[Knqzjbmf]

Link

Ground wars would be rare in future: Retd IAF vice marshal Kapil Kak

RAJKOT: Retired Air Vice Marshall Kapil Kak today said here that Indian Air Force (IAF) played a significant role in recapturing the Indian territory in the 1999 Kargil war, and such "ground wars" may not be seen in the future, as air forces and navies would play significant roles.

"Indian army and air force were not prepared because they did not believe that geographically tough mountain terrain could be infiltrated (at the time of Kargil)," said Kak, currently an additional director, Centre for Air Power Studies, talking to reporters at `Youth Fiesta' organised by Jay, Genius and Gardi school.

"In 1971, Indian army had proved its supremacy over Pakistan, and to take revenge, its army and militants occupied some areas in Kargil," he said.

Kargil could be one of the last "ground" wars, as both the countries possess nuclear weapons, and in future the Air Force and Navy would be playing a vital role if war-like situation breaks out, Kak said.

Reacting to a question on Kashmir, Kak said, "The situation in Kashmir is improving."

G S Uban, a retired Major General, said: "The situation in Kashmir is now under control...in the past it was uncontrollable." State government and civil society should work together to bring normalcy back in Kashmir, he said.

[untostaronaf]

Link Story of the 1988 Maldives coup attempt Economic Times

Operation Cactus, India’s military intervention at the request of then President Gayoom of the Maldives in 1988, was a spontaneous response, swiftly executed, writes Sushil Kumar, for the Economic Times.

But who would have ever imagined that a mission to thwart a coup in the island capital of Male, would finally be accomplished more than a thousand kilometers away and turn out to be a historic mid-ocean rescue operation.

After the rapid induction of an Indian Army para brigade at the airport on Hulule island, adjacent to Male, the rebel group who were Sri Lankan mercenaries of the PLOTE cadre, ran for cover and grabbing hostages from ashore, hijacked a merchant vessel , Progress Light, which was anchored in Male harbour.

With its motley group of seven hostages that included a Maldivian cabinet minister and his Swiss mother-in-law , the hijacked ship raced out of Male harbour under the cover of darkness. But unknown to rebel leader Abdullah Luthufi on board Progress Light, an Indian Navy Task Force led by INS Godavari with Captain Gopalachari in command, was fast closing in.

As the drama unfolded at sea, the Indian Navy operations room in Delhi was palpably tense yet privileged by the distinguished presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was keenly following the action. The Maldivian president had personally requested that the rebels be captured and brought back to Male to face trial, so ensuring the safety of the hostages and also rounding up the rebels was certainly going to be a daunting task. This was evident from the incalculable difficulty of the mission flashed to Captain Gopalachari, the task force commander – “rescue the hostages and capture the rebels .”

When dawn broke on the following day, the rebels on Progress Light were startled by the presence of menacing-looking warships of the Indian Navy task force that had stealthily encircled the hijacked ship during the night. Agitated and confused, the rebels initially refused to talk and pressed on doggedly in a north-easterly direction. Their intentions were clearly to seek refuge in Sri Lanka; radio transmissions monitored by the IN warships had confirmed this.

After hours of inaction at sea, a terse message from the Sri Lankan Navy came like a bombshell to the Indian Navy operations room: “The SLN had been directed by its government to destroy the rebel ship, if it approached within 100 miles of the Sri Lankan coast.” Our sources also confirmed that Sri Lankan Navy gunboats were manoeuvring out of Colombo harbour.

The Sri Lankan ultimatum posed an operational dilemma for the Indian Navy, since the rebels were hell-bent on taking the ship to Sri Lanka. Moreover, the mandate given to the Sri Lankan Navy also had the possibility of a naval confrontation which would have ruined everything. Fortunately, camaraderie at sea remains a praiseworthy concept and with the hotline as a handy device, a tense situation was promptly defused.

But time was surely running out, so the task force commander on board INS Godavari was given an immediate aim -- "Stop Progress Light."

Captain Gopalachari rose to the occasion and improvised on the art of coercive diplomacy. Using his linguistic skills in South Indian languages, he personally engaged the rebel group leader Abdullah Luthufi in a bout of friendly negotiations while the IN task force of Godavari, Betwa and Tir provided a convincing firepower demonstration through a well-timed action sequence.

A four-inch shell shattered the foremast, ack-ack fire raked the foxle deck which knocked out the anchors and a massive undersea explosion from a helicopter-dropped depth charge sent a spine -chilling shudder through the rebel ship. Progress Light came to a deadhalt and lay motionless in the water. Before the dazed rebels realised what was happening, navy commandoes stormed on board and it was all over.

"Hostages rescued safely and rebels captured" was the final message from INS Godavari that brought down the curtain on Operation Cactus. It may perhaps remain just a footnote in our maritime history but Maldives 1988 certainly was an operation with a difference.

Sushil Kumar, The writer was director of Navy Ops in 1988 and later the Navy chief

[jinnamys]

Eurocopter writes to army chief over delays in chopper deal
PTI

Expressing "concern" over delays in finalising the deal for procuring 197 light helicopters for the defence forces, European defence major Eurocopter has written a letter to Army chief Gen VK Singh in that regard.

The European Eurocopter AS 350 Fennec is competing with Russian Kamov 226 'Sergei' for supplying these choppers to the Indian Army and Air Force in a project expected to be worth over $1.5 billion.

The choppers will be used by the army and the IAF to replace their ageing fleet of vintage Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which are critical for providing supplies to troops deployed in Siachen Glacier and other high altitude areas.

"We take this opportunity to express our concern regarding the time frame for the very important programme, for which the RFP was issued in July 2008.

"The technical evaluation process has now taken over 38 months and has not yet been concluded due to reasons which are unknown to us," Eurocopter told the army chief in the letter, a copy of which is with PTI. The previous attempt of the armed forces to find a replacement of these choppers could not be successful in 2007 after the Defence Ministry withdrew the tender which Eurocopter had won.

"We hope that this program after so many years will soon be successfully concluded and we would be proud to contribute to the self-reliance of Indian armed forces," it added.

The trials of two helicopters in the race were completed in December 2010 and the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) submitted the trial reports to the Defence Ministry after that.

The report was accepted by the ministry in October last year and was approved by the Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) for the project only last month.

[JonnTEN]

No irregularities in copter deal, says Finmeccanica

Italian defence major Finmeccanica has said its subsidiary Agusta Westland, which has been selected to supply 12 helicopters for VVIP travel in India, is not involved in any irregularity in the deal.

The clarification comes after Defence Minister A.K. Antony asked the Defence Secretary on Friday to look into the issue following reports of alleged corruption in the Rs.3,500-crore deal signed in February 2010.

“No notice related to the purported investigations has been served to companies and officers of the Finmeccanica Group, neither in Italy, nor in India. Finmeccanica furthermore declares that the companies of the Group have adopted organisations and ethical codes in line with regulations and best practices, aimed at preventing and banning any conduct not responding to proper management standards,” a company statement said on Monday.

It said AgustaWestland excluded any behaviour non-compliant with its Code of Ethics. “AgustaWestland is not involved in any irregularity concerning the supply of helicopters in India.”

The statement said contract negotiations started in September 2008 and concluded in February 2010, with a reduction in the value, compared with the original offer, and “without any additional price escalation to take into account after two years of delay from the originally forecasted contract effective date.”

The contract was awarded to AgustaWestland after a comprehensive technical and flight evaluation of the competing helicopters done by the Indian Air Force as per the Defence Procurement Procedures, the statement said.

[snova]

Delay in Defence Purchases

Acquisition of weapons and equipment for defence forces is a complex activity and is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). As per broad timeframe given in DPP, it takes about 80-137 weeks to complete the various stages of procurement and conclude the contract. However, delays sometimes occur in procurement cases due to several reasons, such as insufficient and limited vendor base, non¬conformity of the offers to the Request of Proposal (RFP) conditions, field trials, complexities in contract negotiations and long lead time for indigenization etc. Defence acquisitions are normally based on fixed price contracts. There are contractual provisions for penalties including imposition of liquidated damages for delay in execution of contracts.

To counter systemic and institutional delays, procedures are continuously reviewed and refined on the basis of experience gained during the procurement process.

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

[Illirmpipse]

Probe in Procurement of 12 VVIP Helicopters
There was a media report stating that the scope of a probe by Italian prosecutors into allegations against unethical dealings by M/s Finmeccanica, Italy has widened to include the Indian contract signed with M/s Agusta Westland for purchase of 12 helicopters. Ministry of Defence asked for a report in the matter from the Indian Embassy in Rome. The report received indicates that Italian magistrate/prosecutors are conducting preliminary investigation about allegations of financial mal-practices occurring within M/s Finmeccanica, Italy and its subsidiaries in general and there is no specific probe being conducted about India related transactions

This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Moinul Hassan in Rajya Sabha today.

[actrisski]

The defence budget for 2012-13, presented in Parliament on Friday, confirms the Indian Army’s degeneration into a low technology, manpower-intensive force that spends most of its money on day-to-day running. While the Navy and Air Force are built up into modern, space-age forces.

Also evident from the figures is that inflation and the slide in the value of the rupee has caused the military’s modernisation budget to be effectively reduced for the first time in decades. More worryingly, India’s dependence on foreign weaponry could continue with R&D (research and development) expenditure slashed in real terms.

This gloomy conclusion was not immediately evident when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced in Parliament yesterday the government had allocated Rs 1,93,407 crore for the military in 2012-13, a rise of 13.15 per cent over the current year’s revised allocation of Rs 1,70,937 crore. The capital budget, which is the main source for the procurement of new weaponry, was raised by a seemingly healthy 15 per cent from Rs 69,198 crore last year, to Rs 79,578 crore for 2012-13.

But a different picture emerges when one translates the capital budget into US dollars, import-dependent India’s primary currency for arms purchases. Last year’s capital budget (at Rs 44.45 per dollar on Apr 1, 2011) was $15.56 billion. This year’s capital budget (conservatively assuming an exchange rate of Rs 50 per dollar) translates into $15.91 billion.

“Factor in cost inflation, which is roughly 10-15 per cent per annum for weapons systems, and this year’s capital budget will buy significantly less than last year’s,” said G Balachander of the Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis.

The Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), India’s main source of indigenous defence systems, must also make do with less. In rupee terms, the R&D allocation of Rs 4,640 crore for 2012-13 just about matches last year’s R&D spend of Rs 4,628 crore. But, given inflation and the falling rupee, and the high percentage of foreign parts in DRDO-built weaponry, the DRDO’s spending power will be significantly eroded in the coming year.

Another worrying issue is the Army’s slowdown in modernisation. The Navy will spend almost twice as much in the coming year on force modernisation as it will on manpower and running expenses (capital spend of Rs 23,882 crore, vis-à-vis revenue spend of Rs 12,548 crore).

The IAF will be only slightly lower (capital spend: Rs 28,503 crore, vis-à-vis revenue spend of Rs 17,705 crore). In contrast, the Army will spend only Rs 13,803 crore (half the capital expenditure of the much smaller Navy and IAF); while spending Rs 78,114 crore on running expenditure (roughly four times as much as the IAF and six times more than the Navy).

“The Army has always been a manpower-intensive force, given our mountain borders. But its fighting capability will be seriously eroded if modernisation is choked. The Army badly needs new artillery, the helicopter fleet is obsolescent, there are hardly any serviceable attack helicopters, and night fighting capability remains a gaping hole. Most importantly, the infantry, which is operationally committed around the year, must be modernised urgently,” said Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, who retired last year as the chief of the Army’s southern command.

A key reason for the IAF emerging as the biggest beneficiary of the capital budget is the expected signing of a contract this year for 126 Rafale medium multi-role fighters. Normally, 15 per cent of the overall price is paid at the time of signing; with the Rafale contract expected to be for Rs 70,000 crore, the IAF will pay some Rs 10,000 crore this year, with the balance distributed over the coming decade. The IAF is also making annual payments for the earlier contracts for the American C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. A contract could also be signed this year for 197 light utility helicopters, and for urgently needed trainer aircraft for rookie IAF pilots.

Similarly, the Navy is budgeting for the impending contract for Project 17A frigates that will be built in Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Kolkata (GRSE). It is also making annual payments for several ongoing warship programmes: Project 28 anti-submarine corvettes being built by GRSE; and Project 75 Scorpene submarines, and Project 15A and 15B destroyers being built at MDL. In addition, it is paying Boeing for the P8I Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA) that are being built in the US.

On an average, more than two-thirds of any year’s capital budget is pre-committed towards annual installments for defence contracts concluded earlier. Weapons platforms are often paid for over a decade or so. Just about 30% of any year’s capital budget goes towards new contracts.

Earlier this month, China had announced that it would spend $106 billion (670 billion Yuan) on its military in 2013. Defence experts estimate that Beijing actually spends 50-100% more than the declared figure. Like India, China too has steadily increased defence spending in line with its economic growth.

[Worseacar]

Military Base in Lakshadweep

Establishment and/or augmentation of military base in Union Territory of Lakshadweep is based on analysis and assessment of the threat perception to coastal security and merchant shipping, as well as requirement from strategic perspective. This is an ongoing and continuous process. Presently a naval detachment is operational at Kavarathi Island.

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

[hr]
Military Assistance to Vietnam
Government is pursuing defence cooperation activities with a number of foreign countries, including Vietnam, based on mutual interests of both sides and keeping in view all relevant aspects.

Defence cooperation activities with foreign countries include high level visits, training exchanges and other interactions between the armed forces of both sides. This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Kirti Azadin Lok Sabha today.
[hr]
Irregularities in Purchase of Tatra Trucks
No irregularities in purchase of components of the Tatra Trucks for army have been reported.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM PallamRajuin a written reply to Shri Bhoopendra Singh in Lok Sabha today.

[Precturge]

Link

The Hinduja brothers have cautioned British Prime Minister David Cameron that his efforts to forge closer ties with booming India were failing owing to rising taxes and lengthy visa delays for Indians.

"Rising taxes and lengthy visa delays for Indians were deterring investment in Britain," Gopichand and Srichand Hinduja, chairman and co-chairman of Hinduja group, told the Times.

"Something is wrong with the model," Gopichand Hinduja said.

"His (Cameron's) visits, his signals are good but they don't percolate down the line," he said.

"Britain can play an important role as a vehicle for Indian investment in Europe... but with his heavy taxes and the difficulties which are being put for anybody coming from overseas to buy property ... (they are) harming progress."

"Do you see how much difficulty they are creating for visas?"

The remarks, from one of the world's most powerful Indian businessmen, come just days before George Osborne is due in Delhi for talks with Pranab Mukherjee, the Finance Minister, on the trade relationship which has failed to grow despite being a focus of Cameron's Government, the report said.

Nearly two years after Cameron and Osborne led what No 10 called "the biggest trade mission in history" to India, Britain has slipped to 16th place in a league table of the nation's trade partners, behind Belgium.

In recent months, British companies have also faced a string of problems in India. In a snub to BAE Systems, a $ 12 billion contract to sell fighter jets to the Indian air force went to Rafale of France.

The Hinduja brothers control one of India's biggest industrial conglomerates that includes Gulf Oil, Ashok Leyland - the lorrymaker that they bought from British Leyland in 1987 - and one of India's top private banks, IndusInd.

Criticising UK Government's current approach, Gopichand Hinduja questioned the quality of advice being offered to Cameron on India trade matters.

"The Prime Minister has to take some advice from the overseas Indians who understand and see what is lacking. There couldn't be any better tips and suggestions."

[bUqLfXRI]

Agents were banned in 2006 procedure

Agents and brokers were banned under the Indian Defence Procurement Procedure in 2006 whereas the contract negotiations for helicopters had been going on since 2001.

In the backdrop of these negotiations was the Army Aviation Corps ambitious plan to buy 197 helicopters to replace the ageing fleet of Cheetahs and Chetaks. The Augusta of Italy, Bell, Eurocopter, and the Russian Kamov and Kazan were initially in the race but the list later got narrowed down to Eurocopter and Bell. In December 2007, the MOD pointed to discrepancies in the evaluation process and scrapped the Indian Army tender for 197 Eurocopter helicopters.

Further on the Vectra-Defence link, the Vectra Group says that Tatra a.s. is based in Czech Republic and has no relation with the MoD. On this count, the factual position is that Vectra Group is the largest shareholder of the consortium Tatra Holding s.r.o. that owns Tatra a.s.

The Bharat Earth Movers Limited has been making trucks for defence and other purposes under licence from Tatra. It is these trucks that would emerge at the core of the present controversy, government of India, source pointed out.

[Duaceanceksm]

Link: Defence Minister Gerald Howarth is flying to India today in a bid to rescue a $10bn contract to sell Typhoon fast jets to the Indian Air Force.

French firm Dassault's Rafale was chosen as lowest-priced offer in the 126-jet Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) contract in late January, but suggestions of "manipulation" in the bidding process are currently being investigated after complaints from an Indian MP.

The suggestions were made by Mysura Reddy, who wrote to India's Defence Minister AK Antony to say he was surprised to learn of the Rafale's win as it had "failed in precision bombing" over Libya and had secured no other export orders.

Referring to unspecified reports of irregularities in the bid, Reddy wrote that the Indian defence ministry "must ensure there has been no manipulation in the evaluation process".

In response, Antony agreed to investigate "all points" raised by Reddy, and said he would be prepared to cancel the contract if evidence of manipulation was found.

Howarth, UK Minister for International Security Strategy, last visited India in early February to discuss offering a reduction in the price offered for the Typhoon jets.

Speaking in the House of commons on 26 March, Howarth said he took reports of bid irregularities "very seriously".

"I have read the reports about the internal investigation that Minister Antony, the Defence Minister in India, has instigated. I shall be flying to India tomorrow, where I hope to have discussions with Indian Ministers and other officials."

Howarth also responded to criticism that German officials had led the Typhoon bidding process in India, despite the UK benefiting from better relations with the Indian government.

"The previous government decided that the project would be led by the Germans, despite all the connections the UK has with India," said Howarth.

"We and BAE Systems are taking a very active part not only in preparing ourselves in case the Indians would like us to resubmit and talk to us again, but in discussions with EADS, Cassidian, the German government and our other two partners.

"We are also working very hard on the export drive to make up for the loss and damage done by Labour when it was in government."

[SHpuntik]

VSHORAD – India’s Next Big Air Defense Program (Link)

India has to therefore seriously augment its Air Defense capabilities. Several ongoing programs include the replacement of SA-18 Very Short Range Air Defense Systems (VSHORAD), with modern weapons. The cost of the replacement, as anything in India – is huge: over replacement of about 800 launchers and initial delivery of 5,000 missiles, at a cost of 27,000 Crore (US$5.2 billion). Evaluations of some of the candidates are expected to commence in May–June this year. The ongoing DefExpo 2012 provides India with a unique opportunity to take a look at some of the most cutting edge Air Defense Systems that are on display.

RBS-70 Man Portable Air Defense Missile launched on a test. Photo: Saab

In contrast to the passive (UV/IR) guided weapons currently in operation, two VSHORAD systems employing laser-beam riding semi-active command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance technique stood out in this year’s DefExpo. While such systems are presumably heavier and more complex, the more affordable cost of their seekerless missiles is bound to come to effect in the evaluating the total cost of ownership (including missiles, test and practice rounds).

RBS 70/NG – SAAB’s RBS 70 comprises the missile in a launch container, a tripod firing stand and an optical sight. It is operable by one, and portable by three persons. The missile is outfitted with a solid propellant booster motor. When the operator fires the missile, the booster motor is ignited inside the launch tube and the missile is accelerated out of the tube. The control surfaces and the four fins open into position as the missile leaves the tube. The sustainer motor ignites after the missile has travelled a safe distance from the launch position.

The booster is subsequently jettisoned. The RBS 70 has laser beam riding guidance, riding a laser signal being beamed from its own launch station, rather than being guided from the front towards the reflected signal from a laser designated target. The missile operator can locate a hostile target visually or the target can be detected by a search radar. When the target is acquired, the operator tracks the target and the Raytheon Cossor IFF880 friend or foe system interrogates the target. If the target is identified as friendly, a warning light in the sight is illuminated and the firing sequence is halted. The operator aims the missile towards the target, fires and tracks the target, thus aiming the laser guidance beam continuously at the target until the moment of impact. Speaking to Defense Update Saab’s spokesperson stated that as the laser beam riding guidance of the RBS 70 is located in the tail of the missile, it is extremely difficult to jam it, since the missile has no seeker head at the front.

In 2011 Saab has introduced an improved version of the system, designated RBS 70NG (new generation), which is comprised of a new sight module, integrating a high resolution thermal imager allowing 24/7 operational capability.

The new module enables advanced cueing and an auto tracker, to improve reaction times and target acquisition, and engagement, thus increasing the hit probability throughout the missile range. Improved guidance has also been introduced, to further increase performance both for manual and auto-tracker engagements. The system has a built-in video recorder for after-action review. With these improvements RBS 70NG offers a flexible and scalable evolution to meet evolving Ground Based Air Defense requirements with Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) as well as with remote-controlled or vehicular applications.

StarStreak – Starstreak developed by the Thales group is a close-range anti-aircraft guided-weapon system designed for use against enemy helicopters and ground attack aircraft. Starstreak contains a two-stage solid propellant rocket motor, a separation system and three high-density darts. A pulse of power from the missile-firing unit sets off the first-stage motor that ignites and therefore increases the speed of the missile. The missile enters into a spin due the Canted nozzles. The efferent force of the roll causes the fins to unfold for aerodynamic stability in flight. Once clear of the canister, the motor is thrown out. The second-stage motor ignites and accelerates the missile to a velocity of Mach 4.

A severance system at the front end of the motor holds three darts. When the second stage motor is burnt out, the propulsion triggers the three darts to automatically break up. The darts sustain a high kinetic energy as they are steered to the same target. Each dart includes guidance and control circuitry, a thermal battery and a high-density penetrating warhead with fuse. The severance of the darts kicks off the arming of the specific warheads. Each dart is steered independently using a double laser beam riding system. As the dart collides with the target, the inertial forces trigger the delay fuse, allowing the warhead to penetrate before detonation.

MISTRAL-2 – Another competitor seeking the future Indian VSHORAD contract is the European company MBDA, offering the Mistral. This missile has already been selected to equip the Indian Dhruv Helicopter; therefore MBDA does have an advantage in terms of logistics and ordinance management. Moreover, the company has a production line for MILAN missiles established in India by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), where Mistral missiles could be produced, if the company wins this program. Other contenders include Rosoboronexport, offering a modern version of the IGLA-S (SA-24) and South Korean LIG Nex1, offering the Chiron.

IGLA-S (SA-24) – Similar to the Mistral, a major advantage of IGLA-S is its capability to use existing infrastructure, including DJIGHIT launchers and STERLETS command and control modules, or mobile carriers such as the SA-9 and SA-13 mobile air defense systems. IGLA-S offers superior performance over the IGLA / STRELA missiles, particularly in its immunity to countermeasures (conventional heat flares are useless against its IR seeker flares). According to Russian sources, it is also effective against fast, low flying cruise missiles or high flying but slow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). With a warhead 1.5 times larger than its predecessors, IGLA-S also offers 20 percent range increase, able to hit targets at a distance of six kilometers.

CHIRON – The Korean LIG Nex1 Company has also entered the Indian VSHORAD, yet its product, the Chiron stands the lowest chance to win the technical or commercial phases. Although it uses elements of the Mistral missile to offer increased range over the Russian missile, its seeker, implementing Russian technology is considered less advanced than that of the SA-24. Reportedly, the Koreans are asking $175,000 per unit, which is more than double the cost of an IGLA-S.

India’s Air Defense guns like the L-70 and ZU-23 are 40 years old and missile systems like the SA-2 have also become obsolete. This coupled with the fact that there are huge loopholes in the radar network means that the sky’s above India are completely insecure. Corrective measures need to be taken immediately and this year’s Defense Expo has certainly provided the answer to India’s quest for a modern air defense system.

[infarrelisam]

Link The CBI, which is probing alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks, is also investigating supply of more than 2,500 kits by Vectra company to the Indian Army in 1997-98. Initial probe by the agency has revealed that important components, including gear boxes, were allegedly missing from majority of the kits supplied to the Army, sources said.

According to sources, probe by the agency has also revealed that the Army allegedly paid huge amounts to the company for the supply of these kits in 97-98 .

“The agency is probing under what circumstances officials of the ministry of defence (MoD) paid huge amounts to the private company for the supply of these kits. The agency is trying to ascertain the identity of the MoD officials who played important role in releasing funds to the company without checking these kits,” sources said. The agency is also probing the role of some former officials of the state-owned BEML in this regard, sources added.

Sources further said, “The agency officials are also preparing to question London-based businessman Ravi Rishi, who is an accused in a case involving alleged irregularities in the purchase of more than 6,000 Tatra trucks for the Indian Army. Mr Rishi is also a majority stakeholder in Tatra Sipox UK.”

“Probe by the agency has already revealed that the agreement signed with a foreign trade corporation of Czechoslovakia for the supply of all-terrain Tatra truck vehicles was allegedly fraudulently assigned to Tatra Sipox UK by showing it as the original equipment manufacturer or a fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech firm,” sources said.

In 1997, Tatra Sipox UK signed a truck supply deal with BEML, which was in alleged violation of defence procurement rules which say that procurement should be done directly from the original equipment manufacturer only, sources said.

The agency is also investigating role of some former MoD officials who allegedly joined the accused private company after their retirement, they said.

First agreement for the supply for Tatra all terrain trucks was signed with Czechoslovakia based company Tatra in 1986.[hr]
Cancelling Eurocopter deal got AK Antony enemies
Link The decision to scrap the Rs 3,000-crore Eurocopter deal at the last minute in December, 2007, might have been the flashpoint that convinced arms lobbies that defence minister AK Antony was a serious thorn in their flesh.

Antony took the tough call to cancel the order for the 190-odd attack helicopters for the Army due to irregularities in the bidding process and deviations from established procedures and this brought home to defence lobbyists and vendors, who were used to having their way, that it would not be business as usual anymore.

Sources said the Eurocopter decision sent shockwaves through the defence and business establishments as the contract was all but sealed and the firmness with which the French government's vocal protests were ignored induced a sense of panic among arms-dealers and lobbyists.

Long used to peddling influence so that shortlists and seeding were altered and technical parameters re-jigged to disadvantage rivals, the new regime in the defence ministry after Antony took charge began to bother several interests. Soon, Antony was accused of slowing down defence acquisitions due to his fear of taint.

The charge of a defence freeze is contested, with official sources pointing out that budgets have been utilized. Even last year, 66% of the defence budget was utilized by December, while around Rs 3,000 crore had to be returned to the finance ministry due to a resource squeeze affecting the central government.

With his political mandate aimed at keeping the government free of "scam", Antony acted without hesitation whenever a serious complaint was brought to his notice, making it plain that he would not hesitate to scrap a deal or order fresh tendering.

The Eurocopter deal was not a flash in the pan. The defence ministry's insistence that all bidders for the Rs- 100,000 crore 126-aircraft contract for the Indian Air Force fulfill excruciating technical parameters that would be the sole criteria for finalizing the deal made big names in the business nervous.

The failure of in-house lobbying and the exclusion of US F-16s and F-18s from the race along with the Russian MiG 35 at the technical evaluation stage led to outrage, with the Indian government politely, but firmly ruled out any reconsideration of its decision.

Sources familiar with proceedings said it was odd that criticism was leveled that India was "restricting" the race after the rules of selection were plain to all the bidders. The refusal to allow "geo-political" considerations to influence the deal left foreign suppliers and their Indian partners distraught and disbelieving.

The decision to blacklist Singapore Technologies Kinetics following corruption charges was yet another major friction point that disrupted the cozy co-habitation between arms-dealers and both civilian and military officials. "The government could hardly have pretended that nothing was happening," said sources.

With a series of decisions indicating policies benefitting select vendors and procurement procedures open to manipulation were being replaced by a more predictable and level-playing field, the utility of power brokers itself became questionable.

[Kilsimpaile]

New Delhi, April 10, IRNA -- Against the backdrop of Army Chief highlighting critical shortage of shells for armored regiments, a Defense Ministry report Monday said a contract was signed with Russia in 2010 for 16,000 rounds of ammunition for T-90 tanks.

In its annual report issued Monday, the Defense Ministry said a contract for procurement of 66,000 rounds of ammunition for 84 mm rocket launchers was signed in March last year with Swedish Saab.


'A contract for procurement of 16,000 rounds of FSAPDS ammunition for tank T-90 was signed with Rosoboronexport, Russia in December 2010. It became effective in March, 2011, and the complete consignment is likely to be delivered by March, 2012,' pti reported quoting the report as said.


In a recent letter, Army Chief Gen V K Singh had pointed out the poor state of defense preparedness saying tank regiments were short of ammunition and 97 percent of the Army Air Defense (AAD) equipment was obsolete.


On the AAD, the Defense Ministry report said that the contract for procuring Akash Missile Systems was signed last year and steps were being taken for upgrading Self-propelled Air Defense and Schilka air defense systems.

[dubGucKcolo]

The Armed Forces are on high alert to tackle any tsunami threat in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. A flag was raised immediately after a massive earthquake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, was reported at 1408 hours today with epicenter at 270 nautical miles south of Campbell Bay.


The Indian Navy took immediate action in preparation for any possible tsunami that could be triggered by the high intensity earthquake. Ships in Port Blair were sailed out as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile the Eastern Naval Command is preparing ships with disaster relief teams embarked on it to provide immediate assistance to affected areas, if required. Other Naval Ships at sea in the Bay of Bengal have also been alerted.


The IAF has also kept two C-130J on standby at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad. The giant aircraft are ready to fly a swift reaction team of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel equipped with sniffer dogs at any momentupon call. Ten tonnes of medical supplies and rescue and relief material have also been loaded on the aircraft. One IL-76 aircraft has also been kept on standby at Chandigarh which will also carry NDRF team while two AN-32s and Dorniers are on standby in the southern sector.

[Meenepek]

Saltoro, not Siachen

Having occupied the commanding heights of Siachen glacier, the Indian Army has no reason to vacate them to make life easier for the Pakistani Army.


On April 13, 1984, India began its most audacious military campaign when troops of the Kumaon Regiment were pushed up the heights of Siachen glacier. It is now 28 years to the day India launched ‘Operation Meghdoot’, the official name given to the military campaign on the world’s highest battleground. By sending troops in April, prematurely in mountaineering parlance, India wrested the initiative from Pakistan which had planned to send its soldiers sometime later in May 1984. By the time they began their climb the Indian Army was already ensconced on the heights, with the Indian Air Force undertaking air supply sorties. In the 28 years since that day, the Army has only increased its presence on the heights, gaining territory in the process. And the Air Force has only increased its expertise and experience in maintaining troops at those heights. Army aviation has also been an invaluable contributor to the war effort in Siachen.

The Siachen conflict began because of incomplete cartographic commitments between India and Pakistan. In delineating and describing the Line of Control, military and diplomatic officials of both countries erred in ending the narrative at NJ 9842, followed by ‘thence north to the glaciers’, the most oft-quoted cartographic blunder. Even the Simla Agreement repeated the same error, and this despite the first battles already fought over the heights north of the Srinagar-Leh highway. International mountaineering expeditions then began to seek permission from Islamabad to climb in this area, all on the basis of American maps that depicted Siachen as under Pakistan’s control. Protests and counter-protests at the diplomatic level remained unanswered. Thus began the military stakes in the conflict. It took a late August 1983 coming together of the Ladakh Scouts and the Pakistani Army’s Special Services Group that finally clinched it for both countries.


Preparations began immediately for the eventual escalation during the next climbing season. Except that the Indian Army moved in before the Pakistani Army could. Bullets now came to be traded where once words were used to carry the message. In the process, as in all conflicts with Pakistan, India has only gained ground — most notably in 1987 when the 8 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry bested the Pakistani Army’s SSG at insurmountable heights, using extraordinary mountaineering skills. That action so bruised the ego of then Brigadier Pervez Musharraf that in 1999 he launched the Pakistani Army into ‘Operation Badr’ to take the heights of Kargil. The motivation was to occupy the heights, deny India road supply movement to Leh, and in the process squeeze the Army out of its heights in Siachen. None of it worked, of course. And India continues to dominate the heights, in Kargil and across Siachen.


The Indian Army is not on Siachen but to its west, on the Saltoro ridgeline. This is where the bull in the china shop comes into play. The occupation of heights by the Army has followed the principle laid out in the agreement delineating the Line of Control — ‘thence north to the glaciers’. For the Indian positions from NJ9842 are pretty much along the line north. This is now called Actual Ground Position Line; the bugbear in Pakistan’s claims, for it leaves Siachen well to the east. Pakistan’s interpretation of ‘thence north to the glaciers’ is actually in an east-north-east direction, ending on the Karakoram Pass. It barely touches the southern end of the Siachen glacier. The dispute, then, is really about what constitutes ‘north to the glaciers’. And in that disagreement over the direction of the LoC rests the solution to the Siachen conflict. Since Pakistan does not want to accept the AGPL principle, and India does not want to vacate without a formal written agreement, the dispute lingers. The Kargil conflict was thrust on India despite an agreement on what constituted the LoC in that sector. Here, however, there is yet to be an agreement.

[flnastyax]

South Korea is also growing its profile as a partner to the Indian Navy. The MoD is close to inking a $500-million contract with South Korean warship builder, Kang Nam Private Ltd, for three minesweepers. A serious play in the land systems market is unfolding from Samsung Techwin, which has tied up with Larsen & Toubro to offer the Indian Army the K-9 Thunder 155-millimetre self-propelled artillery gun.

[AlexBrith]

Javelin missile, R&D coop to feature in US-India talks

As New Delhi looks to translate its relationship with the US into badly needed high technology, the government is readying for meetings tomorrow with America’s key gatekeeper of military technology, the visiting assistant secretary of state for political military affairs, Andrew Shapiro.


High on New Delhi’s technology agenda is Washington’s reluctance to transfer military knowhow, of the kind needed for building the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile in India. The Army wants the Javelin for its ground forces, to enable two-man infantry teams to fire $40,000 missiles at $10 million enemy tanks 2,500 metres away and destroy them 95 per cent of the time. The Javelin sale, potentially a billion-dollar (Rs 5,000 crore) contract for US companies, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, has been blocked by Shapiro’s office, the department of political military affairs. The technology, it has been deemed, is too sensitive to transfer.

Shapiro’s 10-person team will be discussing this issue with India’s defence and foreign ministries (MoD and MEA), which regard overly-strict US licensing and export controls as key obstacles in “operationalising”, or obtaining tangible benefits from the growing strategic convergence between the US and India.


In clearing any transfer of high technology like the Javelin, Shapiro’s primary consideration is strategic: would technologically enabling India enhance long-term US strategic interests, without threatening America’s lead in military technology. Growing pressure from American senators and representatives complicates Shapiro’s decision-making. Fearing the declining US defence budget will cause job losses in their constituencies, American legislators are willing to back technology transfer to India, if that is what it takes to get orders from the world’s biggest buyer of foreign weaponry.


A likely example of this is the Global Hawk Block 30, a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which flies 36-hour unmanned missions to watch over vast expanses of territory or water. After the latest US defence budget cuts, the US Air Force has cancelled orders for Global Hawks, 13 of which have already been built or are close to completion by Northrop Grumman. The politically influential company, aided by US Congressmen in whose constituencies the UAV is built, are pressuring the US government to find alternative buyers. There are 13 Block 30 Global Hawks almost ready, which will now be mothballed.


Savvy bargaining by India could get it the Block 30 Global Hawk and perhaps even the technologies that go into it, believes Manohar Thyagaraj, an expert on US-India military relations.


“If India were to express interest, US Congressmen would mount pressure on Shapiro to share the technology. But India tends to engage only the US administration; it has put very little effort into building relationships on Capitol Hill. When Congress gets onto something, it acquires real momentum. New Delhi has not yet understood that engaging Congress is as important as engaging the administration,” says Thyagaraj.


India’s key technology player, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), has figured out the opportunity that lies in declining Western defence budgets. DRDO chief V K Saraswat declared during the Defexpo India 2012 defence exhibition on March 31, “Global economic recession is leading to capacities and capabilities in the international market that we can exploit. So, it will be an era of US and European agencies coming and trying to work with us and we will exploit this.”


Shapiro’s department of political military relations must okay all such joint ventures. US defence giant Raytheon is learnt to be keen on working with DRDO for developing technologies that can detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the roadside bombs that took a heavy toll of US lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that are now being used to deadly effect by Maoist insurgents in India. With US government funding, Raytheon has already developed a technology called SAVI (Seismic Accoustic Vibration Imaging), which uses acoustic reflections to detect buried IEDs. But budgetary cuts have dried up Raytheon’s funding, and it is looking towards India for partnership in developing SAVI into a deployable military system.


“The DRDO’s funding and scientific base is ideal for reviving such a project; and both sides would profit from selling the SAVI system to the Indian military and abroad. If India comes to the table with money, it would be well placed to negotiate access,” says a top DRDO official.


The dialogue on Monday will be followed by a succession of others. The US-India-Japan trilateral is scheduled for April 22 in Tokyo, followed by the US-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington in May and the US-India Homeland Security dialogue in June.

[Anatolii]

Sino-Indian border rail link to be fast-tracked

India’s efforts totake its railway network close to China border is caught up in red tape for the last two years while China has taken its railway link to Tibet.


Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday decided to approach the Planning Commission to declare 14 railway lines close to the Sino-Indian border as “strategic” so that survey and construction could be taken up immediately.These 14 lines – down from the original list of 28 – were declared strategic by the Defence Ministry way back in 2010 and high-level panels were set up to accelerate the construction. The Railway Ministry was asked to undertake the survey in August 2010 for assessing technical feasibility and cost.


Survey work was undertaken in three strategic railway lines in the North East – 248-km North Lakhimpur-Along-Silapathar line; 140-km Missamari-Tawang line and 95-km Murkongselek-Pasighat-Rupai line. Antony on Tuesday also approved recruiting more military engineers for speeding up infrastructure development and purchasing equipment for Special Forces directly through a high-level panel, headed by the Army vice-chief.An empowered committee headed by Defence Secretary has been set up to process the infrastructure development projects in the North East and monitor the progress.


The Defence Minister reviewed the Army procurement and infrastructure development along with the top officials from the Defence Ministry and Army, after Army Chief Gen V K Singh disclosed the poor preparedness level of the Army in his ‘secret’ letter to the Prime Minister.


Antony sanctioned raising one regiment of Brahmos supersonic missile and expressed satisfaction on the progress made so far in acquisition of 155 mm/39 calibre ultra light weight howitzer from the USA. A panel will be created to look into Army's need of having a full-fledged aviation wing rather than depending on the Indian Air Force (IAF) for helicopter support.

[siklop]

The inventory of tanks in the army, reportedly, consists of 4,117 vehicles. Out of these only 839 (20.3 per cent) are ‘indigenously’ produced. Seventy seven per cent of the main battle tanks (MBTs) are of Russian origin. Of the 110 reconnaissance BRDM vehicles, virtually every one has been imported. Each of the 1,455 armoured infantry fighting vehicles is foreign made. Hardly any of the 10,758 artillery guns has been manufactured at home. The same holds true for the 410 pieces of Swedish-origin 155 mm Bofors guns. The anti-tank missiles and recoilless guns, too, have been imported. The entire inventory of 3,500 air-defence surface-to-air missiles is of Russian vintage. Moreover, there are 2,395 self-propelled and truck-mounted guns of Moscow make with the Indian army.

The stark reality emerges from the following facts. Not a single fighter air craft — MiG-21/23/25/27/29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 — is of Indian origin. The same is the case with such military transport aircraft as An-32, Ilyushin II-76, Embraer-135BJ and Boeing C-17. Tankers (Ilyushin-78), advanced jet trainers (Hawk Mark-132) and helicopters like Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-25 are foreign made, the promises of technology transfer of some notwithstanding. The long list of chronic corruption and the entrenched babu-neta-merchant nexus have made matters far worse.