul of these ARVs is becoming due. As a result, the need for spare parts will shoot up. Source said BEML will not be able to meet the increased requirements because "BEML has not set up any manufacturing facility so far, and most of the items demanded by us are imported by the defence public sector unit," a source said. |
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