[DuesTyr]

Boeing looks to expand tie-up with BEL
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore December 22, 2011, 0:17 IST


The defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) which has a partnership with Boeing for the Analysis and Experimentation Centre (A&E Centre) in Bangalore, is said to be mulling an additional centre at its Ghaziabad site near Delhi.

Projects such as the A&E Centre, which was set up during the early part of 2009 by Boeing, is said to benefit industry partners while providing an environment for exploring collaborative projects between domestic and foreign companies to work in practice and build on the Boeing experience with defence experimentation best practice in other countries.


Boeing India’s A&E Centre in Bangalore is the third one outside the US, with the other two in Australia and United Kingdom. The centre allows its customers the opportunity to explore options for future systems in a virtual environment. While using the analysis and experimentation methods, the collaborative approach supports the defence forces in the US, the UK and Australia.

The centre is staffed with Indian ex-military operations analysts and, modelling and simulation engineers. Comprising of reconfigurable laboratories and visualisation space, the centre draws on the experience from other nations where experimentation is a part of defence planning and equipment acquisition. Boeing will also transfer a number of mature A&E tools that are not commercially available anywhere else.

“The tools will be made available for use by the Indian defence customer and our local partners,” said Dinesh A Keskar, president, Boeing India, adding “this would also allow us to integrate locally-developed intellectual property with these established tools.”

Boeing is working with the defence community to identify key capability challenges, and the local Boeing team will conduct analyses and warfighting experiments. The process will see frequent interactions with the defence customer to ensure the right experimental questions are developed and, right tools and techniques are used to address the questions.

“The process encourages participation in experiments by experienced serving personnel. This ensures that the experimentation environment is for purpose and exposes service personnel to future systems options. The opinions of these personnel can then be fed back to the operational community to improve current and future warfighting capability and concepts,” said an official from Boeing.

[tsaaapla]

Link BEL-Rafael venture â??seeks' third partner to make missile seekers

Will a â??third wheel' help save a joint venture that Bharat Electronics Ltd has planned with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for making missile seekers in the country?

According to BEL's new CMD, Mr Anil Kumar, the defence enterprise is open to allowing a suitable third partner in the long-stuck venture. It now expects the Israeli company to name a domestic player from the private industry so that it can sew up a new company.

If the three-way proposal clicks, BEL would hold 50 per cent, Rafael 26 per cent and the new Indian partner 24 per cent stake in the venture, Mr Anil Kumar, who took charge as BEL's chief executive in October 2011, told Business Line. An earlier estimate put the total investment in the range of Rs 300 crore.

A seeker is the on-board brain of advanced missiles. It detects and goes after hidden targets. It is also one of the most denied technologies. While present Indian missiles are guided by ground-based radars, upcoming missile projects would need to have indigenous seeker technologies.

The initial agreement was signed in 2008 but the joint venture was swaying over the equity issue. Rafael, among the handful of owners of vital missile technologies, apparently has not been comfortable with the idea of 74 per cent stake going to a PSU in the proposed venture. Current norms restrict foreign direct investment in Defence to 26 per cent. The Israeli company would have preferred a 50 or a 51 per cent stake for itself.

â??[Rafael is] not comfortable with BEL holding 74 per cent equity in the joint venture. It fears that it would again become a PSU. It would not be so, but they don't buy it,â?� Mr Anil Kumar said. â??This [three-way] plan was revived recently. What we have now discussed is, they can bring in a third partner who can take 24 per cent [of that 74 per cent.] But the partner should be acceptable to us, not be a sleeping one or a competitor. If this plan goes through, we will have a venture with Rafael for missile seekers.â?�

Mr Anil Kumar said missiles were among BEL's future growth areas along with homeland security, radars, electronic warfare and network-centric systems.

Defence research establishment DRDO - which also develops missiles that need seekers - lists this technology as a missing link in its arsenal of home-made products. Some of the newer missiles it is co-developing will use seekers. BEL and DRDO are also working at imaging infra-red seekers for the Nag anti-tank missile.

As for another pending joint venture to make radars and related technologies for the civil sector, he said, â??We have almost finalised [the 74:26] venture with Thales of France but cannot go ahead with it until they release their guidelines. To me, it looks like it may not happen before March [2012.]â?�

[ffflyer]

Hindujas apply for licence to make armaments, ordnance

Amitav Ranjan : New Delhi, Thu Jan 19 2012, 02:08 hrs

Cleared in the Bofors case, the Hindujas are poised to enter Indiaâ??s defence and homeland security hardware manufacturing with plans to make guns, rockets and missile systems, among others, to â??enable the country to be self-sufficient in manufacture of defence equipmentâ?�.

Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd (ALDS), a company floated in 2008 by the Hinduja Group, has applied for FIPB license for â??manufacture and maintenance of guns, rockets and missile artillery systems to include carriage, control systems and other allied subsystemsâ?� at a factory in Sriperambadur.

It said it would invest Rs 10 crore in a manufacturing facility (excluding land and buildings) with a second-phase outlay of Rs 50 crore when it would go beyond its existing business of design, development and manufacture of medium-duty defence vehicles.

The facility would also manufacture and assemble armoured combat vehicles including associated systems such as turrets, armaments. Thatâ??s not all. It has sought government approval to manufacture defence and defence-related equipment â??including but not restricted to the above categoriesâ?� with its existing foreign direct investment.

In its application to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, ALDS said: â??Contemporary and future technology will be obtained which would later give rise to creation of R&D facilities, ensuring that our security forces always have the edge necessary to maintain supremacy in modern warfare.â?�

ALDS, which has a pact with South Africaâ??s Paramount Group in February 2010 for manufacturing mine protected vehicles in India, last year signed an MoU with Germanyâ??s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH to develop artillery systems, combat systems, armoured wheeled vehicles, recovery vehicles, bridge laying systems and other similar products.

Last March, ALDS announced advanced talks with Chemring Group Plc of the UK to establish a defence joint venture based in India. Chemring, an existing supplier to India, makes munitions, electronic warfare, pyrotechnics and end-of-life ordnance destruction. However, ALDS application says it would not part with any equity to a foreign collaborator.

[RjkVwPcV]

HATSOFF CEO Upadhyay quits
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Veteran Test Pilot and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangalore-based Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) CD Upadhyay has quit.

Sources confirmed to Express on Thursday that Upadhyay put in his papers on January 5 and will be out of HATSOFF by the end of this month. HATSOFF is a joint venture (JV) between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and CAE Canada.

Sources said that Upadhyay emailed his resignation to the Board members expressing his desire to be off all activities of Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying.

â??The CAE, while acknowledging the email thanked him for getting a world-class, leading-edge chopper training facility in Bangalore. He is now keen to share his expertise to promote helicopter industry and safe helicopter operations in India,â?� sources explained.

He was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying in 2009.

Meanwhile, HAL chairmanâ??s office conveyed to Express that Upadhyay was turning 65 years this month and it was a matter of days before he would have signed off officially.

An email sent to CAEâ??s Media Department evoked no response.

â??He was informed that he could continue till March, which he rejected. There were some skirmishes over an armed forcesâ?? wing not agreeing to sent Dhruv pilots to train at HATSOFF despite repeated representations to them. He didnâ??t budge a bit from the rulebook over this case,â?� the sources said.

For Upadhyay this will be the end of a hat-trick service spanning over 65 years.

He commanded the Mi-8 Squadron while being with the Indian Air Force and later was the Chief Test Pilot (CTP) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limitedâ??s (HAL) rotary wing operations.

â??He was very much part of the design and development of Dhruv from its inception and has over 1,000 hours of prototype testing experience on this helicopter. He has flown over 33 types of aircraft and has over 9,000 hours of operational, prototype testing and instructional flying experience,â?� sources in HALâ??s Human Resources Department said.

Meanwhile, Upadhyay was not available for comment.

[PaulRyansew]

Link Samtel poised to take off with air force fighter fleet
Ajai Shukla / New Delhi Jan 23, 2012, 00:26 IST

After bagging a euro 1.47 billion (Rs 9,600 crore) contract for upgrading the Indian Air Force's fleet of 51 Mirage-2000 fighters, French defence electronics giant Thales is now an 800-pound gorilla on the Indian defence scene. And, its Indian partner, Samtel Display Systems (SDS), is emerging as a company to watch as it swoops alongside Thales on to India's burgeoning aerospace market.

Thales' offset liability from the Mirage upgrade contract amounts to euro 441 million (Rs 3,000 crore). That induces Thales to source from SDS a significant share of the avionics (aviation-electronics) for upgrading the Mirage-2000. SDS, with whom Thales has a joint venture company, Samtel Thales Avionics, is poised to meet that requirement. SDS already supplies Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), India's sole aircraft manufacturer, with cockpit displays (multi-function displays, or MFDs) for the Sukhoi-30MKI fighters that are built at HAL's Nashik plant. The Ghaziabad-based company is also competing to build avionics for the IAF's forthcoming Sukhoi-30 MKI upgrade.

And, if the Rafale fighter â?? built by Dassault with a large avionics component from Thales â?? is chosen by the MoD as the IAF's new medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), SDS could benefit enormously from another wave of offset-driven orders for display systems and other avionics in the 126 MMRCA.

"We are looking at a turnover growth from Rs 60 crore in 2011-12, to about Rs 500 crore in 2015-16," Puneet Kaura, executive director of SDS, told Business Standard.

Samtel Thales Avionics (Thales 26 per cent; Samtel 74 per cent), incorporated in 2008, is Thales' only joint venture in India. The French company is currently setting up another JV with Bharat Electronics Ltd for manufacturing radar components.

"Thales wants to build on our maturing relationship to make us a major supply source for avionics. They are looking at India very seriously, given the size of the deals they have signed or are contemplating," says Puneet Kaura.

Thales shares Kaura's optimism. Eric Lenseigne, who heads Thales India, says India is a key market, both in defence and in the civilian areas of transportation, signalling, communications and automatic fare collection systems. Thalesâ?? fare collection systems are installed on the Delhi Metro rail system.

"We are keen on growing our joint venture in India, Samtel Thales Avionics. Samtel has key capabilities, and the capability to grow. We do not rule out their becoming a part of our global supply chainâ?¦ provided they develop the way that we would like them to develop," says Lenseigne.

So far, SDS's key technological breakthroughs, such as the Su-30MKI displays, have been achieved indigenously. But as it progresses to cutting-edge avionics the company requires technology infusion. For this, Samtel Thales Avionics, is a key vehicle.

An example of the futuristic avionics that SDS hopes to supply is the Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) System, standard kit in the Rafale as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon. This passive sensor detects enemy aircraft at ranges of 60-70 kilometres through the heat (infrared) they emit. Unlike a fighter's airborne radar, which gives away one's own position by emitting an electronic beam, an IRST is entirely stealthy, since it emits nothing.

Thales plans to offer the IRST to the IAF on a â??Buy and Make (Indian)â?? basis. This category of procurement (specified in the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2011, or DPP-2011) requires an Indian partner to absorb critical, high-end technologies and develop capabilities within India. Thales has told the IAF that Samtel Thales Avionics would do 50 per cent of the design and development work in India.

Both Samtel and Thales told Business Standard they would enhance Thales' share of the JV, if the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit is raised from the current 26 per cent. "If the FDI cap is raised to 49 per cent, we have agreed that Thales' holding in the JV will go up to 49 per cent, while we will come down to 51 per cent. This is not a written agreement, but we have an understanding," says Kaura.

[pobrierce]

Link City firm to help encase Sukhoi engines right
Praveen Bose / Chennai/ Bangalore Jan 23, 2012, 00:10 IST

The Koraput division of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which is involved in the making of the Sukhoi-30 MK1, is getting a helping hand from a Bangalore-based firm, Hind High Vacuum (HHV), for its specialised welding needs and ensure the robustness and good quality of the weld of the casings of the fighterâ??s engines.

The Rs 26 crore welding unit made by HHV is being acquired by HALâ??s unit. This is part of the attempts at indigeni-sation HAL is taking up in the manufacture of SU-30MK1.

The fourth generation multi-role fighter is being put together for the IAF under licence from Russiaâ??s Sukhoi Corporation. In the first instance, the assembly requires welding of different titanium alloy components in a protected atmosphere sans oxygen. This is to prevent the formation of any oxidation spots on the welds which could weaken under the heat and stress of the engineâ??s service conditions.

Incidentally, â??the cost of the welding unit HHV made is around half the price quoted to HAL by a European engineering company. This gave an opportunity to HHV for building such a complex system,â?� said Nagarjun Sakhamuri, MD of HHV.

The high vacuum technology company which, for the past 45 years, has been helping with the indigenisation for agencies like ISRO, Atomic Energy, ADA, DRDL among others which faced a denial of technology from abroad for many years. To HAL itself, HHV has designed, made and delivered nearly 25 different pieces of complex equipment in the last three decades.

HHV embarked on the task just two years ago and is now delivering the welding facility to the Koraput Divison of the HAL where the Sukhoi engine will be put together. The effort involved designing from scratch the unit.

HHV decided to robotise the welding for almost 85 per cent of the task, reducing the risk to human welders. Inputs from Pune-based Precision Automation and Robotics India Ltd (PARI) helped the cause.

The two robots were acquired from Kuka of Japan, the software and integration in the process was done by PARI.

[Bvghbopz]

Link Odisha Ordnance Factory likely to produce Pinaka rocket

Bolangir (Odisha), Jan 29:

The Ordnance Factory at Badmal in Odishaâ??s Bolangir district is likely to get a new project to manufacture â??Pinakaâ?? rocket.

This was indicated by the Director General of Ordnance factories and Chairman Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Mr S.D. Dimri, here during his visit yesterday.

â??The new project on Pinaka is likely to come to the Ordnance Factory here at Badmal,â?� Mr Dimri told PTI at the sidelines of a function here.

Mr Dimri was here to attend the 41st All India Ordnance and Ordnance Equipment Factories Athletic Meet.

Stating that Pinaka rocket is only produced at Ordnance factory at Chanda having annual production capacity of only 1,000, Dimri said the Ministry of Defence has decided to increase production of the rocket.

â??Accordingly, the Ordnace Factory Board (OFB) has given a proposal to the Ministry of Defence to set up a new Pinaka project at the Ordnance factory, Badmal,â?� Mr Dimri said.

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Army.

The system has a maximum range of about 35 km and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds, neutralizing a target area of 3.9 square km. Itâ??s mounted on a truck for mobility.

Pinaka was successfully utilised in the Kargil War, where it could neutralise enemy positions on mountain top.

The capacity of proposed project will be 5,000 rockets per annum, he said. â??The proposal is under active consideration of the Ministry of Defence.â?�

[Kdgjhytiy]

Link Production of 159 ALHs is in full swing: HAL

Work was on full swing on production of 159 Advanced Light Helicopters to be handed over to the Indian Army by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) here, a senior official said today.

HAL was also focusing on producing Weapon System Integrated (WSI) ALH to be handed over to the Services and the work in this regard was at different stages," HAL General Manager (Helicopter Division) M S Srinath said in a statement.

The company had already handed over seven ALHs to Border Security Force (BSF), which is being used for anti-naxalite operations. "... thousands of lives in naxal-affected areas have been saved," he added.

As part of its overseas commitments, HAL had successfully handed over ALH's to Ecuador, Mauritius and Maldives, he added.

[timgillmoreeztf]

Antony asks HAL to Realign its Business Processes

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today asked the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to realign its business processes for strategic alliances and joint ventures, as also, to step up R&D efforts to remain globally competitive. Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, Shri Antony said HAL should partner with design laboratories like DRDO and CSIR for the development of indigenous aircraft, engines and systems. He said, what is more, HAL should adopt best practices followed by the global leaders in the field of project management, quality control systems, vendor deployment and supply chain management.

HAL, the leading Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has a turnover of over Rs.13,000 crores and is set for a quantum jump with the planned acquisition and production of Light Combat Aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter, Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft, Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, Multirole Transport Aircraft, Basic Trainer Aircraft in its assembly lines in the coming years.

Shri Antony said the opening of defence production to the private sector and the introduction of offset clause in defence procurements should provide the necessary fillip to the entry of several players from the private sector into the aircraft industry.

Keeping in mind the mammoth role that the HAL would assume in the coming years in the aerospace industry and the challenges that it would face, the government has set up an expert group under the chairmanship of Shri BK Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission to suggest measures to strengthen and restructure HAL. The expert group has already met twice and is expected to submit its report soon. Among other things, the Group will suggest how best the spin offs from HAL order book can be earnest to ensure better involvement of the private industry in the defence sector. It will also suggest measures to enhance the synergies between HAL, the private defence sector and the civilian industry. The expert Group will assess the future technological and human resource requirements of HAL keeping in view the upcoming and emerging futuristic aeronautical technologies.

Taking part in the discussion the Members of Parliament appreciated the role played by HAL in the defence arena of the country over the years. They, however, pointed out certain shortcomings such as the delay in the induction of the Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian Air Force, delay in the development of Kaveri Engine, delay in phasing out of Mig-21 aircraft and lack of an aggressive strategy to export HAL products.

Replying to queries, Shri Antony said the government has taken a number of measures to acquire the most modern aircraft for the Indian Air Force in the coming years. Some of the aircraft have already been inducted into IAF and others are in pipeline. Shri Antony was optimistic that from 2020 onwards most of the airframes and platforms of the Indian Air Force would have incorporated new technology.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju said HAL today faces multifarious challenges. He said while the organisation has evolved over the last 70 years by producing some of the finest human resources and products, in future, HAL would increasingly play the role of system integrator.

The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting included Shri Manish Tewari, Shri Naveen Jindal, Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Shri Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Shri Kalkesh N Singh Deo, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Shri SS Ramasubbu, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Shri Balwant alias Bal Apte, Dr. Mahender Prasad, Shri HK Dua and Shri Ishwar Lal Jain.

[Coededgeme]

Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd has informed BSE that pursuant to the Joint Venture guidelines issued by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, for establishing joint venture companies by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Mazagon Dock Ltd, the premier defence shipyard of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has conveyed vide its letter dated May 2, 2012 that Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd has been chosen as its partner for formation of Joint Venture to build warships for Indian Navy.

[eocavrWM]

Technical Problems in Gun Systems

There are no technical problems reported in existing gun system of the Army. However, due to vintage and exploitation of the guns, mechanical problems of routine nature do come up from time to time. These are rectified by the repair/maintenance agencies either in situ or at the workshops established for this purpose.

The government had secured the right of transfer of technology during the purchase of Bofors guns. Though all the technological documents as per the ToT contract were received by OFB from M/s AB Bofors, the Transfer of Technology was not carried forward as the dealings with the technology provider, (M/s AB Bofors) were suspended. Further, no indent was placed by Army on OFB for manufacture and supply of complete gun system.

Capital expenditure of Rs.376.55 crore has been sanctioned by the Government in March, 2012 for creation/augmentation of Large Calibre Weapon manufacturing capacity in Ordnance Factories.

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri RajendraAgrawal in Lok Sabha today.

[mikefertynnz]

In one of the biggest ship-building deals bagged by Alcock Ashdown (Gujarat) Ltd, the state-run utility is now staring at losses of about Rs 100 crore. The Rs 700-crore deal, involving construction of six survey vessels for the Indian Navy, has come in for sharp criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

The apex auditing body has pulled up the state-run firm for the deal, saying the uncertainty prevailing over its own divestment process, inexperience in preparation of cost estimates for Navy vessels and non-availability of adequate financial assistance were primary reasons that have left the company exposed to the losses.

“In December 2006, the company, bidding of the Indian Navy contract for the first time, did not prepare proper cost estimates for the project involving construction of six survey vessels for the Indian Navy. We observed that the company imprudently accepted the price of Rs 109.89 crore per vessel for the MoD (Ministry of Defence) project, even though its own estimated cost of construction (excluding profit) per vessel was Rs 115.87 crore,” says the CAG report which is to be tabled in the state Assembly on March 30.

“As per the company’s own latest estimate (March 2011), the cost of construction (excluding the element of profit) per vessel would be Rs 125.96 crore, as against the contract price of Rs 109.89 crore. Thus, the company is already exposed to a probable loss of Rs 96.42 crore, which does not include the revised costs for the other fixed-price items in the contract (viz., cost of modification and project management) not estimated by the company as yet,” it adds.

The matter was reported to the government in June 2011, but CAG did not receive any replies in this regard.

The proposal of disinvestment of Alcock Ashdown also hurt the company’s interests while it trying to implement the Indian Navy contract. “As the proposal for disinvestment of the company was under consideration since July 2006 with the Government of Gujarat, the technical staff of the company had started quitting, causing adverse impact on the pace of execution of the contracts on hand. As a result, the company had started facing difficulties in mobilising working capital loans from banks. The company while accepting the contract did not take into cognisance of the above facts, which were vital for protecting the financial interests and reputation of the company,” the auditing body observes.

The Gujarat government has been trying to sell Alcock Ashdown to private players since 2002-03, but deals have failed to materialise.

The company has ship-building facilities in over 27 acres at Bhavnagar and 10 acres at Chanch in Gujarat. Originally a British owned company that went into liquidation, it was taken over by the Government of India in 1975. It was subsequently acquired by Government of Gujarat in 1994.

As per term of contract in the company’s deal with the Indian Navy, the first vessel was to be delivered by April 6, 2009, while the remaining five vessels were to be delivered within a year from July 6, 2009. The company, however, could execute works worth Rs 276 crore by March 2011. Based on company’s repeated requests, the MoD has rescheduled the delivery of vessels starting from September 2011 to March 2013.

[elektikaka]

Link: The Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) near here is all set to enhance its manufacturing capacity of Pinaka rockets from the present 1,000 rockets to 5,000 every year for the Indian Army, sources said.

"Pinaka rocket is one of the major projects (of the OFAJ). The multiple rocket launcher has successfully been indigenised and production of Pinaka rocket is in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)," official sources said.

"Pinaka rocket is operable at extreme conditions of temperature ranging from -10 degree centigrade to 55 degree centigrade. These rockets, with a payload of 100 kgs, have a striking range of 40 kms and can bring devastation around 500 kms of surrounding areas of the target. It has already been tested and inducted into the arsenal of the Indian Army. It is a mammoth project of the Ambajhari Ordnance Factory," they said.

Very soon, construction work would commence for the extension project of Pinaka. Each Pinaka battery consists of six launcher vehicles, each with 12 rockets, six loader-cum replenishment vehicles, two command post vehicles with a fire control computer and radar.

According to sources, AN-32 Platform system is another important milestone in the history of OFAJ and the first batch of OFAJ's indigenously produced AN-32 Platform was handed over to the Indian Army in July last year.

AN-32 Platform system is an Aerial Delivery System to para drop vehicles from height of 500 to 700 metres, with the help of parachutes. The platforms loaded with vehicle are carried on hydraulic trolley to airbase and the same is put inside an AN-32 aircraft with the help of a hydraulic trolley and manual push, sources said.

The platforms, along with parachutes, are dropped from aircraft at the desired locations. The platform loaded with vehicles gets stabilised and lands on ground with the help of parachutes.

The AN-32 Platform heavy drop system was designed and developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE). It is a substitute to Russian AN-32 Platform system. OFAJ has indigenously developed this item in collaboration with ADRDE Agra.

Another vital project of the OFAJ is 105 mm shells HEER, which has a projectile mass of 16 kgs and is of 593 m length. HEER has a range of 20.4 Km with super charge, they added.

The OFAJ, established in 1966, is a premier factory in the family of 41 ordnance factories. It is engaged in manufacturing and supply of ammunition hardware parts, shells, fuses, rockets, cartridge cases, assault bridges and high strength aluminium alloys, they said.

The 41 defence production units and factories under the Defence Ministry are engaged in the production of weapon systems, armoured personnel carrier, tanks and ammunitions and equipments required by the Indian Armed Forces and Para Military Forces in the country.

[Longwow]

The first of the six Scorpene submarines ordered by the Indian Navy will be launched for sea trials in 2013, a top official of the firm constructing the submarines has said.

India had placed orders for six Scorpene submarines with French firm DCNS in 2005, of which the first is expected to be commissioned into the Navy by mid-2015 after a delay of around three years.

"As per the schedule, the first Scorpene submarine would be 95 per cent ready towards end of 2013 after which it will be launched for sea trials," DCNS' India head Bernard G Buisson told PTI here.

Sea trials of a submarine are carried out when almost all the weapon systems and sensors to be deployed on board it are integrated.

He said most of the issues causing delays in the submarine programme have been sorted out and expressed confidence that there would be no further delays in the programme.

The six Scorpenes are being constructed at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) under Project-75 under technology transfer from French firm DCNS.

The government approval for construction of the six submarines was accorded in September 2005 at a total cost of Rs 18,798 crore and the contract was signed in October that year.

The project cost was revised to Rs 23,562 crore in February 2010, along with revision in delivery schedule.

Commenting on the delays experienced in the project, Defence Minister A K Antony had recently told Parliament that "Most of the teething problems have been resolved and various plans have been put in place to minimise delays."

[lionsiy]

Tata Motors showcases Anti-Terrorist Indoor Combat Vehicle concept at DEFEXPO India 2012

Launches Prahar missile launcher and armoured vehicles

Tata Motors today showcased a new Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV) at DEFEXPO India 2012, a highly mobile combat vehicle for indoor combat inside airports, railway stations and other such infrastructure. The concept is the first of its kind design to assist the country's elite forces in indoor combat.

Besides, Tata Motors launched four other defence vehicles - the Tata 12x12 Prahaar Missile Carrier, the Tata Light Armoured Vehicle, the Tata Mobile Bunker and the Tata 6x6 7kl Refueler and displayed a range of other concept vehicles, such as the Tata Quick Deployment Mobile Communication Terminal (QDMCT).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. P. M. Telang, Managing Director - India Operations, Tata Motors, said, "The launch of our new combat & tactical vehicles and equipment, leveraged from our strength in design and development of a wide range of commercial vehicles, now enables us to cover the entire defence mobility spectrum. Tata Motors defence solutions already covers the complete range of logistics and armoured vehicles that have also been popular in supporting the police and paramilitary forces in counter insurgency operations."

At the DEFEXPO, Tata Motors displayed scaled models of its concept Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) (Tracked & Wheeled), including the turret. In addition, the proposed layout of the production facility was also displayed. Tata Motors is one of the four Indian companies, which has been issued the Expression of Interest (EoI) by the Indian Army, for the FICV - a 'Make Indian' project. Tata Motors has accordingly responded to the EoI based on indigenous design and development in association with key technology partners and submitted their response in October 2010.

Tata Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV): The Tata Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV) is a project that is being jointly developed by VRDE-DRDO and Tata Motors, for providing the country's elite commando forces (NSG, Marine Commandos, Para Battalions & Force One) with a protected mobility solution that assists them during indoor combat against insurgents. The need for this kind of a solution has been felt desperately by commando units, who face multiple hostage situations; wherein terrorists have been holed up inside confined premises, houses, hotels, malls and airports.

The MBPV has been designed keeping indoor combat in mind, with special features like bullet resistant panels for protection, compact dimensions, with 4-wheel assisted turning for easy movement within indoor confines and high power-to-weight ratio for fast & agile movement, during combat. Firing ports have also been incorporated for retaliatory action. Moreover, it has an added capability of climbing stairs as well.

Tata 12x12 Prahaar Missile Carrier: Tata Motors has developed an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive, Tata LPTA 5252-12 X12 vehicle, specifically for missile launcher cum carrier applications like integration of Prahar, BrahMos and Nirbhay Missiles, in close coordination with R&DE - DRDO.

Tata Light Armoured Vehicle: The Internal Homeland Security Forces and the State Police Forces, being endowed with the prime responsibility of securing the State, consistently move in and out of territories which are extremist hotbeds. Keeping this in mind, Tata Motors has developed the Tata Light Armoured Vehicle to aid the troops in Counter Insurgency Operations, as well as for patrolling the hinterland. In line with this, the Tata Light Armoured Vehicle has been engineered to be far superior to its competitors; in terms of performance, safety & convenience and meeting CMVR regulations.

Tata Mobile Bunker: Tata Mobile Bunker has been designed on the LPA 713 4-wheel drive platform, to ensure fast & safe movement of troops in naxal infested states and to act as a platform for retaliatory action. The vehicle is protected against gunfire, corresponding to ballistic protection of NIJ Level III. It is a highly mobile platform and can be used as a base for various protected applications like troop carriers, ambulances and buses.

Tata 6x6 7kl Refueler: Tata Motors has developed an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive refueler vehicle, specifically for the Indian Armed forces, Paramilitary, State police, DPSUs, State Government & Municipal agencies and the Aviation industry. The base vehicle has already been trial evaluated by the Indian Armed forces, for various applications like Common Gun Tower, HMV with material handling crane and Multi-Barrel Rocket launcher GRAD BM 21.

Tata LSV - QDMCT (Quick Deployment Mobile Communication Terminal): The Tata LSV - QDMCT is a shelter based, self-contained vehicle mounted communication system that provides wide area IP network. It provides reliable and secured IP connectivity for data, voice & video, between various nodes. Multiple communication media have been provided for both data & voice connectivity. The state-of-the-art Tata QDMCT is designed and developed in collaboration with RCI - DRDO. The system has found an ideal platform in the Tata LSV, which is a high payload, high mobility & low silhouette military platform, designed for withstanding tough weather and terrain conditions.

Tata 8x8 Water Purification System: Tata Motors has developed a mobile water decontamination system on the LPTA 3138 8x8, for all-terrain, all weather operation in collaboration with M/s. WEW (Germany). This application is especially developed keeping the drinking water contamination problem, faced by Armed Forces, Paramilitary force, at disaster struck areas. This application is also apt for State Governments and various Municipal agencies, to tackle the issue of supplying drinking water to remote villages. This water decontamination system is capable of purifying the most impure forms of water and makes it portable through Reverse Osmosis (RO) process.

Tata 8x8 Missile Carrier: Tata Motors has developed an indigenous high mobility, all-terrain and all-wheel drive Tata vehicle, specifically for various all terrain applications like Command and Control unit, Missile Carrier, MHC Radar Station and Missile Firing Platform.

Tata Safari Storme GS 800 4x4: The Indian Armed Forces are currently looking at procuring a 4-wheel drive, high mobility platform, for induction into the Defence Services as a General Service vehicle; to be used for transporting officers during peacetime, as well as during conflicts, across locations in India. Tata Motors has designed and developed the Safari Storme GS 800, in-house, in line with the requirements of the forces.

Tata Safari Storme Armoured: With the strong resurgence of threat perceptions amongst high profile dignitaries, trade delegates, etc., the need arises for a mode of transport, which is very safe, but at the same time comfortable and stylish enough for this segment of people. Tata Motors offers the Tata Armored Safari Storme, equipped with latest state-of-art technology, for catering to VVIP movements. The Armored Safari Storme inculcates a strengthened chassis & suspension system, enhanced braking efficiency of the vehicle, to take care of the additional armoring weight, so that the performance of vehicle remains similar, to that of the unarmored Safari. Such a vehicle carries a CMVR certificate and is legal to run on road as per CMVR. The vehicle has internal Up-Armoring and to the untrained eye, the look is "innocent".

Tata Xenon Recce 4x4: Tata Motors has developed the Xenon Recce 4x4, specifically for off-road patrolling usage by the Armed Forces, both in India and abroad. For this purpose, it has developed separate engines, complying with both BS III, as well as Euro norms. Equipped with state-of-the-art high mobility features, the Xenon Recce provides the Central Paramilitary Forces, and State police forces, with a lethal platform to carry out Combing Operations, Jungle Warfare with ease.

Tata Mine Protected Vehicle: The Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) has been developed to protect its occupants, from threats like ambushes and sudden violent attacks, using powerful explosive mines. Tata MPV takes troop protection to the next level. Designed to protect against gunfire, with ballistic protection of NIJ Level III, it provides essential protection to military and para military forces. It is well protected and has more than acceptable levels of mobility.

Tata Motors has been associated with the country's off-road defence and security forces, since 1958 and has supplied over 1,00,000 vehicles to the Indian military and Paramilitary forces, so far. The company offers its products and services that not only meet the needs of the domestic market, but are also positioned to meet most stringent requirements across the world. Tata Motors exports its range of specialised defence vehicles to the SAARC, ASEAN and African regions. With Tata Motors rich portfolio in multi-axle range like 12x12, 8x8 & 6x6, the company has started supplying to leading Missile OEMs across the world. The company has established itself as a supplier of specialist vehicles for UN peacekeeping missions. Tata Motors range of off-road vehicles are also being procured by the agencies, involved in AID & Development, across the world like GSA, KBR, Oxfam, RONCO, RA International & Riders.

[ricochettty]

OIS Advanced Technology and Systemware Europe (SWE) announces relationship for India sales and Defence Offsets

OIS Advanced Technology (OIS-AT) and Systemware Europe (SWE) have entered into a relationship where OIS-AT acts as the prime for products of SWE to international OEM suppliers to India's Defence Industry who have a Defence Offset obligation. This agreement extends to the exclusive marketing and sale of SWE products for the India market.

"We are pleased that SWE has chosen to enter into a relationship with OIS Advanced Technology where OIS-AT markets and supplies SWE's products for the Indian market, and including for those Defence Offset obligations where local manufactured product of SWE is applicable", said Sanjay Bhandari, Chairman and Managing Director of OIS Advanced Technology.

"We are looking forward to OIS-AT's marketing and sales of our products for the India market and Defence Offset requirements. OIS-AT's team and technology capabilities are center to our decision in entering into a relationship for the burgeoning India market including for Defence Offsets", said Dave Honeybun, Managing Director of SWE.

Offsets are obligatory countertrade mechanism to drive investments of at least 30% of large global defence acquisitions into building India nascent defence industrial base. India's Defence Offset policy requires international bidders of large defence capital programs to deliver to an offset obligation via investments or purchase, including a set of other related provisions. These obligations are typically satisfied via purchases of defence, civil aviation and homeland security related products and services by these international suppliers.

SWE's agreement with OIS-AT extends the exclusive marketing, sale, and manufacture of its products for the Indian market.

[SeelaypeKet]

Sikorsky scouting for partners to boost supply chain Bindu D. Menon

New Delhi, March 3:

US Helicopter giant Sikorsky has said it is in talks with the Indian Navy for purchase of 16 helicopters.

The company, which has a joint venture with the Tatas to manufacture helicopter cabins, also said it is looking at co-development opportunities with other Indian partners as well.

“Sikorsky is bidding for the Indian Navy's requirement and have offered S70B helicopter for anti-submarine warfare. Trials have been completed and final tenders will be opened by the end of this month. Also, the Indian Coast Guard is looking for eight helicopters for its search-and-rescue missions and we are making a pitch for it as well,” Mr Mark F. Miller, Vice-President, Research and Engineering, Sikorsky told Business Line.

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of the US-based United Technologies, operates two manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad — TASL (Tata Advanced Systems), a helicopter cabin making venture with the Tata Group in which it owns 26 per cent stake, and Tara Aerospace Systems, which manufactures helicopters components.

“We are putting together cohesive strategies for making commercial products out of India. It will give us advantage for our supply chain. We have found capabilities, talent and demand here and are scouting for more such tie-ups. Our venture will be able to make three helicopter cabins a month by the first quarter of 2013,” he said.

Industry estimates domestic demand at more than 2,000 helicopters over the next 10-15 years, valued at $25 billion.

[duncanalisstmp]

Antony asks DPSUs to maintain transparency

Stung by criticism that he had prior knowledge of complaints over irregularities in the army ordering Tatra trucks, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday issued a "stern warning" to defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and asked them to keep their dealings with clients and stake-holders "transparent."


Antony conveyed the message to the chiefs of eight DPSUs at a meeting here at South Block to review their performance and functioning, a defence ministry official told reporters here.


"The defence minister issued a stern warning to the DPSUs on their dealings with their clients and stake-holders in the wake of allegations of a bribe offer. The defence minister stressed that there can be no compromise on transparency in their dealings," an official said.

The chiefs of DPSUs BEML, Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics, Mazagon Docks, Goa Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers were present at the review meeting, apart from Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju and Defence Production Secretary Shekhar Aggarwal.


"The meeting was part of the series of reviews of the armed forces and the defence ministry's functioning and performance," the officials said.


The defence minister told the DPSUs to ensure timely deliveries of products ordered by the armed forces, maintain high quality and efficient post-sale support that they require.


He also said the DPSUs should set benchmarks for the private sectors in defence production.


Only last week, the parliamentary standing committee on defence had summoned the chiefs of the DPSUs and recorded their depositions on their functioning.

[indartwm]

On war footing

Reaching Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd can be daunting. As you cross the Kidderpore docks, the grey metalled road vanishes into a dusty, uneven motorway with a maze of trailers, heavy duty trucks and speeding autorickshaws vying for space. The long bumpy ride terminates when you reach the end of the city limits at Metiabruz which houses the main gate of the 125-year-old shipyard of Kolkata.


The huge shipyard with two dry docks for ships up to 26,000 metric tons, one fully covered wet basin, four slipways, a sprawling building berth, four workshops, two river jetties and a state-of-the-art fitting out jetty (FOJ) unit was originally a tiny workshop on the eastern bank of Hooghly for repairing British ships in 1884. It was christened “Garden Reach” as it came up on what was once a garden located on the interlocking spur of the Ganges which is also referred as “reach”, informs Saikat Chattopadhyay, the company PRO.

Taken over by the Ministry of Defence in 1960, Garden Reach Workshop (as it was then called) produced India’s first indigenously built warship, INS Ajay, in 1961. Today, as one of the leading defence shipyards of India with an operative strength of about 4,500, GRSE has manufactured more than 700 ships including a range of missile corvettes, landing ship tanks, fleet replenishment tankers, fast attack crafts, hovercrafts and other maritime units. GRSE has altogether seven units in Kolkata and one in Ranchi where engines are assembled.


Once inside the gate, I come across a huge hull block ready to be lowered into the dry dock “3020” through a 40T giant crane moving on a rail. This is the hull of one of the four Anti-Submarine Warfare corvettes that is currently being built at GRSE. Each of the hull blocks (weighing about 40 T) lowered in the dry dock are welded one after another to build a 3,000 T ship. Water is then allowed to enter the dock for the ship to float out towards the fitting out jetty unit (FOJU) in Kidderpore where the deck machinery fittings are done. It takes four years to build a standard warship and two years for smaller vessels .


I stroll past the dry deck to the adjacent production shop which is buzzing with activity. Hundreds of workers clad in overalls are busy in plate sizing, cutting and welding to prepare the hull blocks even as others appear to be hurrying out, momentarily bowing at the small temple on the side. The sound of the drill machines and the iron cutters is deafening. But not to the workers. Mohammad Riyazuddin who has spent 35 years in the shipyard admits he is partly deaf. “But it sure swells my chest to say I work at one of the biggest shipyard of the country,” he says.


The sound of a shrieking siren interrupts our chat and I look up to catch a huge aerial crane going overhead. “That is our Goliath crane which moves the hull blocks across the shed,” explains Riyazuddin.


The cool confines of the CMD’s office offer a welcome relief from the scorching sun and the workshop sound. The shipyard is currently working on 19 ships on order, including frigates, four ASW corvettes and specialised vessels for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, informs CMD Rear Admiral A K Verma. “We got our first export order for an offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Government of Mauritius,” says Admiral Verma. A mechanical engineer, Verma has over 30 years of experience in maintenance of ships and aircraft while serving the Navy.


The ongoing Rs 600-crore modernisation plan which will wrap up this year is expected to double the current capacity of the shipyard. After modernisation, GRSE will have two more dry docks, a 250 T Goliath crane and a modular workshop. “It is basically a two-fold capacity increase,” says the CMD, “While the crane will reduce the dock occupancy time, two additional dry docks will lead to faster production.”


GRSE is probably the only defence shipyard in the country which also has its own engineering and engine manufacturing division. The bailey or portable bridges used over river channels, high terrain and border areas by the army are a product of their engineering division. “We have also developed ship specific equipment where the original equipment manufacturing is not available in our country,” says Verma.


A majority of the indigenous warships at the President's Naval Fleet Review recently happened to have been rolled out of the Garden Reach Shipyard. As he excuses himself for a technical meeting, he sums up the scenario: “Going by the order book of the company, we are poised to convert GRSE into one of the biggest shipyards not just in this country but in this part of the world.”

[wasssallx]

India’s Elcome Marine Eyes Fivefold Boost | Defense News | defensenews.com

Elcome Marine Services, India’s only private naval systems integration company, aims to boost revenue fivefold over the next five years as warship demands rise for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.


Established in 1978, Mumbai-based Elcome Marine is India’s only small-sector company that integrates navigation, communication, surveillance and weapon systems for ships and submarines. The company’s revenue is $20 million, so a fivefold boost would bring it to $100 million by 2017.

In June 2010, Elcome Marine and Orbit of Israel, serving as subcontractors to state-owned Bharat Electronics, won a $20 million order to provide 154 satellite communication systems to the Indian Navy. The company has already installed 35 percent of the systems and the rest will be completed by 2014.


Elcome Marine with technology partner Orbit is delivering and installing very-small-aperture-terminal antennas for the Indian Navy. In a first for an Indian company, Elcome Marine has ventured into a large-scale project involving the installation and maintenance of radio frequency systems, along with the installation of networked operations and video conferencing for the satellite communication project.


In addition, Elcome is supplying radars and inertial navigation systems for the country’s submarine fleet.


“We are a pioneer in the private sector in the field of customized hardware and software solutions,” said Shyam Kumar Singh, retired Indian Navy captain and vice president (Defence) of Elcome Marine.


He said Elcome is the only private company that creates turnkey communications solutions for the Indian Navy. “With in-house capability for design of interface solutions, we make our partners very competitive providing an edge of 15 to 20 percent in costs, and therefore we win projects.”


The company plans to enter the Indian defense offset market and participate in large defense programs in the category called “Buy and Make (Indian).” That means the specific program will be designed, developed and produced only by Indian defense companies — both private and state-owned — and overseas defense companies will not be allowed to bid.


“We have excellent infrastructure with waterfront support on Indian major ports and with our in-house [research-and-development] capability for system integration, we are capable [of carrying] out any naval offset project,” Singh said.


Grewal listed some of the company’s research and development initiatives.


“Design of customized solutions for integrating incompatible equipment into coherent systems is our niche area. Our research-and development efforts are directed toward embedded designs, as well as graphical user interface-based user-friendly systems.”


The company was selected last year as an offset partner by Kangnam shipyard in South Korea for providing an integrated bridge system for India’s mine countermeasure vessel project.


As part of the expansion plan, Elcome Marine is considering teaming agreements with overseas contractors for large naval projects, to include technology transfer tie-ups in naval hardware subsystems, full software system capability and life-cycle support for naval electronics systems.


In addition to Orbit, the company has technical support agreements with Raytheon Anschutz of Germany for all Raytheon Anschutz navigation equipment and navigation radars; TRANSAS of Ireland for electronic chart display systems and navigation simulators; Saab Transponder Tech of Sweden for automated information systems; HITT of the Netherlands for maritime surveillance; AZDEC, U.K., for infrared communication; CODAN of Australia for satellite and high-frequency transceivers; Nautel of Canada for nondirectional beacons and transmitter systems; Thrane & Thrane of Denmark for communication solutions; and Norris of Germany for machinery control systems.


“We want to emerge as the premier offset partner for defense manufacturers of repute and achieve a turnover of $100 million by 2015 with dedicated effort for indigenous products,” Grewal said.


The other major projects in the pipeline include integrated platform management systems for battle damage control, propulsion control, power management and resolution of navigational issues. Grewal said smaller Indian operations such as Elcome Marine can do much better if the Indian Defence Ministry provides a level playing field against state-owned companies, foreign companies and large private companies.


Most smaller Indian companies face challenges in picking up multiple orders because of higher corporate borrowing in India, including interest rates that only large companies can afford. The government does not have any defense financing schemes.


Grewal claims that Elcome Marine is self-funded and no foreign company owns any equity. However, the company is open to joint ventures to participate in specific defense projects.


Some of the homemade products the company is manufacturing for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard include sound-powered telephones, weather-sensor and flood alarm systems, and a universal navigation system.


With headquarters in Mumbai, the waterfront support systems are based in Mumbai, Kolkata, Vizag, Chennai, Port Blair, Kochi, Goa and Jamnagar.
Elcome Marine was founded by master mariners. Its focus includes inertial navigation equipment, specif-ically gyros; integrated bridge systems; integrated machinery control systems; echo sounders; required ship safety equipment; and satellite communication and TV systems.


“We certainly feel that we have not achieved our full potential as an organization,” Grewal said. “We have vast technical knowledge, we have a very good track record in terms of engineering and delivering working systems, and the other thing that we have is an incredible footprint.


“We have experienced technical people at almost every city where there is an Indian naval base, which is an infrastructure and capability unmatched in India,” he said. “So, definitely there is a lot of room for growth and as we look at the growth opportunities we are open to all kinds of relationships in order to help us achieve our full potential.”